It's Christmas Eve,

Just having a little break from the never-ending job list that I need to complete today to wish all my lovely followers/readers A Very Merry Christmas!

I managed to complete the boys backpacks, but unfortunately I wrapped them before taking any photos!

I hope you all managed to finish your Christmas makes!

Have a lovely time, will catch up in the new year!

Some more Christmas gifts...

 I finally got round to using the fantastic templates from "Freya and Fred" by Janet Clare that I bought a while ago & blogged about.  I rather enjoyed the fiddlyness (is that a word??) of cutting out the shapes & then doing the free-motion applique.  It reminded me of the little paper dolls that I would trace & cut out of Bunty magazine. (I was never allowed to cut the dolls out of the actual comic/annual)

I still need to practice my free-motion skills, as my stitches are far too small.  All the advice I read said to set stitch length to zero (including the instructions in my old Bernina manual) but I think I need to set my stitch length to 1 or 2 next time.  I used a grey guttermans top thread and white bobbin (as I only have 2 bobbins that Miss Nina will allow me to use and can not always be bothered or want to waste a ton of thread just to change colour, on this occasion both bobbins had plenty of white thread on them).  The stitching came out like pencil drawing and I am actually pretty pleased with my pretty ballerinas! Kirsty eat your heart out lol!

Anyway, the ballerinas were stitched onto some lovely ballerina fabric that I bought at The Ally Pally show last month, which I then turned into little drawstring bags using this tutorial from Kitcshycoo blog.  Although I added a front pocket and the first bag that I made seemed a bit small so I added 2 inches to all the measurements for the bigger sister.  I bought some cheap poly cotton for the lining and managed to find the EXACT shade of green cord - both from Fabricland.  The only problem I had was with the cord unravelling, so I enclosed the ends in little squares of the ballerina fabric (losing two needles in the process!)

I must have taken over 10 photos of this pair of models - they were not happy at having their photo taken whilst wearing a "girl" on their back, anyway after a sweetie (or 2) it was a (slightly) different story!

The bags are Christmas pressies for my Goddaughter and her little sister (5 and 2 yrs old)

And these are aprons that I have made for my Nieces. 

They have lots of toys & clothes so I am making them each a little baking hamper for Christmas.  The aprons I bought in the Summer at a  "strawberry fayre" in my Aunt's Wawickshire village.  They were brand new with tags, from Laura Ashley and I think cost me 50p each!! I added their names by using Word Art in MS word/office and a cursive font.  I then traced the (reversed) names onto bonda web and ironed it onto my fabric before cutting out.  The names were then free-motion appliqued onto the apron/pockets.

First Christmas 2011 make

 A new cuddly friend for dinosaur mad Little Fella.

I adapted a pattern from a back issue of sew hip magazine.  The pattern was only 2D, so the dinosaur had only 2 legs.  So I made a belly by lots of experimenting with paper and a couple of attempts later I did it!!!

I stuffed his feet, head and tail with pudding rice to give it a bit of weight.  Only once I had finished did I think about the practicalitles of a child's toy that is made from dry clean only wool tweed and stuffed with pudding rice! Hmm hopefully we won't have to cross that bridge!

 The tweed was from a charity shop - it cost the grand sum of 50p!  It feels really soft & expensive. THe other fabrics are from a couple of remnant bundles that I bought from FabricRehab a while ago. Although it works out no cheaper than buying of the bolt, they are a great idea if you do lot's of applique or like to make smaller things.  You get to own a range of desinger fabrics without having to buy large quantities.

I googled the tweed fabric and it is a very luxurious blend of wool, cashmere and angora.  I am saving the rest to make myself a bag.

Vintage Linen Quilt update

 

So this was the beginning of my little collection. I now have quite a few traycloths, napkins, tea towels & hankies (all gathered from carboots and charity shops) and have made a start on my Vintage Linen Quilt. I have steered clear of tablecloths as I didn't think that I would have the guts to chop into them!

I forget to follow the instructions so the basket caused me a few problems. I pieced it upside down and it was very fiddly to resolve!

 I currently have hundreds of tiny squares, and half square triangles that I am piecing together to make pinwheels.  I am hoping to use the pinwheels to frame some of the bigger embroidery pieces. I tend to make a couple of pinwheels in between over projects, or if I need a short break from whatever else I might be doing.  Some nights the monotony of sewing those little squares & triangles can be quite therapeutic and other times torture lol!

It is very much a long-term project!  I will need 50 something blocks if I am going to make a quilt big enough for my king-size bed!!! I will be "quilting on the go" and then joining the blocks together.  There is no way my Old Girl could cope with quilting a whole king-size quilt!!!

a belated round-up of "Quilting-on-the-go" course

Some time back in late spring, I took part in a two day "Quilting-on-the-go" course led by Carolyn Forster  at Threadbear near Croydon.

 Threadbear is a gorgeous shop full of all things knitting and sewing related.  There is a big selection of wools at the front of the store and many folders of patterns - not books but single patterns.  (I don't knit, but the people that I know do knit, often complain that they have to buy whole books these-days rather than a single pattern)  The middle of the store is full of cross stitch, embroidery and tools/ other supplies, whilst the back of the shop is stuffed with fabrics and the work-shop area.

Carolyn was a very patient and informative teacher.  She showed us lots of samples to get started.  I showed Carolyn my stash of old linens & talked about a possible quilt block pattern.  I ended up making only one block on the first day as I was so indecisive, although it was great watching everyone else.  A couple of ladies had chosen the same pattern but different fabrics and it was fascinating, just how different the quilt blocks looked.In the afternoon, we were taught how to quilt the individual blocks.  This is the block that I made on the first day of the course. (sadly still not quilted!)  All of Carolyn's blocks for QOTG finish at 16-17 inches.

Between the two course dates, we needed to go home & make some more quilt blocks.  (pieced and quilted) I was very busy with work stuff - report-writing time :(  and didn't have the time I needed to concentrate on my vintage linen blocks, so I used a charm pack and some "jelly roll" strips that I had left over from my first ever quilt and followed the same pattern. I managed to piece & quilt 10, 17 inch blocks in a couple of evenings.

 On the 2nd way, we were taught Carolyn's "quiting on the go method" to join all the quilted blocks together.  It is a mixture of machine and hand sewing. This quilt will be square, 3 blocks X 3 blocks with one block left over to either make it into a quillow or to make a matching pillow.  I have started sewing the blocks together, and now have to sew the rows together.  However, this is something that will have to wait till after Christmas.

If you are unable to get to one of Carolyn's courses but are interested in the Quilting on the go method, Carolyn has a book and book2 is due out next year sometime.

stich, rip, stitch, rip, stitch, rip, stitch, rip, spend,

and so on....


grr.... Been having quite a few problems quilting this quilt that I pieced together last year!

This is Miss Nina (the Bernina) She is a bit of a temperamental old gal and likes everything "just so", she is a bit stuck in her ways and doesn't like to try anything new.  Forget any thread that isn't Guttermans and don't even bother loading ANY of the other bobbins, except the one being used right now. (a real pita). And she HATES you playing with the tension dial, just as well that the tension doesn't usually need to be adjusted!

She is a very rare "flatbed" model (so the repair man told me) with most Berninas of that vintage being "free arm" models.  Now, I can see the advantage of having a free arm model, but what would have been the advantage of having a flat bed model??  A curtain maker rather than repairer/dressmaker????  Anyone know?? 

My Mum acquired her from the Sewing Machine shop in Shepherds Bush (which is still there btw, just a stones throw away from all the fabric delights on Goldhawk Rd) 
Sadly she has know idea what she paid for it, but as we were pretty brassic (poor) when I was a kid, it must have been fairly reasonable in todays money.  She said it was slightly over her budget but she still felt that she had got a really good bargain.

now where was I...


I basted the quilt at the weekend.  I had two DH free evenings this week, so |I could sew without anyone moaning about 1) the noise of the machine and 2) "are you going to talk to me tonight"
 However, I have spent every night sewing & then unpicking :(
I just could not get the tension sorted.  Tried new needles, cleaning, oiling, tension dial tweaking everything the books (or mr google) recommends. (and Miss Nina Hates)

So today, I called into my local quilt shop & asked for their advice.  They were really helpful and came to the conclusion that it was probably the blue fabric causing most of the problems.  I bought it in Fabricland purely for the colour.  The label said "composition unknown" but after washing it was apparent it was quite synthetic.  It is also heavier than the quilting cottons with a very close weave.

So the advice was to switch to a blue thread (I was using a bright yellow for contrast)  and try much smaller needle size.  I have to rebaste the quilt after all the sewing & unpicking, but once I get started I will let you know how I get on.

On my way out I spotted this amazing quilt/hanging... (sorry I didn't get an actual photo)

It is from this book by Janet Clare
Which I added to my shopping bag alongside the said blue thread. (just don't tell DH!)

I have my Mum's 60th next year and the designs are also something that the MIL would really love.  It would be so easy to make the little characters look just like the Grandkids. My mind is already whirring away with ideas.

There are some book reviews here and here. (where I "borrowed" the above photos from)

the morning-after-the-night-before make

I have found the perfect hangover cure! 

This was a kit that I bought at last years Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace.  I think it was bought from The Bramble Patch. 

The boys were at Nanny's as we had been to a wedding the day before.  So whilst Mr Tam laid in bed nursing his hangover (or in his words "catching-up" on his sleep from a heavy working week lol) I got stuck into this project.  T'was pretty easy and was finished before the boys returned home after having lunch at Nanny's.

and The Little Man was very pleased with the end result!  Even managed to find a posh trouser hanger to hang it up with!

I have just spotted the panel on ebay if anyone was interested - it is from a range called "kate & nate". (there is also a girl version)

Introducing Mr Monkey

Poor old Mr Monkey! He has just had to undergo some major surgery! I have had to sew most of his leg seams back up! Not sure if it is a result of my workmanship or the fact that he is often caught up in a tug-o-war between the Little Man & the Little Fella! Both of whom want to take him to bed!

As I was sewing him up , I remembered that I had never introduced him to any of you!

I made Mr Monkey around this time last year, but was dissapointed in how he turned out! I made him all on the machine, except his mouth. I am not happy with his mouth but have not yet been able to find the sock-monkey-makers secret to a perfect mouth! I also used some verrrrry stretchy socks, which made a very large sock monkey and took nearly a whole cushion worth of stuffing! At one point I was going to bin him, but then the Little Man spotted him & spent the rest of the day dragging him around, so Mr Monkey ended up moving in to the Tamster household!

I have been meaning to make another, but need to find the secret to a perfect pout first! (anyone wanna share lol ???)

HELLOOOOOO...anyone still there???????

I'm back!!!

I finally finished the third & final quilt for my Niece a few weeks back. A bit late for Christmas but I managed to get it done before her 5th birthday! YAY


again it folds up into a pillow or "quillow". And is backed with cotton flannel and the same pink binding as the other two.


This was actually a very quick quilt top to make. (I have blogged about it earlier) The quilting was a pain however.

I saw a wavy pattern on a quilt in sew hip which I really liked. I couldn't find a wavy line anywhere (online or in any books) so I drew my own using a glass. However, the waves were too wavy & to quilt them involved LOTS of pivoting & turning so I ditched that idea and tried to do free hand waves. That didn't work either. So after two lots of quilting and two lots of unpicking I was back to square one!!! I ended up doing a mixture of stitching "in the ditch" and echo quilting.

Then came lots of machine problems. My machine was playing up so I sent it in for a service. In the meanwhile I borrowed my mums, which also played up. Then came Parent's evening, report writing and end of year assessments!

DH then commented on the fact that I was either sat at the computer doing "School" work or I was at the sewing machine sewing, and we rarely had an actual conversation beyond "how was your day?" So I had to abandon my poor machine for a brief spell in favour of the husband! lol Now the workload has tailed off a bit, I am back sewing :) guilt free!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also managed to find some time to do another Saturday quilting course. "quilting on the go"
I need to take some photos and then I can share this fab method with you! No more wrestling large quilts under the machine. You make the quilt a block at a time, bast & quilt the block and then sew the blocks together already quilted!

hopefully you wont have too long to wait lol...

but then again ;)

comments from readers

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to write a comment on my little blog. It really does make my day!

However, I am rather sorry that I have only just found some of your replies, and so didn't reply to them.

But now I have finally worked out how to get an email notification whenever someone comments, so I will never miss a post again!

A guest book for my cousin's wedding


Sadly I won't be there as the wedding is in New Zealand and being term time I wasn't able to get the time off. Yes teachers have lots of holiday but we have no flexibility or control over when we take it :(


So my parents kindly packed it in their luggage for me. I also stitched a little calico bag to store it in (but forgot to take a photo) and it fitted perfectly into the lid of a shoebox from my new work shoes!


My cousin asked for white, gold, pink or light pastel colours. In the end she got pink & ivory and some gold as I couldn't find what I wanted in white. Her wedding dress is NOT traditional white/Ivory, so I am very curious as to what her dress will be like! I am guessing pink which is why I have used so much!

And this is their card.

I used some lovely handmade paper that I have had for years, added a few pink pearls and some paper die cuts. The circles are nesties done on my cuttlebug. It took no time at all really. I quite like doing the step cards as you get a good result with little time & effort.

I had forgotten just how much papercrafting stuff I had lol!!!! I make such a mess when I am making cards, that the tidying up takes longer than what I spent creating! I used to be able to leave everything out for the next evening but with two little monkeys running around I don't have that luxury anymore!

I am hoping that the Japan Earthquake doesn't effect them too much. They are on the coast, in The Bay of Islands but are actually quite high above sea level.

Drum Roll Please.......

Ta Da!!
Two of the nieces quilts - Quillows actually - are finished!


The pillows above open out into these beauties...

These photos were taken before I had a chance to wash the blue quilt. There were some rare rays of sunshine yesterday, so I quickly cleared away the boys things to finally take some pics for you. The blue one was just quilted "in the ditch" although I quilted a heart in the top left corner where I added the label.

The pink one has been washed and has wrinkled up lovely! I was trying to get a picture of the back so that you could see the quilting on this one but The Little Fella had other ideas lol! As this was the first one I quilted, I was a bit adventurous and choose to quilt hearts & butterflies all over. However, in reality it was a right PITA to do on my poor Old Girl of a sewing machine. Hence the blue quilt being stitched in the ditch lol. However it does look really fab!

To do the quilting, I googled some heart & butterfly shapes & printed them off, then made some paper templates. I gave up on all the different fabric marking pens/chalks etc and used an Ikea pencil (as recommended by the lovely teacher at TikkiLondon). It has quite a soft lead, so doesn't stretch the fabric and it all washed out.

I then drew around the template. After stitching each shape, I went around it again using my foot edge to follow the stitching. I used my walking foot and had to stop quite often to pivot and also to go round the corners I sometimes had to turn the fabric back round the other way (ie instead of turning 90 degrees right, you turn 270 degrees left.) I did attempt to drop the feed dogs and use a darning foot but my stitches were going all over the place and were very uneven - think I need a lot of practice to develop that skill LOL!

So two down and one more to go!

Half term next week, so fingers crossed that I get the final one done! However, I am also in the middle of making a scrapbook/wedding album for my cousins wedding in March. She lives in NewZealand and unfortunately as her wedding is in term time, I wont be able to go :( My parents will be going however, and bringing the book with them!

Still - I could win the euro lotto tonight and be able to give up work & craft all day long! (and book that flight to NZ)

I love Blogland!!!

Like most of you no doubt, I have quite a few blogs that I follow. Mainly craft or teaching based in my case. I have hundreds of tutorials, and links from the various blogs that I have visited/followed. All waiting for "someday". lol And one of my favourite time wasting activities (usually when working on my planning or some other school-related admin) is to click "next blog" on the bar thingy at the top of the screen. It is amazing what people will blog about!

I set up my blog so that I could share my projects with the others in The Sewing Room at MSE. As a newbie on MSE, you are unable to post links for sometime, but I could add a homepage to my profile and share my makes that way.

I also follow lots of the others that use The Sewing Room and the other crafty threads in the MSE forums. One such person is Penny


The painter of this lovely piece of work, which now graces my living room shelf (still hunting for the right frame for it)

When I saw it, it reminded me of my little family - the eldest holding hands with Daddy & the little one with Mummy, as is the usual case with us too.

So Thank You Penny!

2 down...

one more to go!!

I have finally finished two of the three quilts that I was making for Christmas! 2010 that is.

All quilted, binded, washed and ready to go! (I read somewhere that you should always wash a quilt before giving so it has that lovely crinkly texture and also you can check your workmanship is up to scratch lol)

I do still have one to do before I gift them however, as I want the nieces to recieve them all at the same time.

I will post pictures tomorrow as I keep forgetting to bring my camera home.

Why oh why!

I am back!

I have started a new job and although it is a job share and I only work 3 days, I seem to have no time for anything these days!

I left my last job after many years, because I didn't feel fulfilled covering other teachers and wanted to be back in my own classroom with my own class.

I was at home with my boys from July till I started this new job at the beginning of January and I have loved every minute. I never thought I would enjoy being a stay-at-home-mum as I have always worked. I had my first job at 14, serving tea and coffee to the Chairman's guests on matchdays at QPR. If it wasn't for the fact that I have a mortgage & bills to pay, I would still be a stay-at-home-Mum.

My new school as lots of issues & have OFSTED on their backs. The class room has very few decent resources. My classroom was left in a complete tip by the previous teacher and I have had a lot of sorting & tidying to do, as well as getting to grips with a new planning & assessment format to what I have been used to using.

I was observed yesterday and the outcome was not great to be honest. Previously, I was a "Good" teacher, working in an "Outstanding" department. Yesterday's lesson was just about satisfactory. That might sound OK to those of you that are not teachers, but to a teacher that is quite demoralising :(

The Little Fella has had a sickness bug this week and I have had to change his bedding ever night since Sunday in the middle of the night. On Monday night it had to be changed FOUR times! The Little Man has not been coping with me being back at work and has started wetting himself despite being toilet -trained since last Easter!

When I was observed, I had been in class for only 5 days. The children have had to cope with lots of changes -
losing their much loved previous teacher and gaining two new ones
classroom furniture being moved
routines changing
rules changing etc

However, none of that gets taken into consideration. If you are a teacher these days, you are expected to always be "good to outstanding". We are not allowed an "off" day. However - I am also a Mum, a person with a "real" life and a HUMAN being.

I am not a robot!





Hmm - I feel better now!

So, sorry to moan just had to get all that off my chest!

- my next posts will be more cheerful, I promise lol!