CHARM ABOUT YOU

My feet are warm and snug in log cabin slippers, it's like having a little quilt for your toes! I used Ayumi's clever pattern from Stitch Magazine (Summer 2011). You can get a PDF of the pattern here. I'm a UK size 7 and have quite wide feet, I made the large size and there's a little room for wiggling my toes so feel super comfy.

I used the most beautiful Nani Iro binding from Miss Matatabi, which inspired my colours for the log cabins. For the soles I used Slipper Gripper, which I thought might be hideous to quilt through but my walking foot dealt with it no problem.

Happy feet.

Linking up:

I talk to my kids all the time and colours are a fun thing to learn but she's only one and barely talking so obviously it ended up like this:

Yeah. That's way more fun!!

One of the things I learnt after having my first child (and didn't fully achieve until after my second) was how crucial it is to do things for you. I do a lot for my family but I'm doing them no favours if I'm not taking time for myself and relaxing. So sometimes the two combine, though not often because let's face it sewing time is really more enjoyable (more peaceful, focused and probably safer) when they aren't around. There are things they can watch me do, or get involved in and occasionally we do that - like picking fabric, helping baste (the older kids), working on little projects and they even like to look at patterns in my sewing books to tell me what to make next. After all I also want to teach them that having a hobby is fun and there's no better way than for them to see me doing what I love.

We gave it to him at school this morning and just in time because his tooth fell out before school so he can use it tonight! At pick up he very sweetly gave me this home made jam as a thank you (thanks to his lovely mum!):

I am very in love with the label!

A friend recently commissioned me to use some Emily Peacock needlepoint kits her friend had finished and make them into cushions. Her friend stitched the panels so beautifully and sadly has since passed away so these hold huge sentimental value for my friend. She doesn't sew and although was originally going to finish them herself she trusted me with the job. We discussed background fabrics and looked at home dec weight but there wasn't any that she fell in love with. She decided upon Oval Elements in Chocolate Cherry (available here and here) and it suits the panels so beautifully. I have used some wadding on the back to give it more cushion and they just need stuffing and sewing up. My friend will use these decoratively and hopefully they won't be subject to too much wear and tear. I should have these finished soon so will get some good pictures!

Yesterday I managed to get Collette's Bee A Brit Stingy blocks finished. She requested wonky log cabins using this simple tutorial. The bright colours are going to make a gorgeous quilt! Sorry for the late night pic but I had to get them ready to go in the post this morning.

I'm making headway with other projects and though I was planning on listing them today I think I'd better just get on with it all since the Finish Along Q2 deadline is fast approaching!

Bouquet in Orange, Flea Market Fancy, Denyse Schmidt  - measures 32 x 36" 

£6.00 + postage SOLD

Connect the Dots in Apple, School Days by American Jane Patterns - measures 20 x 22"

£3.50 + postage

Recess in Graphite, School Days by American Jane Patterns - measures 31 x 43"

£7.50 + postage SOLD

and it has the cutest selvedge:

A fat quarter bundle:

I also have two scrap bundles, one warm and one cool. They are designer cotton fabrics and the pieces range in size but are all usable scraps:

Cool scrap bundle:  largest piece approx 28 x 24" (with part cut out for something!), smallest 3.5 x 9". Some Denyse Schmidt, Pat Bravo, Oval Elements, Kokka and there's a bit of Liberty lawn in there too.

£9 + postage SOLD

Warm scrap bundle: largest piece approx 36.5 x 6.5", also 16 x 12", smallest 4 x 4.5". Some Denyse Schmidt, Pat Bravo, Joel Dewberry, Riley Blake and Alison Glass.

£9 + postage SOLD

on your marks... get set... type!!

Fabric found it's way into my coffee and I rescued it.

Yes I searched the shelves for the 'mum' can!

Enjoying an evening of EPP hexagons.

Tomorrow I will be having a little destash here on the blog so check back!

The other day the kids and I were having one of those strange conversations that seem very grown up but could only happen when talking to children. You know how they ask those deep and meaningful life questions so innocently? I don't mean the birds and the bees - they've asked about that and I've told them (age appropriate obviously). I mean those philosophical life questions that no one can definitively answer. We were talking about what love is and I quickly decided to write down what they were saying. Here's what they came up with...

On Saturday I had a much needed day out on my own and headed to the Minerva Crafts Meet Up day. Minerva Crafts is based in Darwen, Lancashire and it's huge!! They sponsor my blog and I've ordered online but this is the first time I actually visited the craft centre and I was surprised at how big it is. Stocked with everything a crafter could need for all different types of crafts. 

Of course I found myself in the newly created 'quilters corner' - ok I made that up but it's a neat corner near the front of the shop with gorgeous fabric and notions for quilting. They created this cool wall of cubby holes for fat quarters!

It was fun wandering around and just taking everything in. I love clover notions and found these fun trimmings - lace, pom poms and spikes!!

There was every kind of thread, a great selection of perle and I just captured the fun neon embroidery threads. They stock way more than I took pictures of; lots of knitting, crochet and paper crafts too! It was hard to photograph but there are bolts and bolts of loads of different kinds of fabrics. On the day there was a competition for people to wear their hand made garments and we were given a free tote bag with stickers in to stick on our favourite makes!

There was lots of demonstrations going on - button covering, dress making, quilting and bags to name a few. I do love those decorative zips.

If you're ever in that neck of the woods it is definitely worth a visit and you probably could spend all day there easily! It was a lot of fun and the shop is extremely welcoming, a family run business with knowledgeable and friendly staff.

If you can't visit in person then definitely take a look at the website and at the moment they are having a sale with 20% off selected fabric!

This was the first time they've run this event but it was so well organised and it was really busy so I do hope they make it an annual meet up!