U-handblog

Mum Me

I love her to the point my heart will burst, but it doesn't, it just loves her even more.  Mabel has been in our lives for 2 weeks and 3 days and how life changing they have been.  Many of you said to me that she will be the most beautiful thing I will ever make - and you were right.

Thank you so much everyone for your kind congrats and to those of you who sent cards and gifts (I will get back to card senders in the next few weeks, sorry about the delay).  We've been bowled over by the kind baby cheer from sooooo many of you.  Hundreds!  Hey Mabel did you know you've got hundreds of lovely cyber aunties :)

Al has managed to wangle lots of paternity leave and he is really enjoying being a daddy.  He is positively dippy over his daughter.  I love hearing the daft voices coming out of the bathroom as he changes her (for the time being Al is in charge of waste disposal, and why not, he loves changing her nappy!).  We are actually a family, I am a mum, I have a daughter!!!!  

At the moment we are laying low and enjoying the baby bubble.  In some ways it's like a hands on activity holiday.   It's been wonderful living life fully moment by moment, trying to drink in and record the precious passing moments as they race by.  In my work I spend so much time working to deadlines and working a season ahead.  When you have a babe to love and care for all of that goes out the window because the farthest you can think ahead is the next feed or change.  But this is good, I've found myself  enjoying life in a completely different way by slowing riiiiight dowwwwn.  It's true that being woken up twice a night isn't great, but being able to sate her hunger and make her comfortable is great. I wake up in the mornings when she she wakes me up.  I look into her cot and think 'aw she's so lovely and I get to look after her today' - hurray!

 

Al and I a week or so before Mabel came on da scene. 

Remember those bootees that I crocheted?  Sooooo cute (even tho I say so myself).

'Grumpy chops' Mabel (or perhaps she's pondering on something deep and meaningful).

She already has Al wrapped around her little baby fingers (can't say I blame him!)

Mabel likes a bit of strumming on the guitar.

Granny and Granpa visited last weekend, they actually squabbled over who got to hold her.

My Dad is also great at making silly faces and voices, Mabel certainly approves.

We've been out and about making the most of the sunshine, ahh bliss!

Make your own Dragon Paper Model - Happy New Year!

Happiest New Year to you and your family!!

I wish the best of everything for you this year.  I know that 'things out there' are far from perfect but, hopefully we can still feel that there is so much to be happy for.  Be that a tasty chicken pie for tonight's dinner, a hug and an "I love you" from your children/friend/partner, a completed UFO, or gaining a new skill for example.

This year is going to be delightfully bonkers - I've heard that nothing can prepare you for your first child...  But despite the added distraction, tiredness and feelings of love that she will no doubt bring, my 2012 aim (I don't do resolutions) will be to try and keep it simple.   Because book writing forces you to stay in a lot (as does advanced stages of pregnancy), I've had to focus on the simpler pleasures in life (in order alleviate the writer's cabin fever).  And this has left me a in good place.  I love my slippers more than ever, the only things I want to shop for is food, craft supplies, and baby stuff.  The more I can keep things uncomplicated the more I am free to enjoy the simple stuff.  Long may this continue!

 

Make your own Lucky 2012 Dragon.

In Chinese mythology and zodiac-ness Dragons are believed to be the super-luckiest of creatures.  I'm not particularly superstitious myself but, it's still nice knowing that Beansprout will be born in the year of the Dragon.  She may turn out to be a creative hothead, ohhhhh boy!  Here's a cool lucky dragon for you/the kids to make to celebrate the New Year.

 

Taken from this site.  Isn't this Dragon groovy!  I'm going to make one for Beansprout's room.

Click for the dragon template PDF

Click for the assembly instructions (they're in Japanese, but the diagrams are easy to follow)

 

 

This reads: Kung Hei Fat Choy  "Happy New Year"  Innit!   OX

Ever increasing circles

Increasing Family Circle

Heya everyone!  I hope you are all well, and you all had a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah/get together.  I think ours was the best Christmas we've had in long time.  Al and I spent it with my clan/our clan.  We all actually managed to get time off work and be together for the first time in ages. Many of my family hadn't yet seen my bump, it got loads of lovin'!  Our baby will be the first of my generation in my immediate and extended family.  My mum told me that since she told my 80+ Grandma that we're expecting Grandma has been glowing more than usual. We can't wait to appear in the 4 generations piccy: Grandma, my Mum, myself and Beansprout.  As us 'kids' (of which I will always be one) grow up a bit and find life partners, the family gets even bigger. As some of you may already know Al and I finally tied the knot last Sep and so my family made a bit of fuss of him.  And my cousin is going to marry a lovely chap next July, (phew that gives enough time for my bump to shrink a bit for the big day).   Awww, my family rocks, I feel sooo blessed to have access to so many happy faces, cuddles and belly laughs (and deeeelish home cooking).  I think that this is the stuff of real value.  I'm happy to stay in and not be one of the hordes of shoppers that queued up outside Selfridges on the 26th for a designer this, that and the other.  

After Christmas dinner we had a great game of cross-cultural; guess who I am. It took Al a while to guess his identity, but he got there in the end.  He's such a bright boy.

Increasing mess on my kitchen table

Whilst on the subject of being in happy place, I'm sooooooo relived to have finally finished work on my 2nd book. The publisher and I really sweated over this book and we are all delighted at the results.  I know that your opinion is the one that truly matters, but I will (at least) say it really does look the business. The projects are as modern as the cover design and layout is fresh.  Dare I say the 2nd book looks much prettier than my first?  Yes I do dare!  Hehe!  The book will be released next year end of May/early April.  Now I've stopped working on my book I can concentrate on turning the writing/work room into a nursery - it's back to sewing on the kitchen table for me. Ho hum!

 

Increasing belly (which in keeping with the circular theme: is now round)

Me: taken earlier today, week 28.  I'm now just about waddling into the third trimester.  Doctor husband and all other professionals are happy to report that all looks well (mum doesn't think she looks that great, but really doesn't mind about that at all). 

My bump did well this Christmas, it got rounds of applause, pats and strokes! 

 

Increasing crochet circles!

Yeah, so at this stage I can no longer sew for any protracted length of time without my back aching and  my belly constantly bumping against the table edge.  Ahhhhh I can't sew!  Panic panic panic, I have to do some sort of craft!!  So I looked for a craft that is very portable and not too mentally involved for my baby brain.  Seems like crochet is the answer.  I got me a crochet book and some Amy Butler Belle yarn and I have been crochet hooked since!  It's perfect for keeping me in craft whilst lolling about whale-like on my bed or sofa.  At some point I'll join these squares to make a big throw and I reckon I'll get round to making the cute bootees as well.  By then Beansprout might have joined the party and my belly will have receded sufficiently for me to be able to sit comfortably behind my beloved sewing machine - that is if I'll be able to stay awake long enough to switch the power on! 

What craft did you turn to when your bump got in the way?

Inside the House of Amy and David Butler

As a lot of you already know (because I went on and ooon about it!) that I spent the last few days of my USA Quilt Market, filming bonanza visit, relaxing in Chez Butler with Amy & David (and their friend Kevin) and the 4 Butler feline fuzzies. 

Whenever I appreciate any kind of human creation - be that: a book, a recipe, a picture, an item of clothing, a bouquet of flowers and of course scrummy fabric I love to imagine what the creator is like.  And when I do that, one of the things I like to wonder about it what their home looks like.

The first look around the Butler pad reveals the couple's confident and individual sense of style.  A closer look tells you that they are a generous couple; they want you to feel comfortable, be well fed, well rested and to have something attractive/interesting/playful to look at wherever you are. Both Amy & David are designers and it was fascinating seeing the differences in their styles and it was great checking out their their little displays of vintage and modern treasures (or 'vignettes' as Amy calls them) dotted all about their home. 

Both Amy & David were tolerant gracious in letting me click all around their home. Me and my camera pretty much had backstage access to their home and studios (they both do their design work at home), I'm not sure if I'd be willing to afford such a free reign to anyone over my own home (not even my house proud Mum!)

I hope you like the pics. This is only a few of a gazillions that I took. In fact I took so many that I've decided to split them up into 3 blog posts; 1) this post, 2) Amy's studio, 3) David's studio

You'll find the rest of the 'Home' shots on my FB.

 

 

Outrageously good chocolate chip cookies by Mr DB, and he even watches by the oven whilst they cook (he don't put no trust in no timer!) And in his spare time he is also a rock band drummer and singer...

 

Every morning Amy & I supped coffee served in these gorgeous silver rimmed mugs and we drank them outside on the gorgeous deck...

...it felt like we were sitting in the tree tops.  The green view is heavenly and nourishing.

On chilly mornings we both had a fluffy "wubby" (Amy calls em 'Wubbies', I can see why!) to snuggle into.

Check out the fluffy slipper action!  She even looks serene first thing in the morning (how does she do that?!)

 

I hope you enjoyed nosing in Amy & David's home.

There are loads more craft videos action pics in my Face Slap. I simply have too many to post on the blog :)

 

If you want to see the other 'Butler Home' pics please join my Faceslap page.

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More pics coming next: 'Amy's Studio'

My (recent) life in pictures

Blimey!  I haven't posted in over a month, that must be the longest time I've not blogged for - ever!  But then (as some of you already know) I have some mighty crazy stuff on my plate.

Let me fill you in on wass happenin'.  I've not blogged in over a month because:

• I've begun writing my 2nd book. It will be available in 2 parts. The 1st part will be available this fall and it will be 3 tasty projects in e-book format. The 2nd part will comprise of all of the 12+ projects, it will be hardback spiral bound and will go on sale in spring 2012.
• I will be flying to USA in early May. I'll be giving a talk at Quilt Market, doing book signings and generally hob-nobbing with USA crafty stars.  I'll also be doing a double book signing in Ohio with Amy Butler - which will be ace fun!
• Whilst in USA I will also be filming 2 craft videos - inside a professional filming suite and everything!
• I am now sponsored by Coats, so amongst other things I will be doing workshops with them in the major UK cities.

Gosh written down, it doesn't look all that much, but for me it is!  I'm not the most organised person in the world and (not that I'm complaining or boasting) I do all of the development work myself. This means that here I am yet again (as I was when writing the BMB) chained to my Mac or my Janome for 6 days of the week. All I can say is: "I salute anyone who is a parent of young un's. How do you do it??"

 

 

If you'd like to stay in regular touch with my rantings and findings (and I'd love it if you did). Please join my Faceslap. I check into it most every day and chat on it regular too.

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As I have to get on with book writing I can't blog as well, but I wanted to share with you a few pics of what I've been up to lately. I just wanted to check-in and say: "Hi, I miss you!!"

 

This is me (today) sporting the 'Book Writing Babe' look. My hair is a shaggy mess and I have baaa-hags under my eyes. Mmmm tasty!

 

Recent spring walk in Balcombe, Sussex.

On the same walk.

 

  At last month's Elbow gig in Brighton. I LOVE Elbow!!!

Al and I waiting for the Elbow gig to start.

 

...amongst Moji's gorgous wares at our first Brighton Craftaganza. A craft market that 2 friends and I organized. T'was a really wonderful day!

 

Having ace fun choosing some Free Spirit fabrics for the book. This is what fabric sample cards ofen look like.   I'm positive there are those of you (fabric nerds - like me) out there who know what this range is.  Pop your answers in the comments.  :)

 

...and I bet you know what this fabric is as well :)

 

Al & I on a walk in Ashdown Forest (Pooh Bear country).

 

...and here's a hoooo-mungous roast we had lunch after the walk...

 

In the pub (we ate lunch in) there were some achingly beautiful and retro-licious sewing machines. I think Pinnock might be an Australian brand. Anyone heard of 'em before?

 

...my lovely editor Jen bought these at Angel Bakery as a naughty treat for us all when she came for a visit to Brighton.

 

...in Brighton North Laines all the cool doggies get around by skateboard, yes they do. 

Not sure when I'll blog again, but I still love reading your comments. So thanks to everyone who still visits the blog and uses my tutes. I appreciate it.  XO!

 

I can usually be found (more often) here:

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Nimble fingers runs in the family

I live 2hrs away from my folks, so I don't get to see them as much as I would like.  But when I do pop over we have a great time and I leave feeling nourished - in my big belly and in my soul.  Isn't it funny how when you're young (and ungrateful) your parents exist solely to drive you bananas, and then (hopefully) we mellow out and come to the conclusion that family is actually very cool.

So I went to my folks last weekend.  I thought I'd share some pics of the visit because this time it wasn't just the usual yakking and eating.  This time it was yakking eating and quilting - my kinda afternoon!  My mum really liked the quilt I made for my sister, so much so she wanted to make one just like it.  I'm only a newbie quilter myself (and Mum had never made one), but as this quilt is super easy I knew we'd be able to at least finish the best part of a quilt top in a few hours.  Gran also popped around too, she's a seasoned quilter.  She'd bought with her an amazing candlewicking quilt that she had made - to give to me (result!!). Pics are at the bottom.

For her birthday I had already bought mum some swish sewing gear including: her first cutting mat, quilt ruler and rotary cutter.  She hadn't used any of these items before, but it wasn't long before Mum was happily slicing through 6 layers of fabric - Sweeny Todd style.  I think most everyone has same epiphany moment when they use a rotary cutter for the first time :)  So after Mum got the boring fabric cutting  over with we set to work on making her first quilt top...

Click on pics to enlarge:

Mum having fun learning about the mysterious art of placing pattern and colour together. Sooo glad that Gran (who is a hardened quilter) was there.  Mum had loads of questions that I couldn't answer...  :)

In-yer-face-floral-tastic! 

 

And soon enough Mum was whizzing the pieces through her machine, ironing the seams open and everything.  I tell you, she was unstoppable!   Her 1/4in seams are preeee-cise. 

 

Here's me holding up my Mum's handiwork.  You can't see, but behind me Mum is fixing up a delish Chinese dinner - the prefect reward for a rewarding day's sewing!

My gran hand stitched this Candlewicking quilt over 20 years ago. And now it's mine, all mine! The quilt is made of individual panels that have all been edged with crochet lace and then sewn together to form the quilt top.

Yep all hand stitched.  It must've taken an aaaaaage!

 

 Do you do the craft thing with your family?  What do you get up to craft-wise?

Weird n' Wacky Sewing Machines

So the other day I was inside my local Urban Outfitters checking out what is (supposedly) hot (and confirming that my dress sense is decidedly not). Never mind, I still love their quirky home-wares  and I can always find another daft tea mug to add to my collection.  I was delighted to see that this purveyor of coolness has cottoned on to the fact that sewing is cool (like we soooo knew that last year - and the year before...).  I took a snap of a kooky portable sewing machine that they had for sale:

I'm not too sure what is going on on the knitted chap's groin - perhaps it needs repairing haha! 

 

So this funny little sewing machine got me thinking "I'm going to go home and have a Google at other funny sewing machines..."  We all have days when our sewing machines are hell bent on driving us up the craft-room wall (nothing to do with us of course - it's the machines having one of their an 'evil days'), but imagine having one the following sewing machines to contend with!

Steam punk sewing

 

Wilma and her avian sewing machine.

 

Wacky looking portable sewing machine.

 

A rather different kind of 'portable' sewing machine.

 

Star Trekky sewing machine - good to see that will still be free-arms in the future :)

 

A concept colour matching sewing machine - LOVE this idea!

 

When sewing machines go BAD

 

I love my sewing machine, to be fair it's rarely weird or wacky.  It's actually very reliable and consistent (more than I am anyway!)  Is yours?

 

Puffy Pleaty Purse

Happiest New Year to you all!

 

To me this purse is just cahh-yute - I don't think I have anything else to add. 

Except: I made it in 2 evenings and if you want the pattern for it please let me know in the ol' comments   :)

 

Puffy with pleats. This purse is roomy, but still very neat.  The handle deffo lifts the purse to another level don'tcha think?  The leather handle is this Hook & Poppa Handle and the purse frame is this Half-Moon Purse Frame.

Measures: 12 1/2in x 9in (31 1/2cm x 23cm)

 

I've used crocheted cotton lace to conceal the seam between the red and doggy fabric.  The lace came from a totally amazing trimmings market stall in Amsterdam - I'm sooo due another visit methinks.

 

 

 

If this purse is your kinda bag (see what I did there?)  um yeah, if you like this purse and you'd like to see a pattern for it please lemme know in the comments. 

 

In other news: I've already designed 6 bags for the new book (and they're rockin' - if I do say so myself).

Calendars for Craft Fiends. 2011

Long time readers will know that in my house it is my duty to obtain the family calendar. In recent years this task has been greatly simplified with the discovery of Sock Monkey calendars.  At last a calendar we can both agree on!

I love nothing more than a spot of silliness 365 days a year, but what if you prefer something a bit more crafty educational to perk up your day?  If so, these calendars should see you through another busy crafting year - bring it on!

 

NB: apologies to my international readers as these links are predominantly UK. I hope these calendars are also available overseas :)

 

 

OK so a Monkey Calendar is not necessarily a craft calendar, but I am a craft-type person and I happen to find these daft monkeys totally inspiring! 

The beautiful (as always) Whip-Up calendar.

 

For sewing fiends: the always popular Sewing Calendar (look out for your craft blog pals in this calendar!)

For quilt fiends: a calendar which has patterns for each quilt. 

For knitting fiends: a new stitch for each day calendar.

For crochet fiends: a new stitch for each day calendar.

 

More knitting for the knitting fiends by The Yarn Harlot.

 

 

Another calendar for the quilting fiends.

For the paper folding (and cutting) fiends Kirigami calendar.

 

 

For the paper folding (purist) fiends: an origami calendar.

 

For the cross-stitch fiends: a stitchy calendar.

Another calendar for the knitting fiends.

 

Another calendar for the crochet fiends.

 

For the cupcake fiends: Cupcake calendar.

 
 

Yet another calendar for the quilting fiends.

 

And for the make it yourself fiends this fabby & free to print calendar.

Phew!  That should keep us busy!

Looky look! My first quilt is finshed!

Hello Lovelypeeps!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and you're still in the midst of enjoying a restful holiday.  I'm laying low, hibernating at home and getting cosy with my sewing machine. I'm also staying well away from the sales - they only lead to clutter, temptation and time away from messy workroom.

Right now I'm having the best time shuffling around in my slippers and sewing for fun.  It's so cathartic to be able to stitch things because I can (versus stitching for my work). I'm guessing that this will be one of the few times I'll get to do just that between now and next December.  I have a total whirlwind of a 2011 to look forward to - which I can't wait to share with you as it unfolds. 

So during my current 'sewing for fun' time I've just finished my first quilt.  I've been excited about making one since last August after the Fest of Quilts.  At the fest I bought The Gentle Art of Quilt Making (signed copy of course) and I also bought me some quilting gadgets too.  It's only now that I've had the time to put them to good use.  The quilt is for my sister.  I finished the quilt top and tacked the quilt sandwich together, but I didn't get to bind the quilt in time for Christmas. So at Christmas I took the near-finished quilt to my folks and showed it to Wendy. I asked her if she was genuinely happy with the quilt (cos I'd be happy to keep it for myself). Luckily there was lots of 'oooing and ahhing' and now my Mum wants to make her first quilt. Mum has already orgainsed a quilt sewing sesh in Jan. All of that sewing knowledge that my Mum has imparted to me and now many years later I have some new sewing knowledge to impart to her - it's going to be so much fun, I can't wait!  

 

I decided to call this quilt 'Opium Lounge' due to it's heavy rich colours and oriental-ness.

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

Making this quilt was cathartic in a few ways:

• I only needed to try and please my sister and myself (if I don't like it, I tend to avoid making it).
• I used some very precious hi-grade stash fabric that I've had for stupid ages - it was so nice to just use it with abandon and let it go to a good home.  Far better to see it made into something made with love than sitting in folded piles (to be drooled over by me Golem style).  I've now decided I'm going to stop coveting my 'precious stash fabrics' and just bloody well use 'em! 
• Actually, because I loved the fabric so much it made the quilt even more of a joy to piece together.
• I'm no longer a quilt virgin har har! I had thought I would just make one, get it out of my system, and leave it at that.  But as many of you have rightly warned me, quilt making is ace! I can see quilted bags and purses in my future...

The quilt is the 'Russian Shawl' quilt from The Gentle Art of Quilt Making.  If you're a quilt beginner like me I can't recommend this design enough.  It's basically a big ol' log cabin design, it's soooo easy and it grows quickly. As with anything you can make the simplest of designs really pack a punch if you use your fave fabrics. 

I had considered using pastel fabrics which really matched each other, but the overall effect of the pastels would've been too 'vanilla' for Wendy & me. So I opted for the above 'smack you in the chops' colour-fest fabrics. In certain lights the colour combo pretty much pokes your eyes out, but we're both colour fiends and we aint sorry!

 

I've actually got this pic as my wallpaper (cos I've got very little of that plum coloured fabric left!).  I used a pretty decorative star stitch for the quilt stitching - which took aaaaggess!  But as my sister loves the stitches it was worth it.  FYI the quilt was completely machine stitched on a Janome Horizon (such a joy to use I can't begin to tell you).

 

The quilt underside is a soft cuddly flannel fabric.  I used this excellent 2-part machine binding tute by Leah Day to figure out how to machine bind.  The tute works a charm!

For posterity. I'm not too hot at the ol' a free-motion stitching so I stuck to the machine script.

 

Mitred corners for breakfast (courtesy of Leah day).  I actually enjoyed machine binding so much I'm wondering what else I can bind...Beans looks concerned.

 

"Bye Bye quilt, be good and be warm for Wendy.  I loved making you."