Resolved to Sew 2012

I'm linking up to Ali at Very Berry Handmade' s "Resolved to Sew 2012" giveaway - seriously there are some amazing prizes from some lovely UK sellers - go have a look!

I have been thinking about my "sewing resolutions" and actually I think my main one is to actually sew! I am very good at procrastinating - I should just feel the fear and do it anyway.

Looking through my stash, I have realised that I have actually bought the fabric for three specific quilts - Charming Stars from the Moda Bake Shop to be done in "Origins" by Basic Grey (I even have the backing fabric as well), the Countdown to Christmas precuts for the Bakeshop quilt "Starry eyed" and I'm thinking of making a disappearing nine patch with my Momo "It's a Hoot" charm packs (and I have backing fabric for that already too....). Oh and I have also joined the Swoon-a-long and Curiouser and Curiouser quilt-a-long.........I know I won't get all of those made this year, but I would like to get three of them completed.

What I really want to do is make some doll quilts - I made one last year and it was so much fun - so I'm planning on trying some new techniques and getting more comfortable with my sewing machine.

And I would like to do some hand sewing that doesn't involve sewing badges onto cub and scout uniforms too!

I couldn't resist...

Any longer - I have joined the Swoon-along. I have a big stack of Amy Butler "Love" fat quarters that I don't know what to do with, and that actually I am not really "loving" anymore. I'm hoping that this couldbe the quilt for them - the patterns are quite bold and are wasted on small piecing and the Swoon blocks I have seen using larger scale prints are looking fabulous.

So after a purchase of several metres of plain white fabric I have all of the background fabric (except for the sashing strips) cut out. Have cut up three of the FQ's and have completed all the HST and flying geese for one block. I've now laid it out  to see if it "works"

and while I actually really like it, I am surprised that the contrast is so subtle - think I may have to rethink quite a few of my other pairings - maybe I need them to clash.......

Oh yes, and I also need to catch up with the Curiouser and Curiouser quilt along blocks too. Think I might be quite busy for a while....

I won!

Sadly not the lottery (and it might help if I bought a ticket with that one) but a giveaway!
I entered the giveaway from My Fabric House on The Sewing Directory recently and thought no more about it until a small package dropped through the letterbox. I did have a moment of worry thinking I had ordered some fabric and completely forgotten about it  - but there was a nice little note inside telling me I had won one of of the mystery fabric bundles.

It doesn't match anything else in my stash - but I think that it is good, and I just need to think up a nice project to use them in . I'm thinking perhaps a zippered pouch, with some natural linen for the main fabric. What a good excuse to visit pinterest!

Today.

Very necessary footwear for today

Notes to Self...

Christmas and another birthday safely out of the way (and the birthday party -seven 11 and 12 year old boys taken swimming). And a New Year. Happy New Year!

So here are the notes to myself for next year:

1) Start Christmas sewing in January (once I've finished the stuff from 2011). You will still have not enough time, but at least it may stop the months of dithering about what to make exactly....

2) When cooking the giblets for stock for the gravy, do NOT use half a red onion. It may be good use of the one remaining from making coleslaw, but anyone seeing the stock before it becomes gravy may well refuse to eat it (Gravy Browning, I love you)

 (Believe me this picture does not do it justice - it was a very weird greeny purple, and would not have looked out of place in the Harry Potter prop department)

3)Make sure Boxing Day is commitment free - because there is no way that you will get anything done for Child 1's birthday on the 27th before then. Midnight *wrapping of presents is bad enough on Christmas eve, let alone boxing day too.

4)Embrace Fly lady NOW - that way there may be Christmas lights up outside before Christmas, and the tree may actually be up more than a week......just saying.

5) Chocolate Orange does NOT count as one of your 5 a day (the figure on the bathroom scales this morning just confirms it)

And as a final note - am I the last person to discover the "Queen" on Twitter ?


* In fairness I should point out that this year, I gave a big pile to DH as well, and headed off to bed around midnight when I had finished my pile.