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. 

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!

And the winner is...

And the winner of my little competition is number 11...

The Sewing Croft

Who'd call her pet Bumble Bee...Buzby.

Congratulations!

If you ping me a message via Etsy, with your details and I'll pop it into the post to you.

Don't worry if you missed out this time, there will be more mini competitions in the future!

Also, this week, don't forget to get the issue 3 of & Stitches magazine... someone you know might be in it, undertaking a challenge *coughmecough*

And the winner is....

Firstly I would like to say thank you to everyone who entered both on here and via my Facebook page, and commiserations to those who didn't win this time round, fear not another competition will be happening in due course so watch this space!

However, of course the draw took place a short moment ago, and as promised there was a hat. 

Hat filled with lots of paper slips

After a couple of shakes, I pull out a slip

And the winner is.....OLIVIA280177

Congratulations, you entered via my blog so if that's you Olivia can you leave a little comment and then we can work out posting the little pouch to you. 

Now its time I got my groove on and got stitching!