Hairspray!

Has anyone else out there been to see the musical 'Hairspray' - IT IS FANTABULOUS!!!!! A birthday treat from my friend Elaine was a trip to London to see this great show and it did not disappoint. Michael Ball, of course, was brilliant ( I am a big fan of his), but so were the whole cast - it's a real 'feel good' show and you come out dancing!!! I know it's on/been on in America - is it showing in Australia and other countries too?

If you get a chance to see it, don't miss out, although if you're in the UK and want to see Michael Ball in it, you'll need to get in before the end of July, because then Brian Conley (comedian) takes over from him.

I thought I'd better post about something as it's been a couple of weeks since I did while I've been making rag dolls. In case you're reading this Kerry, I've finished your 'Tilda' doll other than finding some shoes for her, so she should be on her way to you very soon!

Birthday treats!

It was my birthday yesterday and these are a few of the pressies I had - beautiful roses, a lovely plant holder in the shape of a tricycle (I love things like that!) and an applique book with a some fat quarters. Others pressies were various nice smellies and trips to a couple of shows, so I can't show those of course. One was last week when my brother and SIL took me to see a great british comedian, Rob Brydon - he's really funny!! And next Saturday (16th) a friend is taking me to London to see the musical 'Hairspray' - can't wait for that as I'm a big musicals fan and this one looks particulary good.

I've managed to slip in a quick bit of sewing for myself whilst I wait for the fabric to finish my second Tilda doll order - it's the next part of the 'Sheep in the Willow' BOM - I'm always behind with this - this is the 'April' block. I shall have to make a special effort to get the 'May' block completed during May ..... but don't hold your breath will you? I wouldn't like to see you all expiring!!!



Bye for now!

Birthday pressie!

I know I haven’t posted for a while, but I am still busy working on the ‘Tilda’ dolls that Vivi and Kerry ordered from me – see ‘Tilda’ doll that I made for the ‘Secret Easter Swap’ here. There’s not too much to do on them now and I hope they will consider them worth the wait!

However, I do have something to post about! Deb (from New Zealand) and I have gradually become bloggy friends over recent months and what a lovely lady she is!

Not much more than a few weeks ago, Deb asked when my birthday is ...... and probably regretted it when she discovered that it was so soon – i.e Wednesday (6th May)!!!!

I know I’m early, but I couldn’t wait any longer!!!

Deb has made me the most beautiful wall-hanging and I love it. The colouring of the stitching and of the fabrics are so very me that it’s clear Deb made it with a lot of thought and consideration for my taste. I particularly like the green fabric on the front, and, well, all of it actually! I love the wire hanger and have asked Deb where she had it from as I’ve never seen one like this before on any websites I’ve looked at, and a hanger really does add a finishing touch to hangings don’t they? And look at the fabric label on the back – it’s so sweet! Deb’s stitching is so neat and I love the picture (and the words).

And as if that wasn’t enough, Deb also made me this lovely little pin cushion; look how small the patchwork is. It’s going straight into use too to replace the one I’ve been using for a few years now, but don’t actually like, but hadn’t had time to replace, so Deb’s will be my new one!

Thank you so much Deb for your thoughtfulness; I really value your friendship. And please appreciate readers that Deb has also been suffering from terrible migraine lately, but has still managed to complete my beautiful gifts and get them posted to me before my birthday – what a star! I’ve never suffered migraine thankfully and hope I never do (a bad headache is bad enough thank you!!!), but from what others say, it is almost unbearable.

I had a small family gathering today to celebrate my birthday rather than on Wednesday when everybody will be back at work (it's May Day Bank Holiday in the UK), and I will be good and wait until the 6th to open the rest of my presents ......... well, I’ll try to wait anyway!!!!! Yes 49 years old, not 9!!!!

Wallhanging

I’ve been working on two rag dolls this week. The ‘Tilda’ doll that I made for Katarina for the Easter Swap turned out to be quite popular with a few other ladies who make lovely cards with the ‘Tilda’ rubber stamps and, as a consequence, I have received two orders for a doll and have been busy with those.

So, the only thing that I can show this week is a wall hanging that I started over the Easter break. I’ve used some of the absolutely gorgeous Moda ‘Harvest Home’ fabric, which I just love (a lot)!! I decided to have a go at the pinwheel pattern (that is what it’s called, right?!). I haven’t attempted it before and had thought it would be relatively easy, but, for goodness sake, trying to sew all eight corners together is a bit of a pig (sorry, challenge)!!! Then I’m going to have a go at some proper needle turn appliqué – I’ve only ever done it with ‘Heat n’ Bond’, i.e. no hems and I shall do some simple appliqué on the side borders, but not until I’ve finished my ‘Tilda’ doll orders!!

Hope everyone has had a good weekend - back to the grindstone tomorrow!!!

2 more Giveaways!!

I've come across 2 more Giveaways!

Thearica at Pigtails and Quilts is very generously giving away 30 FQ's in celebration of her daughter's 30th birthday - and you can say which sort of fabrics you would like to receive if you're lucky enough to win - sounds great!

....... and then over at My Little Raggedy Blessings, Renae is hosting a surprise Giveaway. Renae make lovely things using really beautiful vintage images.

Go and check them both out and tell them I sent you!!

Happy Easter:0)

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!!!

That means eating loads and loads of chocolate until you feel sick - Right?!! Well, OK, that's not the true meaning of Easter (tis to me!!) - "oh, heathen" I hear you say!!!!

Here are a few piccies of my Easter display - I've not done one before, but felt inspired to after seeing other bloggers displays - reminds me that summer will be on its way soon (hopefully anyway). Have a lovely time with your families - I'm going to my brother's. And despite the fact that my nephews are now 22 & 19 years old respectively, they still want an Easter egg from Auntie Julia ...... and of course I can't say no to them!!

Have fun!!!

Weekend Easter project

Yippee – no more work for the next 7 days:0) I’ve got an extended Easter break – what a relief :0)

I spent last weekend making these Easter/Spring cones for some friends (hope they like them!!) and filled them with a little bag of Cadbury’s mini eggs – yummy (nearly didn’t get given away though, as I love Cadbury’s mini eggs!!!). The cones are from Nancy Halvorsen’s ‘Easy Does It For Spring’ Art to Heart pattern book. I have several of her books, but this is the first thing I've made from them!!

Easter Swap goodies and much excitement!!!

I had received my Easter swap package on Tuesday when I got home from work, but wasn’t sure whether I was allowed to open it straight away or whether we had to wait until Easter – nevertheless, by the end of the evening, it had, of course, been opened!!!! I simply couldn’t wait.

And this is what was inside, all the way from the very talented Kymberly from Oregon, USA – a really beautiful stitchery made up into a cushion pad using a beautiful lilac, floral fabric. I can’t believe how tiny the stitching is and SO neat – it put’s my embroidery skills to shame! THANK YOU SO MUCH Kymberly, I love my gift and will display it somewhere prominent. Kymberly also included a sweet little chick, which will go on my Easter tree (when I get/make one), some bunny tissues and some Easter chocolates ........ which were delicious !!!!!!!! Oh, flippin heck, was I supposed to save them until Easter Sunday ........ too late now I’m afraid!!!!!

And now, like so many other ladies, I can show what I’ve been working on recently for my Easter swap partner, Katarina from Sweden. When I first received the details of my gift recipient, I found it a bit of a challenge to know what to make as Katarina’s main craft is rubber stamping and she makes the most beautiful cards (she sews too from time to time, but mostly makes cards). I saw that she seemed to like the image of a sweet little girl called Tilda (not the Tone Finnegar one) made by Magnolia, which Katarina has used to make some really nice cards, and that’s where my inspiration came from. I love making rag dolls (as if you didn’t know), so I decided to design and make a rag doll based on the Tilda image. These are a couple of the Tilda rubber stamp images:-

Aren't they sweet? And this is my rag doll version of her:-

I was pleased with her, but still a bit apprehensive as to whether or not Katarina would like her too – not everyone loves rag dolls after all. Well, to say that Katarina was happy with her gift is an understatement – I had the most wonderful email from her to say thank you and how much she loves her ...... and that makes it all worth the while doesn’t it – putting a smile on somebody’s face?

This has been my first swap and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it – many thanks to Julie for organising it for us all – it must have been a bit of a nightmare!!

Sheep in the Willow

I’ve finished the next two instalments of my Primitive Gatherings ‘Sheep in the Willow’ BOM – this is February and March. I purchased all of the blocks last year and decided to set myself the ‘simple’ (!!!!!!) goal of completing one block each month. January I was going great guns!!!!! - but it didn't take me long to slip!!LOL Anyway, just in the nick of time before March is out, I’ve finished February and March ....... and I’ve taken ‘April’ out of its packet ready to do (positive thinking you see!!). They’re looking quite nice I think and will look better with some yummy homespun bordering them perhaps?

A Giveaway!

Pat at the Sewing Room is having a 'Giveaway' over here and there's a choice of prizes, so why not go and take a look!!

My Country Home

At last I’ve got something to show! This is the completed embroidery from the Tracy North, ‘I Luv Country’ pattern I won from Jo in her recent giveaway. The only thing I’ve changed from the pattern was to make it ‘My’ Country Home instead of ‘Our’ Country Home. It didn’t take too long and fortunately I had a lovely pine frame to put it in, which is just ideal – it doesn’t look too bad does it – I hope you agree. It seems ages – well, a while at least – since I posted anything, but that’s because I’ve been occupied with finishing my Easter swap goodies. Thankfully though, I have finished them and they are now winging their way over to ........... somewhere, oops, nearly gave it away then!!!!
What I am I going to tackle next I wonder?

Watercolours

As I'm not allowed yet to blog about my Easter swap thinggie, I thought to myself, "I know what, I'll impress everyone with a couple of my old watercolours" - tongue in cheek here of course. Neither of them are terribly clear unfortunately (maybe that should read fortunately!), but I didn't take the photographs, so it's the best I can get. The house used to belong to someone I worked for - it was a commission, but I think he was just being kind! And the other is of the High Street in Sherbourne in Dorset, where said person used to live.

I got into watercolours around 1995 and really fell in love with it, but as with so many things, it was so hard to find enough time (same goes for sewing eh) and it is a craft that you need to practice often to avoid becoming rusty as I now have, which in turn has led to me losing my confidence in my abilities. I haven't lost heart though; I shall probably go back to it perhaps when I'm retired, although, writing that down makes that seem too far away - work really does get in the way of my arts & crafts you know ..... oh well. These were some of my earliest paintings and I have painted better ones than these, I just haven't got photographs of any of them - I never thought to take any back then. I'm only an amateur painter, but would love to do much better.

Can't wait to show my Easter swap thinggie - the date is getting close now - I hope the recipient will like it!!

My Giveaway Prize

My lovely postman brought me a special parcel today. It was my ‘Giveaway’ prize from Jo at Home Sweet Home. As you can see, I’ve had a ‘Primitive Stitches’ pattern book and a pattern called ‘Our Country Home’, both by Tracey North of ‘I Luv Country’ and an absolutely gorgeous Yankee tart candle – really cinnamony (just made that word up!!) and country smelling – yum.

I don’t know what I shall make first from the pattern book! I love the ‘Happy Holidays Swag’ and the ‘Angel of Faith’ cushion cover and the ‘Primitive Wishes’ picture and the ‘Welcome’ star garland and ... and ... and ..........

A lot of thought has clearly gone into my prize as it is right up my street – THANK YOU SO MUCH JO!

And now I’m off to do a bit more work on my Easter swap gift – I’m getting on quite nicely with it now, but am not allowed to show yet. The sooner I finish it, the sooner I can start on my prize!!

Twins!!

Here I am again with my rag doll fad – a couple of Peter Rabbits! For the many ‘Tilda’ addicts out there, they’re actually made from the ‘Tilda’ Rabbit pattern which many of you ladies have also made. I wasn’t planning for them to turn out like this ..... they just sort of developed that way, as these things do! So I’ve ended up with a ‘Tilda’ Rabbit on a theme of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit. The coat is made from blue felt, the carrots from scraps of fabric and to make them a bit more ‘Peter Rabbit’ ish, I’ve wired the ears so that they stand up instead of flopping down.

And, finally ...... ahem, do excuse Peter’s bum won’t you; a scrap of wadding for his tail.


And now, I really MUST get on with my Easter Swap project – ideas are starting to flow; I just need to get cracking and bring them to reality!!