Finally a proper home

Thank you to you all for bearing with me, it's been a hell of a year, moving house, getting married and a new baby but I have built a forever home for my blog over at www.hedgehoghollow.co.uk, I hope you will join me there as I post the daily crafting of our prickle

Thanks

Mummy, Minnie and the new Tilly

Cardstock organisation

Evening!

I spent a lovely week with my favourite lady in the world recently and she had her cardstock organised in filing cabinet draws which was fab and so easy to find.  Since I have been home I have been on a 'spring cleaning' (maybe a bit late) kick.

During a rather large IKEA trip recently I bought 3 Malm filing drawers which fit perfectly under ,y cutting table and give a whole lot of storage.

One is current Stampin up colours (still my favourite cardstock)

One is old Stampin up colours

The other is non-SU plus vellum and other specialist papers/boards/acetate etc

I am so please with the results, they look neat and tidy, and you get a top drawer for more great storage.  Sorry for the picture overload but here are the tops......first is the ribbon overflow and gift wrap drawer

Second is the main ribbon drawer (I haven't found a better solution for this size of roll, larger ones have another home)

Finally is th emotions drawer for sewing, snaps/elastic/web etc

I think they are crying out for some pretty silhouette vinyl labels don't you?

On top is the tubs with larger ribbon, string,  my Bernina embroidery unit (I wish they did a nice case like Pfaff), silhouette roll feeder and usually the iron.  Hope you like my new solution, I am sooooo pleased with it.

Thanks for stopping by

Alex

Dinner went well

Do you remember this?

Well ten hours later we were nice and sticky, falling apart as we sliced....

This is a fantastic recipe from the pioneer woman, I love her two cook books.  This was tangy tomato beef, I served with a homemade coleslaw, her smashed potatos and mac n' cheese.  It also made a great next day at lunch with some brioche buns!

I also made the first stollen of the season (sorry forgot to photograph) but I do nearly one a week between now and new year to my Oma's recipe, she made a quark stollen with Dr. oetkers bitter mandel and rum essence.....something greg has to fly to Germany for once a year!

Finally, I have a start on redoing the family/craft room, here is the newly christened vinyl draw, that I have nearly filled, maybe I need a vinyl cabinet!!

Have a good day, thanks for stopping by

Alex

Winter update

Hello!

Long time no see! Life has changed a little around here, and things have been a little busy to say the least!

We have just returned from a lovely trip to the usa, we visited our favourite place in Easton pa to stay with a lovely friend.  Maddi had her customary trip to the crayola factory experience which she loves.

We arrived early and they were fixing all the machines to create your own markers so Maddi ended up with all the test ones as we left with a very full goodie bag!

She had lots of time playing with her best friends.....

And also a fair share of customary five guys!

We then made a deviation from our usual plan and decided to visit daddy in Buffalo Ny. We had a fab time, Maddi got to run the tyre test rig at Calspan, we visited friends to watch the Buffalo Bills game and of course made the trip to Niagra falls

Greg even managed to take a photo of me I like!

We then made the customary trip to the oultets, finding the most amazing Janie and Jack outfits for Maddi and of course a Halloween outfit for her party on the day we returned (and very jet lagged)

I also invested in a silhouette cameo, I LOVE it sooooo much! I have been cutting away at vinyl as we are decorating maddi's room (big reveal to follow). I also made this label for the pantry which was my first attempt and I am proud to show off to all visitors!

Oh I mustn't  forget meeting Daryl the pet hedgehog who was soooo cute and far more. Prickly than I expected

Last but not least dinner tonight is from my favourite cook book.....pioneer woman, we are having tangy tomato beef brisket, slightly edited to our taste but always amazing, I'll let you know how it goes....

Thanks for stopping by 

Alex

Twirl around

During a fury of sewing while Greg was last in the USA I made this fabulous pattern up, I think it could be straight grain but can't quite remember and I'm no where near my sewing room.

I missed the first photo opportunity but we had lunch with some wonderful friends at a very British pub on Saturday and maddi looked lovely in her dress, she had a roller skating party in the afternoon (total disaster she could barely stand up!!) but her hair looked lovely all quaffed grease style, she felt like a proper little diva.

The bag contained her school books that she wanted to read at the pub while we chatted, it was her first school bag she ever had.  Maddi is very attached to the bag, it came from Germany on one of our road trips.  It is very sweet and has some happy memories attached.

I love the detail in the open back on this dress, it was so simple too!

As ever thanks for stopping by, more projects on the way......

Mummy & Minnie

Say Hello! To Betty and Penelope

Hello Again!

Nice to be back so soon, exams are over (for now at least) and sewing is going to consume my time (if I get my way)! I did get a little dispondant with it all this week when I couldn't do the pattern I was testing, I have put it to one side, going to do a quick easy one then come back to it.

First things first meet Betty

She is my fabulous Bernina 780, she comes to me as an ex-demo, I have a few little niggles with her but we are starting to understand each other and she is a far more advanced machine than I am sewer, so I need to grow into her (unlike the dresses I need to slim into!).

I have reformed Betty since mid-April and all the last projects I shared with you were made on her, but as usual life, work and exams took over.  I haven't bought the quarter inch foot or a couple of other feet (or shoes I like to call them) I NEED! But my pink electrical tape works a charm and I managed to nab some fab colours online.

Secondly meet Penelope.....

Penelope was planned to replace my Brother 1034D, she is so much smoother and quieter, even I can notice the difference in stitch quality. She is yet to have her maiden use apart from a few scaps to check the threading, which was soooooo easy. Even I got it right first time! My brother still has my white thread on as I am feeling a little lazy and may have two overlockers one White one black and then maybe one day I will be more competent to beable to thread any colour I like! Penelope is looking ready to go but I need to get over the heartbreak she caused in my two month wait in her arrival (more on that another time).

Thanks for stopping by and more projects to follow soon

Alex x

Back Again

Hello!

So my last exam is on Thursday then I am free til October. Can't wait! I know I have been delinquent here (as usual) but that doesn't mean I haven't been creating, I have a new machine to share with you too.

Today I received the second issue of an amazing new British magazine love sewing, here is my new copy

It has two great paper patterns included, plus loads of great ideas, products and tutorials inside. I love these jelly clips.

On my productive side there are a few projects I have pictures of on my iPad......

These look so much better in the flesh (reeeeeealy need a better camera), they are denim with the blue domino trim and bright yellow bias, so funky.

A pair of homemade jeans for Maddi, I was so pleased with my first attempt and they fit like glove.

The bodice to an amazing ra-ra skirted dress that is finished but us photographed

I kept scrolling past this and couldn't resist, it's over a year since they were at the same school but they are still best friends even though they only see each other on school holidays, it's lovely.

In other news I am testing my first pattern (I am a few days late and feel I've taken on something above my skill), it's tough going but looking forward to share and can't wait for a summer of sewing (fingers crossed)

Thanks for stopping by

Alex