As promised, we have the winner of my "Guiltless Sewing in Order to Avoid doing my Taxes" Giveaway...

...and the winner is...

...Tara of Aquamarine Art! The pouch will wend it's way to you asap.

Thank you all for entering. I really appreciate all your comments of support. It really does mean a lot and here's to happier times x

I started designing a new tote last night with the wool felt I picked up form Fabworks that I'm rather pleased with. I haven't worked with this wool felt before and it is a joy. It obviously doesn't fray like cotton fabric, so just a cut and an overlapping sew and it's sorted.

Since I couldn't decide which of the delectable felts that I bought to use, I went for using all 3 - 2 shades of grey and a teal.

I like that there is unity with the teal on both sides, but with the 2 shades of grey making it less perfectly matching.

I lined the tote with my favourite stripy linen and made coordinating handles with it too.

Some sashiko stitching to finish it off and we have a useful seasonal tote. This one is in the shop now and I'm hoping to get to Fabworks this week to get different coloured felt, so if you have any requests give me a shout...

I am delighted to report that taxes are all done and dusted...until next year. I can't believe I say the same thing every year about being organised and every year the same happens. To think I could actually do them 8 months earlier never seems to compute.

But then where's the fun in that?

As a result of feeling a massive weight of relief, I've taken today off and am treating myself to doing a few projects that have been on the wish list for quite some time.

This first one - Bunny Pencil Case from Zakka Sewing - has been on the list since I bought the book for my birthday last March and fell in love with it then. It's been on Ruby's wish list too and since today she was reluctantly piled off to school whilst the boys lazied in bed, as it's Entrance Exam Day at their school, so closed for pupils, I thought it was only fair she comes home to a little special treat.

This was a lovely project to do. Firstly, working in linen is so pleasurable. It is soft to the touch, but holds its shape well. I also love the utilitarian look and feel of linen.

Whilst the project was classed as a 3 - challenging - the most challenging thing I found about it was having enough hands to pull in the bunny tail! I think if you are adept at zippers, then this really isn't too tricky a project.

The only other challenge I found was hand drawing out the template, as I don't have a photocopier to enlarge the patterns 200%, hence a rather 'unique' looking bunny...

I'm so pleased to have found time to start embarking on some projects that I've been wanting to do for a while now and delving back into this gorgeous book has inspired me in several ideas to use that lovely wool I picked up a couple of weeks ago.

Watch this space...;-)

Guess what? I started my tax today!

I have had an entire day of finding, sorting and collating receipts, invoices, bank statements, bills etc etc and even though I'm not quite finished I feel giddy with excitement with the thought that it is almost over.

I'm so excited about what I'm going to do next week without this hanging over me.

And also, I have not done an iota of sewing today. And there's a certain someone out there (you know who you are...!) who couldn't quite believe that this was going to be possible. But it was. I did it. Not out of choice, I hasten to add. More out of necessary concentration and focus.

Maybe I got it out of my system yesterday by allowing myself to slowly recuperate and not put pressure on myself by insisting I start my taxes yesterday. Maybe when push comes to shove, I am actually quite capable of focussing and prioritising.

Who'd have thought...

I did however sneak in a little more sewing last night before the dawn broke on my new found commitment to the cause. Having given away the pencil pouch that was sewn with the intention of being mine, I realised that if this one wasn't mine, then I'd better make one that was.

So here, we have Patchwork Pencil pouch Number 2...and sorry folks...this one is mine ;-)

Thank you so much for all your lovely well-wishes you left yesterday. It really does mean a lot...thank you, thank you, thank you xx

Question: What do you do when you are supposed to be...

a) doing your tax forms? and

b) doing lesson plans for Maths classes?

Answer: Sew, of course!

Having been on rather a zipper pouch roll of late (what, you hadn't noticed?) I was really in the mood for making one for me for a pencil case. As I was saying earlier, I have far more pressing things than make myself a new pencil case, but due to the rather emotional week we've had, I couldn't focus on anything today. So in order for the day to not be a complete wash-out I figured I may as well sew.

For those of you that follow me on Twitter, you'll know that Matthew's Nan passed away late Saturday night, after fighting a losing battle this last week. It's been an exhausting week emotionally and physically, but at least now she is at peace. At 98 it's inevitable that your days are numbered, but when the time comes, it doesn't matter how old, it is still the loss of a loved one.

Hence the lack of desire or energy today to do anything but sew. But in order for me not to feel totally guilty about this, I've decided to make this a giveaway and thank you all for all your comments and support of my blog. I don't always manage to reply to your comments, but I love reading them and in my mind I have replied!

So as a proper thank you I'm giving away this zipper pouch and it will be filled with a whole host of surprise goodies too ;-)

To enter all you have to do is be a follower of my blog and leave a comment to say hi...easy as that!

I'll be making the draw AFTER I have registered my tax next Monday...there, if that's not driving me into action, I'm not sure what is.

Thanks again for following and being there x

Declaring more from the holiday buying fabric stash...

Last night I made some Wash-bags with waterproof lining. The linings were delivery number 43 in the buying stakes, bought from Dreams Come True.

I'm waiting on delivery number 44 for some more linings for more designs I have planned...

They are available right here, here and here.

A while ago now the lovely ladies at Saints and Pinners sent me a pack of the Warm & Natural Batting they are now stocking. I love this batting and have been using it for a while now and was delighted when Jo and Fran started to stock it. If you haven't come across this before you really should head right over to their shop and grab some.

It is exactly what it says on the label - Warm and Natural.

It's not a heavy batting which, in my eyes, makes it ideal for an array of projects, from quilting to oven mitts to wall art to table mats. It is warm and cosy enough to be used for throws and padded enough for those items that need a little cushioning, without it being overly weighty.

I've been itching to use it for a project but with everything else going on have only just managed to do so.

I'm off to London next week and was in need of a protective case for my Macbook and decided that this batting would work perfectly.

I had a little bit of time this morning (actually I MADE a bit of time this morning, otherwise there wouldn't be another opportunity before my trip) so I got started.

I love whipping something up for myself, partly because it hardly ever happens and partly because it's a good excuse to rummage through my fabrics.

Initial rummage got me to select the above blues and reds and whilst I really love them, they were stronger than I wanted for this particular item. I have however placed them to one side to make a cushion for my studio.

Second rummage gave me more of a look I was after. No great surprises in this selection I think you'll agree - obligatory Social Climber, Kei Grey Dots, a little hand printed pieces, some linen, along with several other faves. Maybe I'm getting boring or maybe I know what works for me.

After I'd pieced together the patchwork front, I quilted this with a layer of the batting and stitched across all the squares. I then stitched a piece of batting in place with the back piece. All super quick and easy. Super cute spotty lining and handles in place, oh and the addition of my favourite vintage braiding and less than an hour later I'm all set and ready to hit The Big Smoke.

The batting is absolutely perfect for this project. The tote has protection without me feeling I'm lugging some weighty, bulky accessory around.

I even managed to keep to my resolution with this project, as not only did I use some of my all time favourites, but incorporated some of the newer stash, the striped linen and the black speckle, which has just arrived from Cottonpatch. I think both of these are destined to be classed as all time favourites too.