I'm just about there...

I'm just about done on all my makings for Top Drawer...

All that is left now is the huge task of building my stand and seeing if what I have planned actually works...fingers crossed I won't have to rethink the whole thing.

Also left to do is write up and print out all my bumph...you know, all the stuff that tells you all about me and what I do, oh and the all important list of prices.

I actually dislike this bit the most. Don't ask me why, I have no idea.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'd rather be playing with pretty fabrics than be writing about them.

Either way it's 3 days to Departure and Setting Up Day and quite frankly I'll be mightily relieved to pull up outside Earls' Court, unload and get started.

I'm getting a little bit excited now and really looking forward to seeing a bunch of folk that are going to be there, some who I already know, some who I only know through the likes of Twitter and these pages.

And hopefully with all these lovely people I am going to meet, quite few will want to order my things for their shops...fingers crossed for that too.

The sun shone today...I have proof...

Quite frankly it's been downright miserable here in the UK over Christmas and into the New Year, so to see a bit of sunshine while sewing today was more than welcome.

I think i paused for about 5 days after the Christmas craziness before being full throttle getting ready for Top Drawer. I actually only decided a few weeks ago to do Top Drawer and that was a mad moment of "help! It may be crazy now, but what am I going to do when the craziness goes away?"...make life more crazy obviously.

Most people plan doing a trade show for months, which is probably why they are downright more successful at it than I am.

Here I am cobbling together new designs in an attempt to look half-way professional and at least have a few things that look pretty, even if noone actually wants to buy them.

So I have a mad week ahead getting everything made, a stand sorted and get my butt down to London for a few days. I actually can't wait...and hopefully the sun will shine in more ways than one.

It's nearly New Year...

...and I tell you something, 2012 is going to see me so organised, disciplined, calm, resourceful...

remember, you heard it here first.

We've had a week of visiting, having visitors and awaiting for the next lot to arrive and all that that entails.

No doubt it's been pretty similar for you too and no doubt you have been a lot more organised about it than I have...like not getting distracted by making a new quilt when really you should be getting the house geared up for guests.

On the other hand, this long holiday is all about having a break and spending time on doing things you love, when let's face it the speed of the rest of the year takes over and there's not usually much time for enjoying a quiet bit of guiltless sewing.

So, guests are arriving tomorrow and what am I doing? Making a new quilt of course.

I've had it on my To Do List for yonks to make a large hexie quilt. At the start of every winter when we all fight over the solitary quilt in the living room, I have it in mind to make a cosy pile of them to grab and snuggle under. Obviously I have these thoughts when I don't actually have the time to action that plan.

At least now though I am getting one quilt closer to quilting nirvana...

I had a lovely afternoon in my studio today, having sent the others to Tesco (they don't know they are born, that lot) and spent time, new CDs blaring, piecing together the quilt top.

I'm just awaiting delivery of this scrumptious flannel for the back.

Then it's a question of binding.

Do I play safe, below, and go for a coordinating fine stripe?

Or add a bit of wow, above, and use a zing of luscious Lotta?

I think you know which one I'll be choosing...

I hope this out of routine week has been a good one for you and you have had time to guiltlessly do something you love.

New Year's Eve tomorrow and I hope 2012 brings health, happiness and more guiltless pleasures xx

So, last postal day today and First Night Chanukah. Could things have been any better planned?!

Chanukah fluctuates from year to year, the Hebrew calendar being lunar based, and sometimes it can fall as early as December 1st, which quite frankly is a right old inconvenience.

Imagine trying to fit in lighting candles every evening, getting together and exchanging gifts with family and friends, whilst everyone is still at school, I'm on that mega work roller coaster and not to mention being organised to have presents bought and wrapped in time.

When it falls, like it has this year, when the rest of the country is festive and celebrating, it makes such a difference to enjoyment levels. 8 days of celebration ahead to be had and relished.

I even had time today after last Post Office trip of the year, to wrap the children's gifts and make their little initial notices, so everyone knows whose pile is whose. Sometimes I think this is their favourite part of Chanukah...seeing what I've come up with each year. No pressure then or anything.

Then the wrap...

I like to be festive and cohesive, without being overtly Christmassy. not an easy feat I can tell you.

However this year I had a huge pile of all my screen print testing papers that I'd kept after each printing session. Perfect! Being a hoarder I knew they would come in useful for something, quite what at that point I hadn't quite worked out.

This obviously sprung Idea 326 for 2012 of what to screen print next...wrapping paper of course! Watch this space...

8 days of Chanukah is somewhat all consuming, but when it falls in the holidays it's 8 days of fun, fun, fun!

Consequently this is a good time to sign off for the festivities and I wish each and every one of you a wonderful Festive Season ahead, whatever you may be doing.

Thank you so much for your visits and comments throughout the year. I really appreciate each and every one of them, so I can't wait to catch up in 2012 and see what the new year has in store for us all.

xxx

It's last posting day before Christmas for all UK based parcels today.

Quite honestly I didn't think this day would come!

I have been to visit my friendly PO ever day for weeks now and it will be odd - odd, but rather pleasant - to not be fitting that trip into my day.

One last trip today and one last parcel if you want to grab it for a little Christmas sewing.

Yesterday I had a request for a set of Scruffy Flowers (thank you, Carolyn!) and I now have the other half of the panels that I have made into a second set for one quick purchaser.

If you are UK based, it will be in the post and on it's way to you today...if you are abroad, it will still be on it's way to you today, but may (doubtful) not reach you in time for Christmas.

It's right here...

(If you would like a different pack today, just give me a shout)

Hello, me again.

I feel I have been bombarding you all with blog posts a little more than is necessary at this very busy time, but I needed to ask you a question, or two.

You may have seen my previous post today about my scrap bags and the update not that long later to say they had sold out so quickly.

This got me thinking.

It seems that giving a selection of fabrics is possibly more appealing than buying separate larger pieces.

So what I'd be interested to know is, would you like to have a mix of fabrics available? Say, quarter of the size of the larger panel, but in 4 different colours? Perhaps you would like a pack of both designs in 2 colourways?

I'd still offer the full panels too but I obviously want to be able to give you what you want and by the way the scrap packs go, then maybe a mixture is what you are after too.

I really would value any feedback on this, so thank you in advance and as I said earlier today...

Have a great weekend!

x

I'm feeling a little bit pleased with myself.

My studio gets completely out of control at this time of year. Stock for fairs gets dumped. Fabric stashes can be seen all over the place, with scrap pieces strewn across the entire room.

So with things quietening down a tad this week, no more fairs to get ready for and orders slowing down a fraction, I actually got on with tidying up the place.

It's always a very daunting task, but so satisfying when done.

I won't actually say it's been done. We are talking at least 3 months worth of dumping going on.

But I can certainly see the light and find things.

Which for you means, i have organised my screen printed fabric scraps and made 3 lovely bundles of great pieces for you to have lots of fun with over the holidays.

I've listed the Scrap Packs here so, if you are planning a little holiday sewing, go grab a pack!

And who knows what else will be listed when the rest of the room gets cleared next week!

Have a great weekend x

Update:

All gone!!

It appears that you peeps love scrap bags and they sold out in record breaking time!

Hopefully there will be a few more very soon ;-)