10 Random Facts

Hello there!  I thought I'd join in the 10 Random Facts I've seen in my blog reader today ...

1.  Today is my daughter's birthday, this beautiful photo is her 25 years ago.  She is still, and always, my Baby

2.  I don't understand metal teapots, they make the tea taste funny, why do they exist?

3.  If something is available in a polka dot version I will always choose that one

4.  If something is available in Orange I will choose that one too

5.  If the polka dot version was turquoise and the orange one was plain I'd probably get both!

6.  I love chocolate but not chocolate dessert or cake - pointless, just give me the real stuff

7.  Sorting out my craft room makes me so happy I sing to myself - very badly

8.  I am rubbish at growing house plants but have finally got the knack of orchids thanks to my brother

9.  I would like to be someone who prepares well in advance but I actually produce my best stuff under pressure - at work and creatively. It seems to focus my mind

10.  When I'm stressed I create simple things - I am currently knee deep in cushions and 

lavender bags!

x

Crafty Happenings - Weeks 11 to 14!

Hello there

Let's just accept it, I can't manage a weekly post ... moving on ...

This is a long, catch-up post - you might be bored witless, don't say I didn't warn you :)

Sewing Group

Had a great time with the group in March, the venue we're using in Rochester is working out really well, it was a lovely sunny day, 3 new members came along - what's not to like?

Of course, I failed again to take any photos - there's a theme or rubbishness going on around here isn't there?

I didn't get much made as I was helping My Girlie's friend A learn to use her machine so we made a tote bag together - and she has her first finished project which she is really pleased with - that's such a great feeling when you start learning new skills.

Oh and I found a home for this little project:

He's now winging his way to Rachel's new nephew, glad it's going to a sweet newborn baby boy :)

Fabric Shopping:

Went looking for yellow and white fabric to finish the Telephone Table project



 



 

No, none of it is yellow and white but it would have been a waste of a trip if I'd come away empty handed.

 

The grey bundle was £5 - cushions I think.  No idea about a use for the girlie print, 2 metres for £10 if I remember correctly.

 

 

 

 My little niece C has just started ballet classes - this is going to be a dress for her (using the Lisette pattern below as a starting point)

 

 

 

Absolute bargain, 2.5 metres found in a charity shop, I plan for this to be a summer dress for me

 

 

Patterns:

 

All half price in the Jaycotts sale (which finishes on the 12th of April I believe)

I have plans and fabrics for all of them

60p in a charity shop - going to use it as a slip pattern

Finished Object:



 

 

 

An Itty Bitty Baby dress for My Girlie's friend's little girl (goodness, try saying that fast) - I've never used the free Made by Rae pattern before, it's great, I already have 2 more cut out.

Do you remember the special maternity dress?  Well, this was made with the remnants.  If I take S's maternity dress in now the twins are born, she and Baby I can be matchy/matchy :)

Then I had a birthday - 24 again!:

Beautiful cake made for me by My Girlie :)

 

These are just a selection of my gifts, the crafty themed ones:

Table top with adjustable legs - so I can finally cut out and work standing up. 
I have real issues with my back, it's been playing up over the last month or so and I've struggled to sew anything.
 This is going to help so much.

 Sewing books from the lovely bunch at Sewing Group

 

Gorgeous nesting bags from Sam - what a wonderful surprise

 And then yesterday I went on a trip to London with Sewing Club - but I think I'll do a separate post for that one - breathe a huge sigh of relief!

 

If you're still here at this point I'm impressed with your stamina :)

x



 



 

 

By Hand London - Kickstarter

Have you seen that the ladies at By Hand London have an exciting new plan:

Design and print your own fabric

 

This is such a brilliant idea - they're using Kickstarter to try to raise the funds, you can find out more about it over here

 

My OH has supported some Kickstarter ideas in the past - such a great way to get involved with a good idea.

 

My pledge is in, I wish them every success, fingers crossed they'll meet their target of £35000 for the equipment and software they need.

 

I keep thinking of  more and more ideas I'd love to have on my own fabric

x

Crafty Happenings - Weeks 8-10

Hello!

We're not talking about my inability to post a weekly post, well, weekly.  Suffice to say I've been rushing around like a blue  a little busy and functioning entirely outside my comfort zone - anybody else fancy speaking to a conference of 400+ people about the wonderful work they do for an organisation that will no longer exist ... at 4 days notice?  I was torn between honoured and scared witless - but I did it, and without falling up the stairs to the stage which was the stuff of my nightmares!

Right, stop wittering woman, this is what I've actually been up to ...

 

 Don't you just love this kitchen fabric?  This was a bag for My Girlie's flatmate - a little birthday gift.  She has a red Kitchenaid so this was perfect

 

 

 

 

I made it at Sewing Club, we meet about once a month - I entirely failed to take photos this time which is sad because we had a super time and I actually made a card for Emmie, the first one I've made in months, I should have evidence!

 I found these in a charity shop - I love old notions.  They were going to charge me 10p for both - I couldn't take them for that so we settled on a £1 - apparently they're not used to people haggling upwards :)

 

 

And I got this brilliant pile of things from Freecycle, the lady had inherited a box of stuff and didn't want to throw it away.

 

There's was lots of stuff I couldn't use but my little 3 year old niece took them home for her craft box so we both had a happy pile of useful things.

 

Isn't this beauty? £20 from eBay.  I'm having fun finding things for my daughter's bedroom as she's taken all her furniture to her new flat.  I can't have a double bedroom standing empty - thought I'd get creative.  This is going to be white with a yellow interior eventually.

 

I've been very busy sanding, priming and painting, all still works in progress

When P and I drove to pick it up the lady who was selling it was clearing her Mum's house, she'd sadly passed away at the age of 86.  She was glad the desk was going to a crafter, I found the knitting needle inside when I got home.

 



 

Just visualise the yellow interior :)

 

 

Imagine my delight when we got there and found this too - £5, I kid you not!

 

No, it doesn't go with the wallpaper - I'm still at the thinking stage with this one :)

 

And this makes me very happy - it's going to be a bedside cabinet/seat

Try and imagine white paint and yellow and white fabric OK?

 

The best bit was we'd driven to collect the desk in my mini - I could not leave without any of these things - P had an interesting time making them fit in the back.

We drove all the way home with me barely able to see over the lampshade on my lap - and holding the lamp stand so that it didn't keep hitting him in the back of the head!

 

 

Finally found a use for the small piece of yellow vintage fabric I bought last March in Chester.

 

Foxes and rabbits and bears - oh my!

 

And finished the baby blanket I've been planning with the fabric I bought in San Francisco.

 

 

 Two more bags - both identical, one is for My Boy's girlfriend, she was with me when I bought the fabric and I know she likes it - just need to get it in the post.

 

And a Baby Tag Blanket from scraps - no idea who for, this was an idea I was trying for using up odds and ends from other projects.

 

 

And another bag from leftovers for my work colleagues wife - who bakes cakes for charity.

 

That's it - perhaps not masses to show for 3 weeks but lots of finished items - and given my tendency to be an Excellent Starter and the Master of WIPS I'm pretty pleased with my progress :)

 

Now I just need to find some time to catch up with all the blog posts I've been missing.

x