Argh - another month gone already! I'm so not getting the hang of this blogging. I have total respect for those of you bloggers who manage a couple of posts a week. One such talent is Judith over on JustJude. I know when I go to her blog she will have a new interesting post showing her beautiful work and I'll think, I wish I could sew like her!

Anyway. FabricYard have linked up with Judith to do a giveaway. 10 fat quarters of Heather Ross' Nursery Versery Range. To enter, just like FabricYard on Facebook, Twitter, or register on the website. Then just add a comment onto Judith's post here

Such a pleasure to work with you Judith!

Good luck to those of who entering xx

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! Luckily I managed to get a post in before it was 2months of inactivity on the blog. Phew. That would have been lame......

I have been doing some actual sewing in December, not alot, but alot for me at my current rate!

First up is a mother daughter collaboration. First time for everything. My Mum is a great knitter. Speedy, very speedy. In fact very very speedy. A quick poke of her index finger and she has a stitch knitted. I've tried to replicate but I'm light years away from her speed. I lack the patience for knitting I think.

I asked her to knit S a cardigan for her birthday and I decided to line it so it would be lovely and warm. I just got Mum to give me each knitted piece before it was sewn up and I cut the fabric (Heather Ross' Countrymice) approx 1/2" extra larger than the knit piece, then sew'd it up and stitched it into the finished cardigan. Not convinced it will stand up to the abuse it is liable to suffer, but it is lovely and warm.

I covered the buttons with the mice fabric and the mice fitted pretty well into the button front.

So - S is getting plenty of wear and it has kept her cosy in these cold cold days.



Secondly, Santa came to our house and he was able to stuff lots into our new stockings! Lovely wee project and I used this great tutorial using this fabric.

Few other wee projects which I will blog about at some stage. Not sure whats next on the list here!

FabricYard @ Hope & Gloria

I'm very excited to be working with Hope & Gloria. Hope & Gloria is a non-profit fashion / beauty / homeware emporium in Coleraine which opened within the last year. The ladies involved are really very clever. I implore you to take a bit of time to look at what they do and if you live in the vicinity, it is definitely worth a visit.

They have recently opened a sewing room (called The Attic) where they run classes in both sewing and crochet and have kindly let me show my samples. You can view FabricYard samples and buy them from the Hope & Gloria store.

They created new window displays this week to promote The Attic and I just love what they have done with my fabrics. Clever, clever, clever. Thats all I can say.

You can find both Hope & Gloria and The Attic on Facebook

Phone Cover

Happy birthday to my Dad who is 75 today!

I got him a very boring boot liner for his car, and last night I made him a phone cover. I never seen the point in phone covers, they are a bit fiddly for my liking. I just like to lift my phone when it rings and answer it! But my Dad does use a wee dust cover bag with a drawstring for his when its in his pocket so I thought he might give this new one a go.

I checked out a couple of tutorials online but it was 10o'c at night and they made my head hurt a little so I took the general jist and gave it a whirl.

Ta Daa! Here is the finished item

I had a few problems making it. The seams are a bit bulky. I used a fleece on the inside and I'm sure I could have avoided the bulky seams but haven't worked out how yet! I used the embroidery option on my Janome for the tab and embroidered onto herringbone tape. Also, the velcro on the inside is a little wonky but at that stage I couldn't go through unpicking the whole thing to sort it out!

In fact, looking at the photo here it is embarrassingly wonky! Ah well. I fully intend to make him a new one at some stage which will be better.

I used the Alexander Henry Spotted Owls in Smoke from the shop. Its very hard to pick out a  'Dad' fabric but I think this works ok. 

Here are a few good tutorials that might be useful if you decide to make one yourself. If I can rework this one well enough I'll maybe try and do a tutorial for it myself. 

http://fionamarie.typepad.com/fiona_maries_daily_thread/2012/08/cell-phone-cover.html

http://duringquiettime.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/iphone-pouch-tutorial.html

Hopefully his phone will fit, as I didn't actually measure it.... 

Lucy Loves Ya Giveaway

Today LucyLovesYa and FabricYard have teamed up for a giveaway.
Follow this link to Lucy's blog for details on how to enter for a chance to win this tidy little bundle

Theres Alexander Henry (Wranglers, Ghastlie Gallery, African Butterfly and Buddha), Kokka (Mushrooms, Owls on Trees, Green Apple, Red Deer and Little red riding hood) and a FQ of Michael Miller's Dandy Damask thrown in for good measure. Theres also a set of self cover buttons including instructions and a tool to make your own buttons in whatever fabric you fancy!

Lucy has a great blog with all kinds of makery and interesting interviews that is definitely worth a little looksy. Good luck!

Bamboo handle handbag

The girls are at Grannys. I'm having a quiet afternoon, called into the bakery for a piece of carrot cake, made a cup of tea and put on my new cd. City & Colour - Bring me your love. Its not a new cd to them, as in it came out in 2008 but came across this song on youtube and got the cd for £3 on amazon. Thats just me, I'm years behind everyone else when it comes to music.

I found another photo of a 'make' and thought I would post it so you can see I make things other than girls dresses! I made this a while back using a pattern from MollieMakes Magazine. It was quick and easy, and has really managed to last the pace in this house (its current use is for the girls irish dancing shoes).

It uses Melody Miller's 'Happy Kitchen Mint' from her original Ruby Star Rising range. I'm now sold out of this (although I think I have a small cut lurking somewhere, I'm a little bit reluctant to let go of it though if truth be known.) The handles were some that my Mum had got free in a magazine, they are 'D' shaped. This was obviously before I started stocking them in the shop...... Circular handles would have worked better but these are fine.

Here is a tutorial from 'Little Birdie Secrets' blog which can use up any bamboo handles you might have floating about the place.

Oh - and speaking of Melody Miller's Happy Kitchen Mint, I splashed out on this a while back. A gelaskin for my laptop. I know Melody has some new designs up on the gelaskin website now if anyone fancies having a looksie at them!

John Lewis Mini Sewing Machine

Another blog post! Wow thats 3 in 3 days - I'm going crazy here

Came across this photo - its the John Lewis sewing machine my 6year old got for her birthday in September. Its a great job. We customised it for her as she couldn't decide between the lovely colours available at John Lewis or the Hello Kitty one at SewingMachines.co.uk so in the end we got the pink from John Lewis and added some stickers ourselves.

She is getting good fun out of it, it seems fairly safe although at the minute she is sewing whilst on my knee. I bought a finger guard from ebay and attached it but I think it probably doesn't need it anyway as the needle area is well protected by the foot. Great wee machine for the price in my opinion. Only thing missing is a light, but I have a angle lamp which can compensate.