Failure to function...

Failure to function...yes all around me is either not working or playing me up, everything from my cooker (still not working, that will be over a month now) my photo printer, the strimmer and to top the lot my computer... So this is just a post to let you know that I am dealing with the matter and I will hopefully be on to normal posting and reading of my favourite blogs once the computer is back up and running... If I have not replied to any emails please understand that I am unable too at present, sorry! I soooooooo want to get this thing back to normal...scary how much my blog and photographs are so much a part of my day, I am praying I am not going to lose my photographs. All this is not helped by the post holiday blues, if you know me you will know that I always find it a little hard to get back in to a good rhythm once I have been away, especially on a beach holiday...how I wish I lived a little nearer to the beach...In the mean time I am filling in the void that has been left by my computer's failings...I have been doing lots of gardening...I am knitting up a storm and I have sewn for myself my summer bag...another Suzie Sews tradition...make a bag to mark each season, use it all that season and from then on that bag holds more than belongings...a whole heap of memories!

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!All my bookmarked blogs have been deleted...so I have lost quite a lot of my regular blog reads...does anyone know how I can get this back and is there any way I can save them so it does not happen again? I know I will have lost some favourites for good, I am trying to remain positive and I am hoping to discover some new ones, please feel free to send me your link so I can bookmark it to start getting back my list... I am off for a cold glass of wine to keep myself calm whilst I watch the computer man do his stuff...

You know how it goes...

You know how it goes..right? You know you are not going to be around for a couple of days then suddenly a whole week has passed you by...you've have been there...well that has been my last week...Half Term...What was planned as a quite week with a couple of trips out and a night camping turned out to be a fab holiday with the whole nine nights away from home. I took the boys of to the East coast and we just had such a good time, I have taken so many pictures, which will have to wait for tomorrow as today is getting chores done day.
We had days on the beach, days walking through blossom filled orchards, visits to farms and the usual 'Blyton-ess' adventures that little boys who like nothing more than playing in the mud or water take you on...

But for now, until the pictures are downloaded and sorted I have had a request to show some pictures of my quilt for the Lucy Lockets Quilt swap...sadly I did not take the best of pictures more just quick snaps, but it gives you the idea...the main body of the work was made with Heather Bailey and Amy Butler Fabric...
The back was a cherished piece of retro 1970s sheeting, I am almost at the end of this and it was hard to use it in a piece as backing but it finished the quilt off with a bit of a loud statement. I hope it was not too much for my swap partner...I guess its one of those fabrics you would either love or loath...
Talking of fabric, just before I went away I was introduced to this pile of loveliness and believe me I have more. It was all a little last minute and a certain amount of not thought through buying took place...but what a lovely pile of joy, I wish I had bought a little more of some of the blues as I have ideas for a dark coloured summer quilt for picnic's in the park.

It not what you know but who you know...there I was sitting knitting with my knitting group and someone mentioned fabric, as you would guess my little ears pricked up and we got chatting about sewing...One of my knitting friends very kindly took me to a lady who was selling all this amazing fabric and such a good price I could not resit...yes I dipped into my holiday money, but I was happy to give up a few ice creams for a few extra meters of this fabric...Then I went away with a whole week to think about all the lovely stuff I could make when I returned home...on walking through the door after nine nights away...I went into my sewing room and just flicked longingly through the pile of goodness...Am I mad? Do you do this kind of thing? So whilst I go and reacquaint myself with the washing machine and tackle all the chores, I leave you with a token picture from my holiday, at then end of the week I met up with friends from school for a camping trip and whilst I wash the clothes free of dirt and the wonderful smell of the burning wood camp fire I will think of the cosy toes, the sound of children laughing, good food cooked and eaten outdoors shared with good company with one or two glasses of wine I shall remeber the fun we all had...these are the things are memories are made off...

A little shopping...

Busy Busy busy...so much is going on around here that I am starting to lose track...I also have a head full of projects but I need to keep focused and what better way than to invest in a little 'quick' sewing that yields super cute results... I try not to use my blog to advertise as I do not want to favour anyone in a market that is already difficult to survive in. So this is a little out of character for me. I was browsing the Internet and came across the website for cloth kits whilst searching under Rob Ryan. I was instantly drawn towards a little kit to make a doll. So the parcel arrived...

All wrapped up in pretty paper...
with what looks like a tea towel...I am struck by its simplicity and the fun side of this project, I am so looking forward to making this dolly up and making the little clothes to go with my red headed beauty...
Of course popped inside the package was the catalogue for the company and I just think it has some great stuff in it...
Can you see the Russian Doll dresses? You just simply sew up the seams and your done, maybe a cheats way, but what a cool project when you need instant gratification or maybe you want a project to try your hand at sewing and are a little nervous...so if your experienced or a beginner this all seems like a good little catalogue stuffed with some great ideas...
As for the search for Rob Ryan...look at the skirt design! As the catalogue says 'if you can not bear to cut it up you could always frame it.' Just so that I am not completely gushing about it all I will add that as usual there is very little for boys...how about a boy doll, a pirate say or some groovy little pants with a silk screen tracker on the ankle or an original square robot design on the pocket...Oh you could go mad with ideas...its called clothkits...

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Its half term next week and as usual I will be in full on Mommy mode so I might be a little busy and not blogging as much as usual...I am sure I will be taking lots of pictures and doing crafty stuff with the children, we are planning a beach trip and a little camping trip with some friends, so if your spending time with your babes have a great week and I look forward to catching up with you soon, if you have no babes...how about a cloth doll to pass some time away making...

Huckleberry Finn...

Knitting, sewing and gardening...this Mommy is having fun...I have been making more of these little mice to go with the tea cups I thrifted the other week... It is the most beautiful yarn and the buttermilk colour is gorgeous, I need to purchase some little seed beads for the eyes and sew on some whiskers and then these little 'Critters in Tea Cups' will be ready to find new homes.
On the gardening front we are now at the stage that the garden looks livable rather than the work in progress state of 'stuff' everywhere. The children and I are making a little pond, well actually a large sunken bucket! We have had so much fun, digging it out, filling it up and collecting the wildlife to go in it...yep we were regular Huckleberry Finn's with our little jam jars and string handles hanging from our fishing nets as we went off in search of tadpoles. Well we got plenty and the pond will make a great new home for them and a perfect educational feature for the children. I have been rather taken with 'Country livings' bring back the Nature Table' this topic has made me really think about how to encourage my kids to be more interested in nature.
So when we had a little rest time I picked up my sock knitting...yep I am actually knitting socks on what seems like cocktail sticks. I have been inspired by my knitting friend Caroline and blogging friend French Knots. I just love the way this yarn patterns up its very addictive...a few more rows just to see what happens to the pattern...
As for sewing, well I have been making some hair pins (yet to photograph) and I have been going through my stash of fabric and these two patterns are just singing to me...Oh the possibilities...

Moooooo!!!

Well I finally did it, I actually followed a pattern for a stuffie...you have seen some of my disaster...for some reason I just can not get my head around stuffies...I try and indeed I keep trying...so finally I gave in to the correct procedure and thought maybe following a pattern might be a good idea so I can learn to walk before I run... What a perfect pattern to work with, from Melly and Me, their super Moo Cow...in true 'Suzie Sews' style I just started cutting out the pattern before I read the instructions so I did move away from the instructions a little...which is just what I am like...I think he is super cute and I have proof too...
The recipient was very happy with his MOO, my little one sat at bedtime and told his usual bedtime cuddlies that tonight he would be cuddling the Moo, he gave each of his cuddlies a kiss and sat them down at the edge of his bed and Moo went in for the big cuddle.
In the morning I received a little breakfast made for me to say thank you...I enjoyed this pattern and whilst I found the little horns difficult to turn and stuff....I also forgot to sew in the ears so I hand sewed them on...I put patches on his back to add some personality of his own...I had fun and I was pleased with the results...so a little internet shopping later I have ordered a few more of their patterns...WATCH THIS SPACE!!! This might get addictive...
So the sun is still shinning and I need to spend some time on swapping my winter wardrobe over to my summer one...the problem being it is too nice to stay indoors and in the evening I sit and Knit...yep its all about priorities...so I have a couple of linen trousers, a linen dress (see how that linen takes over my life at this time of year) and a couple of Tee shirts plus last years rather beaten up crocs and that's my wardrobe so far...THIS WEEKEND...I plan to swap over the clothes to the right season. In the meantime the children and I have been doing some serious garden work, lots of exciting plants are being seeded and if they all grow we will have an abundance of loveliness going on around here...
The summer vibe really makes me rethink so many areas of my life and cooking is just one of them, actually this is a forced issue as my cooker has not been working for nearly three weeks now and I am relying on the hob and BBQ...but there has been a change around of cooking books in the kitchen...I have a whole of heap of cooking books each marking a time in my life from when I learnt to cook, from student cooking, single life cooking, dinner parties, feeding toddlers and now the more family orientated and organic style cooking...So this is the selection that has been pulled off the bookshelf and put on to my kitchen work space...The spiral bound one is actually my old school cooking book which is always to hand, well used as you can see, this has all the basic stuff in...pancake mix, different sauces and cakes made the proper way ( usually I just through all the ingredients in a bowl and mix it up!!!).
I am working on my summer menu planner so I can be more economical in my shopping...Well its a good idea in theory!!!

Its that time of year...

Is it really a year since the pressure washer came out? As I work I think of summer BBQ's, generally eating outside, a little crafting going on with the children on the patio and playing in the sand not to mention the splashing in the pool. The children race out each morning to see if their sunflower seeds have grown any bigger and last night my little one and I planted a whole heap of summer veg, my little guy has a sudden interest in all things gardening!!!
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The last couple of days we have been scrubbing, cleaning, mowing, digging and planting...
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Slowly the garden is coming back to life and getting away from the drabness of the winter, at present its a mess, but its a work in progress and soon, very soon, we will be able to enjoy the delights of outdoor living...As long as the rain keeps off that is!!!

Peek a Boo mornings....

The sun is shinning and I was awoken this morning by a flurry of teddy bears... We greeted the outside with breakfast...Memories of my childhood, boiled egg and soldiers!!!
After applying the suncream and filling the pool up we got ready for a day in the garden...
My little corner of the garden is calling me for a little hand sewing whilst the children play...
I leave you with another sneaky peek of the back of my latest mini quilt...


I know its Mothers day in a lot of places around the world so if your a Mother in one of those places...I wish you a happy day with your babes what ever age they are as you never stop being a Mom once your a Mom!!!

Mr Postman...look and see...

The Lucy Lockets Quilt Swap is now in full swing, I can picture lots of sewers patching together little bits of fabric and eagerly waiting for their Postie to drop their swapie's quilt through the door...Hurrah!!! Mine has arrived... I was very happy to be paired up with Quilting Bebbs, I have had the pleasure in us emailing each other through our blogs, so it wass lovely to get a quilt from a Friend. Quilting Bebbs, I thank you from the heart...yes the heart and just look at all those lovely hearts...how sweet is this? it is already up in my sewing room. I just need to buy some more hooks and Quilting Bebbs thought of everything including little rings to hang it on the wall with some lovely little extra bits and bobs...buttons and nice goodies:-)
So I guess I must be falling a little behind...Oh but look, the sewing room has taken on the paraphernalia of a quilter...the ruler, rotary cutter and lots of little bits of fabric litter the floor...
Add in some colour and texture for inspiration and not to mention the beautiful sunshine shinning away...
There you have it a 'SNEAKY PEEK' at my finished quilt, I do not want to give to much away as it is a gift...

Now as if that was not enough from my dear postman who is weighed under by packages and letters walking through the village in the heat...Oh Bless...He also delivered this little package...A GIVEAWAY win...THREE CHEERS for GIVEAWAYS...This came from the lovely Sal Snippets...who you should all know by now...she has just got in a new range of fabrics and I was lucky enough to win a Fat Quarter and in true Sal Style I got a few extra bits. She is always so generous...I am not sure yet what I will make with this, its very pretty fabric with a large pattern and I am thinking it might be nice as a summer garden cushion. Thanks Sal...
SO whilst Mommy is busy sewing what are the little ones up to...Well we have new craze going on around here, remember 'Shrinky Dinks'? You used to (depending on your age) get them free in cereal boxes, you colour them in and pop them in the oven and they shrink to about a tenth of the size. As a previous paper crafter I have all the bits to make these, but we used a heat gun rather than the oven...both children love them and are able to turn out great results...with a little help from me with the keyring attachment they have produced some great little things that have been given out to friends and family...Oh and a few to decorate the light fitting in my kitchen...because you have to do that...right?
I had to show you my latest thrifted Tea set...yes another tea set in the 'Suzie Sews' household...this set has been on my mind, remember the 'Critters in Tea Cups'? well I am looking at some lovely buttermilk yarn to make up some mice to go with the these tea cups...
Talking of future projects this little pile is inspiring me, a few bits I picked up from the patchwork shop at the weekend...I am thinking yo yo buttons and small knitted flowers for hair clips...
To finish with a totally self indulgent picture of my wee ones sandy toes...Yer Its Beach weather...

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Blogger is having great fun with me today, from not allowing pictures up, to refusing to post up to days post and saying it will be posted at a set time...So if it all goes a little odd or maybe you get two posts of the same thing etc...I apologise...if its the spelling and the grammar...well that's my fault!(You should know that by now)!

On a roll...

I am on a roll, the sun is shinning, the grass is green, the sky is blue, bird song fills the air...Oh it really feels like the grey damp weather of the past five months are behind us now and whilst it was not a harsh winter it was so grey and damp that it felt like walking around with your own personal rain cloud. As you may be aware I am a summer girl, its MY season, I adore the way Spring fills us with so much promise, but for me its the long lazy days with the feel of the warm air on my skin...

So its no big surprise that with our fist warm weekend, and a bank holiday one at that, I made the the most of this amazing weather. On the first day of the three days I did the chores and went on a little shopping trip with my children, which involved a visit to the local yarn and patchwork shop, so some new stuff got purchased which is always a delight and it was nice to catch up with people. The children and I love thrifting together so we spent a little time peeking around the goods on offer, just mooching through the charity shops and we scored some great stuff.
We pulled together some yummy delights to eat and had a little picnic in the garden before we got down to some serious garden maintenance...I power washed the patio (with a little helper who really did not help, although the sounds of giggles made it all worth while), I cut back some trees and even managed to put down huge amounts of top soil in a very bare area of my lawn and seed it all...
A short break was required when our neighbours children wanted to show my children the frog they had caught, so an impromptu stop with a shared glass of cold crisp white wine before we all got back to our gardening duties...At the end of the day we sat and enjoyed the satisfaction of looking at our hard work before we all headed off for a jolly good wash...Gardening is dirty work you know!
The Sunday brought rain (just what the seedling needed) so any outdoor plans got scarped, instead we had a big Sunday roast and cuddled up on the sofas for some reading, playing and a little bit of sewing and knitting. When the next day arrived the sky was clear, we packed up our bag and headed off for the beach...
Oh to feel the sand between our toes and dip them into the cold sea...what a joy...When the sun started to set we thought we had better head home, I arrived home with two very sleepy children who needed carrying to their beds dusting the sand off their feet before I snuggled them up under their sheets for a night of contented sleep...

Pictures...1) Knitting...Finished!

2 &3) Tissue holders...Finished!

4) Linen birds...Finished!

5)Buttons...Thrifted £1.00 per pot...Happy me!!!

Book buying frenzie!!!!

I have mentioned my book buying addiction on more than one occasion. I have worked really hard this year to slow down on this, I have to say I have done very well with only one week of book buying this year, that was until the last two weeks... You see I have a little pad by the side of my computer and when I read someones blog post with a book review, if I like the look of the book I write down the details on the pad under the title that says 'Books to buy'. So this little pile are the last two weeks purchases. Most of them came from Amazon and a couple came from a craft fair that I visited at the weekend. SO I am overloaded with inspiration, my head is buzzing with ideas, on almost every page of all these books are stuff I want to make. As you know I have a passion for linen and these little purses are a delight, I probably will not make a purse, however the inspiration in the mix of linen and cotton are just wonderful...
I am also always knitting small projects along side my big knitted projects (usually corsages) and this colour combination is just hitting the spot and has me rummaging through my BIG bag of odd balls of yarn (mostly filled with the last/odd balls from bigger projects and a great mix of colours and textures)
As for these little coasters, what a smiley way to start the morning, I could just imagine my babes faces when I pop their morning breakfast on these little guys!
Whist I am not going with this colour scheme I am so loving this cow, I have a huge collection of cows (I shared some of this with you in the Month of Moo March 2007). So this is a must on the To do list... Ahh yes I am a list maker...