Sunday, 19 July 2009
I've moved!
I started this blog using blogger but I’d been having a few niggles. I had a bit of a play with WP and it seemed to solve many of my issues. So as I don’t have any readers that I’m aware of, and I’m still in the early days of posting on the web, I thought it would be better to make the transfer now rather than later. So just in case there's anybody out there looking for my blog you'll find me here!
Saturday, 18 July 2009
This Little Monkey...
... loves to clown around!
I googled for an easy to make fabric flower to finish off this little feller, and I found the perfect tutorial on Pink Paper Peppermints
So far during my frantic weekend of sewing I've finished off this monkey; the rest of the monkeys (there are 12 altogether) are just needing buttons sewing on for their eyes, and also I finished the binding on the cot quilt and washed it.
Loads more to do - I'm still optimistic at this point that I'll get Brandon's monkey quilt finished in time for the birth of his sister (baby is definitely arriving on Monday as mum is booked in for a C-section).
Original monkey quilt designed by Patchwork Pottery
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Deadline
I haven't managed to write any posts lately - mainly because I've been just way too busy/tired. I work as a data manager in a secondary school and this time of year (leading up to summer holidays) is absolute mayhem. Luckily we break up tomorrow - almost seven weeks of no school, hurray!
I wanted this blog to be mostly about my creative efforts, but when things get as busy as they have been it's hard to find the time and energy to do any crafting. Having said that, there's a major deadline rapidly approaching - the birth of our third grandchild due this Monday. I've almost finished her cot quilt; just a little bit more binding to sew up. I was also hoping to have the monkey quilt ready at the same time so that our three year old grandson doesn't feel left out. I've only managed to completely finish one new monkey, although I've got the others in various stages of completion.
So my plan this weekend is to do practically nothing except for sewing. I've no idea whether I'll get it all finished but that's my aim!
I wanted this blog to be mostly about my creative efforts, but when things get as busy as they have been it's hard to find the time and energy to do any crafting. Having said that, there's a major deadline rapidly approaching - the birth of our third grandchild due this Monday. I've almost finished her cot quilt; just a little bit more binding to sew up. I was also hoping to have the monkey quilt ready at the same time so that our three year old grandson doesn't feel left out. I've only managed to completely finish one new monkey, although I've got the others in various stages of completion.
So my plan this weekend is to do practically nothing except for sewing. I've no idea whether I'll get it all finished but that's my aim!
Friday, 12 June 2009
My Sewing Machine
Joining in with the sewing machine meme over at Sew,Mama,Sew which I've been following recently.
What brand and model do you have?
Elna 2600
How long have you had it?
About 6 months.
How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
£170
What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
So far I've made 3 cot quilts and I'm now in the middle of a slightly larger child's quilt which has some applique.
How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
Every chance I get, but as I have a full time job it's not nearly as much as I'd like to
Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
I really like my machine but no, I haven't gone so far as to give it a name (or even a gender!).
What features does your machine have that work well for you?
I've recently been using some of the decorative stiches, which is a revelation! My previous machine was a *really* old singer and could only do straight stiches.
Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
So far so good.
Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
My (then pregnant) daughter was with me when I went to buy it. I'd never ever mentioned quilting to her but she's always been a bit of a mind reader. As we were looking at the machines she suddenly said 'Ooh you could make a quilt for the baby!' (which of course was the very plan I had!).
Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
I think so if they were looking for a fairly inexpensive and not too fancy machine. But my recommendation would come with a health warning because I really don't have enough experience to judge my machine against any others in a similar price bracket.
What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
Well I still feel like I have a lot to learn about what this one can and can't do, nevermind what other machines might be capable of. So basically I don't have enough experience to answer this.
Do you have a dream machine?
I've only recently discovered through this meme that some machines can be set to stop with the needle in the down position, and another feature I like the sound of is variable speed settings. Oh and I'd really like some nifty way to thread needles! But for now I think I might get a bit overwhelmed by a dream machine. Maybe I'll have hankerings in about 12 months!
What brand and model do you have?
Elna 2600
How long have you had it?
About 6 months.
How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
£170
What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
So far I've made 3 cot quilts and I'm now in the middle of a slightly larger child's quilt which has some applique.
How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
Every chance I get, but as I have a full time job it's not nearly as much as I'd like to
Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
I really like my machine but no, I haven't gone so far as to give it a name (or even a gender!).
What features does your machine have that work well for you?
I've recently been using some of the decorative stiches, which is a revelation! My previous machine was a *really* old singer and could only do straight stiches.
Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
So far so good.
Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
My (then pregnant) daughter was with me when I went to buy it. I'd never ever mentioned quilting to her but she's always been a bit of a mind reader. As we were looking at the machines she suddenly said 'Ooh you could make a quilt for the baby!' (which of course was the very plan I had!).
Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
I think so if they were looking for a fairly inexpensive and not too fancy machine. But my recommendation would come with a health warning because I really don't have enough experience to judge my machine against any others in a similar price bracket.
What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
Well I still feel like I have a lot to learn about what this one can and can't do, nevermind what other machines might be capable of. So basically I don't have enough experience to answer this.
Do you have a dream machine?
I've only recently discovered through this meme that some machines can be set to stop with the needle in the down position, and another feature I like the sound of is variable speed settings. Oh and I'd really like some nifty way to thread needles! But for now I think I might get a bit overwhelmed by a dream machine. Maybe I'll have hankerings in about 12 months!
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
More Monkeys
Two more monkeys done. As you can see I’m straying from the buttons on shirt pattern and I think I’ve decided to give each monkey different attire. Why do I do this to myself?
I’ve included a Santa monkey because since last Christmas our little grandson has what can only be described as a minor obsession with him. Whenever he comes to visit we have to read Raymond Briggs’s ‘Father Christmas’. Several times! No great hardship as I love this book and I remember reading the very same copy to his father when he was the same age - 32 years ago!
Original monkey quilt designed by Patchwork Pottery
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