I wasn't quite expecting to get Jack and Jacketta done quite so swiftly. I honestly thought that I would be making them way past midnight the day before they needed to go.

Even when I started to choose and cut the fabrics on Sunday evening while we were all sitting watching X Factor, I assumed the pile of cut pieces would sit on the shelves for a few more weeks.

I should know really that I am the most impatient person on the planet when it comes to a project waiting to be completed. I can not switch off from knowing it is there. Strangely, I don't have the same compulsion with a pile of ironing...

I should also know that I get rather absorbed when doing something for the first time. The excitement of the challenge, along with wondering whether I will be able to do it is something I can't switch off from when trying something new.

My creative journey is on the whole an organic one. Lots of trial and error. Plenty of making it up as I go along. And certainly a distinct lack of formality of following a pattern or anything of the like. I could never have had the confidence to tackle something like this a couple of years ago. But I am pretty confident with knowing my way around my machine, fabrics, the lingo, so I didn't feel too daunted by the prospect. I did however wonder whether they would come out as they should, or even half-way rabbit-like.

And since I've never ventured into the world of making clothes either, I did wonder whether they were going to come out right too. Needless to say, I have now started yet another obsession and am making shorts and skirts for all of Ruby's teddies!

So when they turned out like this, I was more than just a teensy bit delighted and am now so excited to give them to my niece and nephew that I'm actually wondering how I will manage to wait until Chanukah. I'm just only too pleased that Chanukah this year starts December 1!

It's been yet another mad and crazy week. Madder and crazier than ever I might add. Not only has work been testing the boundaries of possibilities, but it seems that when life is so manic, there are a shed load of other things to juggle too.

This week was one of those weeks. Parents' evenings every evening this week, along with a Prize Giving Evening for Sam and then family birthdays galore. This meant whipping up neccessary presents, oh and other members of the family quickly ringing to ask if I could just pop something in the post for the afore-mentioned people's bithdays.

It's really lovely that everyone comes to me for gifts. But it would be a whole lot better if they could do it sooner than the night before!

One relative's birthday is today. My lovely sister-in-law Ruth. Last time we were down at theirs she mentioned that she would love me to make her a Tea Cosy. Obviously I never got around to making it any sooner, so a perfect idea for a birthday. At least I knew I'd be giving her something she wanted!

Ruth and Dan have just redone their kitchen...in my favourite shade of Duck Egg Blue too. So making an accessory for this scheme was an absolute pleasure. And certainly not a problem in terms of having the right colour fabrics in my stash ;-)

I had recently bought these Denyse Schmidt fabrics from Kate, and knew instantly that they were going to work for this project. I'm really pleased with the outcome and delighted to report back that Ruth is too.

I think this may be the beginning of a new range too...

I'd like to think that this week life was going to give me a bit of a break. But it's not looking that way. matthew is away for most of it, which means all falls on me. And it's 2 nephews' birthdays at the end of the week. I'm pretty sure though that I won't be russtling up anything for the 15 year old...too cool for handmade...

I love delivery day at Blueberry Park.

The excitement of having found new products that I think my customers will love gets intensified when I have in my hands these wonderful items that artists around the UK have so cleverly made.

This latest bunch of finds are no exception. Ros and Ed, the talents behind Stabo are a couple who make fab and funky accessories from the softest by-product leather. They are very keen on producing all their products as ethically and environmentally friendly as possible. Just what I love...beauty, practicality and eco-friendly-ness .

The leather they use is a by-product from the meat industry and much better for the environment than many synthetic products.

I love the fact that Ros and Ed's studio in Cambridgeshire has the thickest insulation and is heated by a wood-burning stove.

I personally feel that sometimes a compromise is made with style in the efforts to make things as ethically as possible, but this is not the case with these at all. Stabo create the funkiest accessories for men and women that I have seen in a long time.

I'm hesitant to say which is my favourite accessory (although I am partial to the iphone case) or which is my favourite design (scooter maybe?). I do think Ros and Ed have created a fantastic range that I think (hope) will be very popular with Blueberry Park shoppers.

How gorgeous are these little guys? Completely irresistible I'd say.

After a heads up from Kate about how she's got her Christmas gift making under way, thanks to the fab patterns from Fiona, I decided this couple of rabbits would be the perfect gift for my little niece and nephew.

I am DETERMINED to get them done in time.

So, having purchased the patterns, off I popped to Saints & Pinners to get some fabric essentials, including Cloud 9s white flannel. This was typically the only colour I didn't pick up in my selection last week.

Whilst I was there I threw a few extras into the basket. Well, it's illegal to not purchase more than you need. Isn't it?

I'm really pleased with these 2 Darla Ditty pieces that were in the sale. They'll work great for my kits and I always like to pick up nice fabric for the kits. (See, thoughtful after all)

And I just love this Joel Dewberry's Herringbone. It's so fresh and striking. I'm thinking it will work super well as the skirt for the girl. (See, so not indulgent...pure necessity)

So, there, I've laid it on the line. I am making these for my niece and nephew. For this Christmas. That's 2010. So you are well in your rights to hassle me about the progress. In fact, please do, I think I might need it.

Here's the finished cot quilt that I was doing this week to take to one of my stockists. I'm really pleased with how it turned out and is the beginning of a new range for them.

I backed it in Ikea's House fabric (I'm sure it's not called that. In fact I'm positive it isn't...it doesn't sound very Swedish does it?) which I love. I love the childlike bold illustration. All in all I am pleased how it turned out.

But it got me thinking...What's your view on binding?

My quilting journey is very much a learn as I go along adventure, seeing what works for me and what I like. I'm pretty much in a place where the quilt top is a style that suits me...little fuss and letting beautiful fabrics do the talking.

But when it comes to binding I'm a little bit stumped. My initial reaction to it is that it is an added detail that is more fuss than I am generally drawn to.

But like everything, my thoughts are changing as my journey continues. I still like the simplicity of a quilt without binding. Take this gorgeous quilt by Manda. Again the beauty is in the fabrics and to me it is complete without binding. In fact a binding would detract from the beauty of it. Make it too perfect. Is it the simplicity of a design that doesn't need a frame to hold it all together?

But that's not the case here in Ashley's stunning quilt. Still, the use of a simple style and stunning fabrics, but all framed with a coordinating binding that pulls it all together. Would it work as well without a binding? Is it the large size that forces it to need holding together?

Is it a busier design that requires a binding? Would it float around aimlessly without the binding to hold it all together. I can't imagine Kate's beautifully worked piece without the binding.

So is it the size? Design? Complexity? Or am I just too much of a shirking, corner cutting quilting novice to think that no binding is ever right?

What's your view on binding?

I had a little splash out on fabric this week. Ok, not so little. But not so flighty either. Ever since Cloud 9's gorgeous flannels came out, I've been lusting after them. And this week with needing to design some new cot quilts, I knew this range was going to be the basis of it.

So a quick stop off at one of my favourite UK online fabric stores and 24 hours later here it is.

And boy was it worth waiting for. It's gorgeous! The designs are what you would expect from the talent behind the label that is Michelle. This children's range is quirky, yet cute, yet humerous. A range that appeals as much to adults as it does to children.

As for the soft flannel finish...scrumptious. I'm not normally one for painstaking operations and when the pre-washing instructions came with the fabric, I took one look at them and thought grrr, this is too high maintenance for me.

But, I slowed down and decided that this little pile was worth looking after and nurturing. And I'm so glad I did. Into the wash and off to the drier it went and I'm so glad it did.

This softened up the flannel no end and if it wasn't perfect enough before, it certainly was more than perfect after this process. This has taught me an important lesson, a little bit like I have learnt from quilting. Every step is important. Every step is part of the process and should be enjoyed as just that.

I cannot wait to cut into this pile. But again, I'm going to take my time. No rushing, but plenty of thinking and planning and enjoying every step and snip.

I'm popping into Harewood House tomorrow to see how my collection with them has gone down. It must have gone down pretty well as I've been asked to bring some other pieces in for them to see.

I haven't actually seen it all in situ yet, so I'm very excited. Quite a few people have let me know they've seen it. One of the lovely things about having a stockist on the doorstep is friends and family stumbling across my work in a real live shop. I don't about you, but I'm always hesitant telling people about my things, but when they catch sight of it themselves, it gives a certain satisfaction.

One thing I've been asked to bring along is some cot quilts. Typically I haven't any in at the mo, so it's Operation Sewing. Not that I need to be asked twice. I love making quilts. All that expanse of fabric and the softness you can create when it's all quilted together, makes me wish I could just quilt all day every day.

And then of course there's my little penchant to adding some hand embroidery onto the requisite linen I have to use. All in all, so not a chore. So not what I call work.

I'm awaiting some of this lovely fabric that I want to design the range around. It comes in 2 fab colourways ~ pinks and tealy blue. I've been dying to get my hands on some of this gorgeous flannel and to make winter quilts with it seems the perfect excuse. Unfortunately I won't be able to make the quilts up in time with this, but am hopeful that it will at least arrive in time and I'll be able to take a little mood board with me to entice Beck with it's loveliness.