And what eater-uppers-of-time! I have been touring around the blog world this week, with much success I think (see for yourself - there's links coming up below). Been finding loads of quilting sites so I've ended up spending loads more time than I actually have - seeing tutorials, looking at gorgeous quilts, and zinging out into associated Flickr pages. Wow - there's so much out there! Makes me motivated to make one right after the other - the only roadblock being the Day Job. As proof: 1. Ra... Read Full Story

Here's Sam having a lilttle sleep in my sewing basket. Oh oh. But he doesn't seem to mind that it's just a tad too small .... And here's a bag I made this past winter. I put some sewing paraphanalia in it and parked it on the window sill. Oh oh. Summer came.  Here's what the facing-the-window-side looks like now. Call me crazy, but I sort of like this fading effect. Which, I suppose, is fortunate. Read Full Story

  Well - it's been awhile. I didn't really intend to stop posting; but it happened. Went away on holiday and then got busy and then, and then ..... I haven't even been doing a lot of blog reading, let alone writing, and I have missed it! Don't you love summer? Although, I must say for this week the commute home from London has been hotter than ****!  Meltdown seemed entirely possible, and I did notice that some people were decidedly grumpy. Other people seemed so cool and collected! How do th... Read Full Story

I belong in the Universe of Straight Lines - as so well expressed by Edward Monkton in his Interesting Thoughts: My pencils are straight.   My socks are straight.   My pillows are straight.   My french fries are straight. .   EVERYTHING  must be STRAIGHT or else the World will EXPLODE* *Those who do not believe in the Law of Straightness will not BE SAVED.   So sayeth The Monkton, and because I so agree, it is difficult for me as I continue along the road of trying to make a completely... Read Full Story

First an update on the Amish Imitation Quilt. In not the greatest of photos, this is what it looks like now: I had planned to piece it by machine and quilt it by hand, but I have done a little bit of a cop out - I am quilting within the triangles by machine. I will quilt the black/red borders together by hand - I think clam shell shapes which will be about 3 inches across the base - so that's still a lotta hand-quilting! I am going to use something called Saral Transfer Paper to mark th... Read Full Story

  When I had just finished University, I went to stay for a month with a friend who lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. During the time he was at school, he had worked during the summer vacation on an Amish farm and so he took us several times to visit these peaceful and quiet folk . Their farm was large and perfectly run without electricity and complicated machinery - and when I look back on it, I probably asked some very nosy questions because I was fascinated by their way of life, and even t... Read Full Story

Guaranteed to make you grin - also bet you can't decide which is the cuter -  good puppy gets a cookie or panda bear having a Zen moment!?!   Both of these photos are from here. Read Full Story

I cannot believe that I have not posted for over a month. This is not a good thing. I have been busy, but really, I wish I had found time to blog.  ;o( In the interim, the crafting has not stopped:  have made a lacy shawl for myself which needs a crochet edging but I can't and so will have to learn or find someone to edge for me. And some pillows for some friends. And I have started knitting yet another scarf - but the sun coming out and promising Spring dealt a blow to the knitting-snugg... Read Full Story

Look at this! Love it! Read Full Story

I collect photos of handbags, pouches, applique, and embroidery as I zoom around in the ether. Then when I feel like sewing and need some inspiration, I run a slide show of these photos, - and do either one of two things. Mumble to myself as I come across ones I would like to make -  and then do nothing/go make someting else - or Get to one of the photos and suddenly - that's it - off to try to make a pattern. Sometimes it's the bit of fabric I just bought that makes me stop on one... Read Full Story