Finishing touches:)

First of all, thank you ladies for popping in and leaving your supportive comments:) It's like having our own little crafty family:)

I have managed to add a little frame in lovely copper fabric but now me thinks it needs another green one around it. ?

Mainly because it won't be big enough for a double bed (B-day gift for Mum). Behind the quilt that is my husband lurking there:) Looking very self-content.



This "little" project was completed two years ago. We were having block of the month in our club and the theme was stars. I really enjoyed it and though full of mistakes I have learnt so much by doing this. Was supposed to go on our bed but we have moved since and the colours of the bedroom have changed....Oh, well, will HAVE TO make another quilt:) Malvern Quilt Show come! Come! 

Happy crafting! x x

Addicted to needlework:)

I just can't help myself. I love blackwork, totally obssesed with it now. Such a lovely pattern to work with. We stock Woodmouse at 7th Heaven and as soon as I saw I knew I had to make it. There is Woodmouse 2 and it's nearly finished, will keep you posted on it:)  All I want now is to have enough ££££ to frame it and put on the wall as a reminder how far I have come:) 

I have also finished my piece of lace. As you might know by now I don't do WHITE lace:) This is an original pattern by my mum-in-law Jan Gardiner, it sat on the pillow for months and I was quite annoyed with it at times. But now that it's finished I'm gonna miss it:) I have used olive green and black thread there and I have arranged bobbins randomly just to see how the threads wiil behave and how the colours will affect each other. Well, the result quite astonished me:) It is the best piece of lace I have done so far. But got fed up with torchon so....

... now I was set with a challenge and got buckspoint lace on my pillow (for those of you who don't know about lace: buckspoint lace is a naughty lace, it's got naked pins!!!!). And the colour you ask? Bright R*E*D:):)

The healing power of crafting...

It's been so busy recently! Had to get the room ready for the girls, it's candyfloss and lilac:) Love it or hate it:) Workshops are picking up so well that I spend most of my time crafting and teaching, oh joy...!

Last night I realised how important crafting is in our lives, regardless what you do. I know I WOULD DIE without my quilting and cardmaking and all the other bits I do. But I am a gig:) Something happened that changed my way of thinking slightly.

A lady came to my class last night, she wasn't on the list and I was surprised to see her. And then she said that something terrible happened in her life recently so she thought she would come in and do a bit of cradmaking. My heart fell into pieces, all I could do is to give her a hug. We made fab Valentines cards and after they left I realised one simple thing: her coming to my class was such a compliment. She chose to come and spent some time with us, wow, that thought is so overwhelming! I am quite astonished. And I feel very privileged to have people like her in my workshops. It's motivating and it's pushing me to keep going! Money is not even that important! I helped someone in difficult times. I thank the Lord for gifting me with my skills for the energy to do this... I hope she feels better soon.

Famous at last!

Well, it finally came:) Fame:)

Little interview in Creative Cardmaking magazine! How cool is that?! Now all I have to do is enter all those competitions and projects... 24 hours of a day is not enough. I need more! Would 36 make the difference? x x

Favourite Christmas gifts

Today has been a great day! I went to my patchwork club, I missed all the girls dearly and it was nice to see what they have been up to:)

And I thought I will share with you my best Xmas gifts: books!

I always wanted to have a go at making my own bag but it was scary! Now with this fab book I might try:) And this sweet little thing is so pretty I just want to sew all the time! As a cat lover I just couldn't resist those images. And as it appeared under the Xmas tree I must conclude that my lovely Robert does listen!

Have you got any cool books for Xmas?



Finished (almost) sewing my quilt top together. One day I will write a story about this quilt, it will be called: "How NOT to quilt." Now just have to finish it off with a nice frame. Copper me thinks...

Brand new resolution for new year!

Well, I decided:
I really need to start finishing all those UFO's I put away. My biggest challenge for this month:

My favourite greens and browns in a twisted version of shadow square block with some plain green frame. And I will try to sew it diagonally! Will post you when I am done! Might be November:)

I quite like this diagonal set up:)

Just finished another piece of blackwork! And again I just couldn't not to add any fabric. Thought little cheerful red piece will work. This one is going on the wall in my flat!!! However there is something I would like: more professional camera!

A bit of lace

Today I am going to post stuff about my other hidden hobby: bobbin lace! Well, having Jan Gardiner (famous lacemaker) for a mother-in-law, I stood no chance. I had to learn how to make lace:) Wasn't quite sure if it's gonna work for me but it did! The problem is with so many exciting interests I really find it difficult to do all. Anyway, here is the project I am just about to finish. It's called Knot Garden, it's a simple torchon lace but I decided to put my twist on and instead making it in white I went for black and olive green. What's more, I put the bobbins randomly, there is no pattern how the colours should appear. And this is what I achieved:

Good morning all!

Anyone has got some interesting New Year's resololutions? Please share!

My New Year's Resoloution: reply to letters more promptly. I mean within one year of receiving:)

Ha!

Mix - mash

It is scary! I am posting regularly! Actually it was Diane - crewe who made me keep going. I was beginning to doubt if this blogging makes sense! Oh, yes it does!

Today I am posting a mixture of photos and info from the last few days.

First of all, girls have just turned 6! And even though they don't live with us any more we do get to see them.  We organised a little party for them, just a quiet, family one. £5 seems like a lot of money when you're six!

Pretty butterfly cake:)

So much love there:)

New bag design: something for girlie girls. We all love hearts so here is another project with applique flowers.

More traditional one: pretty birds and some leaves. I am obsessed about pretty buttons and use them in most of my projects.

And that A LOT OF food for New Year's Eve:

And the three of them ate most of it!

The stunning beauty of blackwork.

First of all, Happy New Year to you all. Hope it's packed with love, peace and exciting events!

Now back to work! Shop re-opens tomorrow and we have now in stock pretty little blackwork kits. I am absolutely addicted to it! It's something I picked up at Phoenix Fair in Rugby last September. And right away I was taken by it's simple beauty.

So here are few pieces I have done so far and I am planning to do more!

This is little piece called Acorns, it's absolutely delightful to work with, the golden thread adds extra special something to it. And the browns make it slightly different. I really loved it. And of course I JUST HAD TO combine it with my passion for patchwork:) Then decided to add a bit of lace and some buttons. I am pretty proud about it!

Little owl. Easy but stunning! And yet again, I created some patchwork background to it by using scraps of my favourite fabrics. Little cross-stitch on the edges of the aida fabric made it look very sweet. Love it!

Small piece called "Pinks" which is actually embroidery. It was the most difficult piece I have done but the effort was worth it in the end. This little work was sent to my sister Kasia for her birthday and she loved it.

Little close up on the work. Pretty isn't it?