Catching up with the week

Feels like it had been really busy round here without much being accomplished. Well I suppose the house is a little straighter but with two little boys a room can be spotless and tidy one minute and totally trashed the next and often is! Just keep smiling.

Exciting moments of the week #greatukfabricdestash wow I simply love Instagram and my lovely friend Emily Strawberry Patch   organised a fab fabric destash on Sunday night. I had to be so careful, going part time at work has a serious impact on your fabric finances. I did have a bit of a spend which was good and I can't wait to receive my goodies.

It also prompted me to had a look through my own stash and have a sort out, don't think I'm quite ready to destash yet I'm still building up but as some point I'm sure I'll take part. I found lots of fabric I've bought to make clothes and not yet sewn so I've made a start on making a Colette Peony something I've wanted to make for ages. So far I've made a quick muslin bodice to check my size really.

And I've now cut out all the pieces marked them up and I'm ready to go lets see how I get on.

Also think I need to work on my picture taking another point for the blog. 

Claire xx

Sewing with the little one

My family are very patient with my sewing although much is done when they are in bed. There are a few moments when I shout please don't touch that, referring to an unfinished project on my table.

My eldest has become very interested in my sewing machine and was asking constantly the other, wet and windy day, could he sew on my machine, but what to sew? I had all these wonderful ideas flying around, but then came back to earth, lets get him sewing straight lines- a pillowcase of course!!

So I good, (guided) look through mummy's fabric and the perfect one was found. A quick look and measure of one of his pillowcases and we were on our way. The cutting proved a bit too much waiting for him but as soon as the machine came out it was smiles all round.

Concentration 

He did a good job with a guiding hand from Mummy, only once did we need the seam ripper and it was totally my fault. 

I few wobbly seams but as you can see he was very proud.

And it now has pride of place in his bed, clever boy.

New Projects -Economy Block Quilt- fresh sewing day-small blog meet

Morning

I've just been grabbing a bit of sewing and blogging time while the house is quiet.
Over the holidays I saw an Instagram  from Katy Jones 'I'm a ginger monkey' about an economy block along, well count me in! I've been waiting for days to get my sewing machine out. I think it may feel a bit neglected over Christmas but family time called.
This morning I completed my first hurray!

It was really straightforward to make the hardest part was choosing the fabric. You can find the tutorial on Red Pepper Quilts here

If you're an Instagramer - not really a word but I like it, check out #economyblockalong looks like people have really gone for it there are some really beautiful blocks out there already

While I was catching up on some blog reading I was on Lily's quilts. Reading about fresh sewing day and small blog meet. It really fits into where I am at the moment a small blog and wanting to do some more sewing for me over the coming year.
So Projects for the coming year-
Economy Block Quilt
Paper Pieced Star Wars Quilt- not for me, although I will struggle to give it up.
English paper piecing travel kit - started before Christmas.
Table runner for Kitchen table.
wallet for me
bag - not sure on pattern yet.
Casual lady dress
peony dress
Washi Dress
to begin with,
I really want to make more clothes for myself, going through my stash yesterday I have so much I have bought with ideas in mind that so far I haven't made yet. In fact I bought a vintage sheet to make a skirt last year which didn't go round me then but it does now, hurray!


So a post on the beginnings of 2014, be good to share my making year with others, I met so many nice people in 2013 through meetups following blogs and Instagram I hope the same continues into this year too.

Off to sew while the house is still quiet.
Claire x

Looking back, looking forward.

2013 has been a busy year, in fact I'm not sure where the year has gone. 

I started the year wanting to sew and craft more which I feel I have and more. I have found that I enjoy quilting and have made my first dress which I actually wear out of the house. 

I bought my fab new sewing machine which I am still getting to know it, can do so much.By the end of the year I decided that an overlocker would be a sound investment. I haven't had much time to play with it yet but hopefully the new year will give me some time. 

I also went to two Exeter Sewing Directory meet ups which were great fun and I met such lovely people and learnt new skills which I'm putting into practise and will continue this year I'm talking hexie love! 

I also discovered Instagram which I just think is awesome an amazing way of discovering what is going on in the crafting world, meeting people and sharing basically some cool stuff. 

To finish the year I did my first Christmas Craft fayre which was I bit overwhelming but rewarding when I made my first sale knowing that people liked my stuff. 

Well now here's to the future, maybe lists can wait for today but I hope to do more making and learning as the months progress. 

Here's some of my makes from the past year 

Claire x

New Year New Blog

Happy New Year 

One of my New Year thoughts is to start and keep a blog over the next twelve months. I have tried before and put silly pressures on myself while not really having a firm plan about what I should blog about. Well I start this year ready to blog about whatever takes my fancy. It is going to be a blog for me to see where the year takes me. This morning we have woken up with lots of ideas and plans for the year ahead so within reason that will be part of what my blog will be about. 

Last year are plans were to plan life experiences and do things together as a family which we did. I may write a post to  share some of our experiences as the month goes on. 

This year our focus is on home, planing and carrying out what we would like to do to our home. I will share more ideas later. 

I have no amazing writing skills so please bear with me, but here's to an exciting year ahead 

Best wishes 

Claire x