Wedding celebrations

Two weeks ago K & J got married on a fabulous sunny day.

We decorated the village hall with a "vintage tea party theme" including forty yards of bunting some of which you see pictured here.

50 sky lanterns lit the sky as darkness fell - just one of the highlights of a perfect day

WIP

Meantime on the sewing front, I

have finally finished the top for

a new patchwork throw to go in

the lounge. We changed the sofa

covers at Christmas and put the

blue ones back on so a blue throw

seemed like a good idea - now I

just have to back it and quilt it

before it's time to change the

sofa covers again!

Birthday Bags

We have just celebrated K's birthday and her
main request was the latest Cath Kidston
bucket bag. To complete the bag theme and
continue the tradition of little treats I sewed
drawstring bags to package up the smaller
presents. It will be K's last birthday at home
as she gets married in three months!

Winter Blues

Winter weather and the instinct to hibernate
kicks in big time. Also the desire for all things
warm and cosy so a new quilt to curl up with
on the sofa with knitting or a good book seems
to fit the bill.
Last weekend was all about cutting out the
squares. This weekend will hopefully see the
start of putting them all together, along with
some winter walking, soup-making and film-
watching.

Lavender's blue

I am just coming up to the end of two weeks
off work but at home before heading off to the
USA on proper holidays.
Theoretically that should have meant more
time for blogging but somehow it didn't work
out quite like that!
I have however been busy, catching up with
family, making cookies, gardening, sewing,
making apple chutney and apple and blackberry
puddings with the fruit in our garden and
visiting the Banksy exhibition in Bristol.
The pillows above are filled with lavender,
making my sewing room smell fantastic.

Black and White

Finished my niece's birthday present so can
now show you the finished product.
Meg's bedroom is black and white so that was
the brief for her quilt and here it is.

Vintage patchwork

Have also been cutting tiny squares from this
gorgeous pack of vintage fabric scraps that I
bought in Libertys last time I was in London.
When the preent-making is finished I'll make
something pretty with these.

Birthday presents in the making

Main crafting activity recently has been
making these table napkins to go with
the white china we gave Mum for her
birthday

Perfect patchwork

Well actually not perfect at all but I
am so happy with my first attempt
that it seemed like magic to me!

Scrappy Cushion from Sew Hip

More Bunting

Experimenting with some ideas for giving the
Baby Bunting a Christmas feel.

Birthday bags

Hasn't been much craft on the blog
recently so here is a catch up of recent
activity, mostly works in progress but
this bag was another birthday gift
completed & dispatched!

Baby Bunting

Isn't this baby bunting pretty? Such fun to make
and a great way to use stash fabric up - though
I must confess to buying a few of these specially.
This is a present for a friend's new daughter -
she is three weeks old so may be a while before
she can decide whether she likes it or not!

Finished

The bunting is finished - fabric came from a
whole variety of cities and countries: Australia,
Hong Kong, USA, Scotland so lots of good
travelling memories every time I see it.
Today also marks the end of April and my
plan to take at least one photo every day -
harder than you would think!

Finished!

Finished the first bunting project tonight -
hopefully to adorn summer celebrations
in the garden - we shall see!

Bargain shopping

Yesterday was very wet and windy but went ahead
with a planned trip to visit my sister in Worthing
and check out the fabric shops there.
Full of bargains and well worth braving the rain!

Bunting stage two

More bunting flags tonight!

Bunting stage one

I have been wanting to try making bunting for
a while but keep putting it off as there are always
gifts to be made. Finally started this week with
the first few "flags"

Ribbons and bows

Fitted in a quick trip to Liberty on my London
day out. The ribbons and bows came from their
gorgeous haberdashery department but the fabric
came from Mandors in Edinburgh. Two great cities
in one week - back to work now!

Another birthday bag

Made this bag from Cath Kidston
fabric for a friend from America
who is here for a year and so
celebrating her birthday away
from family and friends.
Something English for her to take
with her when she goes back.

Finished!

Finally finished the Grand Canyon
themed throw. Here it is bringing
a flavour of summer to the lounge
in time for our Mother's Day party.