The Smalls

This past week has been all about the smalls!

Jett has been so poorly, we've spent a day in hospital and what feels like the rest of the week cuddled up on the sofa with bronchilitis. Thankfully he's now much better.

 

Hunter on the other hand has wowed us all with his handwriting, he just loves writing and practices every day. His teacher has rewarded him with 'Star of the Week' for his beautiful handwriting, he was so proud of himself.

We also got Hunter's first school photo this week, how cute?

 

With Jett been so poorly the only sewing I've managed has been hand sewing. I've worked on both my Patchwork of the Crosses BOM and my New Hexagon Millefiori quilt too.

PS: I know the bottom hexie is on upside down, I've corrected that now! D'Oh!

Looking forward to more sewing time this week!

Fun Fun Fun!!

As ever I'm not getting much personal sewing time just now but looking back through my phone's camera roll, I'm getting lots of time with my kiddos instead so I can't complain!

The sewing that I am managing to get done is mainly by hand, I'm still working away on my 'The New Hexagon Millefiore Quilt', Rosette 3 is very nearly complete with the addition of these cute hexies.

 

I've also started working on my 'Whirlygig' quilt after been inspired by Sarah Fielke's recent visit to my shop to teach! I loved having the chance to work and hang out with my utter quilt hero!

I'm also slowly but surely catching up on my Patchwork of the Crosses Block of the Month too, this is such an amazing quilt, I've even bought the add on kit to make it bigger!!

Jessie's choice of fabrics, especially the Liberty fabrics used are so amazing don't you think?? The BOM is going to be running again next year if you missed out on this one! Head over to Jessie's website Sew & Quilt to find out more!

A little catch up!

I always seem to be playing catch up, do you?

It's been such a long time and there has been so much happening I thought I'd just share a few photo's of what the last few weeks have seen me doing!

There have been lots of family birthday's and meals out, including the big 40 for me....

I've worked lots at the shop and squeezed in some sewing time too, I really don't know how!

 I've made 3 Stitchy Pie needle cases so far, they're super cute! The pattern is by my friend Lucy, if you'd like to make one too!

I've had a project in Quilt Now magazine

 

I've nursed a really poorly baby that needed hospital treatment

It was the worst case of Noro virus any of my kiddos have ever had, poor thing. I needed a calmer that weekend I can tell you, luckily I'd treated myself to an amazing candle

 If you've not tried this brand I really do recommend them! All their scents are divine!

We've had a new baby in the family, ahhhh.

 Say Hi to baby Rocco, I'm one proud Aunty! Here he is with my mum, even though he's my husbands side of the family!

Today marks the 1st anniversary of my nephew's death. I'm feeling saddened and lost today, the world really did lose an awesome little guy when Elliot passed and we miss him like crazy.

 

 

Sewing anyone?

My poor neglected blog once again has fallen foul to my sloppy time management!

I'm refusing to promise and make resolutions about how often I will blog as I'm just adding more pressure to my busy schedule, that said, I really want this to be a place where I record all my sewing and fun times so hopefully I'll eeek some time out on a regular basis.

Here's a little collage of my makes from October 2015 to the year end. In making this I realised that I haven't documented some of the Christmas presents I made so I'll have to rectify that won't I when I visit them in their new homes!

I finished a really old WIP and gifted the finished quilt at Christmas, I made a bag for a swap I took part in when I went to Glamp Stitch A Lot in the USA in November, pencil cases, a cushion, lot's of EPP and my Farmers Wives blocks!!

There have also been lots of lovely times with my family and friends in the latter part of 2015.

 
My best friend Katy came to join the Simply Solids team, Jett began climbing in earnest, we had a family fun day out with my brother and his family, we also spent Christmas day with them. Jett amazes us with what he eats, Camembert anyone?

So here's to a productive 2016! I'm really hoping to sew lots and lots and lots!!!!
 

September already?

I really cannot believe how fast the summer has flown by, can you?

Here's a re-cap of what happened over my summer.....

Luke Haynes came and taught at my shop Simply Solids!

We had a great family holiday to Cornwall.

 

That included a night at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant for our wedding anniversary! Yummy yum yum!

 

 I've done a fair bit of sewing, including mini quilt swaps, blocks for me Beehive Bee and some English Paper Piecing! I've nearly finished the 1st rosette of the New Hexagon Millefiore Quilt.

I also made and gifted this St Louis 16 Patch quilt, made from my much loved stash of Anna Maria Horner fabrics. The recipient was my nephew and his girlfriend and the occassion was the death of their son, my little nephew, Elliot. Elliot had won his battle with Leukaemia last year but he could not fight off meningitis and his life support had to be turned off on June 17th, that horrific day will stay with me forever. I made this quilt in the following days to try and keep myself busy and I know it will keep Elliot's mum and dad warm when they need a hug!

So what happened over your summer?

xxxxxx

Weeks gone by

The weeks are flying by in 2015 don't you think?

I've got so much done these last few weeks apart from blogging it seems! Here's some of what I've been up to on the fabric and sewing front!

 I've had a couple of fabric purchases from PolkaDotTea Fabrics which is a great little Etsy Store run by my lovely quilting friends Danielle and Jeanette. My favourite of these was 'Lighthearted' by Ayumi Mills (bottom right), I Love Love Love this line!!!

I've also had some fun times with my famalam

 

The big news on the family front this month is that my little cousin in New Zealand got herself hitched! My folks went to the wedding but we couldn't do it with Jett been so young, I'm gutted about that but I really wouldn't have coped all that way with a newborn, a toddler and a child with additional needs!! Needless to say Hunter has spent a lot of time working at the shop as my folks haven't been around for daycare, he loves it at the shop, good job really!!

We've puddle jumped and rode on Donkey's and had a wild time at a party celebrating World Down Syndrome Day!

Jett is changing so much at the minute:

He looks massive at the side of my niece Fearne!! He's teething all the time so he's got those rosy red cheeks and is mouthing at everything! He's loving his Jumperoo too!

Hope you've enjoyed a peek into what's been happening round here the last few weeks! I'll try not to leave it so long next time!!

A new arrival!

Look who arrived!

Meet Fearne Rena Mullins my little baby niece! How cute is she?

 

 Doesn't Jett look huge at the side of her??!!

Since my last post we've been spending some quality time with my little brother's new family and I've been working away on lots of secret sewing!

These sneek peeks are about all I can show you! I'm planning on doing some not so secret sewing this evening, I promise to share that with you soon!

Finally I wanted to share this great photo I took at the weekend at my shop Simply Solids. 

 

Its the very lovely Karen Lewis teaching her screen printing class, some great pieces came out of a fun afternoon I can tell you! If you're interested in sewing lessons and craft sessions why don't you have a look at our schedule?

 

EPP anyone?

I was wondering what to post about today so I had a look through my Instagram posts for this past week and it became apparent!

I appear to have done a fair bit of EPP this week!

The top photo is the beginnings of my #ukminiswap quilt, which is a mini quilt swap that's been run over on Instagram.

The bottom hexies are a project I've had on the go for a few weeks now and I think I'll turn them into a cushion eventually. Looking at them like this I'm not liking the yellow flower, it's lost against the background print don't you think?

I've also been working on some comissioned pieces this week so can only show you sneak peeks! 

There have been some magic moments with the kiddos this past week too!

Jett had his eight week check and now weighs a whopping 13lb 8oz! He's also enjoying more awake time and some tummy time here and there.

 Holly's teacher sent a copy of this writing home on Friday after calling me to let me know how well Holly is doing at school! I'm so proud of Holly for this, she's pretty much cracked Hunter hasn't she? She could barely write her name in September and declared writing too hard, now she's wanting to write - this list was initiated by Holly herself!