Last Day.

So this is the last day of 2012.

The weather over Christmas has been pretty wet around here, but today determination took over - We will go out for a walk!! Even as we got in the car the heavens opened (who's idea was a walk?)

 

We headed once again to the local country park. Up to the summit to take in the misty lovely view.

 

We managed to stay dry and the wind blew away the cobwebs.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year (and for me a more productive one).

Christmas Camping.

So for the last couple of years my children have built ginger bread houses at Christmas. First we started with Ikeas own ginger bread house. Then last year we made a small village of ginger bread houses (three houses). Sadly on boxing day the village had collapsed!

This year we decided on something smaller, so that we could store it in our cake carrier.

So Christmas camping!!

Some of the sweets and icing didn't make it onto the tents!

 

 

 

 

I'm pleased to report all the tents are still standing!!

Don't Panic!!

So Christmas is nearly upon us. Many jobs over the last week have been rushed (not photographed) or completely abandoned!!

I did complete an important task, I bottled my home made wine. This year I used two shop bought kits.

 

 

I made a couple of drawstring bags for a friend.

 

 

This week I also attended a couple of carol services, a church nativity, tidied the house, purchased panto tickets, bought last minute gifts, tidied the house, wrapped all the presents, posted the scout post, posted my last Christmas cards, had a job interview, visited family, put up the last of the decorations, bought a turkey and all the veg, attended the panto (very good), made ginger biscuits, visited Santa's reindeer's at the local nature reserve, oh and tidied the house (again).

 

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and we will be decorating our 'ginger tent creations!' .

Then off to the carol service.

 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas.

Sarah.

 

Another Christmas Wreath!!

Many weeks ago I found myself at the kitchen sink (nothing new in that) washing leaves, like you do. This was yet another Christmas project. I was a little late collecting the leaves and will definitely be ready next year.

The leaves then went into the Argos spring/summer catalogue between tissue paper! Then you wait with your fingers crossed that no one picks up the catalogue. We also had to eat a cheese cake so we had a circular plastic disc!

Add in some hot glue. . . .

Next year I will collect more leaves to make it bigger. I also thought if you painted it with PVA glue it would be more glossy.

A Pig of a project!!

So some projects take time. Planning, making, more planning, waiting for sunny days and compliant pigs.
So after the initial idea from my Daughter I began knitting. No pattern needed, can you guess what it's going to be?

 

Then we move onto a sunny day, the camera on a tripod, a large cardboard box, one willing assistant, lots of laughing and of course two handsome Guinea Pigs. Mr Bugsey and Mr Sparkle.

 

 

 

 

We took loads of photos of the Boys balancing wearing there Christmas hats, until Mr Sparkle got wise and wouldn't wear it.

 

 

So, with the boys I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Here's hoping it won't be grass for my Christmas lunch!!!

 (refering to my last post, be assured no hot glue was required)

Christmas Wreath

How did I manage in life before my hot glue gun?

Yes I recently bought a hot glue gun and my life has changed forever!! (maybe a little dramatic)

The idea for a simple, understated Christmas Wreath began a few weeks ago. So off we all went to the local Country Park to collect fir cones. I would also need a bucket lid, which my other half got from work.

 

Simple and straight forward. Add a little ribbon and hang. Then wait for the wind to drop so I can take a photo. Oh, take the photo with the gusty wind - Action shot!!

 

 

Bye for now!

 

 

Christmas Projects!

So after the Christmas wall hanging I thought about packing away the sewing until after Christmas. Then I spotted (excuse the pun) some fabric in the shop. I know I shouldn't have gone in, but it had been a stressful Christmas shopping day and calling at Abakhan was my reward!!

Just enough fabric for some festive cushion covers. Very simple and quick to make (well quickish!!)

 

Sometimes I over think my projects, then never even make them. Not this time!!!

 

If you need help - robin/small bird  -   snowman   -  Christmas sock  -  Christmas tree.
Well that's another thing finished and crossed off my (ever growing) list.

 

The Christmas Tree is up!

Well not just yet, not the real one anyway. But my new wall hanging is up.

I used my fabric from last weeks outing and some from my small stash. The idea was from Lululollylegs. The idea looks very effective and pretty simple to achieve. Maybe it was just down to my ability, but I found it pretty hard.

• I should have taken more care when making the circles, because when ironed they seamed to have some flat sides.
• Also, although it was fast using the sewing machine to attach the circles, I did struggle sewing 'round' (maybe I should stick to straight lines !!)
•  And lastly my main white fabric was only just big enough, so it got pretty stressful when positioning the lower circle because I was close to the edge.

Christmas Wall Hanging

Finished size 460mm x 620mm

 

Finished !!

Finally I have a finished project to show you.

 

Table Runner

 Finished size 870mm x 310mm

 

(Sadly not the best light to take photos.)

A Grand Day Out!

So yesterday I set off to Harrogate for my Grand Day Out. I dropped my son off at school (but kept my daughter off!!). We packed some lunch and loaded the car up with a gaggle of Girls and off we went. Its a bit of a trek to Harrogate but with lots of chatter, we soon arrived.

Boy was it busy. This will be maybe our fourth annual trip to The Knitting and Stitching Show and we are never disappointed. I took my camera but I'm sorry to say I took very few photos. Its so busy and selfishly I just want to look round (not repeatedly take my camera out of the bag, wait for the crowd to part, take a photo, put camera back in bag!!)

 

 This photo was taken in the Grand Hall (I think its called that) where we stopped for some lunch.

 

My Daughter has been watching the new Kirstie Allsopp series, so we had beautifully folded napkins to go with our lunch!

So, do you want to see what I got, well.....

 

 

Some lovely fabric from Pin It and Stitch (for some projects I am currently storing in my head!!)

 

 

And a bit more fabric (that I couldn't resist!!) from Favourite Fabrics.

 

This Little Bunny just had to come home with us, I really want to make it but my Daughter said its for her. (I might help!!)

The last thing I came home with was a lovely (surprise) gift off my Mum. During a recent visit to Lancaster I admired a little purse in Arteria, which she went back and bought for me on another visit!!.

 

Isn't it cute! Surprisingly I still have some cash left over from yesterday, so I'm off to the local quilting shop to get the fabric I need to finish (yes I did say finish) my table runner. Watch this space!!

 

A little bit of cutting.

So lets have a quick peep at 'what's on my sewing table' (yes, it also doubles as the dining table!!)

 

  

 

More photos to follow!!
Maybe when it's finished!!!

Mittens for kittens (for me actually)

So following on from my last post I would love to show you my table runner. Sadly no, I didn't start it. But I did purchase some grey wool and knit myself some mittens!!!!

The idea was for some plain mittens with some pink spots. After a couple of hours on ravelry I had two patterns which I would adapt as I went along. (Bad idea for a novice knitter)

The first cuff I attempted three times, having to pull back in between.

The second cuff went well until I realise I was on the bigger needles (required for the main body of the mitten) so I had to pull that back. I really hate knitting two because they have to be the same!!

I won't show you the other side, but with all the loopy wool I thought I better have a lining. I would have used some fleece but I don't have grey, so I knit a liner. (you can just see it under the mitten)

So over to my glamorous assistant (and a gloomy kitchen, well it was late when I finished!!)

So today I will try out my new mittens on the school run. If I'm feeling fun I will have the patterned side showing or if I feel the Monday blues I will have the plain side showing.

I better go (no point going on the school run if the children are still in bed!!)

What to do????

Do you have projects that never get off the ground, ideas that never get out of your head, I do!! Some projects get to the stage of fabric buying but never progress any further. This week one 'head project' reached a new level, I bought a whole new selection of fabric even though I had already got some.

The project was a simple table runner for our table. (I won't go into the table saga - we have an oval table but I want a rectangular table!!!!)

So the first lot of fabric I bought many months ago, I took samples of wallpaper so that I could match the colours.

Then the debate, what to do. I had a look on the internet, then in some books, but still I wasn't sure.
So on Monday I bought some more fabric!!!

Still I have no ideas and now I have lots of christmas project in my head!!

So heres the fabric against the wallpaper. The photos dont do them justice, partly due to the light and the camera operator (me). Has anyone got any ideas?

p.s. I've started to think about knitting myself some more gloves (with spots on).
p.s. I really need to stop starting projects that I can't finish!!
p.s I need to look at fabric WITHOUT spots!!!

Fabric, Paper, Card !

Today its just a quick post. We are supposed to be going to Barton Grange to see the Christmas decorations. We did all get in the car on Monday to go, but the car wouldn't start. Fingers crossed for today!!

This morning has been busy, the school holidays always involves starting things (games, drawing, hama beads, etc) but the clearing away seems to get forgotten.

I've also been making a mess this morning.

I've made a special Birthday card for someone in my family.

I really enjoyed the process of using fabric, paper and card. The tension on the sewing machine probably needed fine tuning but the overall card I think looks good.

 

P.S. If you are reading this and are related to me please note: look away if your birthday is this week or get ready, because you'll probably get a similar card when your birthday comes around!!!

Pumpkin update!!

Just a quick update. Yesterday I said I would try to photograph our pumpkin creations and here they are.

 

This is a 'Girl Baby Vampire'

 

This is the 'Android Robot'

 

The happy couple!!

 

Bye for now. Sarah.

Blowing away the cobwebs.

So schools finished for half term. Hallelujah!!

The first day of the holidays and its sunny (pretty cold but never mind) so we togged up with hats & gloves and away we go. We headed to a local country park.

So can you see him, ooh no, where can he be!!!

The children love the freedom up here. The mud, the trees, throwing fir cones, hiding, running ahead, we even had ice to crack.

 

And then finally we reach the top of the hill. We are rewarded by beautiful views. With the trough of bowland in one direction and the coast of Blackpool right up to the lake district in the other.

Back to the car and all the chatter is of PUMPKINS. When we got back, out came the Halloween decorations and a bit of pumpkin carving.

This year I reluctantly handed my Daughter the knife!! she produced a great pumpkin and still has ten fingers.

 

 

My little boy always has great pumpkin ideas for Me to carve!! This year he wanted the Android logo (don't worry if you don't know what I'm talking about, I had to google it!!). He was pleased with the results so I will probably get the job next year!!

 

The children have just got back from swimming, so the quiet is over.

Hopefully the pumpkins will have there photos taken tomorrow, bye for now.