CHARM ABOUT YOU

I ordered these lovelies from Pink Castle Fabrics, great service and quick shipping as always:


top to bottom: Pattern Guides in Navy, Macrame by Rashida Coleman-Hale - this is so beautiful in real life and all those cute patterns will look fabulous in tiny patchwork pieces; Popcorn in Caramel, Penny Arcade by Kim Kight - popcorn!! And so cute that it has the striped paper bag border; Fruit Gum in Ivory, Fruit Dots by Melody Miller - just love this!




I got a pick and mix box, which is really excellent value and came beautifully boxed - the info above was printed on the inside of the lid. You can chose your own colour selection and it is gorgeous quality. I will order from them again (and put this in this blog post so I can remember what I got!!).


I am a happy bunny.

I am full of lurgy so I'm actually pretty happy with what I've managed this week! I made this cute fabric matching game, super easy and they LOVE it :)


Yeah I thought I'd throw some vegetables in there ;)
I used the excellent tutorial from Lindsay at The Cottage Home - I have to say hers are so much cuter and she takes much better pictures than me so go look!

ongoing:

I have finally sewn the rows for my Pezzy quilt so I need to put them together and sew a border!

I have also done all the cutting for the Stained QAL.

Another Rose Star complete (yes I cut into a bit of the DS my friend gave me):


and a new project! I started doing some embroidery last night - for the FIRST TIME! I've done the odd bit but always on stuff not where it's actually the point.

This is my practice, I didn't want it to be a waste so I'm doing a cute little pattern from Sublime Stitching that will hopefully look ok enough to put in my daughter's room - really she's already in love and would have it like it is!! My son has also already put in his request so this won't be the last.

I never knew the name of any stitches and just made it up whenever I had to sew a name on something or whatever, but now I'm ready to learn. I have some instructions that came with the pattern so I'm going to try all the different stitches and see how I get on!


Between this new found fun and the wonderful hand stitching rose star blocks, it's no wonder I'm hardly going near my machine! That hot water bottle has nothing to do with my lounging on the sofa, honest ;)

stats
completed: 1
new projects: 1
in progress: 4

In the post today I received my win from the Fat Quarter Shop. Yes they are that fast to the UK! Yes that's part of why I shop with them - plus the excellent choice, service and all round brilliantness!
I really want to find a special pattern to use with these 15 fat quarters :)



Speaking of fat quarters, click on the button to check out the swap I'm hosting:



I'm linking up to Lee's fantastic WIP Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced, which although I love always tends to make me get behind on my blog reading!! Hope to catch up very soon :)

I have so many reasons to be thankful. Despite feeling a bit poorly at the moment (my throat is red raw!) I had a lovely email from the Fat Quarter Shop to tell me I'd won Kim Kight's gorgeous Blogger's  Choice Fat Quarter Bundle from the giveaway at The Jolly Jabber:


I have also had an amazing couple of days experiencing the kindness of blogging friends. I can't really say much because (if you don't know by now) I'm a total sap. I will cry and get way too mushy.

Firstly the talented and wonderful Nathalie at Noas' Libellule sent me this beautiful thank you for my guest post. I love the tape on the packaging and then I honestly sat stroking these for probably a bit too long!


My picture doesn't do justice to the colours, the green is deeper and so soft and yummy, I have to find a special place to put these mats but for now I've hung them up so I can admire them! I can't crochet so I'm in awe! She also makes divine shawls, scarves, blankets and has a great tutorial for a lace pouch - it's gorgeous! Thank you my creative friend! (just to point out I've not actually met her... yet! Trying to persuade her to get a ticket!!).

I also spent some time stroking the contents of another incredible package (I don't have a fetish or anything I just like texture ok?!!). This was from Deborah at Simply Miss Luella, her blog is so nicely designed and her projects are beautiful! I think we have very similar taste and all her makes are so bright and colourful. She sent this out of the kindness of her heart and well just look...


It's my own DS collection! I just love all her lines. After the gift from my friend the other day and this beautiful lot I'm entirely in fabric heaven. Deborah you are gracious and kind, thank you!

The next package was from a generous linker of the Fugly fabric party - Lisa at In The Boon Docks, she had a couple of sets of her fugly fabric left and sweetly offered to send them to me since I didn't actually participate! I have so many projects I want to make but I will be using these bundles to make another quilt to donate to our local children's centre. Thank you so much Lisa! I know the kids will love it and use it, the fabric is so soft!



And then as if those lovely gifts weren't enough I received such a wonderful email from another amazing blogger, the marvellous Jodi at Tickle and Hide, thanking me for the linky party. As a direct result of her giveaway she actually met up with another sewer in her area! It's an incredible story and I welled up reading her email. It was my intention for people to visit other blogs and hopefully make new blogging friends, to have had a hand in a 'real life' one too just blows my mind! When I think of how wonderful this community really is, you know what I do, *blubbing*!!

I have a little something to share with you all, not as exciting as actual fabric I know but it might prove helpful to somebody.
I got totally sick of the scrappy piece of paper stuck above my sewing machine with my list of projects on. It wasn't very inspiring and there was scribbles all over it. In the hopes of being a bit more organised I spent some time on picnik and created this:

It's a pretty 'To Sew List' so I can clearly see what I'm making, I can write the pattern or title. There's space to write what fabric I'm going to use and also a column titled 'for', which could either be who I'm making it for or a date if there's a deadline.
If you fancy one of your own you can easily download and print it out for yourself using the link below. I have seen some clever bloggers who put lists like this in frames so you can write on it with wipeable marker and don't need to print more copies! I'm just not that organised so bluetak and paper it is!



And if that doesn't really excite you (which is fine!) on Monday I'll be announcing plans for a new linky fabric swap so watch out :)

Oh and if your stuck with nothing to do this weekend and happen to live anywhere near Bletchley Park - unfortunately I don't :( -  go and visit this exhibition. My Auntie has a wall hanging there!! I've not even seen it yet but I know I will when it's finished it's tour!