Toasty Warm

After making my Hexy patchwork cover for my baby blanket, I was missing the gentle rhythm of paper piecing pretty fabrics together. I was itching to make something else - but did this house need more Hexy clad things? On a recent trip across the boarder into Suffolk, we dipped into Quilters Haven, a completely divine fabric shop where I went for the most sweetly patterned Charm pack - and I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it. At some point it would be destined to be made into a hot water bottle cover, but with Spring on the way, it seemed as if the fabric would be stored away until next Autumn. But with this chilling coldness that is gripping Britain, it really seemed that now was the right time.

I just adore the colours and patterns of this Charm pack - the soft creams, teal and muted reds along with teeny tiny flowers. It's an unexpected colour way - not something I would have put together if buying fat quarters, but I think it is quite simply divine. Again, the boy got our Craft Robo out and made 100 paper Hexy's in no time at all - he's a complete doll! Then I was able to settle into the slow pace of paper piecing.

Slowly the Hexy's came together and with a little Bias Binding, ironing and Wadding, we were there. I had a little tussle with my Sewing Machine - boy did it not like me one little bit! I swear Sewing Machines have their own personalities, with good and bad days! But we got there and now I am very warm and toasty indeed! Now I'm wondering what I can paper piece next...any suggestions?

Alice and Burlap

The other day I found a single A4 sheet on Inkjet Transfer paper lurking in my crafty supplies stash. This led of all manners of ideas flooding my head, but there as just one that really stuck. We usually have an Easter gathering of friends, food and general merriment. This year I've been thinking about having a little Mad     Hatters Tea Party theme. Therefore some bunting was needed, you just simply can't have merriment without bunting. It's a fact, well at least in this house!

I choose Burlap for this Bunting - I love it and have used it on many projects, it's just so versatile. A bit of cutting, a lot of fray stopper, some faux Bias making and then came the fun bit, the images. I found a site which has so many pretty images to download, called Vintage Digital Stamps. I wanted Alice in Wonderland, but something subtle, no Alice would not be making an appearance. So I chose the Mad Hatter himself, the Rabbit, a Tea Cup, a Teapot, a Fork and Spoon, a Rose and then I made a Drink Me label on Photoshop. The iron came out, the transfers were ironed on!

My Sewing Machine and I have been really quite good friends for a while now - we haven't fallen out in an absolute age! It has taken us many years to get to this stage in our friendship.

Some pining and sewing, then there was bunting. I am quite looking forward to Easter now. Decorating the house with pastel coloured Glass Eggs, Chickens and Rabbits. Hot Cross Bun Eating and the end of Lent when I can eat Chocolate again. Bring on the Mad Hatters (also known as my rather lovely friends!).

Cowgirl Hexy Blanket

She's finished! After many many hours cutting up pretty fabric, making hexagons, hand stitching and a little sewing machine action I have another quilt to add to my collection. I first saw this fabric in Hometown in Rochester - it's the best fabric shop in Kent. It's just so colourful inside full of delicious fabric that I just want to take home. I bought one charm pack and stashed it away. I then decided to make a quilt with it so when we next went back I added another charm pack to my basket. I added a couple of fabrics from my stash too; some more red and blue to balance out the overall colours.

Cutting little squares, paper piecing, hand stitching has all been a complete joy. My Husband is a complete love and make me all the hexagons using our Craft Robo - doing things like that fill me with little joy so I am very fortunate he'll help out. It's been the perfect winter activity; sitting on the Sofa with my basket of supplies, the beautiful soft colours and feeling quietly productive. Piecing together hexy flowers and eventually seeing the blanket grow bigger and bigger.

It seemed to take an absolute age to remove paper and tacking stitches and I'm completely sure I might be pulling out black threads from this blanket for a while to come!

After working on the blanket here and there, last week the front was finished! I was desperate to finish it but didn't have any time until last night when the backing fabric, sewing machine and poppers came out to get the job done! I felt quite nervous finishing off the blanket, I just didn't want to get it wrong. Fortunately it all worked out fine. My sewing machine decided to like me yesterday! The blanket was finished off with five poppers to keep the opening neat and tidy. 

Then came a special moment for me. Blankets have been a big thing in my life - I own a lot, make a few and always seem to have one no matter the weather whilst on the Sofa. Blankets are a life long love. Anyway, the purpose of making this blanket was to have a cover for my Baby Blanket. Something that's been in my life for nearly 32 years now. The special moment was putting my Baby Blanket in the cover. I am so pleased it now has a cover and is covering my lap right now. This blanket has been a complete joy to make and I love everything about it.

Prettifying Time

We've had a slightly boring Silver Clock in our kitchen for an absolute age, years in fact. I decided that was quite simply was not pretty enough. It still worked fine and I didn't have the heart to just throw it away. So out came my Button box, Burlap, Embroidery Thread, Glue, Scissors, Gold Enamel Paint, an Embroidery Hoop and our Dremel. It was time to make it prettier.

I took apart our Clock and attacked it with power tools to make it fit within the Embroidery Hoop. Then there was some painting, gluing and sewing. There was quite a bit of drying time too. I was so pleased it still worked and that I hadn't broken it pulling it apart. It was also nice to use a some of the Buttons that I had collected over time that were just to precious to use. Pretty Mother or Pearl, textured Shell and Flower Buttons as well as some more simple ones. I just went ahead and used them as we'll keep it for a long time. It's so much prettier than our old clock.

My Week

This week we had Sparklers on Monday for New Years. I have made quite a bit of progress of my Hexy Blanket. I made my first Cheesecake ever, a baked Strawberry little number. We had an impromptu play on the Swings at the Park. We drank Hot Chocolate complete with Marshmallows. I wore my new M&S Pjs a lot. We had a Friends Birthday for which his presents were brown paper packages tied up with string, well yarn, I just liked the sound of the lyrics. I made Soda Bread, another first. I purchased a new Filofax with the hope that it will help me not forget things. We went to Laser Quest for said friends Birthday and my team won and I felt 14 again. We ate home made Chicken Noodle Soup. There were lots of misty nights which when driving home late at night is spookily wonderful. I've had a really lovely week. 

Inspired by Ada

On the 17th of September, I do believe that I declared here on this blog that I wouldn't be rushing into making another patchwork blanket any time soon. Today is the 3rd of October and I have been putting together little hexies for a few days already. I don't think I have much resolve! You see I was quite simply very inspired by Ada over at Vintage Sheet Addict that I quite simply had to have a go myself. Her blanket is absolutely stunning and it really did motivate me. I am finding hand stitching far nicer than working on the sewing machine. It is far more relaxed, quiet and peaceful.

I bought a couple of charm packs an absolute age ago from Hometown in Rochester. They are from the Urban Cowgirl collection from Moda. They are just my colours and I just simply had to buy them. And now I have a reason to use them. I added a few fabrics from my stash and set about cutting lots of squares. I didn't immediately cut up all the fabrics from the charm packs just in case I made a massive error or something...cautious as ever! My very kind Husband has worked on the hexie templates for me. I will concede to knowing my limits of ability and that type of thing is very much one of them. He is so clever and worked out how to cut them out using Craft Robo. I do adore that man!

And now I sit in the evenings as the dark creeps in sooner each night with hot Tea and a basket filled with my hexie blanket supplies quite enjoying making another patchwork blanket. It may be a while until it's completed, but I am loving it so far.

Christmas Patchwork

I have wanted to make a Christmas quilt for a very long time, a very long time indeed. I love the idea of being wrapped up in it in December or sitting on it opening presents on Christmas morning. I started this quilt this time last year but then it got packed away half finished until I rediscovered it last week and I decided that I just simply had to finish it. I started collecting the fabrics an absolutely age ago - I love the Basic Grey fabrics so patterns from the Jovial and Fruitcake range where the way to go. I love the Red, Brown and Teal combination - just perfect Winter Christmas colours. I picked up the fabric in a very piecemeal fashion from here and there. Slowly my collection grew and I also added a few bits from my stash. Then finally, I had enough!

So last year, I made the front of the quilt before it got packed away. I spent a long time measuring, putting in sewing lines. I just really wanted all the corners to meet and be just right! Of course, they don't, but I am working on learning to live with imperfect perfectness! 

After buying a walking foot a couple of weeks ago though, I had no excuse not to finish it. This weekend was the weekend. There were a few arguments with my sewing machine when it decided not to cooperate, but I got there! I went for a Cotton wadding as I wanted something fairly lightweight and it's made the quilt beautifully warm. I must admit to being pleased as punch with it. I am not sure I am going to rush into making another patchwork quilt as I do find spending a long time of my sewing machine laborious and noisy! I much prefer comparatively sedate crochet but I have found it such an achievement to have completed my first patchwork quilt!

New Supplies

New Fabric from Patch Fabrics in Lowestoft

Labels - I put one on the Baby Blanket I made my friend. I just thought they were a bit of fun.

New Inks - My Mum and Dad had these when I was growing up. They kept them in a box and I always got really excited when Dad got them out of the cupboard - the boxes completely fascinated me. When my Sister saw them she got equally excited and exclaimed that I have the good inks and then recalled the same story about the box and the cupboard. I love how even craft supplies can evoke such a happy memory. I haven't a clue what I'm going to do with them!

Ric Rac - one can never own enough!

Cute dotty fabric to make Bias Binding for lots and lots of bunting!

Silicone Molds for making pretty Polymer Clay brooches

And finally! A walking foot for my sewing machine - I can finally look to finish the patchwork blankets that I have on the go. They are all in different stages. The first one I started like four years ago and it's badly made - I am going to unpick it all and start again. The next is a Christmas lap blanket - the layers just need sewing together. Then there's a cover for my blanket from when I was a child - the squares are cut, but that's about it. At least I now have the bit to make quilting possible! Hurrah!

Little Makings

In between bigger projects like Crochet Blankets, I have to intersperse them with little makes. Sometimes blankets feel never ending - recently I have been sewing in the ends of 360 granny squares which at times can feel quite painful! Especially when you realise that 60 of them are too big and need frogging! Thank goodness for my husband as he has offered to block them all for me. So I like little makes, things that a quick and easy to make - a bit of instant gratification!

Felt Flower Brooch - the centre is a self cover button in one of my favourite fabrics. Such quick little project,  it just takes a little drying time and now it beautifully embellishes my Winter coat.

Simple bunting to adorn our new shelves in our dining room. It makes me feel like a kinda have a dresser.

Hanging crochet hearts - nice little gifts for when the need calls. I do love twine and even more little makes.