Summer Holiday Unwind

Cor, blimey. 

It's been a while since I posted!

I am very much here, and stitching but the blog is pretty much in its summer hibernation mode as is my website and Etsy store. That being said I thought I would give an update...

I've working on the new quilt project, called 'Gossip in the Garden' it's by Hatched & Patched. It was tea related and had bees on it, so I had to do it. This weekend I managed to get all the appliqué completed for block A, I just need to finish the small patchwork block detailing before I move onto the next block. 

What's been nice about this project is the opportunity to use up scraps, and that it's forcing me to start making some sort of dent into the rest of my fabric stash. It's also been nice to do as it's making me stop and think about colour and print combinations too. Getting the old noggin working!

Lots of fiddly needle turned appliqué. 

When I haven't been playing with fabric, I've also been making a bit of a dent on my jewellery making stash. It was high-time I broke out the Swarovski Crystals. A made a rainbow inspired bracelet, see below, a long chain necklace and updated another long chain I picked up recently in the summer sales. 

Also celebrated Hamish the Hamster's 2nd Birthday. Still going strong my little ginger furball. He's currently on vacation with my Best Friend. 

And I've taken a small break from eyelets but it's coming along rather nicely. I can't quite decide whether to go all the way round or keep it to one side of the oval shape, a crescent of eyelets. But post my break I'm sure I'd have made my decision. 

And that my friends, is where I am currently at. I'll be back in proper blogging mode in September!

Hamish says hello and other things

Anyone else find writing a title for a blog post really difficult? There are times when I just haven't a clue what to call a post. But at least this one is pretty much spot on, Hamish has popped by to say hello, in a rare moment of opportunity I managed to get this shot of him and it pretty much sums him up...

If he can get behind anything, squeeze through cracks he's your man. You know the more I look at that shot the more I notice the look of 'put the camera down'. 

So aside from trying to take photographs of my elusive hamster, baking and cooking (I'm a real autumn/winter cook) I've been working on the project that cannot be named... That's pretty much all I've been doing this weekend. Granted I've been squeezing in a bit of time for my own things. I've purchased a couple of small bundles of felt this week which arrived rather speedily, thank you Paper & String. The felt is to be used for two things, one a new batch of snazzy brooches (more on this next week) and secondly to make a couple of gifts. Naturally like everything else I am working on lately I can't really go into too much detail as it's for some ladies that I know swing by the blog. But you might just make out an owl...the actual design comes from a freebie from Issue 5 of Crafty magazine 'Woodland Storage Boxes', I'm going to adapt the cute little owls and trees to turn them into little felt wonders. Well that's the plan...

I'll keep you posted!

Before I dart off go and check out Feeling Stitchy's latest competition.

Normal Stitching Service has Resumed...

Yes, I am finally back up and running again. Well, not running but stitching. My studio come guestroom is near enough complete, bar a few odds and sods to sort out. But I can and have at least been able to get stitching. Feels nice to be able to get back to it. Even though I have admit I had a couple of 'Omg so much I can do...where to begin' moments. Which isn't new!

So what have I been doing well, I've been prepping for my Secret Squirrel project, which I'll be starting to stitch this week and I've gone back to my Tea Solves Everything embroidered quote.

I was doing a spot of jumping around with this piece as I was keen to get more sections done. That and stitching 'solves' was making my eyes go a bit weird. It was either that or I was a wee bit tired this afternoon. So I completed 'thing' and was playing about with how I was going to do 'every'. Now originally I was going to do it in padded satin again but I had a idea at the last second of doing French Knots, and I like the effect....

Eyes slowly drifting in different directions...

'so' is done so I skip off to do 'thing and then thought, let's start 'every'.

I am going to try and squeeze a bit more stitching in this evening and tomorrow night before I get on with the commissioned piece. I've worked out my schedule and I've pretty much only got time to do that until the end of the month. Now that's not to say I won't get it completed early, I've given myself a health amount of time to work on it without feeling as though I have to rush it to meet the deadline. Whilst I don't mind working under pressure I don't want any mistakes!

Oh, I managed to also purchase and complete a pattern this week too. Now this was great really because when I reached as far as I could with the studio on Wednesday night I wanted to start stitching on Thursday but wasn't sure what to do...then I saw this pattern on What Delilah Did 'Mini Folk Letter' and I had to have it. Well after a moments deliberation and Sophie Simpson on Twitter (the lady behind the designs) goading me to do it. Granted it didn't take much encouragement. It didn't take long to stitch and all that remains for me to do is to get it framed and hung on the wall. 

It wasn't the only pattern I purchased, I also picked up the Bee pattern I had my eye on for a while. Though I won't be starting that one till the Autumn. 

Finally but not least, now I've been taking about this for a while. When my darling little Bergamot passed away at the beginning of the year I knew I wanted to, but not straight away, get a new hamster. I put it off because firstly I missed the little blighter, and secondly I was trying to purchase a flat. To get one during this time would have been wrong. Anyway, when I finally moved I knew it was only a matter of time before I got a new one. And I did yesterday, he's a rather timid, but rather fluffy Syrian called Hamish. There was a moment I was going to call it Hannibal because all it seemed to like to do in the shop was bite things. I don't really have a decent enough photo to show you because he's rather shy. But there will be a shot soon!

Now, with all that typed out I am rather in need of another cuppa!

Saying goodbye to a friend

I had planned at the weekend what I was going to write tonight but sometimes things don't always go to plan, and sometimes its because of the saddest of events taking place. If you've read my blog over the last couple of years, or follow my twitter account and even my Flickr too, then you will have read and seen pictures about my dear little Bergamot. A tiny, but much loved hamster. Sad to say he died last night.

I am trying to remain positive by the fact I was with him during the final moments, and finally got my much wanted cuddle with him and at last he can finally rest. I knew he was on the decline since Christmas and I knew that there wasn't much I can do for him beyond keeping him comfortable.

For a hamster he had very long life of 28 months. I wished it was longer, I wished that he was with me when I moved. Cause now I realise I have a small hole in my life that I can't quite fill. He was my little flat mate and I am not entirely sure what I am going to do without him. Sounds rather silly but he's been with me since I moved into this flat, and he's kept me company during the times when I have been so upset with the constant battles with the neighbours.

So I now have to get used to not sharing my toast or biscuits or laughing at his antics.

So rest in peace little Bergamot, you don't know how much of an impact you made on my life. I swore I'd never have a hamster again, when my last one died a rather long time ago. I get too attached and it breaks my heart when they die. Then we saw you in the store and you had to be mine.

I don't think you know how much of a fan club you had with my friends either. Love you little Bergie.

Bergamot, Buns and Blimey

Lots of b's today. 

Finally was able to take a really good shot of my elusive ninja hamster. Bergamot the Ninja hamster who likes to escape, lost count now. He's cute for a furball but he's a pain in the neck owing to the fact he's very jumpy and doesn't particularly like being handled. So it makes for a bit of a love hate relationship. Anyway, I was mainly trying out my new camera now that I have finally gotten round to getting a SD card for it, so yay! Looking forward to testing it out in Washington in the fall. 

What's with the buns and the blimey though, I can hear you asking. Well the buns is because I am making 'easy' iced buns, well we will see if they are easy when they are finished proofing. They are for tea tomorrow, seeing Anna (UK handmade).

The blimey is for...well I have decided its about time I do something stumpwork related whilst I am working on ideas for my collab with Heidi, just a small piece, not that I do anything large but anyway here's a nice shot so you can see what I have in mind. It's based on a Christmas decoration I purchased many years back. I am thinking of a good mix of liberty fabrics and stitching is a must. Will keep you posted on its progress.

I leave this post on I hope your enjoying the lovely spring weather as much as I am.

Sunday Catching Up

Catching up on my life this Sunday and realising I am easily distracted. Nothing new there my mum would cry. It's not a bad thing mind you between the tidying up and the housework, and the planning of the coming week its good to kick back for an hour or two and enjoy the fact you aren't at work and that you can do what the hell you like.


So here is my random project for a Sunday, take one wooden wreath type shape, item picked up from a pet store, its for rabbit and other animals to chew on. Then raid your large stash of fabric because you have a lot of it, then because you happen to have a pattern shape for a heart, and a massive bag of stuffing create little stuffed hearts and then when your done...which I'm not yet...attach to the wreath. 


What I will do though is add a nice bow I think, and also some fairy lights nearer to Christmas. I am also going to sort out other decorations some point soon, and also I must get back to making another new item for my Etsy store!

Ending on a cute note

Bergamot the Hamster hiding from me as usual

When its good to be Sewing & I have a new friend.

It's been a funny old day, and not one that I will go into too much detail about as I honestly feel sometimes sharing everything out on the net isn't healthy. What I will say after a little encouragement by my mum, and money spare I found myself purchasing something I didn't think I'd ever do, or again for that matter. A brought a pet. Not just any pet, a hamster. You see I love the little creatures each have the most wonderful little characters, and the last time I had one was back when I was fifteen/sixteen. Now at the age...that I am at I find myself with one again, and I find my heart is happy. It's such a silly thing to do but I can't say I actually regret the decision even though it was a spare of the moment decision. Though I must say do not think I will neglect it, no not at all or get bored. I know how to look after them, and it's all come back to me.


It's a little shy so I won't post a picture, and I haven't yet found a name I like, though I find myself leaning towards Teacup, or even Biscuit. Two things my stomach loves. I will of course post a picture when it is ready to show its face, and I will announce its name when I have decided. 


Speaking of things purchased to make you smile, I had a bit of a shopping day yesterday, and that resulted me purchasing two wonderful Tilda items, I adore her work, her style just everything about her designs. I got a Christmas Santa figure kit, and another one of her books, I think I only need to get two more and then I'll have the set. Yes, I am thinking about Christmas, the one word I actually loathe, but I find myself looking forward to decorating my little flat, and my head is bursting with ideas. I can't wait to start the kit but I must remind myself not to rush it, I will be hand sewing it completely, not wanting to use the sewing machine which it states in the instructions. Which yes will take longer, but I really just don't want to get the sewing machine out, so basically I am lazy yet making more work for myself. Not that it bothers me.


I also picked up a magazine today, never seen it before, well I won't have done as it was the first of its' kind, has anyone else seen it on the shelves. Has the UK finally published a crafts magazine that isn't full of tat? That rivals those produced in the UK? Blow me down with a feather I think they have, and it's even better than Sew Hip, the photography for a start has proven that. No offence SewHip but the photo quality is so poor in your magazines, how did you ever let them go through? Perhaps its just me and my expectations are too high.


Anyway I do hope everyone's Sunday's is going well, and that your pets are snuggled up in a ball like mine, and that your doing whatever it is that makes you happy.


Peace out.


p.s photo's to follow took some shocking photo's so I will have to wait till it's light again.