Giveaway - New Online Fabric Store River Fabrics

River Fabrics

I have recently stumbled upon a new online fabric store in the UK with a wonderful selection of fabrics, which until now have only been available from the USA  (www.riverfabrics.co.uk)  They sell all the latest designer lines in bundles and cuts and pre-cuts at very reasonable prices.

In conjunction with  Needles and Lemons  they are sponsoring a  Giveaway.  The prize is for five half-yards of Kona solids of your choice and a spool of Aurifil. Do pop over to Needles and Lemons and take a look and then onto River Fabrics to see their wonderful stock.

So many colours to choose from

Northcote by Cabbages and Roses

Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket

Ruby by Bonnie and Camille

Christmas Cards Already

Early Christmas Card

Recently I received my first Christmas Card - from a friend in USA - a wonderful craftswoman who makes the most amazing things ... more about her later ...

This card was all her own work ...

Hand designed and printed

Enclosed with the card were these two beautiful  hand made tree decorations ...

I asked for an explanation as to how they were made and this is what she said:-


"I forgot to tell you how I made those Christmas ornaments I sent to you. They were sewn on my embroidery machine. You use water soluable backing in your embroidery hoop, stitch out the design, then when it's done you soak it in water for an hour or so, and presto -- a lace ornament. Sometimes they work out well, and sometimes not so much. But they are pretty."



Sounds pretty difficult to me ... anyway thank you so much K.

Jamie Oliver Fish Pie Dinner

Last Nights Dinner
Jamie's Fantastic Fish Pie

I love Jamie Oliver

Well thumbed fish pie recipe.

Fresh fish

Ready for the oven

Yummy!

Breakfast At Carluccio's

Breakfast At Carluccio's

Breakfast for two

Simple breakfast at Carluccio's followed by a little shopping from Carluccio's food hall. This has in the past become a regular weekend treat and it is so nice to again be well enough to take up this tradition once again. This week I bought some delicious lemon oil and a big jar of clams and some capers to make a simple pasta dish that Mr Whizz Kid particularly enjoys.

Sweet treats

Panetones

Biscuits and oils

Cheese and deli

Meat and deli

Ingredients bought  for spaghetti vongole

The bad bit - where they take your money!

Christmas Stockings

The Finished Christmas Stockings ...

Not so utterly terrible after all.
Still working on better ones though.

Sparkle

Sparkle







Yesterday I went to ...

Sparkle! - A Contemporary Craft and Gourmet Food Fair.  


 It was held at The Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington, Middlesex. There were around one hundred exhibitors covering all manner of arts and crafts and gourmet foods. My favourites were generally all to do with fabrics and textiles. I loved the quirky ideas of Sew Sister and the pretty pictures and embroidered items from What Katie Did Next.  Mr Whizz Kid spent his time languishing in the Gourmet Food Section and pronounced Ishmael's Mother Curry Sauces the best. He also liked  all  the chocolates and couldn't resist Vanessa's Kitchen for her huge selection of bottled jams, pickles and chutneys.

Me sparkling!

Sparkling glassware

Sparkling artworks

Sparkling reflections

Sparkling ideas

Vanessa's sparkles

Katie's sparkles

And this is  ...  What Katie Did Next!

Do go if you can - it is on all this weekend. 

Dottie The Doorstop

Wonderful Doorstop Prezzie

A lovely present from K - thank you so much. Note the lovely knitted and embroidered and beaded and buttoned panel on the tummy and the embroidered face and hair. It is so cute!

Buttons

I Love Buttons



This lovely biscuit tin came from Marks & Spencer - sadly I was forced to eat all the gingerbread men before I could transfer my buttons from a very cramped and inferior tin!

Did I tell you that I LOVE BUTTONS?

Artist Cyril Harry Parfitt

Cyril Harry Parfitt  1914 - 2011

R.I.P.

A compilation of some of his works

The renowned artist  Cyril Harry Parfitt has died at the age of 97 years. His funeral will take place tomorrow (Friday18th November 2011) in Thanet.

His fantasy works are truly inspirational and can be viewed here at   www.cyrilparfitt.co.uk
The series of balloon pictures are particularly special.

Balloons by Cyril Parfitt

Christmas Stockings Disaster

Christmas Stockings

Just how hard can it be?


I cut a template ...





Template cut from card





Looks slightly odd because of the angle I photographed it!   It seemed HUGE. I allowed a good inch all around additionally for hems ....

I then crazy quilted lots of off cuts onto a wadding and backing fabric one metre square and then cut some shapes using the template (foolishly forgot to turn for front and back and ended up with far too many 'fronts' and not enough 'backs')!   This is what they looked like at this point ...

Patched and quilted

At this point the pieces still looked HUGE.



Lots of ribbon and trimming later



For reasons of far too much fabric and wadding they were impossible to shape and ended up looking quite ridiculous. After two hours work I was determined to try and make the best of them.



Back



The back was sadly as bad as the front.



And so on ...



The second was no better!

And so on  ...



And so on ...



Until three badly shaped stockings!



The back just as bad!!!

I have decided to fit the 'loops' and fill them with sweets and The Little Fairy People will probably not even notice how weird they are. Tomorrow I shall buy some more appropriate fabric and try again!

Tips badly needed from all you professionals out there.