stocking up...

 It's all very well at this time of year focussing on gift buying and making that we all need to do, but are you remembering to look after Number 1 and making sure you have plenty of supplies to keep you occupied over the festive break??

First up, very exciting news, you can pop along to the imminently opening bricks and mortar The Village Haberdashery this weekend. How exciting is that?! From these sneak peak photos it looks delicious! I used to live at number 15...my hubs is quite relieved we are now over 200 miles away!

If you can't get down there Annie's online shop is still open for ordering all her usual scrummy stock including the fabulous new line Splendour. I quite fancy a bit of that.

Also out and about with new things to entice you for Christmas crafting is Aurifil threads at M is for Make. I am dying to try these wonder threads out that everyone is raving on about. Also newly in at HQ M is for Make is the new line from Birch Fabrics, Camp Modern. I just love the colourways of this collection and the designs. It shouts winter wonderland to me and if you haven't used these organic fabrics before, believe me you will love them. They are so crisp and a pleasure to sew with.

 Fancy a little dress making this holidays? Alice at Backstitch has a wonderful array of patterns newly in, including the fabulous Washi Dress which is at the top of my list. I'm also very keen to make the Briar Sweater and T Shirt. I think it will be one of those "have to have for every day of the week" tops. Alice has also just got in a couple of the new By Hand London patterns. The Elizalex dress looks perfect if you need to quickly rustle up a special little something. 

The latest collection in at Seamstar is Aneela Hoey's cuter than cute Sew Stitchy. Absolutely perfect for sewing up a few last minute forgotten gifts. Don't forget to check out  Courtney's Christmas Shop for other wonderful Christmassy fabrics and trimmings to dress your gifts.

My Creative Space...

My creative space, as is of no surprise to you I am sure, is full of my screen printed fabrics, various lining fabrics, pouches in progress, made up pouches and last but not least...scraps.

I have several big fairs coming up and consequently there is a lot of pouch action going on. I love coordinating my screen printed outers with various lining fabrics. I had a big delivery this week from my lovely aunt in US, who always acts as my go-between for bringing me fabric over. More of that another time, but one fabric is just perfect for linings...Cloud 9's The Banks in Ocean is just beautiful. Like all Michelle's fabrics, they look and feel even better in real life and this one is no exception. Simply love it.

Anna Maria Horner's PAstry Line Voiles are another fave at the moment that I've told you about recently. not only are they so exquisitely buttery soft, but the colours are so perfectly beautiful.

I particularly love the yellow (well, duh!) but the pink is equally gorgeous.

I had a commission this week for a larger pouch "big enough for my knitting whilst on the move" requested the customer. Hope this does the job! Because it is so large (about 40cm across the top) I put a wrist handle on it...I quite like the feature.

And when all the cutting and making is done, this pile of scraps is what I'm left with. I'm really not sure what to do with them, but I definitely know I can't bear to put them in the bin.

Want to see more Creative Spaces? Head over here...

p.s. i meant to say, for all you lovely people who have expressed an interest in purchasing some of my fabric, I'm listing some bit-smaller-than-fat-quarter panels in my Etsy shop and there will be more added as i go... so head over here to see if anything takes your fancy...thanks for your encouragement, lovely peeps x

Fabric has taken on a whole new meaning since I have been screen printing.

I'm trying to steer away from all the beautiful patterns that once sucked me in and spat my bank cards out. I'm obviously working towards using mostly my fabrics. There is however always a need for all sorts of fabrics, so I'm in little doubt that my shopping days are over...just possibly curbed at the moment.

One thing I am in need of is good base fabrics...good textured, varying coloured fabrics that will work well in taking the ink, as well as being the right weight for different projects.

I have quite a thing for organic fabrics too, so when Rachel announced arrival of all her different organic fabrics, i was pretty sure I'd find some that would work for screen printing.

It's obviously hard to tell by just looking at them. How they take the ink is one of the important factors. So armed with my swatches today, I spray mounted them onto paper and set out to print.

It's quite interesting to see how the different fabrics take the ink and the different colours too. I used a dark ink because if they work well with this then they are going to work well with any.

As well as the coloured fabrics, I tried a good range of white ones. I'm going to need a real good look at these to narrow down my choices, but I was really pleased how they worked out and am pretty sure I have found some good dependable base fabrics for screen printing.

And organic too...

I had a little splash out on fabric this week. Ok, not so little. But not so flighty either. Ever since Cloud 9's gorgeous flannels came out, I've been lusting after them. And this week with needing to design some new cot quilts, I knew this range was going to be the basis of it.

So a quick stop off at one of my favourite UK online fabric stores and 24 hours later here it is.

And boy was it worth waiting for. It's gorgeous! The designs are what you would expect from the talent behind the label that is Michelle. This children's range is quirky, yet cute, yet humerous. A range that appeals as much to adults as it does to children.

As for the soft flannel finish...scrumptious. I'm not normally one for painstaking operations and when the pre-washing instructions came with the fabric, I took one look at them and thought grrr, this is too high maintenance for me.

But, I slowed down and decided that this little pile was worth looking after and nurturing. And I'm so glad I did. Into the wash and off to the drier it went and I'm so glad it did.

This softened up the flannel no end and if it wasn't perfect enough before, it certainly was more than perfect after this process. This has taught me an important lesson, a little bit like I have learnt from quilting. Every step is important. Every step is part of the process and should be enjoyed as just that.

I cannot wait to cut into this pile. But again, I'm going to take my time. No rushing, but plenty of thinking and planning and enjoying every step and snip.

When Michelle announced on Twitter that a swatch pack of her new fabrics Beyond the Sea was now available, I think I'd clicked 'Basket' quicker than a quickest thing on a quickest day!

I have used several of Michelle's My Happy Garden fabrics in various projects and just love it. With her label Cloud 9 she produces the most beautiful soft, eye-catching fabrics, in the most stunning fresh designs. What's more they are made from organic cotton, thus providing a welcome eco-friendly element to them.

This new range is just delectable in every way. The fresh colours, stunning designs and touchy feely factor, make them top of my wishlist. Fortunately for us Brits, you can get them right here...

Race ya!

Abel & Cole

Every now and then I get a leaflet through from Abel & Cole and every now and then I sit down and peruse it over a cup of tea. Their leaflets are always very enticing, beautifully photographed, with the produce looking scrummy. Every time I do this I put the leaflet on the 'action' pile to order.

And every time it ends up in the recycling, as time has gone by and so has the moment.

I'm not exactly sure why this should be such an issue. It's not as if I don't ordinarily buy organic fruit and veg. I have been for years. I think not only does it always look more nutritious and apetising, but (apparently) it is too. I'm not sure if that is wholly true, but I've convinced myself of it - well, there has to be a reason I pay more!

This week the usual pattern of: receive catalogue, sit down with catalogue, put catalogue on action pile, throw catalogue away, was broken. I guess the moment was right. I happened to have time after the 'peruse catalogue' phase to sit down and actually order. Or maybe it was the bribery of £50 off if I ordered 4 consecutive weeks.

I took a gamble. I know lots of us keep meaning to use Abel & Cole, but I don't actually know anyone who has. I think another reason for me is what if we get a box full of things we won't eat. I opted for the Mixed Fruit and Veg Box.

The box arrived this morning and as you can see, it all looks incredible. I am delighted. Maybe it's first time lucky, but there is nothing in there I wouldn't eat - besides still not being quite sure what to do with the chard/spinach - hey Twitter friends?!

I am a convert. I can't wait to get cooking and I can't wait for next week's delivery. And I can't wait to not have to pick it all from the supermarket!

So I hope I've convinced you to give it a try. I'm off to have a cuppa and do some more perusing - this time of recipe books. If you need the incentive that gave me the push I needed here's the code to get your £50 free: OCTOBERSUB50

(And thank you all for your amazing comments about what my blog means to you. I am honestly touched by all of them. x)

Deviation

Why is it when men go to the supermarket with a list, your list, they think they know better? How come they always come home with things that weren't on the list? Things that can't make a meal. Things they've never seen in the house before. How come they don't know the difference between Percol Americano Coffee that we ALWAYS have (strength 4 - important point) and some other random weaker variety. How come they refuse to acknowledge that, even though I don't insist on all organic, there are some things that are a must. Bananas. Milk. Butter. Cheese. Carrots. Eggs. Coffee. Bread. (That's quite a long list isn't it?) It's irrelevent that there may be no rhyme or reason to this. But they should know. They live here too.

But of course it's ok to deviate from the list (my list) if you are coming home with this...

Thanks, Matth! But it still doesn't give you the right to deviate from the list - my list...