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

Broken Resolutions and a new space

Hello!

Ok so the resolution of posting regularly hasn't exactly worked out...I missed the whole of February! That doesn't mean I haven't been productive there are a quite a few rooms to I need to blog about and I have been applying for some per enact jobs at work as well as shipping over 40,000 parts to China...I mean who knew that airbags had to be in bomb proof containers in case they explode in the middle of the ocean and that screws are the hardest thing to import into china? Anyway, I digress!

The big news in the sewing room is my new space.....

Some of you may remember my lovely lounge that was an old library, here is a picture when I moved in

This is an amazing room that we had been using as a formal lounge if you like, my craft room has slowly been becoming a family room with Greg moving in his work laptop, Maddison all her homework things, which added to all my crafty stuff and workspace we were bursting at the seams!

We took the decisions to have a mega trip to IKEA (which involves a very funny story about getting the wrong size van and taking up an entire row of parking at IKEA Coventry!) we then had some fab friends over who helped us build said IKEA mega trip and move everything upstairs (thanks guys) they were graciously paid in ales, curry, a bed for the night and a big English fry up breakfast.

So here is the fruits of their labour, I couldn't be more thrilled and feel a very lucky girl to have such an amazing sewing space.....

The new cutting and basting area...

The new working space including Greg laptop area....

Behind the desk is a wall of shelving for frequently used items...

The library shelves now hold fabric, card making items and some whisky, I am starting yo see how the DSLR urgently needs fixing as some of the amazing colours are lost...

Finally, Maddi's little sewing and homework station, she is soooo pleased and eecially loves having mummy's old machine.....

I'm not quite sure how the amazing sunshine we had today has come out so dark but I think my iPhone did its best, hope you enjoyed looking around and I plan on being back soon with some more pics on the detail and the projects I have been delinquent in blogging

Happy stitching

Alex

2014 a Finish A-Long

I might only have starting sewing recently but I still have a fair few unfinished objects.  In this sentiment I have decided to participate in the q1 finish a long, I was a happy spectator last year but I am diving in this year.

Ok I don't know what's going on with blogger tonight, the iPad app they offer is pretty ropey anyway but it just deleted the entire post I wrote so here we go again! I am being a little ambitious for a first timer!

Number 1 - I just bought this beautiful hide I am waiting to arrive, I have purchased two craftsy patterns for leather bags, not sure which will win out yet.

Number 2 - I just bought this fantastic quilt book and I have started the blocks below in oranges and blacks, I'd like to get a top made this quarter.

Number 3 - I am part of the village haberdashery stash society, I just love the big packet coming through once a month, I would like to use my new rainbow stash to learn paper piecing I just bought some geeky chic patterns my target is to make a cusion from these this quarter, this months delicious yellow selection is below

Number 4 - I have this lovely PUL I bought in Joann's last year that maddi's friend wants a matching swim bag from, that is high on the list!

Number 5 - I love this Kokka fabric it is so much fun, I just bought a camera bag pattern on craftsy that this is waiting for

Number 6 - I have this drawer full of zippers that really scare me! Also, this beautiful purple phone fabric that I want a zippy iPad case from, I will probably make my own pattern but I want to conquer the fear!

Number 7 - I just bought vintage quilt revival and I have some beautiful low volume prints crying out for a cushion from some of the blocks.

I think that does it for the ambition! On a personal note I am setting myself a target to get a guest post or tutorial made somewhere this quarter. Oh and don't forget I want the DSLR back for some good pics!

You can link up your finishes up to tonight here......http://thelittlestthistlecraftshop.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/fal-q1-link-up-end-is-nigh.html

Thanks for stopping by and wish me luck!

Better Late Than Never

Ok, so I'm a few days late but I do have a work in progress, I have created my first pattern, I will get that ready to post very soon.

I did get around to taking pictures of my Christmas tree skirt, it was a huge amount of work and yes I may have picked the best seam to photograph but I was so pleased with how it came out

I love the a Riley Blake chevrons on the back, I was secretly a bit smug a so to how well the join went

The lime green binding I think really sets it off.  Unfortunately the pictures are a bit dark gregs dslr is in for some maintenance so no good photos around here for a few weeks, his standard lens needs a new sensor.  I took some close ups of the quilting 

I tried to keep it simple with the quilting it's the first time I have quilted a big project and I was pleased with my own design, the project came from modern Christmas, a fantastic book.  I cannot link it up on my iPad but will edit on my PC later so you can make one for next Christmas.  The clean lines detracted from some of my very bad point piecing, by the end practice really meant nearly perfect.

In other news my little grown up has her first wobbly tooth! I feel a tooth fairy cushion coming on? Apparently tooth fairies in our area are generous.......maddi's friends have been get $7/£5 per tooth....seems to be a good business!

One last project for today was a quick little peg bag as I am fed up with treading on them or finding them in odd places! I found this somewhere online, it didn't come with a pattern or instructions but I think it's cute and it's very popular wit the household judges!

I got the adorable peg fabric when I was in Interocurse PA last summer and have been looking for the perfect project. I'd like to cover the hanger too, but another thing for another day!

Thanks for stopping by

Alex