New Achievement...and Competition Winners

Yes! I finally tackled making my very first pair of interlined curtains. Is it sad that I am utterly thrilled at having achieved this? Probably, a little. I can't tell you how many free instructions/tutorials, hints and tips I looked at over the past couple of days before I finally just went sod it..wing it.

You can, or rather I can, get really hung up (no pun intended) on the small details, wanting to make sure I do it properly so not to waste an awful lot of money on materials and time making something, only to find I've mucked it up. But I got to the point midway through yesterday when I went, well the worst that can happen is that I have a lot of fabric for my quilt...

A very simple tab top curtains, the tabs have poppers on them so I can take down the curtains, as the pole is fixed in place and can't be removed not without a spot of brute strength and some determination. 

The fabric I've used, you might recognise as being Petite Street, the same fabric as I am using for the quilt I am making over Christmas. 

Not bad huh? Oh, and the curtains weren't the only new thing made for the workroom/guest room. At long last my sofa bed from Made.com arrived this week. And it needed something on it, so I decided to put my collection of Nikki McWilliams biscuit cushions on it. Which reminds me I really want to get the custard cream next...

So pleased to have this room sorted before Christmas, there are a little bits and pieces still left to do such as more artwork up and cable tacking the wires to the skirting but other than that it's done. Ready for me to then move onto the hallway. Going to put together a moodboard for that project, I'll post about that over Christmas. I am plotting and musing on it the moment.

Aside from the curtain making this weekend, I've been working on a custom order for a clock, something I've not made in a little while. Making a clock is like an old friend coming to visit. After this project, I'll be working out my plan for next year, and I've been in dialogue with someone about submitting a project for a magazine. Time is short on that one so, after I've drawn the winners of the competition from three weeks ago, I'll be wracking my brain on that little challenge. 

So without further ado...

Congratulations to Jen Valukas - who won the little prize bundle of a copy of issue 8, a needle case and a pdf pattern

Emma Law - 3 month subscription to Crafty Magazine

I'll be in contact a little later today to get your details! Many congratulations again. 

Threads, Bee and Success

Nothing like a productive weekend, to make you feel that whatever the next week brings that at least you started it with a few things crossed off your list. I had two things that I was rather pleased to get done.

The first is that I finally got a solution for my windows at my abode that works. I've had a bugger of a time with the plaster board. The new buildings owners worst nightmare when it comes to fixing anything heavier than a picture on it. So you can imagine that hanging anything like a blind was a nightmare. However, using components that are actually for wardrobe, small dabs of no more nails to add the screws, and the aid of my mum. I've fitted up a mini pole in the study ready for me to hang the curtains...that I've yet to make but still it's a start!

Taking a picture of it at the moment is a bit dull, but once I've made the curtain I'll show it off. Hopefully, by then I'll have my sofa bed installed too so the room will be pretty much complete and ready for guests to use too.

What's the second thing I am pleased about? Well I have made the sample and pretty much got instructions sorted out for a fab little Christmas project for you all. Here is a sneaky peek of a bit of it to wet your appetite. 

The project will be ready for next week, and I'll be aiming for the 7th November, to coincide with the project in Crafty magazine which will be out the same day. Which I can show you what it looks like, as they have put up on their site this week the template for the design. Sneaky peek and download the template ahead of the game!

This is a prefect opportunity to remind you about the competition I have running, which has some fab prizes up for grabs. Click here for more details.

As well as the Christmas project and the window solution, I popped along to the first Threads festival at Farnham Maltings. It was in the neighbourhood and I wanted to go along to see if it was something I wanted to take part in next year, but I have to be honest I wasn't utterly sold on it. The premise was good, but in reality to me it fell short, I can't fully explain it. I think it largely came down to not knowing what it was meant to be. I personally felt that the set up at the Maltings might have also not fully helped it was a little too bitty, perhaps that was the reason I couldn't quite figure it out. If you've not been to the Maltings, its a collection of buildings linked together, with studio areas, halls and various other side rooms. Which for this festival made me feel as I left that I might have missed something. 

I might have felt even more disappointed had I not come across a rather lovely and local hand-weaver who also sold her hand dyed cotton threads. Naturally I fell in love with the threads couldn't resist purchasing a pack of mercerised cottons and one of her silk dying experiments. I highly recommend checking out Zoe Acketts by going to her site http://www.zoeacketts.co.uk/.  

Perhaps my thoughts on the show were a little hard, given it was the first one, next year I heard its going to be in September rather than November. Perhaps not to compete with the Christmas fairs. Which might work better...I'll leave my opinion as undecided. Did you go, what did you think? 

Now I must toddle off the evening has well and truly settled in and it's time to snuggle down on the sofa with a cuppa. 

Survived the Move!

How'dy all!

Yes, I am alive and have successfully, albeit not quite so smoothly, moved into my new abode. I'm currently waist deep in cardboard boxes, and Ikea flat packs but I am very happy! 

I thought I would give you a peek at the Studio/Guest bedroom, which is about the only room I've decided to work on at the moment. It's the one I've been really uber excited about working on and have been planning for the past couple of months. Admittedly as these things happen, I've changed not only the colour of the wall, it's more salmon pink than coral now. And I've altered the layout of the furniture. All, of course, for the better. I've nearly done all the bits for the IKEA furniture, but I am naturally missing a few bolts, and I forgot to order/miss-ordered a couple of items. However, no hardship as I need to go to a store to get the smaller bits like holders for magazines etc. I do love my storage.

What next?

Well finish off the furniture, and start getting things into their new home so I can start cracking on with my secret squirrel project. 

I'll keep you informed of the progress!

Ode to the Sun and the Winner is..

An ode to the sun....

Your lovely and cheerful,

And put us all in a good mood,

Mostly.

Except I get all cranky,

Itchy,

and its far too hot to sew.

Yes, I'll admit I'll never make a poet.

Yes, me and the heat/sun don't get along all that well but this isn't a moan about the weather, lord no, I've just never coped well in the baking sun. I'm more of a shade worshiper. So yesterday I didn't get a massive amount done on the stitching side of things, wee bit annoying as I really wanted to crack on with my friends' birthday present and start my next embroidered quote. The quote that will be the one I eventually turn into a kit/ or a new pattern. I was just too hot and kept getting headaches, which eventually saw me go to bed at 9:30.

What I did manage to do though, before the early bedtime, was get my haircut, and also went to see my soon to be new home. Yes, we are nearly there readers. Only a few more weeks to go. Completion/exchange date selected! By god, I'm sure you will all be happy that I stop saying 'nearly moving' in a blog post.

I don't have any pretty pictures of work in progress to show you this morning, so instead this morning's blog post I shall select my winner of the competition that ended yesterday, to win a couple of my mini embroidery patterns. 

I had 15 entries, with some very sweet comments about what they would want on their little home planet. Comfy chair was one the most requested item. Might well have to do another design soon with a chair on it.

Using the power of random.org. I assigned all the comments a number 1-15 and selected the following:

And that means..*drumroll* 

The winner is Xenia!

Who said they wanted on their little planet: 

"My planet would have a comfy chair and a lot of books."

See what did I tell you about chairs ;) 

Well done Xenia, I think I saw on your blog an email address, let me know if that's a valid email by posting a reply I'll get the patterns emailed to you soon after.

Time for me to disappear and actually get some stitching done!

Jubilee Spirit

Yesterday I shouted out on Facebook that I really wanted bunting, and I wanted it then. So, I got myself sorted and went out into the beautiful sunshine on a mission to get bunting, flags and napkins. The latter might seem odd but I am planning a bit of a tea party/jubilee picnic next Sunday with a few lovely friends. Fingers crossed the weather is good. Or have I tempted fate?

Anyway, as you can see it was a success, bunting was found as was flags and yes I got jubilee inspired napkins.  It didn't take long for everything to go up, bar the napkins and now I am feeling suitably in the spirit of the Jubilee. Yes I am a bit of  Royalist, not a fair weather sort but more that I think the Queen is the best female role model out there. And well she reminds me of my nan who passed away when I was a little girl. And Prince Philip just makes me roar with laughter, he's awesome.

Need to find calico some British inspired ribbon, anyone got a slither?

My little travel shelf, New York, Washington, Venice and London.

Is anyone else getting into the spirit of things? 

If you are then you might like my latest free pattern:

Available to download, for personal use only, from my website. Click here.

Don't forget to show it off! Either link me to your version in a comment or upload it to the Flickr group and participate in my latest competition!