So here's what I've been up to

I am a member of the UK Borders Agency quilting bee on Flikr run by Kerry of Penny Dog Patchwork .
We made a central block each here's mine

I am so proud of this as it's my first ever quilt block :):):)
 I packed up my little tortoise saw tooth star block and sent it to the first recipient and waited for  one of the other members to send me theirs.
This is the first border I ever made on Wendy's block

I can tell you it was a very scary time, I didn't want to make a mess up of someone's hard work and also what on earth would they think of my sewing, I showed pictures of my ideas and fabric choices and just went for it. Happily Wendy was very happy with it. Then I packed it off to the next person on the list.
And so on it goes. I've seen a few pictures of my block with it's added borders and I can't wait to get it back, It's looking amazing.
Here's another border I did

This time I wanted another dimension so I added some Prairie points on top of a beautiful print from Amy Butler.
And the latest border

I'm not sure this is finished yet, I might still add some thing to the left and right borders.
Well that's what I've been up to. Well, as well as course work, looking after grandchildren (love that) and working. Oh and in my quilt group we are making a  quillow! But more on that another time.

Downs and ups and soul searching

Well what a roller coaster ride it's been these last couple of years!
Family illness, bereavements and breakdowns, then a couple of new grandchildren and passing exams. All this led to a lot of soul searching.
What makes me happy? What is important in my life?
So, a change was needed.
I had been losing enthusiasm for my beads, jewellery and clay work for some time, it was becoming a chore and with my new "Do what makes me happy" approach I decided to put them aside.
I passed a maths exam and started a city and guilds course because of upheaval at work and I had to think of my future. It was tough going because I have slight dyscalculia, There was a lot of cussing! The C and G course is still going on for another 6 months and it's a hard slog but needed.

When the first new grandchild arrived I wanted to make something special for him and decided on a cot quilt. I so enjoyed making it that I went on a fabric hunt so that I could create more things. Here's Harry on his quilt

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I made this for Sofie, our son's girlfriend, I drew the elephant for her and made the frame for it.

I've joined a quilting group, we meet once a month and I am a member of an online quilting bee and I have my enthusiasm back again. I've joined the gym, have a new zest for life and I'm looking forward to my 50th birthday in a couple of days.

You can now keep up with my blog on Bloglovin here Follow my blog with Bloglovin I'm a slow blogger though ;)

 Life is what you make it so do what makes you happy.

Apples and a Bride

Wow! I am so excited!
I was contacted a while ago by Lesa Simons who makes the most beautiful wedding bouquets from buttons.
She asked me if I could make some little apple charms for a wedding bouquet she had been commissioned to do. So I set about mixing colours and trying out some designs. 
I finally came up with something Lesa and I were both happy with, here they are drying after being varnished. Aren't they sweet with their little stalks and leaves?

After adding a loop to each one, I packed them up safely for their journey and waited.

Lesa always has a proper professional photo shoot for her designs with models and photographer and I was really excited to see the pictures.

Well the photographs were emailed to me last week and wow they are amazing. To see my little apples on Lesa's gorgeous bouquet was thrilling, I had butterflies in my tummy.

Thank you Lesa for the opportunity to work with you, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and would gladly do it again.

Here are some of the photos taken by Chris Cowley  at the Apple Farm on the Isle of Wight.

Spreading the Love

My poor neglected blog has been feeling unloved, so to remedy this and to spread some love to some lovely talented people of the Craft Pimp Team, here is some of there beautiful work. This gorgeous cuff is from Jill Egan @ Kiln fired art http://www.etsy.com/shop/KilnFiredArt?ref=seller_info Jolene makes these lovely quirky buzz word beads, She'll make them to order too. @ Buzzword Beads http://www.etsy.com/shop/BuzzwordBeads?ref=seller_info Jo Walker is the queen of the beach huts, aren't these fab? @ Jo Walker Studio Jeweller http://www.etsy.com/shop/StudioJewellerybyJo?ref=seller_info Nicola creates really pretty cluster pendants using gemstones and charms http://www.etsy.com/shop/SmittenKittenLoves?ref=seller_info To see more of the fabulous work from members of the Craft Pimp Team, follow this link http://www.craftpimp.co.uk/index.php and here http://www.flickr.com/groups/cpteam/

The torch has landed so I'm having a sale!

Well this morning I was up bright and early, 5am to be precise, I put it down to age, that's what my mum always says anyway. While it was all quiet and I sat down with a cuppa and switched on the laptop. The headlines were all about the Olympic Flame's arrival in the UK, how exciting! So to welcome the Flame I have decided to have a little sale in my Etsy shop. For one week only you can get 20% off of everything by entering the code TORCH2012. why not pop along to my Etsy shop and celebrate the countdown to the Olympics too. These are a couple of sets available.

And the winner is................

...........Di Keeble

Well done Di.
Your pendant will be winging it's way to you very soon. I hope you like it.

I have enjoyed doing this give away and can't wait to do the next one.
Thank you all for all your lovely comments here and on FB and for re tweeting, You're all Fabulous!

A seasidey tutorial

Here's a little tutorial. I made these buttons using some caramel browns, white, pale blues and more white, lovely beachy colours. They have a mica shift back for which I used one of my own texture sheets.
Hope you like it, why not have a go at making some too. They could be done in different colours which would give a totally different look.