70 !!!

Last week my 70th Birthday came and went and, whilst I had tried to keep it low key, I was treated to such lovely cards and gifts from those crafty friends who already knew and from some sleuths who found out.

Heartfelt thanks for all these beautiful handmade items and for making me feel so special.

This wonderful album was made by Neet (Hickydorums) and inspired by the recent Finnabair course she attended.

I'll show more detail later in this post.

Special cards from Dolores (Cardarian) and Sandra Grimes OSA

from Helen (Above) Vicky Stampers and Janet, Katy's Corner

Enid,Vicky Stampers and Neet 

from Mo, Vicky Stampers

My family gave me some lovely gifts, including an amazing vintage patchwork quilt from DD1 and Kaffe Fassett fabric from DD2 so I can enjoy making myself a special quilt.

My grandees also created special cards for me, leaving no doubt to how old I am!

Don't you agree that these are so special?

I love that they all have navels!

More views of Neet's fabulous album and if you pop over to Hickydorums she has lots more pics and a previous post will show all she made on the Finnabair course.

Lots of texture

There were photos of my family on pages with super backgrounds

I met up with Neet on Saturday at Boundary Mill in Lancashire and her lovely fella Chas very generously treated us to the most fabulous quality fish & chips in the famous Banny's Restaurant. Not just a chippy! Take a look and pay a visit if you can for 5 star fish and chips.

Here I am with my super album

 but there was also a purple gift bag of goodies all wrapped in purple tissue

and amongst all this birthday stash that Neet hatched up for me was this crazy fun gift.....

I LOVE IT!!

Thanks so much to Neet and Chas for a wonderful unexpected birthday treat.

Later we went on to visit a fabric shop in Nelson as I was looking for the perfect material to make my grandees fancy dresses from the Disney film "Frozen".

We ended up in the Asian Bazaar in Nelson which was a fascinating market full of saris and Indian outfits, trimmings and jewellery. Chas spotted a shop nearby selling fabric and I was thrilled to get exactly what I need there for only £1.50 and £2.00 per (very generous) yard.

Neet bought an embroidered Indian dress for herself and when she arrived home there were trousers and a stole in the packet with it. 

I bought these fabulous buttons which I can forsee being used as fasteners for bags and notebooks.

It was such a good day and I think we'll pay another visit there one day.

Gresford 34th Festival of Textile Crafts

This week, I part made two of these simple bags. So easy to do as they are merely strips sewn together into a straight panel then folded to create this bag. I will post instructions as soon as I have finished the handles.

I saw one displayed at the patchwork and quilting show I attended in Germany, in May, but there were no instructions so I did my usual and improvised to make this similar one below. 

It's shown here showing the fold and before the panel is stitched together or the handles attached. 

I finished my windmill bag and I love using it. I added huge eyelets and knotted the handles through them but I discretely added a few safety stitches to secure the knots.

I had a super day on Thursday at 

the Festival of Textile Crafts 

in Gresford Village, North Wales.

I bought a stash of super fabric, on sale in the Memorial Hall at bargain prices.....

We enjoyed delicious fish and chips in the sunshine....

Later we managed tea and home made cakes (don't count those the calories) in the old school house...

Such an amazing amount of beautiful crafts to view. 

Patchwork and quilting, embroidery, beadwork, weaving, knitting and crochet amongst other skills. 

This, following, is merely a small cross section but still lots of pics from me!

 Exquisite beading...

 The main displays were in the wonderful old church and the stained glass windows provided a perfect back cloth to all the quilts.

 Close up of the beaded lantern hanging in the previous picture.

 These tiny beaded boxes were only a couple of inches in diameter.

 The hundreds of hexagons for this huge Granny's Garden quilt were made as a group project to raise funds for charity.

 Dozens of quilts of different styles...

 Here's just a part of the "Big Knit" display of over 1,000 tiny knitted hats which will raise funds for Age Concern when they are sold in supermarkets on top of Innocent Smoothie bottles.  

We sat beside the duck pond for a while before we took the bus and train home and we had to hold up the traffic to allow this brood to cross safely.

 A super crafty day was really enjoyed by my quilting group. 

This was my first visit but the other members have attended for several years and say that it is amazing how much excellent work is produced each year.

Last year the exhibition raised a staggering £6244.60 and most of it was donated to several charities.

If you are close enough to get there, be sure to attend next year when it will be held from Tues 16th to Fri 19th June 2015

WOYWW ATCs

I was so thrilled last week to receive all these super ATCs  all in one packet.

They had been given to Julia for me at the crop by all the wonderful WOYWWers, who know me, and I feel so guilty as I have not yet even posted my ONE to Shaz Silverwolf....... (not long now Shaz!)

Thanks go out to Maggie (Silvercrafter) Tatteredrocks, Kyla (Lilpidge)

 LLJ, Minxy

Sorry Jan that your's is upside down...I'll fix it later....

no wonder Cindy's little character looks like she is saying "Oops!"

 Shaz (Silverwolf), Cindy (Ashplant "Cash), Alison

Julia & Robyn

It says on Shaz's ATC "A friend is someone who reaches out for your hand and touches your heart".
 A fabulous quote and a perfect comment for the kindness of WOYWWers!

Thanks so much!

I won't manage to reply to people this week but I'm linking in to show off all these treasures.

Owls and Chucks Sewing Cases

I haven't been able to craft recently due to the building work going on in the house but I made these cute critters a while ago and had forgotten to post them.

I made several of these handy sewing cases after seeing them on pinterest and still have some waiting to be finished. 

Apologies that I can't find the original source to give credit but I did my usual, had a go and winged it so they aren't copied just inspired

 Sorry I cannot credit the people who inspired me but the ones I made here are from memory and are considerably different. 

Gizmo Owl

They make great gifts or fundraisers.

with pockets, front and back, to hold tape measure and sewing bits and bobs. 

The wings open up and hold pins and needles.

The scissors will look like a wise old owl's spectacles if they are the right size.

Elastic loops form "claws" to hold a reel of cotton.

The blue owl in the centre is lightly padded to keep it flat so it is easier to pack for workshops. The outer two are stuffed and quite chubby.

Chick a Boo

This one is my favourite and is made from batik fabric

These could be made as a child's bag and could also be sized up or down.

With a little imagination, there's plenty of scope to personalise them.....

eg., with or without legs, different types of feet, legs of cord, tape or thin rope.

Below using a scrap of Kaffe Fassett fabric.

They all have individual characters according to their colours, the angle of the beak, the fabric etc.

There is a pocket in the body and a wing pocket on either side.

They can hang up or be worn around the neck.

Below, for the feathers I heat bonded two layers of fabric then machined the shapes with blanket stitch before I neatly trimmed them.

Still a few half finished, below...showing the component pieces.

If anyone in England has a Home Bargains shop near them (it's a Northern Company but is spreading) they have a range of super sewing items, scissors , tape measures, etc., all at bargain prices. Ideal to pop inside these to make more of a gift. 

If anyone is interested in making them I have produced an instruction sheet and templates (at the request of the ladies in my quilting group) so I can email copies if requested.

Friday Smile

I spotted this on a quilting blog and it gave me a chuckle.....just in time for Annie's Friday Smile

but this is my real reason for smiling this week....

I'm so flushed to tell you that the orange pipe will soon be attached to my new downstairs loo, which is being installed right now! 

I never thought I could be so excited about a lavatory.

Here's an extra smile for Bleubeard and Elizabeth!!!

Have a great weekend.

 I'm probably spending it cleaning up but this is one time that I don't mind in the least.

First I'm just off to check out a few more smiles 

over at Annie's blog..... why not join in?