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And the winner of the artful Blogging Journal is...

I'm so glad that lots of you entered the Artful Blogging draw, it was heartwarming to read your thoughts on why you enjoy blogging.  It was ace to learn about new blogs too.  In your comments you've written in black and white why the crafting community is simply one of the best gangs to hang out in.  We're funny, we shoot from the hip, we're nimble fingered (most of the time), we're warm, we're generous, we're tenacious (with the family and with the stitch ripper), we're open,  we're multi-talented, we're sensitive and thoughtful (and smart, which goes without saying), we're curious, we're glamorous (even though we often have bad hair), we're girly (but we don't take any rubbish either), we don't have issues with eating nice food like cakes and chocolate, we're sensualists who are damn good at enjoying the moment, I could go on, but it's nothing you don't know already :)
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Up for grabs was this Artful Blogging Journal.
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Anyways, without further ado, there were 53 entries for this draw and the random number picker (so you can't blame me) stopped on the number 24.

So will Barbara who wrote:

"This looks like a fabulous magazine. I sometimes wonder what I did with my time before I discovered blogging? Oh yes - ebay! But the huge difference is that blogging costs me nothing and I have learnt so much from such a diverse range of people and their lives and stories. I love writing and taking photos and my blog actually gives me a reason to do these things."

Please step forward and drop me an email to claim your prize?

Sorry to those who didn't get lucky this time, there is (as ever) another prize draw just around the corner...

Fresh air, beach huts, and achey legs in Southwold

So Al, the woofer, and I went on another one of our long walks in the pretty coastal town of Southwold.  I must say I really love these long walks, must be a sign that I am getting older (not growing up, just getting older...).  It was such a beautiful day last Saturday that is was perfect for visiting the coast and wonderful to escape to wide open expanses of space, sky, and fresh salty air.
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We arrived in Southwold peckish after a longish drive so we visited the town and beach looking for munchies before setting off on the walk.  How cute are these beach huts?

I love blue irises; you can't beat that colour!

Or these colours!

The best invention since sliced bread is yummy jam and conserves - fact!

So after wandering around town for a little bit and scoffing some flipping yummy pies for lunch we made our way to the start of the walk...

This really bizarre water tower stands in the middle of the common and it is said to be haunted by the ghost of a man who died when his coat got caught in the machinery....  The tower is so huge and it seems to almost loom and follow you around, a bit like a huge triffid or space ship, yikes!

Nice to know that you're keeping an eye on things fellas.

No slacking boys only another 6.5 miles to go.

This walk is brilliant if only for the variety of sights you come across.  This ancient church is in a tiny village called Walberswick.  Small villages always have cool names too.

Awwww!  Lots of cute lambs.  Beans seemed rather pleased to see them too...

Part of the walk was in these reed marshes.  The reeds are still harvested for thatch roofs.  Look at that wide open space, it sure is a sight for sore eyes for us city folk.

But the reeds where kinda wet and soggy.  Alan is doing his best at a spot of ballet whilst I am laughing my head off at him and crying like a girl for myself as my socks are getting soaked.  Beans is delighted because by now he is covered in the stuff and he stinks!

To be a bird...

 

We couldn't get over how much uninterrupted space there was.  So inspiring.

And back in the village.  Translated: "Mad dog & his little brother".  How cute is that!

Chocolate box cottage with thatched roof.

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After the long walk we got home gave the smelly dog a bath, made a chicken & mushroom curry, and ate banana (with liquid toffee center - oh yeah!) muffins for desert.  All in all a pretty perfect day :)

Coming next: The winner announcement for the Artful Blogging Journal draw. 

Every now and again I don't make my bag!

Hi All!

I was just about to write about what we got up to in the weekend when the postie knocked at my door  with a delivery all the way the from Austin Texas.  It's my bag Yay! Handmade by the fair hand of Liz at Bolsa Bonita.  It's so yummy I wanted to show it to you.

Ohhh! It's even more edible in the flesh, it's all I can do to stop myself from getting into the box with my bare teeth!  The fabric is a shimmery iridescent raw  greeny gold silk with geometric appliqué, and the other fabric is outrageously gorgeous embroidered silk.  It's supposed to a special present for a special someone, but I can't help thinking how great it would look with my white linen trousers and bronze sandals...

Delicious thick gold satin lining, double stitching top edge, and two inner pockets, and flap closure.  This baby is indeed made very very well. The bag is both lightly padded and firm with a stiff top edge.  I wonder if Liz might share some of her bag making secrets with little ol' me?

Even the reverse of the bag looks yummy with a continuation of the appliqué.  These pics don't do justice, to see more look here. 


Thanks for my bag Liz. I love it, love it, love it (I mean she will love it. heh!)

I want, I want, I want...

A spot of online window shopping is ace when you're supposed to be working, you've got a quiet moment.  So today my [virtual] shopping bags are full of:

This pencil, (drool) can one lust over a pencil?  One most certainly can! The Faber Castell Perfect Pencil in platinum. Read more here.  Thanks for the link Alt.

Damn!  Amy has only gone and designed a gorgeous tableware collection for Mikasa.  I really need a new teapot and those mugs aren't too shabby either.

It's daft, but I want one any way.  Mushroom pin cushion.

 

Easy on the eye and easy on my weary bones too. Lodsworth sofa.

 

Sunburst clock. It would be tricky getting this one home!

ANY cake from this shop - I'm not fussy :)

Cute night light.

 

Dinky doo Fruity shoes!


Right, that's enough (virtual) shopping, my arms are (virtually aching), and Al will (virtually) kill me when he sees our (virtual) credit card statement. He! He!

And the winners of the Amy Butler Sewing pattern contest (Mar 08) are...

Blimey! Two days of sunshine in a row...what's going on?  I might even be able to go on one of those long nature walks this weekend. 

So, lots of entries this month (which was wonderful!), as ever your entries were delicious; and as ever it made the judging darn impossible.

Here are the winners of this month's Amy Butler Pattern contest - each wins an Amy Butler Sewing Pattern of their choice:

How happy does this pretty girl look?  No wonder; she is only learning to sew yet - she has made herself an absolutely beautiful Weekender Bag. Well done!  Sent in by Sewyourheartout

 

I love the deep red and fresh white colour used in this Nappy Bag with Changing Mat.  The appliqué is really eye popping too; love it!  By Ritz.

 

By  Lelisabeth. I love the fabric combo on this High St Messenger Bag; it's cheery on the inside and classy on the outside.  I love the matching portfolio too.  Hello Kitty!

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Well done Ladies!  Please get back to me with your choice of Amy Butler pattern and your postal address, and I'll send you your pattern. 


Thanks to everyone else who entered, sorry you didn't get lucky this time.  You could always try your luck in next month's contest!

This much I know...part 1

Well, hopefully I know more stuff than this here list...

Some Sewing Sods Law things I know:

1. Even though you think you have just enough thread on the bobbin for the job - You'll find that you are actually 2" short (and you wont realise until you get to the end of your stitching).
2. You'll really be on a roll with your sewing/knitting/beading etc. etc. and you probably only need another 15mins to get the project finished, but at this very moment the kids have started grumbling because they're hungry/your partner is now grumbling because he hasn't seen you all day/the dog needs walking etc.
3. You are on a roll (again) with your project  (even though it's quite sunny outside) so you soldier on promising your kids/partner/doggie that you will take them out as soon as you're done crafting "only another 30 mins" you say.  Then when you are done 30 minutes later, it starts raining.
4. You decide to save time when cutting fabric from a pattern by layering your fabric and interlinings and cutting all in go - no matter how many pins you use the layers still move about??
5. You mum has the uncanny knack of knowing when to call you - just as you have messed something up on your sewing machine - and you are really rather angry...
6. You always seem to have a slightly lighter and a slighter dark shade of thread for your fabric, BUT NEVER a great match.  Then you go the the shop to buy the right thread and you end up buying armfuls of other stuff...
7. Measuring stuff should mean that things match and things should fit, but not necessarily...???
8. Scissors, and pins, and chalk, and stitch ripper actually grow legs and go walkies whilst you are sewing, so as soon as you need them they are nowhere to be found - even though you left them RIGHT BESIDE your machine??
9. Bobbins just love being on the floor, they love jumping out of your hand/bobbin box/machine and they love rolling under your sewing table.  Oh yeah, how annoying is it when lids break off bobbin boxes?
10. I'm a very slow learner - I don't like making samples because I'm too impatient.  This causes me untold amounts of grief and I will never be a lady because of my foul (sewing) mouth, but will I learn from my mess-ups and make samples? Nope!  But other than all of that sewing is ace and I wouldn't be without it.

"Muuuuuuuum can we eat now?  You said "another ten minutes" aaaaages ago...wahhhh!"

I must have missed out loads from this list, what things can you add?

Super Sewing Sunday

Don't you just love it when you've somehow managed to beg, borrow, or steal a few hours to yourself?  For a few hours the kids are busy, or your parents aren't popping around for a visit, or you don't have to go out and buy groceries etc etc etc...bliss!  This means you can grab yourself luxurious crafternoon. This is just what Jo and I (along with Beanie who loves to poke his nose/join in) had together last Sunday.

So what do you get when you mix two enthusiastic Crafterettes, some red check fabric, some outrageously tasty choccy - thanks Jo!, and other sewing bits and bobs?  Check out Jo's blog to find out :)

Artful Blogging Journal Review and Giveaway!!

'Scuse me, but this post is an extension of a contest post that I'm running on my CraftBoom! blog.  I'm doing a review of a very delicious journal that focuses on the joy of art and craft blogging and it's up for grabs!

The reason that I've posted this contest on U-Handblog is that the contest in CraftBoom! is only open to USA residents (not my rules!) so I thought it only fair to give folks from outside the US a chance to get their mitts on this luscious journal too.

If you live outside of the US  - read  the review on the Artful Blogging journal on my CraftBoom! blog and then pop back here to comment and enter the draw...

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To enter all you have to do is be a NON USA resident and comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST in U-Handblog by:   

• Reading through the contest post on CraftBoom! and then answering both of the questions in the comments on THIS blog (v. important that is is this blog you comment on or your entry won't be counted - eek!).

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Contest Official-ness

   
• Please DO NOT enter this draw if you live in the US.  If you're from the US you can pop over and enter the same contest on my other blog.   
• I'll randomly draw 1 winner in a weeks time - 29th April and announce the winner the following day-ish.  Good luck! 
• I'll need to ask the winner to make a donation for the postage.
• Sorry I can't notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement.  This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don't have to keep checking back, although it's always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
• Prizes which are not claimed within 3 weeks of the winner announcement will be carried forward to the next draw.
• Sorry I can't reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one :)

 

'Scuse me, but this post is an extension of a contest post that I'm running on my CraftBoom! blog.  I'm doing a review of a very delicious journal that focuses on the joy of art and craft blogging and it's up for grabs!

The reason that I've posted this contest on U-Handblog is that the contest in CraftBoom! is only open to USA residents (not my rules!) so I thought it only fair to give folks from outside the US a chance to get their mitts on this luscious journal too.

If you live outside of the US  - read  the review on the Artful Blogging journal on my CraftBoom! blog and then pop back here to comment and enter the draw...

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To enter all you have to do is be a NON USA resident and comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST in U-Handblog by:   

• Reading through the contest post on CraftBoom! and then answering both of the questions in the comments on THIS blog (v. important that is is this blog you comment on or your entry won't be counted - eek!).

.

Contest Official-ness

   
• Please DO NOT enter this draw if you live in the US.  If you're from the US you can pop over and enter the same contest on my other blog.   
• I'll randomly draw 1 winner in a weeks time - 29th April and announce the winner the following day-ish.  Good luck! 
• I'll need to ask the winner to make a donation for the postage.
• Sorry I can't notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement.  This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don't have to keep checking back, although it's always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
• Prizes which are not claimed within 3 weeks of the winner announcement will be carried forward to the next draw.
• Sorry I can't reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one :)

 

Sewing World Bag. Jul 08 - Quick Get Away Tote.

The thing about going on holiday (thanks for your lovely words about the holiday pics) is that you have twice the amount of work to come back to. Sorry about being slow replying to your emails and comments I am slowly ploughing through them (don't worry competition winners, I'm on my way to replying) - I guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend (ah well, it's gonna rain the whole weekend anyway).

One of the things I had to do this hectic week was design the bag for Jul 08 issue of Sewing World Magazine.   The theme for July month is 'the colour Red and quick makes'.  So in keeping with the theme I  designed this quick to make tote bag.  To add interest to the basic tote shape I added a few wingdings like knotted eyelet shoulder straps, a contrasting cuff top edge, and a flat bottom with self-covered buttons. 

So I made this bag in the dark blue wide weave upholstery (home dec.) fabric and red quilt weight for the lining (sorry about posting loads of pics; it's for when I sell the bag at a later stage):

I think it looks kinda nautical and holiday-ish.  Even though the bag has a flat bottom it still folds up easily for packing in your suit case.    I have used this red damask print fabric for the lining and handles and these eyelets for the strap holes.



Side View.  Folding up the bag bottom like this is a quick way to make a flat bottom for a bag.  If you add a pretty button trim to the folded up corner it can look pretty groovy too.





Inside view.  Fastening is a magnetic snap.

Coming Next: a yummy giveaway.  Hope to see you then :)

Snap shots of South Africa.

Al and I had a wonderful time in South Africa.  We stayed in Cape Town (which is made up of eye poppingly beautiful coastline bays and is also where Table Mountain is situated) and we stayed in Stellenbosch where my friend Nicci's parents live (amongst some very nice vineyards).

Cape Town is quite compact and you can drive around a lot of the gorgeous coastline in one day (which we did).  Everywhere  you look it's cute apartments, framed by the dramatic mountains, rocky ocean, and HOT sun...mmm...hot sun...drool.  A 30ish minute drive east from Cape Town then you are in Stellenbosch which is all mountains, loads of space, and lush vineyards (and more hot sun).

We stayed on a vineyard.  This was the view from our bungalow.

Another vineyard in Stellenbosch.

Al (and Jamie the groom) looking very happy because they're just about to enter the building in the background...

This poster was inside the wine tasting building.  Ohh, an award from London eh?  Seem like a good  enough reason to give the stuff a try...

"Mmm...yes, one can just about detect the hint of ripe summer fruits bursting in the mouth and the faint aroma of straw sun hats...or something..."   Wine tasting is a very serious business indeed.  I don't drink so I took it upon myself to photograph and record the proceedings.

One afternoon we went to a hippyish dance festival.  It had rained the night before and the field got kinda muddy.  Somehow I managed to dance like a mad thing and not lose my shoes and not get my feet dirty?

We stayed in Cape Town for a few days before the wedding.  We stayed in a cute neighborhood on the outskirts of the town.  That is Table Mountain in the back ground (what a brilliant view to have from your house!).  A lot of the houses are colonial style (which dates back to colonial times) and painted in ice cream colours.  The streets looked kind of San Francisco to me.

I would LOVE it if my neighborhood looked like this.  Loads of space, clean air, and a nice (Table) mountain in the background wouldn't go amiss either.

So we visited the top of Table Mountain (with the aid of a taxi to the cable car of course).  See the rocky tip in the right hand top corner?  That's where the cable car goes.

Us goofing around at the cable car terminal...

View from the cable car terminal. Shimmery sunny city.

Nearly there.

Made it to the top. There are luscious views in every direction and the sun is soooo hot I can hear myself going a nice shade of bronze.

On the top of Table mountain there are lots of boulders and silly men pretending to be rock climbers.

Looking at this just make me want to take flight...

Tourists are such a...

Chilling out in a lovely funky bar restaurant by the sea...

The coastline of Cape Town is made up of one beautiful rugged bay after another...

This area is called Misty Cliffs and it is always misty too.  It was soooo beautiful on this beach

Al having a thoughtful moment to himself.

Did you know there are penguins in Africa?  This chap is a Jackass penguin so called because they do sound exactly like braying donkeys (weird but true).

And they live on this protected beach - nice life for some eh?

The highlight of the holiday; the wedding. It was held on a lovely vineyard in this fairytale setting in a clearing in the woods. The sun was so bright everything is glowing!  Isn't the wooden gazebo lovely?

Here's Jamie the groom trying his darndest to not to fidget and look REALLY flipping nervous.  He he, poor fella!

Here comes the bride looking drop-dead gorgeous.  My friend Nicci and her Dad (looking really chuffed with himself - and who can blame him?)

They had written their own vows which were romantic, loving, funny, and made the ladies get our tissues out...

Dreamy isn't it?  You can just about see Nicci's wedding shoes.  She designed those herself (she is a womens footwear designer) and she had the factory make them just for her.

Well, that was a brilliant holiday and I didn't realise how much we both really needed it until we were there.   The weather, the scenery, the folks, and the food were all lovely.  The cost of everything was really reasonable too. 

We could well see ourselves moving there because the lifestyle is so attractive, but (without going deeply into it) it would be too hard to reconcile with the problems that social poverty brings to the country.  There is an unease felt when you know there are sprawling shanty towns lining highways and on the outskirts of exclusive hillside developments . The imbalance for some is extreme and it doesn't feel right...