Sweet Diversion

Well I had planned to whip up an apron or two today but instead I had a sweet diversion and ended up making myself a tag-a-long ironing mat.  I have always wanted one of these - I just never got around to it.  Between my full ironing board, a slightly smaller table top version and this new mat I have 3 options when I now need to iron something.  All I'm missing is a sleeve board and I'll have a complete set.  Did you know I HATE ironing? LOL!

Except for sewing that is!  I also wanted to be able to provide an extra table top ironing surface at my sewing classes which was my motivation for this project.  I added carry handles make this easy to take to class.  I also wanted to be able to pack this in a suitcase to use whilst on holiday.  No more folding a towel and ironing on the floor for me!  Okay, if there isn't a table top to put this on I will still have to put it on the floor but it's much bigger than a towel would be.

At some point I hope to offer patterns for a 'sew organised' series of sewing classes where we make bits and pieces to use ourselves when sewing.  I can put every one of those ideas to good use too - believe me.

It's actually quite large so I designed it to fold into sections and then again in half.  I did consider making it with a pocket system to hold my iron but it was way too big to fit into any pocket.  However, it does kinda create it's own pockets once folded so I'm guessing it'll hold a fold flat travel iron real easy - even better for holidaying!

I originally made it without ties and it still worked but I decided to recycle a bit of ribbon so it wouldn't come unfolded until I wanted it to.  Just keepin it neat.

It's actually quilted and I cheated.  I used an old towel - quite a thick one I might add as the padding and ran several lines of stitching to keep it securely in place.  Wouldn't do to have lumps and bumps where you don't want them huh? LOL

And this is a view of the mat from above - all folded neat and ready to go.  I just love it and I know I'm gonna get a ton of use out of it too.  Maybe I'll get around to the aprons tomorrow at some point in the day - who knows?

Enjoy!

Suezie

Cath Kidston Store, Marylebone, London

I got the chance to visit my second Cath Kidston store whilst we were in London this past weekend and I thought I might as well share my thoughts about it.  I now plan to visit as many stores as I can when out and about so I'm rating them.

Does anyone remember this store in Covent Gardens?  It was the first one I visited in London and it had charm, character and was stunningly beautiful inside.  The staff were amazingly friendly (and generous) and I'd give the Covent Garden CK store a 9/10 rating.  This store is well worth a visit.  It would get ten out of ten if it had more fabric because besides that it ticks every box on the list.  It was a lovely sales assistant that suggested I try the Marylebone store for fabric.

Well it wasn't difficult to spot the trademark blue and red sign but were it not for that you might've walked right by this one.  True it had 2 floors and had more fabric but be warned!  The staff were not particularly friendly - maybe cos it was a Saturday - who knows?  Some of my fabric was TORN!  NOT CUT!  Yes I did say TORN!  I absolutely HATE when sales staff do that - I could almost cry!  Despite the fact that there was a purpose built table it wasn't used at all - it was all cluttered with bits and pieces and very untidy - no wonder they didn't use it. 

I have since thoroughly checked my fabric and am not happy with how it was measured plus a dirty great mark was found on one piece so I now have to return it.  At £20 per metre, dirty great stains, and torn edges are just not acceptable.  If the sales assistant had laid the roll on the table and measured out the length not only would she have been able to cut it nicely but we would both have seen the dirty mark. 

I'm disappointed at CK and also at myself for not having asked her to cut the fabric rather than tear it.  Shame on me - I should've had courage enough to speak up.

I was also disappointed at the selection of lighter weight fabrics - maybe half a dozen at most.  I have seen more of these in John Lewis than at CK.  I only chose three because I already had one design, don't like the stars and didn't care for the remaining design - green floral.  I plan to make something for the boys with the cowboy prints - hence two different colours so they know which is which and something for Madyson with the pretty pink floral - maybe cushions for Christmas cos they do like to snuggle with pillows and blankets.  Even so these were poorly cut and the blue one is all hacked to pieces along one edge.  I can only presume the previous customer shared that experience too.  I'd love to know their thoughts?

I purchased some heavier weight fabrics and if you're looking for this kind of weight then you're in luck.  The Marylebone store had mostly these and in a variety of designs too - easily 3 - 4 dozen if not more.  They also had lightweight 'fat quarter' bundles all tied up with that lovely red ribbon for £25.  I didn't bother since I wanted larger pieces and already had a few of the bundled fabrics in my stash but they'd make a nice gift for anyone looking to do patchwork or smaller projects with CK fabrics.

And as luck would have it there was a sales basket though it was full of plain black fabric and just this one piece of oil cloth.  I already have this design in lighter weight fabric and had only last week cut out an apron with a complimenting red and white polka dot.  I am looking not so much to change up my kitchen cos I love the strawberry theme but maybe just to freshen it up a bit and had decided to treat myself to a new apron. 

I am teaching the apron in my next class (8 October) so I get to photograph the process for my pattern AND get a new apron for myself into the bargain.  I made my old one from Laura Ashley oilcloth and it's still good - it matches the strawberry tiles and border in the kitchen but it's just time for a bit of something new I think.  My new one will be fabric but I still purchased this oilcloth on sale to drape over the table when the grandkids come to dinner.  It was a bargain and I can use it on the table outdoors too so I had to have it.

Okay -  enough of my waffling already!  How would I rate this CK store?  Well I give the Marylebone CK store 6/10 and it's lucky to get that.  In fact it only gets that rating because it has way more fabric and for no other reason.

Hubby has promised to take me to the St Neot's store one weekend.  Sara mentioned it was worth a visit although the sales staff phoned ahead for me and was told they only have about 16 bolts of fabric in total.  Then again there is a store in Cambridge that I may try to visit pre-Christmas too - just to see what that one's like.  I'll let you know when I do.

And as if that wasn't all enough for a weekend I even managed to find a charity shop or two and picked up a couple more vintage sheets - well one is vintage for sure - the other looks more modern.

I found a great tutorial for making 'I don't wanna get outta bed' slouch pants recently so I plan to make myself a couple of pairs of those with these and besides having a bunch left over for other projects I may even have enough in the one matching pillowcase to make Maddycakes a pair just like Grandma's LOL!  How cute would they be on her with the wide blue band and lace trim at the hem?  I've already washed and pressed these so they're good to go.  I can't wait to try out the tutorial.  You can check it out here if you fancy having a go yourself. And don't foget those of you who have boys/men - these can be made for guys too.  Team them up with a simple, inexpensive plain T-shirt and you have PJ's for Crimbo!  How cool is that :-)

Happy Sewing!  Blessings

Suezie

Weekend In London

Well we're back from our weekend in London and all I can say is it's sooooo nice to be home.  Don't get me wrong - I really enjoy visiting the capital but it just makes you appreciate home even more - especially if you've visited on a busy weekend.  The place was absolutely heaving with people and I do mean HEAVING!  I much preferred my trip with Jilly which was mid-week and involved much less fighting the crowds.  The weather was very hot and humid which is hard to take at the best of times but at least it didn't rain until the drive home on Monday.

We went to London with tickets for the 50th anniversary celebration of 'Songs of Praise' at Alexandra Palace - which BTW I don't have a single picture of to share with you - my batteries ran out of juice would you believe?  Hubby had left his camera in the car cos I had mine, I had left my mobile phone in the boot of the car cos I knew we would have to turn them off - so that was that.  This was what brought us to London and I couldn't even capture it on film - sooooo frustrating!

The evening was good and bad, packed in like sardines - it soooooo felt like the long haul flight from hell once we were all seated plus the heat from the hot weather outside, lack of air inside and humidity levels made everyone sweaty and uncomfortable.  Imagine that!  No forget I just said that, don't - it wouldn't be a pretty picture.  All I can say is don't be surprised if you see anyone waving their programme, fanning themselves to cool down.  It airs this coming Sunday 2nd October - well you didn't think they filmed live did you?

I did keep my programme as a reminder but that's about all I have to say I was there.

It kinda shattered the whole illusion for me a bit.  We were up singing, then down, then up to do it again for another take and that's pretty much how the whole evening went.  Having said that Katherine Jenkins and Andrea Bocelli were AMAZING as was Beverly Knight and LeAnne Rimes who also performed.  In fact even Katherine Jenkins had to perform again due to technical hitches - which of course was absolutely fine with us.  I was moved to tears at her performance - both times and when Bocelli sang 'Amazing Grace' - well you just had to be there live.  The applause that rang out afterwards went on for such a long time and was quite deafening.  My hands took a beating I can tell you.

The conductor Paul Leddington Wright warmed up the audience like a pro.  He had clearly done this time after time and even the floor manager was a 'wannabe comedian' but then I guess you have to jolly along the audience - all of whom have to keep smiling and be megga patient while they sort out the technical stuff inbetween.  At one point we saw cameras approaching our area and then later they announced they had to re-take (while we re-sang) cos the playback showed someone yawning!  It was at that point that hubby leaned over and whispered 'oops - I think that might've been me' LOL!  Neither of us sleep well away from home so we were both kinda shattered I have to say - he was probably right.

Still I for one will be watching it this Sunday to see how it all came together.  The backdrop and special effects were stunning and we all got to sing 'happy birthday' with a pyro-technic (firework to you and me) burst at the end.  We just might be in the crowd - who knows? LOL

And because we had a couple of days we hunted down a few markets just for the experience.  We headed to Camden Town which was bright, colourful, bustling and for me - a once is enough experience.

Don't get me wrong - there was no shortage of eye candy going on here and the 3D creations above the shops were fab to look at but it was all young, hip, trendy and soooooo not me I'm afraid.  I can see why my daughter liked it.  She suggested we give it a go and I'm glad we did but once is enough for me I think.

It IS worth doing at least once but I don't take well to pushing, shoving and busy over-crowded places.

When you look at this sampling of store fronts you can see why people are attracted to the markets.  There are several markets all going off in different directions, some more cramped than others and if you look long enough you can even find a few 'flea market' type stalls but only a few.  And for me it all started to look the same after a while.  If you saw that 'knock off' bag once, you saw it a half dozen times or more before you'd even made it half way round.

And although this was a much less crowded area - still wall to wall people - there is so much to see everywhere you turn that I am glad I did it.

The creativity and design was so inspirational and every now and then I'd run across a stall or window display that was more MY kind of thing so I guess it has to be said maybe there's a bit of something for everyone.  Don't want you to think I'm a moaning Minnie here folks LOL!  These dresses were very 'retro' and yet somehow modern all at the same time and I love em', especially the red polka dot number.

And if you're wondering just why I shared this shot well look closer.  First off it was a store with a floor to ceiling glass front which was pretty cool but it gets better.  In every single panel there was an old hand crank sewing machine - seriously - how cool was that?  It would've been even cooler for me if it was filled with hand sewn creations or a megga cool fabric store but hey - Camden Town is pretty much about clothing.

In addition if you look you can see the stores across the street, all bright colourful and 3D.  It's like being on the set of a children's programme but for adults. LOL

I'm pretty sure hubby thought more of Camden Town than I did.  After all there is one section of the market that is food, food, food - fast food that is - but again one stall is pretty much like the others.  They practically shove 'free samples' in your mouth - all of it meat I might add so any veggies out there beware.  I spent the entire time around this market saying 'thanks but I don't eat meat'.  Hubby tucked into a nice mexican takeaway sitting on these really neat seats - the back end of motorbikes - how cool are they?  And I eventually purchased some chinese food but as I sat there eating and 'inspecting' my surroundings I did think we might get 'jippy tummy' (or worse!) afterwards.  I'm happy to say we did not thankfully - no ill effects at all.

And there is a whole lot more to Camden Town than you might think.  We paused and watched this canal boat coming through the lock which involved opening and closing gates to change the water levels and is always fun to see.

Last but not least I'm sharing this stall which I thought was so pretty and which this snapshot really doesn't do justice to.  There was an upper floor to this stall and inside was beautifully draped with frilled curtains and floral fabrics.  They had some stunning handmade bags and fabric roses here.  If the market had've been full of stores like this one I'd have been in creative heaven.  In fact today as I was on the net I discovered there were fabric stalls in the Greenwich market - I soooooo wish I had known that!  We visited Petticoat Lane market and Old Spitalfields market as well - all on the same day.  I really got to grips with the London buses this trip around and didn't just rely on the underground but I'd have happliy gone to Greenwich if only I'd known!  Next time I think - I'm pretty sure there'll be a next time to London - there's so much to see and do that I imagine you could spend a lifetime visiting and still never see it all.

Since I was born and partly raised there you could argue it's my home and there have been more than one place I have called home in my lifetime but give me quiet, pretty, rural Suffolk any day of the week.

That's where I now call home.

Hugs

Suezie

A Huntin We Will go...

Bargain hunting that is :-)  Rummaging through charity shops - one of my favourite things to do.  I never know quite what I'll come home with - if in deed anything at all - trust me, I've had those kinda days LOL!

Today however was pretty good.  First up I managed to find myself another vintage sheet to add to my collection.  I see loads of these on US blogs right now and I know we have no where near the same volume of these here in the UK - I would soooooooo love to get my hands on a few stateside - they all look so FAB!  But for now I'll grab em' when & where I can thank you.

My puny little stash of just 4 sheets (well 5 actually cos I have two the same) is a bit pathetic really but it could've been larger.  I passed up a beautiful blue rose design a few weeks back - how crazy was I?  I looked at it, ummed and aarrhhhed over it, walked away, then went back and did the same but eventually left the charity shop without it and have kicked myself several times over for not having bought it!

This was today's vintage sheet.  I know, I know, it's perhaps not quite the design you'd pick if you were buying fabric by the yard but then you have to have vision.  Not only do they make up into all manner of pretty projects but they work great with quilting, either for the squares to make up the quilt or the entire backing panel.  I have seen several beautiful quilts made up entirely of VS.

Check out the VS quilt at this blog here!

I very nearly purchased a second one today as well, with green patterns on it that would've matched perfectly with this first one but sadly it was not in great shape once it was opened out.  An absolute MUST is that the sheet is in 'tip top' condition - like new in fact but that just makes finding these even harder still.  I could sure use a few more and a green one especially.

This is one of my favourites - really funky and kinda retro.  I've cut up quite a bit of this one for fabric carrier bags but I have yet to sew them.  When you get a sheet you get a whole lotta fabric so they go a really long way too especially if it happens to be a double size or larger.

This is the one I have double of.  I only paid £2 for a bundle of 2 double sheets and pillowcases at a car boot sale would you believe?  These are in pristeen condition and have never ever been used.  Handling them is like handling new fabric straight off the bolt.  It's just a shame they're such an old fashioned design but that's VS for ya - no gettin' away from it I guess.

This one has a kinda patchwork look all it's own and I'm maybe not quite so keen on this one either - which just makes me even more mad that I passed up the blue floral one cos I loved the design.  WHAT was I thinking!  Clearly I wasn't!!!  Still it'll make up something nice at some point I'm sure.

I debated on picking up a cream wool blanket for £2 as well today - there were several actually but I decided I didn't want to carry it home.  Now you might be wondering why I'd want one of those huh?  Well they work just like batting for quilts and if picked up in charity shops cost way less too.  They tend to be real woollen blankets which can be a bit heavier but boy they keep you warm!  Those of you who hope to take my rag quilt class take heed.  Don't spend a fortune on fabrics if you can recycle good quality sheets and blankets instead.  There's simply no sense in it.  You won't find me turning my nose up in class if you show up with an old pair of curtains or unused duvet cover. 

Sheets make the perfect lining material too so I pick up new white or cream ones whenever I can, otherwise I buy plain sheeting by the yard.  Why the heck not I say!  Sewing, like knitting used to be way cheaper and everyone did it, often out of necessity.  Today it's become a fashionable past-time and so expensive but it doesn't have to be.

And I also picked up some pretty glass pyrex dishes that were heart shaped.  I had to have them.  I thought they were really cute but when I put them back on the shelf, trying really hard to resist, my daughter quickly pointed out the detailing on them.  They were actually strawberries!   I know you can't see it in this shot but they have the leaves on the top edge just inside the dishes and I have a strawberry themed kitchen so I picked em' back up.  They'd be lovely for making individual baked desserts wouldn't they? 

And lastly I spotted the cake slice and matching cake forks.  I have always wanted a set of these and my mum and sister went halves on a set for me recently.  I had been searching for like FOREVER to find some.  The last ones I found in a charity shop I let my daughter have so I wasn't passing these up.  In fact my daughter said she liked these better.  Well maybe we can swap - who knows?

I hadn't planned to go into town at all today but I had a doctors appointment this morning and my daughter rang to say could we meet in town first.  I only did a few of Bury's charity shops - I got tired so we headed back to mine for tea and cake but I enjoyed my bargain hunting.  We're very lucky to have a nice selection of charity shops in Bury.  Maybe next time I'll get around all of em'.  And maybe next time I'll find another vintage sheet to add to my collection - who knows?

This has to be a megga quick post, breakfast is in the oven and we're headed off to church this morning.  I'm still sittin here in my PJs!

I missed half of X-Factor last night, running around - must try harder to be home for it next time, and there's no way I'm missin Downton Abbey this evening!  I consoled myself with a bit more sewing and created two more cushions.  This is probably a poor shot as I was in a hurry to get a snapshot before hubby got out of the bathroom and caught me.  If we're late this morning he's bound to blame me LOL!

I would share more piccies but I gotta go.  I have at least two more variations I want to work on later this week so I can put the pattern together, plus I still have an apron to do - well two now since I've decided maybe I need a new one for myself :-)  Might be mid week when I get them done.

Hope you're havin a great weekend.  Isn't the sunshine today lovely?  Might just get my washing dry too, save me using the dryer.  We sure squeeze a load of stuff into a weekend don't we?  What ever would we do without them I wonder LOL!

Hugs

Suezie

I'm Not a Quilter

To me a quilter is someone who pain-stakingly pieces all kinds of fabrics together and then sets about hand quilting them in a hoop or frame.  Maybe that definition is wrong but that's how MY mind sees it.  I have only ever made a quilt in this way once in my life and it now belongs to my darling God-daughter Natasha.  I think I have a photograph of it buried somewhere in my photo stash so if I ever run across it I promise I will share.  I know it's now an heirloom to be handed down so it was worth all the effort that went into it.

Patchwork on the other hand is something I see as different entirely and is something I regularly do so I'm keen to add it to my sewing classes.  There are probably a wealth of tips and techniques out there but as I am 'self taught' I can only share those I know of or have picked up along the way.  Still I think I have a lot to share on this subject and I hope some of the girls will agree.

To help me design for a pattern - cos let's face it - it's not worth buying for just a couple of square templates now is it?  And to get me in the mood I whipped up a cushion this morning using a clever technique to speed up the process.  I'm reasonably happy with it but I never like the first much - it's the same with card making - it often takes a few until I get on a roll.  The choice of fabric probably has a lot to do with it I imagine.

Right now I'm just creating 'proto-types' so I'm using up scraps which is another good reason to offer this class - who among us doesn't have scraps?  I am soooooo going to do a Cath Kidston one before the weekends out just for lil' ol' me LOL!  I'm getting my stride first and then I'll do that one :-)  I like the idea of changing up our bedroom which is pink & cream with larger roses and a somewhat vintage look to a a bit more CK so I can add in some blue and polka dots and a variety of 'multi-rose' patterns.  I like that ecclectic mix that CK usually has going on.

Complete beginners can choose 'to machine quilt' or 'not at all' - I plan assist either way.  It's not just about personal taste or what's right or wrong with patchwork, mostly it's about whatever you're comfortable with, but secretly I hope people will give it a go if they can.

Straight stitching I can do 'no problem' so I pretty much machine quilt in rows of some kind.  For this first example I repeated stitched squares across the entire project from the smallest at the centre working right the way out to the outer edges.  My cushion inner is a bit fat and full (sorry) so it's difficult to see.  I raided one of the cushions on the daybed to stuff just so I could share a picture here on my blog.

I have a few variations to make up so I can share several techniques and I want to have a chair full to take a pretty picture for the front of the pattern.  I'm also going to break into my Christmas stash of brand new CK fabrics to make up the apron which is the other class project.  Just wait until you see that made up!  It's gonna be hard to choose which to make but hey - the beauty of doing these classes myself is that as long as I don't try teaching more than a couple projects at one go, I can teach the same thing in another class along side a whole new project if there's demand.

For now I'll leave you with another parting shot of this pretty thing.  I might share another one later today or tomorrow or I might not (such a tease huh?)  It's church in the am and Downton Abbey in the pm so I just might not get time to share. LOL!

If you want on the next class please let me know as early as possible - some places are already taken -  and also which project you wish to do.  I know a few of you had both patterns last time so I hope to make up a half dozen of each just in case.

I still have a couple patterns for the turbie and box bags left over (£6.50 each) if anyone wants one - just email me or post a comment.  I considered an Etsy store but I'm still undecided so they can be purchased direct for now.  I'm only selling spares if I have any for now - first come, first serve.  I'm sending one to my darling daughter along with some fabric to get her in the mood for sewing.  Would soooooo love to have her join us for a class before Christmas if I can get her up here.  My pictorial CD won't quite be the same as having her mummy there but I can pop a picture or two of myself on her CD and make her feel I'm there too.

Oh and I HAVE TO SAY this is the best way yet I've found to get my Christmas sewing done!  I have to have samples to photograph and display and I know just where some of those samples are headed after class!  Can't be bad huh?

BTW next class is on 5 November, 1.00 - 4.00 pm at Fornham St Martin village hall - yes ladies, there will be easy parking this time around.  The mystery around the hall is solved - I'll explain next class.  And did you see my sneak peek earlier?  I have lots of lovely projects in mind :-)  There are just sooooooo not enough hours in my day darn it!

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Blessings

Suezie

Sneak Peek

Well my internet has been down for 3 days so I thought I'd let everyone know and lo and behold we got it back up and running this evening - typical huh!

Just wanted to share a sneak peek at a project I've been working on.  I'm trying to work out a few kinks and determine the best possible fabrics and methods to make this up so I can teach it at a future class.

I also want to work on a couple of variations of this project too but thought it might wet your appetite to see it now.  Also upcoming will be a sewing machine cover, mat with pockets and helpful bits including a handy fabric pot that's detachable.  I am soooooo inspired right now.

Next class is a really versatile apron or a patchwork cushion - you choose which.  Let me know if you want on there and what you'd like to make.  I hope to be able to share pictures of projects after the weekend.

For now tho' it's late and I have one more day of work tomorrow before I can spend the weekend sewing so I'm heading off to Bedfordshire.

Night, night :-)

No Net!

Just a quickie to say my internet's down so I'm posting from work in my lunch hour.  I'm still here, had a couple days off with my cold but put the time to good use creating sewing patterns for class.  Lots of lovely inspiration and ideas rollin round up there (wink, wink).

Also watched the entire first series of Downton Abbey in prep for the next series starting Sunday - yay!  Love a good period drama.

Be back to show you just as soon as I can.

Hugs

A Day Worth Remembering

In my book, today was a day worth remembering - one full of blessings - one that could so otherwise have gone utterly pear shaped!  But it didn't.


To begin with I was up until 1.30 am last night (or is that this morning?) and found it really hard to settle from sheer excitement and was up again at 7.00 am to finish all the patterns and last minute prep for my first ever sewing class.  I have a stinkin' cold right now which has been slowly coming on over the past 3 days and I think it picked today to hit it's peak - well I hope it's peaked - sure feels miserable and I'm still popping pills just to get through it. I think it's a good rub of Vick's on the ol' chest tonight.  And as if all that wasn't enough I was scrambling around last minute for another venue - don't even ask! - or class would have to be cancelled.


I have ALWAYS wanted to teach a sewing class - it is one of my dreams.  Sewing was my first love and it still runs pretty deep.  Might sound soppy but it's true.


With all that has been going on I needed a quick prayer this morning and the saying 'hem your day in with a little prayer and it will not unravel' comes to mind.  Appropriate too since we were sewing!  It could so easily have unravelled but faith got me through it. 

Needless to say it didn't unravel.  Hubby managed to find me another venue at super short notice and in my budget range plus I managed to get a hold of everyone to update them.  I usually hate mobile phones but NOT today! Everyone got there, things began to slot into place and it was soooooo worth every bit of effort that I've spent - and hubby's spent over 3 days running up to today.  Turns out he's pretty good at tracing and cutting out patterns as well as the usual setting up tables and clearing it all away again.  I couldn't have done it without him and I wouldn't have wanted to either.  Love that man :-)

We made up a total of 7 patterns in all - 3 turbie (2 sizes included) and 4 box bag patterns (3 sizes included).  This might not sound like much but I had to print and stitch the pattern pockets, type and print off instructions for each, draw, cut and mark up pattern pieces plus create samples and photograph the process to create a 'pictorial' and then save them on to CD.  There may only have been 5 ladies in class - one cancelled due to a cold - I know just how she feels right now :-( but I also sold 2 patterns on top plus took an order for another one for Monday.  Believe me when I say that's a whole lot of work!

But when I look at these photos of the girls busy at their machines and I think about the pretty things they created, I feel really happy because I had some small hand in that.  Not a single person went home without having finished their project and I had some REAL beginners in class.  I love Sara's sewing box BTW.

Jilly was among those, bless her, and since she was late getting there she also had to play catch up as well.  But even she made it home with a finished project.  This was the first time I had seen her wearing the apron I made her last Christmas.  This is one of the next class projects.

I plan to deliberately keep classes small so that I can give more attention to everyone and 5 was a good size.  I could manage 6 but I'm not sure I'd like to teach 2 different projects in the same class to more than that.

Today's class was either a turbie towel head wrap or a box based bag so I divided the tables by projects.  It was a nice opportunity for me to have Pauline along.  We work opposite each other throughout the week and I felt honoured that she was in one of my sewing classes.  She quilts and sews and is extremely good at it - I've seen her quilts and they're just beautiful.  In fact she showed up with a pretty patchwork bag and this sewing machine mat - which by the way I just loved!  I am sooooo going to add in another class with something similar.

Pauline worked with a really pretty floral and gingham style fabric which made up the smallest size bag beautifully.  It had a lovely 'old fashioned' feel to it.

Sara chose the turbie project and here she is modelling it.  I love this shot cos she looks just like a 1940's - 1950's mum in her pinny and headscarf (turbie).  I should've taken a closer shot of her turbie because it was a really pretty Amy Butler fabric - no wonder it looks so glam!

Susan also made up a turbie and yes of course she had to model hers too.  Sorry girls but you know I can't do classes without my camera coming out at some point, sad person that I am I know.  You were all great sports.  I did of course model the turbie myself at the start of the class but ha, ha - nobody had a camera out at the time.  Otherwise I might've been in this post too.

And I think I was most impressed with Kay today out of everyone.  She is a dark horse ya know.  I thought I might have to hold her hand throughout class - mostly cos she kept telling me she couldn't sew -  but nope!  She rose to the challenge and exceeded it!  She did a fantastic job with her pretty little pink bag.  And since this already has a recipient to go to the gift giving has already begun - yay!  That was the whole idea.

And this is Jilly's sweet little bag - a really different fabric choice (repurposed curtains would you believe?) but you know what?  Now that it's made up it's sooo Jilly.  She made the medium sized bag with longer straps so she could take her lunch AND her uniform to work.  I just love that she's gonna be using it right away.

Up until a couple of days ago I really didn't know whether or not classes would run so I decided to ask God to bless this venture.  It wasn't long after that there was a sudden flurry of ladies booking on, one after the other and even one this morning - hence the madness with getting patterns made up in time.  I may not have done much sewing myself today but I was in my element watching everyone else sew.  Oh why couldn't I have been a home economics teacher? 

Then because I was tired and hungry when I finally got home - I think the day was catching up with me (or the pills wearing off) AND because he had just been the best sweetheart of a man - I took hubby to dinner to say thank you.  Nothing fancy - we're not fancy people - just pizza and salad at Pizza Hut but the down time together was still nice.  And as we were tucked away in the corner we took time out to bow our heads and give thanks before we ate - much the same as we do with every meal at home - which felt absolutely the right thing to do after a day full of blessings. 

And as if that wasn't enough, He even provided a beautiful rainbow to lead us home afterwards.  Well actually this is God we're talking about he provided a 'double' rainbow - one for each of us - I was sure mine was the bigger, brighter one LOL!  I just couldn't get them both into shot at the same time but they were there - trust me. 

Did anyone else see these today?  I can't remember the last time I saw one but I stood outside with hubby and admired this one until our neighbour came out and joined us and it was awesome.  God's very much present in our lives right now, leading us both to a new church and when they sang one of the songs last Sunday that we had at mom's funeral - who was very much on our minds - the first year has only just passed - I couldn't help but feel a real sense that He was with us as He always is if we stop to notice. 

Today I stopped to notice.  Maybe that's the real reason why I feel so blessed by today. 

Then again there are also a whole lot of lovely people in this world and today I got to spend a few hours with some of them so a big THANK YOU goes out to you all and especially to Sara who urged me to book dates and teach sewing classes.  Sometimes, just sometimes, I need a push and you were so supportive.  I forgot to tell you how much I appreciated it Sara.

I hope everyone else was blessed by today too.



Big HUGS

Suezie

Pretty Patterns

I have been off today getting geared up for my first ever sewing class due to take place this Saturday.  I am supplying patterns as well as the tuition and I wanted to make them somewhat special since they're all handmade.  The class fee of £16 (£15 for 2 or more) may seem like a lot especially when you consider you have to buy your own fabrics and supply your own sewing machine but these type of classes can go for upwards of £25 in the store!  I know - I checked it out so I wanted to feel I was offering value for money.

Do you remember these?

I made these paper sack pockets for gifts earlier this year and I soooo wanted to make something megga pretty like this for my patterns but I would've had to fold the pattern pieces up so small to make them fit plus due to the 'pictorial' CD I'm including I was quickly running out of time.

Instead I came up with these.  I used pretty 12 x 12 papers to create stitched pockets and cut around them with pinking shears so they'd look like a fabric swatch.

I stitched on the printed pattern front with photo and added punched tabs so I could tie them closed with ribbons and add a lovingly 'handmade' tag to finish them off.

I think I could happily offer these patterns in their own right at some point and I may make a few extra available in class.  Even I don't have pretty pockets like this for my own patterns!  I stitched a back panel I created which gives a description, sizes, pattern pieces, fabric types and yardage details so it would look and feel more like a real pattern.  Which of course it is - albeit homemade - silly me LOL!

Each pattern includes pattern pieces for one or more sizes and written instructions as well as a 'pictorial' CD.  No way was I gonna be able to cost effectively produce the umpteen photos I wanted for the step by step.  It's bad enough that I was trawling around the various grocery stores yesterday evening trying desperately to find printer ink.  I ran out and it ended up costing £40 would you believe?

So as a result you ladies will just have to be content with the CD but I have tucked a few hand stamped 'handmade' tags in each pattern pocket for you which I hope makes up for it.  There will be 4 of you on Saturday's class which is a nice little number to begin with and I'm beginning to get really excited as it gets nearer. 

I will be teaching two different projects.  I could only fill half the class with the turbie project and there were ladies who wanted to make a bag so I decided to offer one or the other of these two projects but teach them both in the one class.  The turbie has two sizes - child and adult and the bag has 3 sizes small, medium and large which is a good craft size bag.

There is still time if anyone wants on this first class.  The second class is likely to be 2 projects as well - a craft apron or simple patchwork pillow which will teach basics of pillow making too.  After that it's likely to be the rag quilt class followed by a rag quilted bag. 

You know how to contact me if you're interested.  Watch for an update on how things went - wish me luck!

Hugs

Thinking of Family

Sorry - this is NOT a craft post.

Just wanted to share some pictures with family and to take a moment to let everyone know our thoughts are very much with you guys right now.  We're approaching the 1 year mark since mom died which is sooooo hard to believe despite being a fact. 

It's also a fact that life goes on - even on the days we don't feel we want it to and it's been tough getting on with it at times.  We had originally planned to go be with family right now but decided to hold off until next year maybe.  We settled for sending flowers instead of ourselves (so hope you guys got them ok).  Hope it was a nice surprise too.  Some good friends had kindly left a surprise package for Dave and I when I got home from work yesterday which cheered me up no end and was super sweet of them.  Isn't that just such a lovely thing to do?  I love Random Acts of Kindness.  You never know what someone is going through and often they come just at the right time.

Anyhow we had taken to visiting mom as often as we could over the past few years or so and as most of us kids are now getting older I hope we'll still try to visit one another as often as we can.  It's a LONG haul flight (and then some) and I know it gets harder to do, the older you get, so with everyone somewhere around the 50's mark these are maybe the best years to be makin that trip.  I hope you guys back home are taking note!

I don't much care for flying.  I like my feet firmly on the ground thank you. Mom was the main reason I made that trip soooo many times - I really miss her :-(  I think I need to make that trip next year or I'm in danger of not making it again.

Okay - enough being glum or I shall cry - like I say 'life goes on' and there are plenty of good days still to be had.  Mom would be the first to say that. 

Last weekend was one such day for Dave and I and we all enjoyed it so much.  We hadn't spent much time with the grandkids over the summer and I felt we were long overdue a day out together to make up for it.  As they get older and more involved in things at school, their lives become busier so there are less opportunities to spend quality time with them.

We kept them in the dark about the destination - all they knew was that we had packed a picnic lunch and it was a long drive.  I love surprising them and I think Grandma did a fab job at keeping them occupied in the car playing games along the way - even if I do say so myself :-)  All part of the adventure!

We were headed for the 'maise' maze at Southwold for the day and maybe take in the sea while we were there.  If you've never done a maze like this - DO!  It's not very expensive and it's good old fashioned fun.  The kind where the kids have to get involved - not a mechanical ride or other such attraction in sight - just plain ol' curiosity, exploration and family fun at your own pace. 

There was of course plenty of discussion about which direction we should go and sorry Papa but your map reading skills were crap!  We were all over the place!  And at one point these guys ganged up on me and deliberately helped me get lost so they could have even more fun!  Meanies that they are.  But Grandmas are made of stronger stuff - I can take it - they thought it was hilarious!

This is about as good a shot of Zach as I managed in the maze.  He insists on wearing his hood over his head no matter what and without mom as an excuse I simply can't tempt him to pose for me anymore.

In fact once the maze was over and we explored the children's play areas he refused to go on this giant 'bouncy pillow' saying - "that's for little kids, I am almost a teenager you know Grandma"  Imagine that at 11 years old would you?  Although when they came for dinner last night mummy did remind me he's 12 in 6 months time so it's not quite so far fetched I guess.  Maybe he's a 'teenager in training' lol. 

Maddy had a blast tho'.  The kids have a trampoline in their back yard and they're not afraid to use it so Maddy and Kaleb were in there like a shot.  And as you would expect it didn't take very long for Zach to realise they were having way more fun than he was and maybe he should give up the 'older kid' routine and just go have fun too.  Kids are just so funny aren't they :-)

These guys can do a whole load of bickering with each other like most kids do now and then and a younger sister can be a real pain but we don't allow that on our time together.  It was especially nice then to see them all getting along and helping one another out.  Kaleb was a real sweetie and pushed Maddy all the way around the maise track more than once.  Hopefully some day they'll realise just how lucky they are to have each other - catch em on a good day and they'll probably tell you that but that kind of good day is rare I can tell you.

And although mummy wasn't with us - she wasn't totally excluded from the day either.  We ended our day on the beach at Southwold and once the kids got to writing in the sand it wasn't long before one of them thought about creating a 'mushy' message for mummy.  Naturally it was Zach. 

It's hard to describe the relationship between him and his mother sometimes but they are deeply connected and have been through a lot together.  Maybe I should put several of these pictures in an album for her and get the kids involved in it somehow.  Christmas is only around the corner.  HUSH MY MOUTH!  Did I really say that out loud? Less than 4 months now you know :-) LOL!

Zach is a sensitive guy and has always had a soft spot for his younger sister.  In fact when he went away to camp with Papa this year Maddy took to sleeping in his bed she missed him so much.  Zach could always make her laugh when she was a baby so a deep bond quickly developed between them.  I think he was secretly pleased she missed him enough to sleep in his bed till he got back home.

Anyhow once down at the shore line if she wasn't grabbing for his hand then he was grabbing for hers, instinctively taking care of her and he was happy to do so.  They had WAY MORE fun chasing the waves than I expected and HECK we could've spent hours here, never mind the maze.  Them playing and us watching them - although I did get caught out when I turned my back on the waves while searching for the perfect rock to take home to mummy.  All of a sudden I heard shouts of "Grandma! Grandma!" but TOO LATE.  I got soaked - shoes an all LOL!  I squelched my way all along the pier afterwards too but then Kaleb had fallen in so he was pretty wet as well.  Oh well - it's only a bit of water.

Southwold may not be a great looker as seaside goes - I could think of better -  but it has a lovely sandy beach and pretty rows of beach huts.  The amusement arcade on the pier is pretty small too so it made for maybe a good half hour or more of fun which is just enough. I loved that you win tickets on the slot machines and it's pretty easy to win so that once everyone exchanged their tickets for prizes they all came away having won something.  I'm all about being fair when we get together with these guys ya know.

 

And Debbie - if you're lookin in at my blog - this one's for you.  Here is your God-daughter minus her long locks and looking much older than I've ever seen her before.  She will be 7 in 5 months time do you believe?  I'm getting used to her having shorter hair.  Zach still refuses to have anything more than a trim - he likes his hair longer and Kaleb has gone back to a 'boys' hair style instead of the close cropped hair he's had for the past few years.  Kaleb has a real head of 'Howard hair' - lusciously thick and soft - you know 'run your fingers through it ' kinda hair LOL. 

And last but not least these fab sunflowers were for sale on the journey home - one of those stands at the end of someones garden along with an honesty box - just £1 a bunch which was pretty amazing!  I love looking out for these on a country drive.  These ones went home to mummy so she didn't miss out on all the treats of the day.  They were just beautiful.  I am soooooo gonna grow some of these next year on our plot - imagine leaving these on a doorstep as a RAK.

So I hope you enjoyed 'a day in the life of...' kinda post.  The kids could not stop talkin about it once they got home so I know they had megga fun and Dave and I sure did.  I want to do it all again just as soon as we can.  Maybe it's time we did 'Bewilder Wood' again.  That's a whole lot of 'make your own fun' kinda activity and I don't think Maddy came last time - she was a bit too young to climb, swing and slide.

And to everyone else out there in blog land that maybe checks in with me from time to time - apologies that I haven't posted a craft in a while.  Between our plot, work on the house plus re-decorating the sitting room and bunches of sewing (more fabric carrier bags - nothin new) I have been around.  Just not posting. 

I plan to start my Christmas sewing here pretty soon but on todays agenda it's cooking apples for the freezer, shopping for curtain fabric and a bit more sewing later on if I can manage it.  I will be getting back to crafts at some point I hope so hang in there with me.  For now I'll leave you with one last shot of Southwold Maze, right in the thick of it overlooking from the bridge - this years theme was birds but you couldn't tell from this shot.

If you've never done a maze like this before - put it on next summers 'TO DO' list and give one a try.

Love & blessings to everyone.

Hugs too

Suezie