Crafty little Minx

There is no doubting that my crafting mojo has returned.

Phew!!!

Along with finishing off my tax returns for the year I've also managed to complete a few smaller projects which have really helped me get back into the swing of things.

My friend Helen recently gave birth to a gorgeous little baby boy called Logan James Keeves. I knit him a little Henri dog. This was a project by Fuzzy Knits and was lovely to put together. It was knit in an organic wool and ended up being smaller than intended but a perfect size for a little baby to cuddle up to.

I also designed a little stitchery project with some quilting mice. I had no idea what purpose to put the stitchery to until I thought about a sewing roll. Once the stitchery was done the sewing of the roll took no time. There are pockets, zipped compartments, a pin cushion, ribbons for holding cotton reels and a needle book - I'll try to take a photo in daylight!!
I also made a cute pin cushion using a cross-stitch pattern from Cross Stitcher Magazine. The button motif was stitched on linen (which I swear almost broke me) and some pretty pink ditsy floral fabric. It was filled with rice to give it some weight.

So i'm pretty pleased with my Week 3 makes.

I've also managed to rearrange my sewing room and some of my vast array of bits and bobs.

Hope you all have fulfilling weeks with work and craft.

Caroline xx

Your prayers are needed ....

For Tripp

and his amazing family.

I have been watching this little boy's story for the past year.

I am always moved to tears by his mum's words.

Tripp's short life is sadly nearing it's end and his family need to know that they are not alone on this journey.

Please pray for them and tell them you are thinking of them ...

visit here

**** Note after post ****

If you managed to pop over to Courney's blog Thank you.

All the prayers were answered and her little boy passed peacefully and pain-free whilst in her arms early Saturday morning.

God Bless Tripp and his family. Cxxxx

Avert your eyes now .....

... if you thought Christmas was over!!!

Well not in my household.

Actually this is not a late Christmas present but a Christening gift for a little girl whoe daddy works/worked on the Arctic Survey.

The request was for blue fabrics, polar bears and penguins and fleece backing.

I scoured the internet for appropriate fabric but didn't really like a lot of fabric until I happened upon Riley Blake's 'A colourful Christmas'.

I love the snowball block - so simple yet effective - with fussy-cut characters!!
Of course I couldn't resist a little applique too!!

I love it and can't wait to put it in the post.

I'm qualifying this as my project of the week.

I surprised myself over Christmas by making quite a few handmade gifts and some cross-stitch items for myself - whilst working in a full time job, running a home and a small business.

I thought that if I really pushed myself this year to make at least one item each week (however small) I may build up a little collection for selling at Craft Fairs later in the year.

I know there are 52 weeks in a year and I would need far more than that to make it worthwhile - but it's a start and gives me something positive to aim for this year.

So week 1 is achieved and that makes me smile!!!

Chasing my tail ...

Now that my regular hours are resuming at work and life is settling into an easier routine I have finally began to tackle some of the many neglected projects on the list.

One of my aims over the past couple of weeks has been to catch up with my Sew Bee Blissful group with the result being October, November and january blocks being completed.

The one above is for Christine. I adore these fabrics and the block is so modern, I love it and promise to make myself a quilt with these blocks one day.

One of my favourite blocks - the wonky star and a crazy patch block for Ella from the link here

and October and the one that nearly defeated me - I 'got' the block but not the measurements and hope that it can fit into the quilt somehow. Sorry CeLynn! Blog found here

I have a three day weekend ahead of me now and my plan is to sew up a storm and have some more photos to show you soon. I hope I'm on a roll now as my life has just not been the same without my daily sewing fix.

Cxxx

Praying for a better year ...

I have been away from the blogging community for quite a while.

I have missed blogging and this wonderful community of people so much but my reasons are valid and as much about self preservation than anything else.

This has been a terrible year in many ways, my husband has been very ill and our world at rock bottom. This year I have shed more tears than I ever thought I had and at times felt as though nothing would be the same again.

However, the end of a year is not without its reflections on both the good and bad and although one of the worst years I ever experienced there are also some positives;

In the midst of some terrible times I have been able to reach out to some of my work colleagues and found such profound support and encouragement.

• 
  
  I have also made some wonderful friendships in a community craft group I'm involved with


• 
  
  I've had to push myself within my little business and had great success this year

I had to increase my part-time job to full-time to ease financial pressures - this has lead to a new promotion and a new role in my work place. I've also taken up an old hobby of cross-stitch and enjoy a little 'me' time to sew during the evenings. Playing with this little guy has kept me sane. Of course quilting has taken a bit of a back-seat but life just wouldn't quite be the same without it - and the obligatory Henri-snuggle-factor-seal-of-approval. I have taught myself to crochet but this remains an unfinished project for now. Some last minute Christmas presents finished off the year.

So what have I learned this year?

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  It's ok not to be ok


• 
  
  I can reach out and a friends arms will open wide


• 
  
  Admitting wrong and learning from it leads to new and wonderful directions


• 
  
  Love is always worth fighting for

On that note I wish you all a healthy and

Happy New Year

Blessings Cxxx

An update and a request ...

The first stage of my All Heart Appeal is almost complete thanks to your help.

I am eager to finish the first quilt as I have an event at the village I live in next weekend and wanted our local villagers to feel inspired.

The story of the first quilt coming together;

First was the arrival of many lovely, inspiring and thoughtful blocks from friends met through quilt groups, my teaching group, in my local village and the wider Blogging Community.

I had great pleasure in arranging, rearranging and coming to a decision concerning layout.

I am so glad I decided to ask for more pink/red backgrounds as the layout was heavily influenced on the balance between the light backgrounds and the coloured ones.

The second stage was to move away from the 'tweaking' and start to sewing the squares into rows.

... then the rows into one quilt top.

Of course it was complulsory to audition a few border fabrics, I didn't want anything to fussy to take away from the centre. I settled for some red, polka dot fabric (my personal favourite).

Having decided that the quilt was going to have three borders I set about sewing on strips of 1.5" around each side ...

... closely followed by a 1" border in white ...

... completed with a 3" third border in red polka dots again!!

And Voila!!!

The first quilt made for Cancer Research UK.

Of course now that everything is ready, basted and waiting - my request to all you wonderful peeps out there is to answer me a question ...

How would you quilt it????

A New Obsession ...

I have always been known to whip out the knitting needles at various times throughout my life. Recently I had a strong urge to get the needles out again and knit Henri (my fur baby) a wee jumper in preparation for the colder months.

I found a pattern, bought some wool and set to it. Along the way, I changed a few of the instructions and made it to fit my wee boy. It's no masterpiece but my objective was achieved to the best of my ability. I'm no pro but had the confidence to change a few things along the way.

Crocheting - on the other hand has always been a bit of a nemesis to me. I have bought a few books, had good intentions but alas I have failed in the crochet stakes.

That was until a few days ago ...

Having found a pattern for a Retro-style crochet throw in a magazine I could not help but fall in love. I decided that this was going to be my next 'evening' project that would keep me from playing scrabble on facebook (another obsession!!!).

I have long desired a blanket for the back of my sofa in cream with oceanic colours.

Finding the right wool was the first hurdle, I found Rowan Pure Wool Aran which I loved the feel of but wasn't sure if the colours were quite right. My lounge is more of a duck-egg blue. But eventually I decided that no, I couldn't wait (my obsession was that great).

I spent about four hours making a classic 'granny square' - much undoing, throwing it on the floor and swearing before I had my 'Eureka' moment and finally got it!!

12 Granny-squares later and I am loving how this blanket is coming along.

I've decided that it will consist of 10 squares in each row by 10 rows!!

Am I mad???

I love how the colours come together but I have ordered a few softer tones to balance out the darker turqoise, grey (mole) and dark green. I can't wait for them to arrive.

I reckon it will take me most of the next three months to complete it but it's so therapeutic to crochet a square here and there that it really doesn't feel like a chore.

I am in heaven with my crochet.