CHARM ABOUT YOU

Since Rachel so kindly taught me to crochet yesterday and I have the bug!! I'm hoping to make a granny blanket eventually and want to make a random 'patchwork' look. I'm working on different sizes and not really caring - I'm sure I can fudge it together eventually ;)

So last night me and the hook got busy and made a couple more squares:


This is what I have so far (Rachel's is the one on the far right):


My Nan taught me to crochet a long time ago and I never even finished one block, she does a sort of round pattern and I didn't remember a jot of it! So it was fun to learn something new... I do wonder if it's the curse of crafting that you end up doing so many different crafts. When I started sewing I was a bit stubborn about only quilting and making crap for my kids but I think the internet (and blogging friends!) opens up so many possibilities to learn new things and there's so much gorgeous inspiration, it's really hard to stick to one thing.


I came across these pictures and wanted to share a fun activity we did a couple of weekends ago, which may have been the last of the warm sun... those of you in warmer climes with kids might want to give it a try though! The best bit is there's no huge mess to clear up :)


I just put some water in a bowl, added some food colouring and let the kids 'paint' outside:


As a note to myself I want to randomly add that last night (me in PJs, messed up hair, bags under my eyes, the usual bedraggled end of day look) my husband told me how pretty I am. Really pretty, he said and meant it. I love this man so very much!

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I've been starting new projects... naughty me!! In fact there's so many things going on here that I can't even do my usual round up of everything because it would take too long, lots of it is secret and I have a little girl that will only let me on the computer for about 5 minutes!!

Quickly then...

Here's some playing with fabric and selvedges that I hope will turn into something very cool:




I also had some lovely fabric packages come in the post, so even more to play with :)

First up this gorgeous pile from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics (she even sent a cute badge with it!). I just adore those fizzy dots and that Kokka was a bargain! And as a heads up Randi is having a great sale on Madrona Road this week... be quick!




I also got this lovely FQ from Spoonflower, no idea what to do with it I just like it!!


The best bit of playing was this very morning though! The wonderful Rachel came over to give me a much needed crochet lesson. She's such great company and an excellent teacher. Very patient and was fabulous at playing with my little girl so I could complete my granny square!

Now take a look, I'm not even going to say which one is the beginner and which one was made by someone with 40 (yes 40??!! She started young!) years of experience. This is the start of my first granny blanket:


Rachel was so sweet and brought this fabulous yarn (is it yarn? wool? I don't even know!) for us to crochet with. She gave them me as a gift along with this beautiful crochet case and some crochet needles:




I just realised how nicely the inside matches the squares too!! I love the bright cheery case and look she even used cool variegated thread to match the rainbow. Thank you so much Rachel, I look forward to our next class ;)



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I've been busy doing family things as well as sewing whenever I get a chance. I have so many projects on the go it's hard to keep track, I seriously have a million lists right now. I crazily keep adding things I have to make because I love them/want them/need them, I want to try something new or because I need to gift things. I thought I was getting projects checked off but apparently not fast enough.

Anyway I've done some stuff...

All caught up on the How Far Will You Go? QAL:




I also let the little one loose on the scraps and she had fun gluing, talking about colours and making shapes. Fun game when you don't know what to do with those little extra bits!


One more Vintage Holiday QAL block done too:


I'm working on some things I can't show you yet but all in good time... ok maybe just a sneaky peek:


I'm joining in a couple of blog hops next month, click below to learn more! They are both going to be awesome:

                 
Stayed tuned for some great tutorials and projects!

I also joined another Bee, how could I not when it's being run by the fabulous Helen, Nicky and Sheila! There are a wonderful group of women in the Bee, all very talented and inspiring so I'm thrilled to be part of it. It's kicking off in January and, thanks to Nicky (who reminded me I will be giving birth that month) that's my month to chose a block, so thinking cap on and all suggestions welcome! Also really love the premise of the Bee's creation... that it's scrappy and UK based so I can save some pennies :)



For spending on loveliness like this glittery Kokka text fabric from Pink Castle Fabrics I got recently (totally blaming Katy and her bloody What's New British/American Pussycat - where she lures us into sales and gorgeous new fabric lines from lovely online shops!!)


But it's so sparkly and pretty... and look it even has a message for me in it!!


Better lay off all those potato cakes, cheese and crisps then. Current craving is for jars of baby puddings... mostly fruit puree ones. Don't even ask, my husband thinks I'm totally bonkers!!



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So it literally just dawned on me that I could use the fabric from the Low Volume Swap to piece the background of my Rose Star quilt...

Here's how they look laid out out the background fabric I'd decided on but guess what, I've not made any of the background shapes yet! Serendipitous maybe?!



So I would use the fabrics from the swap for background instead (the shapes I will make are the same as the spaces in between the rose stars as they are laid out here).

Is it going to be too much? I may make one or two and put them next to the rose stars to get an idea but randomly wondered what you all would think.

If I did use the low volume charms would I use one LV charm for each connecting shape so it was the same fabric or 4 different LV fabrics for each shape (hexie and three 1/3 hexies) or a mix?

I'm thinking one of each LV fabric print between each rose star so it's not too too busy but I'm having a hard time visualising. So each shape would be a different LV print.

Thoughts??

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**Warning this post contains some swearing (cursing if you will) and a "finger" - if you find these things offensive please don't bother reading this post. I considered blanking them out but it sort of defeats the point. You have been warned!**


I've just found out my partner, the lovely Krista, has received her Sailor Mouth Swap goodies so I can go ahead and show you what I made for her...

She said she liked Liberty so I used some scraps I had to make a pouch. I used English Paper Piecing to sew the hexies and sewed a blanket stitch to attach them along with a little hand quilting.


On the other side I used strips of Liberty and then embroidered a reminder to 'keep things organised' ;)


The main swap was this embroidered Johnny Cash hoop:


This took a long time to sew and I wish I'd had more time to add more detail but at the same time I didn't want to over work it. To make the embroidery I found the image I wanted to use then used picassa to play with it so I could get a good outline (I think I changed it to neon). I then traced over the image to outline the main shapes:



It's mostly sewn using backstitch but there's also some satin stitch, French knots and other stitches in there: