How Long?????

I really cannot believe I have not blogged for over 2 years.  I used to blog on a regular basis and I'm not really sure I know why I stopped - but I did!

So, 2016 is a new year, a new start and new blogging beginning, that is if there is anyone out there who still remembers me and I remember what I to do lol.

Well, I've had a look through my blog and to be honest not a lot has changed.  I still love crafting, trying new things, making bags and quilts, except of course the tiny fact that I am older than I ever was before, I wont tell if you wont - lol!

Firstly I have signed up for a super swap Send a Little Heart Swap from the fabulous Mad About Bags.

 I have been enjoying stalking getting to know a little about my swap partner Indigo Blue Designs. I love little swaps as you get to know other people that you may or may not come across in blogging land, so thats nice and you also get some lovely thoughtful little gifts - and who doesnt like surprise gifts. 

Well, it I think thats it for now as I often think that starting something is harder that actually doing something.

Keep tuned and I promise I will be back, hopefully sooner than 2 years. I will keep you updated on my crafting capers and there will definitely be more photos.

Take care and see you soon.

Its Starting to feel a lot like ....

Christmas!

Anyone else feel that Christmas kind of just sneaked up on us or just me!

I always feel like I have loads of time and then bam it's here.  It's not that I don't enjoy Christmas, I love it, but I always  seem to seriously underestimate the time I need to put in place all of those creative projects that fill my head at this time of the year.  I can sit for hours researching just the right creative project for each special person, that I handmake for at this time of the year, sometimes more time researching and not so much creating.  

This year I thought things will be different!

One thing I have loved being involved in is joining the great creative folk at The Modern Quilt Guild of Ireland.  I am sure you will know that I love quilts and I really would like to learn more about quilting, so I am in awe of some of the talented people in this group.  I am very much a beginner and feel very privileged to be associated with them.

I joined them in a pincushion swap and this is the beautiful pincushion I received.

And can you believe it that I forgot to photograph the pincushion I sent to my partner lol.

So I was very excited to learn that the same group were organising a Modern Christmas Table Runner Swap.  I signed up and researched what my swap partner liked in terms of colours, patterns, designs etc.  I finished my table runner, packaged it up and it went in the post today. 

This is what it looks like, I have my fingers crossed that she likes it.

 

 

We also had to include a little Christmas decoration, so I included this little penguin that I had made.

I really hope she likes it and I also can't wait to see what my swap partner has made me.

 I am so very excited, I will probably be stalking my poor postman for the next couple of days!

Oooooo Look its me!

Guess what I have been interviewed by the fabulous Chris of Chris W Designs.

Read my interview here !!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sure you all know that I love to sew bags.  I love to sew lots of different styles of bags, large, small, with handles, no handles, tall, short, zips , no zips, bright fabrics, patterned fabrics - all kinds of everything.

I love all bag designers, and I have quite a few patterns from designers all over the world.  I have even sewn a few of my own designs too.

I am also very lucky to have been a bag pattern tester for ChrisW Designs from Australia.  Well, what can I tell you about her patterns except that I love them and once sewn up you will have a very professional looking bag.  They are functional, stylish, well thought out, great attention to detail and in my opinion as close as you will ever get to a professional finish and there is a design for everyone.

As well as designing great patterns Chris is also very supportive of other pattern designers and sewists, always generous with her comments and always providing  great help, advice and always encouragement.

On her blog Chris is running alternate interviews with pattern designers and sewers/sewist, go and check them out here

Super $5 PDF Pattern Sale

Just a quick post to let you know that Michelle Patterns have a fabulous sale on which ends on Monday!

Michelle is 'retiring' 21 of her patterns and you can buy them this weekend for $5 for the whole lot!!!

These patterns are wonderful with clear photographs and easy to follow instructions.

Yes, you read it correctly only $5 for 21 of her patterns - AMAZING!

Some of the patterns include the ones below and lots more!

Interested, yes?  Then go  here and click on $5 Friday to get your patterns.

or

 Click here to view more details


All patterns are PDF format so no waiting for snail mail.

So Much to Share with you all .....

OK let me start by saying Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Easter - wow has it really been that long? Sorry

My lack of blog posting would maybe make you think that I have nothing to share or had disappeared to a far off land, no to each of those, but  I have been keeping busy, Honest.

So this post will be a little quick flash of what has been going here at MCH.

In Early December Super Hubs and I went on a Black Smithing Course for a day (yes really) at the fabulous The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in one of the little stone cottages (with no electricity).  We wrapped up warmly and set off, not really sure what we were letting ourselves in for.  Well, I can honestly say it was one of the best days I have spent anywhere!  The fire was fuelled by  hand bellows so when one of us was hammering and  working with our iron the other was creating a steady rhythm pumping the bellows and keeping the fire at a good temperature .  There was plenty of hammering and the resident blacksmith was extremely patient, knowledgeable and a perfectionist which meant that we really left with a beautifully crafted iron poker and hoker.  The photos are a bit on the dark side (and yes that is me!) but it was a restored original stone cottage with no electricity in December!

Then we had afternoon tea (with a glass of champagne, very civilised) at the Titannic Belfast and had a look around at all of the exhibitions and memorabilia, I definitely recommend it.  If you are going remember to book online first as it was really busy.  Yes, that is THE staircase!!!!

I have been sewing away as a member of the Anything Goes Quilt Bee.  This has been a steep learning curve for me as whenever it comes to patchwork I am still a beginner, but good fun and I have met some lovely people through this.

I am also (running somewhat behind) taking part in the  2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month,at the Fat Quarters Shop, such wonderful fabrics.  I have even signed up for the next Designer Mystery Block of the Month for 2013.

After some time of fabric taking over most corners of my house I have finally taken the plunge and bought some lovely Ikea furniture for storing my fabrics, notions and patterns which has been great as all my fabric has been taken out of boxes, bags and is all in one place.

I had lots of fun filling them all, the only thing is I didn't realise I had so much fabric - ah well you can never have enough lol ;0)

I have a cutting and ironing corner and a sewing area (under the spotted blue cover it is an extendable old dining room table, perfect if I am sewing something really big and need more room).  I think I will maybe buy some storage boxes to help tidy the messier areass.

So, I cant promise to post on a regular basis but I will try and come back as often as I can and I think my next post might involve a giveaway ;0)

Happy Easter

A Great Sale

I am just popping in to let you know about great online classes in everything you could possibly need to know about creating fabulous items.  

Everything from sewing, quilting, baking, jewellery, gardening, knitting, crochet, furniture painting, wrapping presents, scrapbooking, spinning, weaving and many other items too.  these  are all available at a ridiculous sale price of between $9.99 and $24.00, sale finishes midnight 24 December 2012.  

The great thing about these courses is that you can view them online at any time, over and over again and pause on certain parts and there is also interaction with the class teacher and other crafters online.  

I have bought a few of these courses I can definitely recommend them, I have learnt so much from them.

To have a look at these courses and if you would like to purchase any of them then 

please click here to go to Craftsy or 

over to the right hand side of this blog. or click on the link below the photo.

Take me to Craftsy

Happy crafting.

PS I do get a small  payment for any referrals I make to Craftsy :0)