Rambling Catch Up

Hello there! Things have been really busy at work for the last few weeks so my crafting time has been sadly limited. Good busy, in fact marvellous busy but sadly also restructuring busy just when some great pieces of work are coming together - I am 'cream crackered'! Still, not a total wash out because ...

Firstly, I finally completed this doll sized quilt - I know it's small but finished - so I'm giving myself a tick!

Totally made up of leftovers and scraps and went to my friend's little girl who loves it :)

 

Secondly, I've reached Sewlution Phase 3

 

It's here, my pattern has arrived from Craftsy to accompany the Sew The Perfect Fit course.



Seen here with the sheet I found in a charity shop for £2 - perfect for my muslin

I need to go back to check on iPlayer but I think this is the pattern Ann used on GBSB?

 

So that's it then, no excuses, I've an FBA waiting to be conquered! As soon as I get the next 100 items off my list!

 

Thirdly, I'm on the final stretch of "Operation Wedding Stationery" - the big day is 18th of May so, come what may, I'll be done and dusted by then!  I'm nearly there, the end is in sight, I might actually have time to sew stuff. 

 

Fourthly, didn't you just love GBSB? I thought they were all marvellous and I did think Ann deserved to win, frankly how could anybody compete with 75 years of experience. I'm glad there's going to be a new 8 episode series and expect the format will be tweaked and improved.  I have my fingers crossed that certain blogland sewers will put themselves forward because it was such fun seeing Tilly and recognising her - I sound like a stalker, oh boy!

 

And Lastly, bet you're glad we got to this bit, I am joining in MMM '13 and loving it - I have even exceeded my pledge this week ... frankly I am clueless what I'm going to be wearing next week mind you, I am dangerously close to running out of stuff.  Still, I am encouraged by Zoe and have a couple of refashion items to tackle.  Talking of encouragement, the other participants are so supportive, I'm so glad I didn't bottle it and drop out.

 

Right, back to the Wedding stuff, those favour pouches are not going to make themselves!

 

x

 

 

 

Wedding Vows

I know this doesn't look like an inspiring pile of card but it represents a big tick on my mammoth 'To Do' list

Just remnants and off cuts left

• Day invitations - DONE
• Delivered to the Bride - DONE
• RSVPs received - evening list revised - DONE
• Evening invitations - DONE
• Delivered to the Bride - DONE

Whew - cannot tell you how good it feels.

Now just need to crack on with confetti pouches, favour pouches, place cards, table names, order of service and seating plan!

I'm making a vow, a declaration, a pledge - I'm not doing any more weddings.

I love this particular bride dearly, a sweet colleague, but this is it, I'm done. Wedding stationery isn't a one off creative piece, it's solid days and days of work on the same thing. Actual work, I'm working for nothing, on my precious days off. It doesn't feel creative, it's repetitive. That's mad isn't it?

I'm pants at saying 'No' - I don't like disappointing people, this is not one of my better traits. Perhaps even a bit pathetic because this lovely bride checked it was OK and I kept saying 'Yes'. Oh dear, am I hopeless?

Please tell me I'm not alone - so, if you make things, how do you deal politely with the conversations that start "Oh, you crochet/knit/sew/bake don't you? Could you make .. ? By next week/tomorrow/this afternoon"
Every time I say 'yes' to something I don't want to make I take away from the possibility of doing something more positive - I have a whole heap of little dresses I'm waiting to make for charity.
I think I need to be a bit less accommodating - I'm not comfortable, I'm off to practice ... has anyone got any 'go to' phrases I can use?
x

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Health Warning - may cause nausea

I know I said I wouldn't buy any more fabric, I clearly don't need it (I am spending today sorting my stash) but this lot was free so that doesn't even count :)

So many quilting fabrics are just yummy

I was given a gift voucher by my colleagues when I left my old job, this was so kind of them but also a bit of a joke - I'm a notoriously rubbish shopper, could I manage to spend it before the expiry date - November 2013?

The floral is the same print as one Above, so good I bought it twice!
 

I had to spend the voucher on myself (so my immediate thought of using it for Christmas gifts went out of the window), I needed a tangible thing (so Plan B to use it in a restaurant was out) and I couldn't give it away because of course they wanted to know what I had bought for myself. The voucher was for Bluewater shopping centre, I had hundreds of options - for me this actually makes it worse, I know I'm a muppet!

Now added to this I had other vouchers for Christmas - seriously, what are people trying to do to me? Shopping centres are not my natural habitat. I'm allergic to clothes shopping - I come over all grumpy and that's infectious.

Well I've spent it all - the relief, I can't tell you! I got ankle boots in the sale in January, £20 reduced from £60, a bargain always makes me smile. I spent the other Christmas vouchers on jeans - I'm being realistic, I do not see me-made jeans sewing on my horizon, I just don't have the skills at this point, likely not ever!

Then I spent all the rest yesterday on the fabric - it's still for me, it's just not an outfit. Look closely though, just beautiful - and I even know what they're for.

There is more - but it's for a gift so at the moment it's under wraps ;)

I was ages choosing, P patiently carried bolts around whilst I dithered, and he did the mental arithmetic on how much money I had left if I bought 50cm of this but 60cm of that. My brain simply can't do maths in a fabric shop - sensory overload. Apparently the fabrics themselves don't make P feel heart-skippy* but seeing me in a fabric shop does - and that, right there, is why I married him!

And here, for your immediate use, is a bucket - in case my last comment was nausea inducing!

* Definition of 'heart-skippy' - physical reaction of crafter when buying supplies.
Common symptoms include repetitious stroking of craft materials, loss of ability to make a decision and flushed skin. 
 
Recommended treatment - regular exposure to the cause of the reaction will build up some resistance, 'little and often' is the key. Post exposure, a sit down with a cuppa and a cake usually restores equilibrium - repeat dose if required.

Jacq
xx

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Hello, how've you been? So lovely to see you!

Hello there! There will be waffling below, you have been warned!

Well I've been rubbish at blog related things, I need to catch up with reading my favourites, I have quite a backlog to read which I'm looking forward to, my blog reader is full to bursting!

The dreaded 'flu is pretty much gone just leaving us with a general 'bleugh' feeling - I'd like a £1 for every time I get a 'you look pasty' (this is my natural colouring!), 'are you tired?' or my personal favourite 'you're not yourself' (really?) comment, it would be quite a good charitable fundraiser! Unfortunately lots of friends and family now seem to have it (not caught from us, we pretty much put ourselves in quarantine), this includes my FiL so I'm hoping he makes a speedy recovery.

So there's been a lot of general catching up to do at work, and at home (honestly the place is a tip, the hoover needs dusting like the rest of the house!) that has meant crafty goodness has taken a bit of a back seat - most importantly we had a very belated birthday celebration for P, just a trip to the cinema and a meal, we've got neither the energy nor the inclination for a wild night out! I'd recommend 'Hitchcock' if you're thinking about seeing it, great acting and I was loving the clothes, I want Helen Mirren's red swimsuit, honestly she looks fab through the whole film.

My crafting has been mostly of the planning variety but here's where I'm at, and surprisingly there is some progress:

A's crochet blanket

Working on the granny square/flower row. I'm loving this blanket, it's a joy to be making it up as I go along. It's going to take a long time (330 stitches per row) but it's a pleasure. I have some idea of patterns I'm going to include but it's evolving - I think it needs some wiggly lines. Joy, joy, joy :D

F's & A's patchwork quilts

I might be a little bit obsessed with patchwork - just look at this pile of fabric, doesn't it make your heart skip a little bit?

I think these are my favourites

My SiL asked for 2 single quilts. A will be moving into a big girl's bed and the children share a room. The only direction I've had is that there must be some animals, F wants blues and greens, A loves 'lellow', orange and green. Basically I've got plenty of scope.

So I'm using this tutorial Katie's Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co

It's going to take longer as I didn't find suitable pre-cuts so am working with fabric from the bolt, lots of cutting. Given the size of the prints (especially for F) the 16 patches are being replaced by 4 patches so that the images can be seen better. And I need to change the size a bit.

I only need to cut 76 of each colour of the little squares!

This project is making me happy :D

Patchwork cushion for our bed

Nearly there, just need to make the back.

Patchwork bags

These are a practice exercise, and not yet finished, but I've sold 2 of them already! I offered to give them away but have been forcefully paid - very bizarre! I'm hanging on to the green one for myself.

J&C's Wedding stationery

• Day Invitations done and sent out, bride & groom happy - phew!
• Evening invitations - bits cut out, ready for assembly once Day RSVPs are in and I have final guest list

• Confetti pouches, favour pouches, place cards, table names, order of service & seating plan - all planned, gathering supplies

All brides should be happy, I'm so pleased that J is all smiles

Cards

I seem to have a list but am back to enjoying papercrafting so that's good. Need to make 4 this weekend.

PLAN with Sam

Must get moving forward gain now my brain is back up and running. This is going to be exciting :)

New blouse - pink silk from India, gift from my brother Yoda

So I'm definitely using this fabric as I need a top to go under the feather cardigan and I think the colour is perfect, you can't tell from the photo but it perfectly matches one of the feathers. I love grey but, particularly in my current state, light shades can leave me looking a bit washed out. I think this pink will lift it a bit. I can't decide on the pattern, I just want something simple, mainly because I've never plucked up the courage to sew with silk before, do I just make a Sorbetto because it's a comfort pattern for me? Any suggestions gratefully received!

Skirt - UFO - McCalls M5934 blogged about in October for goodness sake!

I'm ashamed at how little is required to move this from UFO to Finished - totally disproportionate to how long Doris has been modelling it. It's become clear to me that if I put something to one side I loose all momentum, there's a lesson for me right there, I need to just do it!

Mending pile

None of this is mine! I have a tie for my brother (yeah, I know, still not done), a blouse for Y (we share an office) and a jumper for the husband of my boss! Every time someone brings me a mending job I make a clear disclaimer that I'm pants and it will take ages - and they still give them to me. The guilt is terrible!

Crochet Club

I made a Get Well card for a colleague and D, who I know vaguely, commented on it and Y (although what she's basing this on I don't know - I haven't fixed her blouse!) told her 'that's not all she makes'. By the time I got off the phone I'd apparently agreed to teach D to crochet. It has snowballed, I still haven't met everyone in the building where I'm now based and complete strangers have rocked up at my desk to ask when the club is happening so we're going for it. I'm hoping this is a good way to get to know people and a good stress buster for staff as it will encourage taking a lunch break at least once a week. I'm gathering up spare hooks, safety pins and leftover balls of yarn - I've set a 'no outlay' rule so anybody can have a go without spending a penny. We'll see how it goes, we start on Friday. I think I should take cake :)

Sewlutions Jar

Did you see Karen checked up on 3 contributors to The Jar? Good grief, the fear factor has kicked in - I need to at least start thinking about this in case Karen pops by for an audit inspection! I need to tackle my bust urgently!

Whew - I think I'd better crack on. Sorry for rambling, it feels so good to be back to 'normal'!

X

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Slow, Slow ... Very, very Slow

Sunny little flower centres, ready to be included in my daughter's blanket when I'm ready to work on it again.

Hello there!

Well my arrogant assumption that I could motor on through 'flu proved to be a nonsense. I went for the 'mind over matter' approach and went back to work on Monday and Tuesday - and then ended up literally flat out on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I felt so ill I wasn't even bored!

Unable to do any crafting I've been catching up with reading blogs, watching Youtube tutorials on how to quilt and browsing Pinterest. I thought I'd gather some inspiration for when I felt better. But now I'm starting to feel overwhelmed - if I begin immediately I've got enough ideas on the list to keep me going for about 100 years!

And then I read Tasia's post on her Sewaholic blog here called 'A Little Less Inspiration, A Little More Action' and it totally made sense to me. If my list is too long I literally grind to a halt because I don't know what to tackle first. And some of the projects I've found on Pinterest look so beautiful that there's no way I can create their equal so that I'm almost disappointed with my efforts before I even start - now that's a ridiculous level of 'beating yourself up' even for me!

So, I'm back to what I said in my response to Sam's Leibster Award questions:

11. What is your number one crafting tip (sewing or otherwise)? Remember that it's about the process. I need to practice this a bit more, I'm the worst for putting pressure on myself, but when you just concentrate on the joy of making something you often produce your best results. Life can be so busy, and many of us have jobs that don't produce a tangible item. To be able to make something with your own hands is wonderful, and if you can give it as a gift or teach somebody else the skills then that's pretty special.




I said that, on the 6th of January - oh how easily I ignore my own advice! This needs to be my daily mantra I think, until it becomes automatic.

And as tempted as I am I know I can't join in all the fabulous sewalongs and joining in opportunities that present themselves. I'd love to make a polka dot version of New Look 6000 as part of Winnie's Polka Dot Frock Fest but as I have neither the pattern nor suitable fabric I am going to watch from the sidelines and enjoy other people's creations. The same goes for Debi's Sew Grateful week which I'm really looking forward to reading about.

Prepping wedding samples - this is my number 1 priority, I'll make myself a new blouse when the invitations are finished, a reward to myself :)

So, I've cleared the decks (physically as well as metaphorically, amazing what a tidy workspace does for me). I have a manageable list of projects and I'm focusing on one at a time. The '15 minutes' system of crafting for short time periods totally doesn't work for me - it takes me that long to assemble my thoughts!

A few test patchwork projects (I need to build up to those quilts) all pressed and neatly hanging up until I'm firing on all cylinders and ready to crack on.

Of course, with the lingering effects of the 'flu, clearing the decks has left me with no energy for actually making stuff today! Small steps :)

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Guess the name of the winner!

Whilst I know I am lucky in life I've never considered myself to be terribly lucky with things like raffles and competitions. However, for the second time since I started blogging I have won a prize, this time in Jane's giveaway here. Handmade Jane is one of the first sewing blogs I started to follow so I am extra thrilled, not only to win a prize but one made by Jane herself.

The apron of loveliness ably modelled by Doris - sadly I am still in my pjs as this flu is lingering.

I love the fabric and particularly that the backing fabric is blue with white polka dots. In fact if Jane were a fabric this is the one I think she would be, probably with a red trim of some sort! Tell me I'm not the only one who associates bloggers with fabric? Of course So, Zo would have anchors on hers, perhaps birds, definitely navy/green combo. I think Tilly would be a brown polka dot self drafted button back blouse. Meg will always for me be a comic strip skirt and Amanda is a giraffe print skirt - well, until she comes up with a skirt made of cookies! And I know exactly the dress and colour combo I associate with Sam - and she hasn't even made it yet!

I'm not sure what I'd be - is that a bit sad? Perhaps I haven't found my way yet, I've always avoided clothes shopping so perhaps I don't have any style - oh boy!

Look, even Jane's wrapping paper matches ...

So, I've not been very productive, being ill and all, but I did finish this ripple blanket so I can concentrate on my daughter's one. And I tidied up my craft room a bit, it was sadly in need!

Right, off for a lie down!

Jacq

X

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Christmas Goodies

I bet I'm not the only one who, despite loving Christmas, always feels like I've run a marathon!

We had a pretty quiet Christmas for us, only 7 for dinner, but we've been visiting friends and family, had family to stay and then rushed back to work. I'm tired, and missing the fact that I've got no crafting done at all, but we had a good time and I got some lovely presents, these are just the craft related ones.

All these from my OH

This book from my Wish List from my in-laws - now perhaps I can figure out what to do with all the excess fabric in the back of bodices!

And another from my son - I am very keen to get to grips with knits but I've been putting it off as I don't have an overlocker. Time to up my game I think, perhaps this is the best route to avoiding fit issues?

These from my daughter, isn't the hanger fab?

And these surprises from my good friend S

I know, spoilt rotten.

Despite this bountiful haul I might just have bought myself a little something from America ...

Isn't it beautiful? Totally inspired by the exhibition at Somerset House I've been trawling for patterns, vintage Valentino, fab-u-lous! I have just the fabric from Japan, what a happy coincidence.

I have so many plans for the New Year, I'm really looking forward to getting going.

I'm planning on making the version in red on the pattern envelope

This is Plan No 1, totally inspired by Sam's coat I'm going to tackle a simpler project but my first outerwear. I loved this version over at Kestrel Finds and Makes, when I first saw it nearly a year ago. I'm planning on lining it, although it doesn't call for that in the instructions. Now I just need to figure out the best method for pre-shrinking/steaming the fabric which is 70% wool.



Realistically, nothing much is going to get created until all our visitors have gone and we're back to what passes as normal round here. In the meantime I've made a start, I've watched the first 4 episodes of the Project Runway dvd - small steps!

Right, I'm off to Brighton for a surprise lunch for a great friend who is celebrating A Birthday of Significance. I'll finish with an entirely gratuitous Christmas photo of my OH and my little niece - just when I was all puffed up with pride that she can say my name I discover she thinks he is Auntie Jacq!

Wishing you the very best of everything in the New Year, Happy 2013.

Jacq

X

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Happy John Denver & The Muppets Day!

I've mentioned before, and I know we're not alone, my family have many traditions at Christmas time. Some started when my children were small, others got added as new people joined the family - we like to be inclusive, there's always room for another special tradition!

This one dates back to 1976. I was 10, it was Brother Number 2's first Christmas and my Dad brought home a vinyl album. It has been played from December 1st every year since, on a daily basis through the Christmas period. It got a bit scratched over time, it jumps on one track and Brother Number 4 always sings it that way because that's how he learnt it!

As we've grown up and moved all over the place everyone has got their own copy. In Wales, London, Kent & California today is John Denver & The Muppets Day. We play it to put up the tree, we open presents to it, I wrap gifts to it, this is the background music for my family.

It's a proper singalong album - you cannot help but be festive. The world over we're all belting out The Twelve Days of Christmas - and Mum does the 'b-dum, bom, bom' Miss Piggy bit wrong every time ... For 36 years!

Enjoy!

JD & The Muppets 'Twelve Days of Christmas'

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Start as I mean to go on

Well the day has arrived, I officially start my new job this week - I am very excited.

There hasn't been a great deal of crafting round here as I've spent the last couple of weeks juggling both roles. I made some cards for my close colleagues at work but haven't photographed them.

It's been an emotional few days, I'm really positive about my new job and am only moving to another office in the same organisation but I've worked with a great bunch for 7 years and there have been a lot of tears - mostly not from me funnily enough! I wasn't well prepared for other people's emotions - I just thought about keeping myself together.

I have today as my non-working day this week but from this point onwards I have Wednesday off. So I'm starting as I mean to go on, my precious day off is not going to be for chores.

Today I am working towards:

• finishing a crochet baby blanket - I can't do the border as I'm waiting for one ball of turquoise yarn which is out of stock but I'm determined to finish the stripes this week
• Finishing up a couple of crochet washcloths that I've carried round on journies. I think they'll be good stocking fillers
• Making a storage bin for my brother, Han Solo. I taught him to crochet last Christmas and he's asked Father Christmas for a yarn stash! I'm using this pattern for Denim Do-it-all Bins using a pair of my husband's old Levis. I've bought some denim needles for my machine. Fingers crossed I can do it
• Making 2 crochet hook rolls, one for Han and the other for my good friend S, I taught her to crochet in January she now has significant stash storage! She's stuck to blankets this year, I've promised to help her get her head round working to a pattern this year. I've not decided on which pattern to use for the crochet roll yet, might be this one from Sew, Mama Sew!

Right, I'd better crack on! :)

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Public Indecency?

No, this is not a reference to Karen's hilarious True Confessions posts over at 'Did you make that?' - apparently there are a lot of near naked sewers out there!

I'm talking about crafting in public, I have a crochet hook in my bag at all times and I'm not generally afraid to use it. However, it occasionally provokes some strong reactions, so when is it OK to whip out a bit of knitting or crochet? Are there social conventions I'm not aware of?

I started to think about this the other day, I was copied into a comment thread on Facebook. It went a bit like this:

• I'm in a seminar and whilst the speaker is talking I can see a lady in front of me knitting/crocheting!

• Wow, that's a bit cheeky.

• If I was the speaker that would really put me off!

• So she's not even paying attention!

• I can see her too!

• Is it Jacq? (this is the point I got copied in by my bestest friend - who staggeringly can knit with her eyes closed, blows my mind!)

I did reply, said I'd quite like to be crocheting in a meeting but it wasn't me. I pointed out I actually found it helped me concentrate (I wouldn't pick a complicated pattern or take a king size blanket project!) and that there was a lot of evidence to back that up, especially if you were skilled (like my J with her eyes shut).


What I didn't say, because my politeness gene does sometimes kick in, was I bet the lady knitting/crocheting (why can't people tell the difference? I don't much care for sport but I can distinguish between football and rugby!) was paying more attention than the attendees posting on Facebook ... And I've been fuming with myself ever since for not making that point and defending that anonymous crafter more robustly. Especially as it was a conference for educational professionals - I'd hope there would be some understanding of kinaesthetic learners :(


So forward wind to this week and it's still bothering me. I'm in the handover period between my old and new jobs and attended a Conference in London on Monday with my new boss. I've got a little crochet project in my giant work bag. I happily did some on the train, most people don't comment at all and, if they do, I've generally found it to be along the lines of "oh that reminds me of my Gran", which I think is lovely.

But I restrained myself at the actual Conference, I'm still in my handover period and wanting to make a good impression. I'd met lots of new people and was really focussed on taking in new information. I spent the morning taking copious notes. But in the afternoon session I would actually have listened better if I'd crocheted. And I looked round the room at people tapping away on iPhones, iPads and laptops and wondered how many were taking notes and how many were catching up with Facebook or writing their shopping list.



Would you be offended if you were a speaker and somebody started to knit or crochet? I've delivered lots of training, it wouldn't bother me at all although I don't tend to go for the 'stand at the front and talk' method of training so there wouldn't be much crafting time. Interestingly I know trainers who get irritated if delegates eat snacks too. That doesn't bother me either, a hungry person is not paying attention. Perhaps I'm just more tolerant than I thought!

I know when I get settled in my new role I'm going to get to a point where I'm going to need to decide to just do it, this is who I am. Perhaps I start small at a little internal meeting and see how it goes. I spoke to some colleagues and one of the young men in the office (not a crafter) said "you're always juggling several things at once, passing me notes with the answer to questions I have when you're on the phone dealing with something else. Why wouldn't you be able to crochet as well?". I quite liked that, I might make myself a badge!

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