A whole cloth Marimekko quilt

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A whole cloth Marimekko quilt

Sometimes a project comes along that is rather out of the ordinary and challenges you to make something way out of your comfort zone. This piece of fabric has been sitting in the cupboard for several years and then found its way to the bottom of the ironing basket, where it has been hanging out for a couple of months. Impressed that I had actually got to the bottom of the ironing basket the other afternoon, I decided it was finally time to consider what exactly to do with such an amazing piece of textile art.

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The Nutcracker Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern

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The Nutcracker Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern

It has been a bizarre week!  Despite the unusual heatwave that has been with us for quite a while, I found myself rummaging around in the garage, lugging boxes of Christmas stuff into the house, putting up the tree and decorating it...taking photos and then putting it all away again - even Basil the cat thought I had lost the plot.  However, it was totally worth it because now I can bring you my new pattern....a Christmas tree skirt.

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The Abbey Embroidery Pattern

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The Abbey Embroidery Pattern

So I have a new embroidery pattern to introduce today and I am really delighted with this one.  It began because we took a long weekend in Whitby.  Have you ever been there?  You should....it really is an absolutely lovely place.

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The Cactus Quilt

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The Cactus Quilt

I retreated to the sewing room with the idea that I wouldn't work on any patterns or kits or plans, but that I would just sew something for our home.  It took me all of 30 seconds to decide what.  Sitting in a basket on my cutting table for the last few weeks has been Elizabeth Hartman's Greenhouse pattern.

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Swedish Embroidery

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Swedish Embroidery

We were lucky enough to live in Stockholm for 3 years from 2011.  It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and Sweden generally is a country of absolutely sweeping landscapes, peppered with sparkling waters and rocky islands.    My husband bought me this cushion kit 3 years ago as a birthday present, just before we left to return to England.   As is often the case with hand sewing projects like this, I have picked it up and put it down a hundred times and it has been lurking in our sitting room in a basket for quite some time.  I am not really sure why it has taken me so long, but I guess that is a familiar story to most of you who sew.

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"Sewing Happiness" - A book review

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"Sewing Happiness" - A book review

I fully plan to make some more of the projects in this book. I am a little bit taken by the author's quest for simplicity, not just in making things but in life. I was impressed that towards the end of the book, she talks about how she doesn't really buy clothes anymore for either herself or her daughter, she makes them.

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Tuffets...little and large!

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Tuffets...little and large!

So.. the tuffet. Well, this is a project that has been on the back burner, or rather on the top of my cupboard for quite some time. It all started when I was visiting my dear friend Sylvi in Houston last year. She was making tuffets and teaching tuffet making and I went along with her to one of her classes. Of course, I came home with the pattern.

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