Freezing Friday

It has been a rotten week for anything that requires you to leave the house, so a good week for sewing. I've continued on with making another Easter Egg basket, this one aimed more towards boys, but of course either of them are really gender neutral.

As usual it started with a quick sketch, figuring out if Humpty would be possible.

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I've decided to make another quilt that relies mostly on HST's. I'm really enjoying working with them at the moment. I've cut out most of my fabric, but there will need to be a bit more progress before I can share any photos with you.

I had to stop work on some pouches I was making last week because I lost my zipper foot, I found it yesterday in my thimble box (after I had gone through the bin). So I might get some more work done on those during the weekend or next week.

I have a few different apron orders in at the moment so I'm going to start work on them over the weekend. 

I'm in the RDS on Sunday, Showcase Ireland is on and my friend and I are going to have a look at what it's all about. A very talented friend of mine is showcasing her work there so it should be interesting.

I'm also working on some sketches for some more of my 'Tooth Fairy' cushions. I don't have any left and I think I will start a new set which can be personalised. Yet again I'm trying to come up with a boy version. By the time boys start losing their teeth they certainly don't wan't a girly cushion in their room! I think I've cracked it but it needs a few more tweeks.

Right so I'm off, have a good weekend and happy sewing.

Geraldine

Monday dreaming

It was so cold on Sunday that I didn't venture out to buy fabric, I will get round to it at some time this week. I've been thinking of lots of different lines that I want to explore this year. One of those things is to create a personalised Easter Egg hunt basket that can be used year in and year out. So without further ado here is one that I made for my daughter Sophie. It has a longish handle so that little kids will have more chance of racing about without tipping out all their hard won finds! 

Now even though these colours aren't especially girly I wonder should I make the boys one a little more masculine? It's so hard to figure this stuff out, I'd lose the ribbon anyway and maybe go for a more boyish fabric. Is the chick girlish? the things you have to think of!

Looking through my stash I see that I have quite a lot of greys and muted low value tones. I am obviously drawn to them yet I see that I have some from 18 months ago. Stored and looked at often but not used. I'm thinking of creating a nice sized quilt for myself with these colours. I have to think of the design but I'm playing around with a few ideas.

Well I hope everyone's Monday is shaping up well, x

A good week

I had a very busy week, I had some orders in and made a birthday present for a good friends birthday. I didn't get chance to take any photos of my orders but I did manage to get some photos of the tote and pouch I made for my friend. It was at night time unfortunately as my battery died during the daytime when I was all set up and ready to go. Typical.

I am going fabric shopping tomorrow as stocks are running low for my aprons. I got some fabulous linen last week and will be playing around with it next week. I hope to try some free motion stitching on it. I have lots of ideas for new lines for this year so I'm going to have to put some of them in action. My sewing room is a mess, so that needs a good sorting out tomorrow too.

Wishing you all a happy weekend (what's left of it) and chat next week x

Granny here I come

I've been wanting to try the Granny Square Block for some time, but with the Christmas rush I knew it was going to be the New Year before I got around to it. So I attacked my boxes of scraps and cut out what was needed for my first one.

I ordered some heavenly Kona Coal from Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting and got cutting. I found it much easier than I thought to put together and I love the pop of colour against the grey. I might try adding a bit of stitching detail around the pink blocks. So here's my first one and hopefully I'll keep at it :)

First Quilt Finish of 2013

I've started the new year with a sewing frenzy which I hope will last for at least a little bit longer. I had a quilt order in since December but only have gotten round to it this week. I'm really pleased with the HST's and the straight line quilting. Unfortunately the light is so bad that the colours aren't really shown to their best advantage. But what can you do? Here are the finished photos.

Happy New Year to one and all...

Wishing everyone in blogland a very happy and productive 2013, I'll leave you with a selection of my favourite makes for 2012.

I love it when a plan comes together..

I am happy to report that my home is now decorated after an unusually long spell. I found that my last minute sewing really put me back with regards to both decorating and buying presents, as in any presents. But after getting a babysitter yesterday myself and my hubby did a big blitz and managed to buy everything we needed in a few hours. 

After a quick visit to M&S this morning I got in the last of the food and we are now ready for lock down and a couple of comfy days indoors with the kids. I am so excited about Christmas this year as Sophie is very much into the whole package. Although I'm now trying to explain to her that she won't actually be seeing Santa on Christmas just that he will visit during the night. Anyway not the easiest of concepts for her to grasp but I'm hoping the joy of seeing her toys will distract her enough! She made a beautiful little decoration for the tree and she hung it on it yesterday, she is so proud and has shown everyone where it is when they come to visit. 

I want to make my Mum a fabric basket and then fill it with FQ's for her present. I'm thinking of doing to hexies as I have never tried them before. But other than that there will be no more sewing from me until after Christmas. The shop I supply in Dublin were looking for more stock but I had to draw the line as I've been so busy and I just couldn't justify spending more time in my sewing room when the kids were on their holidays. I just felt guilty and really just wanted to get the house in order and spend some time chilling out and watching Christmas movies, maybe some baking and you get the idea. Basically anything but sewing. 

My knitted crib came out again this year and I forget how cute it is every year. Sophie enjoyed handing them all to me, she also helped put up my original crib which I bought in a pound shop the year Jack was born for £10, it still has pride of place. Jack used to help me set it up every year and he still arranges it even though he's a teenager now!

I have found myself a wonderful babysitter and I'm determined to make good use of her in 2013. I'm terrible for going out and every new year I say we must do it more often and then never do. So I have already booked her in for the first Saturday in every month so that will give me the much needed kick up the ass to get going!

I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

xxx