Honey...

Madness...the last few days have been a bit of a 'making' frenzy...Usually I plan to make something and other things take over...housework, food shopping, cooking and even a little socialising...not this time...busy busy busy. So without further a do I will 'show and tell' First I would like to introduce you to the new member of the 'Suzie Sews family' this is Honey Bear. Yer!!!I made him! I know I am in shock myself...I went on a one day work shop taken by a member of my patchwork class. This is not something I have ever felt a need to make, but as I like the person doing the class and it was a good excuse to spend the day at my sewing machine I went along. The day did not disappoint. Now let me tell you...there is nothing cute about making bears...pins, washers, making holes and sticking in huge needles...not very cute at all...but look at the results...How cute is he!!! Of course the children all wanted a cuddle and to claim him for themselves, but as he is jointed and with glass eyes he is more of a Mommy kind of bear...The children named him, it was between Shmoo, Toffee and Honey and Honey won.
Now for a little late night crafting due to not being able to sleep I got round to making the cushion to match the quilt (see previous posts), it helps as the cushion pad is a very fluffy feather filled one and it makes the perfect little Autumnal set to snuggle under whilst doing a little hand sewing or knitting as the nights are now so dark and cold!!!
Its not just been me that has had the sewing bug...my two babes have taken to sitting on the sofa in my sewing room and as long as I provide them with their leap pad's or some books they tend to sit there quite happily. I noticed yesterday my older one eyeing up my machine and then he got upset 'Mommy have you got rid of my sewing machine???' In the clear out to make the play room in to a sewing room the children knew a lot of the toys they had grown out of got taken (with their OK) to the Hospice charity shop. Of course I have not got rid of it, its all packed away in the corner...'BUT!!!I want to sew now' What was a Mommy supposed to do...SO with a scrap of fabric he got busy making a bean bag, he filled it with split pee's (dried ones) and hand sewed the gap...now I know it does not look that much, but as my little one has had a hearing problem for many years his hand eye co ordination is not as good as he would like, so this is a major achievement for him, as for me I am one proud Mom!
Saturday was my patchwork class and I am now on to another quilt...yes I know the last one is not yet finished...Anyway after a rather sleepless night I found this class incredibly hard...I just could not get it...suddenly I had one of those light bulb moments and it all came together...I just have to sew the eight pieces together and my first block is done. That night I return home, put the children to bed and fell asleep with my youngest one (Oh the power of that child's cuddles) and I awoke the next morning after ten hours sleep...It is over eight years since I have slept like that...EIGHT YEARS!!!
Now I know not many people know this, but I am a qualified florist, this was the career I fell into (well actually...gently pushed) when it was felt that art college was a little to bohemian for a fragile daughter like myself. As with most careers when art is involved the pay was very low and I was unable to support myself so I sadly gave it up and worked in a travel and sales. I miss this profession and I am aware that even now if I went back to it I would not even be able to cover the childcare costs. So every now and again I get to make an arrangement for Church. This week was special as it was a wedding so I had three large pedestals to make. Armed with four buckets full of flowers and greenery cut fresh from my garden I got busy...sadly I did not get a picture of the three pedestals finished, but this one gives you an idea of what they looked liked, it was requested that lots of ivy and cream flowers be used with a touch of gold...

So busy busy busy...I am off to make a rabbit cushion now...projects not shown that has been worked on over the last few days... baby bibs, crochet squares, knitting and some lovely Reading...an amazon order arrived with some great books I have seen out there in blog land...