A Free Weekend

Lily has gone away on an outward bound holiday with school for 3 days. 

The plan was to spend Friday sewing, Yarndale on Saturday and sewing again on Sunday.

On Wednesday I was heading out for a coffee with my sister but on the way BANG a car hit me hard from behind. 

Lots of pain and damage to the car.

 There is no way I could walk around all day at Skipton. I'm not happy! 

But all is not lost at least I can sit and sew on Saturday with a good film on for company.

Before Lily went she made me some scrummy  mini cupcakes to keep me going. She is so sweet. 

I hope she's having a wonderful time. It's so quiet and I'm missing her alot.

I have finished the bag for Lia's tote bag swap. 

I enjoyed hand sewing the hexagons it was very theraputic. I do hope my partner likes it. 

I'm hoping to get alot more done tomorrow fingers crossed. 

Melanie xxx

Today's Offerings

This morning was a horrible dark and wet and it doesn't seem to be getting any lighter or drier. I decided to start the day with some baking. Date and Walnut loaf, one of Alan's favourites.

While the tempting aroma wafted in from the kitchen I sat and did some cross stitching but I can't reveal this yet as it is part of one of the swaps I am doing. 

I'm also in a Tote Bag swap over at Lia's Handmades I can show what I'm doing on this one. I've been busy sewing hexagons together. Very therapeutic. 

I'm hoping to get the bag finished by the weekend. That's if I don't get too many distractions. 

Melanie xxx

Blondies and a Little Sewing

I hope everyone has had a good start to their week.

QuiltSue from Quilt Times asked if I had a recipe for my Blondies. Here it is :)

Raspberry and White Chocolate Blondies

4oz butter

7 oz white chocolate chunks

4 oz caster sugar

2 medium eggs

4 1/2 oz plain flour

4 oz raspberries

Pre-heat your oven to  190 C   Gas 5.

1.  Melt the butter, add half the chocolate and stir until smooth.

2.  Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until creamy and slightly thickened. Sieve the flour into the bowl and fold in gently with the chocolate mixture, adding half the remaining chocolate and half the raspberries.

3.  Pour your mixture into a lined and greased tin. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate and raspberries on top.

4.  Bake in your pre-heated oven for 35 to 45 minutes until golden.

5.  Leave to cool then cut into squares.

I have managed to get a little sewing done this week. 

I finished this cross stitch cushion  for my friends new niece Ivy. 

I love the design I was tempted to keep it but I didn't.

Melanie xxx

Christmas QAL September Part 2

I thought I would start today with a bit of baking. We all need something sweet to keep us going when we're sewing. I made Chocolate Chip Cookies and  Raspberry Blondies. They were both very yummy.

I've been working on the Mug Bag as when I finished quilting the runner I couldn't decide what fabric to use as a binding. So that project is on hold for a while.

 I have just got the handle left to put on.  

 I'm happy with how it has turned out and will definitely  be making more of these as Christmas gifts.

Hope you've all had a productive weekend.

Melanie xxx

Christmas QAL September Part 1

It's Christmas QAL this weekend. Hazel is hosting this month over at Hazel's Quilts. Why not pop over and see what everyone is doing.

I decided to try and get this UFO finished. I really like the colours in the snowflake batik fabric. The design  is my own. I've just got the quilting and binding to do. That is my job first thing tomorrow.

I apologise for the picture quality.

 I seem to have misplaced my camera and had to use the one on my phone.

I have also cut out fabrics for a Mug Bag. It's a free tutorial by Bronwyn Hayes at Red Brolly. That will be going in my gift box.

Red Brolly photo.

This is how it should look when it's finished.

See you tomorrow for my next instalment.

Melanie xxx

Stitching Sunday

I am loving Chrissie's Stitching Sunday.

This week she was giving us some tips on transferring your embroidery designs to fabric her tips are really useful.

I have just started to use a Sulky iron -on transfer pen. This is the first project I have used it for and I so wish I had read the instructions before I had.
After transferring to the fabric I thought the image was clear enough. But when I got it under a bright craft light is wasn't really dark enough but I used it as I couldn't reposition it.

I have now read the instructions and have tried them out. amazingly (not) it was so much better. Note to self:- READ instructions before use.
How many of us don't?
I am sure I'm not the only one who does this.

The only down side I can see to this method is that the drawn lines are permanent and they are quite thick. I'm not sure if I'm going to use this as my main method of transferring designs or if I will return to the trusty Light box and pencil.
We'll have to see how it goes.

This is the progress I made on my bird table embroidery. I really like how the snow seams to stand out on the roof and snowflakes.

I have just got the chimney and borders to do so hopefully next Sunday I can finish it. 

Thanks Chrissie for hosting. Its great to see what everyone is up to. 

Hugs Melanie xxx

GIVEAWAY WINNER

The winner of my 100th Post Giveaway is Clare @ Summerhouse by the Sea If you could send me your address I will get your goodies in the post.

Melanie xxx

Friday Night With Friends

Last night was the FNWF get together hosted by Cheryll @ Gone Stitchin.

I was all prepared and ready to go this month which makes a change.

I had 2 movies to watch and drinks at hand. (Refreshing homemade Elderflower cordial with sparkling mineral water.)

Lily fell to sleep early so there were no disturbances.

I'm going to try and get some more done on Sunday. As I am stitching along with Chrisse's Stitching Sunday over at Chrissie Crafts. 

 I'd better get myself organized today so I've got plenty of time to sew tomorrow. :)

Just a quick reminder my giveaway finishes today 7th September at 2pm (UK).

There is still a couple of hours left to add your name.

Melanie xxxx

Oliver's Quilt & Harry Potter World

It was my nephew Oliver's birthday on 31st August he had asked me to make him a  quilt.

 As it wasn't quite finished  we decided to take him Lily and Rowan to Harry Potter World (London). It was fantastic. Here are a few of the photos I took hundreds.

Lily waiting to go into the Great Hall.

Outside the studio

Costumes in the Great Hall

The Chocolate Feast. It looked scrumptious.

Costumes from the Yule Ball in The Goblet of Fire

The entrance to Dumbledore's Office

Dumbledore's Office

Alan and Rowan waiting for the Basalisk !

Griffindor common room with Harry, Hermione and Ron's costumes.

Death Eaters costumes

The Bridge at Hogwarts

Number 4 Privet Drive

Rowan and Oli on Hagrid's Motorbike

Oliver outside Fred and George Weasley's  Joke Shop

Diagon Alley

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LindaLees Giveaway

I have just added my name to LindaLees Cross n my Stitches Giveaway It's open until 26th Sept so why not have a look and maybe put your name down too! 

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Swap

I joined the FRIENDS swap over @ Sew Prim Khris
 These are the lovely gifts my wonderful partner Lorraine  @ The Balancing Kiwi sent me.

F: Fish

R: Roses Chocolates and Rose Drawer Liners

I: Iron (travel steam)

E: Embroidery Threads

N: Notebook

D: Dishcloths

S: Shopping Tote

Thankyou so much for organizing the swap Khris I really enjoyed it.

There was a bit of trauma with the parcel I sent. When it arrived it was open and the letters F and N were missing. Not good! I haven't had a problem like this before and I didn't want Lorraine to miss out so I popped a couple of replacements in the mail. I'll post those pics when I know Lorraine has received them.

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I have joined the Sunday Stitches stitch-a-long @ Chrissie Crafts here is what I did on Sunday and believe it or not I finished it too (it never even made it to the WIP pile a miracle)

I think this is my favourite thread catcher. I love it. :)

Happy Stitching

Melanie xxx