Another quilt is finished!

Remember this quilt I was making? I started it last January. Well this weekend I have finally finished it. I decided to hand quilt it using #8 perle cotton in pale green. It looks really neat, and although I would be the first to say that the hand quilting is probably not perfect, it's my very first attempt at it and I'm super pleased with the result!


I've sewn on the bindings, and just have to sew on a sleeve to the back so I can hang it on the wall. I'll do that while I watch tv tonight.


Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
Carole

WOO HOO!! GOING TO GREEN DAY CONCERT TOMORROW!!!!

Carole :)))

And a baby is born!

My friend had a wee boy a couple of weeks ago! I wanted to make something for him, I made her first son some wall hangings for his room. However being unemployed, I have to try and use whatever I have in my sewing room.
Some rummaging unearthed these 8 little Beatrix Potter panels. Mmmmm. I had some blue and I had some brown fabric,




And I had quite a bit of this gorgeous flanel left over from another baby quilt I made some time ago for a nephew. It will be practical one side, and cuddly the other!

Just have to put the bindings on now. Hope they like it! I am pleased that I have made this quilt completely from what I had in my sewing room, and I didn't even have to buy batting or backing!

Carole :))

Gorgeous brooches!!

Debbi, Annie, Doreen, Ann and myself have just done a brooch/pin swap, here are the gorgeous brooches I got in the swap!

This bright pink felted one is from Debbi. Love the intense colours! Thanks Debbi!


This one is made by Doreen, and it's so different. It's been made from all sorts of things, like tissues, cardboard, utee, gold wire and gold thread. It's a true work of art. Thanks Doreen, it will go quite nicely on my jacket!


This charming wee flower has been made by Annie, and has been made from silk paper! Very cool! Love the dusty pink colour too, thanks Annie!!

The next one is from Ann in the Netherlands, and it looks gorgeous too, aren't I lucky?

And finally, this is the one I made for everyone. I hope they like it! I made it using as much vintage stuff as I could find.


Happy summer everyone!
Carole :)

It might have been a quiet blog this last week, but....

I decided I better get a few decorations out and up! The xmas tree with all it's sparkly things certainly makes the place look a little more festive.
I also hung my advent calender up. I love the 25 small bags, and if I know we have children visiting I fill I fill the bags with sweets.


A few leftover tree decorations have been put into dishes to spread the cheer a little further!

Hope you're spreading it at your place!! lol

Carole :)

Things I'm getting sick off....

need I say more??

Carole :(

Some new needle keepers....

Four more needle keepers for my Etsy store...

...each one has 8 pockets, so you can keep a selection of packets...

...and each one has a strip of plain tea-dyed calico so that you can use a fabric
marker to write the type of needles in kept in each pocket...

...and some nice batting to hold surplus needles and pins...

...and one random teapot, which just seemed to suit! :)

Carole

Published!!!

How exciting! I received the latest copy of Sew Somerset magazine
(published by Stampington in USA) and inside were 2 pieces of my art!!
An Artist Trading Card and a Collectable Postcard! (and I got a whole page to myself!! LOL)
I am still amazed that they chose to publish some of my art, when they must get hundreds of submissions!
This has just made my week!!
Thank you Stampington!

Carole :)))))

I've done it again !#..&**!

Well, I kinda feel I should go to one of those meetings, you know the type, where you have to stand up in front of everyone and say things like, "Hi my name is Carole and I have an addiction."
I've gone and bought another old relic, I totally fell in love with it and knew it would be perfect to store something in, not sure what, but I just knew I'd have something in my sewing room that could do with a lovely new, oops, I mean old, home!

Here is my new prized possession, well what do you think?



It's a chocolate box. Yep, and it was once covered in lovely plush fabric. It's in a bit of a state of disrepair, there are a few little bits missing, and of course the fabric is well worn everywhere. I am really amazed it has made it to 2009! LOL


It even has a wee handle on the lid. Boy they sure made intricate choccy boxes back in those days. I wonder how much it would actually cost today to buy chocolates in a box made like this? And I wonder just how old it really is? Anyone have any ideas?




There's a wee Rowntree chocolate label on the bottom of the box.



The lady I bought it off, packed it really well.


And Rowntree's made chocolates by appointment of His Majesty the King.



Hang on ....... there was something under all that packing!



CHOCOLATES!!! Of course not Rowntree's, but Cadbury Roses Chocolates, mmmmm, just as nice! Wasn't that 'sweet' of her, if you'll excuse the pun!

Mmmm....that gives me an idea....




Yep, roses. I mod podged more of my tissue paper to the cardboard inside the box. And now I think it will make a lovely place to store my rather large collection of vintage postcards, all 6 of them LOL!


Hope you all have a lovely weekend,
Carole :))

Here it is - no. 12!!

And isn't it just the cutest! This wee stitchery has been made especially for my quilt by Maria Clara Lloveras who comes from Barcelona in Spain! And will fit in perfectly!
I am amazed at how different all my wee squares are!
Maria also popped this wee ATC in for me, what a lovely surprise - thank you so much, I love both pieces of your art! (notice all the layers in the ATC, gorgeous!!)

Did you get any nice surprises today?
Carole :)

Bag lady

I found this a few days ago. Don't you think it's gorgeous? It is very small, you'd only just get your lunch in it! And it's very old and worn. Thought it had lots of potential.
What do you think?




So I decided I would cover the inside with some rose tissues.

But do you think I should do the outside too?
Let me know what you think...
Carole :)

Stitchery no. 11 arrives home!

And isn't this the cutest wee stitchery you've ever seen? It's been stitched by the very clever Nia in Australia, (and I don't think Nia has a blog) **YES she does, thanks Nia, - click here to visit her! This wheelbarrow of flowers will look great in my quilt too! Thank you so much for taking the time to stitch this for me Nia. I love it!

Only 7 more stitcheries to come home now.
Carole :)

Made in New Zealand - not any more!

Today I bought this jar of apricot jam from the supermarket. So what, you're thinking? Has she gone completely mad? Well actually I bought it because not only is it made in NZ, but it is made from 100% fruit grown in NZ. This is indeed a rare find these days. In fact I stood and read every jam label in the jam section, they all stated that the product was made from local and imported fruit. I will be supporting Barker's by buying their apricot jam, but I think I shall have to start making all my own jams, lemon honey and marmalades, and then I only have to buy peanut butter, honey and marmite. I was also disappointed to fine all my favourite lollies, Mintees, Spearmint Imperial and Jellybeans are being made overseas now too!




Cool lid!

Just a wee gripe! :)
Carole