Spring is here - Let's Polka

So on Monday, Blighty was treated to a day of brilliant sunshine. It felt to me, and others, that spring had finally sprung.

It was fantastic timing too as I had booked a day off from the day job to spend the day with my best mate crafting, drinking tea, chatting and eating plenty of cake.

Of course, no day could start without a decent breakfast and this put us on the path to a fantastic day looking colour. We toddled around for a bit in town which meant I was able to pick up some thread, and as these things happen I also ended up buying fabric. Yes, the sun had done a marvelous effect on my mood and colour palette. There was also a brief stop in Farrow& Ball for paint and wallpaper charts. I love their colours even if my bank account doesn't.

The remainder of the day was naturally spent looking at the colour swatches and playing with the various threads I had picked up earlier that morning. We flitted between looking at ideas for the soon to be new flat (yes, getting there slowly) and new project ideas. The sun pouring into the livingroom, whilst making the room hot, certainly aided our colour picking abilities.

Aren't they smashing colours, the three spools at the bottom are the silks threads I purchased at the beginning of the year, the skeins above at the ones purchased on Monday, just your standard DMC cottons.

With the colours chosen for the new project ideas picked out on Monday, it meant I was able to get on with one of them today. Now, originally I had planned on using the DMC threads to stitch the projects but I was nudged into using the silk threads, so I ended up doing just that, except so not to waste the limited amount of silk thread I had I used the cotton as the padding for the satin dots. It was pure fate that the colours picked up on Monday matched the silk.

Work in progress - seeing dots.

This is the first of three new spring/summer collar designs, and the first one made up is Ice-Cream Polka. Every time I look at it I just want to smile, and then poke the satin dots (I haven't...yet). I backed it in the new purchased cotton fabric too. Using my previous collar pattern means this design is fully reversible. And look it features my logo as the fabric label.

Dots...lots of dots

Now, all I need to do is crack on with the other two designs! Ice-cream polka will be available to purchase from my Etsy store.

Back Stitching and THE Quilt

It's the end of my hiatus where it comes to working on new things for this year. After the numerous weeks of saying/teasing what I might be doing for new lines. I've finally pulled my finger out and got down to some stitching. Rather great to get back into it again, though I have to admit I am not 100% on the quality of work this week or the design I have started to play about with.

In progress, I used silk thread for this sample. Chain Stitch, and padded Satin.

Two things I am looking at for inspiration at the moment is Heraldry and Cartography, which has prompted me to do a lot of doodling lately. Last night I was playing around with the Luther Rose, how I would want to work and colours, if any. I am a bit mixed on it to be honest. I think the reason why I am not too sure on it is that I have worked the sample on the calico so it does nothing for it. I'll whip up a silk one later, and see how it goes. 

You might wonder why the heck I didn't just work it on the silk to begin with, well mainly because I don't want to waste the remaining silk stash I have, and secondly I'll admit I can be a bit of a muppet. I also just realised looking at the second sample (at the bottom right) I missed out the cross in the middle. 

*rolls eyes* 

Ah well, anyway, might as well show you the progress of the long talked about quilt. The last post where I showed photographs of it's progress was back in 2011. The rest of the time was a mix of me promising to finish it. Oh, how I laugh. Well in December I made a push to finish it, I put the bias binding on, and carried on with the hand quilting. The Quilt is still on my sofa, just behind me, I've had it there because it's been making me do a spot of hand stitching of an evening, just an hour at a time. Rather cathartic. I am going to put it out there that I might actually complete at the end of the month. Okay, I have put it out there...I will finish it. There I said it.

You can slap my wrist if I don't.

The reason for wanting to finish it is so its ready for the new place, because fingers crossed I'll be out of my flat by March. Oh gawd, I hope so. Be the best birthday present ever.

On Wednesday, I'll give you a catch up on the Photo a day challenge that I decided to get involved with. So far, so good.

Right time to crack on with some stitching, spot of lunch first.

Oh before I go, I've been pinning some cracking recipes on Pinterest. Click here, and prepare to drool.

Fingers Crossed and Forward Planning

Calico the Pig gets a winter makeover

I thought it was about time to do a post Christmas blog post. I've returned from spending time with my family to my humble little flat. Needless to say there was a momentary blip in the good mood on stepping back in the flat, but then I just have to remind myself that this is the last December in it. 

I have to be utterly honest I am  going to be awfully glad to see the back of 2012, sure there have been some great turning points but there was also a lot of rubbish too. So I want to sweep that all away and crack on with 2013. I am a firm believer that it's going to be a good year not just for me but for friends and family. I know some lovely folks that deserve a break and I think it will happen. 

Fingers crossed.

So now that I am back in the flat and surrounded by my materials, my lovely gifts I have received have been put away and the washing has made it to the basket (housework can wait one more day). I can start working out my plans for next year. I have some big things to sort out to do with making this a business and I also have in my mind designs. And for the next few days I can at least start working on the latter. The shop isn't opening back up till the 14th Jan, perhaps a little later, so I have the time to work on the designs and make samples. Also have some research to do for packaging. Next month I will also have in my mitts a handmade stamp for me to make my own fabric labels. 

Who else is going to be glad to see the back of 2012? What your plans for 2013, hopes and wishes? 

Yummy treats made for friends and family.