Friends put a smile on our faces and a spring in our step xxx

Here's a little birthday package I put together for Susan of Thimblestitch. 

(Photo bloglifted from Susan's blog)

Susan and I are members of an online group and we all have to make a birthday pressie for another in the group and follow some simple rules like include a button, use one of three sayings then you must use their preferred colours and styles. It gets more difficult each time to make the perfect gift but I am always up for a challenge!

I chose "Nellie's bag" by Rosalie Quinlan and included a stitchery panel design by Helen Stubbings. There's a button on one side which is a laser cut timber spool covered in the same thread as the stitchery.

Our next challenge is a needlecase and then it'll be onto the christmas swap....ooh did I say Christmas! Too Soon!

Making Happy Endorphins!

The last few weeks have been full on, work has given me many challenges including stepping into an executive leadership role for a week....my boss has nothing to fear from me ever wanting his job, he can keep it. Two days of back to back meetings coupled with contractor issues and my son having minor surgery on his toes for ingrown toenails really challenged the worklife balance and my mental capacity, in other words I was mentally exhausted! So after the dinner was done I did what i do best when I'm stressed I sew! I'm sure you can all relate, it's therapy!

Remember this little tote

Well the talented designer, Pauline from Polly's Keepsakes sent me another pattern to try and I love it!

It's a project bag, full of pockets, a pincushion and, it has a scissor keep and two strawberries hanging on the outside. Easy to sew and very useful!

I feel good after completing this project, maybe I can complete a few more and really boost those happy endorphins!

Do you stitch when you are stressed?