Scappy Cabin Challenge Scap Swap...it rocks!!!

Hello my name is Suzie Sews and I am a fabric-holic...better yet I have just had such a good fix I am smiling from ear to ear. I took part in the lovely Melly and Me Swap...I adore their work, so when they announced their second cabin scrap swap I jumped at the opportunity. I got my partner and away we went...I received a stunning package from the lovely Myrane in Australia...at present I can not link you to her blog as she does not have one...this is about to change and as soon as I know her address when she is up and running I will link to her. The fabric arrived all wrapped up in a stunning kitch kitchen fat quarter...which I have plans for an apron... All held together with a cute fabric pin and inside this package was the delights that are before your eyes...amazing fabrics, only a couple I have seen previously so it was fab to see so many lovely designs, I sat with my oldest and we colour coded it all, such fun, I am itching to put some of the fabric together.
Myrane also included some lovely gifts, I was especially taken with this role...How great is this? a little role for your cotton and a felt bit for your needles and pins, ideal for a little hand piecing in the car whilst waiting for 'Schools out'...
Thank you Melly & Me and Myrane, this has been such a good swap.

Now on to my current 'makes'...A little bit of using up scraps...finishing off a couple of my pin cushions using crazy patchwork toppers...in my favourite fabrics by Heather Bailey. One problem...I ran out of stuffing so I am going to have to go shopping...
Now its amazing that out of a mess like this you can make something...

and that something is my boys summer quilt, I am slowly getting there with the embroidery squares, I need to get the batting and chose the backing fabric this week so once again a little shopping trip is needed...this square is for my little Surf Dude...

In the hope of using up some yarn stash I got busy with this summer top, I have not really knitted much with big needles..I will be doing some more I can assure you as this is just this weekends knitting, its actually a softer pink than the picture shows and I have made it a little longer than the pattern, I am pleased with the way its turning out.
The knitting of my littlest babe sweater is just about finished, I need some quite time to sew it together and work on the neck, I am so loving this yarn, I am a bit of a yarn snob and usually only buy cotton or wool yarn, so it was a move away from the normal for me to pick this yarn, I am pleased with the softness and the way it is holding its shape and not fluffing...
Last but not least the search for a more professional look to my projects, I invested in a little stamp, it came with a free ink pad, sadly the ink pad is glupy and does not do the stamp any favours, I have plenty of ink from my paper crafting days and I am looking forward to having a play with this.
It came from here...Its quite affordable. I do however suggest you buy a good ink pad preferably a permanent ink.

I hope your weekend went well and was productive, the sleep over was fun, the children played so well and the house was quite by 9.00pm so I was impressed. We had a swimming trip and a nightmare visit to Ikea...madness!!! The weekend ended with supper at a friends house so all in all a good time was had, even though I left a bottle of wine for my host in the the taxi!!!

Spring had sprung...

Well we have snow...yes snow...a snow man has been built and the skies are blue...I managed to save a few sprays of daffs before the chill factor hit them... Easter has left a feeling of joy and new beginnings and not to mention a little overdoing it with the chocolate. I am still recovering, still in my PJs and still saying 'ouch' my nurse has had to return to work, today is my first day on my own with the children. How Lucky am I that some friends of mine have taken the children out for a play date? So before I retire to my bed I thought I should catch up with you.
All around the house is chocolate and all things bunny related, books a plenty lying around and most with an Easter theme. I got some beautiful cards from friends and fellow bloggers included in that a great little egg decorating kit from the very talented Little Cotton Rabbits, I thank you.
I managed to snap a picture of the Easter Tree...
which was a nice setting for my felt eggs...
not to mention all the other little eggs that I have collected over the years, sadly none of the shell eggs made it through to another year...I better make some more...

But there is no sadness at this loss as so many lovely 'NEW' things arrived. Lucy organised a great swap...the Easter swap and my partner was the cool Kitty...I got a beautiful card and the most amazing bunny, I love this bunny, she has such character, I mean look at those back paws...cute all the way!!! Kitty was a little naughty and popped in a few other bits, some soft, man so soft wool, lovely chocolate and some really pretty quilt cards. I thank you Kitty, you spoilt me...and I would love the pattern for the bunny dress, can you not imagine this bunny with a whole wardrobe of pretty dresses for all the seasons? Really this swap deserves a post all of its own, so forgive me, but I wanted to share it with you and not wait any longer...
As for the swaps in return, well the above bundle of bits went off to Weirdbunny (see previous posts for her parcel to me) and the picture below is one of the two bunnies I made for Kitty and Weirdbunny So there you are all my swaps up to date now and what fun they are, if you have never done a swap I urge you to join in, it really helps you to focus and make something you might not normally make and of course the fun of a parcel arriving for you...I wanted to say a special thanks to Lucy for organising the bunny swap, it takes some organising.
OK so we move on into the the spring time, and the season of all things new and lovely, a season of hope and joy and a time to look forward rather than reflect...so to me its a time to 'get things done' I am trying to finish started projects that have maybe been lying around for a while and of course starting new things...just because I like to...
The purse I knitted got made up whilst I have been spending a lot of time just sitting very still, I am pleased with the result...I lined the bag with some great fabric that I got as a freebie in an order from Sal of Sal's Snippets...it goes with the yarn perfectly giving it a lovely vintage feel. Let me assure you I will NOT be making another bag like this, sewing on the handle was not a task I enjoyed. I cursed all the way through it I also still have puncture wounds to my fingers and even with all of that I am not happy with the neatness of it...
But not unhappy enough to unpick it...I hope your Easter was a special one and like me your looking forward to the better weather...I can't wait to get out in the warm air again...

The goodness just keeps on going...

Look what happens when you stalk your postman...He eventually brings you a parcel or in my case this week two. Earlier in the week I had the fabulous magazines and vintage bits from Rebecca at Thrifty Goodness, as in yesterdays post. I am still reading all those lovely magazines and have idea's popping out of my ears now.
Then came this parcel from my best blogging Buddie, Sarah at Small Fox. Now the fabric as I am sure you are aware is Heather Bailey, its not that easy to get in the UK, may be next year, we tend to get things a little later! So when I raved about her purchase of it she offered to do a swap for some Liberty fabric and a few other little treats. Have a good look at my goodies. My first Moo cards, having heard about these for months, but not actually seeing one up close I was very excited. The beautiful pin cushion with the lovely vintage button, Oh how I like buttons!!! The tea towel as if I would ever use something as lovely as this to wipe my dishes...Best of all for me is my little Owl, how I wanted one of these when I first saw her piece them together on her blog, must be over six months ago now and today I have my very own owl.
Can you believe it, if that was not enough look at the lovely stuffies she made for the boys. I was so tempted to keep them to myself. I gave them to the children after they had been to the dentist, they are thrilled with them, the older one thinks its great someone sent them from so far away. So meet Amy and Jammie! Jammie was especially well cuddled last night when my little one was poorly, he has had a bad cough now for over a week and last night he awoke crying with ear pains, real tears and only wanted to be on his Mommy cuddling his Jammie.
SO whilst I was sat upright for a good portion of the night I totally enjoyed reading the two Romantic Homes mag's Sarah had included in the package. I had wanted this issue with Alicia's house in it when it was on all the blogs. I did not think I would actually get a copy, so good things DO come to those that wait. Thank you Sarah, I trust you enjoyed your goodies and the knitted stuff fits!
Well its still madness here, but in a different way, I am trying to QUILT like a mad thing and despite the pressure I am having a good time. This week alone I have made nearly five blocks. Yer I know there are only four here, the other one is by my bedside.
Its my course on Saturday and I am running behind with all the other stuff taking up so much off my time this month, I got worked up about it and then took time out to say 'Hey, this is meant to be fun' So I have realise I am not at the stage I would like to be, a few ladies on the course have had sessions missed so I can not be the only one and if I have to play catch up then so be it. Funny how a little talking to ones self can help.

Also my mind is buzzing quilt wise. I have my partner in the Doll Swap (see button on blog) if you click on it it will bring up all the information. I am so lucky to be in this, I nearly missed out as it has gone mental!!! So many people wanting to do it. My partner is an excellent quilter so I will have to pull off a good one. I have so many cool ideas in my head. I need to put some down on paper so I can get cracking on it. SO this will be next weeks project...

As you know, you did know right? Its my Birthday next week, dare I tell you my age!!! I am at that age when I realise that most of my friends are a good five+ years younger than me, so I assure myself that means they all think I am younger than I am. In my head I really do feel 27. Someone once told me that you reach an age you are comfortable with yourself and your life and that feeling stays with no matter what age you actually are. I was too young to be wise enough to understand those words. Well let me tell you, I was 27 when I had that feeling I am over 10 years on from that and whilst the mirror says otherwise my mind sticks to being 27!!!

Its all going on...

The winning just keeps on going, Capello from No Appropriate Behaviour the winner of the 100th post liberty giveaway emailed me to say she is not a knitter so I will swap the shades of blue yearn for a fq of some fabric from my stash. Which means the yarn is up for another chance to win, or should I keep it my stash??? OK we did another raffle, this felt like a fair thing to do for a few reasons, as I have two children, two more names, the yarn being one little giveaway (unless this winner is also a non knitter) and the other will be a handmade pin cushion.
So in second and third place of the raffle the winners are...Joanna from On the Blossom Trail and Julia from Vintage Heaven. So get your address over to me and the goodies will be sent at the end of the week.
Ok that's it all done, now to concentrate on the next 100 posts... I had to throw in these two gratuitous photo's of flowers, I blogged about them earlier this month. They are my favourite flowers and as a florist I like a LOT of flowers. They are from my garden and the previous post about them was when they had just budded. Well they are now picked and in my kitchen. A whole week earlier than usual. They are my birthday flowers. I love flowers in the house and these are just special to me. Since the first year I have lived here (they only got planted in the first year) they always flower on my birthday. So they will have blown over by them sadly, but I am enjoying them now. I am hoping to buy a little treat for myself from a fellow blogger, you know when you look at the stuff bloggers sell and you really want it, but don't do it. Well maybe this time I will...I believe in making birthdays special no matter what age you are, the gift of life is a precious thing and should be celebrated. Also being adopted Birthdays can make me quite sad. So I always like to chase away the blues by making it fun and what could be more fun than sharing it with my children.
Now talking of children, this is the moment I have waited for...whilst my youngest slept in the garden on Sunday my older son asked to play with my sewing machine. I had gone to great lengths to get him one for Christmas, a child friendly one with a safety cover by the needle. Well I agreed we would set him up, he was so excited. We pulled out the safety machine (my child has suffered from poor hearing and it has had an effect on his hand eye co-ordination so I was a little concerned). I watched his face fall as the silly little machine was utter RUBBISH!!! We hit the garage looking for the box that had stored away my VERY OLD and well used first machine, it had discoloured somewhat, but it did work. He took to it like a duck to water... NO, straight seams are not for him, with in minutes we had mastered circles (admittedly a little wonky) and he just took to changing the stitches without any advise form me. The end result is a picture of a little stick man. No photograph of this as its in my sewing room ready to be turned into a fabric quilted picture. Talk about a proud Mommy moment. This was a nice moment as it was fathers day and as their Dad was too busy working and I was missing mine it helped with the emotions of the day.
Anyway this sort of play continued, my child just itching to do the stuff that he sees his Mommy doing. Whilst I was taking some pictures he wanted a go. This is just one of his photo's, his first self portrait. As a family we do this style picture in the summer on the beach as you get great shadows and contrast, I have a record of them growing up just from this kind of picture.
So its all going on here...all the busy stuff I had on last week is done, the flowers in Church turned out OK, not as happy with them as usual but I was racing the clock, not to mention a little helper who wanted to run off with everything. The school fair was a success, I had two helpers in the craft room this summer and they really did a good job, the children enjoyed it and it was a lot easier as the things we made did not need so much one to one help. The sell out was the Grass Heads, so if your about to arrange a summer fair I can recommend this one, the kids love it and our grass head (Bert) is getting watered daily on the kitchen window ledge. I so love watching kids do art work, allowed to do their own thing the work and ideas they come up with are so inspiring.

Last but not least...
I was delivered some joy by the postman, my swap with Rebecca from Crafty Goodness arrived. I had expected one possibly two magazines from her and look at the bounty of stuff I got. Plus some cool vintage goodies. I am so enjoying these magazines, I have really dipped into them over the last couple of days, a joy indeed. Over the pond the magazines are sooo much more interesting than the ones you get here. Country Living, Coast and the new Charlie and lola craft mag are about as good as it gets here. So I thank you Rebecca from the heart, the postage on its own was a fortune. I really appreciate it and I hope you enjoy your goodies.

Colours of the Rainbow

Well today is so far a good day, I did right to just let go of trying to organise everything yesterday. I am still a bit worried about the amount of stuff that needs to come together this week, but allowing myself to just go with the flow has really helped. Only this morning I was asked to help with the nursery sports day tomorrow, one more thing to do, but you know that's just too cute an opportunity to miss out on.

So off went all my parcels, a couple of commissions , my two swaps (I am so excited about these) and a few EBAY payments for fabric and threads. So I should be getting some fab stuff in the post over the next week...Yippee This bag is just a glimpse of one of my swaps and until they get it I am not saying who its for, of course once they get it (and hoping they like it) I will link you to their blog, I read some pretty good blogs let me tell you. There is a story behind this Cath Kidston style bag, which if I have time later in the week I shall share with you. Still on busy mode so it will have to wait.
After school I took my boys to the local charity/thrifty shop. I do this as a means of not buying them sweets, they get to buy a toy for the price of a bar of Chocolate and I get to have a rummage and it supports a Hospice Charity, everyone is happy. Inspired by ArtsycraftyBabe's post about the pillowcases she picked up I looked in the box marked pillowcases. Yum! a pretty candy pink vintage Laura Ashley pillow case and two William Morris styled ones made out of a well washed linen fabric. Also two fabulous dresses for girls ages 6/7. The most amazing fabrics, rather colourful but a great find. I would love a little girl to dress them in. I actually thought about sending them to my little poppet in Australia, in fact my son wanted me to do this. On closer inspection after they had been washed a number of buttons are missing and one dress has a slight mark down one panel. The detail on them is amazing, if in excellent condition worn over a pair of leggings or jeans they would be so cool, alas I know in my heart that they are too fussy for my friend so I am going to take the ripper to them and use the fabric for all sorts of ideas, children aprons, lavender heats, little purses and as for the pockets they will just be cut off and stitched on to something else. Not bad for 35p each.
So yesterday I dared to show you a corner of my home, my very personal space...my bedroom. Today I thought it only right to show you the other bedside table, yep more books. I was not kidding when I said there are piles of books all over the place, she says looking down at three separate piles of books by the computer. I am a BOOK person and feel great comfort being surrounding by books.
A little Archie love coming your way, he is feeling a little sad today, he has so enjoyed being outside and playing around the children and me. Today its raining, the paddling pool has been emptied and no one is in the garden and I have left him in his little (well large) house, with the memories of sunny days. He loves being around people. June, Oh how I love June, its a Birthday month, the best month for birthdays, yes its my birthday month, Champagne and strawberries all the way. We seem to have had a lots this last two weeks, birthdays that is! So whilst the pens and pencils are out on the play table I thought I would do a bit of art work myself and by artwork I mean child friendly stuff...

I am a WINNER!!!

Hello, look what came in the post for me, talk about cute... This is a prize from Haphazard happenstances I left a message on her blog, I was lucky enough to be put into a draw and I won. Yippee. She actually designs them, they are so cool, the possibilities here are endless. Let me assure you that they are VERY professional. Archie the rabbit might have seemed a bit of an odd request for a photo, but, as he is one of the family and it was Easter orientated I thought he was a good choice. Go check out her blogs, she does have a few laugh out load posts and some very thoughtful ones too. I like to leave a comment when I read a blog and enjoyed it, I always feel a little, well, rude, as if I am reading a personal diary without permission, so I like to leave a little word or two:-)

Its been a blissful day today, I have remained in my PJs all day, its been a garden day and the children and I have just lazed around in the warmth of the sun. I have knitted at every free moment. I am doing a swap with my blog mate Small fox this is my first swap in blog land and I am very excited but also nervous as I am actually knitting something for her, its her choice but my design, oh I hope its OK. You know you have a few blogs you read everyday, well her blog is one of mine, and I am so pleased to say she has supported me almost from when I started, so who better for my first swap.

Now I have been tagged by From Under the Maple I have every intention to write my list of 'Mom things', but after a takeaway and a couple of cool drinks (hiccup) I think I should leave it for tonight.

Hoping for another sunny day tomorrow, its a 'Moms that Lunch' tomorrow and it will be so nice to eat outside whilst the children run around.