Back in the swing of things

Things are retuning to some normality after the much need break, I still have so much to share with you about my special week, watching my son painting a landscape, decorating cookies, some great photography by my babes, endless amounts of origami, we all enjoyed playing with paper this break. For now though I am still thinking Doll Quilt Swap, I have seen a few people post pictures of their quilts before they have sent them out so I thought I would show you the WIP...Here is the label I did on the new 'LOVE OF MY LIFE'... Here is the front of the quilt, I have tried to incorporate different techniques to keep the interest going for the the receiver. That's the first hand embroidery I have done in years, I mean years...since I was a child I think! The weather here is still raining and gloomy so all pictures need better light, if I waited for it though you might not see any pictures for ages.
So as I mentioned yesterday I was off to buy the binding and some thread, I went with a friend who at the time of leaving had to feed her little one so I called into a garage sale on the way to waste a little time. Oh joy! I am so glad I did, look at the yummy goodness I walked away with, and I have to confess this was not all of it! Just look at this lovely bowl set, its very kitch and very ME. I can not wait for the summer weather to be dipping into a bowl of strawberries or cherries or better still home made trifle, my Mom says it has to be made with sponge not jelly to be a real trifle!!! I especially like it if the sponge has been soaked in Madeira. This beautiful cake stand said 'BUY ME', but it weird as I am sure I have seen this before as if I have already owned it, very bizarre, but how sweet it is and even better as the glass cake stand I had got broken being washed up after the babes birthday party.
Of course I need another tea set, I really must show you my collection...I just can not help myself and whats a girl to do when it was only a pound. My tea sets used to be displayed on my kitchen window sill for me to enjoy looking at, I got asked once did I not have any cupboard space for them, I was devastated, I could not understand how people could not get the joy out of them like I do, it seemed odd. I was adamant it was not me in the wrong, BUT sadly the joy of looking at them diminished as worry took over that when people visited did they think me slightly mad. So they are now all stored in my glass fronted cupboard, I have to say the kitchen does look brighter and the the cupboard looks real 'eye candy' so once this lot has been scrubbed up and shiny it will join the others.
Garage sales are not big around here so when I saw this one I had to have a poke around, the ladies that ran it could not have been nicer to me and so happy to see my little babe, they even offered me a drink in their kitchen, sadly I had to decline as I had my shopping date at the thread n fabric store.

I took my little helper to his nursery today only to find it was the open day for the new intakes and we had to come home, I was delighted, so as soon as I have finished this and made the beds we are 'Baking Cookies' the apron is already on and I have a little person wanting my attention...

Making me happy!!!!

Look at the new love of my life, Slim, Strong and Multitasking, racing through jobs with a creative flair and endless possibilities. Is there a new man in my life? don't be silly its my new Birthday gift! I can not tell you how thrilled I am with this. I have thought about an embroidery machine for about nine months now, not really looking into it too much because of the cost of them. I happened to mention my interest to my local patchwork shop owner and she let me have a go at her machine that she was looking to sell. I was hooked, although due to the cost I had to hand it back and say 'Yep I am in love with it, but I need to give it more thought' It was a luxury, it was not going to change my life as my normal sewing machine had, it was, I had to face it, just an expensive toy and we are talking of the basic model here. So can you imagine my joy when I got this for my birthday, I was over the moon, the MOON I tell you!

I have been desperate to have a really good play with it but as I was away and then working on the Doll Quilt Swap it sat there just teasing me... Tease me no more...I got my hands on it yesterday and in a productive way too. I designed my Doll Quilt Label on it, it took a couple of goes to get the size right and colour, but I am so pleased with the result and just having the time to play. We never stop enjoying playtime no matter what age we are. Can you sneak a peek at my quilt for the swap, I am not going to want to give it away, all the hours of work I have put into this and then I am sending it off to someone who does not know me, say it gets lost in the post...worry worry worry!!!! Worst of all 'Will THEY like it'.
I am off to the store today to pick the fabric for my binding. I have a little birthday money off my Mom so I might get some threads to fill this up with...

Oh magic how did that happen? Well I already had invested in the brother threads when I started doing embroidery on bags with my other machine, I had a few commission cheques to play with (yer OK I should really bank them) it coincided with a sale in my local sewing shop, they down sized (sadly! I thought sewing was getting BIG again) and most of their stock was reduced, I mean BIG TIME reductions!!! So I indulged and spent every last penny of my earning!!! Oh and I also scored a few brother reels on ebay, five new reels including covers forfor a couple of pounds. It was so worth it, best ornament in the house at the moment, those pretty jewel colours. Oh look a couple of spaces and I am off to the store later, wounder what I will be buying...

Just a person not to my friend Caroline who gave me the stand when she up sticks and left me to the promise of a better life by the beach (how exciting is that).

Your stand is getting a lot of love at the moment, it was a great gift...thanks.

A note to our friends across the pound HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, I hope you have a day full of nice things...