I made something!!

Made from this book, with stash fabric, for a friends daughter.
Looking forward to making another for my niece (already cut out!!)
Loving making things that somebody can wear, but wishing I had a girl as girls clothes are easier than boys!!!
(the pattern for this dress is in June's Sew magazine )

FIVE

Happy Birthday Cameron!

Our 3rd boy is 5 today...I always think 5 is the absolute end of toddlerhood... :(
The birthday bunting was put up last night - the cake was made by big brother W (the family cake expert) and decorated by everyone........

Cards and pressies have been opened - noise has been made!!!
(the guitar and mic stand were all he wanted so whats a mummy to do!!! They can always 'run out of batteries' later!!)
The handmade element of his gift has been made ...

the sun is sadly not shining, so we are going to play at home today, there are 3 friends coming for tea (no party this year...jaded mum I'm afraid..I just couldn't stomach the organisation!!) and daddy is getting home midweek so we can put candles on the cake and sing Happy Birthday!
(help me tidy up more like!!)
I will be spending the day wondering how on earth 5 years went past so quickly!!!


don't forget the ric rac giveaway over at Patch....

round up...

Thank You all so much for your happy birthday wishes. I had a great mothers day/birthday 24 hours!!!This week I have eaten way to much cake...something that will have to stop after my shopping trip on Friday where I discovered I am getting rather too round to where nice clothes!!
I opened more lovely pressies, including one of thesefrom my friend who knows me so well!
I have been sewing....a birthday gift for a friends son's 1st birthday.
I decided that this year part of everyones gifts for birthdays etc will be handmade. I have been 100% successful so far...bunting for a friend of C's...candles for mothers day...this softie for afore mentioned baby!!!(Mum's birthday is next and I am going to make her a bag, and get her a cake stand I think..she was eyeballing one in John Lewis on Friday!!!)I have also made some things for the colour swap and flower swap I signed up for. So can't show those...but looks like I'll be ready to send ON TIME!!! (Be a bit embarrassing if I was late sending my own swap out hehehe!!)I have added a couple of things to the Easter Giveaway parcel...I have made a cute spring/easter tote bag and you can see a wooden chicken on a stick peeping out!!There is still another week before the computer chooses...time to get your name down if you haven't already!!And thats been my week!!
I am still busy working on my new job, I think I will be able to make a grand announcement this week!! But for now I am going to have an early night..read my new magazine (failing on the no mag buying rule I set myself....although only sewing mags are finding their way home with me!!!) and enjoy my 80p reduced roses in my 50p thrifted jug.........

applique

a recent make....appliqued and embroidered on a linen backing and then framed....but I'm thinking she would look good on a cushion or a wallhanging......

(I'll add it to the list hehehe!!!)

Wordless Wednesday....

Otherwise known as 'What I've made Wednesday'

Patchwork cushion with heart applique for Ginger Pudding.

Small tote bag lined with heart fabric sent to Lissy Lou for her Red for Heart event...

patchwork cushions

This weekend was all about making cushions!

The string patch cushion was made from the smaller (because I went wrong) patches from my first attempt!!

I then deliberately cut another couple smaller and made a cushion front (it has a white and multi coloured spot envelope back)

I decided to turn the hexes I had started to sew together into a cushion after all. I figured that if they bugged me now then I probably wouldn't be able to muster up enough enthusiasm to turn it into a big quilt...the big quilt will be more carefully planned.
I backed it with a dress I rescued from the to be ebayed pile.
In the meantime, I am getting organised. I will sew up all the hexagon patches before I arrange them in a 'random' pattern...and I am getting a lot of pleasure from seeing them in my new filing system (shoe box!!) Some of my new favourites, fabric gifted to me by Gem.

Thank you for signing up for the colour swap..if you haven't already...comment on this post by Monday 22nd.....if you are feeling particularly full of mojo, there is another lovely swap here.

patchwork

My latest ongoing project...my hexy patchwork...taking shape...v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y!!! I love doing it but it does take a while to look like its going anywhere when you are time limited like me.

I have lots of patches made up...I made a decision that no 2 patches on my quilt (yes quilt..I aim high!!) will be the same so I have made a good start cutting squares from my stash....
Some more squares ready to go....I still have a shelf left to snip from....but I have been greatly helped along on the no two patches the same thing by a lovely blogging lady who wanted to do a swap for her string patchwork (you have to scroll past Mary's simply stunning almost finished hexagon quilt to get to the part where you see her simply stunning string patchwork patches!!) I asked Mary if I could swap strips for squares and now I have a pile of fabric squares to play with and deep envy of Mary's fabric stash!!!!!Whilst cutting out strips (even with a rotary...most definately NOT my favourite job, the cutting bit) I decided to cut double and attempt some string patches myself...too late for this challenge...but I plan to make a few!! In the mean time...I found a way to keep a certain someone occupied for a whole half hour. (excuse the yoghurt coated jumper) Laying out the strips of fabric...and I swear I also saw him stroke them as he lined them up!!! I have high hopes for this boy!!

purling

Whilst we were away my lovely husband celebrated his birthday. We marked the occasion by having a leisurely breakfast where nobody spilt anything, then catching the metro to catch the Staten Island Ferry. This would provide us with a marvellous...and free..view of the Statue of Liberty. It was cold, and windy, and wet ...and lovely husband was underwhelmed by her size!!!( I quote...hmmm thought it would be bigger!!!!) But it was lovely. Even lovlier was that after we had got off the ferry, back on, then off again in Manhatten, we caught the metro once more up to SoHo, heading for Sullivan Street. Here. I'll spare you the lousy map reading tales and the walking round in circles ones too and get onto the fabric I bought for myself. Whilst lovely husband stood like a spare part!! Not many men would be prepared to do this for their wives on their birthday lol!!!

It was my turn to be underwhelmed....whilst the little shop was full of beautiful quilting fabrics...there was nothing there apart from a couple of designs that blew me away.

Now in the shops defence, I am most certainly not a quilter and have an untrained eye, but I was just expecting some more 'wow' factor fabrics....like lots of them on this site.

The staff were friendly..left me alone to dither whilst being there to help...and the prices were good. We pay a lot of money for quilting fabric in the UK!! Most of the fabrics were about $9 a yard so half a yard cost the same as a FQ over here.

These photo's were taken in my bay window....no idea why the light is so awful.

From the left the 1st 2 are Aunt Grace Classics - I love the blue and satsuma orange together.

The middle 3 are Aunt Grace Authentics - these will be turned into a hexy patchwork lap quilt...

The next 3 are Amy Butler - from her new Love range.

I also got a yard of this Alexander Henry nursery print...well it said nursery to me...I will save this for making new baby gifts.

Apart from the authentics, I bought because I liked, with no project in mind, which is why my haul is quite restrained. I had no projects in mind and as I said before nothing else totally bowled me over....now if I'd have found other fabric shops the story could be very different!! Next time we go I shall research fabric shops with more care!!

sleepover swap

I signed up for A Thrifty Mrs's Sleepover Swap, ooh ages ago....and this week both received and sent out my swap parcel.

Caroline was my swap partner (who very kindly agreed to my request to delay our sending after the deadline had passed as I was swamped!!), and on my return from yet another weekend away (this time a family wedding in the north) my neighbour handed me a lovely box with my name on :)

I am afraid that much to A's disgust I had to open there and then, leaving the unpacking to him...

Knowing of my love for our friend Cath, Caroline has made me a sleep mask and lavender filled mouse in one of my favourite, much coveted CK prints.......

More CK lovelyness with some hand cream, along with a nail file and gorgeous nail polish.

A lovely mug full of yummy hot choc and..........

very appropriate sweeties lol!!!
Next to be opened was this beautiful candle holder.....destined for my bathroom when its decorated.....currently in our bedroom......I love this Enid Blyton book, I have had no luck lately in my hunt for EB books so opening this one was a gasp out loud happy moment :), I have a sweet strawberry bookmark too.

I can make us all some delicious muffins.....
with my new book and ice cream coloured cases :)

Thank You so much Caroline for a fab fab swap parcel, I have loved everything :0

Caroline has blogged here about her parcel...but here are a few pics of what I made for her. I had an inspiration block but finally decided on what to make.

So great minds think alike and I made a sleep mask, with a matching reversible headband..
After a few false starts and crafting disasters I made a couple of padded hangers....

This was my take on a dream catcher/ mobile/hangy thingy :)
And a bag (yes 'that' pattern again hehehe!!!) made in an Ikea print
Thanks Thrifty one for hosting a great swap, looking forward to the next one lol!!!!