forward thinking

quilt featured: rose & star

I'm not big on look backs...

...if pushed I would say

the highlight* of my 2011 was inspiring a colourful swathe of paper piecers

with my 'summer of love' quilt.

I think I've flogged it enough here there and everywhere,

so here's a snap of whats to come

in 2012.

Get ready with your scrap bags to join my rose star block party!
tutorial to follow. 

*ps. finding Molly Flanders and Anthropologie 
come a close second and third!

xxx
Clare

To all my beloved friends old and new.

Enjoy the festivities!

See you next year....

...with a star and rose paper piecing tutorial...

...and maybe a quilt-a-long...

anyone interested???

so here it is...MARY Christmas

 After a number of months of secret squirrelling 

I can now do the reveal.

 Mary (Molly Flanders)has received my parcel now, so I can show you what 

an unbelievably beautiful quilt she has made me.

 We decided to have a little swap as we both admire each others work.

The idea was to make a mini quilt...

though Mary got a bit carried away with hers!

I don't know what I've done to deserve this,

it's really humbled me;

has all this generosity from across the pond.

Mary is well known for her gorgeous hand quilting.

I now know how amazing it is.

Just look how it transforms her quilt.

 I also received the lovely C from 'our' 

favourite shop Anthropologie!!

And a cute hankie Mary bought from an Amish store.

 C is for Clare or C is for Christmas?

 Thankfully it's been a crisp but sunny day,
so you can see how beautiful the colours are.
It's so me!

 You are my sunshine 

my only sunshine...

 ditto!

Thankyou Mary for your generous gifts and your wonderful friendship.

Please pop over to Marys place...

make sure you have plenty of time though 

because you will be there some time!

 Here is the mini quilt I sent Mary.

Fabric wise it's a close relative to the summer of love quilt,

which Mary loved so much.

Though I've used a mix of vintage and modern to keep it up to date.

I pieced it by hand using the English paper method.

The pattern is called rose star,

I shall write an in depth post in the new year,

as well as a tutorial.

 I also sent some goodies.

A gingerbread lady and a homemade layer cake.

So here it is merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun....


*lyrics courtesy of Slade!

joy to the world

 I couldn't very well leave you with the creepy Christmas!

This year we have bought an artificial tree*.

After a couple of years of real Christmas tree allergies,

we have succumbed.

I do love a real tree...

...however I'm really loving the flexibility of our new one.

That and the fact that it doesn't need watering!!

 I have quite an eclectic mix of decorations..

maybe a little on the crazy side, 

and ever so slightly reminding me of ELF.

(which I watched yesterday whilst teaching Karen to crochet)

There is still plenty of tweaking time and I'm off to 

Winchester Christmas market today,

so there may well be more decs to come...

...I'm thinking something santa-ish.

*Christmas tree john lewis

creepy christmas

Apologies for the creepy post.

You see every year I hand make something for my friends children.

With my shoulder issues I wasn't sure I would make anything.

But I got an email from her saying how much they look forward to my parcel every year!

 Why the day of the dead?

Well on a visit this year I discovered that the sweet hello kitty loving kids have 

progressed to a more ghoulish taste.

I just hope they don't give them nightmares!

Kids!!!

*day of the dead inspiration courtesy of Mexico
bowl anthropologie!!!!!!!!!

glad tidings

 There are many weeks throughout the year that slip pass unnoticed..

 then sometimes a week occurs like no other..

 These adorable pottery ornaments are from

Cathy at Potter Jotter

whose giveaway I was so fortunate to win.

thankyou Cathy, I shall have fun playing about with them.

 This little notebook is a very special gift.

My friend Karen of 20 years gave me this little book last week.

It will be a book of special memories 

the first will be to Muffin the fluffmeister

Karens cat who passed last week.

 Next to arrive my secret squirrel parcel.

 Which contained such delights I cannot put it into words.

I do know that I was heard to say

Oh my god a number of times.

I shall tease you with this snippet for now...

I can also reveal that one of the lovely packages contained this lovely C.

It's from Anthropologie in America...an inspiring shop.

 And yes last week I also took a trip to the capital

and discovered their London store on Regent Street...

....and I quite agree Mary it is a little piece of heaven...

thankyou

itty bitty crochet star tutorial

 I am a firm believer that if I can think up a crochet pattern,

especially one so easy,

then probably somebody else has too.

I don't believe that simple crochet patterns belong to anyone.

 This is my first ever crochet diagram.

Isn't it pretty!

 It's pretty self explanatory really if you already crochet.

 I used some kool cotton from my stash.

to begin
(I'm using uk terms)

chain 5, slip stitch into the first chain to create a ring.

{1 dc, 1tr, 3ch, 1tr into the ring} repeat 4 more times

finish with a slip stitch into the first dc.

With a darning needle weave in the ends.

To produce a pointy star, 

pin each 3chain point to a folded towel/old cushion

and spray with water and leave to dry.

For a stiffer star I like to use spray starch,

found in the laundry section.

And there you have it.

I strung mine on a piece of twine,

but you could hang each one individually..

..or make pretty parcels like below!
In answer to Deborahs question 
I used a 4mm hook :0)
Why not try my recycled christmas cards tutorial in my side bar,
any card will do!

secret santa

 ..have yourself a mary little christmas..

itty bitty stars tutorial to follow!

paper from whsmiths

shelf life

 Hey!

I wasn't going to post today, 

but I wanted to let you know that after resting and not sewing

my shoulder is feeling a lot better.

Although I'm still taking things easy,

typing doesn't help!

 I have found that things get attracted to hooks..

...how does that happen?

 The 'shepton mallet' shelf has added a new
and ever changing creative dimension 

to what was a bare and bumpy wall.

I have finally given up finished decorating the hallway

(all three levels!)

The colour battleship grey misted hills from dulux, other paints are available.

 This photo is our old house and the lady was Mr Fetes Great Grandmother plus dog.

Have a lovely weekend and wrap up warm it's getting colder at last?

xxx

stitch n bitch or pain stops play (again)

Well I've started so I'll finish!

Appliqueing that is: my flowering snowball to the polka dot border.

Why is it that I cannot seem to make something that is regular and easy?

I swear my next quilt will be plain old squares.

I am not advocating this technique,

I just want to keep the border whole,

and this seemed the easiest way?

Remember I reported a bad wrist, 

well I have worked out that it's actually my shoulder causing the problems.

Falling off my bike is not so funny now...

...where is the cod liver oil?

I'm trying to do a little at a time...

...and that's not an easy thing for the chief creator here at selfsewn headquarters!!

*don't forget to click on the flowering snowball label for progress on this quilt.

amendment: currently on a creative rest
due to pain.
Now I'm thinking it could have been my fall on the beach in Devon.
I may be having a trip to a chiropractor.
Either way it sucks....I must stop falling!

hot cakes

Roll up roll up!!

*

Not only have I been a creative advisor and part window dresser for my friend Rachel

whilst she was setting up her new business Rosie Lea Tea House and Bakery

in Brockenhurst in the New Forest.

I am now selling my wares in the tea shop!!!!

The gingerbread men are selling like hot cakes!

Rachel has kindly set up an area to sell local handmade products.

Recognise anything?

I knew there was a reason for my rsi!

gingerbread and crochet bunting
now sold

If you are local to the area then do pop along,

you will be treated to delicious homecooked cakes and a choice of loose teas,

all served in lovely vintage china with proper teacups!

Rachel also runs her events and wedding catering business from the premises,

including the baking of bespoke cakes, gluten free etc..

This the first time I have sold anything in an actual real life shop!!

Watch this space for some exciting window changes,

and maybe even selfsewn online!

*need some sweet looking labels for your crafty products?
  selfsewn tags and business cards produced here..just drop me an email.