Sewing and unsewing.....

The fabrics I ordered for the SSCS have arrived, and this morning I've had loads of fun playing with them. There were some frustrations too, hence the unsewing. That said, I got through much more than I thought I would. I'll get on and do a little more to that this afternoon.

*

You can't have a blog post without a picture, so I thought I would show off my latest acquisition! I went out yesterday looking for last minute supplies for the SSCS and this book leaped of the shelf and into my hands, begging for me to buy it.

I see some Christmas stockings in my future! LOL

Thanks for all the compliments for Katherine's wearable art, seen in my last post, I have forwarded all your comments to her, I'm sure she will be tickled.

Wearable Art.

Hows this for a school project? My lovely niece Katherine and her mum Lee have been very busy over the last few weeks. Lots of paper mache, polystyrene, glue and paint. Katherine had to produce some wearable art. As well as the costume she also had to produce a little narration to be read out as she is modelling her creation. As you can see in the photo, poor Katherine has been poorly with the flu, so her mum helped out with that too. Hopefully she'll be feeling much better for the show and tell at school.

What a sweet tooth’s delight Katherine H.... is, as a bright bowl of liquorice allsorts.It’s hard to believe, but these remnants from one of our local freezing works, has now come to life again.

 

Many hours have been spent, cutting, gluing and painting polystyrene cubes and the paper mache bowl.

Her most favourite piece – the real liquorice shoes (taste-testing included).

This is the first year this Year 7 student has entered the Wearable Arts, with inspiration coming from her Grandfathers jar of lollies on the lounge coffee table.

*

(In NZ Lollies aren't just sweeties on sticks, all sweeties/candy are called lolly) I think Katherine and Lee have done an amazing job.

Not What I Set Out To Do!

OK, so I went up to my den this morning with the plan to make binding for the Charming Stars. I've got this box of Figgy leftovers and was looking about in it, wondering if I could use it for the binding. Before I knew it I was making a table runner and have some more jellyslices cut ready to make place mats too!

Fickle thing, the crafters mind.......

Time to Bind it.

So, the other day, I found myself looking back in time through my blog, I'm really not sure how or why, but it happened. I realised that I started this quilt over a year ago. Over A Year!!! I know for some of you that is no big thing, and no, it's not the first project of mine which I've procrastinated over, but for some reason, that revelation gave me the kick up the bum I needed. This morning I put my already completed rows together, quilt as I go style. This afternoon I intend to close up the sashing strips on the back. (The method I'm using does this by hand) Then I just have to decide on what to bind with.

I have some yummy fig tree scraps which would work well, or does the busyness of the top require a plainer binding? I have more of the yummy buttery yellow which I used to sash the blocks.

In case you're wondering, this is a Moda Bake Shop pattern called 'Charming Stars' and the fabrics are pre cut charms of Fig Tree Quilts  'Gypsy Rose' and 'Dandelion Girl', with the odd piece of 'Mill House Inn' thrown in to make up numbers.

*

My back is sooo much better, it really has taken a leap over the last couple of days. Fingers crossed I may be able to go back to work next week. I'm due in the office on Wednesday then onto the floor on Thursday, so another whole week to recover. Thanks to everyone for the encouraging words and good wishes.

*

Right, I'm off to play.

A Finish!

Well I did it. I sat at my machine and I sewed. I think I stayed there a little longer than I should have.I'm sore, and when I finish here I'm off to my comfy chair.

'Making Spirits Bright' is a Birdhouse design. I brought the printed panel home from NZ in 2009.

And finally got around to stitching it. Look, I made Prairie points! My first ever. There was some swearing, and I admit to having to unpick more than once trying to get them under control.

*

I sat for a while earlier and looked through about half of the SSCS list posted on Chookys blog. I didn't stop to comment anywhere, you know me, I'm a better lurker than I am commenter, but it was nice to look around and see what people are stitching. And to see pretty spring flowers blossoming down under, especially as today is cold wet and horrible.

*

My cosy, comfy blanket and chair are calling to me.

Still Off Work. :-)

Thank you to everyone who commented on my prizes. I will be entering the next village show. It will be held in October in a village called Andreas, just North of my home town. Mum and I are still thinking about what exactly to enter. Getting our hands on a program would be good, but they are not available yet.

*

My back is mending, slowly, it is better than it was, so I'm getting there. To be honest I'm fed up, I've had enough of my own company. Walking is good for it, and I try to get out everyday, but there is a staircase between me and street level. Getting up again after my walk is not so bad, getting down beforehand is getting easier.

*

As I said the other day, I've been stitching away. I have one secret Christmas project complete and have started on more. I now know who my recipient is for the SSCS and have been for a look about on her blog. Nope, I don't have any fabrics even remotely like that!! So I went shopping online.

*

Here is what I was working on when I ran out of that variegated red thread. I really should get back to it. But I started reading my kindle. 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', great read. 'The Girl Who Played With Fire', great read, 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest', I'm trying to resist the urge........

Today I plan to continue with my elves, while I watch a movie.

Yesterday I finally got around to hand stitching the sash closed on my Charming Stars quilt rows. Now I need to be able to sit at the machine in order to put the rows together. Maybe in  a day of two.

The doorbell is going to ring any minute, my masseuse is due.

I won!!

Remember a little while ago I said I was going to enter some of my needlecraft into the local show? Well, I fiddled and missed out on the Ramsey show. The smaller towns and villages are now having their shows, they are well spread out so that neighbouring communities can support each other. That's just what I did, I entered two items into the Ballaugh show. 

I cross stitched these Fuchsias for my mum, about 10 years ago. I suggested she enter it on my behalf and was delighted to say the least to receive first prize in the cross stitch and tapestry section.

OMG!! I even get silverware!

My other entry also won a prize. It was third place in the 'Any other craft section'. (There was no quilters class)

'The shirt off his back' 

There is another local village show in a few weeks, should I try again?

As you may have guessed......

I'm taking part in Chookyblues Secret Santa Christmas Swap 2011. I've been a busy girl and have already got part of the gift made! My back pain is my swap partners gain. LOL  I don't yet know who my partner is, so have no idea of her likes and dislikes, but figured I could make a start on this piece anyway.

Once I had completed that piece of stitching, I began another, but I ran out of thread, I'll get some more when I go for my walk today.

 Last week I found this pretty fat quarter and was inspired. Some sparkly blue and a pretty variegated thread, (I'll get some more of that too, just in case...) a picture in my nieces colouring book and I'm all set for another day of inactivity!

Jenny asked me how I made the angels in the last post. They are from a kit which I purchased here. 

Liberty bell angels

I saw my doctor yesterday, she says I've pulled a ligament in my back. I have to rest and may be off work for a while. I've been getting on with all manner of things. Yesterday morning I was busy with some stitchery. Then later I picked up some knitting. I've been playing about with Kitty for a while, working a couple of rows here and there

 I finished him off last night. He doesn't want to sit very nicely though, I may open him up and add a little more stuffing and a stone, to see if that helps. I think he may also get a change of collar, perhaps brown or orange, I fancy making him seasonal.

*

Hunney was playing Assassins Creed, (He's on his second time around) so I looked about for something else to do, and came up with the kits to make Liberty Bell Angels.

The first one was a bit fiddley, but once I knew what I was doing they were surprisingly quick to make. I have three golden angels hanging from the cupboard drawer handles.

*

Right, I'm off to see what I can get upto today.

This and that.

On Saturday while at work, my back began to hurt, a burning pain, very low down and if I try to move this way or that the pain gets worse. I'm off to see the doc this afternoon. In the meantime, I couldn't get settled in my den so yesterday I made a nest for myself downstairs in the sitting room, I put a movie on for company and set about some Christmas crafting. I made a start and almost finished a little stitchery. Sorry, no closer looks, it's a secret.

On Sunday, while I was lying on the floor in a patch of sunshine, (Seriously, it does help.) I was digging through the back of my little chest (The one in the picture above, covered in all sorts, with a drawer left hanging out!) and came up with some sequin craft / art. So I asked for my tray and lay there following the sunshine across the floor, to finish these two pretties.

This morning I'll finish yesterdays stitchery and maybe make a start on another. I'm off to hunt for a pattern.

A few snippets.

Well all the fixits, repairs and alterations are done, bar one. Just one pair of trousers left. I need to shorten them for my mum. I had to laugh at some of your responses to my last post. And I quite agree with all of them. I keep telling folks that I enjoy creative sewing, making pretty things, but they just don't listen. Being asked to do all the repairs is right down there with hearing the words, "I've got some fabric you should have"!

*

Anyway, enough of that and on with the good stuff. The boring sewing wasn't the only thing I got rid of on Tuesday. I've been dithering about getting my hair cut for a while now. I booked an appointment this time last year, but the stylist talked me out of what I wanted and into well something just a little shorter than this first photo. Anyone who has met me in the last 6 years or so has seen me either like this, or with a pony tail.

 Well on Tuesday a lovely stylist called Heather did this for me. :-)
And I love it.  I've had my hair cut short like this before, more than once.
These are not the greatest pictures, it's kind of overcast and I'm home alone wrestling with a camera at arms length.

 But you get the general idea?

My Hunney Tony loves it too, he says it reminds him of when we first met, it was as short as this then. Heather kept my long pony tail, one of the other stylists knows of a charity which makes wigs for children who have cancer and have lost their hair. I do hope they can use it. It took Heather an hour to get what was left into shape. One of the other girls swept the floor several times as all the trimmings just from my head made it very slippery. I'll definitely be going back to Heather regularly and allowing her to maintain this cut.
*
Another day off today, I'm really not sure if I like my days off split like this, but I'll just get on with it! I've got a busy morning, and I'm meeting a friend for lunch, but after that, my time is my own. I feel a little more time up in my den is in order. The repairs etc may have gone, but there is still some tidying to do and I really need to get a couple of finishes under my belt, before I make a start on a very special Christmas gift.

All work and no play

Sigh.....  I'm really not getting on with this new version of blogger! It has changed the order I want to show my pictures, changes the layout of my typing and generally isn't very nice! Grumble over, now to get to the rearranged reason for blogging.

*

While I was out with Mum and my niece the other day, we found some crochet flowers, I promised to pop this one onto a pin for my niece.

 While out with my daughter last week, I got my hands on some much needed inspiration. I do doodle and have been known to stitch my own doodles, but inspiration never goes amiss.

 If you're wondering why I haven't blogged much lately, well here's why.....

 My sewing room is a clutter of repair jobs. Everything from trousers to curtains to sun lounger cushions!

 Squeezed in amidst it all are my own projects, thrown aside as urgent repairs arrived.

 The table was cleared to make room to work on curtains.

Even my soft toys are hiding from the mess!
*
I have a day off work tomorrow, maybe a good tidy up, (I seem to remember doing that recently, how did it get this bad so fast?) and getting some of those fix it jobs out of the way will make my space more friendly.
If I want to get in there tomorrow, I'll need to do housework today, before going to work. I'd better get stuck in.