Bustle and Sew

Little Bunnies Giveaway for You

2012-01-25T17:41:00.000Z

Phew ... I have been working so hard on this month's edition of the Bustle & Sew Magazine - the Signs of Spring Issue. It's a proper bumper issue with two Rosie & Bear patterns, applique sewing machine cover, felt mice, weekday elephants vintage embroidery, plus articles on colour, sashiko and pressing your project. Not to mention "Sewing for Schoolgirls" - a wonderful extract from a vintage annual of 1923! All this for just $5.50 for subscribers!

The magazine is published tomorrow - and in celebration I thought I would offer Albert and Edward the two little felt bunnies as giveaways. Dressed in their lovely spring outfits in beautiful pastel shades Albert (in the little knitted jumper) is up for grabs on Facebook, whilst you can enter to win Edward (very smart in his felt jacket) here on the blog (if you want to enter both, that's fine). To enter here on the blog, please just leave a comment below telling us your favourite sign of spring (just for fun). Closing date is Tuesday 31 January at midnight (GMT) and the winner will be chosen by random selection. I am happy to post overseas.

I'll be listing all the patterns from the magazine in my Etsy shop over the next couple of days, but if you're thinking about subscribing remember it's a bargain - patterns worth over $16 for just $5.50!

Good luck in the draw!

February Magazine: Signs of Spring

2012-01-23T18:58:00.000Z

I heard in the news the other day that here in England we have had the mildest winter on record. I may have misunderstood - but I think the presenter said that temperatures have been generally 14 degrees above average! Wow!! It's true that we have had no more than a couple of frosts down here in South Devon, and in my garden there are grape hyacinths - the tiny little ones with such an intense blue colour, the camellia is bursting its buds and even very early primroses - unheard of in January. All this after the coldest winter on record last year. It is no wonder that we English people are so obsessed by the weather!

And the weather, as well as the changing seasons around me strongly influences the colours and fabrics I choose to work with - and so this month's Bustle & Sew Magazine is full of early signs of spring. That's the cover above with Albert the Bunny (thinking ahead to Easter) and one of the little Lovely Mice next to him...

.. and here are the Two Lovely Mice. There's also a double helping of Rosie and Bear in the magazine ...

February, and ...

March. Plus some vintage transfers....

articles on using colour (an extract from my soon to be released free mini-book), the Japanese embroidery style of Sashiko and vintage transfers from my collection, all for just $5.50 for subscribers. And if you subscribe between now and publication day on Thursday you'll receive the current January magazine straight away, followed very quickly by the new February Issue on Thursday!

Oh .. and I forgot to mention - the "Stitch" sewing machine cover at the top of this post is also in February's magazine. I have been busy this month! If you'd like to subscribe then you can do so using the button in the right-hand sidebar - there's no minimum subscription period to worry about either, just enjoy as many issues as you choose - it's entirely up to you.

Back soon with exciting news and a giveaway for you.

A pair of lovebirds for you..

2012-01-19T08:04:00.000Z

I had a very nice email a couple of days ago from a lovely blog follower called Kathleen who had been searching for the pattern for this cushion. It had gone astray somewhere and she couldn't locate it anywhere. As Valentine's day will soon be here now seemed an appropriate time to upload it once more - this time to my free pattern library. It's actually my own interpretation of a vintage embroidery pattern - and you will find the pattern here.

Still on the lovebirds theme - the Owls in Love pattern is one of my own designs, it's so simple to stitch and just right for Valentine's day - it isn't one of my free patterns, but is available to purchase from both my website and Etsy shop. Just had to include it here .. it's one of my all-time favourites!

I also had a lovely comment from someone (sorry forgot to note down your name) who tells me they follow this blog not for the stitching, but because they are in love with Ben. I am sure he would say this is entirely understandable, and so on this grey and rainy day I will leave you with another photo taken on Monday's walk when the day was sparkling and blue, and there was lots of fun to be had leaping around in rockpools..

Ben demonstrating his athletic physique (hmm). Imagine the splash when 150 lbs of dog came crashing down in the water!

Blue Monday?

2012-01-16T17:22:00.000Z

According to the UK media, today is "blue Monday" when we are all supposed to feel miserable - Christmas is over, spring and summer are so far away and all December's bills are arriving on the doormat. Well, I disagree. I don't feel miserable at all today, for three very good reasons indeed ....

Firstly, my cold has disappeared and I feel well again. No more sneezing or snuffling, though that nasty tickly cough still makes an appearance from time to time. Thank you so much once more to everyone who sent me lovely get-well wishes - this time they worked!

Secondly ... Blue Monday is good because I have finished my set of 12 Rosie & Bear calendar blocks!! Yes, every month of the year is now represented: there's snowballing in January, lambs in March, blossoms in May and rain in November. I will be offering the complete set of 12 together with the pattern for creating the Rosie & Bear Calendar Quilt (extra-easy patchwork of course) very soon indeed. (for those who have been collecting the blocks over the last 12 months, don't worry - February and March will be included in this month's magazine, after which I'll be listing the remaining blocks individually).

I'm just finishing putting the top together, then tomorrow a lovely lady called Ani Catt will be taking the top for long arm quilting at her studio in East Prawle. If you'd like to pre-register your interest in the Rosie & Bear Calendar Quilt Pattern which will of course include the designs for all 12 blocks, then please CLICK HERE (no obligation to purchase) and I'll let you know when it's released.

And thirdly .... because now I'm feeling better we managed a proper walk, taking in the beach en route. So perhaps Blue Monday isn't so bad after all ... let's ask Ben ....

What do you think of Blue Monday Ben?

Blue is good any day Mum!!

In which I am not better...

2012-01-12T17:15:00.001Z

Thank you so much everyone who sent me their best wishes for a speedy recovery. I am sorry I have not responded to you individually but that is because unfortunately I am not making a speedy recovery. I am sure Rosie would tell me that my immune system is becoming less efficient due to my advanced(!) age... Never mind ... Ben persuaded me to take him down to Lannacombe beach earlier and I am sure that the fresh air and wellie boot full of sea water will have done me good!

However, I have been enjoying some gentle knitting - my little bunny now has his jumper - though I haven't made an alternative fabric top for non-knitters yet - maybe tomorrow ....

As I haven't any new work to show you today, I thought I'd give you a quick sneak preview of the work I have been doing on my Rosie & Bear quilt. I have been busy mounting the embroideries in 10" squares from a Moda Layer Cake (this one's Flora by Lauren and Jessi Jung) using reverse applique. Then I've set them into 13.5" blocks ready to piece into the full 12-month quilt. More to follow soon ... plus photos of the remaining blocks that will (at last) complete the set.

Sniffle snuffle... poor sore nose ...

2012-01-10T17:49:00.000Z

I have a cold. A horrid snuffly sort of cold that has arrived with a tickly cough attached. And although I am not very ill I am certainly very miserable. My nose is sore as I have blown it so many times and my head aches from too much coughing. So I have settled myself on the sofa with a large box of tissues and some knitting. I find knitting very comforting when I am unwell. At the moment I am making a little jumper for my new bunny softie pattern - which will be included in this month's Bustle & Sew magazine. He has a little pair of trousers which I think you can just see, and I'm also going to include a fabric top. But not today, perhaps tomorrow when hopefully I'll be feeling a bit better.

Free Ipad/Laptop Sleeve pattern

2012-01-06T18:30:00.003Z

I was very lucky this Christmas and birthday to be given a lovely ipad - I have wanted one forever!! (OK not forever, but it sort of felt that way). And of course a well-loved ipad needs a nice, safe, cosy home to snuggle down in when it's out and about with its owner. So I made it a new home - machine applique (with tiny touches of hand embroidery - the ladybird and bumble bee) - lined with the softest angora/lambswool mix felted woollen.

It has a little pocket on the back to hold my wireless modem thingy and a button closure to stop it from slipping out.

And I kept to freestyle machine embroidery/applique so the sleeve would be very hard wearing. After all it will have to compete for space in my bag with all sorts of other things .... purse, phone, tissues, glasses in case, old tickets, slightly sticky toffees, a biscuit or two for Ben, keys ...etc ..etc .... I've just added a tiny hand embroidered ladybird and bumble bee - couldn't resist!

This pattern is a gift for all readers of my free newsletter ... so if you'd like to receive this pattern and you're not currently on my free newsletter list, then you can join by clicking on the bear in the right hand sidebar and your pattern will be sent to you straight away.

Hope you like it!

Spring is in the air - free pattern for you!

2012-01-04T19:01:00.000Z

Today I took the Christmas decorations down and packed them all carefully away ready for Townie Husband to put in the loft next time he's down (we have bats and spiders in our loft and I am not very brave about the spiders!). Then I gave the living room a good dust and hoover, removing huge piles of Ben's fluff from the corner where the tree was standing - proof, if any was needed - that he had spent a good deal of time inspecting the presents beneath!

In spite of the gales presently howling around the house I am beginning to feel just a little bit spring like now the decorations are gone, so I have dusted down, re-written and re-uploaded one of the first free designs ever from Bustle & Sew - the Hyacinth in a Teacup. (the picture at the top of this post) It's a very simple design, with just a little applique and easy stitches - but does look very effective when finished. If you'd like it, then you can download it from here for free.

I am also busy with a new machine applique design for newsletter readers - which I am hoping to be able to send to them by the end of the week. Again it's full of spring colours .... but I suspect we've a lot more winter to come before I see flowers like these in my garden again!

Rosie & Bear: On the Beach!

2012-01-03T11:51:00.000Z

Today is a very grey sort of day. We have been lashed unceasingly by wind and rain all this morning. I had to rush outside in pyjamas and raincoat to rescue my wheelie bin that had blown onto its side and was in danger of scattering its contents across the road. The Christmas holidays are over and everyone has returned to work.

But ... the year has turned - the days are growing imperceptibly longer, and at last the rain has stopped and a tiny patch of blue sky has appeared over the chimney pots next door. And so, what better time to introduce the latest in my Rosie & Bear calendar blocks series - this one is August. The naughty pair have been building sandcastles and rockpooling - and I'm certain that Bear will be going home tonight with very damp and salty fur!

This pattern won't be included in the magazine ... but is now available to purchase both from my website and in my Etsy shop. A great pick-me-up design for grey January days!!

The turning of the year ...

2011-12-31T07:15:00.003Z

For me every New Year's Eve is a time of mixed emotions. Yes, there is looking forward to the year ahead, a lovely shiny brand-new year with all the opportunties it will bring ... but this looking forward is always tinged with a hint of melancholy when I look back at the year just gone. There has to be a letting go of the good, and the bad times, knowing that these are gone now forever ... goodbye to some of my lunch club friends, Rosie's graduation, the year I took a major leap into the unknown by launching the Bustle & Sew magazine... and so on. I like to take a little time to be quiet and reflect ......

But this doesn't last long, I am a naturally cheerful sort of person and I'm soon writing my "to-do" list for January!! This year's list is exceptionally long, and includes lots of new ideas and projects for Bustle & Sew .. The magazine has now reached its 12th issue (!) and so a bundle of the second six issues is now available to purchase from my Etsy Shop at just $40 (a bargain if I say so myself). In early December I surveyed subscribers, asking to tell me what they most and least enjoyed, and also any comments and suggestions for the future. I've read all the returned surveys and, have taken many suggestions on board, so that the magazine will be even better in 2012.

Right at the top of my "to-do" list for Bustle & Sew is to complete the set of 12 calendar blocks I've been working on for Rosie & Bear. I know that quite a few people are working on the series to incorporate into a quilt, so it's about time I finished them off. So January will be quite a Rosie & Bearish sort of month!

A big "thank you" to everyone who responded to my question about choosing and using colour. Counting Facebook responses too, more than 100 said that yes, they would like a guide - so this project is also on my list for January. It's something I'm really looking forward to doing as I love working with different colours and exploring their, literally, limitless possibilities.

I must also press on with my Four Seasons Bunnies Quilt which I am very sorry to report has made absolutely no progress at all over the Christmas holidays. My time has been filled with family, friends, walks on the beach and old movies on TV. We had our last picnic of the year a couple of days ago ...

Here you can see Rosie & Dan laying out the blanket ... and a little later on Ben taking full advantage of some unattended food!! Shocking canine behaviour!

I also really want to collect together the Bustle & Sew softie patterns in a book - and add a few new ones too of course, continue developing my stumpwork skills, and have signed up for some additional crochet classes (can't seem to get beyond granny squares at present!).

Contemplating all this future activity though has made me feel quite exhausted, so I'm off to make a nice cup of coffee, and enjoy one of Rosie's cupcakes. But just a couple more things - firstly the magazine price will rise tomorrow, so today really is your last chance to subscribe at the current rate of $4.50 per month (forever). To learn more please click here.

And secondly - I'd like to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 EVERYONE!!

What's in January's Magazine

2011-12-26T16:51:00.000Z

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day! We most certainly did - and today we all went down to the beach to walk off some of yesterday's lunch!! Here is Ben with his number-one fan Rosie, proudly wearing her Christmas reindeer jumper. Ben has lost his Christmas ribbon (accidentally on purpose I suspect) somewhere between home and beach! And when we'd had plenty of fresh air, we all came home for a nice cup of tea and mince pie - and I decided to upload the preview of January's magazine ...

Here it is .. just click on the image above to preview. I'm hoping that Rosie will help me take some better photos of the Umbellifer Handbag tomorrow .. the days are so short here at the moment we ran out of light today.

Don't forget, the magazine is still just $4.50, and if you subscribe this week you'll receive Issue 11 (the current issue) immediately and then Issue 12 on Thursday 29th when it's published. Loads to occupy you if you're still on your Christmas hols ... and keep you stitching well into the New Year!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

2011-12-24T07:26:00.000Z

Have a wonderful Christmas wherever you are and whatever you are doing ... just off to finish wrapping those last minute pressies (and put Ben's under the tree - he really can't be trusted not to open his early if he finds it too soon!). And don't forget - if you've time for any Christmas stitching, there's 20% off everything at the Bustle & Sew website until 27 December - just enter code XMASHOLS at the checkout.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Fairy Tale in Blue...

2011-12-20T14:35:00.000Z

I have had such fun creating this applique panel over the last two or three weeks. It's my re-interpretation of a vintage design I found as a torn-off page in the back of a 1970s embroidery book I found in our local Oxfam Bookshop. The original was quite heavy with crewel work and 1970s flourishes, but I've lightened the feel using lots of different fabrics and machine applique techniques..

.... together with hand embroidery details - can you see the bird's nest in the tree? There's a bunny as well of course - you can see him in the top picture. This pattern, with detailed instructions for working, will be included in the January issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine, together with my Autumn Bunny stumpwork

design (again with detailed "how-to" for working him). There will also be the next Rosie and Bear block - this time for February - only 3 more to go after this one before the whole "block of the month" set is complete. (PS the Magazine is still only $4.50 if you subscribe before the end of this month!)

This month the Bustle & Sew Magazine has quite a lot of stitching - this is in response to feedback from magazine readers who have very kindly told me they enjoy my embroidery patterns. I'm also conscious that in the run-up to Christmas I included quite a few softie patterns with Christmas in mind so I'm redressing the balance. But back to my Fairy Tale in Blue panel ...

Here it is in its entirety. I used a fairly coarsely woven brown blanket for the base as a nod to that brown hessian that was so popular in the 1970s! But as I put together my fabrics and floss I thought about other stitchers recreating the design, knowing that they would not have the exact combination of fabrics I had used. I know that sometimes putting a whole collection of pieces together can seem a little daunting, so I wondered if you might find a Bustle & Sew free guide on choosing and using colour useful?

Please could you let me know during the next few days by completing the mini-poll at the top of the right-hand sidebar - and if it's something you'd like then I'll put a little guide together over Christmas. And now .. back to the mince pies!!

PS Thank you so much for all the lovely birthday wishes - especially to those kind folks who said they liked my photo - all I can say is candlelight is well known to be very flattering to the more mature!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-12-18T17:09:00.001Z

Yes .. this is the normally very camera-shy me!! With my birthday cake(s) - a collection of cupcakes - raspberry and chocolate, strawberry and pure chocolate - all my favourites. Just about to blow out my candles - luckily Rosie couldn't fit the huge number that I should have had onto these six cupcakes so I had just a token half-dozen.

We had a lovely weekend away seeing Rosie & her partner, shopping in Bath and listening to some beautiful music in Bath Abbey - perfect. Now I'm off to collect Ben from his favourite kennels, then a nice quiet evening with sewing in front of the fire before the Christmas rush resumes tomorrow. Back soon with more news. xx

It stopped raining - for a while at least!

2011-12-14T21:18:00.002Z

It was very interesting to hear on the news that parts of England are experiencing drought conditions with reservoirs well below expected levels for this time of year. That certainly isn't the case here in the West Country where it has rained nearly every day for weeks.

The last few days have been even more inclement with gales, hail and thunder added to the rain which has made going outside a very unpleasant experience. But yesterday Ben and I took advantage of a break in the weather to head down to the beach at Lannacombe. In the picture above you can see the stormclouds moving away to the east, and we enjoyed an hour or so of late afternoon sunshine.

I love the beach at this time of year - it was completely deserted - the surf was too choppy and messy for even the most dedicated surfer and so Ben was able to charge around at 100 miles an hour chasing his ball in and out of the waves. That oddly-shaped black lump in the middle of this picture is him chasing his ball down towards the water's edge.

And here is a much more recognisable one of the handsome fellow taking a breather. I think the blurry bits are grains of sand that got stuck on the camera lens (it was very windy indeed). I thought I'd take the photo below to try to give you some idea of how big Ben really is ...

... here are our foot and paw prints side by side. I take a UK size 6 (though I think my wellies are a 7 to allow for nice toasty socks). So as you can see, Ben's paws are very large indeed. Of course he does have webbed paws for swimming which make them spread out more, but now he is in his prime he weighs about 154 lbs. That's a lot of dog! Luckily he's very cuddly and gentle. And he loves to collect beach pebbles ...

... he smuggled this one home in the car - I found it when I was shaking the sand out of his blankets.

Of course all this fun on the beach meant that work on my four seasons rabbits quilt had to wait - but I am making slow progress. As a beginner of course everything takes me a lot longer - but this is how my quilt looks at present:

I am using part of a well-washed vintage woollen blanket for the batting and am quite pleased with my patchwork, though it's not completely lined up I don't think it's too bad for a first attempt. I'm hoping to make more progress over the Christmas holidays. Meanwhile, I've been working on an applique picture for the January Bustle & Sew magazine..

The picture is machine applique (inspired by a vintage 1970s crewel work design) with lots of hand embroidery details. It's working well at the moment and it's lots of fun to stitch. Don't forget you've only 2 weeks left to subscribe to the magazine at the current price, just $4.50 per issue- a mega-saving on purchasing individual patterns or issues from my shop. Just click here if you'd like to learn more.

Make with Me: Free Christmas Bunny Rag Wreath Tutorial

2011-12-12T16:25:00.002Z

Christmas, as I know you'll agree, is a time for giving as well as receiving ... and this year I was delighted to be asked to give a free project to the UK Charity Mencap as part of their "Make With Me" Campaign. Mencap supports people with learning disabilities across the UK and they are trying to raise funds by encouraging people to hold "Make With Me" parties. If you're interested you can read more about their campaign here.

Bearing in mind Mencap's making parties theme, I wanted to contribute a project that a group of people, whether adults or children, could enjoy making together. So I decided to donate a classic rag wreath tutorial - given the Bustle & Sew twist with the addition of some bunny decorations. These are also really easy to sew and make the rag wreath just a little bit special. And the raffia bow - that came from my wedding anniversary flowers from Townie Husband! (Ahhh).

If you'd like to download the Christmas Bunny Rag Wreath Tutorial then you'll need to visit the Mencap site, where you'll find a link to download the project as a pdf file. You don't have to make a donation - but I'm sure they would be very pleased if you wanted to.

Letters from Father Christmas

2011-12-11T11:17:00.002Z

I am sure that many readers will already be familiar with the wonderful Letters from Father Christmas from JRR Tolkien - the collection of letters his lucky children received from the North Pole during the 1930s and 40s.

They are lavishly illustrated in typical Tolkien style and have lost none of their freshness and appeal over the years. I have long enjoyed this classic, and this year I discovered to my delight that as well as paperback and a version with real pull-out letters, this lovely book is now available on Kindle. This means I can enjoy it on my ipad and zoom in to see all the details that I can't always quite make out (yes, I have reached the age of reading glasses!) in the printed book. I have noticed that more illustrated books are now appearing in kindle versions - I guess that's as tablet computers are becoming more popular and affordable. I know that Kirsty Allsopp's "Craft" book is also on Kindle - does anyone else know any other nice books available in this format?

(Apart from my own Hints & Tips book, that is !!!) Please do leave a comment below if you can recommend some nice crafty or Christmas Kindle reading for me - I'd love to hear what you're enjoying this year, and maybe try them for myself.

Oh, and I will have some exciting news to share tomorrow, another free Bustle & Sew Christmas project - but this one is in aid of a very good cause. Here's a sneak preview for you ...

Win a Carol-Singing Mouse!!

2011-12-10T10:45:00.001Z

First-ever Bustle & Sew Giveaway on Facebook!! Rosie has very kindly been helping me to understand how Facebook works and she suggested that I should try running a giveaway over there for a change instead of here on my blog. So I am. She even wrote a little poem ....

"With scarves wrapped snuggly around their necks

and carol books in paws,

If you can name these Christmas mice

one of them could be yours."

So if you're too busy to make your own Christmas mouse, and you'd like one made by me, then just pop over to Bustle & Sew on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall. If you'd like to like me as well while you're there that would be wonderful - thank you!! Oh ... and please don't delay - the closing date is 9 pm Monday 12 Dec (GMT) to allow plenty of time for your little mouse to reach you before Christmas. And I will post overseas.

Click here to visit Facebook and enter my giveaway.

Free Carol Singing Mice Pattern

2011-12-07T17:36:00.000Z

Preparations for Christmas are well underway here at Coombe Leigh. In my hallway I have six very large boxes of gifts and supplies all ready for the Senior Citizens' Christmas Party next week. These boxes include enough potatoes to cook roasties for 100 people - glad I haven't got to peel them all!

As well as gifts for the Christmas Party, I am giving a present to all my free Newsletter readers - the Carol Singing Mice pattern you see above. If you'd like this pattern, then please subscribe to my newsletter using the button in the right sidebar (the little bear with his book) and your pattern will be sent to you as soon as you have confirmed your subscription.

If you would prefer not to subscribe, then you can purchase this pattern from my website, just click here to see the details..

These little mice are so simple to make - I have cheated and used a hot glue gun to attach their arms and carol sheets. Each one took only an hour to create - they'd be wonderful to make for a stall at your school or church Christmas Fair. Enjoy .....

Autumn Shelter - Safe and warm

2011-12-05T18:26:00.004Z

I haven't posted very much this week but this is not because I have been on holiday - far from it! No, I am having one of those times when, whichever way I look, there is a project calling "Me! Me! Work on me today!" And I have given in. Ignored my computer, turning instead to needle and thread. Last week's weather made snuggling by the fire very appealing - strong winds and rain every day. Near us, on the road to Totnes that runs near East Allington, there is one particular tree shaped by just this sort of wild autumn weather ....

... sculpted by the fierce westerly winds that sweep in from the Atlantic across our part of Devon, bringing the mist and rain that so often blankets the moors above us. This photo was taken on a perfectly still day and you can see how the tree has become stunted and distorted by the force of the gales. It is the most amazing shape, and it inspired my new embroidery project:

A small bunny safe and snug in his burrow whilst the autumn gales sweep across the Devon countryside above his head. The embroidery is finished, but there is still more work to do as I am going to frame him in a patchwork border before mounting him to hang. I don't know if you can see from the picture below, but he is a stumpwork bunny ....

I used simple felt shapes stitched into place to give his body nice rounded contours. The book I read on techniques suggested animal hair was best for stuffing beneath felt, but although Ben would have been happy to oblige, I declined. I have been wanting to try stumpwork for a while now, and my bunny turned out to be really easy and great fun to stitch. You can just make out his fluffy tail in the bottom corner.

And his eyes are squeezed tightly shut. Not too many French knots! The pattern, with fully illustrated guide for working will be included in January's magazine which will be published on Thursday 29th December. Don't forget - the magazine price will rise in January, so if you were considering taking out a subscription, then don't delay - it's still only $4.50 each month. You can find out more here.

I'll be back later this week with news of another of last week's projects - this time a great free pattern for newsletter readers. Would you like a sneak preview? Yes? No? Oh ... go on then ...

Easy seasonal make ... little carol-singing mice - coming later this week.

Christmas Countdown...

2011-12-01T18:19:00.001Z

... has begun! Just a quick post to say if you'd like to add easy special effects to your photos, then check out Pixlr. It's free and so simple - add some Christmas sparkle - just like I did for Ben and my Candy Cone Mouse!

My Four Seasons Bunnies quilt is going really well - I will take some photos tomorrow to show how I'm getting on. The top is so nearly finished - then I have to quilt (eek!!). Back soon ....

Redneedle Sewing

2011-11-28T16:51:00.001Z

Today I thought it would be nice to introduce you to the very talented Caroline Lovis of Redneedle. And I really do mean very talented. As well as sewing she crochets and makes beautiful creations from paper too. The image above is from her blog and shows her take on a brown paper parcel for Christmas. I think I am going to experiment with her technique this year.

Townie Husband and Rosie are both very very bad at Christmas. They simply cannot leave their parcels alone, shaking, tapping, squeezing and working fingers through every little un-sellotaped gap to try to guess the contents. But I think a machine-stitched brown paper parcel would defy even their attempts to peek at the contents!

And if you're looking for a special gift - and running out of time to create it yourself, then you'll find lots of lovely goodies in Caroline's shop. Just visit her blog to find out more.

Caroline is featured in this month's Bustle & Sew Magazine ... and has generously offered one of her needlecases as a giveaway. If you are a subscriber then please don't forget to enter - and if you don't currently subscribe, and would like to learn more, then you can do so here.

Newbie Quilter: The First Cut ....

2011-11-27T15:26:00.001Z

This afternoon I have had a lovely happy time cutting up fabric for my Four Seasons Bunnies Quilt. My order arrived last week, but this is the first chance I have had to really take time to think everything through before taking that all-important (and quite scary) first cut. I had not really appreciated until now how much maths is involved in quilting. This is probably my own fault as I decided to resize the blocks and then change the pattern slightly (to make it easier). The blocks had to be resized as the original squares were 6" in size meaning those with the bunny embroidery would have had to have been 12" . But they are only 9". So now my squares are 4.5".

And they are all made up of three strips of fabric. I am so pleased with the colours, I think they work really well with the embroidery.

The pink is for the long borders at the sides and each corner square will feature a tree, reflecting the nature theme of the embroidery designs. That is the plan anyway!! As well as Nakisha's images, I don't think I've mentioned on my blog before how much my choice of fabrics was also influenced by one of my favourite artists, Angie Lewin.

I was lucky enough to be given her wonderful book Plants and Places a while ago now - it's not only a good read, but it's packed with images of her work.

and she also shares her creative process with readers, talking about what inspires her and the processes she uses to make her wonderful prints. It is available on Amazon if you're interested - the link is below..

Now back to sewing my blocks ... hopefully I shall have more progress to report in a few days - quilting does appear to be strangely addictive!

Angel Pigs - Giveaway Result and Kits for Sale!

2011-11-26T17:56:00.001Z

To say I was overwhelmed by the number of entries received for the Angel Pig Kit giveaway is an understatement! And I so enjoyed reading everyone's comments too. My birthday is very close to Christmas, and my Mum came home from hospital with me on Christmas Day morning - so she always said that I was her best Christmas present ever. (aahhhhhh). Mind you, she then would say that I was a very naughty baby who didn't sleep at night for ages, and she began to wonder if Santa would take me back again!!! Anyway, thank you very much to everyone who took the trouble to leave a comment - and we have a result ...

Mrs Glosser says number 36. I have counted very carefully (twice) and that is Patricia (of the gift wrapping taking place in bedroom). Congratulations Patricia! but I can't see any details for you at all so please could you contact me (you'll find my email address on my blogger profile - link in right-hand sidebar). And thank you again to everyone who entered.

As so many people liked the pigs, I have put together a small number of Angel Pig kits (to make the white pig - Rosie said that was the nicest one) and you can find them in my Etsy shop. If there is sufficient demand, then I'll put more together for you, but at the moment I have only listed half a dozen. Just click here to see the listing.

And finally ... my quilt fabric arrived in the week and now the magazine is published I plan to spend some time sorting out and cutting ... how exciting!!!

Bustle & Sew - the future ....and a free pattern for you

2011-11-22T12:42:00.002Z

Returning rested and refreshed from my trip to Warwick, I've started thinking about next year for Bustle & Sew. It's early I know, but I wanted to ask magazine, blog and newsletter readers for your opinions too - because without you there simply wouldn't be a Bustle & Sew at all. I do have one or two projects planned already. The first is a new e-book, out early next year "Simply Beautiful Softies" (that's the proposed cover above) that will include detailed chapters on all the techniques I use for creating my own softies, together with a selection of existing - and some new - softie patterns for readers to try.

My series of Rosie & Bear blocks will also be completed in the spring, and will be incorporated into a new quilt pattern (with help from my expert quilting friends here in Devon!). I'm also planning to revise my free guide "How to Embroider Fur" to include video and audio as I know many stitchers are not confident about the techniques used to create realistic looking fur, so might welcome a more detailed tutorial.

This sort of brings me to the questions I'd like to ask - what would you like to see coming to Bustle & Sew in 2012? What are your favourite bits? Or not so favourite bits (hopefully not too many of these). I'm going to put together a (very) short feedback form quite soon, so it would be lovely if you had time to think about any suggestions you might like to make.

I know part of the newsletter and blog that everyone enjoys are the patterns I like to share ... and so in the meantime I thought you'd like this one too ......

Two little bunnies having fun in the snow .. you can download them free here.

And finally .... the new Bustle & Sew magazine (I'm calling it the Angel Pigs Issue as they'll be inside) is out on Thursday for just $4.50 for subscribers. If you'd like to subscribe, then now is a very good time as you'll receive the current issue immediately followed by the new issue when it comes out on Thursday.

In fact now is a doubly good time to subscribe. This is because one change coming in the New Year is that sadly I must increase the cover price of the magazine for new subscribers. From 1 January 2012 the new monthly subscription price will be $5.70. The good news is that the price for all current subscribers will remain unchanged.

This means that if you subscribe between now and 31 December you will pay only $4.50 per month for the lifetime of your subscription, however long that may be. You can subscribe using the button in the right-hand sidebar - or if you'd like to learn more then please click here to see some previews and see what current subscribers have to say about the Bustle & Sew magazine.

I've been to Warwick ... with my Kindle

2011-11-21T16:26:00.002Z

And Townie Husband too - but there is a reason for mentioning my Kindle .... I'll come to that a little later. I grew up in a tiny village near Warwick, England and Warwick is where I met Townie Husband far too long ago to mention now!! We've been on a nostalgic visit to see some of our old haunts - above is the Lord Leycester Hospital where there is now a very nice tearoom and below is Landor House in Smith Street..

which has for many, many years been part of Kings High School for girls - the school I attended from age 11 to 18. The nearest window at the bottom was the headmistress's study where important visitors were entertained and past which we all tiptoed for fear of attracting her attention. (She seemed very awe-inspiring to us then).

We also enjoyed a lovely pizza in Piccolino's - still there after 30 years. Piccolino's was where, as a teenager in 1977 I tasted my very first-ever olive. I hated it, but wanted to appear sophisticated (as you do when you're a teenager) so told everyone it was lovely - whereupon they gave me theirs to eat as well - served me right! Mind you, these days I love olives but then I guess I've had a few decades to acquire the taste.

So it was a lovely weekend. And of course I took my Kindle with me for those quieter moments - I adore my Kindle and it travels with me everywhere. I am a voracious reader and before I had this wonderful little device I used to weight my suitcase down with books but now I can carry hundreds in my handbag ready to read at any time. This weekend however, using my Kindle was even more exciting!!!!

A definite tah dah!! moment. Yes, my book "The Little Book of Hints & Tips for Stitchers" is available on Amazon.co.uk as a Kindle book.

and Amazon.com as a Kindle book. I am so excited!!

If you'd prefer a paperback version then please do visit Amazon.co.uk if you're in Britain, or my Etsy Shop for overseas purchasers. Great stocking-filler idea, and just let me know if you'd like me to sign your copy before I post it. Off now to unpack suitcase and collect Ben from his favourite kennels ...

What's in December's Magazine?

2011-11-16T17:23:00.001Z

Today has been a very grey day and Ben is bored. We went for a very short walk this morning, and he was on a promise of a trip down to Lannacombe at low tide - 2.30 pm this afternoon. But at 1.30 pm the heavens opened! And since then it has rained and rained and rained. It was dark at three and needless to say the trip to the beach was cancelled. So Ben is bored. And fed up. This is not good as he will start to look for mischief to get into - and being Ben will probably find it! Anyway ... I digress.

I've been taking advantage of the grey rainy day to put together the December Issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine and it's looking good - although I do say so myself. It will be published next Thursday 24th November and will include the Angel Pigs, Rabbit Skittles and my newest Rosie & Bear design as the Bustle & Sew patterns.

Please excuse the poor quality of this photo as I only finished this project this morning and the light here has been dreadful. I don't know if you can make out Bear perched in the tree over Rosie's head with a ball aimed at her to try to get her attention. It is of course a journal cover - with the New Year just around the corner I thought it would be a very useful design. I will be sure to take some better photos when the sun comes out!

But back to the magazine - don't forget - the end of the month is a very good time to subscribe as you'll receive two issues in quick succession. Your subscription always starts with the current issue so new subscribers will receive the November issue immediately and December when it's published next Thursday. Plus of course the subscribers' Christmas gift .. The Stitcher's Companion - worth $20. Just click here to learn more - and you can subscribe using the button in the sidebar on the right.

Finally ... a bit thank you to everyone who has entered the Angel Pig kit giveaway - I'm overwhelmed by the number of entrants... but then they are very cute creatures!

Giveaway .. win an Angel Pig Kit!!

2011-11-13T10:21:00.003Z

Here are two little Angel Pigs. They are rather round in shape with nice fat tummies and pink button noses. They do not look very ethereal, and I'm not sure their wings would lift them very high from the ground. But they are very cute and totally endearing. The pattern to make them will be included in the December issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine, along with the Muddle of Bunnies Rabbit Skittles, Rosie & Bear 2012 Journal Cover and more ...

And in the meantime I'm offering one lucky blog reader the chance to win an Angel Pig kit. It will contain the pattern, and all the materials needed to make the white pig on the left of the photo except for the stuffing. So you'll receive felt, ribbon, red gingham and floss plus of course a round pink button for his round pink nose.

To enter, please leave a comment below - and just for fun - it would be lovely to hear about your best Christmas present ever!! (I love reading all the comments).

The giveaway will close on Friday 25th November (very appropriate date) at midnight GMT and the winner (chosen by random selection) will be notified shortly afterwards. I am happy to post overseas.

Oh ... and don't forget - if you haven't stitched your Advent Calendar, there's still (just about) time ... find the Night Before Christmas Calendar pattern and more seasonal designs too on the Bustle & Sew website.

What a difference a day makes!

2011-11-11T10:28:00.002Z

Yesterday afternoon, for a brief time, the sun came out and colour was restored to the world. All the drab greyness was gone and the autumn foliage glowed in the sunlight. So I dashed outside with my rabbit skittles and camera determined to capture a good shot. And I'm quite pleased with this one. They were created in autumn colours and warm tweedy fabrics, so look perfectly at home on top of the old garden wall. Maybe they'll even make the cover of the next Bustle & Sew Magazine. And while I was there, I came over all artistic and took a couple of pictures by the logstore ..

The last flower on my Raspberry Ripple Geranium. It has bloomed profusely all summer and I'm going to try to nurse it through the winter months - that's why it's down by the logs where it's much more sheltered.

And my two watering cans - both elderly, but both still giving excellent service all summer long. Time for them to be put away for their long winter rest now though - I don't think I'll need them again till next spring. But don't leave it till next spring if you're planning to purchase any patterns from my website ..

... as my online sale ends midnight Saturday (GMT). Just click here to visit and take advantage of my buy one get one free offer - last 24 hours!

Fabric choices for my Four Seasons Bunnies Quilt

2011-11-09T14:30:00.001Z

I had a wonderful Sunday afternoon browsing through everyone's kind suggestions. And I have put this selection together - quite different to my usual fabrics, but I think they work wonderfully well with Nakisha's designs. I'm also going to simplify the quilt pattern even further to show off some of these fabrics ...

Before I order .... what do you think? Any advice gratefully received!

Thank you xx

Rainy day pastimes...

2011-11-08T19:20:00.000Z

Today it has rained and rained .... not heavy rain, but that persistent drifting kind of rain that soaks everything (and everyone), running down the inside of your waterproofs and making the day so dull and dreary. As I type this now it's brightening up a little - but here in Devon, England the sun will set in little more than an hour - even so this may be enough time for Ben and I to head for the beach when he's home from his grooming appointment. He goes to the lovely Donna every month - at 154 lbs he's far too large for me to bath at home - and he seems to love the whole experience, climbing onto the grooming table and leaning against her with a blissful expression on his furry face!

While he was out I decided to use the opportunity of a rainy day to practise my stop-motion video techniques. I've created a set of nine rabbit skittles, with a ball and bucket to keep them in for the December issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine. (with handmade Christmas presents in mind of course). It's so hard to take a good photo to illustrate all nine bunnies - and I really wanted to show their tails and the ball as well. I had a lot of fun creating this, my second video. It's still far from perfect I'm afraid and I think I will re-shoot it (didn't that sound professional?) on a brighter day as the light today was so dull and grey. Please ignore my hand that appears in a few frames - I am still very much a beginner!

I always thought this sort of video would be hard to make, but it's not at all really. The only equipment I used was my digital camera, tripod (absolutely essential), an old sheet draped over my clothes-horse for the backdrop and some invisible thread to make the ball fly through the air. When I reshoot it I will definitely use a nicer backdrop - I hadn't realised that, even though I did iron the sheet, every crinkle would show. And a sunnier day would be better as well. I'm not sure Spielburg needs to worry about his newbie competitor quite just yet ... but in the future .. well - who knows?!?

PS Mentioning newbie .... had a lovely self-indulgent Sunday afternoon browsing fabric sites for my first quilt - will be back later in the week to tell you all about my choices.

Christmas Sale at Bustle & Sew

2011-11-05T16:53:00.001Z

I know Christmas is not until next month, but if you're planning homemade gifts this year, then now is definitely the time to begin - that is if you're not already stitching furiously! So, to make it just a little easier, here at Bustle & Sew I'm having a

buy one, get one free Christmas sale for one week only.

There's no code to enter - just leave a note at checkout (in the notes for carrier box) telling me which free pattern(s) you would like and they'll be on their way to you as fast as I can send them. (please note The Stitcher's Companion and Bustle & Sew Magazine may not be chosen as your free pattern)

So remember ... all you have to do is:

visit the Bustle & Sew website,
choose your patterns
make your purchase(s) in the usual way
leave a note at checkout (in the notes for carrier box) telling me which pattern(s) you'd like to receive free (excluding magazines and Stitcher's Companion)

Here in England we call this a BOGOF (not a very elegant term, Buy One Get One Free).....

One pattern purchase = one free pattern

Two patterns purchase = two free patterns etc etc ....

And of course, Top Tips for Stitchers is always completely free. If you haven't downloaded it already, you can find the pdf here..... and please do feel free to send it to your friends if you think they'd enjoy it too.

Little Knitted Bunny - the video!!

2011-11-04T12:17:00.000Z

Just to say ... an ENORMOUS THANKYOU to everyone who left comments for me below. I've emailed quite a few folks- but can't find addresses for everyone so please accept my thanks here. I'm planning a lovely afternoon tomorrow browsing through all the sites you suggest.

I have been wondering lately about using stop-motion video to help show more details of my designs. (And to have fun with as well!!) I have just listed two little knitted bunnies on Etsy, and had a little play with my camera - the first time ever I have attempted this. So please forgive everything that's wrong with this very short video - I promise to improve in the future!! I used Windows Movie Maker - the little program that comes as part of Windows and it was sooo easy - more (and better) Bustle & Sew stop-motion videos coming soon.

A tea cosy .... and help requested please...

2011-11-02T17:04:00.001Z

First I'd like to show you my Harvey tea cosy. I think he really suits this use and he looks particularly good next to my Cornishware and other blue & white china. I've changed my Harvey pattern to include the tea-cosy, with guidelines to measure your teapot and create a cosy that's just right. You can find the revised pattern here.

And now my request for help please. I have decided (with some trepidation, but totally encouraged by Julie) to embark upon making a quilt. I am starting small and have decided to incorporate my Four Seasons Bunnies blocks from Nakisha into a cot quilt. I have found a pattern .... here it is with the bunny blocks overlaid....

The instructions said it could be completed in a weekend which sounded about right for a beginner to try.

Now I need to find some fabric and this is where I need some help please. What I would like is fabric picking up the floss colours in the rabbit blocks that is modern and funky looking. Ditsy florals are great in the right place, but I don't think they would work with Nakisha's designs.

As a total beginner though, I don't have any idea where to start searching for quilting fabrics and I wondered if anybody would be kind enough to give me a pointer towards designers/ranges to look at please? Thank you so much from nervous newbie quilter!! xx

Angel Pigs .....

2011-10-31T12:19:00.000Z

When I went to Totnes on Friday with Julie, we both decided that no matter how tempting, we would not waste our hard-earned pennies on any impulse purchases. However I saw some lovely red and white Christmas ribbon and could not resist ....

.... but this was not a waste of pennies after all as my purchase inspired me to turn the pig softie pattern I'd been working on into... Angel Pigs for Christmas!! They're very round, cheerful, slightly comical creatures with fat tummies and pink button noses who have put on wings especially for the festive season.

They are really easy to make - the bodies are hand stitched and only the wings are machine sewn - so each pig should only take an evening or two. The pattern will be in next month's magazine so there'll still be plenty of time to make them before the big day.

And, at the moment, anyone who subscribes to the magazine will receive a free bonus copy of The Stitcher's Companion as a joining gift. Please check out the right-hand sidebar for subscription details.

A bit of a mixture .. and the return of my free Humphrey pattern

2011-10-29T08:30:00.000+01:00

As anyone who knows me will realise, I love animals. All sorts of animals (but not spiders - sorry spiders, but you will not be on my Christmas card list this year, or any year. I know you are useful creatures, but I do not love you.) I digress. Although I love (nearly all) animals, I am particularly fond of dogs. We always had dogs throughout my childhood so when I grew up as soon as circumstances allowed a lovely little Westie called Lucy joined Townie Husband and I.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE HUMPHREY PATTERN

I also love making soft toys - nice easy ones, with cheerful, friendly faces, and I've shared a few of my patterns over the years. My most recent softie pattern was the Owl & the Pussy Cat which I've had lots of lovely comments about (thank you all) and inspired by these I decided to revisit some of my earlier designs. This is when I discovered - shock horror(!) that Humphrey the Bonzo Hound - one of my favourite dog designs - had disappeared from my free pattern library. Must have lost him when I changed website providers earlier this year.

Now I've re-uploaded the free pattern to my library on Issuu, which is where you'll find the majority of my free publications. You can visit the Bustle & Sew Free Pattern Library here where you'll find four pages of free patterns.

But you won't find this pattern in my Issuu library. I was thrilled to be asked by my friend Jenny (of Elefantz) to be guest contributor to her magazine - in her Christmas special issue! This is my Nativity Advent Calendar pattern and it's in her current issue, along with lots of Jenny's very own lovely designs .. I was particularly taken with this idea ....

A gift for an absent loved one with a promise to think of one another on Christmas Day afternoon. To learn more about Jenny, her magazine and patterns, please do visit her lovely blog, Jenny of Elefantz .... and better take a cup of tea along, you're sure to be there for some time!!

But before you go ... remember Julie and I were having a lovely girly stitchy sort of day yesterday - visiting Dartington for an applique exhibition, followed by lunch and a browse around the shops in Totnes? Well, Totnes was lovely, lunch was delicious .... but the applique exhibition had finished the day before. Could only happen to us!!

Autumn... season of mists, mellow fruitfulness... and muddy pawprints!!

2011-10-28T08:31:00.000+01:00

I've been really busy this week with Issue 10 of the magazine (with another free gift for subscribers), and am very pleased with how it turned out. And as these bunny DOW blocks didn't make it to the mag (it was stuffed full already!) I thought that I'd give them to all my blog readers instead! So here they are ...

Click here to download your free Bunnies pdf

Here in Devon autumn is well-advanced. The nights are drawing in, the log store is full, and across the hall floor track large brown muddy paw-prints. Yes, it has been raining - very hard indeed - and Ben has been in the garden. He has very ticklish paws which he hates having wiped and consequently tries very hard to evade capture when he re-enters the house! But, putting the paw-print problem to one side, autumn is a favourite time for me. I love the smokiness in the air, the colours of the foliage and the longer evenings when I can snuggle down by the fire with stitching, knitting, or a good book.

And if you're in need of a good book, then I thought you might like to hear about my "Little Book of Hints & Tips for Stitchers". This is the abridged paperback version of my popular online book "The Stitcher's Companion". I decided to produce this paperback version after receiving a number of emails asking for a "real" book, one that the reader could turn down corners, drop in the bath (if they must!) and give to someone as a stocking filler for Christmas. It's listed in my Etsy Shop for just $10 plus p&p. Please do pop across and take a look!

Now I'm off to Dartington, Totnes for a girly day out. My stitching friend Julie and I are off to an applique exhibition there, followed by lunch ... and the sun's shining too - what could be nicer?!

Accuquilt Giveaway Winner .... and a look at November's magazine

2011-10-26T15:00:00.000+01:00

Sorry to be a little late with the results of my Accuquilt giveaway ... but I have been soooo busy finalising this month's magazine. The picture above is one of the projects in Issue 10 - The Owl and the Pussy-cat - sitting in their beautiful pea-green boat of course!

But on to the most important thing - our winner - chosen by random number generator - who is .. comment number 21 - that's Sunnybec. Well done to Sunnybec (I've emailed you already) and thank you to everyone for entering - I really enjoyed reading all your autumn comments. One of my favourite books is The Magic Apple Tree: A Country Year by Susan Hill, an account of life in a small village - it really resonates with me as I grew up in a small village in Warwickshire, England in the 1970s and 80s. Susan describes autumn thus:

"There is a smell in the air, the smell of autumn, a yeasty, damp, fruity smell, carrying a hint of smoke and a hint, too, of decay. It fills me with nostalgia, but I do not know for what. It is a smell I love, for this is and always has been my favourite season. They said that as I grew older I should recoil from it, the winding down of another year, the descent towards winter, the end of summer pleasures, that I would begin to shift my affections towards spring, when all is looking forward, all is blossoming and greening and sprouting up. But I do not do so. Spring so often promises what in the end it never pays, spring can cheat and lie and disappoint. You can sit at the window and wait for spring many a weary day.

But I have never been let down by autumn, to me it is always beautiful, always rich, it always gives in heaping measure, and sometimes it can stretch on into November, fading, but so gently, so slowly ...."

If you're not familiar with The Magic Apple Tree then I highly recommend trying it - it's been on my bookshelf for years and is a book I would never want to be without - I dip into it regularly as the mood takes me.

And just before I go I thought I'd show you another project from November's magazine ... Harvey the terrier applique scarf. Because autumn can be beautiful, but it can also be cold - and a scarf will soon be essential when walking Ben on the beach.

PS for a full preview of November's magazine, please click here - loads more to see!

Social Media R Us! (and preview Rosie & Bear Halloween pattern)

2011-10-21T19:14:00.001+01:00

It's time to celebrate as I am finally sorted out with a Facebook page for Bustle & Sew.... a Facebook page that works - and I have been instructed in tagging, tweeting and walls too. (This is a completely new language to me). Yes, my Social Media expert has been to visit ...

....that's the one in the sunglasses(!) Rosie of course. Ben just can't be left out of anything and so was allowed to assist. Yes, Rosie has been showing me how to use Facebook. But I don't have very many friends yet. So if you're a Facebook user, then please pop over and say "Hello" using the button in the right-hand sidebar - I'd love to meet you there. And finally ...

Coming in the November magazine .... the latest Rosie & Bear design as the pair party all night(!) at their very own Halloween celebrations!

Around the Year: A Rabbit for all Seasons from Nakisha

2011-10-18T18:12:00.000+01:00

I'm so excited!! Just a quick post to let you know that I've finally finished - and listed - a lovely set of four rabbits created exclusively for Bustle & Sew by US artist Nakisha Elsje VanderHoeven .

Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn (or Fall!)

I think they're beautiful - Nakisha is so talented and I feel privileged to have her patterns in my shop. You can find the individual patterns listed at $3.75 each here or you can purchase the set of four designs for just $12 - that's a saving of 20% on purchasing them individually. Just click here to visit the listing.

Free Hoots! Owl Pattern and Accuquilt Go!Baby Cutter Giveaway

2011-10-14T17:35:00.000+01:00

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you might perhaps remember my joy at discovering I could produce consistently beautiful hexagons with my new Accuquilt Go!Baby Cutter. In fact my Charlie the Patchwork Elephant Pattern featuring patchwork hexagons proved to be one of my most popular designs ever ...

Those with sharp eyes may have spotted that my Candy Cone Mouse pattern in this month's Bustle & Sew Magazine also features beautiful regular hexagons ....

And now ... sent free to newsletter and magazine subscribers .... here is Hoots the Baby Owl!!

He is a very retro-feeling owl in 1970s shades of brown and gold, inspired by the autumn colours of the English countryside. He's not a difficult make, and I have spotted that owl patterns are very popular at present - so he'd make a great gift for a style-conscious friend (or to keep for yourself!).

If you'd like your very own free Hoots the Baby Owl pattern, and you're not already a free newsletter (or paid magazine) subscriber, then just hop over to the right-hand sidebar and subscribe to either publication and your free Hoots pattern will be sent straight tu-whit to-you! (sorry!)

And finally .... Accuquilt have very kindly offered me a Go!Baby Cutter with your choice of 3 dies to give away to one of my blog readers, so you too can make perfect hexagons - or any one of lots of other shapes too. This is a fantastic prize - I know that I love my Go!Baby Cutter. The cutter will be sent direct to the winner by Accuquilt ... and should arrive in time to help you with your Christmas sewing.

All you need to do to enter this free competition to win a Go!Baby Cutter is to leave a comment below. The competition will be open for one week, and the winner will be chosen by random selection on Saturday 22 October (BST). Just for fun, please tell us what you most enjoy about the autumn months. Good luck everyone!!

The Stitcher's Companion

2011-10-10T19:38:00.001+01:00

Well, who said this blog had to be exclusively about sewing? I just love this Yeo Valley advert. I live in a small village surrounded by agricultural land ... if only these guys farmed nearby (although our local farmers are very nice, friendly people, they don't have quite the same "wow" factor)........ Anyway, I hope you like this ad too if you haven't already seen it...

Meanwhile .... I also hope you liked the free "Top Tips for Stitchers" book in my last post which contains a fantastic collection of hints and tips contributed by blog readers across the globe. I was inspired by their creativity and generosity tips to put together a full-length book of my own - "The Stitcher's Companion." This contains lots of my own knowledge too - everything from identifying the composition of your fabric, to what exactly is a Fat Quarter and how to transfer your design to fabric. And lots more too. It is currently for sale on the Bustle & Sew website at $19.97.

However, as it's thanks to the support, friendship and encouragement of Bustle & Sew customers, newsletter subscribers and blog readers that I wrote this book at all, I would like to offer you the opportunity to purchase your copy at half price. Yes, 50% reduction on the cover price when you purchase "The Stitcher's Companion" from the Bustle & Sew website until the end of October, after which it will revert to full price. Your discount code is STITCHER72

To learn more about the book and snag your bargain copy, just click here to visit the Bustle & Sew website.

Happy reading!!

Just going to watch that video again now .....

Helen xx

PS When you purchase the book you can pick up more bargains too - all additional items in your single order will also be at 50% reduction - but only until Friday!!

PPS Bustle & Sew Magazine readers will receive their own copy of "The Stitcher's Companion" free with next month's magazine as my second Christmas gift to you. If you're not already a subscriber, and want to know more, then please click here to learn more and subscribe.

Top Tips for Stitchers: Free Book for All

2011-10-07T18:59:00.001+01:00

It's ready - at last!! If you are a regular reader you may remember that way back at the beginning of the summer I asked for contributions to put together a free hints and tips books for us all to share. It's taken a little while as I've been busy on another exciting project too (more about that next time) but at last it's ready.

I'd like to thank everybody who shared some of their essential stitching skills and techniques with the rest of us - I know I've learned lots from all their ideas - and now I always keep my metallic floss in the fridge(!) much to Rosie's confusion!

You can read the book online here or download it as a pdf here. And it is of course, absolutely free.

And I am happy for you to share it as much as you want - please feel free to grab the image from this post for your own blog if you wish... and share it with all your friends too. Just two conditions - firstly please leave all links in place, and secondly it's not a commercial publication so don't reproduce it for resale.

I do hope you like it and feel it's worth the wait. Meanwhile I'll be back with news of my other exciting project at the weekend.

Swiss Darning (Duplicate Stitch) and Next Month's Magazine

2011-10-05T11:19:00.000+01:00

Wow! Everyone loves my mittens! Thank you to those kind readers who took the trouble to email me about them. I love them too - it's a great pattern - available from Tiny Owl Knits . And great news too - I'll be featuring an interview with their designer, Stephanie of Tiny Owl Knits in next month's magazine - her patterns are so fantastical and original I'm really excited to learn more about her ideas and inspirations.

A number of people have also asked about Swiss Darning - also known as duplicate stitch. I like to use this method if I'm knitting an isolated motif - particularly in a hard-wearing items such as these mittens. You knit the base first and then stitch the motif onto it, so there's no carrying yarn across the back or twisting together at edges where potentially holes may form with wear. I've found a good tutorial for those who are interested in learning this technique. It's an old tutorial on The Purl Bee. Just Click here to visit where you'll find some great step-by-step instructions. I'd just add one proviso - I don't mark the stitches before hand, but count from the knitting chart, rather as you would with counted cross stitch.

Off to walk Ben now - it's a cold rainy day here so he has regained all his energy that he lost in last week's heatwave. We'll head up to the woods to look for acorns, hazelnuts and the last of the blackberries... back soon!

Back to normal and robin mittens for me!

2011-10-04T15:36:00.001+01:00

Phew ... here in England for the last week we have been experiencing a most unseasonal heatwave! The thermometer has been well up into the 80s (that's mid to upper 20s centigrade) and we've all unpacked our summer clothes, donned our flip flops and headed to the beach and other such places. The photo above was taken at the weekend on the quay at Dartmouth, looking down the Dart towards Dartmouth Castle and out to sea. Check out the blue sky!

We came back through Slapton - one of our favourite churches .... it was so lovely and cool inside ...

... a contrast to the blazing sunshine outdoors. But we all knew it couldn't last - and somehow, although lovely, it didn't feel quite right. Ben was particularly fed up - he doesn't like the heat at all and thought he was safe for the rest of the year. Today, however, normal service has been resumed, and I don't feel quite so silly knitting myself a pair of woolly fingerless mittens!

Aren't they lovely? I used a pattern from Tiny Owl Knits. These patterns are designed by Stephanie Dosen, an American singer who lives in London. I adore her patterns, they are so delightfully whimsical. I fell in love with this plump robin and her nest of sky blue eggs - and tweaked the original design slightly to give me a bigger, longer mitten so my paws would feel really cosy in the winter winds. (I really really hate having chilly fingers).

And I must admit, I did cheat a little - I swiss darned the motifs for strength (no changing yarns at the back) and easiness too - but I think everything turned out rather well. Stephanie's pattern was really easy to follow - and I think I know someone who would love her vintage kitten mittens for Christmas. (no, not you Rosie, if you're reading this - you've already put in your request for the Nordic mittens from last month's magazine!!)

Now the cooler weather really is here, I'm relishing getting back to knitting again - so look out for some Little Knitted Animals who'll be popping up in my Etsy shop very soon...

What a marathon!

2011-10-01T11:46:00.000+01:00

And no, I don't mean the England v Scotland match - this morning's Rugby World Cup offering. After making sure Townie Husband was well supplied with bacon sarnies and cups of tea, I have been comfortably ensconced upon the sofa uploading all my Christmas patterns to the Bustle & Sew website.

This month's magazine is out now and includes 5 new Bustle & Sew patterns for Christmas. Above is the baby giraffe Gift Bottle Bag (well, who said Christmas is just for reindeer?) and Christmas Shopping applique picture. This is a mixture of hand and machine embroidery and applique and was inspired by an old card I found tucked inside a second-hand book I purchased over the summer.

I still haven't managed to get a picture of the Advent calendar I'm completely happy with - but I think this one shows the embroidery really well - can you see Rudolph? Of course the Christmas Candy Cone Mouse finds a place in the magazine ...

Then there's "Love Flew Down at Christmas" a story about the youngest blackbird, his true love and that Christmas night in Bethlehem, illustrated by this easy, but very effective, applique design ..

And of course the print-your-own "Very Merry Christmas Bunting". This is the first of my free Christmas gifts for magazine subscribers, but I've also listed it for sale on the website.

So, as you can see, I have been very busy. And to celebrate I'm offering all readers a 20% discount on every purchase from the Bustle & Sew website for the next 3 days. Your discount code is VERYMERRY72 and it is only available until 12 noon Tuesday (BST). So now's your chance to stock up on patterns for the festive season at bargain prices. You'll find a whole new section devoted to seasonal patterns plus all the usual goodies too.

And the Rugby ... yes a good result for England. Excellent match, two very strong teams - feel very sorry for Scotland who played incredibly well. Shame they can't both go through. But Townie Husband is happy and already looking forward to England's next match!

Bustle & Sew Magazine: Preview the Christmas Issue!

2011-09-27T12:06:00.002+01:00

At last after weeks of activity it's ready for Thursday's publication date. You can preview the patterns included in the Christmas issue by clicking on the image above. It's hosted on Issuu, and is sent to subscribers as read on-screen as well as a standard pdf file, so you can view and/or download whichever way you prefer.

If you'd like to subscribe, then you can do so using the subscribe button in the right hand sidebar. I'm so excited .. I can hardly wait till Christmas!! (oddly there's a heatwave in England at the moment - it will be the warmest week this summer we're being told!)

PS Don't forget, subscribers will receive the printable retro Christmas bunting too!!

We have a winner!

2011-09-25T10:50:00.000+01:00

I am so, so sorry not to have come back to you sooner with a winner for last week's giveaway. My excuse, however, is a very good one .... next week I am publishing my first-ever Christmas Issue of the Bustle & Sew magazine - and I want it to be the best issue ever!! I am including not the usual 3, but FIVE, yes FIVE original Bustle & Sew patterns, as well as some vintage designs, an article on the best-duvet ever to wake up under on Christmas morning, a short story and more too.

I can't show you any photos of my designs today as I'm working right up to the wire on this issue, and although they're made, they're not photographed yet. But you've seen the Candy Cone Mouse, and the Advent Calendar nearly completed and I'll post some more photos when they're ready ... watch this space!! I'm also giving away the pdf file for my print-your-own vintage style Christmas Bunting as the first of my free Christmas gifts for subscribers ....

And with all this hyper-activity on the magazine, I am sorry to say that I have been neglecting my blog. Apologies once more. So on with the giveaway results. I was blown away by the number of comments I received - thank you so much to all of you for entering. I think it's probably just as well that I'm no longer employing a canine random number generator - 150 dog biscuits would have been far too many to number individually!!

Anyway, I fed the numbers into the generator and as you can see from the image at the top of this post, the winner of the "Simply Aprons" book is number 8 - that's Lesley (I counted Joy's two comments as one entry). Well done Lesley!! Please get in touch and let me know where you'd like me to send your book. Thank you everyone for leaving comments about your favourite fruit too - it was great reading them, though I do not agree with "apples"! I think my favourite is strawberries - yum!

Returning soon with images from the Christmas special edition of the Bustle & Sew Magazine - if you'd like to receive all these goodies at the subscriber's price of only $4.50 per month, then you can sign up using the form at the top of the right hand sidebar. Back to my sewing machine now .... xx

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday! Sneak Christmas Mouse Pattern Preview

2011-09-21T12:07:00.002+01:00

Little Christmas Mouse - a pattern for October's Magazine - the Christmas Special edition out next Thursday. (you can subscribe via the button on the right-hand sidebar)

Posing for the camera.....

"Whaaatt!! I see Mum has eaten one of the props! Surely she wouldn't notice if I sneaked one too?"

I did notice ... and my ever-helpful canine assistant was unsuccessful in his raid on the choccies!!

Back tomorrow with the giveaway results (closes tonight, so if you haven't left your comment yet, don't leave it too long!)

Simply Aprons - A Giveaway for You ... and excitement in the village!!

2011-09-17T09:35:00.002+01:00

I was delighted to receive a lovely new book in the post last week "Simply Aprons" by Nathalie Mornu. Published by Lark Crafts, it's one of their "Simply" series - and is exactly what it says on the cover - a slim volume with 12 lovely apron projects to create.

As usual with Lark Crafts' publications, the book is very clearly laid out and the instructions are nice and straightforward. The aprons have wonderful names ...."Amoeba, Mango Tango and Twirl, Girl!" are just a few. (That's Mango Tango below - it's a very pretty shape - the top is cut on the grain, whilst the skirt is on the bias, so giving a lovely drapey effect).

I liked all 12 projects and, following the great apple harvest in my garden, (remember the Appley Dappley applique?) was particularly taken with the fabric used for this design ....

And so I'd like to share this little book with you. I have one brand new copy to give away ... just leave your comment below to enter. Just for fun - please also tell us what your favourite fruit is and why? You have until midnight BST on Wednesday 21 September to leave your comment and I'll announce the winner shortly afterwards. I will post overseas.

And the excitement (expect you thought I'd forgotten - as if!). Well ... you might not think the above picture is very exciting - it's true, it's hard to tell who is under all that makeup and the dark clothes - let me show you a more familiar incarnation ....

Yes ... it's Johnny Depp!! And he was staying in Chillington - our village!! Just down the road!! Filming for his latest movie on one of our local beaches - Mattiscombe Sands, near to Start Point. Excitement indeed!! Sadly I did not bump into him in the post office while queuing for the morning paper, and he was not seen at the quiz night either.

Ben in particular had hoped to spot him, as his kennel name is Mileoak Captain Jack -and as you can see from the image above, he too feels he has star quality!! So there would have been an instant bond between them(!)

Ah well... never mind... back to my stitching. Don't forget to enter the giveaway by leaving your comment - I'm looking forward to reading them all!

Advent Calendar - Design decision!

2011-09-13T10:18:00.001+01:00

For the needlewoman Christmas comes early, which is why the October issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine will contain all my new Christmas designs. I'm still working on my "Night before Christmas" Advent Calendar - all the little pockets are stitched into place, each with a little pinch pleat to make a lovely pocket-y sort of shape, and the Santa and his reindeer embroidery is complete. Now I need to add the embroidery panel to the calendar background. So I laid everything out on the workroom floor to see what it looked like.

Yes ... it looked just as I envisaged - but somehow a little plain. Some sort of trim was required. So I had a rummage in my workroom and emerged with two alternatives - some thrifted cotton lace and red ric-rac braid. First I tried the ric-rac ...

Hmmm ... OK .... I guess ... but - no ... not quite right.

Tucked the lace underneath. (it's a bit wide, but never mind, I can hide the excess - when you're thrifting you can't be too picky). But still not happy with the look - now it's a bit fussy - so I took the ric-rac away...

Yes - I think this looks just about right. What do you think?

And just for fun I've put a little poll at the top of this blog - not about lace and ric-rac, but about Advent Calendar pockets. I've seen calendars with both 24 and 25 pockets/doors/windows, and my "Night Before Christmas" calendar does have 25 (though it could be altered by the maker of course.)

I am inclined to stick to 24 when I make up my second design featuring the Nativity, but am wondering what others think ..... please cast your vote at the top of the blog to let me know. (Closes Saturday).

Alone again .....

2011-09-10T15:31:00.001+01:00

Yes, the rugby season has started here in Britain. Townie husband is a great supporter of Bath Rugby club - he has a season ticket which requires him to attend the majority of their home matches (not sure about the "requires" bit, but he assures me this is so). And above is a little painting I made for him a few years ago now, because of course being a rugby supporter does mean that you must consume beer. (again I'm not entirely sure this really is the case, but who am I to question this?)

Meanwhile, remember your maths classes and consider the following equation ....

ENGLISH RUGBY SEASON STARTED + RUGBY WORLD CUP = LOTS OF TIME SPENT WATCHING MATCHES

Never mind, while he is absorbed in the rugby I will have chance to catch up with some stitching - October's Bustle & Sew Magazine will have lots of Christmassy projects .... and at present I'm busy with a Santa-themed Advent calendar:

Above is the work in progress - I chose a Moda Charm Pack for the pockets - Glace by Three Sisters - I love the way they incorporate the idea of Christmas without being too over the top. Adore the colours too and have used them in the embroidery - it's really simple to stitch, and I'm happy with the way this project's progressing at present.

I'm planning a Nativity-themed Advent calendar too, but am still sketching it out so nothing to show at present. Still with all this rugby going on I'll have lots of time to snuggle down with hoop and floss ...

It's Charlie! Free Patchwork Elephant Softie Tutorial for you

2011-09-04T10:26:00.000+01:00

Hello Charlie!!

I've been very busy over the weekend, writing up the free pattern/tutorial for Charlie. I am so pleased with him ... he's sitting on the sewing chair in my workroom and his cheerful face is the first thing I see when I open the door in the morning ...

But as well as writing this weekend, yesterday we all set off to the Kingsbridge show. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera, so I can't show you any photos of the lovely teddy-bear-faced Dartmoor sheep, the clever collies herding geese or even the elegant ladies giving a wonderful demonstration of riding side-saddle.

Ben came along too as this is very much a country show and dogs were well-represented. He was definitely the largest, furriest specimen there, and attracted more than his fair share of attention and petting. By far his most favourite stall was this one though ...

Rhubarb's Bakery which offered handmade dog-biscuits for the discerning canine. It's part of our local "Made by Youth" initiative where local youngsters learn about the world of business by developing and selling their own products. Ben and I certainly wish them all the best and will definitely be revisiting Rhubarb's Bakery at the next Kingsbridge Youth Market.

But back to Charlie ... here he is from another angle so you can see his patchwork body made from the hexagons I cut using my new Accuquilt Go!Baby Cutter....not forgetting to notice the bell on the end of his tail!

If you'd like to make your own Charlie, then please click here to view and download your free Charlie the Patchwork Elephant tutorial, including creating his patchwork pieces - a lot easier than you might think!

Back soon with news of an exciting giveaway ...... but for now I must go and take Ben for his walk - he needs some exercise to burn off all those Rhubarb's Bakery dog biscuits he gobbled yesterday!!

Coming soon to a computer near you

2011-09-02T18:58:00.000+01:00

Don't be shy .... turn around ....

It's Charlie! In all his hexagonal glory!

Free pattern & tutorial coming over the weekend - but I couldn't resist showing him to you now.

Hexagon Enchantment

2011-08-31T19:44:00.000+01:00

I am entranced ... amazed... overcome.... I adore my hexagons. I hexagonned(!) all afternoon - Ben had to come to the workroom door to remind me that it was his tea time, I was so enraptured I had forgotten (he was not too impressed!).

I can cut hexagons!!

I think I have said before that I am not always very quick on the uptake, but even I have noticed all the Accuquilt Cutters appearing in blogland recently. As I am not really a quilter - my cutting is very sloppy, my seams are wonky and I am far too impatient - I had not taken too much notice. But then .... a very nice lady called Carolyn contacted me from Accuquilt to ask if I wanted to try one of their cutters.

So I did (well I couldn't resist) ... and LOOK!! I can cut hexagons!! My new Go! Baby fabric cutter is a wonderful little device, with which I am able to easily produce wonderful regular hexagons. (It does lots of other shapes too, I understand, but hexagons are fine for me at present. One step at a time as my teacher used to say).

I adore my baby cutter .... and the hexagons above are part of a tutorial I'm putting together using it that will be finished soon. It's not quilting - but I hope you'll like it.

Meanwhile, those lovely people at Accuquilt are giving away lots of free patterns when you join their mailing list, (just click on the image above to check out their offer), and I'll be back with details of my mysterious hexagon make at the weekend.

Appley Dappley Applique - free pattern for you ....

2011-08-24T20:57:00.001+01:00

Appley Dappley Applique Cushion

We are innundated. Apples everywhere .... this year was an extra-super-bumper crop! Remember this picture back in April?

All that lovely blossom .... has turned to ....

APPLES!!

And this is after half of them have fallen off!! We're overwhelmed!! Everyone in the village is the same - whenever we meet the conversation starts, "Would you like some ... apples/plums/beans/marrows?" And the other person usually responds "No thank you, I have plenty of apples/plums/beans/marrows of my own." Even Ben has stopped bumping apples down the steps....

...the novelty has definitely worn off!! Anyway, this fantastic apple harvest has inspired me to create a simple machine applique design to share with you:

The Appley Dappley Applique

And, just like the apples in my garden it's free to anyone who would like to download it - just click here for your free Appley Dappley applique pattern.

Finally, the Bustle & Sew magazine goes out tomorrow - so if you want to subscribe and receive Issue 7 tonight, closely followed by Issue 8 tomorrow - don't delay - there's less than 12 hours left! You can subscribe using the box on the right of the page.

Have a h-apple-y evening wherever you are!!

Thank you everyone ... and September's Magazine

2011-08-20T17:14:00.000+01:00

First to say "Thank you" to everyone who left a comment or emailed their kind wishes about my poor sore fingers. They are feeling much better now and think I might try my knitting again tonight. But in the meantime I've been putting together the September issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine.

It's looking great ... with 4 Bustle & Sew patterns, a guest contribution from "This Tiny Existence" and much more too. You can view the new preview on the right hand sidebar where you can also subscribe if you wish. As always, the last few days before the new issue hits the virtual news stands is a great time to subscribe as you'll receive the current issue immediately, followed by the new issue when it's published on Thursday. That's two magazines in one week! What could be better?

Next month the magazine will have Christmas in mind - 'cos then it will definitely be time to snuggle down and create for the festive season!

Ouch!

2011-08-18T17:28:00.000+01:00

No, not ouch... more ow.. OW...OW OW OW!!!!!

I am an idiot! Officially. Of course I do know really that if I take a baking tray out of the Aga, then it will remain hot for some time. So why did I try to pick up my tray of biscuits with my bare hands not more than 5 minutes after it came out of the oven?

Ben leapt out of the way as the tray (plus biscuits) crashed to the floor .... crumbs everywhere ... I made a wild dash for the sink and spent the rest of the evening with my poor sore paws clutching a bag of frozen peas. This morning my fingers are very red, with some blisters, so no knitting for me at present. (Although I did manage a little gentle stitching).

And the batch of little bunnies I'm making for the Nostalgic Mix Fair in Totnes next month will have to wait a while for my blisters to heal. Mind you - they do say that every cloud has a silver lining, and once Ben had recovered from the shock of the tray crashing to the floor, he did a very good job of hoovering up all the smashed biscuits!!

Apples, apples everywhere ..... favourite free patterns ...

2011-08-17T12:38:00.001+01:00

Phew ... I have been so busy just lately. I seem to have so many projects on the go at present, and simply not enough hours in the day. Added to which I have a definite apple problem. My garden is knee deep in apples! This year has been a bumper crop, and so I must collect them all up to send for juicing. Indeed some of the trees are so heavily laden I am worried that their branches will break if I don't do something very soon.

And in honour of the harvest I have re-uploaded (is there such a word?) one of my favourite vintage patterns - the little girls collecting their own apple harvest. You can download the pattern from Bustle & Sew - it's here - in the free patterns section.

Ben loves to play with the fallen apples, but I don't think eating too many is very good for his doggy insides ... and the blackbirds are feasting happily as well. Sadly so too are the wasps, so urgent action is called for . I will have to send Townie Husband up a ladder to start picking at the weekend!!

Of course, September is not too far away, when children return to school - and here's another old favourite for you - my very own Funky Pencil case design. This is also available as a free download on Bustle & Sew - together with loads of other free designs you might like to check out.

One of the projects I am late in finishing is of course the "Top Tips for Stitchers" book that so many people generously contributed to a few weeks ago. It's nearly ready now and I'll be circulating it via my free newsletter next month. If you'd like a copy sent direct to your in-box, then please sign up to my newsletter using the form in the right-hand sidebar.

Now it's back to finishing off the September issue of the magazine .. it's raining very heavily here ... so fallen apple collection - and Ben's walk - will have to wait a while!!

Endings ... and beginnings .....

2011-08-11T17:49:00.006+01:00

Although it's still high summer here, there's a definite feeling of change in the air. The last couple of nights have been chilly, and it's been dark much earlier in the evening. But in the day when the sun shines brightly, it's hot and easy to believe that autumn will never come.

The apples are ripening in the garden now. Ben loves to push them down the steps with his nose, watching keenly as they bounce on each stone step, bump, bump, bump right to the bottom, and if he's lucky, in through the back door and onto his bed where he likes to lie and nibble at them gently. It's a year since we said "Goodbye" to Amy and he's become quite used to being a spoiled only dog, though he does occasionally have a wistful expression as though he's remembering her still.

This time of year has, for me, always been a time of endings ... and beginnings ... Rosie graduated this summer (that's her with her tutor group: she's on the left of the photo) so ending her full-time education and beginning her first "real" job this week. I am so very proud of her, but also a little sad that she is now, as she says, a "proper grown-up" - her childhood is really ended. Townie Husband and I helped her move into her new flat last weekend and this move, together with memories of when she first left home to go to college, inspired my new Rosie & Bear design, "Leaving Home"

As you can see, this pattern is a little different... where's Rosie? Well, she's packed and ready to set off to college - and her faithful friend Bear is sitting up very straight and tall, taking care of all her possessions and making sure he isn't forgotten. As if!! Hopefully you get the feeling that the nearly-grown-up Rosie is only just outside the picture, and will bound in at any moment, scoop up Bear and, with him tucked under her arm, they'll head off for a whole set of exciting new adventures together.

Which of course is exactly what did happen! Bear is an elderly gentleman now who doesn't get out and about as he used to, but contentedly waits on the end of Rosie's bed for her to return and tell him all about her day.

I've had fun mixing applique and embroidery in this design too, Bear, Rosie's desk lamp and her bundle of college books are all pure embroidery, whilst the boxes and bag are appliqued - spot the gathers at the neck of her bag - I saw this technique in a Japanese craft book and decided to try it out here.

Together with two more Bustle & Sew patterns, guest contributor, vintage patterns, articles & loads more too, this design will be featured in the September Issue of the Bustle & Sew magazine which comes out in just two weeks time - just $4.50 to subscribers (learn more here). After this time the pattern will be listed on my website and in my Etsy shop.

New Listing: Little Stitching Rabbit by Nakisha

2011-08-05T14:22:00.002+01:00

Today I have been busy at my desk, resolutely ignoring the bright sunshine outside and Ben calling me to "Come and play Mum!" as I simply must get some work done before the weekend.

I have a couple of projects on the go at present, including putting together the free "Top Tips" book that so many readers kindly sent contributions for last month. I'm sorry it's taking so long, but the book is nearly finished now and I think it looks great - I've learned loads of interesting new tips which I can hardly wait to share with you all.

Above is a photo of a little part of my desk, with some of the sweet peas I have grown in old apple crates outside the back door. I am very proud of them - they are a highly fragrant variety and just those few are nearly overwhelming. I have stuffed them into my very own Sooty egg cup which I have had since I was very very tiny. In fact I don't remember a time when my mum didn't serve up my boiled egg in this egg cup (with bread and butter soldiers of course!). So, like me, my Sooty egg cup is vintage!!

Just peeping out from behind the sweet peas you can see the Little Stitching Rabbit embroidery from Nakisha. I think I mentioned before that she is also designing some more patterns just for Bustle & Sew. I'm part-way through stitching up the set of four seasons that she's sent me ... here's a sneak preview of winter for you ....

I was going to wait and release all her patterns together, but one or two people have enquired about the Little Stitching Rabbit which is included in this month's Bustle & Sew magazine. So I've decided not to wait until the others are ready, but to list it now.

You can find the Little Stitching Rabbit on the Bustle & Sew website and also in my Etsy Shop where it's listed at $3.75. It's really easy to stitch as it uses only basic stitches - apart from the little rabbit's fluffy tail which is Turkish knot (but I do give you a diagram and instructions for working this). Oh .. and don't forget to visit Nakisha's Etsy shop, Bluedogrose, where you can see all her wonderful artwork .. she's an amazingly talented lady.

Rabbit rabbit rabbit... exciting news and a free pattern for you

2011-07-31T10:24:00.004+01:00

We're all very excited here at Bustle & Sew (well, that is to say I am very excited while Townie Husband and Ben are trying to appear as if they are!) as I am embarking upon a collaboration with US artist Nakisha Elsje VanderHoeven to bring you a global first !!

Nakisha is a Seattle artist who has been making animal art since her earliest memory.Born in California and growing up on a tree farm in rural New York State, her childhood was filled with art and animals. "Dog" was her first word and her teen years were spent riding her beloved horse, Fox. Her creative parents encouraged her first two passions, art and nature, which she continues to focus on today.

She sells her work on Etsy as Bluedogrose, which is how I came to find her - I fell in love with some of her beautiful images and contacted her to ask if she’d be willing for me to create an embroidery pattern from one of them. Not only did she say "yes," she created a new image of a Little Stitching Rabbit especially for magazine readers, which is included in the current issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine. (even my typing is excited about this!!)

In the autumn Bustle & Sew will be offering five more Nakisha embroidery patterns, all featuring her trademark rabbit. This is the global first - as Nakisha has never offered her designs as embroidery patterns before. I'm thrilled to be working with her, and as rabbits are one of my favourite creatures (although I've never owned one myself, I have been friends with one or two), I thought that to while away the time will you're waiting for Nakisha's new patterns, you might perhaps enjoy this little bunny embroidery ...

Just click on the image above for a (slightly) larger version of the design. If you'd like to be informed when the Nakisha at Bustle & Sew patterns are released, then please do subscribe to my newsletter - where you'll receive all the latest news, plus extra free patterns and special offers. You'll see the form in the right-hand side bar of this blog.

Little Bunny looks how I feel.....

2011-07-28T19:29:00.001+01:00

.....that is to say - quite worn out. Today was publication day for Issue Seven of the Bustle & Sew magazine - it's always a stressful moment when I press the send button and cross my fingers that the magazine will arrive in subscribers' in-boxes successfully.

I've spent the afternoon listing the individual patterns from the magazine, together with the issue itself on the Bustle & Sew website. And so I am worn out. You'll find all four Bustle & Sew patterns listed here, together with the magazine itself ....

So if you want to make the most of your "summerbirdie" 15% discount code before it expires on Sunday night, then now is probably a very good time to do so!

Oh, and the little bunny .... he's a rescue from the bottom of the softie bin at the local charity shop. He's being refurbished and dressed for my stall at the Nostalgic Mix Fair in Totnes on 25th September. More in another post, but now I think I am going to treat myself to a lovely bubbly bath and relaxing evening ...

We have a Winner! Thank you everyone!

2011-07-26T10:34:00.004+01:00

Wow! Thank you so much everyone for all your help in choosing a name for this little tote bag. Your creativity is amazing and I loved reading all the comments and your wonderful ideas.

There can only be one pattern name and one winner of the kit though, and that's Solstitches who was first to suggest the name "Summer Birdie". I spent a very long time indeed thinking about all the Sweet Tweet suggestions, and although it's a great idea I decided that it's a bit too close to Sweet Pleat to use as a name for this bag. I'm not always the best organised and can see myself getting in a bit of a muddle when sending out patterns. I'm going to hang onto the idea of a "Sweet" range though, just not with a second part that rhymes!

I have chosen not two, but five runners-up who all suggested the name Summer or Summertime Birdie (but Solstitches got in first!). The runners up will all receive a copy of the "Summer Birdie" bag pattern. They are....

Gudrun (Summerbird), Catherine (Birdie Summer), Sandra Schwab (Summer Birdie), Beth Butcher (Summertime Birdie) and Christine M (Summertime Birdie).

Please can all the winners get in touch to let me know their up-to-date email addresses, (and for Solstitches your postal address too) and your prizes will be on the way very soon indeed. The Summer Birdie Bag pattern will be in this month's Bustle & Sew magazine (out on Thursday), after which I'll be listing it on Bustle & Sew.

When you visit the Bustle & Sew website, please do look out for my latest listing - the first six issues of the Bustle & Sew magazine in one great bundle. That's over $100-worth of Bustle & Sew patterns, plus loads more too all for just $30. And if you use the discount code below this bundle's even better value - bargain time!!

Finally, as one more big "thank you " to all blog readers for helping me out with my bag-naming problem, I'm offering you a 15% discount on orders placed on Bustle & Sew before the end of the month. Just enter code "summerbirdie" at the checkout to receive your 15% off. This code is valid until midnight (BST) 31 July 2011 so don't delay too long or it will have flown away! (groan).

Flower & Fruit Applique: Free Sunflower Pattern for you

2011-07-19T18:01:00.001+01:00

Wow! I am amazed! So many readers have taken the time and trouble to leave a comment and help me out with my bag-naming problem. Thank you everybody so very much - it's so kind of you all to share your thoughts with me. And now I'd like to share with you as well.

If you've been reading this blog for a while you will know that I live in deepest rural south Devon, England in a small village surrounded by farmland and within a stone's throw of Ben's favourite beach. The climate here is very mild, with plenty of rain and warmth as well. This makes for a very good growing environment and many people here have extremely productive vegetable plots. So productive in fact that at this time of year little stalls appear outside many front gates, laden with all kinds of surplus produce. I enjoy growing flowers more than vegetables so I am always on the lookout for other people's tasty offerings. Last week I saw a first - some globe artichokes standing in a bucket, together with a number of sunflowers making a lovely splash of colour.

And I was inspired to create two applique panels. I used vintage blanket for the main fabric and lots of different patterns and textures from the fabric sample books I purchased very cheaply earlier this year. Some simple machine applique and a little hand stitching completes the designs. Above is the Globe Artichoke, the pattern for which will be included in the next issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine (out on 28 July), together with the Sunflower pictured below.

But I am so overwhelmed by your generosity in sharing your ideas with me, I'd like to share the sunflower pattern with you now. You can view and download it for free here. I hope you enjoy making it - it's like storing summer sunshine to take you through those gloomy winter days to come.

I need help .... and a giveaway for you...

2011-07-16T10:02:00.003+01:00

Here is a picture of my new bag design - it's a shoulder bag measuring 14" wide at the widest point and 13.5" deep. It has a single internal pocket and is really easy to make, with a fun bird on branch machine applique design on the front. I have discovered however, that it is not really easy to think of a name for the pattern. I had the same problem this time last year when trying to think of a name for this bag...

and it was eventually solved very successfully with a lot of help from blog readers, who thought up the pattern name. It's called the "Sweet Pleat" Shoulder Tote and it's one of my favourites.

So I thought I'd ask for your assistance once more in thinking up a name for my new bag design. If you would like to help, please could you leave a comment below suggesting a name?

The winner will receive a kit containing everything they need to make their own bag, including pattern, canvas, Liberty silk for the lining, printed fabric bunting flags, fabric selection for applique, magnetic closure and little vintage button for the birdie's eye. Additionally, I'll give away by random selection, two free copies of the pattern. Thank you and good luck to everyone!

So that's three prizes up for grabs .... please put your thinking caps on and help me out!

PS I am happy to post the kit overseas. Closing date for comments is Thursday 21 July.

PPS This pattern will appear in this month's magazine out on 28 July - you can subscribe using the button at the top right-hand corner of the blog.

Rosie & Bear July: Fairground Carousel

2011-07-10T11:38:00.000+01:00

The latest Rosie & Bear pattern is complete and will be released in this month's Bustle & Sew magazine ...

Rosie clings tightly to the pole, whilst that naughty Bear balances on one paw as they whirl around on the carousel. July is the month that the fairground comes to town - and the carousel horses was one of Rosie's favourite rides....

To be released in the Bustle & Sew magazine at the end of this month, when it will also be listed in my shop.

New bag pattern coming soon!

2011-07-09T11:57:00.000+01:00

I haven't been a very good blogger lately. But I have been very busy just the same.

Summer fete season has started down here in Devon - we love our festivities and there seems to be a different village fete to attend every weekend. I have had time though to complete the design above for a summer bag - an easy machine applique panel and a nice curved bottom make this a great fun bag to take to the fete. The pattern will be included in the next issue of the Bustle & Sew magazine (out on 28th July). Also in the next issue will be my topsy turvy animal alphabet ....

... as in "S" is for chickS ....

.. "F" is for "Friendly rabbit". Happily "G" is still for "Goose!" The panel's nearly finished and hopefully I'll be able to show you the complete work very soon.

Off to the fete now .... Chillington this week ... lots of good cake makers in Chillington - better get there early before the cake stall sells out! See you soon!

The Parish Fete - first outing for the bunting

2011-07-03T17:51:00.000+01:00

At 2 pm the crowds gathered - the fete was opened ...

It was warm and sunny - lots of tea was drunk

And the parish bunting project was voted a huge success!! Doesn't it look fantastic? And it was fun to wander around and hear comments ... "My dad's pyjamas...", "Last year's frock.." "... old curtains"

Eco-friendly, community-enhancing bunting at only a fraction of the price - to buy the equivalent would have cost about £900 - to make it ourselves cost only £40 (for the tape). A job very well done indeed - and a lot of fun too!

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who has contributed a hint or tip - I've taken the form down now and will spend some time the next couple of weeks compiling the 100+ responses into a format we can all enjoy.

A bit of reorganisation!

2011-07-01T19:45:00.000+01:00

Phew ... the sixth issue of the Bustle & Sew magazine has published successfully. Always a stressful time - as there are so many pictures and diagrams (and a lot of pages too) I am always worried that it won't upload. But it did. And I've had some very complimentary emails from some of my lovely subscribers, so all is well. I've also uploaded this issue to the Bustle & Sew website, so if you're not a subscriber but would like to buy a single issue, then please visit here where you'll find all six issues of the magazine listed.

Once the magazine is published, then I usually have a little breathing space before the next project. And this month I decided to use this time to sort out my floss. Quite frankly - it is a disgrace! All muddled together with a horrid tangled lump at the bottom of my basket. So I have invested in more plastic bobbins and have started to rewind all those skeins so I can be well-organised. But I don't want to store my floss by number - the numbers seem to bear no relation to colour - and as I'm creating designs I'm more interested in colour. I've been looking out for a suitable container - and last weekend I acquired this from Lesley of This n That in Totnes ...

Lesley tells me it is a mid-century item, used to store and transport reels of cine-film. Amazing! And just what I wanted. It's about 20" square and 3.5" deep.

And the lid comes right off. Nice and clean inside. All I had to do was line the base with some leftover wallpaper from when Rosie & I decorated her room last year ...

And I bought some snap-together sock organiser insets from Lakeland Plastics. A little dab of glue secured them at the sides ...

And in goes a very small part of my floss collection. Vaguely arranged as a colour wheel. Much easier to see and compare colours and find everything I want. Now all I have to do is add the rest of the floss - hope the box will be big enough! I'm a bit of a flossaholic, and when you take into account my inherited stash too ... still it's a harmless addiction I guess?

Heatwave - what heatwave?

2011-06-27T18:13:00.001+01:00

Alternative title: "Never Trust the Weather Forecast."

Today we were told it would be warm and sunny - no more than that, it was to be hot HOT HOT! And was it? No, of course not. It has been grey, gloomy and cool with rain on and off throughout the day. I am disheartened by this as I had hoped to sit in the gazebo this evening with my latest project. Instead of which it is far too chilly to be out in the garden, so I will curl up on the kitchen sofa near the warmth of the Aga instead.

I'm working hard on my latest project - for the August issue of the Bustle & Sew magazine. I've come across a truly weird and wacky vintage animal alphabet. Since when was "B" for Dog and Cat, "I" for Giraffe ....

And "A" for Duck? I just can't work it out - doesn't apply to any language I can think of. I think it adds hugely to its charm though - and it's great fun giving it a new treatment and stitching all the little animals. The little lamb at the top of the post is all French knots and I've used smyrna stitch (loopy) for some squirrels' tails (as in "M" is for squirrel!)

Reassuringly though, "D" does still stand for Dog as well. Ben will be pleased.

I've put the July Issue of the magazine to bed now - it's all uploaded onto Issuu ready to hit those virtual news stands on Thursday. It's always a relief to get that done, as it's such an enormous file it can take more than one attempt to upload successfully. This month was remarkably hiccup-free though - and it's a great issue - there's....

Rosie & Bear Summer Bedtime

Signals & Semaphore Collection

Alphabets and monograms

plus a great Ipod or other gadget pouch from Jenny of Elefantz

And loads more as well ..... too much to mention here. And if you were considering subscribing, then don't delay - now is a very good time. Your subscription starts with the current issue which means you'll receive Issue 5 straight away and Issue 6 when it's published on Thursday. All those patterns!! All in one week!!

You'll see the button to subscribe in the right hand sidebar.

PS. If you want to buy the patterns individually then they'll be available in my shop afer the magazine publication date.

Quay Quilters .. a picture post

2011-06-25T08:08:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I popped into the annual exhibition of Quay Quilters - the Kingsbridge-based quilting club - in my lunch break. The quilts on display were wonderful! I particularly loved the picture quilts ... and thought you might like to see a few of them too..

A more traditional design - wonderful colour choices ...

Scary looking pigeons - and even the bunting is quilted!

Wonderful textile art - reminds me of all the creeks and inlets around here where the water becomes perfectly still on the changing of the tide ..

And finally ... a wonderful quilted map. Shows the head of the estuary where I walk alongside on my way to work - and the first grey building - with the red creeper is Quay House where our offices are ... love it!

I'd also like to say a bit "thank you" to everyone who's sent in hints and tips - I am overwhelmed by your generosity in responding. I'll keep the form up until the end of the month (it's on the top of the right hand sidebar) and then I'll start to collate everything into some sort of order so we can all enjoy the results. So if you have a good hint or tip - maybe passed on by your granny, or something a friend told you or you found somewhere else, then don't hesitate - please let me know so we can share them with each other.

Hints & Tips for Stitchers

2011-06-20T19:22:00.005+01:00

I know that there are lots of very talented and creative stitchers out there - I've been lucky enough to "meet" a few of you over the last couple of years. The internet is a wonderful place for getting in touch with those who share the same hobbies and passions, sharing ideas, hints and tips with each other. There are some good websites and forums around too where we can all get together and share with each other.

But sometimes it can be hard to find exactly the help you need, or that elusive hint that would make the current project go so much more smoothly. I was pondering this the other day, when I had an idea .... why don't I ask readers to contribute their favourite stitching hint or tip - then I could collate them all into a single document we could share together.

So I've put together a little form - you'll find the link on the top right-hand sidebar. If you have a tip to share, then please click on the lady to access the form that will send your hint or tip to me. If you have a blog or site you think readers would enjoy, then please include the address and I'll make sure that goes into the finished e-book as well.

And as a "thank you", everyone who contributes will receive the above gifts - a set of images I've put together from a vintage children's book - printed on fabric they'd make wonderful quilt blocks, together with the "Afternoon Nap" dormouse pattern, one of the first I ever designed.

All contributors will of course automatically receive a copy of the e-book they can share with all their friends. So please put your thinking hats on .... remember what you learned from your mum, grandma, teacher at school, best friend... etc etc and let me know. Just click on the lady at the top right of this page to access the form, submit your hint or tip, and your free gifts will soon be on their way to you - let's make this a really useful free resource for us all.

Father's Day - Quick Signals & Semaphore Make for you

2011-06-16T18:36:00.001+01:00

Just lately there seems to have been a kind of nautical theme going on here in the workroom at Coombe Leigh. Of course, living by the sea as we do, that's not entirely surprising ...

This is the walk around the lighthouse at Start Point - it's one of our favourites! Over the last few weeks all the boats laid up for the winter have gone back into the water and Regatta season will soon be upon us. Salcombe first, then the most famous - Dartmouth (with funfair, fireworks and the Red Arrows) - and finally little Frogmore with its own creek has a very tiny regatta right at summer's end.

But summer's end is a long way off ... unlike Father's Day which is this weekend. And I thought that one or two readers might possibly not have decided on gifts. But with time fast running out anything handmade will have to be quick and easy, so what could be better than the Signals and Semaphore cushion cover above? You can put it together in under an hour - all you need is some plain fabric and felt squares. And if you're really in a hurry, then fix the flags with Bondaweb or adhesive rather than stitching into place. The flags spell out "LOVE" in a totally non-girly way that is extremely suitable for dads (and any other boys too).

Hope you like it -you can find the free pattern here. The patterns for my new Signals and Semaphore embroidery and applique collection (above) are included in the July issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine (out on 30 June). If you like it, why not subscribe using the button at the top of the blog? At only $4.50 per month it's a bargain and is sure to float your boat! (groan).

Baby Ben: Newfoundland Dog Softie

2011-06-12T19:05:00.000+01:00

Today it has rained all day. We have had light rain, heavy rain, sideways rain and "gets inside your coat and runs down under your jumper" rain. It has indeed been wet. We do need this rain very badly, but it's hard to feel grateful when you're stuck indoors on Sunday afternoon. Still, I've made the most of it and finished off my "Baby Ben" softie for this month's Bustle & Sew magazine.

These days of course, Ben is a fine figure of a dog - weighing in at 147lbs and, in his opinion at least, extremely handsome. You'll remember him posing for his picture a few posts ago .... if not, then you can see him here. But of course he wasn't always big and strong - I remember those early months ....

Ahhh ... wasn't he cute - and tiny too - weighing no more than 18 lbs. Amy took him firmly in paw and within days had given him his first swimming lesson ....

and before long he was uber-confident in the water. But it is those early puppy days that have inspired this softie ...

Here he is, crafted in vintage blanket, with his very own life saving ring. Eager to go and save someone just like Amy did once (but that's another story). Head on one side, listening for the surf

He'd make a perfect gift for a child as he's simply filled with toy stuffing (no wire or pebbles) and all his features are embroidered, so nothing to become detached. The pattern to make him will be in the July magazine, as will Rosie & Bear Summer Bedtime and my new Signals and Semaphore pattern that isn't quite ready yet. If you would like to try a subscription, then the button's at the top of the right-hand sidebar - it's just $4.50 per month and there's no minimum subscription period - it really is an uber-bargain - why not give it a go?

Looking out of the window as I type, I think the rain might finally have stopped - so I think I'd better head off and take my all-grown-up Ben out for his walk. Bye for now..x

In which I discover I am vintage!!

2011-06-11T10:33:00.000+01:00

No, that is not actually me. But according to my mum I was a "Cow & Gate Baby" which I hope meant that she fed me on their milk - and was not a reference to any bovine qualities she might have felt I posessed!

Earlier this week I visited our wonderful Oxfam Bookshop in Kingsbridge - I pop in frequently as you never know what you might find - and this time was a gem - The 50s & 60s - The Best of Times: Growing Up and Being Young in Britain - a book by Alison Pressley. Although I wasn't born until the 1960s, in many ways my childhood was more like one of the 1950s - the swinging 60s didn't arrive in our road until much later on - if at all! One picture especially caught my eye ..

Look carefully - what is Santa holding in his left hand .. could it be? I do believe it is ....

My sewing tin!! The one that was my Mum's and my Grandma's too. A perfect size for transporting only the things you need for the project of the moment. So now I know that it really is older than me - though as a Cow and Gate baby I must accept that I too am vintage!

And here is the work you saw peeping from the tin. I have been thinking lately that it's about time I put together a design for the boys ... and this is the result. As you can see it's still a work in progress, but the pattern will be included in the July issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine.

Vintage spools - another idea

2011-06-07T06:38:00.001+01:00

Over a year ago I blogged about displaying my treasured feedsack scraps on vintage wooden spools. You can read about it here if you would like.

I still have my collection of scraps on spools - the heap sits on the wide windowsill in my workroom and on rainy days I can often be found rearranging them whilst staring out of the window dreaming of new projects.

And now I have spotted another lovely idea for using old spools....

Isn't this great! It's featured over on The Silly Pearl Blog where she has shared her free tutorial for creating this pinboard. I think I might have a try at creating one for myself, but using my feedsack-covered spools - it would look wonderful over my desk.

Loads of thanks to The Silly Pearl for generously sharing this idea... off to sort out my old spools in anticipation. It's actually raining this morning (first time for ages) so perfect timing for a rummage in the workroom cupboard while we wait for the rain to stop.

Summertime and the roses are growing

2011-06-04T11:46:00.002+01:00

I love this time of year as the roses come into bloom and the days are at their longest. Our swallow family have set up home once more in the log store, and the parents are kept busy bringing tasty insect treats to their hungry youngsters. They are incredibly noisy birds, and the sound of whistles, tweets and clicks can be heard from behind the rambling rose whenever food is delivered. The rambling rose in question is a bit of a monster - ferociously thorny and overwhelmingly vigorous - it has to be pruned well to keep it in check. This year the warm sunny weather seems to have suited it and it completely covers the log store roof....

It's actually much pinker than this picture suggests, but the colour has been bleached by sunlight in this photo. I was going to say if you look carefully, you can just see the gazebo roof behind the rose - but I'm not actually sure that you can. The perfume is amazing, not just from this monster, but from other, less showy roses too...

This rose rambles over one of the old apple trees

Here you can see the tiny green apples. The ground beneath the tree is littered with these tiny apples - the June drop - perfectly natural, as otherwise the tree would have far too many apples to ripen well. Pollination must have been very successful this year, but then the weather was glorious in April when the blossom was on the trees, and in this part of Devon bees are still numerous.

And my latest Rosie & Bear design celebrates this, my most favourite time of year. Inspired in part at least by RL Stevenson's charming poem, "Bed in Summer"

In winter I get up at night

And dress by yellow candle-light

In summer, quite the other way,

I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see

The birds still hopping in the tree,

Or hear the grown-up people's feet

Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,

When all the sky is clear and blue,

And I should like so much to play,

To have to go to bed by day.

but also by my own childhood memories of lying in bed on a summer's evening listening to the friendly blackbird singing in the tree outside my window. Later I became a mother myself, and of course inflicted the same fate upon my own daughter, Rosie whilst Bear called "Come outside and play!"

For the photoshoot I couldn't resist picking some roses from the garden, and one or two daisies too - I think they make the perfect frame for this design. I've added a very short adaptation of RL Stevenson's poem - but htis is optional of course. The quilt is huge fun to work - as is the half of Bear you can see peeping through the window trying to tempt Rosie out to play.

I do hope you like it - it will be in the July issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine ( out at the end of June), and is currently available on my website and in my Etsy shop

Back out to the gazebo now .... have a great weekend everyone!

Beside the Seaside - Free Pattern & Giveway Results

2011-05-28T16:20:00.000+01:00

"Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside ... Oh, I do like to be beside the sea ... Oh, I do like to stroll along the prom prom prom ... While the brass band plays tiddly pom pom pom!!" And no, contrary to my daughter's opinion, I am not quite ancient enough to remember when that song was a number one hit!! I do recall that my grandad used to sing it as we marched along the pavement together on our way home from my school. Anyway... back to the seagull in a moment....

Firstly, with apologies for lateness (again!) I am pleased to announce the results of the giveaway. I was absolutely blown away by the number of comments - thank you to everyone who entered - I loved the caption ideas, have spent ages sitting at my laptop chuckling! I wish I could give everybody a prize. But, as so many people entered, I decided to give away not one, but two Little Geese kits. And the winners are:

Number 3 is Em and number 38 is Linny. I can see Linny's email address in the comments - but can't find any way to contact Em. So Em .. if you're reading this, please get in touch and kits will soon be winging their way to you both. The pattern for the Little Geese is listed on Bustle & Sew (don't forget your code LOVELY 40% discount valid for any single purchase until the end of this month) - and I'm wondering about listing some Little Geese kits on there as well....?

Meanwhile ... last month Townie Husband and I had a lovely weekend away in St Ives, Cornwall. I blogged about it a little while ago, and one of the pictures I showed you was of two seagulls who appeared at the same spot on the car park wall each day we were there:

Now, I'm not terribly fond of seagulls, but this pair were certainly rather attractive, and so I've been thinking about how to use them in a design. After some consideration and a lot of scribbling on paper I came up with

- do you recognise the seagull on the left of the photo? What a handsome fellow!

and here he is again. Check out the knobbly knees!!

The seagulls applique - "Beside the Seaside" is available as a free download from the free patterns pages of the new Bustle & Sew website. It's on the last page - page 3 - at the bottom - I hope you like it and enjoy stitching it. If you're new to machine applique then you might find my free tutorial useful - that's in the free tutorials section of the website.