Oakshott...

 I was very glad to hear that I am not the only Starter Non-Finisher amongst the group...

although if I'm not careful I'll be getting myself a reputation for being a finisher too...

Nah, probably not!

 I received a bundle of Lipari Oakshott a couple of weeks now and in all honesty I don't think I have been as bowled over by a bundle of fabrics EVER! 

If you haven't got on the Oakshott bandwagon yet, you must! The shot cottons have the most incredible jewel like quality. i have to admit when I first saw images of it I wasn't 100% sure. The camera does not do this fabric justice. Not in any way. 

It is very hard to capture the effect that the black shot (I would use the technical warp and whatnot but I'd only get it wrong) running through these subtle colours has on each colour. You will just have to take my word for it...oh and try some out for yourself.

 I decided on a couple of projects with the fabric (you can see the start of the second one here...) and since we were away last week the hand stitching hexie project seemed a good one to start with.

Do you have a plan when you start out with a project? Often I don't (that probably doesn't surprise you). I have a vague plan...as in it will incorporate hexies or whatever, but what shape or form this will take is anyone's guess at the start...and pretty much through to the end.

 I made all the hexies up last week and then started to piece them together. Again, I wasn't totally sure how this was going to be...flowers? coloured rows? random? Yes, definitely random! The jewelled colours seems to spring to life the more random the pattern.

I got about half way across the width of the cushion when i decided enough was enough and thought a little more randomness was needed to added a bit more personality to the cushion.

A few individually grouped hexies and a little sashiko embroidery later and the front was complete.

I just need to point out at this point that the back was getting me all inspired...I could feel a screen print design coming on...well I could, until someone pointed out on Twitter that it looked rather phallic...hmmmm, maybe not then.

Reining it back in...here you have my Lipari Oakshott Cushion made from the truly wonderful colourful shot fabrics ethically sourced from master weavers along the Malabar coast of South West India. These really are beautiful cottons to work with.

I'm thinking the Ruby Reds may need trying out next...

hexie heaven...

 I am a great starter...

I am a crap finisher...

There I've said it!

In an attempt to rectify that I am setting myself little goals to complete WIPs.

I really don't mean to be so rubbish at finishing things but it is just that I get so distracted by new things coming along.

Take the rainbow cushion below for instance.

This was a Christmas project that I started 2 Christmases ago. With the third Christmas imminent, I felt pushed into a corner to finish it.

What amazes me most - and a lesson I wish I remembered - is how quickly projects are to finish once I actually set my mind to them.

Do you think I will remember this lesson in a couple of years when I get around to finishing my Oakshott Lipari Hexie cushion?

Probably not...guess I had better tackle this one whilst it's fresh.

giveaway time!...

Seamstar has a fantastic selection of Better Value Plain Cottons and Courtney is offering a very generous giveaway of them.

Seriously generous and seriously tempting...

Better Value Plains are 100% cotton and available at Seamstar in over 50 colours as well as various 4 and 6 colour palette bundles. They are better value too as they are are 150cm wide.

The generous giveaway that Courtney is offering is your choice of any 3 bundles of 4, some of which you can see above and the rest you can see along with all the colours available here.

And here's how you can win...

1 entry for telling me which bundles you would choose...

another entry for following my blog before or now...

another entry for signing up to Seamstar's Newsletter...

a final entry for tweeting about it.

So 4 chances to win...what are you waiting for??!

Giveaway open until this time next week - end of play Sun 4 Nov 2012.

p.s. apologies but open to UK residents only this time

I've only just recovered from catching up from the summer holidays. 

Actually I will rephrase that...

I am still recovering from catching up from the summer holidays.

And now it's Half Term...for 2 weeks...what's that all about?!

Apparently it's about seeing quite how far I can stretch before I snap. 

Let's hope it's sometime after all the preparation and execution of the looming Christmas fairs!

Speaking of looming fairs, I will be at the following and would really love to see you...

Selvedge Winter Fair - Sat Nov 10

We Make London Spitalfields Market - Sun Nov 11

Country Living Fair Harrogate - Thurs 29 Nov - Sun 2 Dec

not happy...

Some things just don't turn out the way you hope...

I have had a commission for some placemats. They have turned out just fine...or they will do when they are finished.

Along with the placemats the customer asked for a couple of centre table mats in blue/red colourways.

Let's face it I have plenty of these colours in my scraps so it should have been pretty straight forward.

It started out well...I was liking the look of the HSTs...

I also was liking the pieces I had added to frame the HSTs...

and I was pretty much in heaven with the little row of dinky sized HSTs...

But then something happened.

I was suddenly not as keen when I had added these rows in.

For some reason that I can't put my finger on it just wasn't working for me.

I am wondering if it was the "make it up as you go along" approach, or the "I really haven't got time for this but I must get it done" pressure or whether it's the buckling on the 4th final side that is annoying me.

Whatever it is, I am not happy.

Not happy that I spent an evening making it only to not feel comfortable including it in the commission.

Not happy that now I have to do the whole process all over again.

Grrr...what to do?

moving sale...

Great news from Pink Castle Fabrics...they're moving into a real live bricks and mortar shop where not only will they be selling their amazing range of fabrics, but be in a position to offer classes...

fantastic if you live nearby...

...but the great news for the rest of us that don't live near enough is they are having a moving sale with 25% off everything, oh yeah you heard correctly, 25% off everything!...until the end of October. 

So what will you buy?

Maybe something from Tasha Noel's incredibly cute The Simple Life collection.

I've got my eye on Bucks in Blue, part of the Decoro collection from Echino...how cool are those stags in glasses??

We are all a bit cookoo about text at the moment, so why not stock up on some from the Mama Said Sew collection. I think I'll be popping a little of Sewing Guide in Cream and Apple into my basket.

Head over there now and just enter the code MOVING at the checkout to get your discount and as the good peeps at Pink Castle Fabrics say, Go Wild!

after the screens comes the printing...

 So yesterday was all about preparing the screens with the designs and today was all about the printing and sewing....

and for those that follow me all over the internet will already have had a look at these...

not to mention my happiness with how they've turned out.

 I have been carrying both these adaptations of the originals around in my head for some time and it is always quite scary seeing if what is in your head translates as you imagine. Do you know what I mean?

On this occasion they have surpassed my expectations and I feel quite in awe of how they have turned out. 

I printed the Euros first and was quite blown away with how they looked and had to sew a pouch up immediately just to check that it was as good as I'd hoped!

Then came the Giant Triangles and quite frankly I can't put into words how I feel about this!

I really hope you are as enthusiastic about them as I am. Please tell me you are and it's not just me getting carried away from the paint fumes...

and if you are you can find the start of them listed in my shop...more to be added in due course, but do give me a shout if you don't see the colour you were hoping for...

and thank you for allow me to indulge my enthusiasm for them...not very modest of me really.