Quiltie Quandary

Some of my first quiltie attempts - all made with hand dyed cotton, some are hand stitched, some machined and some with fme as well. The colours look a bit washed out due to my stunning photographic capabilities (!) but they look okay in the flesh. They are kinda simple in style, but I like them that way:)

Since I had never made any fabric ATCs before, I had a go at some of them too.

One of the quilties and an ATC have been posted off as part of a swap I joined in with (I hope my swapee likes them) and another quiltie/ATC have gone to Mavis - just because she is lovely. It was quite fun to do them but now I will have to think of another 'style' to try out. The 'quandary' part of my title was because it took me ages to decide which ones to send and in the end Miss Lucy decided for me!

Quiltie Swap

I am involved in a quiltie swap with the Unlimited Textiles group and this is the loveliness I received yesterday from Margaret at Digital Gran a lovely quiltie with an Egyptian theme - pretty impressive huh? Many thanks to Margaret, I love it. I had to borrow this photo from Margaret's blog because all the pics I took were really washed out looking. This is better, it shows the colours well and the work Margaret has put into it is really amazing.

Naughty but Nice

I got a lovely parcel today from Mavis at Textile Artist. She has been very naughty sending me something so lovely - but I forgive her!! Just look at this lovely envelope - love the button too!



And inside was this lovely embroidered cloth and special little hand decorated box. Everything smelled lovely too! Thank you so much Mavis, you are very kind.



We finally had a day of Summer weather today - typical! Just when the children have gone back to school. Still, we made the most of it after dinner and went for a short coastal walk which was lovely. I think we are to get good weather for the rest of the week too - fingers crossed.

Perth, Pizza and Poorly Girl

Being another horribly rainy day yesterday we headed to Perth - yes, I know that doesn't make sense really - I mean, it's not as if Perth is any better in the rain than anywhere else but it was the other half's idea so we went. We treated ourselves to Pizza Hut and it was great fun, I even managed to get into Laura Ashley for a quick look (if only...). Then Miss Lucy started feeling a bit breathless (she has asthma), so she took her inhaler and we headed back to the car. She kept feeling worse in the car and so we just drove her straight to the hospital in Dunfermline - it seemed to take forever because not only was there the heavy rain, there was also fog and we could hardly see the road. The hospital were great and a nice nurse managed to get her to calm her breathing down because she was panicing which was making her worse of course. After the doctor had seen her and done a few tests we finally got home about an hour and a half later. I think her panicing had just exacerbated things and thankfully she didn't have to be admitted. She was taken into the hospital last October and I wouldn't like to go through that again. She is fine this morning, although she has eaten so many pancakes that she might soon have a tummy ache!!

On a lighter note - I think you are starting to convince my sister Judith to start a blog! I think all your lovely comments on her birthday post are persuading her - she even left a comment herself. I shall keep applying the pressure!! Incidentally, she came round the other day to show me her latest purchases from the Bead Shop so I think it's only fair that she makes something with those purchases and shows us it on her soon-to-be blog!! Yes Judith, I mean YOU!

The Carrier Bag Carry Bag

This is what happened to the carrier bags I ironed yesterday - this bag. Not a great photo, but you get the idea. It seems really strong too - it is made of around 4 layers of plastic. I might experiment with perhaps '8 ply' plastic and make a larger bag for Library Book Carrying purposes with longer handles so I can carry it over my shoulder - I think that might work quite well. I kept thinking of loads of things you could use the bags for - and they are waterproof too!!! Well, it beats chucking them into the landfill I guess.



I got a bit carried away and made a little notebook cover as well - cute don't you think?!

I do seem to have a bit of a thing about creating with a 'recycled' theme at the moment (just saying that has probably put the curse on that very theme now and I shall nevermore mention green issues or landfill ever again! as if)



Just one more thing - and this is mainly just because I can't seem to stop talking - it will be my 100th post soon. Can you believe it? I will have to put on my thinking cap and figure out some way to mark the occasion in some way - fancy dress party anyone?

Okay, one more teeny tiny thing, honest. Look at these cuties -



I discovered a link to create them on Annica's blog Fabulous Threads. You can go and make a little friend of your own here at the Chick Machine - irresistible!

All the Fun of the Fair

As it is almost the end of the school holidays now, and as I had promised the children ages ago that I would take them to Burntisland to the 'shows' - we went this evening! This is the last week of the shows so a lot of things like dodgems etc weren't there - it was mainly smaller rides for the younger kids and those stalls where you can 'hook a duck' and win a prize.

Lucy was really keen to go on this caterpillar rollercoaster and managed to persuade her brother to accompany her. Here they are waiting for it to start - all was well at this point and as the caterpillar started to roll forward - about a minute later as things sped up a little poor Adam started screaming and was not a happy bunny! It was way too fast for him and he had to endure another round before he could get off. I felt so sorry for him, he was sobbing and wanted to go home. He soon got over it but made me promise not to tell his friends - bless him.



This was more like it! Adam was having much more fun on these motorbikes, crashing into the barrier every two minutes.



These 'orbiters' were fun too, they spun round as well as going backwards and forwards.



Miss L and Mister A also had a couple of shots of hook the duck and were thrilled with their prizes. Adam got a spy kit and a ninja sword and Miss Lucy's spoils were a bow and arrow set (she was so thrilled!) and a ball and bat combo. To finish off they got one of those teeth rotting sugar dummies each and were happily busy with them on the way home in the car! The dummies will probably last longer than the prizes.

Felt More Like Creating

Get it? - 'felt' more like creating?.... never mind, bad joke :))

I had a go at creating something from a bit of felt I made. I had used white pre-felt which I hand needle-felted red rovings onto and then bunged in the washing machine to see what happened - I liked the result but didn't really know what to do with it as it was too small to make anything really useful out of. Here is the result - a little hanging I call 'Arctic Sun' (pretentious - moi?) - I'm quite fond of it!



I made my first quiltie yesterday. I had an idea of a pre-raphaelite design I wanted to do for my sister's birthday (inspired by Alis' quilties - thanks Alis!) and so I got up early and had a go. I was pleased with how it turned out and I think Judith liked it. Now I just have to get on and do one for the quiltie swap I'm in!



Talking of Judith - Miss Lucy wanted to make her a birthday cake and so she got busy in the kitchen and here is the result - very yummy and very sweet!



Right, I have an idea for something so I'm off to iron some carrier bags!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!

Happy Birthday to my lovely lovely little sister Judith, who will be 21 again (snort). She will most likely never speak to me again for putting these photos up for view (those aren't her own horns by the way) but I just want her to know I love her to bits and I hope she has a nice day. Love ya Jude. xxx

Incidentally, my sister is a very talented lady - oh yes, she makes fantastic jewellery, her cross stitch is the neatest I have ever seen and she makes a mean handbag too! Don't you think she needs her own blog? (apply pressure now please).

Mad Hatters

I found this photo I had 'embellished' when I was searching for something else. It was taken earlier in the year on a trip to the Crannog Centre. I thought it might give you a giggle! (click the photo to enlarge). You can have a go yourself at pikipimp - go on, you know you want to..

Positivity Prevails

Thank for all your thoughts on why you create. The most dominant feeling is that you/we all need to create. I think this is the key point - if we didn't create then we would be missing out on something that is part of us, we wouldn't feel whole and so we are driven to satisfy our need by stitching, painting, drawing, knitting - whatever - just as long as we can create. Some of us make things only to give as gifts or sell, some decorate our homes with our creations and lots of us do it just because we love it! I still personally have a problem with not making things for a 'purpose', whether it be for a gift or home decoration/use etc - but I think that is perhaps to do with financial guilt! By that I mean that I have spent so much money on 'stuff' to use in my crafting, I feel guilty doing it just for fun. Obviously something I will have to get over :) Maybe some expensive therapy.......

Thanks for all your comments, it has been really interesting to hear what you all think about this subject and how you will all keep creating your wonderful things for your own satisfaction and whether other people 'get it' or not.

What Do You Think?

I recently bumped into a lady I was at college with a few years ago (City & Guilds Patchwork and Quilting Part I). She happened to ask me if I was doing any creative stuff at all and said that she wasn't really doing much at all because she often wondered what to do with it all - you know? I have to say that I often feel that way too. I love to be creative, there's no question of that, but recently in particular, I have been questioning why I do it. 'What's the point?' is my question. Unless I am making things for gifts or something specific for our home then I sometimes feel the project isn't 'justifiable'. The things I made for the City & Guilds course for example are stuffed in a bag in storage. Perhaps it's something to do with guilt at not earning money from doing something - a 'frivolous' pursuit? What do you think - is it a waste of time/money/effort/space? What do you all 'do' with the things you make?

Double Whammy!

Hello everyone! I've been missing you all because I've been out of commission for a few days due to illness (again), any more of that nonsense and I'm off to the knackers yard! Anyway, I'm back in fine fettle again and having a lovely time catching up on all the blogs I love to read.

The lovely and talented Mary has very kindly bestowed the Nice Matters Award upon me - I am very touched (well, you knew that LOL), thanks Mary!! You can find out all the details about this award in my previous post. Now I have to pass it on to seven other people so here goes:

1. The lovely Gill at Lucy Locket, who is very nice indeed and I love to read her blog.

2. Another lovely, kind person - Dianne over at Faery Di's Fibre Feats or Fiascos. She does some gorgeous work too!

3. Val at Val's Musings - yet another nice lady doing wonderfully inspiring things with fabric.

4. A very nice, generous and helpful chap called Graeme who has blogs at Grumblog and Charlie Cornelius. Graeme is also an extremely talented and published author - I've read some of his work so I know!

5. Carol at Taylor's Textile Trials - another kind and generous soul, who will very kindly explain techniques if necessary!

6. Lynda at Purple Missus - for all the same reasons as No.5 Thanks Lynda!

7. Last but not least, the Nice Matters Award goes to Gunnel over at Gunnel's Blog - a lovely lady, whose blog is great to read and whose work is amazing.

There you are ladies (and gent). You now have to pass it on to seven other deserving souls!


It seems to be the time for Awards of one kind or another doesn't it? Well, I have very kindly had another one bestowed upon me (I'd like to thank my agent......). The lovely aforementioned Graeme (see No.4 above) has nominated me for the Creative Blogger Award. I was 'fair chuffed' as we say in these parts and highly honoured, so I thank you very much Graeme.



I have to nominate five others for this award and so here they are:

1. Viki at Pernickety Hat - another talented writer. Viki has a great sense of humour too, which makes her blog a great read (and she leaves me very helpful comments!).

2. Carenza at Lightly Done. I've just recently started reading her blog and her work is so inspiring - have a look!

3. Diane at The Sound of One Hand Knitting - because she is totally amazing and wonderfully creative and fantastic!!

4. Pauline at Life According to Pauline because she is just getting back into the creative stuff and is really good at it! - no mean achievement with two children, one who is just little - very admirable!

5. Jaqueline at Jacqueline's Blog - her work is just so inspiring and wonderful, I never fail to be amazed.

Phew! Job done. Now, all you nominees have to nominate five others. Have fun!

Nice Matters Award

I have been awarded the Nice Matters Blog Award by Alison. Thank you Alison, you are so kind (if only you knew what I was really like !) The Nice Matters Award is a new friendship award started by Bella Enchanted.This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. I understand that I have to pass it on to 7 others who I feel are deserving of this award.

Like Alison said, it is very difficult to chose just seven people but here goes:

1. Well - Alison, obviously (not sure if you are allowed to pass it backwards but I'm gonna!)

2. My bestest buddy Diane who has been with me through thick and thin (love you x)

3. Carol, who is lovely and kind and helpful and...

4. Alis, who is also lovely and kind and helpful and hides paper towels from Roger!

5. Jo, who is lovely and whose posts always makes me think! (ouch)

6. Miss Sarah, who is also all of the above with a wonderfully wicked sense of humour too!

7. The lovely Susan - also kind, lovely and patient at explaining techniques to me!

Actually 7 really isn't enough, there are so many more I could mention. I've found so many friends in the blogging world.

In fact, I'm going to cheat just a little here and mention another person who deserves a Nice Matters Award to himself - the lovely and talented David. If you've never read his blog now is the time!!

Don't forget to pass it on to seven others who deserve this award!

Fab Friends and Field Trips

I've been meaning to post a photo of the lovely things that Alison sent me to cheer me up recently - aren't they lovely and isn't she very very kind and thoughtful?



On Friday we went for a nice drive to Newburgh where I visited the lovely Twist Fibre Craft Studio which has lovely things (and a website) and I forced myself to buy a few bits and bobs that I didn't really need - lovely! We then travelled on to Cairnie Fruit Farm near Cupar to pick some fruit - we picked some rasps to freeze for Christmas as I like to put them in my trifle - yum! Miss Lucy picked a few strawberries and we also bought 3lbs of blackcurrants for mum to make jam from. I used to make jam every year but I haven't for the last two because I just don't seem to have enough time somehow. I must get more organised for next year. After leaving Cairnie Fruit Farm we headed into Cupar itself to investigate the toy shop there. There aren't many places you can find an independant toy shop these days and Cupar has one of the few remaining. Mr Adam had some money from his Grandpa and was in desperate need of a skateboard. Luckily for the would be skate dude, there was indeed a skateboard available, complete with skull motif on the underside (very important apparently) so Mr A went home a very happy boy!

Here is Mr Cool himself - sporting skull sweatshirt to match skateboard, Action Man helmet, his dads woolly gloves and one Barbie elbow pad!!



Yesterday (Saturday) was glorious weather wise and I felt the need to visit the Bead Shop in Edinburgh again which was fun, we then had a wander around the streets of Stockbridge and investigated several charity shops and bookshops - a very pleasant time was had.

Later in the afternoon Miss L and Mr A had a Sale of Goods in the garden to raise funds for the 'Spy Gang' (don't ask - suffice to say I am in the Spy Club - sorry, can't say too much - hush hush y'know). They sold juice, water, notebooks, badges, crispy cakes and apple quarters. They managed to make £1.25 each!



After the fantastic weather yesterday when I almost believed summer had come, today was a total washout. We had planned some forest walks but it was just too wet. Undaunted however we set off in this...


We drove to Falkland in the hope that the weather might be a little better there - nope, not a chance. Falkland is a gorgeous little place, home to Falkland Palace and numerous old and quaint houses, little cobbled streets and a rather nice National Trust shop. I would have taken more photos but I feared for my camera in the rain (which just became heavier and relentless).
So, we did the only thing we could, took refuge here...



where some of us had this...



and others chose this...



I did manage a scone myself of course - well one must keep up appearances don't you think?

Thank You!!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who congratulated me on passing my exam, you are all so lovely (sniff, sniff). xxxx

On the same subject, I was not allowed out of my bedroom for several hours this morning because there were secret 'goings on' happening downstairs. You can imagine my delight when I was finally allowed to see what my little darlings had been up to - bless them, they are so sweet.

Exam Results Are In

The long awaited exam result is in - I passed! WOOHOO! I can now breath a sigh of relief and make the most of time until the next course begins in a couple of months.