New Year... Lots of thanks...

Wow! What a year we had! First six months were spent still on cloud NR 9 as we have been married only 18 months. Than we decided that so called recession can't get any worse and this is when we are gonna open the shop! So 7th Heaven has opened on 20th October and it's been going on great.

I have regular classes for my card making plus I got pushed to actually put all my ideas on paper. So there was A LOT of sewing, card making, tried crochet, lace has been postponed:(, and most of all catching up with friends and family.

I am so grateful for my family and friends, though most of them are miles away we are still very close.

And thanks to technology  (Facebook, blogger etc.) I can really be a part of their lives.

So a BIG thank you to: Denise Jackson, Magda Kowalska, Emma Russell, Louise Hall, Debbie Pepper, Monika Bartczak, Anthony Morgan, Danielle Powell and all the rest of you my lovely friends for just being there for me!

Mustn't forget Wendy and Dave, Teresa and Alan, Sue and Allan, Kasia and her lot, Aga and Ania, auntie Ela, Sara and David, MUM of course and best in- laws ever! You guys are amazing.

And to Robert for being my rock and a shoulder to cry on:) Love you madly.

And to all my newly discovered friends thanks to Blogger: wish you a truly amazing 2012, hope it's filled with joy and sunshine. God bless. x x

Ola

Back to quilting

Second post today, wow! Well, Christmas is over. I was in Cardiff at my best friend's and it was amazing. There was a lot of chatting, cooking, laughter, walking, singing and perhaps too much wine:) But life is short and we should enjoy it and take every day as if it was the last day of our life.

While it's been so busy at the shop I had no chance to post some photos of my Christmas sewing!

 First of all a Somerset Christmas star I made last year at my patchwork club at Franklin's. Emma is such amazing teacher and she doesn't get upset when we add our own twist on her projects. In here I have added little green corners to make it square and normal biding. Acts as a tea pot mat!

Table runner made entirely out of 5" squares. So easy and so effective. In fact few of them have been sent out as Christmas presents last year!

This year's creation: mug-rugs. In the centre there are squares cut out of a panel with Xmas patterns. Add 2" frame and quilt normally. Easy and looks very cool.

These are matching plate mats.Take four coordinating panels and five squares (you can make it as big or as small as you need), join them together, add wadding and quilt diagonally with normal running stitch. Add biding and done!

My own design: table runner. I can never design anything on paper first. It goes out of my head, stitched together and then I add all necessary amendments.

Star applique pan mat. Use some heat'n'bond and applique it onto white fabric with zig zag stitch, add  two 2" strips on each side and done!

This is last year's creation. Beautiful Virginia star mat. It's big enough to act as a Christmas cake mat. It was the most difficult project for me at that time. And when I finished and realised all lines match I was pretty proud!

Emotional

25.12.1972

Happy Wedding Anniversary Mum and Dad!

Well, it would have been if Dad was alive. That would make it 39 years of marriage. Wow... But I never know what to say to Mum on this day. So normally just try not say a thing in case she will get upset. I do miss my family, all of them. x x x x

Best job in the whole world!

I can't believe it's been a month now. Lots of things happened. We are on air now! Salisbury's Spire Fm! Advert is superb and brought us to the public's attention! We have plenty of new products in store and workshops kicked off!!! I am so lucky, this is the best job ever. Most days I just make cards or do some patchwork. We have made some good friends who just pop in to buy stuff! 

The workshops are a good fun! Here are just few cards that we made!

This is made by Rosemary on our retro card workshop.

Pretty cards made by Katie. 

Sue loves buttons:)

And Debbie puts her own twiest on my designs, well done!

Vintage Christmas Card workshop was such a joy. It makes me really happy when someone says they have been looking forward to this and they really enjoy it! Thank you my girls for coming!

And of course, last few days were spent getting the flat ready for Christmas. We won't be going back home this year... Bit sad about it but I am sure I can make it a great Christmas yet. Teddies got some Xmas too!:)

And this is my beautiful Xmas tree:) Spent two hours getting it ready. Decorating a tree for me is like a mas:) It takes ages but at the end of it I feel good:) All has to be put in correct order and trinkets must be THE RIGHT ONES. I know, sound pretty much obsessed:) But I love every minute of it! Reminds me of home and brings back all those lovely memories.

Family matters!

Well, can't believe that it has been a month since Mum arrived. We had busy time! She did a great job at helping me to get the store ready, not mentioning the food she cooked for u everyday:) And now she is gone and gonna miss her loads. We are trying to get ourselves down to see my family for Christmas.

Back to work! My first workshop went well. The girls have done a great job! These are the cards that Debbie, Katie and Lorna made:

The meeting was so successful that the girls have decided to meet up once a month to make cards! What a lovely idea!

And than it was time to say goodbye to Mum, I will never get used to it, tears keep falling down when we see her off. The choices I made make my life easier in a way but on the other hand my heart is torn apart. I miss my family and friends, all the time!

New home decor

I got totally bored with my lampshades. Thought, well haven't got much money so I will have to find a way to do it myself. Well, here they are: a bit of lace, fabric flowers, feathers and some yo-yo templates.

Here is one before I put my mark on it. Pretty boring, isn't it?

And here it is when I finished!!! I am so thrilled about it! It's one of my best projects!

And this one was made up using pom - pons and fabric and yo-yo templates. Very easy and fun to make. Just added some buttons in the centres and here it is. I am particularly proud of it!

The shop is open!

Well, first week into running our shop and it has been great so far. Customers are pretty excited about us being in town, we are both really happy! And I am privileged to do what I love - craft - while at work!!! What a blessing!
Anyway, recently I discovered felt! Totally addicted now! Must make things... :)
Here are few items I created just using felt and beads.

This is a simple Christmas tree decoration made out o felt, stitched ribbon and coronation thread.

Christmas wall hanging! Will look pretty in the window as well. So simple and enjoyable to make!

And few brooches made by hand. Love yo-yo's!