The Art Of Quilting

Yesterday I picked up this for the grand sum of 99p.

I was successfully avoiding the demons in my head telling me to call at the bakery and get a cornish pasty.  They are evil demons but I was strong yesterday!  Anyway this caught my eye and helped those pangs.  They are offering a few freebies if you sign up for the next couple online.  I'm loving the fabrics provided with this issue plus you get a reel of white cotton and some needles. All for cheaper than the cost of the horrible greasy fat laden pasty I was going to get lol

Looking For A Christmas Idea?

I stumbled across this bag tutorial a few weeks ago.  It is perfect to make for a christmas gift.  I'm planning to try making one this week so I will let you know what it turns out like.

A Little Package

A little package turned up.  It is from Sweetwater, who used to be my absolute favourite scrapbook line with their gorgeous designs.  They have moved over into fabrics now and this little project package contains fabrics, numbers and string. I'll show you what I have made (per their instructions) in a few days time.

Tilda Is A Cutie

Not the Magnolia Tilda although she is a massive cutie too.  The Tilda I recently discovered is this one by Tone Finnanger.

This one is a new release called Autumn Angel. The kit is definitely on my wish list for when I have some money.

This one is in a book I have and will be attempting it soon.

I treated myself to this kit with some money I got for my birthday.  Can't wait to get started on it once the kids are back at school and little fingers aren't involved in everything I do. Not sure I will manage the embroidery on the apron but everything else looks pretty straightforward. I'll get back to you on that though lol

Don't Faint But.....

I have crafting to show.

Here are a few layouts I have done over the last week.  It has been so long with the building work going on that I haven't had a chance to do much but I am loving it all over again.

I love these papers and they go perfectly with the borders of the hipstamtic prints

This is a picture from a number of years ago that I have been meaning to scrap for ages.

This one I'm not too happy with and I feel it needs something extra but not sure what so you may see it again with an addition.

It would be better if the pictures were straighter and I will try and correct that another day when the weather is nicer.

I have so many ideas running through my head at the moment so I'm sure there will be more in the next few days.

Also I finished my very first bag.  It was a bit of a learning curve and I struggled at times but it is finished.

The pattern was from Modabakeshop and to be honest it is quite simple but not if you are just starting out lol.

and hey guess what? Shhhh keep quiet because the world might explode with this news - there is finished knitting tomorrow.

Fabric & Stuff

Jelly Rolls, Honey Buns, Dessert Rolls, Turnover, Sweet Bag, Layer Cakes, Fat Quarters, Charms. 

I had no idea what they were until I was searching the interweb for some fabric yesterday.  It is a whole new language to me.

I came across Moda Bakeshop whilst looking and WOW there are so many ideas for using the above strange sounding sizes of fabric.

They even have a pdf explaining what everything is - right here

I love so many things on there and I think this might be top of the list but not in those colours as they are so definitely not me. It uses jelly rolls

or there is this which uses charm squares

and who could resist Oopsie

this is another favourite that I would consider making just for the hell of it even though I don't have a little girl or maybe my adult daughter might want a dolly to take to uni with her in september

March My Little Heart Section

I completed the march section of the My Little Heart SAL run by Sylvia whilst watching Dancing On Ice at the weekend.

A New Month

and it is one of my favourites.  March usually sees a change for the better in the weather, lighter nights, buds on trees and my absolute favourite - blossom trees are in bloom.

I've used a blossom tree picture as inspiration over on the shop challenge blog.  Couldn't resist really.

The first of the month brings with it a new mystery sock challenge.  To be honest with you I am getting a bit bored of knitting socks at the moment BUT I like the mystery challenges because it is a part of the pattern released each week and isn't too overwhelming.  Plus the local yarn shop is closing down and I found some 4ply yarn in a lovely green shade for only £2 which will be ideal for this lace and cable pattern.  Well that's what it looks like anyway from the first clue.

The other thing the first of the month brought was a new part of the My Little Heart SAL (sew along).  I was trying to guess what it would be yesterday and I was thinking maybe flowers and a lamb and we actually have a ladybird and some flowers which is very nice.  My guess for april is either a chick or bunny.

Anyway better go as it is 'fat club' this afternoon and I need to go and see how much weight I have put on.  I swear I don't know what is happening.  I have switched a lot of products to lower fat versions and have tried doing more exercise but nothing ever seems to change on the weight front.  Maybe it is the willpower to resist takeaways that is lacking.

Something Different

Quite by accident I happened upon this project (mostly in German but hey so what - I'll use a translator) whilst I was on a blog cruise.  You know the sort of thing where you click on a link which leads to another link and another and then you find yourself completely inspired and lose a couple of hours in the process.

I haven't done any cross stich for a number of years.  My youngest child is 6 and I still haven't done his birth sampler despite starting it a long time ago.  I bet it is well over 5 years since I touched any of it.  Anyway I love how this is in 12 parts spread throughout the year.  Our house is *fingers crossed* going to see a lot of work over the coming year due to a loft conversion which needs all kinds of other things doing to meet building regulations.  Anyway I thought that it would be nice on a wall somewhere in one of the altered rooms to mark the year and a small section once a month is probably something I can keep up with.

Here are January and February and part of the border.