Just a few little bits and pieces I did today

Its so apparent I have too much time on my hands at the moment given that Im blogging twice in a matter of days!!  

My sewing machine has been sent away to get fixed so I decided to make a few things on my Silhouette machine instead so I thought Id share them.

I keep all my loose change in a tupperware jar so I thought Id jazz it up using some vinyl and made this.  My stache, My stash, moustache get it? get it!!??   I saw the idea on Pinterest and thought it was really funny.  Tim thinks I need help as I start giggling every time I see it.  (He is correct!) 

I had lots of little crafting bits and pieces that needed homes so I washed lots of tiny jam jars that I had in the cupboard and labelled them all up to make the a bit neater.  (I think I may be nesting... either that or becoming really anal about things!) 

And finally, I made a wipe clean board for my craft room.  I took an old photo frame and made a white background instead of putting a picture in,  then put some vinyl wording on it.  I have pens for writing on glass so this will come in really handy for keeping a note of things that I still have to do or make.  Im going to paint the outside of it at some point but I couldnt face doing that today!

Well thats what I got up to today.  Wonder what tomorrow will bring.........xxx

What Ive been up to.....

So Im still crap at blogging regularly as you will have noticed!  Ive been getting ready for baby coming so havent really had time to post very often but figured Id post a wee update before baby arrives.   Its just under 2 weeks until my little one is due to not long to go now.  Still dont have a clue if its a boy or a girl but Im swaying towards boy just now.   Guess Ill just have to wait and see.  Here is a piccie of me with my bubba bump!  This was taken about 6 weeks so and Im a whole lot bigger now!  (Regrettably my boobs aint getting any smaller either!)

Ive been playing around with my Silhouette machine again and embellished some more little vests for the baby and also some bibs.    Because we dont know what we are having most of the clothes I have are white so I figured it would be nice to jazz them up a little bit.....

Ive been doing some sewing as well.    The patchwork and quilting class I go to are having a charity fund raiser so I made some coasters and a teapot stand out of some Pure by Sweetwater scraps that I had...

Since I posted a piccie of the minnie mouse bag I made a month or so ago,  Ive been contacted by quite a few people asking for them and other designs for their kids so been making quite a few childrens bags as well.  Ive decided I  love making bags for kids!

Phew, are you bored yet??   Im still working on my quilt (its taking forever because I have carpel tunnel syndrome in my hands which means they go numb quite regularly so hand sewing takes forever!)  Its nearly done but not quite so Ill leave that for another time.   I hope you are all well.  Next time Im post I will hopefully have a wee picture of my bubba to share with you.  Happy days!!  

Love Pootle. xxx

Quilt is nearing completion.....and some other bits n bobs.

I decided not to post every time I finished a block because if it were me reading my blog Id find that as boring as watching paint dry so I decided to hold off until the quilt top was almost finished.  Well, it finally is.  Yay!   There is still a row of borders to go on and another row of sashing then its done!  Ive really enjoyed making it and am looking forward to my patchwork class on Tuesday as Ill be finishing it then!  Cant wait to see it done so I can start on the next one which I think is going to be a playmat/quilt for the bubba.

Ive been sewing all weekend which has been really great as Im suffering from major back and hip pain and rarely get a break from it but this weekend its been OK so Ive taken the opportunity to hide in my craft room!!  My friends little girl Kayla absolutely loves Minnie Mouse so I decided to make a little tote bag for her with her name on it.  Pretty cute huh!!  I cut the Mickey template out and applied it using Bondaweb and made the bow using my little bowmaker I bought on ebay for a quid!  (Its just a bit of wood with holes in but it works great!)  The name was applied with heat transfer vinyl cut using my Silhouette machine.

Also made some cushions for my back lounge.  Ill be honest and say Im not that big a fan of Amy Butler but Ive loved this fabric (Paradise Garden) since I made a bag for my friend with it.  I used Full Moon Polka Dot on the reverse but stupid me did envelope back rather than hidden zips.  Someone on MSE suggested I put buttons on to make them look better on the reverse so I can use them either side so I think Im going to do that.  I love the splash of colour they give my room.  x

Hope you are all well.  Ill hopefully be posting piccies of a finished quilt next week!!

Love
Pootle xxx

Sampler Quilt Block Number 2

So following on from my last post here is my next quilting block for my sampler quilt.  Its called flying geese (I think.  Well, its some kind of flying bird anyway).  I was actually going to make a pinwheel but cut the wrong size triangles so ended up with this instead.  I have to say Im becoming obsessed with quilting.  I absolutely love it (even though I havent actually finished one yet lol.) I spend loads of time watching Missouri Quilt Co. You Tube videos and reading quilting books.  I love that the possibilities are endless where patterns are concerned.  The only thing I dont like which I have discovered is hand sewing.   A few of the blocks I was meant to do in my sampler involved applique and I have asked my teacher if I can do a different design as I detest hand sewing.  Are any of you the same?  Im maybe a bit odd as you would think I would like it given my love of sewing but I really really hate it with a passion!!

Whilst Im here,  I thought Id let you know about a fab giveaway that my good friend Sue is having over at Harts Corner.   She is giving away some yummy stuff!  Closes on 18th February so pop along and visit her lovely blog.   There is a linky to the giveaway in the top right corner of my blog.   Her extremely talented son also made her a website which looks fab!

Id also like to thank Twinkle Star over at Twinkles, Tutorials and Twirls who was kind enough to award me with a Versatile Blogger award.  Thanks so much!  Go check out her gorgeous blog here.

Thanks to everyone that has sent me lovely messages congratulating me on my pregnancy.  Im getting much bigger now and sometimes struggling to walk because of hip and back pain which I can only imagine is going to get worse but will be worth it in the end.  I got up in the night to go to the toilet last week and was hobbling my way there when my darling hubby woke up and started singing "I like the way you move" by the BodyRockers.   I will admit I found it very funny but at 3am I didnt have the energy to laugh!!

Hope you are all well.

Love
Pootle. xxx

Im baaaaaccckkkk!!!!

Jeez its been nearly 2 months since I posted.  Im such a terrible blogger.  I dont know where the time goes TBH.  I still read everyones blogs but only occasionally get the time to comment on them.  My brain seems to be obsessed with thoughts of babies just now! On the subject of babies, Im now 23 weeks pregnant.  Had our 20 week scan a few weeks back and baby is very healthy and all looks good which is brilliant news.  Ive been feeling the baby for a few weeks now but this morning he kicked his daddy for the first time which was very lovely!

Despite having baby brain I havent forgotten about my love of sewing.  Ive been altering some maternity clothes (too fat to fit into my normal ones now) and have also started going to patchwork classes.  Ive only been going for 2 weeks and I really love it!!   The aim is to have completed a quilt by the time the classes finish (its a 10 week course) so I thought that Id post each block that Ive completed each week so you can see it coming together (hopefully!)  We are doing a different block technique each week.

This is the block I did at this weeks class.  Standard log cabin style.   The fabric is Michael Miller Aqua and Red which I loved the moment I saw it and have always wanted an excuse to buy.  I just love the colours and the patterns and think it will make an amazing looking quilt.   Im really pleased with it.

Ive been playing around with my Silhouette machine too (see! Im not just sitting on the sofa stuffing my face with chocolate every day (well, I  am but not every hour of the day!)  I bought a plain white babygrow and jazzed it up with a piccie I saw on the internet.  Here are the before and after shots.  How cute eh!!  Im normally not a fan of slogans on baby clothes but I did like this one.

                                                                             Before

                                                                             After


Have also been making some more cushion covers for my gorgeous Mum.  Fairly simple patchwork using the leftover of my Pure by Sweetwater layer cake.  Made 2 of these and 2 in a disappearing 9 patch design which I forgot to take a photo off.   (I never tire of working with this fabric.  I love it!)

Anyway, I wont bore you with any more.  I disappear for months at a time then spend ages rambling when I return!  Hope you are all well and will check in against next week.

Luv
Pootle. xx


p.s Ive started referring to baby as "he" but dont actually know the sex and not finding out (thought I best put that in incase my mum is reading this and thinks Ive found out and not told her!x) 

My lovely craft room, some sewing and a new Beauty Blog.x

I promised to share piccies of my  new craft room so here it is.

This is the side where I keep all my fabrics, interfacing and craft stuff.  Im just using the bookcase in the meantime as I havent found  a shelving unit that I want yet.  I plan on making some fabric boxes to keep all my  fabrics in.  Anyone got any good tutorials ??      (Excuse the  ironing board but I always keep it up as I hate having to put it up and take it down all the time.  We have another one for our normal clothes so this is just for crafting.)

I bought these little kilner jars for all my buttons and "handmade with love" embellishments etc.  They were really cheap too so I bought quite a few.

I keep my beloved sewing machine on an extendable desk in the middle of the room so that I can get as much light as possible when Im sewing.  I keep my desk sized sewing box here too and my bobbins and threads are kept in holders on my windowsill so they are all to hand.

This is the other side of the room.  My lovely OH who always spoils me rotten bought me a huge beech block dining table so that I had a dedicated cutting space.  Its fantastic and as you can see, is waaaaay big enough for my A1 cutting mat.  I also keep my printer, silhouette machine, docking station, laptop and sewing boxes on here too.  Its so lovely having everything to hand and not having to cut fabric in the middle of the floor any more!  I love my craft room!!!!!

OH suggested that when the baby comes we should turn it into a play room.  Yeah, right!!!!  Ya think Im giving this up!!!  Eh, nope!

I have been sewing a little bit now that my morning sickness has gone.  Been doing some bag orders which are duplicates of what Ive already made and blogged about so not going to bore you with duplicate pics.   I have been making some new style mobile phone holders which are kinda cute.  I saw a laptop case ages ago on Pinterest that looked like an etch a sketch so I decided to have a go at making a smaller phone sized one and I love it!  I didnt have a pattern so it was a bit fiddly but I got there in the end.   Ill have to make a few more for my Folksy Shop/Facebook Page as I couldnt resist keeping one for myself and have set aside a couple for Xmas presents.

On a non sewing related note if any of you are into beauty related stuff, one of my good friends Sandra has started a blog which is fantastic.  Its called Beauty Balm and I have to say its awesome.  She regularly does product reviews and blogs about offers, new products and all things beauty related.  If you get then chance you should definately go and check it out.  She is a fantastically regular blogger (unlike me....)

On a final note I thought Id share a lovely piccie I took from my dining room last week when the snow started.  Ive been feeling mega Christmassy ever since!  You wont believe me but Im currently wearing a pair of rudolf antlers whilst writing this post.  (Im in the house on my own......)

Hope you are all well.  Hugs.

~ Pootle xxx

xx

Ive been making something very, very special!!!!

Jings, its been ages since I blogged and Im soooo sorry but I do have a very valid reason....................

I am delighted to announce that Im expecting my first baby in June! (this is my 12 week scan.)  The reason for my being AWOL for the last couple of months was initially due to moving house (we are now settled in our proper home which is fab)  but was then due to my morning sickness kicking in big time!!  I would add that whoever gave it the name "morning sickness" must have been a man.  Morning my arse!  I have had it all day, every day for almost 7 weeks!  Regular vomiting does not go hand in hand with sewing so apart from managing to fulfill some bag orders when Ive been lucky enough not to have my head down the toilet, Ive pretty much been out of action.

The vomiting stopped a couple of days ago so Im hoping that it stays away and I can get back into it.  I now have my very own craft room which I will post piccies of next week so Im definately going to put it to good use whilst I still have time to myself.   I hope you are all well and hope you forgive me for being such a terrible blogger!!

Love of lots

Pootle and "Little Babas". xxx

A few projects and a few thank you's!

As you will know the thing I love to make most is bags.  So here is another one.  I put this on Folksy the other day and it sold in a matter of minutes.  One of my friends saw the link via my Facebook Page  and bought it straight away which I was really pleased about.

She asked me to make a few other bits n pieces so also made this matching make up bag for her too using the pink scotty dog stuff.  Ive almost managed to master the fabric zip ends thing to stop the corners from going really chunky but it goes wrong sometimes.  If anyone has any tips on this please could you let me know.  I find the only way I can do it properly is to actually chop the zip off where the fabric ends start but Im not sure thats how its meant to be done!

Ive also been making some bookmarks. Just basic ones, nothing fancy (as you can see. lol)  My niece who is 8 is obsessed with reading.  She went through a major Harry Potter phase recently but its now reading Jacqueline Wilson books so I made her this bookmark which has her name on the other side.

Lisa over at Kandipandis Pad blogged about a crossstiched bookmark she had made a few weeks ago which said "F**k off Im reading."  I thought was hilarious so I adapted the wording a bit and made one for myself using some fabric scraps I had.  

On a non sewing related note, I was lucky enough to win The Krafty Cupcakes giveaway a few weeks ago and have to say that I actually squealed when I opened the parcel!   It was full of the most gorgeous individually wrapped parcels with lovely gift tags and pretty blue tissue paper.  I spent over an hour carefully opening each one and oo-ing and ah-ing over the content!  It contained (to name but a few)  the most lovely things including felt, an adorable scented cupcake keyring, fabric, sweeties, a gorgeous candle, a beautiful box of pins and 2 boxes of cupcake toppers which are made to perfection.   So I wanted to say a huge thank you again to the Sue over at The Krafty Cupcake  for having such a wonderful giveaway and sending me so much lovely stuff.

I also wanted to mention Becca over at Fancy Vintage China who sent me some lovely Juicy Lucy notelets and message cards.  They are really cute so thank you again too Becca.

Im working on a few other bits and pieces just now but am not sewing anywhere near as much as I should be so Ive decided to look for a part time job.  I thought when I gave up work that I would spend most days sewing but that isn't the case.    I was going to wait until January till I started looking but as I am finding myself tuning into Jeremy Kyle on far too regular a basis,  I feel it only appropriate that I get my arse off the sofa and do something useful!

Till next time..

Pootle. xxx

And The Winner is........

Hi Folks,

Ive drawn the winner of my giveaway slightly early as Im likely to be up to my eyes in house stuff over the next few weeks.   I havent been able to take a photo of the bits of paper I had scrunched up as OH has my SD card.  Anyway, the winner is................................


RUFUSDOG!!!!!


Yay!  Please e-mail me with your address and Ill get the Pootle parcel to you asap.

Thanks to everyone who took part and to all my lovely followers.   It means alot to know that people are still interested in reading my blog.   Ive been making a few things over the last week or so and will post piccies once I get my SD card back!!

Love
Pootle. xx

New Amy Butler Fabric Pleated Bag

I love this Amy Butler fabric so when I saw it I just had to get it.  The bag has 4 internal pockets, a magnetic closure and the lining is made with the sunspots fabric the same as the handles.  I really love this one.    I was going to put it on Folksy but my good friend Sandra loved it so much I couldnt resist giving her it.  Needless to say it was well received!

On a non sewing related note we have bought another house - yay!  We move in in about 5 weeks and I cannot wait.  Its in the country and I can have a craft room!

Hope you are all well.   Dont forget to enter my giveaway if you havent already!  x 

STOP PRESS! I'M HAVING A GIVEAWAY!!!!.........

Giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to all who took part. x

....and about time too I reckon.  Ive been blogging for over a year now and have thoroughly enjoyed reading all your comments, your blogs and making lots of lovely online friends so as a little thank you, Im having a giveaway.   Soooo,  here is what you could win:

This 8 fat quarter bundle of different coloured spotty fabric which I think is pretty cute!   Ive been making bags with Amy Butler Sunspots and Full Moon Polka Dot recently so Ive got a bit of a dotty obsession going on at the moment.   There are 7 colours in total (2 of the hot pink and one of all the other colours) as per the photo.

Im also including a pincushion quite similar to the ones in my last post  as well as a set of  heart shaped pins to go with it and Ill be packaging it up and sending it to the lucky winner in a little zippered pouch  that I made.

Now onto the boring crap informative bit.....

You can have up to 4 separate entries, one entry for each of the following:

1.  Like my Facebook page (or let me know if you already do).  You can either click the "like" button at the top right of my sidebar or visit my facebook page and like it from there.

2.  Following (or already following) my blog

3.  Blogging about my giveaway with a link back to here

4.  Adding my giveaway button to your sidebar with a link back to here.

Please make sure I have a way to contact you, either through your blog or by leaving your email address when you comment and please remember to leave a separate comment for each of the above so that you get as many entries as possible.   The winner will be picked around 26th September (will post confirmation of the date later on as might be going on holiday and not yet sure when.)  Good luck!

- Pootle. xxx

Pincushions Galore....

Just thought Id post some piccies of the pincushions Ive been making.  I think Ive gone overboard on the quantities I made.  Everything I learned in economics about supply and demand went out the window as once I started I couldnt stop!

**trots off to investigate the long term effects of sewing related OCD**

Pin It

Pin It

Owl Softie/Doorstop

Ive finally started making things again - yay!!   Ive made quite a few cushions and a couple of bags which Ill post soon (havent taken piccies yet.)  I also made this owl doorstop the other day.  I cant draw to save myself but somehow managed to sketch it out onto greaseproof paper and cut all the bits out and here it is.  Owls are obviously quite easy to draw so Im not suggesting that Im about to give Rolf Harris a run for his money but I was pleased that it ended up looking like an owl rather than an alien.......

Im having a giveaway soon so will hopefully be posting about that over the next week or so.  Hope you are all well. x

The Fabric Market Place and Its All About the Fabric Giveaway

The lovely Emma over at Its all about the Fabric is having a Yummy giveaway to celebrate the launch of her new website The Fabric Market Place, the place to sell and buy all things fabric.  I have to say it looks fab!  Head on over to Emmas blog for a chance to win one of these fabric bundles by Happy Zombie.  Isnt it gorgeous?    x  (p.s  my linky colours dont seem to be working but if you hover over the website and blog title in this post they will show up.)

Bit of a blog makeover and a lifestyle change....

Hi folks,

Unfortunately I still have no photos to show of stuff Ive been making CAUSE  I HAVENT BEEN MAKING ANY!!  Grrr... Its really starting to bug me now but we are moving house tomorrow so Im hoping it wont be too long now until my craft room is all set up and Im ready to get back to my beloved machine.  Meantime, Ive given up my job (scary stuff eh!!)  Ive been working in the construction industry for about 20 years and decided that it was time for a bit of a change and needed a bit more time to myself so I bit the bullet and left about 3 weeks ago and am loving every minute of it.

As Ive got loads more time on my hands,  Ive also decided to take the plunge and try and sell some of my stuff so Ive set up a Facebook page and a Folksy shop (which, for the aforementioned reasons, doesnt have anything in it yet!)   As you can see Ive also change my blog name and had a bit of a bloggy makeover.  I figured I need a more generic name as I quite fancy having a go at some other non sewing related stuff too so I reckoned that "Handmade" was a good way to go.  Would love to know what you think of it.

If you fancy following me on Facebook, feel free to hit the button on my sidebar.  Hopefully Ill be posting much more frequently very soon.  I hope you are all well.   I still check into your lovely blogs on a daily basis to see what you have been up to and I do try and post comments when I can (i.e when Blogger isnt playing up....)

Speak soon.
Love Pootle. xxx

Just a quick hello....

Hi All,

Just a quick post to say that Im still around but havent been able to do much sewing, crafting or blogging lately as my beloved sewing machine has had to be moved from my 'sewing room' (aka tiny cupboard in the spare room!) as we are in the process of selling our house and have had to have a bit of a declutter.  I have, at times, put my machine in the lounge and did manage to make some cushion covers for my lovely Mum but Im not going to bother posting them as Im sure you are all bored to tears with pictures of my cushion fetish by now!  Hope you are all well and I hope that normal blogging behaviour will resume shortly.   Also wanted to say a big thank you to Sue over at The Krafty Cupcake and K at The Littlest Crafter for awarding me with a stylish blogger award.  That was really lovely of you both.  Also, big shout out to the talented Tina at Scratchy Cat  who sent me some paper hexagons so I can give that a go and sent me 2 lovely books on quilting as well which was very unexpected and extremely lovely of her!  Thanks so much again Tina.   Go and check out their blogs.  They are awesome!  xxx

Patchwork Cushion No. 2 - Crazy 9 Patch

This is cushion number 2 from my Pure by Sweetwater layer cake.  I wanted to do something a bit more difficult than the last one and kind of push myself a bit so I decided to do a crazy 9 patch.  I put a border round it this time but used the same backing colour as the first one so they look pretty good together.    Im really pleased with how it turned out - even if I do say so myself!   We have quite a big sofa so I plan on making one more from this range of fabrics but using a different design again (I hate to admit it but I think Im developing a bit of  a cushion cover obsession.)  

Once Ive finished with my latest  obsession I plan on starting my first quilt.   Hopefully by then, Sherbet Pips fabric will be available in the UK.  I had an e-mail from Aneela the other day and its due here in May.  I cant wait to get my paws on it.  Its definately my current favourite.  The girl on the swing fabric is soo cute!

 Isnt it lovely?!

Patchwork Cushion No. 1 - Standard Patchwork

Got up at 7am and got the sewing machine out so I could finish off this patchwork cushion (I know its sad but I couldnt really sleep because I just wanted to get it done!)  I didnt quilt it as was worried that I ruined it (Im such a woos!) I made an envelope back using blue raspberry Moda fabric which co-ordinates with it really well.  Im dead pleased with the end result so Im going to make another one to go with it using some of the other fabrics from my Pure by Sweetwater layer cake as I only used about 6 or so of the designs.  Im thinking I might try and attempt some different shapes with the next one too just to make it a bit different and give me a bit more practice before I attempt a quilt.

Now Im off to play with my Silhouette machine (another reason I couldnt sleep - yes, I know...I need to get out more!)

- Pootleflump x

Venturing into unknown territory....

So Ive been wanting to try my hand at quilting for ages and have spent the last 4 months or so reading up about it, buying books, asking daft questions and watching loads of you tube videos.  Problem is that I still dont know if I "get" it.  When I see a beautiful quilt it completely puzzles me as to how on earth the fabrics have all been put together and how the wadding has been so perfectly sandwiched without a wrinkle in sight.  I figured that the only way to find out was to take the plunge so Ive taken the first step (of many) and bought a layer cake with some gorgeous fabric that I came across by chance when reading one of my fave blogs Muffins and More.    Its called Pure  and is designed by Sweetwater (you need to click the picture to get a bigger image).  I love the colours and the patterns and as I have recently developed a love for fabric with text on it, it was absolutely perfect.    Its not the most girlie of colour palettes but I really like it anyway.  Now I just need to pluck up the courage to do something with it!   As some of you will know Im struggling with space at the moment so I might have to wait until we move house before I can start it properly - by then Ill have my very own craft room - yay!!.  Big thanks to the girls over at MSE who have been exceptionally helpful answering all my stupid questions and giving me some suggestions on good beginners projects.

 Im also going to try my hand with hexies and my lovely blog friend Tina  has cut me some templates to get me started (thanks Tina!)   Go and check out Tinas blog over at Scratchy Cat Crafter.  She is one very talented lady.

Also wanted to say a huge thank you to Sue over at Harts Corner (another favourite blog of mine) who sent me an adorable fabric ring tray the other day which will come in very handy given my recent engagement.  Its made from gorgeous waffle fabric and is lovely.  I cant post a piccie as Tim has nicked the SD card from my camera (the piccie above is just from a URL link.)  Thanks again Sue.

Anyhoo, thats all my news for the moment.  Havent done any sewing for a quite a few weeks as been spending most of my free time blog hopping, watching quilting videos and eating chocolate but will hopefully get back into it again soon.  Hope you are all well. 

Pootleflump xxx

Oilcloth Doorstop & My Sparkler!

Our bedroom door wont stay open on its own so I made this quick and easy doorstop with some oilcloth that I have leftover from bag making.   I was originally going to make one with a zip but as the bottom and top are circular, and as its oilcloth, I took the easy option and just stitched it up after filling it with rice.   Only took about 20 minutes and does the trick nicely!

As some of you will know I got engaged a few weeks back. We went out and got my ring and its now back from being resized.  My adorable mother-in-law to be lives down in England  so I said Id post a piccie on my blog so she could see it.  Im not a jewellery wearer so I wanted something quite plain yet elegant.  It was the first one I tried on and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.  x