March is here....please let it be Spring!!

It's been a long old Winter here in Wiltshire, I'm really hoping we have turned the corner now, more daylight and more sunshine let alone warmer temperatures. and there is evidence.......

  

I've had a busy few weeks, sorry I haven't posted but I haven't made anything to show you all yet. I had two weeks away from work but as usual having been back for a week it feels like I never was away........how is that? BUT...I have much more space in my workroom, I had a coffee morning and redistributed a lot of doll making stuff and it feels good too apart from having a great time just chatting and talking dollies, wish I had remembered my camera!

  

Then we had half term week which was full on from day one, trip down to the grandparents in Devon, meeting up with old friends and day trips to the beach and the shops!

I have been doing a bit of stitchery, my lovely niece is getting married in April so I have started a crazy quilted photo album cover all in silk which is a bit tricky to photograph in poor light with out all the reflections, I'll post updates as I achieve a bit more.

  

Autumn has arrived....

It has been a very dull, grey day here today, went for a lovely walk with the dogs but it was cold.....usually I love the Autumn, and we have had some lovely Indian Summers in recent years but somehow I have a pessimistic feeling that it will be Winter before we know it!

Anyway, it is Autumn and I wanted to to do this beautiful quilt offered by Kaaren at The painted Quilt. I've never made a 'proper' quilt before! I chose to do it in Autumnal colours and I managed to do block no.1 I'm two blocks behind already.

My first ever go at pinwheels!


At least I have the stitchery ready for the next block,

I don't have a fancy sewing machine. This is my trusty 100 year old which once belonged to my grandmother and then my aunt, it has been a reliable workhorse for many years and is still going strong. I love it! and choose to use it more often than my electric one which needs a service again and which has never been as reliable.

Have a great weekend.....

A New WIP

I finally got round to doing a bit of sewing for myself. This was a little pram that Alice had when she was very small, I always liked it but it got very damaged over the years, and more recently it was buried in the depths of the old garage getting more and more faded and dusty. Today I began the restoration process. It is now pulled apart ready to clean sand and repaint and I begun putting the fabrics together to make the little pillow and duvet so that I had a bit of hand sewing to do.

Watch this space for progress!

More Hearts.......

More hearts!! not the easiest shape to make up and stuff nicely. I am enjoying the embroidery though so need a bigger project to get my teeth into, just haven't found it yet!

Next major thing to think about is finding a builder I can trust, I might finally have the funds to think about converting my garage into a studio, I have the dreams just need to make them into reality now but that is easier said than done.

More Crazy quilting.....

I said I felt an addiction coming on! Well, I made a start on a second project idea, it is good to be able to pick up a piece of work and work in short little bursts particularly at the moment as it is half term and therefore Mum is on entertainment duty! I've found myself looking at different fabrics and threads and wondering what combination of stitches would look good. I really am enjoying this, trouble is I still have so many other things to be getting on with!

First layout, thinking pinks, white and all things pastel...

Including ribbon rose and lace trim

Embroidered flowers, plenty to work on here.....

Never ending, will show you the finished piece when I get there!

A new craze.........

I had a quiet day today. Despite the fact that there is an Izannah doll needing to be finished, several Bru costumes to be done, class plans to be made not to mention the shopping and the housework (which is getting a bit desperate!)and a few Halloween gifts to be finished I spent today trying out some crazy quilting! Its something I've always wanted to have a go at so as it was my day off today I sat in my workshop and had a go........









At least I have a Christmas decoration made!


And I did get my Izzy doll put together, she has at least got some drawers and and a petticoat until I get a dress and bonnet made for her.