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

Back to the making . . .

Well the holidays are over, and no more days away planned or visitors coming to stay, for a couple of weeks, so let's get back to the making shall we?

Autumn has well and truly arrived, and is putting on a splendidly sunny show this weekend, but there's a definite nip in the air.  Even indoors too because our boiler went on the blink last week and we found ourselves curled up in front of the fire, or huddled around the space heater.  I even hauled out the hot water bottles.  But the new boiler is now safely in situ and the temperature indoors restored to a cosy level once more  : - )

So with the changing of the season, it's time to start sorting through the WIP & Want-to-Make Lists, and hopefully get some lovely makes ticked off.   I haven't been entirely idle through the summer though AND I've even made a start to my (dare I say it ? ) Christmas makes . . .

So this year's Christmas quilt was a quick and simple make.  I bought the pretty panel and the ready-made sweet dotty binding at Sew Me Something, did some straight line quilting around the squares and hand-tied some pretty red glass beads on at the end.

 One Christmas quilt:  finished and ready for the festive season. Tick.

And whilst in the Christmas making mood, I whipped up a little wreath too.  I raided my box of scraps and selected a whole bunch of festive fabrics,

 

 then spent a fun afternoon making this:

 Every year I seem to end up rushing around madly trying to get decor and Christmas gifts made in time, so for once I'm going to try and be organized. 

 What d'you think ?  Too early ?  Or have you secretly made a start too ?

Pray do tell . . .

'til next time,

Happy making . . .

xoxo 

On my travels . . . Part 1: Alaska

Hello there, lovely bloggy peeps - I'm back, and looking forward to spending some time catching up this week.

We had a truly lovely, relaxing and fun holiday, and I'm enjoying wading through all the pics we managed to take, etching the memories firmly on my mind.  But here we are home again, happily reunited with the two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world and wading through a seemingly endless pile of laundry whilst battling the inevitable jetlag. 

So, would you like to hear a little about it?

It's hard to describe just how awesome Alaska is.  Seriously peeps, if you've not yet been, add it to your bucket list right now.  It is breathtakingly beautiful at almost every turn. 

 We began our journey in Vancouver, Canada (but more about that in part deux) and sailed up the coast through the Inside Passage to Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway and the Hubbard Glacier, ending up in Seward.

There were so many highlights, but taking a helicopter flight over the glacier, going dog-sledding and traversing the White Pass are right up there.  Not to mention meeting this gorgeous little Husky pup who stole my heart . . .

And of course there were the yarn and fabric shops . . .   : - )

Every town had at least one, and the poor Hubby very patiently wandered from one to the next with me, whilst I ooh-ed and aah-ed, and hmmm-ed and haa-ed over all the pretty things.

It seems that crafty folk the world over are a friendly bunch and we met the loveliest of peeps in every store.  I did make a few wee purchases - always conscious of the limits of an airline baggage allowance, of course.   There was such an abundance of choice, so my self-imposed rule was that it had to be local.  So now I have some pretty Alaskan yarns added to my stash that I just can't wait to use.  Watch this space . . .

Hope all's well with you,

'til next time,

xoxo

 

Lost & found . . .

Ta daaah . . .

I found my quilting mojo at the weekend.  Not quite sure where it went, but it was missing for a wee while.
Lost somewhere in the depths of the WIP basket.  

But the imminent arrival of my lovely sis-in-law who's coming from SA to visit for a a bit, prompted me into action to get this quilt finished.  Can't be inside quilting when the sun is shining outside and we've places to go & things to do . . .

It's a simple one, this - just cut strips of varying widths from fat quarters, sewed them all together and cut them into 6" strips, mixed & matched then sewed them all together again.  I had a vague idea in mind of what I wanted, but otherwise just pretty much made it up as I went along so I'm calling it my Lost & Found quilt. 

The backing fabric is a white on white stripe, just to keep it soft and low volume.  And I decided just to quilt it myself this time with some wavy FMQ lines.  See, told you it was simples  ; - )

Co-ordinates well with the crocheted Pick 'n Mix cushion too, doesn't it ?

 

So that's another little project ticked off the WIP list - 

YAY   ( happy dancing and all that )

Onwards & upwards into the week we go,

hope it's happy for you too.

'til next time,

xoxo

Caution: Work(s) in Progress

Every creative person I know,  has a constant myriad of works in progress.  Some more than others and some who very diligently finish one or two before they start another.  

Oh how I wish to be the latter.  But alas, it appears I am not.

And so it is, that today I find myself in my little craft room feeling just a wee tad daunted (overwhelmed, perhaps . . . but that seems too dramatic a word to use in this circumstance) by all the projects I currently have on the go . . .

Firstly there's the Maria Denmark "Day-to-Night Drape Top" that I've cut out and started sewing, and the new "Cordelia Dress" from Sew Me Something that has been cut out, but not even had it's markings marked or pins removed yet  . . .

. . . and another knit top that has as yet only made it to the "take the fabric out of the wardrobe and place the pattern on top of it" stage.

Next in line is the quilt that I made for the two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world.  Their old one is, after 5 years of faithful service, looking decidedly bedraggled so it's time for a new one.  All I have to do is the binding.  It really won't take long . . .  once I actually get around to it.

So whilst we're talking quilts . . .  I should mention the new one I'm making for the guest room, which I started several months ago and have made very little progress on since.  Guests have come and gone, and been none the wiser - but I really would like to get stuck in and get it finished soon.

Oh, and I'm also in the process of making a quilt for a little girl that we hope will be joining our clan sometime soon.  But no pics of that, just in case her mama-to-be is reading this - I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Then there's the little old chair that a friend gifted to me, that has been all painted and spruced up, and waiting patiently for its new seat cover.  Another project that really won't take long at all - I've just got to find the time to do it.

Perhaps most urgent is the the making of my costume for the London Moon Walk  that I'm doing at the end of next week.  My lovely sis & I will be walking around London, through the night, in our bras to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer charities.  The theme for this year is "Saturday Night at the Movies" - can you guess who I'm going as ?  Not terribly original, but a simple outfit to make.  We're on track with our training, but I really need to get that mousey outfit made ASAP.

And as if I don't already have enough on the go, the Postie delivered this today . . .

Inspired by the lovelies, Jo & Daisy, I really want to give this a try too.  It looks fun, don't you think ?

So, there you have it . . . my extensive but by no means complete list of WIPs - let's not even get started on the knitty & crochet projects that are currently on the go or waiting patiently in line  ; - )

Right, so what I really need now is a team of little elves to take over all the housework and errands and general daily activities & duties, so that I can retreat to my little craft space and create to my heart's content.

Sigh . . .
   if only . . . 

'til next time,

xoxo

ps. if anyone would like to sponsor me for the MoonWalk, here's the link to our fundraising page.  Every little penny counts and would be most appreciated.

pps.  it's a miserable dull day today, so please forgive the equally miserable quality of the pics.  My little craft space is also the darkest room in the house.

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

 

 

The story of a quilt . . .

So here's how the story goes . . . :  

Way back in 2012 the lovely Lori from A Bee in My Bonnet decided to host a Quilty Row Along, and being a fairly recent convert to the delight of making quilts, I thought I'd join in and learn some useful hints & techniques.  And in the process, make a fun new quilt.

Look left, look right . . . all clear, take my pic quick before the other one gets here . . .

Every 2nd week Lori published a clear and precise tutorial for each new row and over the course of the Row Along, we made flying geese and sweet little houses, and mugs, and apples, and stars, and butterflies, and a myriad of other fun things.  And I learned a HUGE amount. 

It was fun to see everyone else's quilts take shape too, and we ooh-ed & aah-ed over each other's pretty fabrics.  I tried to keep up and despite a few hiccups involving a seam ripper along the way, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process.  (Thank you, lovely Lori)

Right, quilt top finished  - all I had to do was back, quilt and bind it.  

Shouldn't take me too long . . .

Take my pic too please . . .

But alas, this poor quilt languished about in the WIP pile for a  l.o.o.o.n.g  time. 

 Then one day, I pulled it out and basted it.  Then returned it to the pile whilst I contemplated the best way to quilt it.

[You are probably in grave danger of completely losing interest here, and wishing that I'd just get on with it - so I shall favour brevity and bring this story to its happy conclusion.]

Fast forward to 2015 and as part of my quest to finish as many WIPs as possible by the end of January, I hauled this quilt out yesterday and set about quilting and binding it.  

 

So there you go . . . it only took two & a half years, but it's done.  

Phew . . .

The End.

'til next time,

xoxo

 

Presenting "Pretty Petals" . . .

Firstly,  a happy welcome to my newest followers, and then a big thank you to everyone who has left such lovely comments about my recently completed makes.  You are so delightfully kind . . .

So, are you ready for another one ?

Presenting my finished-at-last  "Pretty Petals"  scrappy quilt,

TAH - DAH . . .

 

The pretty, pale colours are actually much softer than they look in the pics.  Here it is in situ on the sofa in the corner of the little room it was made for :

This quilt has been in the making for absolutely ages, so I'm chuffed to have finally finished it.  The fabric is Petal, by Tanya Whelan for Free Spirit,  which I completely adored and just had to have from the moment I saw it.  

And a big thanks to Anita and the other lovelies at The Quilter's Den and Bee Quilted in Warwick - my LQS -  for the encouragement, advice and beautiful loopy quilting.

So that's another WIP turned into an FO and ticked off my List . . . YAY . .  much happy dancing . . .

Wishing you a happy, crafty weekend,

'til next time,

xoxo

Some "me" makes . . .

It's that time of the year again when here at GMHQ, there's a fair amount of making going on, but I can't show & tell all, as most of the makes will be Christmas pressies and I can't take the chance that the recipients may just have a wee peek in here, and spoil their surprise on the big day : - )

But in the midst of the Christmassy prep, I am squeezing in the odd make here & there for little ol' me . . . like these pretty PJs that I finished this afternoon . . .

They're "half 'n half" PJs - the little cami top-half is an adaptation of the Simple Slip by April Rhodes, and the bottom-half is the Rosalind PJs by Sew Me Something.   

The sun had gone away by the time I'd finished sewing earlier, so the pics are not great, but the fabric is really so pretty.  Both the main and the lovely cerise pink contrast are from the Cherie collection by Art Gallery.

Also ticked off my list (see last post here) . . .

 my Date Night Dress - complete with the Simple Slip underneath - and made in the pretty Emmy Grace voile (another lovely AG fabric),

and my scrappy quilt is all put together, and off to Bee Quilted to be quilted : - )

 

Again, the pic was taken in poor light, with my phone so it really does look much prettier in real life.  I'll show you it again once it's all quilted and bound.

Another busy weekend ahead here, so

'til next time

take care & be crafty . . .

xoxo

ps. Are you on Instagram?
You can find me @gilly_makes, pop in & say hello. 

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