CHARM ABOUT YOU

At The Creative Craft Show at EventCity you can do just that!

Step into a haven of new supplies, demos, show discounts and exciting features.

Check out the Makes & Takes section to see stands where you can do some crafting. Or book a place on one the workshops to learn a new skill or create your own project, click here to see the workshops available.

I have been waiting to make this project. I have had the fabric and confetti for a while, I was going to make Laura's original See It All Pouch pattern but that would have meant less Superman and I couldn't cut him up. GLITTA is perfect because it lets the fabric be the star and you just throw a little (or a lot) of glitter or confetti on top. This confetti by Ginger Ray was destined to go with the fabric that my amazing friend Nicky gave me (along with the beautifully made notebook cover below!). I would recommend using good quality confetti like this if you are going for paper cut outs because otherwise they bend when you are turning the pouch through.

If you haven't guessed my favourite superhero is Superman, an icon of good, strength and truth. He has a energetic charm and, while this might sound weird, there are times when I think about Superman and it gives me the power to keep going. On days when I have a lot to accomplish or I'm feeling like I can't be bothered, it really helps motivate me. See I told you it was weird. Whatever works though, right?! There's also that whole dual identity thing which, since I've been struggling with anxiety, can also be empowering. I came across this brilliant article Superman Character Analysis: More than just a guy who punches things that is a neat commentary of all the ways I love him and why. 

My Superman collection is growing. The notebook and lego figure were both thoughtful gifts so this is my first Superman make and I like the coordination that's going on here!

It might be hard to believe but we have made it to the end of the first quarter of the 2017 FAL and it's time to link up your Q1 finishes! In addition to completing all those UFOs on your lists, we hope you have taken the first 3 months of 2017 to get to know all of our new hosts! The 2017 FAL has a community of bloggers across the world jointly hosting the FAL. Our hosts are:

The Q1 Finishes link will stay open from now thru April 1, 2017 - link up your finishes early and if you have a last minute one, add that one later so you don't miss out. The prizes will be awarded as soon as we can verify all the entries and do the drawings. We will post the winners on each hosts' blog.

And don't forget to start making your Q2 lists as the Q2 list link opens on April 2nd.

It's a bit panic stations over here, madly sewing presents for people. I have a couple of other gifts to finish but I actually managed to complete all the teacher's gifts just in the nick of time - it's the last day of term tomorrow!

These cute little coin purses are a great way to use up scraps. I had a lot of fun diving through my big scrap bag, mixing and matching prints. 

I added my favourite Kam snaps - I got a selection of different colours and handy snap pliers from a set on Ebay - for those of you in the UK a quick google has just shown they also have them on Amazon, there is a dedicated online shop Kam Snaps UK and Plush Addict stocks the snaps.

I love the way the little purse opens; perfect for holding coins, business cards, maybe a little emergency kit (plasters, safety pin etc).

The tutorial is the snappy coin purse by Rashida Coleman-Hale and I definitely recommend it, even after making 10! There is a bit of hand sewing to finish them off and it was a nice evening sofa job.

Each of the kids made ornaments for their teachers too. Just glitter felt, cut out circles and some shapes, confetti and pens! I punched a hole and added some baker's twine.

They wrote their names and the year on the back of the felt. I think it's a nice gift and I hope the teachers do too!

The highlights were definitely meeting lovely fellow quilters and bloggers, being able to see the beautiful samples and being able to talk in a totally geeky way to companies about needles and thread!

I finally actually met Karen Lewis - she was part of our quilting bee, Bee A Brit Stingy, before she got too busy! ;) It's so lovely to meet someone you feel you've known for years and they are just as friendly and wonderful as you imagined them to be. Also what a beautiful display she had!

I am in love with the colour combinations in the HRTs cushion she made, as well as the adorable bunnies from this pattern. The colours of the Blueberry Park prints are all gorgeous. 

This amazing quilt was made by Nicky using the Welsh Blanket Quilt pattern by Mary - she made it double sided! Really stunning!

*this post is a little late, I meant to publish it before my trip to Paris but in the excitement it somehow didn't happen. Good news is I will have plenty of sewing to show you soon :)