I am a very bad blogger......

I just can't find the time at the moment, plenty of sewing happening but just not the inclination to post about it, as I've said before I am sure something happening in September could resolve this! Hopefully I will catch up soon with all the things I've made that I've yet to show you.

I went away for a few days this week with the girls to my in-laws. That meant no sewing machine and lots of mummy-daughter time. Not that I didn't have a lovely time, I did, but I was in desperate need of some me-time with my machine when we got back!

So yesterday I pulled out my hoarded liberty scraps and some old salvaged curtain lining and set to work on this weeks Zakka project.

I love this pillow so much, it makes me wish I was little again and could have one of my very own. I am not and I can't but the reaction it received from Juliette more than made up for that!

I used some salvaged cotton jersey for the ted, it made him so soft and cuddly. The liberty scraps were a mixture of lawn and silk, a bit fiddly to work with sewing all those diamonds up and my points are far from lined up in places!

I can see her big sister putting in a request for one of these and I know I will definitely be using this as a present go-to in future, although perhaps without the diamonds!

Whilst I was away I did get a little hand sewing done, infact I finished it so quickly I wished I had taken more!

The lovely Boris pattern from Jo at Bearpaw. Jo gave away this pattern a while back and I printed it off immediately. I am so glad I finally got around to doing it, I even learnt a new stitch. I am putting the other woodland portraits on my to-stitch list! Now I just need to find a home/purpose for Boris....at the moment I am thinking simple, in a wooden hoop.

Right, I am off to catch up on a weeks blog reading, wish me luck! If I don't manage to comment, please forgive me :-)

Cookies!

Just had 10 minutes to stop and blog this sweet little Zakka project that I ran up this week, my littlest daughter was over the moon with her new cookie bag and cookies

Linen from an old blouse, 50p in the charity shop, a much nicer salmon pink in real life!

I love the label and know I'll be adapting the embroidery for other projects in future!

I wasn't looking forward to making the cookies but actually they only took a short time, that said I did only brave making two!

Top tip this week included using shirring elastic, perfect for little hands and keeping everything in.

I haven't seen it since I finished it, she has been too busy using it at her 'tea party'! Looking forward to next weeks Zakka, this sew along is so much fun! Especially when your 2 year old squeals when you make her something ;-)

Whoops, yes I did make 2 Zakka pincushions too.....I AM going to make EVERYTHING in this book, don't ask my why, it is just one of those silly targets I like to give myself!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, what's left of it :-)

A little of what you fancy....a sew-less post

I LOVE FMF.....I do!

And until a couple of weeks ago I didn't have any, but then I was very naughty and brought a couple of FQ's because RUCraft were giving away 1 free fq per order....so I popped into the store (which is about a 5 minute drive from me) with my print out of their offer email. The shop staff were a bit confused and unsure whether it was an online only offer. But I stood my ground and got my free fq, and saved myself the £3 postage cost of ordering online, yay! I have yet to challenge them as to why their online prices are lower than the instore prices.

A few days later I got very tempted by the new clamshell minaudiere clutch frames at u-handbag...even better, they were on special offer due to some slight plastic lumps inside due to a moulding process error.

So I ordered one, it arrived the next day and I whipped out the craft knift and trimmed off the bumps.

Next the fabric glue came out and the FMF and some Lakehouse Dry Goods Penelope Tea Labels from Simply Solids I had from a while back.....and tadah!

I love my 'posh' clutch with it's big gem and bright fmf fabric, I just need to get my hubby to take me somewhere nice to use it....it could be awhile, something about me spending all the money on fabric? I have no idea what he meant!

A few tips I would give if you are wanting to make one of these are be very sparing with the glue but do make sure the case is completely covered, especially the edges. Glue on each piece of fabric separately, allowing them to dry before attempting to glue the lining/outside (depending on the order you do it in) and make sure it is completely dry before you glue it into the frame. You will be wrestling it a bit and you want that fabric to stay where you put it and not wrinkle up, even more so if you have lined it as it will be a much snugger fit and may need some persuading!

I blame Nicky for this new obsession, but it was a refreshing change to make something non-sewn. Another top tip is the u-handbag damages section, great bargains for practising a new style on, I picked up a couple of really cheap frames to try new shaped purses on (and make mistakes on!) before buying the full price ones.

Hope you all have a wonderfully sunny weekend!

Still wiggling on!

yet more wiggly bags have been popping through the letterbox!

Lovely ribbon adorned bags from Louise at Sew Scrumptious

Pretty Bags and some lovely Pips scraps for me from the very kind Katy at The Littlest Thistle

A huge box full of wiggly's from the amazing Mina at Kinda Quilty in Texas USA!

Lots of colourful Wiggly's from Amanda who heard about the Wiggly Bag collection via Twitter!

I have been amazed by the sheer generosity of the lovely ladies that have been making and sending these in, as Cindy said, what a wonderful community we have!

Thank you all SO much, each and every one of these bags will help brighten a child's treatment and stay in hospital and I know that every parent of those children will be very grateful for any little difference we can make.

I also had some very exciting post today, something for ME!

My gorgous frame purse, from Amanda at Scissors and Thread.

I just adore the fabric she used for the purse, I wish I could have more of it, I would LOVE pj's made from that, oh wow how amazing would that be?!

She also sent me some awesome scraps, I just love MM, lucky lucky me!

And if I could use my purse inside out then I would....because the inside is just as cute!

Thank you Amanda, you got it perfect for me, I love it :-). And a mahousive thank you to Nicky and Helen for running the swap, loved it!

There may be more frame purse related happenings around here...but you'll have to come back to see what, oh I am a tease!

Wonderful Wiggly Ladies!

Just thought I would give you a quick update on all the wonderful wiggly bags that have been coming in over the last couple of weeks

Kerry at Pennydog 

Kerry at verykeryberry

Sarah at Sewme

Oh no this is so embarrassing - I should really write this down as SOON as they arrive in the mail, but I cannot for the life of me remember who sent these, I hang my head in shame and if it was you then please accept sincere apologies from the donut head dufus that is me!

Susan at Canadian Abroad

Wonderful wiggles I am sure you will agree and very kind, generous ladies too! Thank you all so much, the kids are going to love them!

Susan as also super duper generous, lovely and kind (we all knew that already!) and sent me some amazing Sew Stitchy scraps (I would hardly call them that!) for my Aneela quilt. THANK YOU so much Susan!

The Return of the Zakka!

First up, I want to apologise for the lack of comments I have been leaving. I am reading everything in my google reader, but the kids just are not giving me time to comment! So for where it is due, well done, congratulations, sorry to hear that (Hadley!) and it is amazing! Normal commenting will resume, um, in September I guess!

Meanwhile, we had to stay home today to wait for a courier to collect a parcel, for the third time, and no surprise, they didn't show again today b***tards! There is nothing worse than being stuck home with 2 bored kiddo's :-(

So I made the most of the confinement by catching up on a few of the Zakka projects I missed recently. First I made the hand warmers, but decided to make them from print, I though little hands would fiddle with the embroidery.

My back sections didn't overlap like in the book, not to worry though! And it was a great idea to make them first as a certain 2 year old was delighted with their squishy bean bag like nature and promptly ran off with them, leaving me to get on with the next project....

Big sister decided it was cool enough that she have one too, so she picked some fabric and I set her to work!

Love the safety awareness with the positioning of her hands, good girl!

Then they were both so delighted with their new bags we had a full on giggly modelling session! cue photo overload :-)

Finally I found time this afternoon to turn a well worn and softened from use tea towel into the bread basket for this weeks Zakka project. Honestly, leave something lying around long enough and I am sure to cut it up!

Terrible photo, but the day was late and I was so smug with it I just couldn't wait! Perhaps later this week when I have to wait in for the courier, again, I will bake some rolls to put in it :-)

I am off to prep some pieces for the travel embroidery bag, cos I am green with envy at Lucy's gorgeous one!

I want your scraps!

Specifically and only Aneela Hoey ones though I am afraid.....you may remember on my FAL list I included the Aneela Tribute Mini Quilt. I want to make a mini with a little of every line she has so far, along with my Aneela signature and embroidery (yes I am just a little crazy!)

Problem is I only have a charm pack of Walk in the Woods and a few scraps of Sherbet Pips.

This is where you come in. I need just scraps, any shape and size as it is going to be a bit 'improv' in nature, of the following lines:

Sherbet Pips

Little Apples

Sew Stitchy

Cherry Christmas 

(I am aware that most people wont have this yet as it is only just being released)

Because I only need a few scraps from each line you can understand why I am reluctant to buy from a store, it would work out very ineffective cost wise.

So I will do whatever you want to get your scraps, ie pay you, swap with you (provided I have something you want in return) make you something or just make sure everyone knows you are the most awesome lovely person on the entire planet for helping me out!

Can you help me? Pretty please :-)