Making a List

 (picture has nothing to do with what I'm talking about, it's just a pretty picture of a white peacock)

So ....... I'm going to Festival of Quilts next month (yay!).  I've been once before (2006 I think, or it might have been 2007, my memory is rubbish!).  Anyway it was in the days before I really did any significant amount of sewing or quilting, it was really as a fact finding mission when my sister ran a quilt shop.  So I did a small amount of shopping, a couple of fat quarters, some Kaffe Fassett material and nothing else.

But now that I'm actually making things, looking at lots of inspiration on different things to create in the future, I'm starting to think about what I want to buy when I get down to Birmingham next month, I'm making that list and I'll be checking it more than twice.

Now what should I put on that list?  I don't have a great deal of stash or accessories.  I'm kinda like a blank sheet.  What would be on your "must have" list?

I'm a bit of a magazine addict.  In the last week I've come across two really good ones - mollie makes which is full of wonderful handmade goodies - how to make them and where to get them.  The other is called Craftseller, it's tag line is 'Make and sell your handmade crafts', I only bought it today so I've not had the opportunity to read it through properly but when faffing about online earlier to find out more about it I came across this article on the Folksy blog about handmade goods and people's attitude towards handmade.  It's really interesting.  I find it so sad that some people seem to see handmade as 'cheap' instead of recognising the time, effort and work that has gone into unique items being produced.  I've made things for people in the past, more papercraft items, but the general response was disappointing and people seemed to think that I'd taken the cheap option and not spent enough money on their gift.  So I've not really made anything for a lot of non-crafting people until last christmas when me and a couple of friends decided we'd only give each other something we'd made ourselves.  I always try to buy gifts that take a person's personality, likes and dislikes into consideration but it felt good to put all of that thought and effort into something I've actually made.  Well that's my tuppence on the subject.

What a beautiful day!

It has been glorious in my neck of the woods the last couple of days.  Definitely a welcome change from the rainy, cold days we had about a week ago.

This week has been a bit more chaotic than usual, Pedro has been on holiday, so our normal routine has been out of the window.  Which is good but it also means that I'm behind on tons of stuff.  Housework has been way down the list of things to do this week and getting up to date with my sewing has been high.  So a day later than I planned to post it, my mini quilt for the Brit Quilt Swap was posted off this morning.  I'm not saying who to yet, as it's a secret swap and they won't get it until Monday but this is what the finished article looks like 

The last one includes the extras I've sent away.  My first ever attempt at a pin cushion, it's really sweet.  Now I need to make one for myself and I loved it so much.

Now yesterday a parcel arrived for me but, because I hadn't posted my quilt away I wouldn't let myself open it!!  I know, the will power I have at times it's outstanding.  So it sat in my kitchen all yesterday and all last night unopened - willing me to open it but I wouldn't.  So as we planned a day at the seaside today, I took my parcel with me to open in the car, after I'd been to the post office.  And WOW!!  I'm so glad I did.  My partner Suzan or (Quiltitis as she is known on Flickr) as made me a gorgeous, amazing quilt.  It's called the Sunshine Tree, which is very apt for the weather.  I absolutely love it.  Love it, love it, love it.  It's already hanging in my kitchen.  

And being a wonderful person, Suzan included an amazing fat quarter (not sure who/what it is yet!) and a fantastic Mr Men book for my little boy.  There he is "reading" it in the car on our way to the beach.  Thank you Suzan I truly adore it :)

We then spent a good part of the day at Burntisland beach building sandcastles.  It's definitely been a beautiful day!

And relax ...........

He came, he left presents, they got opened and played with.  Christmas is just about all over and done with and now I feel like I can finally sit down and chill!!

I wasn't up too late on Christmas Eve, the building of the Dude's garage and keyboard were fairly straight forward. The garage started off like this

 

and ended up like this!  Of course I had to have a little play, just to make sure it was put together properly of course!?!?

I then had to wrap everything - built up garages are not the simplest of things to wrap on your own!  The dude had great fun on Christmas day opening everything up and then deciding what to play with.  He has been well and truly spoiled the last few days but he's worth it.  Although we might need to move to a bigger house to fit everything in.  (Seriously - I'm already thinking about getting rid of a chair and changing the TV unit just to make more space)

 (Singing along with daddy)

 (Playing with the Happyland village set)

 (All the toys under the tree)

 (Giggling at being chased by his cousin - who can only crawl!)

Yesterday (Boxing Day) we had dinner at my dad's - more presents!!  But a good time was had by all, the Dude had great fun playing with his little cousin (the Squealer) who is now 11 months and yesterday the Dude turned 19 months(!?!).  It was pretty much the first time they've been in each other's company for a prolonged period, when they can both move about on their own.  I predict they are going to be a terrible twosome in a few years, if yesterday was anything to go by!!

I got some fantabulous presents, which to be honest I've hardly had time to look at, but they involved lots of baking goods (a proper pie dish - very chuffed about that), food stuff and other funky stuff.  I've still got another week til I start back to work so I intend to do lots of baking, making things and just generally taking some time out for me.  I got a funky book on sock animals for my birthday and I bought some toy stuffing just before christmas so I will be making something in the next week.