If you wandered into my studio it would be fair for you to think I had been ransacked and invaded by the most violent of intruders. Unfortunately the only intruder around here is me.

I have to admit I have a very messy approach to my creativity. The pile you see below is off-cuts from projects. As I cut and sew I discard the pieces that are too big to be thrown, yet too small to be refolded and put back away.

There's a smaller pile that sits on my desk. These days, with my love of log cabins, this pile is full of strips. There is something quite therapeutic about this little pile. And they have obviously been inspiring me somewhat, because having stared at them for a few days, I realised they were the answer to some much needed wall art for our new bedroom.

I've never decorated in these colours before, so any art we previously had up somehow doesn't look great in this room. Not that a room has to look clinically coordinated. But you wouldn't want to see anything too clashing would you?

So I set to work with my precious off-cuts and in a very short time later had a new piece of art for the room. The question now is, do I put it on the wallpaper wall or bring it over to the other side of the room, on the grey?

I'm leaning towards the grey...I think...

That's impressive isn't it? Only last night I was tweeting about how I needed a pattern for a Flexi Frame Purse and would you now look?

I won't tell you that I have had the afore-mentioned Flexi Frames for almost a year and been wanting to make one ever since...

Moving on...

With the help of my lovely Twitter friends last night, guiding me to all sorts of wonderful patterns, I eventually settled on this one by Pink Penguin.

I know. Mine looks nothing like Pink Penguin's gorgeous Puffy Pouch. Whilst I love that one and in time will make that too, I really wanted something simpler and smaller for all my cards and lose change.

Over the years I have used all sorts of different purses and wallets and have found I prefer something small and compact. I used to transfer all my bits into something smaller if I downsized my handbag for an evening and found I would never have the right things with me later as a consequence of not transferring them back.

This size purse works for me. Easy to move from bag to bag. And after all, how much room does a credit card take?

Not only was it the first day back to work after school hols today, but the first day back to work with no major event looming.

Renovations completed (bar the searching for finishing touches), Bar Mitzvah been and gone. All that leaves is time to focus on work.

Consequently I was able to finish what I started yesterday and now Manolo is off to his new home, where I hope he'll be enthusiastically received.

By the way, did you guess the colour theme?? Manolo's Mum is Argentinian, so a light blue and white colour-ways, with a hint of black was requested ;-)

Personalised commissioned cushions are now available in my Etsy store.

I am very excited to be getting back to sewing projects.

I have a commission for a log cabin cushion for a new baby. A friend that was around over the BM weekend saw the ones I had done and asked if I would do one for her new nephew.

Obviously I am honoured to do so and was delighted that she loved them so much.

And so I set to work. One of my favourite parts of making the log cabins is picking out all the fabrics. She gave me the colour-ways she wanted...light blue and white with a touch of black. (Any ideas why??) I flicked through my piles of fabrics and made my selections.

It really wasn't very long later when it was all pieced together and quilted ready for the cushion back to be sewn in (I'm thinking linen - obviously...). The white strips on the picture above here, are ready and waiting for the name and date of birth to be embroidered on.

It's such a joy to be getting back to some sewing...and equally so to be doing more of my favourite new found pieces. I'm quite wondering if the novelty will ever wear off.

Time to get back to a bit of crafting...

I ordered some fab screen-printed fabric panels from the lovely and talented Kayanna of June Craft and what good timing for it to arrive this week, when I had time to luxuriate in new fabrics.

I haven't quite decided what I'll be doing with them yet. I've been too busy holding and stroking them. Besides you can't rush a good thing.

I'm thinking they'll work really beautifully in my new found love of Log Cabin pieces. I've just been commissioned to do a couple of cushions, but since they are both for boys, I don't think I'll use any on them. If anyone orders a girl one, they'll be lucky enough to get a little snippet of these in it.

Kayanna includes an extensive ideas sheet with each panel. One such idea is to simply frame the entire piece, maybe doing a little embroidery on them to enhance the patterns. I'm liking this idea ALOT.

I also ordered this gorgeous Long Dog Kit, which comes complete with a beautiful backing fabric and easy make up instructions. Kayanna and I are planning a little something to make thiskit available on Blueberry park, for all you British customers out there, so watch this space ;-)

Ooh, it feels good to be back to my fabric -based life...

We survived!

We made it through the weekend!

And what a weekend it was. Seriously, THE best.

At the moment I just have a few photos of the party (translate that to over 1000 on-line if you're interested!), but I will bore you with the ceremony and other mini party when I get those.

Sam did AMAZING in Synagogue. It was one of those unbelievable jaw-dropping tear-jerking proud moments a parent feels once or twice in their lifetime. He had to sing a portion of the Torah and all the prayers with it. All in Hebrew and all front of over 300 people.

Another overwhelming moment of the entire weekend, was to be surrounded by so many of our amazing family and friends. And the efforts they all made to be with us. Some coming without their families from Israel. Others cutting their holiday short to be with us (REALLY appreciate that, Manda x) Others only able to be with us for part of it, but knowing how much it would mean to us, so did it anyway (seriously, Cari and Nicky, you guys coming up for Saturday was beyond the call of friendship). And EVERYONE for being so enthusiastic and playing their part in making it such an amazing weekend.

Mum had a smile a mile long all weekend and the little girls never stopped dancing.

A truly special weekend in so many ways that I can not even begin to describe. It's all over now. But the memories will last forever.

Having been enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend and sitting on the deck more than of late, I realised that the covers to our chairs were in serious need of replacement...and quickly...we have guests, lots of them, coming at the weekend and as you can see, these really wouldn't do.

We have a To Do list longer than the longest thing on the longest day in preparation for this weekend. I'm knee deep in pompom and paper lantern making, as you well know, so you'd think way down on the agenda would be recovering the deck chairs.

Apparently not.

A swift run up to the studio to see what suitable fabric I had transpired in recovering in this lovely fabric. Although not long enough later (5 mins? maybe 10) and the little bottom in the house had already torn it. Apparently it wasn't strong enough.

Many frantic tweets later trying to source fabric that I could get in time to make some more suitable covers in time for the weekend, a light-bulb moment occurred. We bought the chairs from Habitat. Habitat do replacement covers. I could be there and back within an hour.

And I was. With 2 sunshine yellow and 2 smart charcoal grey covers. Thank heavens for a bit of sense and quitting whilst I was behind.