Malvern Spring Quilt Show

I had such a lovely time on Sunday last at the Malvern Spring Quilt Show (Malvern Showground). It was a beautiful sunny day and I got there just before the doors opened, so managed to spend at least the first few minutes without being pushed and shoved – it’s amazing how older respectable looking ladies can dig with their elbows and stand firm, refusing to allow you to just squeeze in next to them!!! Grrr

It was fine though, I had a great day browsing around many well known fabric shops, including my favourite, ‘White Cottage Country Crafts’ – it’s relatively local to me and I feel very lucky, because I really love Jackie’s colour palette, it’s so meee!! Whenever I go there, I just want to go around stroking fabric LOL. 

Anyway, you don’t want to listen to me waxing lyrical, you want to see what I bought don’t you!!

This is everything together, including cotton fabric, wools and gorgeous dupion silk

'Primitive Gatherings' Wool Flannel …… yum! 

This luverrrley bundle of fabrics from the White Cottage Country Crafts, with a Country bag pattern

And some other bits & pieces!

Some several hours later, I strolled back out into the sunshine, bought myself a spot of lunch (including cake – well why not!) and sat and enjoyed the beautiful view of the Malvern Hills - sorry, I should have taken a piccie or two, but was well chilled out by then. And so with legs dropping off and a nearly empty purse, I made my way home.

A lovely day!

Pressies for me!!

Just look what was waiting for me when I arrived home from work the other day 

………. pressies from my luvurley friend Wendy of The Quiet Room blog - is there any better kind of parcel to greet you when you just know it will be full of wonderful things - and so it was!!

There are quite a few photos, SOOOOO generous was Wendy! 

Now, we all know how long cross-stitch takes don’t we, and there was not only this sweet 1816 pincushion, with mother of pearl buttons & pins, but

 ……….. wait until you see this!! A cross-stitch pocket, which is just amazing! – there is so much work in it

and inside - scissors and a little charm. 

AND as if that wasn't enough, inside the pocket was all this!!! - everything  to make a gorgeous Easter pillow, with the cutest chart/pattern, 28-count linen ........ the chart suggests 40-count, but these old eyes can't do any smaller than 28-count, so this is perfect. And then all of the flosses, and not just DMC floss, but Weeks Dye Works and The Gentle Art (beautiful colours) - and even the needles!! So much!!! Wendy understands clearly too that I shall need until next Easter to make it LOL …… or maybe even the one after that!! 

And now my favourite – I loved it when I saw it on Wendy’s blog a little while ago – this gorgeous woolly sunflower cushion – such lovely, neat stitching - I adore it. 

And to top all of that off (Wendy is clearly trying to make me fat LOL!!!) – 3, yes 3 packs of chocolate …… I am the biggest chocoholic in  the world of course (Wendy knows me so well), so this photo is several days old now, because I knew the choccies wouldn't last until the weekend when I could blog about them – so I took it immediately !!!

As I said to Wendy in an email, she is the cleverest, talentedist!!, kindest friend, I’m sure I don’t deserve it, but again Wendy, thank you, thank you SOOOOOO very, very much. I love EVERYTHING.

I'm actually half asleep whilst doing this post, as I've had the loveliest day today at the 'Malvern Spring Quilt Show', but I'm now shattered having walked my legs off! And yes, of course I made a few (!!) purchases ....... but the pictures of my stash can wait until my next post!!

Shazy Swap!

I am so lucky!! Look what I got from Shazy of Country Prims!

Recently in February, Shazy saw this woolly sheep I made for Wendy (Quiet Room blog) and was rather taken with it. Anyway after a bit of to & fro'ing, we decided on a swap. I know Shazy was a bit concerned about making something she thought would suit me, but oh my days, she could not have 'got' me more accurately. Inspired by Veronique of Born to Quilt, she's made this gorgeous Prairie Doll Pin Keep ....... isn't she just fantabulous?

 The detail is so lovely - the scissors, the tape measure ribbon, the acorn pin .............

........... and I just love the base. It's wooden but with a rust paint effect (I need to know how to do this!!!)

I love everything about her and she will adorn my new sewing room (ex-spare bedroom!!) extremely well

And as if that wasn't enough, Shazy also sent these two lovely Wool Charm packs - can't wait to find a use for them!! In the top picture, you can also see a lovely sheepy LHN cross-stitch pattern - flosses already ordered Shazy. Typically, amongst my pot of Crescent Colours flosses, I don't have any of the ones I need, but do not despair - they were ordered last night!! Plus a bag of chocolate eggs - yummy, scrummie - they will wait until Sunday ...... oh yes they will!!

Shazy, you're amazing - thank you so much. I have already emailed to grovel the fact I haven't yet finished my half of the bargain, my excuses being work, work & more work ...... been doing a lot of overtime lately .......... but they will be winging their way to you before long.

Now after seeing this on Simone's blog, I hot-footed it to WH Smith's to purchase myself a copy before they were all sold out! What a lovely magazine - very Shabby Chic - very droolable (no such word of course - I just made that up!!)

This 'Altered Art' is amazing - can't see me doing it though - too clever for me!

and this page - well, I just love this kitchen - very country cottagie (another made up word!) with the rustic beams and black & white flooring - lovely!

Nearly lastly (this is a bit of a longish post for me these days!) is a picture of the two vintage style crates I bought last weekend during a 'girlie' weekend I had with 3 of my cousins in Barmouth (mid-west Wales) - another reason Shazy for me being behind with your pressies!! Aren't they just luverley? The bigger one on the bottom is the colour as bought, but I've decided to wax polish them, as in the smaller top one, which I think makes them even luverlier!! What do you think?

 

and as I've mentioned it, I may as well show you a photo of me with my cousins from last weekend - don't we look a crazy, likely lot? We were quite well behaved though actually - honest!!

Woolly treasures

Well, I've had all sorts of problems with Blogger lately and have finally managed to upload my photos - goodness knows what's been wrong, but it appears to be alright again ....... for now anyway!

 

February was Wendy's birthday month - most of us (apart from the Queen) only get the one day don't we, but Wendy celebrates all month! Who can blame her! Anyway, I thought I'd show you a couple of things I made for her, which have a February Valentine theme. Wendy LOVES wool so what else could I make, but a woolly sheep

 

I loved the little antique brass label I hung around his neck - it's actually a jewellery setting, but I thought added a great touch

I was quite taken with woolly sheep number 1. and ended up making one for myself ...... seeing double!!!!

 

I also made a little cross-stich heart, which I attempted to grunge up, although I wasn't sure whether I'd gone over the top in the end - Wendy very kindly told me she liked it though. That's what friends are for aren't they LOL

So, there it is - better late than never!! I'm trying to work on a new rag doll at the moment ....... and it's very 'trying' I can tell you - perseverance Julia!!

Gustav

Well, I finally have a couple of things to show and I’d better show the more interesting one first!!


BUT, before I get going, I have had the most annoying problems trying to upload the photographs to this post (the first time ever I've encountered problems!) - I tried yesterday and again today and in the end I've only managed to do it by 'copy & pasting', which I know isn't the proper way of doing it, but I have at least managed to get the photographs on to the post! The quality of them though has suffered - has anyone else been experiencing similar problems???

SO, introducing ‘Gustav’, my little woolly bear:

 

Apologies for the colour – the photographs were taken in the evening under electric light, so the colours are bit brighter than true – he’s a bit darker in reality. Gustav is from a pattern designed by Megan Wallace - you can find her on Etsy here. He should be made in real mohair teddy bear fur really, but I don’t have any of that, as I’ve never gotten into proper teddy bear making .......... although I have been thinking about it!! instead I’ve used some lovely mulberry colour 100% wool. I’ve used bits of gorgeous variegated velvet for the innards of his ears and for his hand and foot pads ...... I’ve also tried to grubby him up a bit to make him look a bit older – sorry if it’s not showing, but he looks quite cute in real life – Honest!! He’s even got his own metal name tag around his neck tied on to a piece of lovely yellow chiffon ribbon.

 

Anyway, I hope Gustav was of some interest to you, as sewing project number two is I’m afraid rather boring – on the face of it anyway! To me however, it is REALLY exciting, because it’s the beginnings of me having a dedicated sewing/craft room – YES!!!! Up to now, I’ve always used my dining room, which has been OK, except that whenever I’m entertaining, I have to do a mass clear-up ........ who out there doesn’t know what I’m talking about eh!! And as I seem to be entertaining more often these days, it’s becoming a bit of a nuisance. I live a smallish two-bedroom house and have always been reluctant to give up the spare bedroom over to a craft room, BUT, on the grounds that I sew far more than I have overnight guests, AND because I recently came up with an ideal solution, I’ve decided to go ahead with the conversion.

And the solution??? Well, it’s simply a fold-up guest bed, which folds up into a pouffe the rest of the time - it will live in the corner of my craft room and when I fancy a little sewing break, I can relax on the pouffe and watch TV, which will also be in the room. So ........ after a boringly long story, this is my second make

I bought 3 pieces of very firm foam and plain brown fabric from the market and covered them. I am pleased with it, as I managed to make nice tight covers and the firm foam makes for a very comfortable bed and seat. Eventually, I shall make an appliquéd, quilted cover to go over it to make it look more interesting.

This is the bedroom as it is now.


I need to get rid of the bed (and I think I’ve found a new home for it, which is better than sending it to the tip)! And THEN, bring in a work table and shelving etc. – can’t tell you how excited I’ve been recently anticipating this transformation – I’m very easily pleased you know!!!! so you must forgive me LOL

I hope very soon to be able to show another photo of my new craft room!

Pineberry Lane Pinkeep No. 2

Well, it took me longer than anticipated – I knew it would- but here’s Wool Pinkeep No. 2 from Pineberry Lane and it was a darn sight easier to stitch than the first one on the dark linen!

here’s Pinkeep No. 1 and Pinkeep No. 2 together

 

And speaking of woolly things, look at what I bought from Ebay recently from Old Scotties – beautiful dyed wool, so lovely and soft – it’s gorgeous. The colours in the picture are fairly true to life. Of course, I have no idea what I’m going to use it for. It’ll just be added to the stash for now (as you do!!). Seeing how lovely it is, I'm inclined now to bid on some other colours ....... well it is practically Christmas isn’t it and I ought to buy myself a treat (or three) – nobody else is going to buy it for me anyway. Sounds as though I’ve just justified it to myself doesn’t it LOL

Oh well, back to Christmas present wrapping I suppose ...... it seems never ending!!

Pumpkin Pie

Isn’t it fabulous when you get home from a hard day at work to find an unexpected package waiting for you!!  That’s what was waiting for me today:0) ....... a surprise pressie from my sweet friend Wendy – a bit of woolly love in the form of a Pumpkin Pie Pincushion.

 

Isn’t it lovely? Thank you very much my friend – I love it. Wendy, as we know, is the King (sorry, Queen) of pumpkin making, but such a clever idea to put one in a tin to make it into a Pumpkin Pie. Wendy was being thoughtful in more ways than one too, because she did tease me a bit at the beginning of her letter by telling me she had thought about sending me some Pumpkin Pie (yummy, yes please!), but then decided it would be a bit messy in the post and unkind to my hips too; anyway I prefer the woolly version Wendy, so much better for me (although I’m sure the foodie Pumpkin Pie is scrummy). I love the rusty pin and bell on the top too - a great prim touch.

....... now I’m off to find some pins for my new pin cushion!

Pineberry Lane Pinkeep No. 1

Just a quick post to show off the first of the two Pineberry Lane pinkeeps I'm stitching

it's the first time I've stitched on this dark linen ......... and I have to say, probably the last, as it was incredibly difficult to work on, even in natural daylight - anyone else experienced any problems working light thread on dark linen - the darker thread was easier though. It'll be much easier to stitch on the lighter linen and thankfully that's what the second (larger one) is done on ...... phew!!

Not sure what's with the lippy on the larger of the two black sheep, but that's what the pattern asked for - two red stitches for the mouth!! LOL

I was pleased at the weekend to find a dark grey trim to finish it off, because it looks very similar to the one in the pattern - a pig to sew in though!!

Now to start on pinkeep number 2!!

Copy Cat!

...... that's me!! But as I said to Christine at Preferably Prim, copying (they say) is the greatest form of flattery - that was when I saw her lovely woolly pinkeeps from Pineberry Lane and decided I just had to have them. I asked Christine whether she minded me copying and she very kindly said it was fine; so within minutes, I'd ordered the pattern from Pineberry Lane and downloaded it

 



I've even made a bit of a start on the smaller one - fortunately, although I don't have the exact linen, I have something very close in colour so, waste not, want not!!and here's my 'bit of a start'

cross-stitch is so difficult though under electric light, so I couldn't do any more this evening:0(

Anyway, that's only my first confession of copying!!! because recently, my lovely friend Wendy showed us a beautiful orange velvet pumpkin she'd made, which immediately reminded me that I too have some burnt orange colour velvet - so again, I spoke nicely to Wendy and asked whether she would mind me copying, and again being lovely, she said she didn't mind - she knows anyway I'll never be the pumpkin queen she is - very prolific she is! Soooooo; here's my lovely, touchy, feely orange velvet pumpkin ......... honestly, you just want to keep on stroking it, it feels so luscious and just look at the lustre!

I must admit, it's turned out nice - I used some green wool for the leaves, a cinnamon stick for the stalk and then added a few orange berries for a finishing touch

.... and it now has pride of place amongst Wendy's pumpkins (the ones she made for me a few years ago) and my other autumn bits & bobs

 

Is it worthy Wendy?!!