Hello and Happy Monday to you!

I can't tell you how much I am loving life being calmer and being in control. Don't get me wrong, I still give my fair share of crabby irrational crossness, but generally life is cope-able at the mo.

Just as I say that watch it change...

First weekend for a long time with no visitors, no trips, nothing pressing, leaving me to get started on a commissioned cushion for a new baby.

I really love doing these log cabin cushions. Every one seems to be different. One of the recent ones was a bit too pink for this customer, so I pulled in a bit more green and teal. Log cabins are perfect for adding a little special piece of fabric without hyper-ventilating at the thought of using up precious stash. Just a little row of Lu Summer's Hearts, along with Mikodesign's Matryoshka dolls work a treat. Oh and let's not miss a couple of teal Scruffy Daisy's here and there ;-) I love the pop of colour in the Erin McMorris Lollie fabrics too.

I've just embroidered the centre panel and am finishing off the personalisation, then magic it up into a cushion and we are good to go.

I have a couple more in the queue...let's hope I'm still enthusiastic about them after I'm done.

By the way...quick question...

I'm thinking of adding to my Take Away Kits and making a Log Cabin Cushion Cover Kit. What do you reckon? Is this something you'd like to see? Will possibly be based on my screen printed fabrics, along with coordinating plains. What do you reckon? A goer or a noer? If a goer , what would you particularly like to see in them?

Answers on a postcard please, and you never know, there may be a little something in it for you... ;-)

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Lazy Daisy Glass. The exciting thing about being tagged is finding out that people you didn't know have found you and read you - so thanks Kathryn. The worrying thing is finding 7 interesting things to tell you AND find 7 of you that I follow that haven't been tagged already. So apologies if you have - and apologies if it's not all that interesting :-)


Tagging means sticking to the following 7 rules:


1) Link to your tagger and list all these rules in your blog.

2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs

4) Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog


I was tagged about a week ago (maybe more) and at first my head was spinning with what I was going to tell you. Then I left it to one side and have just come back to it and here are my 7 random things about me!


1) I completed the Leeds Half Marathon in September. Ok, so it's not a full marathon, but it was a personal achievement none-the-less and one I am immensely proud of. I also ran for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre on behalf of my auntie who died this summer after a 5 year battle with cancer. I raised over £2000 which I am even more proud of.

2) Claim to fame - I ball-girled for Martina Navratilova! I went to PE College at Brighton Poly, studying to be a teacher. We were based in Eastbourne and so used to be the ball girls for the pre Wimbledon Tournament at Devonshire Park. We even got to have a play on the beautiful grass.

3) I don't know why but I have always had a thing for Abraham Lincoln! I'm not really a history fan but this period of American history really fascinates me. And at some point I must have seen Gregory Peck in the film 'The Blue and The Grey' and it has stuck. What can I say? Weird!

4) Matryoshkas. I absolutely, completely, utterly LOVE Russian Dolls. I love illustrations of them. I adore them on fabric (hence my kits). Love making them in to cards, keyrings, brooches, magnets. It's an obsession. I can't help it.

5) I know we shouldn't have regrets in life. And generally I don't. But my biggest regret has to be not being able to afford to go skiing. It used to be the biggest love of my life. As I child I was lucky enough to go on endless school trips. As a young adult I was incredibly fortunate to study in Idaho, USA for a while, where we used to have skiing classes every week - EVERY WEEK! Then while I was a teacher I used to lead annual ski trips to Europe. Hard work - but so worth it to be in the mountains and on the slopes. Since being married and having children it is a no go. But one day...

6) Matthew and I took 7 months off after we got married to go travelling round the world. I missed out after Uni, feeling the pressure of having to get out to work, so when this opportunity came we weren't going to let it pass by. Those memories live with me daily.

7) And last, but certainly not least. I am addicted to hand cream. And lip salve! I have to have one of each wherever I am. So they are dotted around in all my bags, coat pockets, drawers, car. It would be awful to be in the wrong place and not have them :-)


Now to the tagging...


1) www.aquamarineart.blogspot.com

2) www.areathriftyone.blogspot.com

3) www.chezsucrechez.blogspot.com

4) www.spans-stitchin.blogspot.com

5) www.vintagepleasure.typepad.com

6) www.lobsterandswan.blogspot.com

7) www.cheekybeaks.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed it ;-) x

Shop Update

I'm not sure how I am managing to get anything done this week because Ruby and Noah are off school AGAIN for 2 days. But for some reason this is being my most productive week for ages - and it's still only Tuesday.


I wonder if it's that age old scenario of working best under pressure. I've loads of deadlines this week and even though I have very little time, it just HAS to get done. So it is! Okay, so the house is a mess, washing stays in the machine for days, but work is looking great.


I'm very aware that Christmas is round the corner and so have been very conscious about getting everything in the shop so all my lovely customers have something to buy. So today I managed to upload the christmas cards on to Blueberry Park as well as these lovely babies. I've been delighted that the delightful Kristen has let me be a stockist for her words-can-not-describe-how-gorgeous-these-beauties-are Matryoshka Making Kits. Go take a look and grab one while they are in stock, because honestly, with them being featured in Sew Hip too, they aren't going to be around for long.


Not only do they make a fantastic gift themselves, but you could be really creative and make some gorgeous christmas presents with them. Brooches, purses filled with dolls, magnets. Just let your imagine get carried away while gently stroking this beautiful fabric. Ok, maybe I'm getting a little bit obsessed now :-)


Also new in the shop is this fun Advent Stocking Calendar Kit. I realised this really had to get listed in the shop so you've all got time to make it before December 1st arrives. I think this will be a really fun thing for a family as a whole to do. How exciting will it be to see whose stocking it is that day? And what a gorgeous heirloom to get out year after year.


So, busy times, busy actions and still loads more exciting things to come. Don't worry...I'll keep you posted.