This 'n that!

It's a sunny Monday here in good ole Ireland-yes, the sun actually is shining, but it is shining in our home too-today was the first day for sometime that we haven't had tears in Nursery school, oh am I soooo relieved! Hopefully we are on the way up and my mornings can now be spent catching up on some very much needed housework (I have been sitting outside Nursery in the car,every morning, since the beginning of September.....and my housework is suffering big time!lol) but when my babe is happy-I'm happy:))

I don't have a big lot to blog about, with regards to my own creativity, but I have wanted to get on to show you the lovely Fall gifts I received from my friend Christine (Preferably Prim)-I'm sure you all know her by now and the lovely handwork stitching she does,

Take a look at this beautiful pinkeep pillow-love the colours and the stitching,



And just take a look at this prim shelf-sitter; all hand stitched! Thanks again Christine, I love them all:)



There hasn't been a big pile of stitching going on here (you will see now in a moment) but this is a Buttermilk Basin pattern, I have been working on, now and again. I'm not sure whether or not to frame it, as the pattern gives, or, to make it into a pillow-which would be quite large!



Here is why I haven't got much stitching done......yep, I have been playing with the dye pot again! I actually think I am becoming quite the squirrel-I seem to have the need to hoard nuts,oops-I mean wool for my favourite season-winter. Don't know when I will ever get them stitched, but I seem to need lots!

Don't forget that the colours are all darker than the pics show:)
I'm thinking Christmas tree's



and maybe some Santa's here



I can't seem to get a good colour on this photo, but they are a mix of pumpkin/rust and cinnamon and spice colours-some fall items and some gingers?



If you can excuse my ironing board with the towel I use to iron my wools to keep them fluffy, here is last weeks productivity!! I'm loving textured wools at the minute, as I'm sure you have gathered!lol!



This week, I really have to get some stitching done-even though I could sit all day and just look at those wools......maybe when I think I have enough I will be able to cut them up?? What do you think-will I ever have enough?

Have a great week,
Blessings, Shazy x

Woolworks!

Hope everyone is getting into 'routine' again, after our summer:)

Things are settling here not too bad. Nursery got off to a great start (maybe too good) mum had only to stay for the first morning-I couldn't believe it! But this last few days have been a little more difficult-we have had some tears, not wanting to go in, but I am hoping it is just a little blip. I heard a little bit this morning, that 'some of the children are a bit noisy', so I think that is what is making her nervous, but it is still early days:)

I was flicking through some photo's (after the return of my camera) when I realised I had never shown a winning!
The lovely Stacy from Buttermilk Basin, had a giveaway and although I didn't officially win, I got rewarded with $25 due to my 'advertising campaign' so this is what I 'ordered'



.....and some of Stacy's lovely wools and patterns



I also promised I would show my purchases from the Festival of Quilts;



My pride and joy-Valdani threads!


And the new book by Veronique. The little house in the above pic, was also from her stall.



Now it is confession time.....no, it's not Internet purchases (bet that is what you thought!lol) but, I am admitting that I have an addiction.......an addiction to wools!!
This last few days, I have been having some fun in the kitchen, not baking, but 'stewing' and yesterday, I became a little braver and experimented hand dying.
Here are some bundles I put together,



It is so difficult to show colour properly-this is a brighter pic, but again, it is not totally true to show the colours and the lovely textures.



I had such fun and I can feel another hobby coming on!lol!

I found these pics too and realised I had not shown this wool runner completed-again, I can't get the pic to show the colours properly.





Don't suggest a cure please, for my 'addiction'-I really don't want one, but I somehow don't think hubs would agree.....:)
Hope you are having a great week and don't forget to say hello, if you are passing by,


Blessings, Shazy x

Decorating and stitching

I have been wanting to post now for a while, to tell you about my great time at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, but having been away last week on hols, I forgot to bring my camera home, so I am not going to be able to show pics of the quilt show, but I have been doing a little bit of decorating, so I am going to show you a few pics of that.

Firstly though, I had such an exciting time at the quilt festival. A friend and I headed off on the plane at 8.40am and 40mins later we were in Birmingham!! After identifying the monorail and a 2min ride we were at the NEC where the quilt show was-how handy was that?

We were soooo excited to have two days out to ourselves and wow, the quilt show did not disappoint!! Stall after stall of beautiful stuff-bliss, to say the least. Unfortunately I cannot show you my goodies til I get my camera back (I could get them all out and take more pics, but I'm too lazy) but I had a very exciting event......I got to meet another blogging buddy in real life!!

I must say, I aint in the habit of meeting people I have met on-line, but I have been liaising with the lovely Wendy from the 'Quiet Room' blog for sometime now and felt I knew her already- I just needed a face to complete the friendship:))

We spent a lovely hour over lunch and laughed at the common purchases and out of all the 100's of stalls, we both had the same favourite-how cool (or odd) is that?
Anyway, it was great to meet and Wendy surprised me with the most lovely gift;
check out these little pillows-her hand stitching is soooo neat-I just love them, thanks again Wendy:)



This is where the little wool pillow is placed


Moving on; over the summer we got some painting done to the living area, hall, stairs and landing (the paintwork was so grubby, it was a disgrace). Since we have alot of dark wood in the house, we went with lighter walls and while this was taking place, I commissioned my hubby's friend to make me some items-quilt racks and blanket crane shelves.


This one, I did aged white over black and walnut wax to finish.

Back to my trusty good olde deep red colour:) again, aged with walnut wax-difficult to see


Just a closer view to see I have started to decorate for autumn-even though,over the last two days we have been blessed with the most sunshine we have had all summer!lol!






This next pic was another summer project-I aged this ladder and then hand stitched the wool applique towels, whilst relaxing at the caravan.


Yep, it's more pumpkins!lol!


........and more pumpkins??


OK, I think that's sufficient from me for tonight; hope you have enjoyed your visit and please call again soon. My youngest babe starts nursery tomorrow and the older cherubs go back to school-back to routine again and to be honest, maybe that is what I am in need of-routine! Just maybe, the dishes will get washed before bedtime and the laundry will be kept up to date.....I know hubs, who do I think I'm kidding-not a chance, when there is stitching to be done:))

Blessings, Shazy x

Christmas quilt-a-long update

Yes, I knew before I even started the quilt-a-long on Saturday, hosted by Sue of Quilt Times, that I wouldn't get much time to participate, but I still wanted to join in the fun:) So here we are, a number of days later and I want to show you that I am still on board (just a little slow!lol!)

These first three blocks took an age-I think I spent more time with my stitch ripper in hand than stitching, but I eventually got into the swing of getting my points fairly ok (don't look too close) by ironing the seams in a particular direction, so that they 'fitted' nicely into each other-how slow am I????



Sorry, I was on a roll and couldn't get stopped for photo's until the front was finished! There are three rows of the red blocks-the rest is over the banister:)



Now......for the fun/relaxing bit-yep, I am going to be traditional and hand quilt this one


Finally, I thought I could show the progress on Santa. It's a little wrinkled, from being in my sewing bag, but you get the picture



A closer glimpse of my newly learned skill....feather stitch????



There are a few other little projects I was going to show, but as usual, this posting takes forever. It is now 18.05 and I will let you into a secret; the b'fast dishes are still in the sink and there is no dinner on, so I better hop it!!

Have a great week,
Blessings, Shazy x

Christmas?

I know, I know....I said I wouldn't be back until September, but I could not miss out on some Christmas fun!! After all, it is my most favourite time to decorate:)

Sue over at Quilt Times is having a Christmas quilt-a-long, just to get us all ready, so go on over and join in the fun and see what everyone else is doing today.

I am very excited about this, because up until now, most of my quilts have been applique and very little pieced work. So a little while back, I admired a lovely quilt over here, made by the lovely Julie and before 24hrs were out, she had e-mailed me the pattern, which was her very own pattern!! How helpful was that?

Anyway, here goes.....I ordered some antiqued muslin and as I'm sure you can imagine, I have an endless supply of reds and I got to cutting!!



If you are looking a break and want to get in the spirit of Christmas and want to see the finished quilt, go to Julie's blog-Tattered Threads and Willing Hands (which I have linked for you above). Scroll down to her section for 'home tours' and click on her 'holiday home tour' just check out those amazing quilts-talent or what? Did you see the one that I am trying to make?



This is one of Cheri Payne's patterns (love them) that I have been working on using wool applique-such a delight to work with. I even taught myself feather stitch, from on-line. Oops, I don't think I have a photo of that yet!






Ok, that's all for now, not sure when I will get back today as EVERYONE is at home ........need I say anymore?

Why not join in the fun too,
Blessings, Shazy x

Just a quick plug!

Hello all,

Hope your summer is going well. Today is the first hot day we have had for ages, so I plan to take Leah to dig in the sand, but first I am on to post about an amazing giveaway,

Stacy, owner of Buttermilk Basin has $50 free patterns....psst (don't head over, as I want to win) How very generous! Click on the Buttermilk Basin pic on my sidebar and tell her I sent you:))

Enjoy your hols and back soon:)

Blessings, Shazy x

Picture heavy prim goodness!

I ended my last post saying I would be back soon to show some more of our visit to Wisconsin-so true to my word, here I am! I thought, if I am to wait until I get my goodies displayed, you could be waiting a while and I know a certain buddy is going on hols soon, so this is to put her in the notion for all the prim goodies that are out there-as if she is not excited enough-right Christine?

The shop below,'A Simpler Time' is in Ripon-I first saw it on someone's blog and made a note of the address, as a definite place to visit. Wow, but I was not disappointed. Room after room of amazing eye candy, do you want to see?




















Well, what do you think? A good find?
Now, on to some purchases!
This next pic, caused a little hassle at the security of the airport-I had it beautifully packed in hubs hand luggage, with the glass out and filled with goodies for safe transportation, but we had to unpack it all at security (which took ages) as I think they must have thought it was a rocket or something!! Anyway, I got it home safely and hubs got it all wired up for here and I am soooo pleased with my new lamp:))





I didn't get the wire basket in Wisconsin, but I thought it displayed my new bobbins and treenware nicely. I just love the little mats I got-can't wait to display them properly.













Just a closer look at the coverlet I got from 'A Simpler Time' I am still waiting (impatiently) on hubs friend making my quilt rack:(



I usually only buy things I can't make myself, but I couldn't refuse this folk art pear makedo-so beautifully stitched and finished off with a little wool strawberry on a rusty pin and just look at the little base.

Ok, that is most of my goodies-(I need to keep some for displays to show you another time, or I will have nothing to blog about!lol) but before I finish, here are a few photo's of my wool stash. I know, it is probably small, compared to many of yours out there, but believe me, it pleases me:))




The bottom left, is wool felt and the top left, are a few of my wool kits, yet to made up. Here is a closer look at this scrummy bundle.



This next pic, shows my flannels and homespuns.



And here is a pic of some of my cotton stash



Thanks for staying with me if you have reached this far. I know it has been long but that leads me to my next piece of news.
Because of the school hols etc I have decided to take a break from blogging for July and August-please do not remove me from your blogroll; I do intend to be back in September, with hopefully some sewing done!

I hope to get the odd fix, by reading your blogs when I can, but until next time, I hope everyone has a great summer and enjoys special family time together.

Blessings, Shazy x