Catching up . . .

Hello lovelies . . .  well, I started this year off with a determination to find my seemingly lost bloggy mojo and here we are, already almost at the end of January and still nary a post since the beginning of the month.

I'm not sure where it's been hiding (the mojo, that is) - perhaps in a little corner recuperating from the higgledy-piggledy-ness of the past few months.  But here I am again . . . it's Monday,  the chores are done, the dog is walked, and I've got a cup of tea and a yummy biscuit to hand, so let's catch up - shall we?

Here's what I've been up to over the last little while . . .   some crocheting, a bit of sewing, a dabble in clock-making, and lots of walks and play time with the two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world . . .

. . .  more sewing, a little knitty project, taking time out to read, sorting & tidying my craft space, enjoying the first snowfall of the year, and taking much delight in having my little quilt featured by @craftastherapy.  : - )

So that's it for now, neatly condensed into three little collages.  Hope you're having a happy January, and let's chat again soon.

'til then,

take care & be blessed

xoxo

All the fun of the Fair . . .

I am sooo not a morning person, so when Mrs Sew Me Something herself mentioned she'd be swinging by in the van to pick me up before sunrise on Thursday morning,  I did my best to negotiate.  But the prospect of the possibility of rush-hour traffic on the M25, and an allocated set-up time dictated that we really did need to be up and on the road early.

And so it was that Reg {the trusty big white van packed to the gunwhales}, Jules & I set off heading south for The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court Palace in London.

Jules drove (very ably, I might add), whilst I nattered, knitted, and poured the coffee. 

 Traffic hold-ups ensued and it took us a while, but eventually we arrived safe & sound, and spent the rest of the day setting up the Sew Me Something stand.  

There was a lovely buzz around in anticipation of the Fair opening the next day.  Everywhere you looked was a flurry of folk unpacking boxes, wheeling trolleys, hanging bunting and generally just making the huge marquee look amazing.

Friday morning dawned beautifully sunny, and despite several bursts of rain throughout the day, we enjoyed all the fun of the Fair.  

Best of all I got to meet so many lovely peeps -  bloggy & IG friends, old & new, and a whole bunch of happy crafters from far and wide - who popped by the stand to say hello.

Just an all round fabulous event, in a beautiful setting . . . .

We were so busy that I didn't even have a chance to wander around and see everything, but by all accounts everyone seemed to have a good time.  

It was a bit of a tiring train trip home, but at least I didn't have to get up early again this morning  : - )

Happy weekend all,  

it's a sunny one here so we're making the most of it . . .

'til next time,

xoxo

 

On my travels . . . Part 3 : Ottawa, Canada

Well here it is at last.... Part 3 - and today I'm joining in with Amy at Love Made My Home,  for Five on Friday too.

We spent the last week of our fab holiday in Ottawa, a city I'd not visited before so it was fun to explore,  as well as enjoy a catch up with lovely friends : - )

So whilst our significant others attended the IPP conference, we crafty gals had a fab time doing what we love best - nattering, eating, shopping, knitting, crocheting, and just generally hanging out together and enjoying each other's company.

My oh-so-talented friend Lesley, being the closest (well Toronto's not that far from Ottawa, really. . . by Canadian standards that is) was tasked with organizing our annual Fun & Fabulous Fabric & Fibre trip and may I say that aided and abetted by Helene, they did a sterling job.

We spent a whole day visiting five of Ottawa's most fabulous stores, all of whom gave us such a lovely welcome, treated us to yummy snacks and put up with 24 very happy crafters as we ooh-ed and aah-ed over the array of delightful fabrics and yarns.

We did lots of sightseeing too, and our wanders around the city inevitably included a spot of tea and something delicious to go with it . . .

So there it is . . . the holiday that was . . .

Time to plan the next one, methinks  : - )

Have a lovely weekend, one & all.

'til next time,

xoxo

Crafternoon tales . . .

Hello lovely peeps, I hope you're having a happy Sunday ?  The clocks sprung forward this morning and we're officially into British Summer Time . . . well really?  Someone ought to inform the weather.  It's windy & rainy & besides being fairly mild, not at all summery.

But I'm not really complaining, because it's the perfect excuse to stay in and catch up . . .

So regular readers will know just how much I  L.O.V.E  crafternoons.  A good natter,  some yummy snacks or a delicious lunch (or both), and time spent with lovely friends . . . whiling away an afternoon and enjoying some creative time together.  We all seem to have such busy lives, but when my friend Sarah invited us to her lovely home for just such a day, it went straight into the diary and I set about making her a little gift to say  "thank you for a fabulous day"  (because I just knew it was going to be.  It always is.)

 

This is one of my favourite Dr Seuss stories, and as Sarah & her lovely hubby are about to acquire a delightful little vintage caravan, and set off on some summer adventuring, it seemed somehow appropriate.

And I think she likes it  :-)

True to form, we chatted, we knitted, we crocheted, we ate, we drank, we chatted some more and basically we just set the world to rights, as only girlfriends can.

it wasn't all just talk, look how much we got done too . . .

Even the two sweet pooches wanted in on the action - snuggling up on the sofa behind their mama.

And as if one lovely crafternoon wasn't enough... I had another.

This time I went a-quiltin' with Jayne.  She has been making the most fabulous quilt for her youngest daughter who is off to University this September.  Said daughter loves to travel and collects t-shirts wherever she goes.  So her clever Mama squirreled them all away and produced this beautiful work of art.

How fab-u-lous is that ?  It's truly made with love.

Right, the sun has just come out so perhaps I'll gather at least one of my adorable pups and head out for a little walk before it disappears again.  Or maybe I'll just curl up on the sofa with my knitting . . . hmmmm . . .  what d'ya think?

'til next time,

xoxo

 

 

Let's get together . . .

 Anyone fancy a little get-together ?  

Something to look forward to in the Spring ?

In this wonderful crafty blogland of ours, we get to chat about and share little snippets of each other's lives, loves & pretty makes - cultivating and growing some lovely friendships along the way. 

 And don't you sometimes read a fellow blogger's post and think how much fun it would be to just meet up, have a natter, a cuppa (and cake, of course . . .) and craft the afternoon away, because you just know you'd enjoy it ?  

Well, I've had the privilege of doing just that - and it was oh-so-much fun.

The lovely Jane who blogs over at Plain Jane, organized our last bloggy meet-up, and over a BYO picnic lunch at beautiful Shugborough (which you can read about HERE  if you like), it was decided that the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon should be the ideal venue for our next get-together.  

  Here on this Great British island of ours, it's pretty easy to get around and no place is really that far from any other - and Stratford is pretty much in the middle.  Easy to get to by road or rail (the train station is literally a 5 minute walk from the town centre)

And if you're coming from a little further afield, bring a friend or your loved ones and make a weekend of it.  There's lots to do in Stratford and if you'd like some ideas on what to do and where to stay, I'm happy to oblige - or pop over here to the Visit Stratford website.

So consider this your invitation . . .

Nothing fancy, just a fun, informal get-together of crafty bloggy peeps on

Saturday, 11th April 2015

in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire 

- right in the middle of this green & pleasant land.

If you'd like to come along, or you think you'd love to join us but would like more details about where / what / when / trains, planes & automobiles, 

then please leave me a comment on this post or drop me an email:  gillymakes(at)gmail(dot)com

Once we know you're interested, I'll let you know the finer details like time & place, etc etc.

And if you're still not sure, have a little read about our previous bloggy get-togethers here and here. 

We would so love you to join us for a fun crafternoon tea . . .

Ooh, and seeing as we're right there, we'll definitely arrange a little visit here too:

 

Looking forward to getting together . . .

Happy weekending,

'til next time

xoxo

A Christmas crafternoon . . .

A long list of "Things to make for Christmas" provided the perfect excuse (as if we really needed one) for a yummy lunch and a fun & frivolous get-together 

with like-minded crafty friends last weekend. 

We gathered, 

we ate, 

we drank, 

we nattered, 

we laughed,

 and we crafted . . .

Karen needle-felted THE sweetest little floppy-eared hare, ever . . . Rachel crocheted pretty snowflakes aplenty . . . Sarah knitted a cosy little mitts & scarf ensemble . . . and I hooked up this lovely Granny's Tree Skirt . . .

. . . for under the little potted Christmas tree.  The pattern is from the oh-so-fabulous Cherry Heart (pop over here for a wee peek at Sandra's lovely striped version).   I fear it may have added an addiction to bobble stitch to my ever-growing list of crafty loves.

Oh, and of course there was cake . . . and chocolate . . .  Essentials for any respectable crafty get-together, don't you think?

And it also gave me the excuse I'd been looking for, to put up our Christmas decs.  Now we just need Santa to visit sometime soon and fill that bare space under the tree  : - )

 

Even the two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world caught the Christmas spirit, resplendent in their new bespoke festive collars.  (Thank you lovely Doodlepip Designs - they're just perfect.)

So, how's your list of Christmas makes coming along ?

'til next time,

xoxo

Today's list . . .

Winter is settling in here in the Midlands - right now it's cold and drizzly outside, just about perfect for a day at home, toasty warm indoors with the two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world curled up and dreaming of summer days chasing bunnies & squirrels & tennis balls & the occasional unfortunate cat that dares to get too close, while I get my craft on.

Right so, here's what's on my list for today:

1. finish The Date Night Dress : it's really only the little slip that goes underneath that I've still to do, but I just don't seem to be getting around to it, so this morning it's top of the pile.

2.  cut out & make a start to the Christmas gifts for my lovely Book Club girls.  Each year we set ourselves the fun challenge of making each other a handmade/homemade pressie. Last year I sewed little travel lingerie bags, and the year before I crocheted these chunky cowls . . . 

 

but you'll just need to wait and see what this year's project is.  Watch this space, I may give you just a wee peek sometime . . .

3.  turn this bundle of scrappy trip blocks into a completed quilt top.  Seriously, I started this quilt almost exactly a year ago and it really is about time I took it out and finished it, don't you think ?

The main reason I really want to finish my scrappy quilt is because I really want to start another one tomorrow.   I've had this lovely fabric in my stash for ages and as I'm heading over to The Quilter's Den in Warwick for a quilting day with my friend Jayne tomorrow, it's the perfect excuse to start a new quilt.  But I'm trying to be good with my WIPs and finish one before I start another.  (I know, I know - I hear you chuckle at the thought, but I really, really am trying to be more efficient with my making)

But before I knuckle down and get started, I just have to share a wee pic of my lovely cuzzie whose wedding we attended in Scotland last weekend.  It was the most beautiful day . . .

Oh, and of course I did a spot of road-trip knitting on the journey there & back. 

So tah-dah . . .

my new winter woolly scarf - knitted with the gorgeous Plump yarn from Mrs Moon.  It knits up so beautifully and comes in the most delicious of colours.  I'm thinking I need to get some more and knit some cosy mitts to match  : - )

Right, onwards and upwards  . . .  wish me luck with that list.

Wishing you a happy, crafty day too,

'til next time,

xoxo

We went willow weaving . . .

I ventured into the world of willow weaving a little while ago (you can read about it here if you like) and quite enjoyed it.  So when the opportunity came up to do another workshop, I eagerly accepted the invitation and last weekend our little bunch of crafty friends spent the day at the fabulous  Willow Workshop in Royal Leamington Spa learning to make a basket.

It was an early start and an all-day affair,
but oh-so-much fun . . .

 

. . . oh, and of course there was yummy homemade cake . . .

. . . plenty cuppas . . .

. . . and a deee-licious lunch too.

And yes, in between all that, we did manage to produce six lovely baskets . . .

there's always one ! ;-)

and yes, this pic was inevitable too . . .

 A big thanks to the lovely Avril for her expert tuition and admirable & endless patience, and to her head-chef hubby, Douglas for keeping us well fed & watered.

A rather splendid & highly recommended way to spend a day . . .

'til next time,

xoxo