In which i get to meet Ben Fogel!

Well! yesterday was works macmillian coffee morning (well afternoon but i'm not counting!). I'd made cake for the bake off for me and hubby and had hope of seeing Mr Fogel from afar! (i had promised hubby that i would not attempt to lick Ben!)
well hubbys cake, pear and chocolate got no further than his office before it was eaten by him and his office mates!

I entered a lemon meringue cake

Well, it got busier, and we admired the bunting!

And then after not winning the bake off i got to meet Ben and learnt about his next trip to the pole! I also couldn't help noticing what nice fabric his shirt was made from! Now i know i'm a fabricaholic!

Busy doing nothing...

well i have been busy doing nothing. I'm having a serious patch of procrastination! have to shake myself out of it for i'll never finish christmas! I know its 100 days away but if i don't get started it'll be over before i've even got the sewing machien out!
SO last night i managed to cut out a stocking shape and place some fabric on it. What do you think? i'm planning to add some merry christmas ribbon when it arrives from patch fabrics and some 'stitching effects'.

 please excuse the hideous back ground. its my wipe clean table cloth or all kiddy activities. it was in the off cuts bin and thus while doing the job was also cheap.
I will have to put christmas on pause for a little longer as i'm involved with craftyhelenathome Autumn/Halloween swap

I've been paired with the loverly Kathy. I've got lots of ideas wantering around my head. I just need to DO something!!!!

made at home - book review

I received a couple of books to review last week, and this is the second one -

Made at Home – Lisa Stickley

A beautiful book that anyone who wants to put their own fabric stamp on their home should have, from 1^st time buyers to those who simply want a change, through novice sewers to the more advanced this book has something for everyone.

At the beginning of the book, there are explanations of all those sewing terms, different fabrics, their properties and uses and how to guides on zips and button holes.

Them comes the projects, neatly divided up into different areas of the home. Each project has detailed step-by-step guides to help any level of sewer through the project. A handy iron symbol helps to remind you when to iron (something I often skip to the detriment of the project!)

From cushions a plenty to doorstops and bed throws this book has everything to make your home individual and fabrically special.

And when I get five minutes to myself I’ll begin to fill my home with beautiful things, although I am expecting my hubby not to understand any of it! But then he doesn’t get cushions!

simple knitting - book review

I received a couple of books to review last week, so here is the first  -

Simple knitting – Erika knight

A workshop based how to knit book filled with 20 projects ranging for beginner to the more advanced. This elegant book starts with how to knit, casting on and off, knit and purl stitches and trouble shooting, all with handy pencil drawn diagrams (I learnt a new way to cast on) and information about different yarns.

This is followed by a lovely stitch library (I really like this bit) with photographs of lots of different stitch combinations and the effects/textures these create and then the projects, all illustrated with beautiful photographs of the finished articles in muted colours which adds an air of sophistication.

Each project, which ranges from a simple scarf or dish cloths to fair-isle pin cushions and cardigans has a ‘master-class’ to help you perfect your techniques and these are handy not only for beginners but for those who have been knitting a while and are looking to make their knitting even more ‘perfect’. A good book for beginners, especially if they have no one who can teach them, or 20 lovely projects for the more advance knitter.

I haven’t had the chance to try any of the projects yet as I have so much else to make and do! I’ll let you see them as soon as I do (I have several ‘bookmarked’) and in the mean time I’m sending the book on to my mum and her ‘knitting crew’ who I’m sure will produce several of the items in no time at all!

Chocolate and yummy things

Well, yesterday the loverly belgian students who have been working in our lab over the summer brought us a little present from their weekend home - chocolate and not just any old chocolate proper belgian chocolate and its yummy!

Talking of yummy things
The sewing directory in conjunction with sewbox are having a competition to win some yummy yummy fabric.
2 meters of this loverly stuff could be yours, although i do incurrage you NOT to enter so i have a better chance of winning!

Things i've been busy with

well i have been busy recenty and finialy i have some pictures to show you all for what i've been up to..

Eggs!

we visited my mums this weekend. their neighbours (across the road) have chickens and the kids were allowed to get an egg each from the hens. they both arrived back at my mums proudly showing off their eggs!

my lad  was keen to show his off but his sister wasn't

Being at home yesterday with my lad we got busy and made things, banana cake, lasagna for out tea (i have leftovers for my lunch today yumyum) and he helped make a bag. he picked the fabric and did all the machine foot pressing (just glad there is speed control on my machine!)
its turned out nicely i think..

(one day i will rememebr to turn my pictures round the correct way!)