A little bit of this and a little bit of that...

With all the outdoor play in the summer, settling down to some serious kids crafting time is not something that usually takes place, sure we paint in the garden and chalk up a storm on the patio, but to sit around the kitchen table and to spend time drawing, painting, cutting, sticking and generally making a mess, well this is for the dark evenings and rainy weekend afternoons...So its just not something we have done together for a while.  Along with play dates and after school activities for the first time ever I am having to plan in this time rather than it happen most nights as it did before the time when school seemed to take over our lives.  Pre-children I paper crafted and made cards, I also sold them enough to make a steady 'side' income.  I lost my groove a bit when the card invasion took place in the UK and suddenly it was more about the stuff you bought rather than the art.  Do not get me wrong, I think it opened the door to a lot of people who wanted to do arty things but felt unable to and this can only be a good thing, right?  
Never the less I lost my groove, suddenly instead of glitter, ink and pretty rainbow coloured paper surrounding me I found myself fully submerged in baby delights...cloth nappies, beautifully illustrated hard board books, pretty gingham bedding and the softest velvety cuddlies.  I remained in contact with some rather amazing designers and I swapped a few ATCs (I  have a fine collection which outshines my children's Pokemon ones) I made a couple of altered books and even dipped my toes into the scrapbooking phenomenon. 
Tinkering is more of the word to describe my paper crafting life now... sewing and knitting has now taken over and instead of shelves full of beautiful wooden stamps and multi-coloured pots of embossing powder, its now piles of lush fabric and tactile baskets of yarn...
So when the craft table does get going in full flow I love it and I slip back into the comfortable mediums of colour.  Last night after the school run, we pulled on our aprons and just went for it... we printed,painted, glued and glittered up in a frenzy of crafting....
Instead of the usual chatter there was silence as we each contemplated and then put into practice our ideas.  Potato's and apples became our printing tools and as for the wee babe, well of course he painted his hands (all the way to his shoulders!) to make prints, what I did notice was the change in my little ones work.  I remember at the beginning of the year when suddenly arms and legs appeared in his usual squiggles across the page and then features, enough to know he was drawing his Brother, or his Mommy and best off all himself with huge curly hair. Now we are getting so much more detail and even trying to write words to describe his pictures.  As for Big Brother...he enjoyed the printing, but as usual his favourite is cartooning...with speech bubbles a plenty...
Not that we needed a reason to spend the time at the craft table together, there was however an intention and I am pleased to say a good outcome.   I was inspired by the Living magazine and all things 'pumpkin'.  As we do not really go in for Halloween I went with the Harvest theme for this time of year...
and if I may say so myself...we got some good results, we made our Harvest greeting cards...then again when your having this much fun...who cares?

Have a great weekend and if you are looking for a craft to do with children check out the Flappy Happies over here...Domesticali

PS The new Autumnal Header picture is actually the photography of my eldest child, I love the effect he has captured almost lensbaby like.  Not bad for a little one aged eight!  Yes I am one proud Mommy!

busy little bee - Free motion machine quilting

Ah another weekend passes us by and for me it was a weekend with quite a lot of difference to the normal...My boys, for the first time ever spent a couple of nights away from me... it was a Lads and Dads kind of a weekend... Now let me tell you this was not an easy thing to do.  As a full time Mom my boys have always been with me except for one night when babe No 1 stayed with a close friend as I delivered babe No 2...so it was a big thing for me.  The funny thing is having spent some time on my own, to go sleep when I wanted and to wake up when my body chose to... to have some free time in the day... well I feel 100% refreshed and I feel a better Mom all round now.  So what did I do to fill the hours...I did what Suzie Sews does best and I sewed... Around me the house shows signs of this activity from the pins in the armchair when I curled on the sofa Saturday evening to bind a quilt, a glass of wine and a movie for company... to the threads that lay in little dust bunnies over the wooden floor (despite brushing it daily).  Yes lots of sewing got done.
After a lovely nights sleep on Friday I went off to my sewing course and this months course was free motion machine quilting, something I have been unable to achieve myself with satisfactory results.  
So I had a go at this...
a little play at that...
I had great fun with this...
and I got plain carried away with this little beach picture including the little fish...
it was fun, challenging and I feel I have just about got the hang of it, enough to have ago now with out fear, I think I just need lots of practise...
Because practise makes perfect, not that I want perfection I am a great believer in Homespun ethics...
Because that is what gives a quilt its character and history, after all if you wanted it perfect you can go into a shop and buy one off the shelf...
I have so enjoyed my journey through all the measurements and detail of learning to quilt, I used to be scared of all the quilting terms which is why I joined the course, and whilst its not my first love, it has taught me so much about sewing, pattern and putting it all together over a period of time to make something that is precious to my family.  Yes I have enjoyed this journey and I look forward to what it will reveal to me next...

The children returned home excited and tired after their adventures and safely into my open arms.

Thank you for the lovely friendship comments (see last post), it warmed my heart and that's not a bad thing as the Autumn chill sets in,  leaves blow across the fields, the lights go on when I get up in the morning and yesterday I defrosted the car (in my summer sandals because I have not given up hope of a few more days of summer)... well I can dream can't I?

Friendship...

Friendship, its a funny thing, it truly is a gift.  Throughout my life I have been lucky enough to meet some very special people that I feel honored to be able to call my friends...
Its not very often in life you actually meet your soul mate, someone you feel really in tune with. If your very lucky you might find that its your partner, the person you share your life with on a daily basis, you create and raise your children with, or it could be a someone you played with in your back garden as a child and have grown up with.  Then again sadly you might never actually meet your soul mate.  Throughout life I have been lucky enough to have made lots of friends, I have travelled and there is something about travelling that breaks down the barriers.   I feel very blessed with my friends, I have known very lovely people in my life. 
Friends are so important in life, you know the saying 'you can pick your friends but not your family'.  Equally these friendships can leave you vulnerable and I am sure we have all been hurt by people we called friends and there is something so soul destroying about that which leaves you feeling incredibly hurt.    So to spend time with my soul mate over the last couple of weeks has been fantastic.  As I type she is up in the sky on one of several flights as she makes her way home to her own family in Australia.  Whilst our time together has been short we certainly made the most of it.  We chatted none stop, we eat great food, we walked, talked seriously, knitted and chatted some more.  The children adore her, we put the children to bed at night with silly stories told in silly voices and the children so loved it.  
So this morning we got up early (having gone to bed ridiculously late as we chatted on and on until the wee small hours) we made our way to the airport.  The airport is such a wonderful place, a place to 'people watch' and to see that there really is a lot of love in this world of ours. Only this time is was not watching people greet friends and family it was to watch them part saying their goodbyes.  
I don't know when I will see my soul mate again.  After all we could not live any further away from each other.  But I am left with some special memories.  A renewed faith in the word friendship, because when you make a best friend, you have a friend for life, if its not for life then its not a true friendship.  My soul mate is someone who just takes me for what I am, the good and the bad the rough with the smooth.   If they call me and need help I will always be there for them too.  Yes friendship really is a priceless gift.
So I have spent quality time this past two weeks, talking, shopping, knitting, sewing, trips to the hospital and talking some more.  There has been laughter and even some tears.  As a family we have all enjoyed our friend staying with us, brief as it was, special cuddles with special people...

Have a great weekend and if there is a friend you have not spoken to for a while, go on pick up the phone...

PHOTOGRAPHS

PHOTO 1  a future project in the making PHOTO 2 The knitted dress for my friends oldest child in the making PHOTO 3  selecting the fabric for the knitted dress to make the skirt, so many pretty fabrics to choose from  for a pretty little one PHOTO 4  Airport runs  PHOTO 5  Cuddles, God Mother and God Child spending some special time together

Edited to add...I apologise for the miss spelling, now corrected, thanks for making me aware...darn dyslexia!!!

Book Club...Autumnal changes

Well its the time of year when I finally have to accept that Autumn is on its way, reluctantly yes, but never the less I am realising that I just can pretend no more, its time to pull on the long sleeves and feel almost claustrophobic with the layers of clothing after the freedom on light linen on my body.  Next week I will revisit the summer with a post of my favourite pictures and memories of the past few month, then I can really move on into the next season.Along with acknowledging the dark mornings and evenings, with the chill in the air that  brings with it the time to hunker down under quilts with a good read.  As you may be aware I am a bookie type of person, I adore books, old, new, story or factual...I do spend most of my spare pennies on books, ideally I like to buy them from small shops, the days of the book shop on the corner street are diminishing rather to quickly for my liking, a place were the shop keeper knows all names of the books they stock off the top of their head, when a cup of tea or coffee is placed into your hand as you parooze the shelves...yes sadly these shops are disappearing fast...instead we have the super bookshops and of course who can not be aware of the amazing savings through Amazon.

This pile of loveliness is my craft book purchases over the last month (I admit to having a pile of novels as well).  There are some great books here, I do sometimes get seduced into a book purely by its cover and when I get round to actually seriously reading the book I have been disappointed, not so with these books, full of inspiration for knitting and sewing alike, the Japanese sewing book is to be rated highly, full of all the projects we see in the adorable (yet pricey) magazines, but the best thing is the instructions and pattern sheets are in English. I gave up trying to work out the instructions from the magazines, sometimes life is just to short for that kind of thing.  It has some super projects in and I can assure you there will be some made here over the coming months.

I love dirt...its a good book, I feel its more aimed for the children to read, my older son loves it, it helps him to have more of a focus in his outdoor play but its nothing new. However its nice to have all the ideas in one place.

The Yarn Harlot need no explanation or description, just cool books that make you smile. 

I also guess most people who sew already own the beautiful Amy Butler Book, lots of adorable baby projects from cuddlies to nappy bags for the new Mommy.

So that's my inspiration pile for October and I am already looking up a few new craft books that are coming out this month...so much inspiration, my shelves are groaning under all of the weight.
Its been a big day today, I put on enclosed shoes and even pulled out my boots...I bought these pumps last week, whilst I do not really want to get back into 'proper' shoes, when they are this 'HAPPY' well maybe I can make the change with a smile on my face...
So with my weekly list of things to do...top of the list was my turn on the rota for church flowers...I thought I would do a pedestal arrangement to celebrate the fabulous colours of Autumn which are now all around us...
As if I needed to prove it anymore that the seasons have changed, this is a photograph of my little one at the weekend, without even knowing it I snuggled him up in a quilt of autumnal colours (backed in Boden Dalmatian baby soft cord)whilst he slept deeply after a day of playing on the beach...

A change is in the air...

A change is in the air, the weekend did its magic.  It lived up to expectation and indeed even exceeded it.  Time spent on the beach, chilling out, watching the sun set with its warm amber rays that you only get at this time of year, running around in open fields and just spending time in the fold of my own little family... The weekend could have only been made better if I could have gone in to the water, sadly until the dressing from my minor surgery 'gone wrong' is removed I am unable to swim, swimming is my sanctuary so I feel a little lost not been able to join the children in the pool or the sea. However the time was filled up knitting socks (my usual beach knit) cricket on the beach, sandcastle building and of course the tradition of burying someone up to the shoulders in sand! So now I am feeling more in control of my life the creative vibe is flowing again and I am even surprising myself at the speed in which things are getting done around the 'Suzie Sews household',  I am busy making a special little girl a knitted dress, quite an undertaking for me as whilst I knit all the time I have yet to tackle cable or lace, so this little number using a very basic lace pattern is proving to be a real treat, I am so enjoying the process, despite a little unpicking of an inch or two when I missed one yarn over!  
The booties are all finished and sitting prettily in there adorable baby-ness on my work table, fluffed up with pink tissue paper awaiting a matching pair to be made in blue so when the baby they are intended for is born I will have the right colour!!!  Knitted on size 2.25 needles they are a lovely small project with the cutest of results...As  with these things though they might never get worn by the baby, it was suggested by someone at my knitting night that hung with ribbon on the nursery door was an effective way to display them...nice idea, I like that, maybe a gingham ribbon to match the gingham button.
Now I am so close to finishing this bag.  The problem is I am so enjoying my Autumn bag that I have not taken the time to complete it, I only have the sides to sew up and the handle to finish, maybe later on today I might finally get round to completing it. Its design and pattern are from the lovely Melly and Me, they need no introduction, I joined the Fat Quarters, Melly and Me monthly club, six months worth of projects for Christmas gifts...you know I think I might find that hard to do, I want them all for ME!!!  As for this months project, it arrived on Friday and its as cute as you could imagine.
So another week begins and it holds many things, more trips to the hospital for this silly 'hole' in my leg, my car is away being serviced today so the housework is getting attended to, my visit to my Moms is this week in an attempt to put the last couple of weeks behind us (if only it was that easy).  Also a couple of airport runs as my best buddy is flying in and then out again on her return to Australia.  In with all this will be the usual day to day things, food shopping, a bake in planned as my freezer needs restocking after the months away through the summer, Oh and of course some sewing and knitting.  I ask that you indulge me with just a couple more beach pictures...who said it always rains in September...
A great weekend indeed and here's to a good week...

Hooray for the weekend...

Hooray for the weekend, its nearly here.  What an emotional roller coaster of a couple of weeks its been.  I looked in my blog archives at this time last year, guess what? Yep, I was struggling with the transition from Summer to Autumn (and all that it brings) then too.  Missing the children, finding my new rhythm, re-establishing my friends as peoples 'life roles' change, Moms returning to work no longer have time for chats, new Moms in the playground, so much change.  I like the  'familiar' , I spent my adult life travelling, moving and spending time with lots of new people, I have now found a base, a place to put down roots and raise my own family so suddenly change is not so exciting anymore. Content am I.

So when finding that new rhythm is tough, I head off to the beach to sooth my soul, I am EXCITED about the weekend, even the weather man is promising sunshine and warm weather.  So its on with the crocs...

Heading off to this beach with my guys...
We will be staying in our cosy beach house, our caravan;-)
I will be knitting more of these...
We will be watching the sun go down in that wonderful light that you only get in the evening, when the day trippers have all headed home and the only sound is the waves and the seagulls. We hope to be snuggling up under  blankets and drinking our Hot Chocolate tired after a day in the fresh air...

Returning to our beach house! To curl up with a good book...Ahhh yes soon I will acknowledge that autumn is on its way, just for now though I will cling on to every last bit of the summer...

The gift of being a MOM!

There has been a lot of Mother talk going on here and I am finding great therapy from all the issues in my knitting (The other bootie-see last post- was finished plus a pair of socks grafted and a new project started all in one day) I guess its that time of year when there is great appeal to be sitting in the failing evening light with a quilt pulled over you because its not quite cold enough to put the fire on... So busy was I in dealing with the issues of my own Mother I forgot that I to am a Mom, so when this moment, this precious moment, just opened up...I smiled...
My gorgeous boy, how I love you.  Sitting opposite me after a hard day at school. Munching on a cookie and looking intently at some toy, munch munch, yummy cookie... your just so darn cute.  Your curls tinted blond from all the days outside through the summer, you pull a curl out of your eyes with a slow swish  of your hand. You look up at me and you are aware that I am watching you 'I love you Mommy' Oh my sweet one I love you too, your tender hands and those arms that give the softest and tenderest of cuddles, the curve of your cheek, the bluest of eyes and that cheeky smile...Yes my sweet one I Love you...

I do not often get time on my own with my little one as my children are the best of friends and are  never really out of each others company, today though the big one is on a play date and I sit here and see how in the blink of an eye my wee one is now not so wee anymore.

Thank you for bearing with me.  Usual Suzie Sews blogging resumes from now on...

Weekend madness...

So the weekend is over and it went by so fast...time spent with a special person...memories made and the warmth of the autumnal sun shone down on us... I managed to catch up with some knitting before the airport run...cute little booties for a new arrival (I have no idea if its going to be a girl or a boy so I will be knitting a blue pair as well).
A quick little beanie hat for the change in the seasons, made with super soft yarn, in a delicate shade of green.  Once the knitting fix was sorted I headed to the airport with my excited children to pick up my friend, she arrived bedraggled through customs (minus her luggage which went astray) after five flights and travelling two days she was seriously tired.   Over our weekend we spent so much time chatting, catching up on news and solving the worlds problems, we ate too much cake, I have renewed my love of jam donuts!!!
Lots of retail therapy...
With the clear signs all around us now that Autumn is on its way, we walked through the park, content after our shopping spree, the littlest one enjoyed an ice cream we sat in the park and did I mention we chatted... My poor friend got to see more of the area than planned with a little impromptu trip to A and E (hospital) as my scar from my stitches on my leg went 'POP' and reopened, time spent in an emergency waiting room was not really part of the plan, but these things are sent to try us.
A return trip to the airport leaves me alone again, but she will be returning in two weeks as she flies back out.  Time to do a little sewing and catch up. 

Mom update...

Now this is the last time I want to mention this as it really must be a bore to read... The situation with my Mom is ongoing...  we talked after she received my card with no mention in the conversation about it (other than she had got it) and that we would speak once my friend had left.  This morning I awoke up a glorious morning and thought today is the day to chill out a little and do some fun stuff... I started the day off with a call to my Mom, full of good intention, an offer of a weekend at our caravan and also to arrange for the boys and I to go over for tea next week.  What can I say, again she put the phone down on me, I tried to be more assertive this time and try and point out that I was hurting too... She has finally made it clear she does not want to come away with us, and I will go and see her next week so she sees the children.  As for me well I have to accept the situation and make the best of it, I guess I want ever be the daughter she wished for but despite this she's my Mom and I love her.

Coffee Break....

Coffee anyone? Its been hive of activity here, tonight my friend is coming to stay, she is travelling about as far as someone could, she is coming all the way from the other side of the world, my kids can not get their heads around this fact as they gaze at the globe in amazment...I thought it only fair to break off from all my sewing and a little knitting to tidy up, you know...remove some fabric off her bed, make sure there are no pins on the floor that sort of thing... The emotions of the last few days has been a strain and I am sleep deprived...ah coffee...as a tea drinker this is quite a revelation to me...SO its time to take a break from all those emotions and spend some quality time with my friend. We are off for a little craft retail shopping on Friday and spending some time with the children over the weekend. So until Monday, have a great weekend...another coffee anyone?

My life, this day, today...

Here I go again...missing summer, I know its a bore!  One of the main things that I dislike about the return to routine is living my life by the clock.  My brother once laughed at me for being privileged because I do not need to wear a watch...now this is true, a little bit more involved though because I do not need to wear a watch because I am so acutely aware of the time.  The children test me, out of the blue they say 'What time is is Mommy?' and  8 out if 10 times I am right.  So we return to the routine of early mornings, which always start with a cuddle, then its rush rush rush...
Breakfast is the first big thing, its easier now as my oldest one helps, he puts out the dishes,the cereal and milk  As we eat we chat about our day, what is happening, things to do and places to be.  This morning we had a little free time so before I knew it the kitchen table was turned into a play area, each of us bringing something to the table that we wanted to do, my youngest is struggling with his words so when he picked up the letter land alphabet pack I was amazed and he and his brother played letter games, I sipped my tea and when the words all got too much we put Sam Sparro , Black and Gold, on the laptop and danced around the kitchen.  School uniform time next and then the mad trip to school, total chaos at the school gate with cars parked on double yellow lines and people driving far to fast dodging the children as the parents rush off late for work.  Its a small school in the centre of the village, yet the madness of this fifteen minutes is more fitting for a town supermarket carpark on a Friday afternoon.
So once again I open the door to my home, now on my own and the silence hits me...radio four is turned on and the house is tidied, beds made, toys put away and toilets flushed (if you have kids you will know what I mean by this).  I check into my sewing room to see the mess I left from my late night sewing time, not so bad and I look over my present sewing project...I am happy with how it is turning out.  Its a bag, more details to follow in another post. Sneaky peek time...
I am not really on my own, the animals keep me company and as they have not been on the blog for a while I took a couple of snaps...Archie the cutest bunny in the world (in my opinion) my HUGE french lop, he has the run of the garden and the kitchen, he does not go any further because his big feet want allow him... he slips on the wooden floor.  Plus this makes me quite happy as I do not want animal fur around the 'Suzie Sews household' as one member of the family has allergies.
... and it would not be fair to leave out the GPs, Charlie and Lola, these are the children's pets although they keep me company most of the day, every visit to the fridge they squeak in anticipation of a tasty treat...
I need to get my head around the housework, I HATE housework!  My soul mate is coming to visit, she is travelling now as we speak, she will be with us tomorrow as she is flying all the way from Australia.  This is me though, not doing the housework, instead I am putting the finishing touches to her present, on her last visit she liked a scarf I had on, it inspired her to make some for friends and family, I thought she would be far to busy making them for others to make one for herself...
...so it was my duty (because it was such a chore...NOT) to make her one just for her... she is quite tall, taller than I am but then I am small! So its a long skinny scarf with the option to wear it Dr Who style or layer it up and use the pin...
So that is my life, this day, today in the house, but what about outside, well the views are changing dramatically now, the hills are going from bright green to a pale sludge green and slouches of pinky purple colour as the heather goes into full bloom... The view from my back garden and bedroom...
The view from my front garden and sewing room...(These pictures, with the sunset, actually got taken on Saturday evening when I returned home from my sewing day...a nice welcome home).
So in a nut shell that's my morning, Now to be serious and concentrate on the housework, or maybe a little sewing or even knitting...NO! NO! I must clean....
I leave you with the parcel that is hopefully arriving on Miss French Knots doorstep today after she won the 'Suzie Sews Summer Giveaway' The lovely red and white butchers twine came from the lovely Donna at Country House Antique Textiles.

Have good day.

I just wanted to add, how touched I was at the thoughtful and very heartfelt comments about my situation with my Mom, my email account is down, I will get back to you in person soon, its always a little cold feeling when you do it over the blog.  The current situation is I sent her a beautiful card, not handmade as she views this as I can not be bothered to go to the shop to buy one, (sorry a little harsh from me there) with a few lines saying I was sorry, could I bring the children up next week for supper and did she want to come away with us for the weekend next month?  I am now checking the answer machine every hour and living with some anticipation to the outcome... sleep is still eluding me and I have a cold so still feeling a little glum about it all.