Christmas Gifting

I ran out of time to get much of my own Christmas gifting done for 2012 and had to settle for making some cupcakes and packaging them in recycled plastic containers.  I have a cupboard in our carport where I store these whenever I get any along with some of my jam jars and whenever I need one I drag it in, clean it up, add a tag and some ribbon and it's good to go.

I purchase these cake decorations (Santa) at Palmers each year.  They sell them individually and usually have 4 or 5 different designs.  At around 10p per decoration they're a much better deal than buying the packaged ones in the supermarket plus you can have as many or as little as you like.  I would suggest taking a small plastic container to bring them home in - although they do wrap them in tissue paper - but I'm usually doing a bunch of shopping so my bags get pretty full and I worry I'll squish them.

I'd also suggest getting in early each year - pretty much as soon as you begin to see them in the display case in their cake baking section - they sell out pretty quick.  And if you need a pretty cupcake during the year for a birthday then they sell some pretty amazing roses individually too.

And I didn't manage to get a single wheat warmer made up for gifting despite buying up all the wheat I could find in Butterworth's store in the Traverse shortly before Christmas.  I ended up making this one after Christmas but as it was for my doctor and my earlier appointment had been cancelled I lucked out and she never knew LOL!

It's difficult to see it in this shot but I add a loop (left of photo) to the inner wheat bag which makes it easier when getting it in and out of the microwave and the quilted cover.  I like to make a washable cover since I can be a bit funny about things you can't easily wash.

I've been enjoying these ever since I made the first one a couple of years ago - in fact hubby and I both have two each and this time of year I heat them up and pop them into the bed just before we head up.  I am one of those people that simply can't sleep if I get cold so with one of these to snuggle to keep me warm I drop right off for a good nights sleep.

Well if nothing else it means I have everything I need to make these so I can be ahead of the game next year huh?

Hugs

Suezie

Still Crafting

I have been busy crafting various things of late - nothing for me tho', but I'm still crafting.  I should have an evening entirely to myself tonight so I'm hoping I can whip up a card for the latest Waltzing Mouse Challenge.  I actually sketched out a design in my lunch hour at work would you believe? LOL.  Whether I get it done or whether it turns out to be completely different remains to be seen.

Anyhow I'm sharing just what I've been up to.

I needed a gift for something and it was due on 8 December so since I had a deadline I figured I'd better do it sooner rather than later.  Does anyone else feel like things are really rushing by right now?  I'm sure Christmas approaching has something to do with it.  I am getting booked up with all kinds of dates for things and I'm still trying to squeeze in a workshop date for Church too.  I was aiming for 17 November but somebody got that date before me and we're now celebrating American Thanksgiving a week early at church (we have several American families that attend).  I'm struggling to get an available date!

The specifics I was given was an apron and tea towels, red to match the kitchen so I ran up a red & white polka dot apron on my day off yesterday.  Next I trimmed a couple of store bought tea towels to match.

Then before I knew what had hit me I started cutting into a third tea towel and whipped up a couple of matching hot pads.  I even hemmed up the left over tea towel for a matching dish cloth.  Am I sad or what? LOL.  I can get really carried away with co-ordinating handmade gifts - SERIOUSLY!  But it does make a lovely bundle all tied up with some wide cotton twill tape and a handmade tag to finish it off.  The tea towels came wrapped with the tape so I am recycling too.

I have been waiting for this Nestabilities ornament die set for ages and this is as much chance as I've had to play with it but since I needed a tag once my sewing was finished I thought one of these would do nicely - thank you very much.  I ud=sed a bunch of other WMS stamps to stamp up the back so I could write on it.

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And I have finally made enough handmade card kits to get some into the post this weekend.  Hopefully these will sell and make a whole bunch of money for charity.  They're such a cute idea and I just love em'.  I finished a whole bunch off at my mother's yesterday on our usual Wednesday dinner & crafting evening.  I am really enjoying these evenings and even my mother is getting involved rather than just sitting and knitting while we craft.

Each kit has 2 cards (stamped with 'handmade') on the reverse, 2 matching envelopes, 2 liners (stamped with 'sharing with you in the miracle of the season' inside), 2 scalloped mats with adhesive strips on the back, 2 colouring nativity blocks with adhesive, 2 'Christmas Blessings' sentiments with foam pads on the back and even 4 colouring pencils to get you started so it's a complete kit.  How cute are they?

This is an old set from StampinUp! that I rarely use but since I'm getting together with a few girls from church on 9 November to make cards to sell and then with the youth group on 30 November for crafting with the kids I think it might just get a whole bunch of use this year alone.

I think I may have to have the grandkids make a few of these too - they absolutely love to colour.  I have been purchasing the card blank packs from Denny's for just £3 for 25 cards.  I know, I know I always make my own but when you mass produce to this extent it really isn't worth doing so I am very grateful I found these.  I think they're 'Anita's' but I don't have the wrappers any more so I can't be sure. I pick up a pack of 48 small colouring pencils at the Pound Store which are perfect for these kits.

Oh and before I go.  Have you seen some of the fab samples Claire has been posting the last couple of days for Waltzing Mouse Stamps?  She is launching large background stamps and shared a really neat way to use them.  You can check it out here.  I love that you don't actually need a block if you use them the way she shows cos I'm guessing you'd need a pretty large block to use them.

I have been popping onto her blog over the last few days waiting for the next release.  She has some really different stamps this time around so I can't wait to see the sets in full.

Well hubby's home so I'd best go cook dinner.  He's out at the men's group this evening and Jessy is working so I think I'll pop my PJs on and relax with some crafting after dinner.  Sounds pretty good to me.

Hope you've been busy crafting something fab. Oh and for those of you in Bury there's a craft fair this weekend at the Sports & Leisure Centre.  With Christmas around the corner I shall be popping in to see if there's anything I can use for my Christmas crafting or for gifting.

Hugs

Suezie

Just Updating

Just updating since we're now back from our trip.  We both really enjoyed the break from it all and especially getting out and about together. Just being able to have the time for Dave to help me go walkabout was the best bit for me.  I have been stuck indoors for far too long. Of course there was also far too much eating out so the diet was off the radar!  I figured it would be but I got right back on it the very next day we were back in a bid to undo any damage I may have done.  I see the nurse this coming Saturday and I can cope with staying the same but I have never yet gained so I'd be really disappointed if I did now.

We've stayed in a few places whilst Jess has lived in Northampton and she kindly booked one for us that was about a 15 - 20 minute drive away.

It was in a place called Broughton and was surprisingly quiet.  It was on the edge of a newer housing development so I don't know how long that will last but we had a nice stay here and the drive back and forth to pick Jess up everyday was no trouble.  We put a whole lot of miles on the car in a short space of time.  The lack of exercise was beginning to really bug me so I lapped up all the fresh air and open space and now I'm getting ready to return to work and looking forward to the walk home each day.  I don't yet know if I can handle it all but I'm hoping hubby will help me work on that in the next few days - things are looking pretty good so I'm hopeful.

We didn't have anywhere specific in mind to visit so we just grabbed the map every day and picked somewhere.  I had never been to Lemington Spa so we went there for the day and were pleasantly surprised.  I would definitely go back there again.  And when we went to Banbury (as in ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross) we found a flea market and Jess bartered for this lovely wooden basket for me.  I love things like this and it will look nice out on a worktop with inks or something inside.

We found several charity shops and picked up a few bits - sadly no fabric but I did get 3 of these pretty Weck jars at just 50p each.  Hopefully you can make out the strawberry design on the front and the lids.  I had cupcakes in a jar in mind but since I collect strawberries I'm not so sure I will be able to part with them when the time comes. LOL.

I did manage to purchase some new fabric so I have been cutting out aprons.  I want to make one for Jess so I can get a 'thank you' package into the post for her.  I always try to send her a little something to say thanks when we visit.  She usually treats us to a meal out - in fact she finds it hard to let us take a turn but we do insist.  She is always very good to us and she loves getting packages as much as I do so I try to spoil her in return.  She can't protest at a package if she doesn't know it's coming now can she?

So far I've cut out 3 aprons and have two more to cut out but I've run out of white lining fabric.  The cherry fabric is Cath Kidston and matches dishes I gave Jess for last Christmas.  The two floral fabrics aren't CK but they were such a bargain that I had to have them - only £5 per metre and they look every bit CK to me so I wasn't going to pass that up.

While I'm here I might as well share my retro sewing bag which you might've caught sight of in the background.  I know it's at least retro by the 'St Michael' label inside (sorry it's upside down in this shot).  I know that this label was first introduced in 1928 and by 1950 virtually all goods were sold under this label.  Because of the box around this label I guestimate it's around about the 70's mark which must make it 40 years old if not a bit more.

 I have been looking for a suitable bag to house my machine for several months and didn't want to pay the sometimes hefty price in the sewing shops (up to as much as £50).  Besides I wanted something with character that I would enjoy looking at if it sat out for any length of time.   This bag makes me think of the show Pan Am that was on not too long along and followed the lives of several air stewardess' on those early flights - you know when there was luxury on board, lots of leg room, personalised service with a smile etc..

I found several bags during my search but just couldn't settle on one until I found this beauty.  I just love the handles, the hardware, the colour and design - everything in fact and it's very deep and roomy enough to take patterns and fabric as well as my sewing machine.  Best of all it was a mere £3.99 in a local charity shop!  You simply can't beat that kind of price anywhere!  And a saving like this just means I can spend my money on something else which is just how I like it.  

Well now I guess I need to get the machine out of the bag and get busy with those aprons :-)

I love going away but like most people it's good to be home.  Hope some of you have managed a nice break  this year.

Blessings

Suezie

Sewing for Baby

I have been doing a whole bunch of sewing for babies over the past couple of months and just wanted to share a smidgen of it.

I have been making bandana bibs, burpie cloths and binkie clip sets - have even sold a few to friends as well.  This particular set was made for a lovely couple who will be expecting their miracle baby in a couple of weeks.  I was invited to her baby shower so it was a good opportunity to give her this gift early.  I have something else planned for once baby arrives.

I used one of my (precious) chenille bedspreads backed with this fabric to make up a snuggly baby blanket - perfect for laying on the floor for baby's nap time plus made a matching taggie as well.  These should all come in handy hopefully.

I also made up a story book bunting for Jo cos I knew they were coming to dinner with us last weekend.  She is mad on all the Winnie the Pooh characters and has decorated the nursery herself.  I just happened to have an old WTP book with brightly coloured pictures on every single page.  I knew the bunting would look cute in the room but sadly I am so out of sinc with blogging that I forgot to take a photo of it (darn it!).  It was megga cute by the time I'd finished too.

I have a couple of comic book buntings cut out and ready to go so I'll post a picture of those at some point - promise.  I can't tell you just how many books I've bought from charity shops and then torn apart right now.  Seems a shame at first but when you see what can be recreated with them you soon get over it.

I have lost a couple of days due to 'whatever knocked me for six' like a 24/48 hour bug - I even had to cancel the evening of crafting at mum's yesterday cos of it but today I'm back to my old self - well the old self that's still battling labyrinthitis anyhow.  Hubby and I are off to Northampton area next week to celebrate our 32nd anniversary and to spend some time with Jessica - it will be nice to get out and about instead of being cooped up here at home all the time.  At least today I actually feel as though I could craft and just as well as I have a birthday gift that needs makin for a sweet little old lady at our church.  Hopefully I can post it later.

Hugs.

I love Kaleb's Quilt!

This is the last post I was trying to get onto my blog before things went a bit haywire.  It was the rag quilt I made for my grandson Kaleb.

I made it using up squares from old plaid shirts, some mine and some hubby's.  I backed it with a nice blue/grey wool fabric for extra warmth and the little guy loves it.  Bless him - he said Grandma now I have a blanket just like Zach to keep any bad dreams away!  I guess he was always a bit envious that his older brother had a quilt made by Grandma and he didn't.  Now all 3 grandkids have their own blanket.


Well we're headed off to church this morning and then an open day at the allotments which we're helping with and then church again this evening so better get going.


Hugs to all out there.


Suezie

My First Rag Quilted Bag

I'm finally getting to share my first ever rag quilted bag with you all.  I am doubly pleased with this project - a. because I have been meaning to make one of these for like forever! and b. because I used one of mom's pretty denim dresses to make it; making it even more special.

I knew when we were back home that if I had any hope of making something with anything that belonged to mom (besides the scented hankie sachets) that I would be smart to grab a couple of mom's denim dresses to bring home with us.  I had been trying to decide what to do with this one since it had lots of lovely embroidered flowers on it and I couldn't bear to lose them.

I dug out left overs of a bright floral fabric to use for the lining material. Then I chose an orange plaid which was a bargain from a local charity shop on Saturday.  I love digging through the fabric basket in these kind of stores.  You seldom find masses of fabric but what you do find is generally large enough for smaller projects. 

Next I set about cutting out the squares.  This has to be the HARDEST part!  By the time you cut enough for the main fabric, the same amount again for the lining and then the same amount a third time for the wadding inbetween - well let's just say you're sick of the sight of squares by then LOL.

But since this is what you get when you've finished assembling your squares, stitched them together, snipped, washed and dried them it's well worth the effort. 

I added a single long denim handle - mounted 'saddle bag' style at the sides plus a loop and button closure and even added a large pocket on the inside.  There's nothing worse than rooting around in the bottom of your bag to find things so a pocket is always handy.

And since I used some plain denim squares it meant I could be frugal with the embroidered squares and still have enough left to make a second almost identical bag.  I shall have to use a slightly different lining fabric but otherwise it'll be pretty much the same.  Just as well as this bag is off to America along with the second one when I've made it.  One each for my sisters-in-love Debbie and Linda.  I have a third SIL, Sandy but I will need to cut into a second dress of mom's for her bag and then hopefully there'll be enough left over for one for me too.  I took a pair of cropped pants with red and yellow embroidery on them that might work well.

Ordinarily I wouldn't have chosen such bright colours but I really like how they worked together with the denim.  I am thinking maybe a bit of red in the ones for me and Sandy might be kinda nice.  I managed to pick up some blue plaid fabric at the charity store too and after seeing this orange plaid against the denim I can't wait to try out the blue.

A word of warning tho' if you plan to make one of these yourself - it can get MEGGA messy with threads EVERYWHERE! 

For those of you who'd like to take a class making one of these bags I will be teaching it in my December sewing class.  I had planned to do it this month but there's a whole lot more involved in the bag so we're doing a rag quilt this month to master the techniques before progressing onto the bag.

I'm excited to be sharing this project and I can't wait to see how they all turn out - everyone chooses such different fabrics and colours.

I think mom would approve of how I've recycled her dress - in fact if she were here I know she'd be sayin' "where's my one Suezie?" and she would've shown it off with great pride too.  It may just have been Halloween but the 31st is also mom's birthday and I love that I found myself making this bag right about now.  It somehow feels right to me.  I hope the girls will feel the same when they get these.

Enjoy!

Suezie

Nowt But Scraps!

Well since today was my day off and I am still getting rid of my cough & cold, I decided to just potter around, take it slow, do a few easy chores - nothing too taxing and maybe a bit of sewing too.  It always relaxes me.

Whilst I have recently spent a load of time and money replenishing my stash of pretty fabrics including several CK designs I am still left with a whole bunch of scraps from the baby quilt I made for my niece and her new baby daughter Khloe.  Some of these scraps are just strips and others nothing more than trimmings from projects.  Still I couldn't bring myself to throw even the smallest of them away - telling myself I can use it as a patchwork piece or die-cut a flower shape - something - anything but waste it!

And for all of a few moments I told myself I was being just a bit ridiculous with some of them but then I started playing around with a few scraps and thought better of it.  Don't they look pretty all lined up in a row?

Well it turns out that if you piece enough scraps together you get a whole new piece of fabric big enough to create any number of things.  With this thought now rolling around in my head I set to creating.

Despite having already gifted a few of the lanyards and key fobs to one or two girls at work I still needed more so they were first up.  The blue strawberry key fob is mine - hence the red ribbon.  I have this fabric in oil cloth and different weights as well as sizes of strawberries and I plan to revamp the kitchen with it at some point  (most likely post-Christmas) but for now I'm having a new key ring for myself.  The cherry design one is only a teeny tiny part of a Christmas package I'm putting together for someone special this year.

Then when I realised this new patched collection of fabrics was big enough I decided to make myself a camera case.  I have always wanted one of these and what better than one where I don't have to choose which fabric design - BECAUSE I can have several pretty ones!

BTW this is hubby's camera.  I was using mine to take this shot so I grabbed his just for effect :-)  Since I never let him near mine and he needed a camera for faith camp this summer he grabbed this £30 jobby.  And if I told you that he some how managed to delete every single one of his photos from the entire week you'll completely understand why I NEVER and I mean NEVER let him near mine!

I decided to add a hand strap so that I could hold onto this little pouch easier and keep my camera ready at all times.  When we're out and about for the day I tend to click, click, click away most of the day so there's no point putting my camera in my bag only to keep getting it back out again.  I just know I'm gonna love this feature.

And then after it was all done I decided maybe I could use a trigger clip as well so I added that in with the help of a bit of ribbon that tucked easily into the seam.  I would rather have thought of it whilst I was constructing this pouch but it still worked out ok.  And thanks to the hand strap I hung up my camera on the hook in the kitchen so I'll always know just where it is when I need it.

Then because the handful of scraps I'd grabbed were getting a bit smaller so were my projects.  I pieced together any remaining strips and the scraps that were even smaller became squares.  Now my work colleagues and I can have coasters to match our lanyards and key fobs.  I am back at work tomorrow and I can't wait to gift these to Pauline and Keilley.

And as I was pressing these I realised they'd make fab gifts tucked inside a card with a tea bag and popped into the post.  They'd fit into an envelope perfectly!  I am soooo gonna think of a few people who'd love to have one of these drop through their door then make a bunch more up so I can post them out :-)

And as if that wasn't enough - well - I just went right ahead and got way too big for my boots LOL!  I created my very first ever MUG RUG!  I even used a tiny scrap and made a flower!  See I knew those teeny tiny scraps would come in handy for something, ha,ha.

Now if you don't know what a 'mug rug' is well it's kinda like an extended coaster so you have somewhere to put your biccies as well as your tea.  Kind of a cute idea huh?  I usually use a paper napkin but no need with one of these.

AND I might even keep this for myself too - although Maddycakes did come to mind once I added the pretty ruffled flower to it.  I could just see her and mummy with their mug rugs of hot chocolate and a yummy snack besides. 

With that in mind I decided to check out CK on line and see if they have any suitable mugs and they even have a 'cowboy' mug.  I think since I picked up the cowboy print fabrics maybe I'll make up one for each of the boys and grab them a matching mug to go with it.  There were plenty of pretty ones for mummy and Maddy too.  If I pop them in a pretty box or basket and add hot chocolate, mini marshmallows and treats this is sure to make a neat family gift.  And best of all - since these are small projects they take minutes to make.  AND they use up lots of those lovely scraps too. LOL!  See how my mind gets carried away?  I'm even thinkin up the packaging and I haven't even made em' yet!

But really - I simply cannot understand why I never thought of makin them before?  Oh and I'm already thinking about a new mug cosy for myself - there's no stoppin me now :-)

I know it's a bit pricey at £25 - could be split between two people I guess - but CK now do a fabric bundle which would work perfect for these kind of projects and I bet you'd get absolutely LOADS from a bundle.  Super, super quick, oh so cute gifts - oh and could you see patchwork baby bibs too!  I may be headed off to bed right now but I'm not gonna get to sleep for ages thinkin about all the cute projects!

I'm sure you guys out there could come up with a whole bunch more too.  Feel free to share if you do.

At some point I really must get a bit of paper crafting in here somewhere - maybe when I clean up the craft room huh?  Yeah, right, like that's gonna happen any time soon.

Hang in there with me - I'm sure I'll get back to it eventually.  Besides - I need cute cards to pop my coasters in when I post them out :-)

Big HUGS

Suezie

October Class

Well I don't quite know how I managed to do it but I was full of cough and cold for this months class.  Is this like 'deja vous' ?  I was poorly at last month's class too.  I'm putting this latest episode down to my hubby - HE SHARED!  Some things are best kept to yourself huh? LOL - well at least I'm still smiling :-)

It's a real shame too as we've both started attending a really cool new church and we have to miss it today.  He actually got up, went downstairs and propped himself up on the couch in the middle of the night to get about 2 hours sleep so you know it's bad when that happens!  Lack of good sleep is catching up with us I think so we may both 'flake out' this afternoon - we have to get to work on Monday somehow and that might be the only way we'll do it.

All this just makes me sorry we didn't get our cordial made up this year.  We were both going to be away so we threw the berries in the freezer intending to do them the following week.  Well you know where good intentions end up don't you?  We're down to our last 2 bottles and I believe winter is fast upon us.

This stuff is supposed to be very good for you - full of anti-oxidents and it's said that regular doses willl stave off a cold.  That's clearly our problem - we've been hanging on to the last couple of bottles, afraid to open them cos when they're gone - they're gone!  I think we'd best see if the berries are still any good and get some more made up pretty quick. 

These were some I prettied up for gift giving one year.  I just love the deep colour.  The preservatives we use are cloves which means you're either gonna love this stuff or hate it.  Dave likes it hot or cold.  Me I like it hot!

And here are a few pictures of class.  I love to get shots of Jilly working away.  We've been best friends for coming up for 35 years and I've gathered a nice collection of photos of her over the past fews years and I treasure them all.  Love that girl!

She decided to get to grips with a patchwork cushion and here she is doing a bit of machine quilting.  I offered two projects in this class same as last month and since Jilly made cushions for the first time last Christmas she decided to build on these skills and make a quilted patchwork cushion. 

There were 4 variations included in this pattern and I made up the last one (right) earlier this week.  I think I might add a pretty ruffled fabric flower to this and gift it for Christmas.  I want one or two with CK fabric for myself but I will make more later.

One of the delights of class was seeing all the pretty fabrics everyone chose to work with.  I forgot to get my camera out sooner or I'd have more pictures to share.  Jilly recycled and used curtains which makes me think of 'make do & mend' and which I just love.  That's the kind of thing that got me so hooked on sewing in the first place.  Pauline had a scrummy red apple fabric which she paried with my all time favourite - red & white polka dot!  I sooooo love that fabric and I'm only sorry I didn't get to see it completed - I bet it looks stunning. 

Susan was megga clever and used a duvet cover that already had a pretty patchwork thing going on and we mixed up the various pieces to make it look really cool - again it didn't get finished but it was looking fab!

And then of course there was Sara who'd purposely chosen this adorable scottie dog fabric by Clarke & Clarke - a bit more expensive but if you're treating yourself then why not?

There are certainly no flies on this girlie!  She always means business and gets to work straight away so it's no surprise that she finished her apron - and in good time too.  She was also a megga good sport and allowed me to take photos of her wearing her fabby 3/4 apron - fully lined and with a 'triple' pocket feature to it.  Sorry - not a bit proud of my pattern & design LOL - MUCH!

I have to laugh when I see this photo tho'.  I knew she'd look fab posing by the stove in the little kitchen at the hall and when she said 'pitty we haven't got a sauce pan or something' well - you know I went digging through cupboards don't ya LOL!  I came up trumps with this stove top kettle and got a great shot as a result.  She looks fab in her new apron too.

Next class (5 November) is a rag quilted bag so I'm keen to get to work on that and then the last one in December will be a rag quilt - something to keep you warm this winter.  For anyone who can't make it to class or who prefers to do their sewing at home; patterns are available.

Each pattern comes with a 'pictorial' - a photo CD with step by step instructions full of shots like the one above and below.

It takes a lot of time and effort to make these as I have to create samples for each project and then pain stakingly photograph each step of the process; some several times and from various angles just to get a good view.

 Once I've generated the written instructions for the pattern I then use these in excerpts along with as many photos as I can possibly cram in as a pictorial.  Short of sitting beside you it's the best I can do.  I go to all this trouble because I think it's worth doing.  I ADORE sewing but am almost entirely self taught and it never ceases to amaze me the wealth of projects that can be made if you only know how to sew in a straight line!

For now I'm off to nurse my cold some more and take it easy today.  A long soak in a nice hot tub sounds like good medicine I think.

Blessings to one and all - enjoy! 

Oh and thanks girls for a really enjoyable class yesterday.  Sometimes I do wonder why I do it - especially when I'm still up past midnight to finish things off only to get up at 6 am and get right back to it just to make it all happen.

Suezie

P.S  Kay - I missed you yesterday - hope you're okay :-)

Share-worthy News! and Quickie Gifting

My daughter passed her driving test today - first time!  Yay Vicky!!!  I am soooooo proud of her.  Despite being a bit older than I thought she'd be when she achieved this it says a lot about her right now.  She is a single mum of three kiddies and - well, let's just say she hasn't had an easy time of it over the past few years.

Not only did she just decide one day to book herself driving lessons but she stuck with it and made time for it in a busy schedule.  I guess the 2 hour lessons that she had to scrimp and scrape to afford really paid off because not only did she learn to drive well enough to pass first time, but she gained real confidence behind the wheel.  I know that new found confidence spilled over into other areas of her life too as she rejoined the workforce last week even though it means juggling kids between a childminder and two different schools which I'm sure will bring her a whole new set of challenges. 

And somehow this new-found independence is very reassuring for me as a parent.  We all get knock backs in life and have to deal with stuff that's not easy to deal with (more so when you have an ex-partner that can make life hell at times) but her rise to the challenges of this past year and her determination to get there tell me she's doin ok - that she's a survivor, she can cope with what life's throwing at her.  Despite several set backs this year she has just become stronger and more confident and I couldn't be more proud if I tried.  Way to go Vic!  All we need do now is figure out how to get her a set of wheels and afford the first timer insurance - which BTW is criminal!

Okay - enough of the proud mama already LOL!  I did a quick bit of sewing yesterday evening and made myself a really pretty lanyard to wear at work - waaaaayyy better than the ol' blue NHS standard issue ones we all have.  I used one of my latest CK fabric purchases for my own one and then decided it would be really nice to gift a few more using up some of my existing stash.

My other half at work is Pauline and since she was in before Keilley she got first choice.  And as we work opposite one another it meant I worked the entire morning catching glimpses of her pretty pink one every now and then.  She had the sweetest pale yellow cotton blouse on today and although you can't see it clearly in my shot above, there is yellow in the design so it just looked that much prettier against it.  Now I soooooo want a pink one myself LOL!

That left Keilley with a choice of white floral or white floral (all I had was 4 clips at home to work with) and guess what? She loved the white floral one so that worked out really well.  Meant to be maybe?  Keilley kindly gives me a ride home from work now and then and some days when I'm a bit bushed it's even more appreciated.  She has to go out of her way to drop me off but it's never stopped her from offering and that's really sweet of her.  Don't ya just love people like that?

AND since Pauline and I had training out of the office today there were even a few comments on our pretty lanyards which just made me feel all the more chuffed for having made them myself.  I have another quickie idea for Christmas pressies for these two gals and I have several ideas rolling around in my head for a 'work smart' sewing class that may or may not make it into reality too.  So tomorrow I'll be sourcing 'trigger clips' after work so I can make more of these - I used up all the ones I had and I think I'd really like to make me a couple more for myself.  You know, one in the wash, one on and one ready to wear kinda thing LOL!

That's one of the nicest things about home made.  You can have more than one if you want to :-)

Can I just say to Trish (if you're out there) you're very much in my prayers right now.  I don't have your phone number or addy to get in touch just yet or I would've dropped you a note by now. And to those of you that pray, please join me in lifting Trish and her hubby's needs to God right now.  It would mean so much at what I know has to be a dreadfully difficult time.

This HUG's just for you. 

Much love

Suezie 

A Class, an Apron and some Christmas Shopping

On Friday I managed to finish my apron for the class next Saturday, October 8th so I thought I'd share a quick picture.  I've tried several times to get a good shot of this apron but short of wearing it myself and having someone take my picture it's just not happening. 

Somehow I'd managed to get a good shot of Jilly's one when I made it and gifted it to her last Christmas so that's the one I used on the pattern cover.  This is as much of a shot of mine as you're gonna get.  I used up scraps of blue strawberry CK fabric and a red and white polka dot fabric that's NOT one of CK's but it fits in nicely with her style.  For anyone that's interested I pay about £6 a metre in the sewing shop in St John's street.  They have the same polka dot fabric in several colours as a regular stock item.  At about half the price of CK as a co-ordinating fabric it makes your expensive fabric go that little bit further.  I'm all into that!

Anyhow I knew we had to babysit the grandkids today - at least until 12.00 pm when daddy was due to come pick them up so I hadn't expected to do much. After they'd gone hubby was up for a drive so I decided to take my CK fabric that was stained back to the store.  No way could I go back to London to exchange it so I did the next best thing.  I went to the CK outlet store in Eaton Socon, St Neots.

Now this branch is an outlet store - one that Sara's told me about more than once - I just never took the time to go check it out.  All I can say is 'sorry Sara, I should've paid more attention to you'.  I will DEFINATELY be a regular visitor from now on - for sure!

First off I seriously lucked out at this branch!  They weren't supposed to exchange fabric at all and definately not at an outlet store but the sales assistant decided she could check and they agreed to do it just this once.  They only deal with 'end of line' stuff at the outlets so aren't supposed to take back stuff from the regular stores. 

On top of that they'd just had a delivery this week which more than tripled their fabric supply so I was able to exchange my white strawberry fabric for the blue version (which I wanted all along) AND it was a whopping £8 cheaper per metre so I had money left over!  I picked up a few extra prints plus grabbed a stripey duvet cover for a mere £15 - there is method to my madness, trust me.  The duvet cover is the same on both sides so look at all that lovely CK fabric I can use for any number of projects.  I just lurve sheeting!  I couldn't buy that much fabric for that price so it makes great economical sense, believe me.

Oh but they still tore the fabric rather than cut it.  I am still sooooooo gonna write CK about this - outlet or not!

And then because I couldn't resist - and because the prices were seriously hard to beat - I picked up another Christmas present.  I am getting pretty much done with my shopping for this year.  Well, I did start in January this year LOL!  A few more bits for the kids and then my hand sewing gifts and I'm done.

This fabby bag was originally £55 and reduced to just half price!  It was the absolute last one so I think I was doubly lucky to get it at all.  The pom poms are a really fun touch and those oversized roses are devine.

I tend to shy away from CK bags cos I simply refuse to pay the high prices, I know, I know, I will spend a ridiculous amount of money on her fabric and turn my nose up at her bags.  I can't explain it so I don't even try.  This bag however, is gonna be a great pressie.  The only trouble is I think I may have to visit this store again since I have more than one person I could give this to and I can't decide who gets it.  I think I need to find another bargain bag so I don't have to decide at all.

Well technically I did get another bag but I fell in love with this one and at less than £20 with a colour combo of red (my fave colour) and green and in a lush velvet no less -  I couldn't resist treating myself.  This is my new best friend.  It's BIG and square-ish, fits on the shoulder nicely so I shall be taking it everywhere from here on.

AND because the sales assistant was sooooo helpful, because of the AMAZING bargains to be had in the entire store - this was not just a small sales section ladies - it was EVERYTHING in the store reduced so well worth a visit, AND because a second sales assistant gave me a bunch of large bags, gift tags and strip of stickers for wrapping my pressie - I swear I never so much as asked, honest!  Because of this and more I am giving this store a 10/10 rating.

The delivery day is Thursday so I'm guessing the afternoon or following day is the best time to go.  The sales assistant said fabric flies off the shelf and it wouldn't be there long, plus it was heaving today (Saturday) so I think a Friday might be a better day anyhow.  If you don't mind a drive of about an hour then this one's well worth visiting.  I for one will be going back a few more times this year I think.

Oh and Bedford is just 10 more miles down the road - nothing particularly interesting there but I did pick up another SERIOUSLY retro, yellow floral vintage sheet to add to my collection at the Sally Army charity store.  Can't imagine what I'll make with it but I've decided NOT to pass them up when I see them.  This latest one has never been used either so I knew I was gonna have it.

AND I am getting excited about class next week.  I have tomorrow after church to sit and cut out all the pattern pieces for it.  I have 4 ladies booked on to class so far so do let me know if you want on - there is still space.  Looks like it's gonna be just the apron pattern but that's fine by me. 

Enjoy!

Suezie