Atishoo...atishoo...sorry a bit snuffly here. I guess that's why a few days of none blogging has just slipped me by. Shhhhhhh don't tell anyone but I quite like being a little off colour. Shhhhhhh!!!! No seriously, obviously I dislike being ill immensely, but when I am still with it but just need to cosy up with hot drinks, vitamin c and a some paracetamol. Well the excuse to stay indoors and not do housework, well it sits well with my creative spirit...Before the 'snots' got a big hold of me I had my day at the crochet work shop with the lovely Sarah (From Rowan). This lady has the patience of a saint and before you knew it a table of learners (after munching into muffins and warming endless cups of coffee) sat with smiles on their faces, well actually a few with tongues poking out of their mouth in pure concentration, all happily hooking away. Yes a fabulous day, and yes I feel able to say that one of my New Years Resolutions to learn to crochet properly can now be ticked off.
So with a poorly house hold I found myself a little corner, put my feet up, put on radio 4, and clicked away for a good few hours.
With the snow starting to melt and the pools of water collating all over the place I am wearing my winter woollies less, but my hat (made last February) has been worn most days on the school walk. So good for bad hair days. When I spotted a lush colour of the same yarn I popped it in my shopping bag and rushed it home to start the process off again, who knows maybe next winter this might be my most worn winter hat!!!
When my babes had been safely ensconced into school I still had the excuse of feeling poorly which again gave me the excuse to venture into my sewing room rather than deal with the mounting laundry. Easy projects though, not complicated as I didn't want to hurt my head. Ermmmmm, that would be cushions then...
Two new cushions for my child's bedroom and a big sloppy cushion for sitting up in bed at night reading or maybe a little knitting.
Now what else is an easy project but with a little more bite to it, Oh yes a couple of PJ bags for my boys. Don't you just hate the way that in the evening you can not find your children's PJs or the book/comic they are reading? Or is this just my babes? Anyway a couple of simple bags that can be slung over the bedsteads and keep their bedtime stuff together in one place, I hope, seemed like a good thing to me.
Not a very flowing post this... in fact I am all over the place, but that's how my passed week has been. A little bit of this and a little bit of that...On the 'little' front my youngest has been asking me for a weeks now to make his bedtime bunny some clothes, I confess, I did not jump to the request...untill...he said he wanted the bunny dressed in girls clothes because she is a pretty girlie bunny.
So as a mother of two boys, blue, green, red and at a push a little pinch of apricot is about as colourful as they get. So to play about with pink...BLISS!!! Maybe I went a little too far, this is for the little boy who thinks he is Indiana Jones.
NO, if your going to do something you must do it as you think is right, What could be more girlie than a ballerina. Out with the tulle and the pretties of my ribbons, beautiful pink yarn...
One little white bunny transformed into a pretty ballerina. Bunny was received with delight, oh but she now sits by his bed. On asking why bunny doesn't get a cuddle anymore, "oh she is much too pretty for that now Mommy." You win some you lose some I guess....

Housebound

Still housebound here, I actually managed to get the car out, only to drive up the road and nearly miss a car swerve into the side of me. So the car has remained a good walk away from the house (I live on a hill and there are no cars driving down my road). I managed a food shop, so the fridge is full and stocked up on cake making goodness and of course extra Hot Chocolate and marshmallows. Keeping me warm in my sewing is is my quilt work, nothing like managing a big quilt to keep the legs warm whilst in my sewing room, its so chilly that it shows your breath as 'dragons breath' as it escapes your warm body into the cold air. I am hunkering down in the kitchen most of the time. My kitchen is a haven of warmth and love, it really is the heart of this family home. Its big enough to hold a big old pine table with a miss match of chairs around it, I religiously change the oil cloth cover monthly, this makes me happy. It has a small sofa in the corner that the children cuddle up on with cushions and quilts to keep them toasty. The floor is big enough for a train track to be laid out on and of course the kitchens the place all the food is prepared...
So my pile of books (see last post) sit on my kitchen table, and slowly I am devouring each book. It would only be right that I sit down with a cup of something warming and some sweet treat to help me in my reading.
Over the last few days I have made various cakes and cookies from the Hummingbird bakery cook book has each one has turned out fabulous and scrumptious...
My favourite so far being the marshmallow cup cakes... delightful
So the view from my kitchen window is still rather white, its so cold here and many layers are needed to keep warm, last night while I sat by the fire, I pulled out from my wool stash the biggest chunkiest yarn I could find and started on a winter warmer jacket on HUGE needles.

I have a big treat next week, I am going on a crochet work shop, now I have been doing a little crochet myself, all self taught, but I fear what I call a treble stitch is not actually what it is, so I thought it would be an excellent way to meet up with some fellow yarn type people after days, no weeks, of not really seeing anyone, and an opportunity to learn a new skill, but the best bit is to spend the Christmas money that is burning a little hole in my pocket with the promise I made to the giver to only spend it on something for myself.

Right time for a cup of tea to warm my fingers up and put the oven on and pull out my knitting, Oh how I love lazy Sundays, by far the best day of the week.

and it just kept snowing...

Happy New Year.Sad farewell to all the Christmas magic and the sparkling lights...
all boxed away nice and safe...
and yet it just keeps snowing...
So what a better way to accept the cold than to curl up with masses of BOOK inspiration (Thank you Santa, I must have been a very good girl last year)...
with bundles of fabric and lots of other sewing goodness, you will find me in front of my fire, mug of hot Chocolate (and maybe a nip of Brandy in there at bedtime) drooling over my books with a head full of the years sewing plans...

I would like to wish you a creative New Year.

December December full of Christmas Cheer

The moon is full and there is a nip in the air that can't be ignored. The wonderful smell of wood smoke fills the senses as all the fires start to be lit. The first of December is near.Busy little fingers are making, baking, sewing, knitting and getting busy with a hook, my days play along to the hum of my sewing machine. Yes its that time when this Mommy gets too busy to blog as I am so busy making for the big day. Wanted to pop in and say hello and wish you a Happy December. A lot is going on in the Suzie Sews household, some good and some not so good, but presents and decorations are busy underway, my calender is filling up by the hour, school concerts, appointments and all things BUSY!!! Its the time of year when the house comes alive, people popping in to say hello and being warmed by a glass of mulled wine.

The school fair has been and gone is a flurry of baking a few dozen cakes, its the first time of not being able to help on the day. I have to admit it was nice to go along and support the event with my children, especially meeting Santa.

By the end of each day, the children are asleep, I have plans to settle in my sewing room or stand over my stove to make some more tasty money saving treats...somehow though I only seem to manage to curl up on the sofa in front of the fire with a warming class of rich red wine ...dreaming of all things cosy.

Can you hear it....

Can you hear it?

Can you feel it?

Its on its way... soon you will have that giddy feeling in your tummy, the winter will take on a romantic slant, it will be all about cosy nights around the fire, quilts over the knees, twinkling lights, hot chocolate with marshmallows or rich warming mulled wine in the local pub after a walk over the moors, all with the soundtrack of carols and Christmas songs from many years each one bringing you memories of time gone by.
OH my word, yes I am feeling Christmassy, it just kinda snuck up on me, suddenly it was November a grey miserable month for me personally, it marks the end of outdoor play, time on the beach and just being outside. November holds some unpleasant memories for me. So one minute I was looking out of my kitchen window to my view over the hills, watching the clouds racing across the sky bringing with them so much rain, feeling sad inside and desperate for brighter days. The next minute I am in my sewing room, going through my Christmas craft books and sewing in red, white and green fabric... MAKING ME SMILE!!!
Today I started the Christmas baking, the rich warming smells of cinnamon and spice, the warmth from the cooker chases away the blues, and the Christmas cake finally gets started...
The fruits steeps in brandy,I treat my boys to Christmas ham for supper (Nigella's Ham in Coke) and of course all the baking calls for the thick, runny jewel coloured delights of syrup and treacle...
Oh yes the tasty treats of Christmas are just warming the heart of my home right now...
Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate it. I heard on the radio today a debate about the British adopting the day, it was described as Christmas without the stress of presents a day to count your blessings. I believe in our crafty blogging community we have the gift of counting our blessing anyway, but a day to think and share it with those we love, a day with food and tradition...yes Happy Thanksgiving.

A stitch in time...

First I just wanted to say a very HEARTFELT thanks for your wonderful comments and personal emails on my last post. I feel privileged to be part of this blogging community.I got an email asking me about the bunting on a previous post. So I thought I would share with you the sewing that has been going on here at the 'Suzie Sews Household" indeed my machine has been working quite hard and I am going through needles at a fair rate. Obviously Christmas is nearer than ever and I have been getting a little worked up about the lack of money in the bank and the amount of children to buy for. So I have thinking about the handmade pledge, so when I can retreat into my sewing room I DO at every opportunity.
Looking for fast but effective projects that hopefully will be received with knowledge that they have been made with love. From the choice of design, colour, fabric and how they are packaged.
So I have been making a little selection of child friendly goodies. I can show you this one as it was a birthday gift for a cutie, so no worries about giving the Christmas list away...
The bunting is made using a PLATE pattern, just the same as the bunting flags but using a small (or required size) plate as a template, just draw around half of the plate on the fold of the fabric. All held together with coordinating bias binding. The fabric envelope came from The lovely book - Patchwork Gifts.

Do you worry about your handmade gifts...I do, I know I can sew and the product is of an acceptable standard, I know the design is also acceptable, but when your giving handmade rather than selling it, you know if they buy it they want it. That little bit if insecurity that the recipient is smiling at you but actually thinking "OH NO, not another handmade gift" My insecurity comes from my Mom, she loves me but she does not get me. For years I always handmade her cards...one day it was mentioned that I did not think enough of my friends to go out and BUY a card. It was a harmless comment but it has made me question my gift giving. Now don't get me wrong, I have a couple of friends (yes that's you Kate and Caroline) who I know would actually be upset with me if I bought them a gift, so is it just me or is it just creative insecurity?

Forgive my indulgence here, my guys on the beach, I am so missing the beach, yes even in winter, on a cold blowy day, all wrapped up with your gum boots on, a warming mug of Hot Chocolate to warm up the hands... Yes time on the beach makes this Mommy a Happy Mommy!

Back to the sewing room...

Getting my groove back.... it must be near Christmas

I lost it there for a while, that need, every day having to make something, anything, as long as I made it with my hands... I have tinkered, its not been a passion more of a habit this past year. BUT... Its back, its been working its way back to me for a few weeks now and finally it 'HIT ME' at Autumn half term.
All those ideas and colours kept popping in my mind, no time, finding time has been difficult of late... but with a week without housework or appointments and the general stress of usual living on hold for a week, well I GOT MY GROOVE BACK.
The ideas flooded my mind so much so I pulled out my note book and drew and made notes of the ideas in my head, ready to put those ideas into reality...
There was a lot of playing, some failures and some successes. Most of all it was fun and made me smile... before I knew it those little piles of goodies started to grow. Little bits of silliness to brighten up a winters day.
I was asked to have a stand at a craft stall, the shock when I realised I had NO stock. To be fair this year, the run up to Christmas and the craft fairs will have to go without my little goodies, too much to juggle, transport, childcare and initial cost of the stand...all obstacles...

BUT its given me a nudge, no its given me a big push... to get my act together and start doing what I like, start making my stock a little healthier than just the odd corsage... yes my GROOVE IS BACK.

Watching the seasons pass by...

Is it an age thing, that suddenly the time is going by too quickly? Is it that I see my children growing too fast? Is it the end of another summer, time to hunker down for the worst of the British weather...

I am aware of each and every passing season this year, more so than usual, the changes, the smells and mostly the colours that each season brings with its own particular time.
The way the light changes, the warmth or lack of it from the sun, the colours of the moors around me, what the farmers are doing with their crops and what animals are snaffling around.
The seasons are also marked by my hands, what I desire in my hands changes with the passing of the seasons, cooling cottons in the summer and rich warm wool in the winter, I sew more in the summer and I knit more in the winter. The food I cook changes also, my cookery books lay out before me as I try and look for economical heart warming dishes and I think about getting the slow cooker out for another stint of 'stew' cooking...
So as it gets darker and the weather chills the heart of the home, a new 'hottie' cover is made to keep me snug at night...
I love this spotty fabric, I love spots, but I bought this years ago and have used many meters of the fabric, it always makes me smile, especially when I look at my youngest babe and I remember I made fleece nappy covers with this happy fabric, hard to imagine now as my youngest runs into school with mischief in his eyes... Yes the passing of time features daily for me at the moment. Lots of thoughts of this time last year, so much is the same and equally so much is so different.

Whatever you are up to as the last days of Autumn pass us by I wish you happiness and good health. Half term here next week, I am busy sorting out crafty things for the children and I to do as we run off for our last week to our little place by the sea and bid it a heartfelt sad goodbye.

Bag it...

We have been hit by swine flu... well a bad cold or what ever seems to be the thing that's going around. Its meant time not leaving the home for many days. With lots of cuddles and calpol!!!Nights spent checking temperatures and days changing bedding. But with a few hours of children spent curled up on the sofa covered in quilts sipping juice, I actually sat down and got my sewing head on...
Its Autumn, which means a new season which in turn equals a new bag...
So taking my inspiration from the colours of the season I played about with some scraps and put this little number together...
A bag that makes me smile!!!
Amazing what a little bundle of felt can inspire....

Accepting Autumn...

Autumn is a funny time for me, I appreciate the beautiful colours I even look forward to the warm cosy evenings snuggling up in front of the fire with beautiful wool to knit with or cosy cord to sew. Spending time in my kitchen in the day cooking up hearty meals and of course getting my slow cooker out for all those warming stews and casseroles. But... I am a summer girl and of course Autumn marks the end of those long lovely days out in the fresh air, time spent on beaches and swimming in the sea, eating food outside and BBQs, flowing easy dressing, make up free thanks to the freckles the sun has blessed me with. Yes its a time of sadness for me. However with so much change going on in my life I am more accepting even welcoming this year of the visible changes on the land that mark the passing of time.
Yes, accepting... enjoying the dew kissed grass in the early mornings as I let the animals out to play for the day, the change in clothes as I pull out all my beautiful knitted tops which wrap around me like a second skin, re heeling my favourite boots and sorting out my socks and funky tights ready for the cooler days.
Of course if your a blog reader you can not helped but have noticed the many posts about the seasonal fruits, sadly my pair tree has a nasty disease and the pears are inedible this year, but the apples (not from my own garden but a welcome gift) are a treat this year, so on a cooler, wetter day whilst the babes worked hard at school, this Mommy peeled chopped and baked...
Topping up the larder and the freezer, little bags of apple sauce ready for a winters worth of roast dinners and of course Christmas Dinner with homemade apple sauce and pies for those times when you need a treat of a pudding... did I really say Christmas then?
Yes I accept the changes around me and this year I even embrace it, without even realising it I have noticed my selection of colours has changed from bright to darker earthy tones in what I wear and indeed what I sew.....

I wish you a wonderful week as day by day the leaves on the trees change and the grass needs mowing less...