Confined to the Sewing Room

The builders are in this week. We're having some damp proofing done in the house - what we had hoped would have been done a month ago, before we unpacked all our boxes! Nevermind volcanic ash from Iceland, my home has a thick covering of mortar dust, cement and now plaster! It has got EVERYWHERE, despite having protected everything with dust sheets - I can even taste it! Thankfully, the work has only affected downstairs so upstarus has remained relatively livable. I've been confined to my sewing room all week indulging in enforced sewing! I've started machine quilting a baby blanket, nearly completed the embroidery on block one of the 'Down in the Garden' project and started block two! No pics as yet as the camera is somewhere under a dust sheet...

Ella Bella Bunting

This project has been an absolute joy - made as part of a birthday gift for my friend's daughter, Ella. It was a new one for me, as I've never tried making bunting before and I can safely say that bunting is going to feature largely in my future creative life! I used a few squares from a Moda layer cake - the fabrics are from the 'Oh cherry oh' range, which I love. There is an excellent bunting tutorial over on Moda Bakeshop, which I used for general direction. The only modifications I made was to use a zig-zag stich around the applique, and bias binding for the heading tape. We are off to Ella Bella's party this afternoon, so I hope she likes it!

Cupcakes

I am still very busy with various projects. This week I am making some birthday cupcakes and some birthday bunting for my friend's daughter Ella. I have twenty four cupcakes to make - they are baked and ready to decorate, which is always the fun bit! Here are the first ten - a big swirl of pink royal icing with a big white daisy on top!

Easter Wedding at Birling Manor

Well, it all came together and I completed the bridesmaid cardigans and the wedding cake with time to spare! This is largely due to the fact my lovely friend Lisa gave me a big hand with the flowerpaste daisies. The whole day was a chilled, relaxed affair, held at the beautiful Birling Manor. The bride wore a beautiful, vintage inspired gown, designed by herself, the champagne flowed (I have never seen so much champagne at a wedding!)and the wedding breakfast was inspired. This consisted of a sussex cheeseboard to graze over while we waited for our main of freshly fried fish and chips from 'Moby Dick's Chip Van'! This was followed by waffles and organic icecream, freshly made in the waffle van! Much fun was had by all, although I missed my brother and his bride attacking an Easter Pinata whilst blindfolded...

Busy, busy, busy

I am busy, busy, busy at the moment! My brother is getting married on Easter Saturday and I am frantically trying to finish some flowerpaste daisies for the cake as well as knitting two bridesmaid boleros! One bolero is done but not sewn together, and the second, smaller one is well under way! There is nothing for it, but to cwtch in and knit this week!! I had planned to make myself a cover up in the lovely Rowan Kidsilk haze, but alas, unlikely to happen at this rate. All these wedding projects are getting in the way of what I really want to be doing - starting my new project 'Down in the Garden' (pictured above). This is a block of the month programme, run by the fabulous Buttonberry, making Leanne Beasley's amazing quilt. Check out her blog for what I hope the finished project will look like!

Sewing Room

My desk arrived for my sewing room yesterday so I am VERY excited! I haven't managed any sewing for about a month, what with packing and moving house. My machine and cutting board are ready on the desk, so I hope to get some done this afternoon - although I still have to build the desk drawers! The room is the smallest in the house, but plenty big for me and my crafy pursuits! I need to paint the walls to suit my taste - they are a bit tooo blue for my liking! It is very comfoting having all my stuff around me again - still lots more sorting to do, but it's a start!

New House

My recent lack of posting has been due to moving house! We have been in for just over a week and are still living out of quite a lot of boxes! The most exciting development is that I now have a bonafide sewing/craft room!!! Of course, I haven't actually done much sewing for the last two weeks or so! Knitting, however, being a lot more portable has featured largely instead! I hope to post lots of pics - just as soon as I've found the cable that connects the camera to the computer!