Mother, look away now!

It's my mum's birthday coming up, so I decided to convert my finished embroidery, from Jo-Bearpaw's FQR class into a little pouch.

The embroidery is on white Essex Linen, so I backed the panel with some fusible fleece, and then followed my pattern that you'll find in this month's Love Patchwork & Quilting.

I adjusted the pattern for the flat pouch to fit the size of my embroidery, and I am really rather pleased with how it turned out.

A bit more of that home dec on the back, and it's all good.

This was all made up before 9am, I couldn't sleep!

I also finished up some commission work today, which is always nice to get under my belt.  By my reckoning I only have two more stitchy 'commitments' to complete this summer holiday, and I am hoping to get one of those finished this evening, then it's all me me me!

Give Me Liberty Please!

When Krista and Nicole threw down the Liberty-lined gauntlet to stitch up some Liberty last month, they didn't have to ask me twice.

As soon as I saw Ayumi's Embroidery Pouch in Patchwork Please! I knew I would be making one in advance of the sewalong - it's near the end of the book, so it'll be months before that one gets the treatment, so I started formulating a plan immediately.  A Liberty-Heather Ross plan. 

The sew-along booted my butt into gear!

I showed you the cover a while back, and I know I have already put the finished shots on instagram as I was so happy with it and couldn't wait to show off; but today I am linking up with Nicole's blog for all to see...

I am so in love with this pouch.  It finishes at 9.5" square, which is perfect for a nice sized hoop to fit inside.

As you were party to my vinyl dilemma, you may like to see a bit closer how I managed to incorporate one of those 50 pence pencil cases, zip 'n' all...

Instead of the second side pocket, I cut open the pencil case, unpicked the vinyl from the right-hand side of the zipper, (with the zip closed and pull at the top), and then trimmed to size; I amended the pattern slightly so that my pocket was lined was some Klona jade, and attached a strip of Liberty to that, and the other side to the edge of the zip sandwiched with the linen, the same way as you would sew the first side of a zippy purse.

Apart from not dividing the other vinyl pocket, this is my only real deviation from the published pattern.

Having a transparent pocket, or rather two, is so useful, and I am glad my gamble paid off.

Due to all the vinyl, I machine-stitched the binding to the inside first, then hand-stitched it down on the outside.

So there you have it!  Thank you Ayumi, your pattern is brilliant, so it really would have been difficult to make a duffer!  And a final thank you to Krista and Nicole for getting me to make this sooner rather than later.

I am over the moon with every inch of this pouch, it's another favourite thing ever!

***

Don't forget to pop over to yesterday's post if you haven't entered my Sew Mama Sew giveaway for the chance of winning your own bit of linen and Liberty. 
PS. No Reply Bloggers have been prevalent - if you discover you are of this ilk, email me before Friday, and should I pick you, I will be able to contact you - I know Blogger likes to randomly bump people!

Busy, behind the scenes...

Having finished my Spring Carnival, I fortuitously already have 2 EPP projects to work on, neither of which I am at liberty to really show you until mid-November, sorry.  I know you will all sleep easy now knowing that I won't be aimlessly twiddling my thumbs whilst twinkle-toes and dolphin-boy do their thing.

I have an appliqué project that I am completely excited about, and if it comes off as anticipated, you won't hear the last of that for a long time, so make the most of my secrecy for now.

I also have a cross-stitch on the go; it was meant to be an anniversary pressie for dear hubby, but my tired eyes have not been 14ct-friendly this week, but I am hoping to get that finished as soon as possible.

I have plans to make a little something for the Tula Pink Sewalong over at Sara's, as I had a lightbulb moment earlier today, and I am hoping Mr John Lewis will be able to help with that tomorrow.

Today I also took the bull by the horns and cracked on with my Stitch Tease mega-block for Di - it will be finished over the weekend, but again, I won't be able to show you until next year!

And...oh yes, there's an 'and', I have a couple more of Aneela's Little Stitches embroideries already completed and waiting on being made into gifts which I can't show either just yet.

I mustn't forget to mention my Mouthy Stitches tote though - that's all cut and ready to piece - OK, I'll show you a sneaky peak tomorrow, otherwise this blog could get awful boring!

Sew Lovely...

Yesterday, (well apart from the car journeys with the squabbling small people), was completely lovely, and just what I needed.

Turning up to big hugs from Aneela and Pennie set the tone for the day.

I didn't get to see much of Henley-on-Thames, but the small people and dear husband happily passed the day in the sunshine, whilst I got stitchy.

There were few nerves, unlike Retreat, and I knew half the ladies and Kelly already, which all made for a relaxed, light-hearted day of learning and sewing. 

We received our long awaited copies of Little Stitches, which Aneela duly signed for us all; she came to us, we didn't have to queue up and curtsey or anything! 

It is the most beautiful and inspiring embroidery book I have ever seen, and I am not just saying that; full of the cutest projects and sketches and super-fantastic iron-on transfers of all the embroideries - I want to stitch them all now!  Honestly, everyone needs this book!

OK, so I may have given Aneela the heads-up that I was in the market for a Sew Stitchy layer cake and one of her brilliant journals too, it would have been rude and disrespectful not to!

The plan was to complete the 'girl on a swing' embroidery as a cushion panel, but there may have been a bit too much chatting, eating and playing eye-spy to get that far,  but we all made a good start, and apparently some people have already finished!

So I spent this afternoon with the family watching Hugo on DVD, (fantastic, by the way), stitching all my leaves.  I am hoping to get my cushion finished this week, as soon as I have finished the last of the white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake that Pennie forced into my husband's hands before we left.

Thank you Aneela, you did great my friend, and thank you Pennie for the lovely grub; anyone needing catering in the Henley/London area, Thames Catering are the folks to ask.  And to all the lovely ladies, thanks for the compaby, who wants to be the Stink-along mama? xxx

Gone Stitchin'

It feels like a lot, (too much), has happened since I booked up to go stitching with Aneela this weekend...

But I am all packed and ready to go and spend some lovely time with friends today.

Fellow Mouthy Stitchers I promise to get my voice back soon; the mamas will be starting to match partners tomorrow.

Thank you so much for all the love and support that has been sent my way this past week; things are never as simple as they seem and the heartache goes on.

xxx

Social Stitchery...

I know you know that I loved my embroidery session with stitch-mistress Aneela at FQ Retreat, I may have mentioned it!

So when Mrs H posted yesterday about the chance for 10 folks to join her for a day class of embroidery in September, I was there, well as quick as I could convince myself that dear hubby really would love to spend the day with the kids on the banks of the Thames at Henley!

I am loving embroidery so much, yesterday's post may have hinted at that, so this was just perfect timing.

I am super-duper excited, and it looks like I am going to be in great company too.

I promise to report back in full stitchy detail xxx

A little bit stitchy...

I have managed a little bit of embroidery over the last week or so, but those Olympics are just as addictive!

I took advantage of some park time to embroider a bunch of Aneela's flowers...

I even successfully tried out some new stitches...

Not sure what I am going to make with this yet, but I will be taking heed of the lessons learned from my next effort...

I had a cunning plan over the weekend to make a little change purse out of some Summersville with a cute little orange house, but was scuppered at the final hurdle, when the only thing I could easily slip in would be a credit card, a folded note, maybe one coin or a wafer thin mint...

There may be a little bit of disassembling going on - but I bet the glue has set like... glue!

It was destined as a gift, but I have since whipped up something else, which I will show you once it has arrived.

One bit of embroidery that has reached its new owner was the little hoop that I made as part of my In The Frame Purse Swap parcel...

Can you see why I couldn't show you before!?

The whole parcel arrived safely and has gone down well with my lovely friend Deb.

So have you managed to stitch and cheer on your team?
 xxx

Up, up and away...

Despite the germs trying to get the better of me, (this morning I think I am winning), I still managed to get my Belle embroidery and the Retreat bag completed...

Belle is a natural brunette, but she's gone for a change of look for this balloon ride, and I think it quite suits her!  She has also swapped hands and side parting, as I traced the pattern with water soluble marker rather than using my heat transfer pencil, which I have yet to master.

To hide the knots and snaggles on the inside, although it actually wasn't too messy, I decided to line the bag with a nice piece of Klona Orange; I love how it changes the look of the canvas, and it just gives the whole bag a nice finish...

Aneela's patterns are so beautiful, and her thread count and stitch suggestions make it so easy to get the look, because to be honest, left to my own devices I would not have a clue!  Thanks missus x

Next on the cards are those twin quilts, and the little matter of ageing!  Wish me luck x

Achoo!

I've got a horrible, horrible cold!

Why, when I have a few days off, time to do stuff, and stuff to do, I end up feeling like cr@p!?

Yesterday I took a quick stroll round the Village Day celebrations; dear son managed to win some sweets on a couple of tombolas, so he came away happy, and the fact we were only there for an hour in the wind and arctic temperatures made me happy too.

Excuse me, please may I borrow a hankie?

When we got home I worked on the twin quilts, to try to beat the lurgy that was taking grip, as I need to hand them over when my Mum and Dad come down next weekend.

Basting and quilting these little babies was so quick and easy.  I managed to frankenstein enough wadding for both, without having to cut into the nice big piece reserved for my Retro Flowers, spray baste them and get one quilted and ready for binding in about 2 hours.

I am going to bind in Kona Ash, supplies of which are winging their way from Fluffy Sheep Quilting as we speak, so some more lovely hand sewing to look forward to.

I have no progress on my Spring Carnival to show, but I do have another project from my pile! 

Ripping off Laura's idea to embroider her FQ Retreat goody bag, as soon as Aneela sent me her Belle embroidery pattern, I knew what I wanted to do.

So I've made a start...

For scale, this is a 10" hoop.

I finally had to stop last night when I could no longer focus through my streaming eyes, and nose!

I am hoping therefore to have a few finishes to show you shortly; talking of which, I need to check out my FAL-Q2 list, there's less than a week to go!

Happy Father's Day!

Because a man only needs so many Moshi Monster drawings, and seeing as my husband already has a quilt and couple of cushions, mug rugs and soft toys, for this year 's Father's Day he has benefited from my new infatuation...

Our initials conveniently make a lovely sentiment!

We are off to the Countryman Fair today - so hoping it stays dry, at least long enough to get everyone fed and worn out.

Hope you are spoiling any men in your life that need spoiling, and if not, spoil yourself xxx

Cockney Stitches...

Having embroidered a bunch of rather random things over the last couple of weeks, I hatched a Father's Day plan for my Dad.

First there was the little dog, which I originally thought I would stick on a card...

Then there was the little old fashioned phone...

So guess what, I stitched up a little bone to complete the scene.

Did you see where I was going?

Now for those who are not familiar with Cockney rhyming slang, I suggest you have a play here.  Aneela suggested I whip up a 'cock' and 'knee', and I may well do so!

I popped the card in the post yesterday, so I hope it arrived today in time for tomorrow, I will phone him in the morning to find out; and I will also be able to show you what I made for my dear husband too.

Idle hands?

Not me!

Not only have I been passing time with embroidery since Retreat...

OK, it might have a puncture!

That's Aneela's little red bus to add to the collection, but I have also started on another mid-size project... a Katy Jones' Spring Carnival mega-mahusive hand-pieced cushion cover.

Using two charm packs of Domestic Bliss, and a FQ of Kaffe Fassett shot cotton, (yes Emily, that one!), I am still at the basting stage, but already loving it.  I know I could have Pritt-sticked them, but I like this bit too...

This should keep me out of trouble for a while; I was kind of hoping these would be my summer garden sewing projects, but they seem to work very nicely as sat on the sofa under a quilt projects too, which is lucky x

La La, Monday Monday...

It was a wet one, it was a miserable one, I wore my winter coat, but I've got that first day back at work under my belt, taken the kids to the dentist and have tea in the oven.  England are ahead  drawing 1-all in the football, and hopefully I will be able to get Annabella's Stitch Tease block finished this evening.

Sneaky peek anyone?

I've also got a couple of little embroideries to show for an evening in front of the TV, but I have forgotten to wash off the fabric marker, so will only show you one for now...

"hello?"

Hope you haven't been washed away, blown away or otherwise affected by the elements today; who'd of thought it was summer!  Can't stop, I can smell sausages xxx

Hoopla...

I have been taking it easy; sadly enforced, but my arm really does need rest, so embroidery to the rescue.

I didn't get round to attempting the second pattern at Retreat, I was talking, so thanks to Aneela, I got my mitts on her suggested stitches and spent a lovely evening stitching up the little stocking.  I also pulled out an old Mollie Makes and my first Mandy Shaw book and have already stitched up a couple of others...

I am totally smitten with embroidery.  I used to stitch little flowers on things when I was young, but backstitch was the most fancy stitch I mastered.   I am going to have to go back over all the magazines and books I own, and take a look at all those pages that I had previously just skipped over.

You know the simplest thing, getting the pattern to the fabric gave me a mental block and it's so damn easy and obvious, now there'll be no stopping me.

I have Aneela's London pattern ready and waiting; a red bus, phone box and more, which I think I will start this evening - I'm not going to let the weekend's London-love fade away just yet!

Thank you Archie!

Today's post is bought to you courtesy of Archie!  If it weren't for him, then I would have pretty much nothing to say except 'It's the holidays - hip hip hurray!!!'

Having logged off and come home from work for the last time until January 5th, and thinking things couldn't get much better, there was a superb parcel waiting for me at home...

Now if you want to find out how I ended up with said parcel, please check out this awesome post, video clips 'n all, but for those impatient souls, go on, take a look what was inside...

Want a closer look?  Please bare in mind there was a time delay between the first picture and the rest whilst I oooh'ed and aaaah'ed at Helen's handiwork, pondered whether I would share when the kids came home or not and stroked the Echo! 

For those who somehow aren't familiar, Helen is Archie's pet/owner and spokesperson; she makes beautiful things and is incredibly generous with her words, time and skills.  Archie is a rescue dog who is very very good at picking winners :)

So here's the detail - I am so in awe of these teeny perfect stitches...

Amazing huh!?  If unsuspecting visitors jump to the conclusion that this is an FB original, I won't be in a rush to correct them!

I feel so lucky; Helen you know this will be loved and has come to a good home, thank you xxx

If you have time for one last photo, this is what dear son bought home from school today - sewing!!  He is so proud and so am I!

Well I hope you get a good night's sleep (or a fun Saturday if you are of the 'other side of the world' persuasion), and aren't kept awake with the excitement of all the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway draws that will be going on! 

I'll be back in the morning with my winner!