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Been up London

Had an amazing weekend, still recovering. Heres a few pics

Heres the christmas card show

some are mine, some my daughters. On viewing them my DH picked out his favourites and they were all made by DD. Oh well, I have hid the special one I painted for him.

If you have a minute please could you go and vote

Please vote for Kasupe

Kasupe was set up by a friend of mine from Malawi and is hoping to get a really good prize to auciton off for funds to build schools and do sports projects. Davy and Sally are gong to visit in January so will be able to assess how much more is needed and identify new projects.

(I do the website!)

Life seems to be dashing ..

.. headlong into december. We had a big Christmas card make today. I painted a few and hand coloured some stamps, DD got very carried away and made more than me. I'm visiting other DD at the weekend so all with be quiet in Manchesterland without me.

Got sew many projects on!

Sorry, really bad pun. I've started a stash for middle daughters quilt, think its going to be 3 x4 squares big. I've got the mitred corners to do on the hexagon quilt and one more set of borders to put on. I've got the fabrics for making my christmas bunting. Where to start!

On the good side I was sorting through boxes from the loft and found a box that has been missing for years with lots of christmas stuff that i sewed a couple of years ago. I'll shake the dust off and take some pics tomorrow.

And to finish I would like to post a picture from our local remembrance day service  (same as veterans day across the pond). It shows our local ATC that two of my daughters used to be in putting up a very good show in tribute to all those who gave so much for us.

Heres my first make

Yet another rip off, thanks for the idea
(not sure whose blog it was off)

Also a pic of the machine with a piece of ar that I am embellishing

My attempt at a direction photo

A complete copy of someone else's idea for directions but I was quite pleased for the five minutes it took. (I had the flip chart and pens out and co-incidently the brio set out so not an special effort). It will maybe get used on some inviitations unless the sem-pro photographer I know does some before then. 

I've gone and got it ...

Had a nasty bug over the weekend which delayed it but I have now gone and done it - got my new machine. I'm still reading the machine and tomorrow is the get bits of material out to play time. It does some lovely stitches and the automatic tension should be fantastic to use.

I have a collection of boring sewing jobs to do but this will give me stuff to practice on before I start the fun stuff.

Watch out for the photos!

Christmas Planning

Started my mental list of what I want to make, I have got some lovely new material so was wondering about some Christmas bunting? I wondered whether it would look Christmas-y enough?

The second thing is my Christmas present, I have seen the machine I really, really, really want, have mentioned it and not had a "of course you can have it" yet ?? Should I mention it again

It is so beautiful and the stitches are lovely....

Where have a I been

I'm not quite sure either, I seem to have been on a cycle of trying to do my physio, then having huge pain flare ups, pelvic aches and resting up to try all over again. Not sure where it will end (apart from failing when i go back to physio on Tuesday - they do mark you right?)

On another much happier note the quilt top is nearly sewn  together, It was started in July and should be done for December. Ready for the family to snuggle under over Christmas.

Apple butter

Heard someone in the states and decided to investigate, it turns out to be an amazingly concentrated apple jam and as we had the last glut of apples to use up I made some. Going to put some onto some warm pancakes, had a little taste and it is lovely. The picture is refusing to rotate but I'm sure you get the idea!

Nearly October

Trees are changing colour and its going to be beautiful soon. And yes I have started making my snugglie/slanket or whatever name you want to call it. I got two lovely cream fleece throws from the local supermarket sell off shelf and they go together to form a wonderful fleece kaftan. I got a very good pattern but decided that it would be more multi purpose as an occasional garment and an extra thick throw so I'm sewing together with arm holes and a neck hole. I'll post a pic of me in it if it doesn't look too daft.

Some of my favourite things

the countryside, clean bed sheets, bath salts, candles, hugs and crunchy salads. Random I know but just thought I would share.

Very little making stuff today ....

... had a couple of appointments and my left leg has been playing me up so the day had been a bit of a making write off. It does make me appreciate when I am able to get stuff done, I've only got a few more florettes to add to make up the last strip of my top and then I can figure out if I have enough to the semi-hexagons in the same material !

Tomorrow and tomorrow

ps forgot I lit the candles i made tonight and they burnt really nicely, very bright so I think the wax-wick ratio correct.

Collecting

My favourite collection is of compacts, I have a few family heirlooms and have added over the past few years. I love the designs, textures and smell of old powder. I've recently found a case to display them in and love seeing them gleaming at me everyday

Well I did do a little bit of tidying ...

but I did make some candles. I know its not tidying but the place needed getting ready for its winter injection of candlelight.

Catch up day

Going to have an organise and catch up day. I have decided to take along my quilt to sewing group tonight. Here's a lovely little pile of hexagons, only 60 more or so to. Getting excited at the thought of making it up, just in tthey time to snuggle in over winter.

Am tempted to make up a slanket or snugglie with some fleece material, i know they are lame but they look so cosy. I'll see if the fabric shop has some fleece in and consider it.

Manchester vintage clothes fair

This looks like fun, on the 10th October, DH is off doing his music thing so might give it a whirl, even if its just for some inspiriation.

First post

Its really exciting to have got started, I have been thinking about doing this for ages but have taken the plunge. It was the indecisiveness of what to put in that has stopped me and then I had a brainwave put in everything!

I am a very distracted crafter who wants to be making the next thing before I have finished the last, I work best to a deadline. Amazingly I finished this scrap quilt ages before it was needed. My youngest daughter is now snuggled up in it at university (though her room was rather modern and cosy and I don't think she'll need it for warmth). It was a collection of old dresses, bits of leftovers from my clothes and her Grandfather's curtains. All tied off with ribbon and buttons saved from her childhood.

Keep checking back as I am nearing making up the top of my hand sewn quilt and will be posting as it goes pictures.