Blog Archives

Autumn Walks

29/11/2011

One thing I really do miss, especially at this time of year, is taking long walks with the dog. Magic loved to walk for miles, and she would sit by the front door at the mere hint of "walkies" and loved to get out in the Autumn sunshine. Jasper is still only a puppy, and not quite old enough for an epic journey into the nearby forest. So far the weather has been very mild, and the colours are still wonderful. I feel very lucky to live in the country, with so many nearby walks and places to roam and explore.

0 Comments

Christmas Gift Fayre at Wantisden Valley

27/11/2011

1 Comment

There have been several local Christmas craft fairs this weekend, and this morning I drove over to a couple to see if I could get any inspiration. I started off at Glemham Hall, then drove over to Wantisden Valley, which always attracts a large crowd of people. There were over 70 stands selling seasonal gifts, food & drink. I bumped into several friends, some from work (hi Judy!!) and some I hadn't seen since the craft fair there last year (hi Sue).....

.....despite there being all sorts of lovely craftiness, I didn't really get the urge to do any Christmas shopping, but did manage to buy myself a heart-shaped tin to keep bits-and-bobs in, from this lovely stall. Oh well, looks like I'll have to go to some PROPER shops to do my Christmas shopping - luckily I'm on holiday this week, so have got some shopping trips planned to Bury St Edmunds and Norwich.

1 Comment

Secret Garden Sommerveske

27/11/2011

2 Comments

I was extremely excited when Lynette Anderson emailed me and asked if I could make a bag for her to use, and when this beautiful collection of fabric arrived from her I really was in fabric heaven - I'm using an AnnAKa pattern for this bag, Mathilde's Sommerveske.....

.....I spent absolutely ages on Saturday morning deciding which fabrics should go where, and which one should be a pocket and which one should be a flap. Anyway, here is the final arrangement - I do hope Lynette is pleased with it.....

.....I decided on a blue-grey thread for the top-stitching and quilting as it's not too overpowering (I always use Mettler quilting thread if I need a plain colour, and this is shade 0684) and blends nicely with these muted tones.....

.....as you can I see I've managed to get the pockets on and cut the corners out to make a nice neat bottom.....

.....more pockets inside - this lining fabric is really pretty, and a cute clip to attach your keys on so you don't lose them in your bag. This fabric sews beautifully and I've really enjoying making this bag, although to tell you the truth, I was a bit nervous about sewing it for Lynette as her work is just so neat....

.....anyway, a frill around the top, scrappy handles and this bag is very nearly finished. A yo-yo (Suffolk Puff) flower completes Mathilde's Sommerveske. What do you think Lynette? I'll get this in the post to you on Monday :)
UPDATE: Lynette has now received this bag and has blogged about it over here

2 Comments

Secret Garden

23/11/2011

4 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I had an email from Lynette Anderson, asking me if I would like a bundle of her new fabrics, Secret Garden, to have a play with - honestly, I was just giddy with excitement - and today the fabric arrived - a wonderful bundle of fat eighths to drool over. Lynette designs fabric for Lecien, and this fabric is just darling - it is so fine and soft, and the colours are muted and oh my goodness I just love it....

.....and as if this wasn't wonderful enough, Lynette said she had long been admiring the bags that I make and asked me if I could make a Norwegian bag for her to use as a handbag when she goes to Japan in January. She sent me some extra yardage to make Matildes Sommerveske (pattern by AnnAKa) - to send back to Australia for her. Guess what I'll be doing on Saturday - that's right, slicing up this gorgeous fabric, which I'm currently stroking and drooling over. Hmmm - I'm in fabric heaven :)

.....I met Lynette last year when she was in the UK promoting her book Quilting Cats and Dogs.
My friend Eva was staying with me at the same time, so we were both lucky enough to go on 2 of her workshops at Quilters Haven (yes, yes, I know, going to them both was a little bit greedy!) but we had a great time - Lynette was very patient, and an excellent teacher - I just hope my bag lives up to her expectations!!

4 Comments

Sneak Peek at my Quilts

20/11/2011

2 Comments

A few weeks ago I blogged about Janette, a Longarm quilter who has a studio not far from me. When I was on holiday I visited her studio with 4 of my quilts, and left them in her tender loving care, and she has let me have a sneak peek at what she has been doing. I was so excited when I saw these photos, I couldn't wait to share them with you. Thank you so much for the photos Janette, and thank you for letting me share them on my blog! First of all, here is the "Butterfly
Garden" quilt....

.....this shows a close-up of Janettes handiwork - I think this quilting design that Janette suggested - Hearts in Bloom - looks perfect with the hearts and flowers that are appliqued onto the quilt.....

.....here is the green backing fabric that I had chosen - it is from Quilters Haven, and is an extra wide fabric by Moda.....

.....next is the quilt made with a "Bliss" (by Bonnie and Camille for Moda) Layer Cake. This was made very simply, by sewing 36 squares together in a 6x6 formation, then I added some stitchery verses from another quilt (pattern by Leanne Beasley). The quilting design Janette used for this is called Bush Berries....

.....and finally the batik quilt that I had made about 3 years ago. This really did look like a rag when I left it with Janette. The quilt pattern is called "Lincoln Logs" and is in a book called "Laps from Fats" by Ellen Replogle.....

.....and I just love this quilting design - Tickle - I can't wait to see these in the flesh and I'm super excited about collecting them! There's just the "Tail feathers" quilt to complete, and then I'll get busy making binding. I always machine the binding into place then handstitch it to the back of the quilt. I'd better invest in a new thimble - I think I'll be needing it!

2 Comments

St Peter's Street Festive Market - update

20/11/2011

0 Comments

Mr F took me to Ipswich today, as I wanted to go to the St Peter's Street Festive Market. I was hoping to find some Christmas gifts, particularly with the crafty friends and members of my family that I struggle with finding just the right present for.....

.....and while there were lots of lovely things for sale, nothing really seemed the right thing to buy - saw lots of lovely purses and bags, but I thought the Norwegian ones that I make were just as nice (saw lots of framed purses Heather - maybe we should have a stall next time!!).....

.....there were lots of vintage goodies for sale too, and I saw a beautiful linen and lace tablecloth that I went back to look at twice then changed my mind - I still don't know why I didn't buy it!! - so I ended up coming away empty handed. Next weekend there are two local craft fairs on the same day so hopefully I'll get some gifts then!!

0 Comments

Country Living - A Christmas Shopping Experience

20/11/2011

0 Comments

On Friday evening I went to the Country living Christmas Shopping Experience at Whersted Park. There werre masses of wonderful stalls selling just about everything you could possibly want for Christmas. Food, wine, gifts.....

.....I went along with my friend Kay, and we here were admiring some beautiful jewellry. Hmmm - might have to drop a few hints to Mr F about what I'd like on my Christmas list hehe!.....

.....I met up with Sue, another friend who I hadn't seen for a VERY long time - it was great to meet up again - fancy it being at a shopping event!.....

.....there were all sorts of edible goodies on display too, and I bought a couple of these pies for Mr F - no, not for Christmas, but just for him to munch on for his supper.....

.....these cheeses looked very tasty too.....

.....and here are the 3 of us once we'd finished. Mmm - not too many shopping bags between us! I'll show you what i bought another time - probably not the pies though, I expect Mr F will have eaten those :)

0 Comments

St Peter's Street Festive Market

19/11/2011

2 Comments

I'm off to Ipswich tomorrow morning with Mr F, to the St Peter's Street Festive Market - I went along to the summer event and it was great. Hopefully I'll get some more Christmas gifts! And maybe some inspiration for making some more handmade gifts for friends and family - and maybe sample some of the tasty food that will be available! Are you coming along too?

2 Comments

November FNSI - the results

19/11/2011

4 Comments

Well unfortunately I don't have very much to show you from yesterday's FNSI - as I went out yesterday evening to a Christmas shopping night at Wherstead Park, and by the time I arrived home I was exhausted and only managed to sew some binding on these placemats. I really love this range of fabric - "Countdown to Christmas" by Sweetwater for Moda. These were made from the left-over fabrics of some placemats I made a few weeks ago. That's another Christmas gift completed!

4 Comments

November Friday Night Sew-In

17/11/2011

0 Comments

It's that time of the month again - Friday Night Sew-In is being held on 18th November. Sign up over here and get out your projects!! All you have to do to take part is sign up, spend the evening sewing, and the following day post about it on your blog. You can even add this button to your sidebar - how simple is that?!Unfortunately I've got a girly night out planned so my FNSI will be stitching very very late and into the early hours of the following morning!!

0 Comments

<<Previous

Autumn Walks

Christmas Gift Fayre at Wantisden Valley

Secret Garden Sommerveske

Secret Garden

Sneak Peek at my Quilts

St Peter's Street Festive Market - update

Country Living - A Christmas Shopping Experience

St Peter's Street Festive Market

November FNSI - the results

November Friday Night Sew-In

About me...

Archives

Blogs I follow

UK shops

Australian links

Scandinavian links