Now the clearing up...

I have had a computer failure over the past few weeks, and have lost quite a number of images, and lists, so If I owe you a little something, I may have lost it in the 'puter! Just shout to remind me please- It is not nagging, just a needful prod!

It has been the year of the bag. Anyone to whom a bag may be useful, has received a tote bag- Personally I entirely blame Hadley, Cindy and Susan. It is their fault, for without the Mouthy Stitches 2 swap, I would not have been hooked onto this.

Daughter number 1. Favourite animal? Hedgehog.
So a few pictures later, and I found something I thought I could make use of, and Mr Hodgieheg came into being. I must remember with applique, that it always comes out the other way round! I nearly had a disaster with that tree. In the end it seemed to work, though.

 And a further tree on the back, in variegated threads, and DD1 is pleased!

DD2 is a mad fan of VW campervans. Do not ask me why, though I have a bit of a soft spot for them when I see them out and about, myself, so I suppose I can sort of understand. Anyway, this is what came out of my sewing machine for her. Well worth it, for the look on her face when she opened it!

A simple back, as I felt anything more organic would grate with the campervan in its mechanical elegance- I am not sure that makes sense, but it is how I felt at the time. 

Now, my sister in law's bag you have already seen, but I had to do one for my mother. She is less whimsical than the others, and so something a little more abstract seemed more appropriate.

 

 side one,modelled by DD1, Thanks little one.












and, side two.

                                                                                                       and the usual pockets and details! Fabric chosen with swirls to echo the design on the one side.

Spring and summer coloured stars, for Diane

A colour palate was the clue for Mary

and again a set of colours was specified by Tinkingalong, based on her original.

So that was pre Christmas, and all finally finished in time for me to catch up with some Bee obligations.

These all are supposed to arrive two or three weeks apart, but Chaos theory rules and blocks are like buses- they catch up with one another!  So all these will go together to the next port of call- but I think she is ahead of herself, and will be sending them straight out again




































I do hope you all had as peaceful and joyful Christmas as we did, and are set for a happy and a healthy New Year.

Christmas!

 My wonderful Wendy has organised the decorations at work!She is a treasure, and amazing!

 and the really wonderful thing? we didn't even buy any new bits, except the snowflake window stickers!

 Some secret sewing- It is ok, this one is unlikely to look, so you can! The zig-zag lines are in a teal variegated thread and an orange and green variegated thread. I love these against the grey.

 I still have to sort out a lining.



















This still needs the top sewing around.










and I won this! in a bee! thank you Stephanie, not just the promised texty fabrics, but subtle low volume prints as well! Isn't Stephanie wonderful to send these?

 And these lovely Liberty prints came all the way from Australia! Won in the Sewmamasew giveaway fest! (I shall have to try to actually do some giving in the next one.)
Karen from SewWellMaide gave a huge pile of Liberty charms, and they are even more gorgeous in real life than they are in the pictures! I needed red in my stash, and now I have a little!

sewing so smooth?

Has this happened to you? Sewing along, no problem, and the needle has jumped free all on its own! Suddenly, you are not sewing at all, just making strange noises on the machine! Five times in close succession!
And I cannot see why! I promise you, the needle was correctly inserted, and fully tightened, and I even checked that I could not pull it out when in situ. And three or four stitches later, it is out. Not broken, not bent, just dangling!

A sign I am not meant to sew today? maybe, but I have to get on!

On the plus side, we had our receptionists round for a meal, plus husbands, to celebrate Christmes, on Sunday, and I think the meal went ok, I mulled wine for the first time- combination recipe, Nigella and Good housekeeping... and ending up with mince pies, and coffee. Well, not for me- I am strictly a tea Jenny!

Always a relief when this sort of thing is over!

Now, back to the machine?

sewing- nothing to share!

 The early morning sky, earlier this week. Isn't this just delicious?

And I have been sewing- but I cannot show you, other than the mess I am working in!

Suffice to say, a couple of projects are coming along nicely!