Happy New Year !

Happy New Year to all of you friends and readers!

This New Year's morning was grey and miserable. A contrast to last year, when it was foggy but the sun tried to shine through the fog. Nothing like it this year, the sun was not even trying..



It seems to reflect the general mood of people since the economic downturn. 2012 predicted to be again a difficult year financially for most. Many friends in the same boat, difficult times, no outlook to when the sun will again shine..

This New Year is unusual for me, in the sense that I have stood still and reflected in the moment. I am someone who normally does not make resolutions. I always try to be the best person I can and achieve and adjust goals throughout the year, not just because it happens to be a year change on the calendar.

Then I read something that made me stop and think. It was a little piece about taking responsibility for your dreams (as in, just go and do it or you never will). What struck me about that is that to me, taking responsibility, often means the actual opposite of dreams. When you are responsible for something, be it yourself, a partner or dependent children or pets, you owe it to those you take responsibility for to see this through. This means providing, this means being there, this means putting them before chasing your dreams.

I stopped and looked at New Years' past.. the expectations I had each and every year and how some of them never happened.. not through any of my own fault. Sometimes, you can make all the resolutions you like, and dream all the dreams you want, but because you are responsible you set them aside and do what you need to instead.

Many of us hoped 2010 would be a great year, then 2011, surely it would get better? All hope is on 2012 now and what will we be thinking in january 2013? Personally both years have awful for me and like the economy, not a lot of expected sunshine in sight.

I know in 2012 honouring my responsibilites will again override my dreams and 'me' time. So I will tell you in advance I will need to keep my head down and very little sewing will be done if any at all. I want to end on a positive note, as I seem to be in danger of lowering the mood here! In 2012, I will know I can attack the year with my head held high. Knowing I am doing the right thing by being there for those I love and have a responsibility to. I have been waiting for my dreams for a very long time, and I am sure I can wait a little longer. One day they WILL come true!

Merry Christmas !!

For all my friends and readers,

I am sorry I haven't had the time to write to you all personally this year, especially those close friends I have on the net (you know who you are!), but I take comfort in the fact that especially these close friends understand the situation and won't take exception. Which I hope extends to all of you



I am thinking of all of you this Christmas and wishing you the happiest of times. My new year's resolution is to manage and set aside some time to catch up. Looking forward to seeing you all then!

For now, the most wonderful Christmas xxx

The tide is turning + Check out Florian!

Hi everyone!

From 2011-11-10

After my valiant attempt to get back in touch, I again disappeared into the fog.. so to speak.

Good news is that I have found a job! Really could use a good wage (and don't we all!) so some money coming in on the positive side.

Unfortunately, that also means that through the week, I have no time for sewing at all (what with travelling to and fro etc..). I am fortunate in that there is always someone home for the dog, only it's not me :-( and so my non-working time left to me is in the weekends. Where sewing is competing with admin, shopping, cleaning, washing, etc etc....

So.... I will be quiet yet again for a while but hopefully, once I get used to the different routine, I will have some more time for sewing and internet. I have had to empty my reader yet again without reading all the posts so please be patient with me and if you don't hear or think I don't love you all anymore, just drop me a line to say "hey, where you been? you ok?" and I will answer!! Just impossible to keep up with all the blogs at the moment.

As I had promised to steward at a concert this weekend, I found myself surrounded by the lovely tones of Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. Never having heard much about them, I am now a total convert! Just check out their guitarist Florian Opahle... If you had asked me which was the best guitar virtuoso I had ever heard, I would have come with a predictable answer of someone like Paco de Lucia... well........ hold your breath and check this out.....



What's more, joining Ian, Florian and base guitarist David, were Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden and Justin Hayward - Moody Blues. It was simply incredible! Ian has two more Christmas Charity concerts to come on the 16th in Salisbury Cathedral and the 19th in Manchester, apart from the normal tour.

It was all together a great evening and if there is ever a chance to hear Florian (who is equally amazing in flamenco and classical guitar) I'd certainly do it!!

Here is an encore...

Do you sometimes feel ....

you are swimming against the tide?

From Drop Box

(photo courtesy of pinterest)

Ta Daaaah.....

And here it is, my 'nifty table-top iron as you sew contraption' in situ !!

Sooo handy if you have to iron every seam you sew. No more getting up and walking to the other end of the room!

From 2011-11-06

Once I twigged how to load the staples into the staple gun, it came together fairly quickly;

Start with the cuttingboard. You can see how it is overhanging the table.

From 2011-11-06

Cut the long strip of ironing board cover in two and join

From 2011-11-06

Cover and staple to the back (no, I am not left handed but I didn't have a hand left to press the button on the camera so I am just pretending here so you get the idea..)

From 2011-11-06

Cut off excess and fold over corners

From 2011-11-06

Same with the glittery heat resistant one and then the cuddly flannely one..

From 2011-11-06

and last but not least, reversed 'hospital bed' corners to tuck it all away neatly.

From 2011-11-06

And voila! I chose flannel because I like the feel of it and it will stay lovely to work on. I chose the colour because it is an even colour, warm, but doesn't get boring and won't interfere with whatever you iron on it.

I auditioned quite a few of my favourite prints for this cover, but I found that it was hard to find little bits back amongst the busier of prints and so decided the plainer the better. This is just a little warmer than calico! (and I also had it in my stash.. for one of these days when you just need it... and that day just came!!)

What am I up to?

Rainy, grey afternoon....

I had an idea !

(well, not strictly my idea... I have seen differing version around the net)

From 2011-11-06

I have:

- An IKEA cuttingboard, the one that slightly overhangs the table
- Cushioning felt ironingboard underlay
- Heat resistant wadding (or batting take your pick)
- Some nice flannel in a lovely warm colour

What am I up to?

Fresh and Funky Bee - Some Great Girls !

Over a year ago we started the Fresh and Funky Bee. There were around 15 of us to start with (if I remember well...) and it was great to get to know each other and sew together!

This is the last block I have made for the bee and have now completed all the blocks so all my fellow bee members have had their month.



Sometimes in a bee, life takes over and people have to leave. Sad as it is, that is totally understandable and as the average lifetime of a single round is between 12 and 18 months, a lot can change!

This also happened to this bee, but the unusual thing is that quite a few of us experienced life changing events of some type or another during the bee's life. Some dear friends had to leave us. We understand and wish them well. The rest of us, even though it was very hard for quite a few members, continued and made up for those who left with an extra block or so here and there.

I myself tried to do my best and not disappoint but I must say I have been dreadfully late with my blocks!! My apologies to those who have been waiting but I am happy to say that with the above block gone I have fulfilled what I set out to do.

There have been quite a few changes in my life too over the duration of this bee and I am glad I managed to finish it. I have however let the girls know that finding a pattern, fabric, cutting and sending everything out for my own turn, is not possible for me at the moment. There are too many thing demanding my attention so I thought I would have to forfeit my go.

I had not counted on these wonderful ladies in the bee!! Several have offered to send me a block from their own stash if I only would mention a theme. I am very touched by their kindness and generosity and it would be wonderful to end the bee on such a happy note!

I have wished for a multicoloured star quilt (any star at all) on white or cream, any size block. This would leave plenty of scope to ad borders and sashing to make it up in a nice sized quilt! I am really excited about it and would like to say a public THANK YOU !!! to all the ladies in the bee. For thinking of doing this for me but also for being lovely fellow bee members! It has been a great ride and I only wish I had time to continue and do things properly (and on time :-)!!

Thanks everyone, long live the Fresh and Funky Bee because although the bee will be no more (for the time being at least) I know that all of us who have become friends will stay in touch !!