Dec's down - hoover out!

Yep got home from work today and it was time to take down the decorations.
Goodbye to this little man that greets me at the kitchen:


The wish of snow:


The glowing tree:


but hold on... to find all this left behind!


And it's not even a real tree!
So out came the hoover and now we back to some kind of whats looking like empty space reality!

Looking back to look forward!

At the start of this year I took up an evening class in Exploring Textiles - adding colour to fabric. This was the work from the first term - it's always good to see the progress made and cringe at some of the work at the time I thought was good!


I was definitely in a bright colour mood!!

Thinking back to '09...

QUILTING!

2009 was the year that I finally learnt the art of quilting. I made a new friend in my rotary cutter and finally got my head around inches!
I was even asked to take part in Bee Europa, which I am excitedly looking forward to and have recently received my first fabric parcel!
Looking forward to more quilting in 2010!

Some of my quilting moments of 2009:

Hello to 2010!

(Sorry - I can't post without a photo, Yes - I am one of those who looks at the pictures before the words!, here is the lovely snow that fell just before Christmas!)

Blimey - you blink and it's already 2010!
Happy New Year!
Best wishes to you all, thank you to all my followers, the lovely emails that I receive and to everyone who pops by to read my ramblings!
Have a healthy, happy, prosperous and fun filled 2010!

Countdown!

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Friday was my last day of work which turned out to be a snow day!!
So one extra day for the holidays.
It snowed again last night! So snuggled up warm catching up on my blog reading!

Stress free!

I wish! Why is it that hours at work go slow and when you get home time flies by because you've got so much to do!
Saw this card at the weekend and just had to have it!
Reminder for myself and visitors over the Christmas period! You can also see my new festive red felt coasters!
It's getting all too festive around here!

The fabric keeps on coming!

Yep - even more hand printed fabric! I love the way the little trees block turned out, so went mad printing this piece of fabric. Enjoy!

Hello December!

As usual time has flown by, Christmas is closer every day and the weather has got a tad chillier!
So much still to do, so much I want to do - can I have a few extra hours for a Christmas pressie!?

Coming to the end of my Textile printing class and so behind posting photos. Here are a few of the not so nice piece of fabric that I over printed onto. So much better!




Until next time...

Not love at first sight!

This is a piece of fabric that I printed several weeks ago.
I used disperse dyes direct onto the screen using a sponge and a bit of a spatter effect. Left this to dry and then this was transferred to the fabric.
It was ok, not too good, definitely not love at first sight!
Left it alone for a while, and now I have over printed onto it and it is much better.
Will let you know what it looks like soon!

The pile is growing!

Three quilting classes and my little pile of blocks is steadily growing!
Here are a few of my most recent blocks........
My first attempt at a traditional log cabin block ~


Log cabin block using a slightly larger square for the centre ~


My first attempt at Courthouse steps ~


Only realised now I've seen the photos I need to trim the blocks!
Loving all these designs and they were great fun to do! No favourites as of yet!

I don't mind ironing.....

When I'm ironing lovely new fabric!!



(Photos don't do the fabric justice when its dull and dark! Or maybe its just my new camera?)

Catch up on Printing

A while a go I posted some photos of fabric that I had printed and I've had a few emails asking how I did it.
This was me experimenting with a range of techniques to create different textures in the actual printing.
First I started with a blank lino block, from which I then cut out my design.


Using the lino as a stamp I covered it with a disperse dye. This type of dye you paint onto paper with, let this dry and then using a heat press (or iron) transfer the image onto fabric.
So once my paper was dry it was onto the fabric. The only downside I can see is that the dyes only transfer the vibrant colours onto synthetic fabrics. You can use natural fabrics but it comes out very faintly.
The positive side is that every little cut from the lino appears in the print which gives it great texture and once the design is transferred that's it! It is completely dry straight away and is also heat fast.


So from the paper to the fabric. I now just need to come up with an idea of what to do with the fabric!



I've also used this design on a screen print which I am really pleased with - will take some photos and post soon!

Inches and me just don't go!

I've now completed my third quilting class and it's been loads of fun!
Being shown how to complete the blocks correctly is great and learning all the tips and techniques is much easier than using a book at the moment! Plus meeting people who enjoy to sew is also fab!
The only problem I've come across is this inches thing! 1/4 of an inch?! 7/8 of an inch?!
Unfortunately I'm a centimetre girl so it has taken a bit of time to get used to.
So far I've been experimenting with different blocks, fabrics and colours. I'm slowly finding my style.


I did also manage to put together a random log cabin block and then along came a pincushion. A girl can never have too many pincushions! (I was also proud to display this at the class on Saturday - I'm a quilting class geek!)



Until next time,

Just popping in!

Hello! I'm still here but life and day job have been extremely busy!!
Unfortunately that has left little time for any sewing around here. Thankfully my Thursday evening class has kept me busy printing fabric.

Hope to get back to some normality soon!

Power Printing!

It's been a late one tonight as I had my Printing class. So much fun!
Now there are those of us that like Power walking or running but that is just not for me - but Power Printing - Yay!!
Quick post of photos to show you what I got up to before I head to bed.





Really pleased with how some of my ideas turned out, some need a bit more work but they might grow on me!
Will fill in with all the details later. Very tired and ready for bed!

Spent far too much!

I had a lovely weekend in London catching up with friends, shopping and spending far too much money!
These are 3 lovely places I stopped by:


Purchased some lovely pressies in here, had to resist buying something for myself!


I could have spent hours in Artbox - they have such fun things!


Love Muji, but it was soooooo busy!

Here are a few of my purchases:
New double ended pens from Muji for use in my sketch books.


Now I couldn't have left this guy behind in Artbox - he was just calling out to me!


Now if I ever open my own shop it will be filled with fabric, cupcakes and stationery!

Time flies ....

When you're having lots of fun!
I do admire those bloggers out there who post daily - I do try but then weeks seem to pass me by!
Any how - after my monthly Patchwork and Quilting course a couple of weeks ago I stopped into a Charity shop and literally ran across the shop when I spied these little lovelies. Now there were 8 but someone else spied them as well! How dare they!



Now I'm not going to live on hard boiled eggs for the rest of the year - hoping to make these into pincushion pots!