Saturday, 1 November 2014

A Secret and a Treat

Phew!  Back in blogland! Who would think you could miss the internet so much?  I will really have to keep an eye on our broadband usage in future and eke out our allowance over the whole month.  I really don't want to pay to upgrade.

Now I will tell you a secret.  Today is my birthday...a milestone one... a biggie.  Come closer and I will whisper it... today I am (shh...65 years old :-/) I really don't know where all my youth has gone.  In my mind I am still thirty something but my body tells a different story.  Anyway, I have been saving up and a couple of weeks ago I treated myself to this...


Of course, I had to try it out straight away and I have discovered that I still find it hard to sew a straight line! lol... but below is my first attempt...
 
 

Not too bad so I my first make was an obligatory pin cushion so that I don't drop pins and needles all over the floor.


I have some great pieces of fabric which I bought really cheaply on the internet so my next make was a little bag to keep my thread and scissors in.  I set the handles wide so that I can sling it across the back of a dining chair while I work.  It's not perfect and I wouldn't like to show a close up of my stitching! but it is lined with the same dotty fabric I made the handles with. It will come in handy...


I had a go at making pinwheels thanks to Cornish Chickpea's excellent tutorial.  I did manage it, as her instructions are brilliant but I need a bit more practice before I make some good enough to quilt with.

I fancied a bit more felt work too and made these to hang on the Christmas tree.  The heart shaped one is stuffed with real Norfolk lavender as well as a bit of wadding, and it smells gorgeous.



I might make more of these in pastel colours and fill them with lavender as they will make acceptable stocking fillers and they are such a pleasure to make.

We will soon be on countdown to the big day, folks.  Is anyone having a big get-together?  How many do you cater for?  We will number just 7 and DD is doing the cooking, bless her.  The most I ever catered for was 11, I think, and I remember it being very hard work getting the timing right!

Thanks ever so for popping in x




18 comments:

  1. I am just back also, I am glad to see that you are sewing, it is very addictive, you have made a good start. the bag to hang on a chair back is an excellent idea and I am going to "borrow" it right away. I am constantly scrabbling around for things that have buried themselves under fabric or pattern pieces. I have not given a thought to C Day yet, but I will in the next few days. I just have to find my way round this new system on the lap top. first.

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    1. Lovely to see you back, Pam, I have missed your blog. As for the bag 'borrow' away! it's really useful and saves me keep bending

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  2. Happy Birthday to you, I got a toyota jeans machine about 5 months ago off ebay local deals, I am not very good but am getting into it, I will be posting pictures of makes when I have finished them, it is addictive.

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    1. Thank you for the birthday wishes, I look forward to seeing what you have made :)

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  3. Happy Birthday! The felt decorations look lovely. :-)

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    1. Thanks Deb, they are really easy and pleasant to make.

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  4. ' sings' ....Happy Birthday to you....

    Age is just a number....so I keep telling myself lo. Its mine on monday and a new sewing machine is on my list, its really still in the buisness case stage, i need to do a bit more persuading :-)

    Pretty fabrics, lovely makes, well done!

    Christmas prep starts and finishes this month! I hate busy shops! I have anything from 2-16 at Christmas.

    Have a lovely day xxx

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    1. Thanks for the birthday greetings, Karen. Hope you have a lovely birthday on Monday. Eeek! to 16 at Christmas though, but well done you :)

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  5. Happy Birthday to you - love the new machine too - I'm OK on straight lines but cant do any more than that - go forward and come back - that's me! Have a good day xxx

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    1. Thanks, Trudie, at least you *can* sew straight...lol...x

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  6. Happy Birthday! It's my Mum's birthday today - she is 76. I made her a new apron as part of her present, using the new sewing machine I bought for myself a few weeks ago. I've started crafting for Christmas gifts already.

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    1. Happy Birthday Scarlet's mum! I took a peek and her new apron is lovely, something for me to aspire to! She looks lovely in the photo too.
      Isn't it exciting crafting for Christmas ;)

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  7. I just found your blog & will have a good look later.

    A very happy birthday & you have been very crafty, all lovely.

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  8. happy Birthday. Scary isn't it? I rarely look in the mirror, but when I do I think "Who's that old bird?" as I feel so much younger inside.
    Nice Back to Sewing work. Love the chairback bag idea.
    14 to 19 for Christmas dinner here. ( I put a pic in my blog last year) It's not too bad when you have two daughters, a granddaughter and an old friend that know their way around your kitchen and all muck in

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    1. Thanks Frugal :) You are so right, it IS scary and CRUMBS! up to 19 for Christmas dinner???? That would be even scarier for me...lol..

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  9. Happy belated birthday! My son and his wife share the same birthdate with you. They get some weird stares when people ask for birthdates for ID verification.

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    1. Gosh, two Scorpios together must make life interesting! Actually, my Son in Law was born on November 1st too. Lots of nice people are ;) lol..

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