Around the World Blog Hop . . .

 Hello, and welcome . . .  today it's my turn to take part in the Around the World Blog Hop.  The lovely Sarah from A Little Happy Place kindly invited me (have a wee peek at her post here) and the brief is to answer a few questions about your creative process & makes, and then to pass the baton on to another crafty bloggy peep or three.

So here goes:

What am I working on?

Is there such a thing as having too many WIPs on the go ?  Usually I like things to be orderly and tidy, and love to tick things off a list, but it seems that when it comes to making things, all that goes out the window, and I always seem to be juggling a variety of projects simultaneously. 

 So first up is a Scrappy Trip Around the World quilt which seems to have been in the making for absolutely ages.

Finally last week I finished all the blocks so the next step is to play around with the layout , arrange them into one pretty quilt top, add a simple border and complete the backing/quilting/binding process.  I will get there . . . one day . . . hopefully in the not too distant future.

 Next up is the making of 150 little bags in this fun London fabric - this is my priority at the moment and I'm trying to sew a few each day as this project has a deadline that I have to meet.

 I have to confess however that I'm a wee bit behind schedule as yesterday I chain-sewed a batch of 15 and when I came to turn them right-side out, I realised (much to my annoyance . . . the word "eejit" springs to mind) that I'd sewn them all the wrong way around.  Aaarghhh... (this being the polite way of expressing above-mentioned annoyance)

 These bags are a commission from the Hubby - they will eventually each contain a little mechanical puzzle.  The good news is that the cost of this fabric was deducted from his puzzle budget and not my fabric budget and I'm sure he way over-estimated the amount of fabric I'd need so there should be a decent amount left over for me afterwards.   Ssshhh . . . ; - )

And then there's a bit more of these fun British fabrics that I have all sorts of plans for - but I really must finish those 150 wee bags first.

Also on the almost-finished list at the moment is the vintage-style Juliet dress (another design from Sew Me Something) which just needs the armhole binding and the hem taken up . . .

. . . and another little Sewing Machine pincushion 

just like the one I made here.

 

And on my needles ?

 I've made a tiny bit of progress on this lovely lacy poncho.  It has something like 324 stitches and after almost 10 rows I realised I'd made a horrid mistake way back at the beginning so had to frog it and start again.  But again . . . like with all my WIPs . . . I will get there eventually.

How does my work differ from others of its genre ?

Hmmm . . . that's an interesting question, because I think that everyone's work and makes are unique to them.  Whilst lots of us may sew, quilt, knit, crochet etc etc, we each have our own individual styles and techniques that make each project different.  It always strikes me as amazing when I'm doing a crafty workshop or course, that there could be six of us making exactly the same thing, but each one's project will have a different look about it.  I love that about the art of making. 

Why do I create what I do ?

That's an easy one to answer:  Because I love to make things and learn new skills.  I'm inspired by the makes of others a lot, but if I see something that I like, I want to try and make it.  Sometimes my expectations and enthusiasm exceeds my ability, but I like to give things a go anyway.  You'll never know, if you don't try : - )

How does my writing/creating process work ?

A few years ago, we moved across the equator from the tip of Africa to this little island of Great Britain which we now call home, so I started my blog as a way of keeping a record of what I was making, and sharing it with my lovely crafty friends that I'd left behind.  Little did I know then how much I would come to love blogging and how many other lovely crafty friends I would come to know and meet in this wonderful blogland space. 

 I don't plan posts in advance, and very rarely do I sit down and draft one for publishing at a later date.  I tend to just take some pics and write around those, then hit the publish button. 

I sometimes wish I was more organized, and I always wish there was more time in the day to be able to visit all the other fabulous blogs that I follow & love to read.  But I know we're all in the same boat and rowing as fast as we can : - )

As for how my creating process works - I always want to start something new as soon as, and I do usually get around to completing things . . . although I will admit to having a few WIPs lurking in the depths of cupboards, in bags and under tables . . . 

Sigh . . . one day . . .

So that's it from me today, and without further ado, I'd like to send you off on your travels

. . .  please hop all the way south to Tasmania and pop in to the oh-so-fabulous Sarah Lizzies.  Kim creates just the most beautiful things and I'm constantly in awe of her makes.  Seriously, pop over, you'll see what I mean . . .

. . . then staying in the southern hemisphere, hop on to the tiny remote island of St Helena and say hello to the lovely Eleanor at Stitches & Seeds.  Eleanor blogs about her adventures - crafty & otherwise - on this south Atlantic island.  She makes some great things, sometimes with very limited resources that many of us take for granted -  I think the supply ship only visits the island once a month . . . but I could be wrong.  Rather pop over and ask Eleanor herself . . .

. . . then head back over the equator to the UK and visit the talented Jo at Three Stories High.  Jo makes something every day.  Seriously, she really does.  She amazes me with her creativity, I know you'll enjoy your visit.


Bon voyage lovelies,
thanks for stopping by.

'til next time
xoxo