Sunday 4 March 2012

mini fini

Hey readers in case you missed my last announcement
I am now blogging here
I'd love to catch up with you all!
Come and have a look at my latest quilt.

Monday 20 February 2012

a tale of two blogs...

..summerfete..selfsewn..
 I've had four wonderful years blogging here at summerfete..
 but I've evolved..
 Last year I started calling myself selfsewn,
which refers to my love of sewing but with a nod to gardening.
My reason for changing is mainly to stop the confusion,
especially when selling my wares or featuring on blogs.
There is never a good time to change blogs,
but as my follower list grows I feel I need to bite the bullet.
 Last week I made a foolish attempt at changing my blog url...
all was fine until I checked out my links, labels, tutorials and followers,
to my horror they were showing 
'this blog does not exsist'
Therefore I am leaving summerfete in it's original state,
with my tutorials redirected to my new blog.
 It is with a trembling bottom lip that I leave you my last picture on summerfete.
If you would like to find out what my latest project looks like from the front,
please hop on over to selfsewn
I would like to thank all whom have commented and made friends with me
whilst here at summerfete, I've loved every minute!
To my 423 followers I love you all and
I would really love to keep you!
Please come and visit me 
it's going to be lonely without you.

ps. If I make it to 100 followers before March 
one lucky person will receive a special gift
made by yours truly xxx
edit:
Wow already up to 47 followers,
better get my needle and thread out!!

Tuesday 14 February 2012


 have I told you lately that...


ps. this morning I tried to change my blog url.
I got myself in such a mess I've changed it all back phew!
I shall be starting a fresh blog soon....

Thursday 9 February 2012

a quilt in a bag...and some blog lovin

 Not just any old bag however..
 Recognise the red perle hand stitching?
Yep it's a MollyFlanders original.
And it's just perfect for housing my latest patches.
Plus it's made from fabric by Melody Miller,
swooning now..somebody catch me!
 My husband thinks we are having an affair...
he is right of course..
 it's just a little patchwork love affair!
with a lot of fabric eye candy!
Mary rocks if you haven't already popped over,
go there now!
You will find the most awesome star roses.
Thank you MM
I shall be paying this suprise gifting forward for sure!


Someone else who knows me well
is Claire Jain @ sewing over pins (great name)
Claire has also been taking part in my star rose block party,
and has just written the post of all posts 
about moi!!
It's quite a funny read and she has captured me perfectly
although with a little more eloquence!
Do take a look.
I think she's one to watch!

I want to thank you for all your kind wishes regarding my shoulder.
It's still an issue,
but one I'm trying to cope with.
I am sewing far less, which is hard when you have an addiction.
So what am I doing making another quilt, you ask?
It's okay it's a mini.
I'm taking part in the modern mini challenge over @ Ellison Lane Quilts
And yes it's paper piecing again...
I really need to get machining!

Monday 6 February 2012

rose star link party


jenny makes stuff, klynq, yarn wrap, tree casiano 
charm about you, molly flanders, shadrach, jerri currl
jerri currl, sew kalico, woodcut55, sunni love affair  
charm about you, fiona poppy, woodcut55, woodcut55


The rose star block party is still going strong..
though I do feel a bit like the pied piper(thanks mary)
leading you all into a cave of doom..
...at least you wont be bored...
someone remember a candle!
now dont forget to share a picture of your latest rose star and link to your blog.

 


Friday 3 February 2012

baby it's proper cold outside

 Okay so no snow apart from the quilt...
but my god is it cold today.
 I had visions of beautiful sunlit quilt flapping as per norm.
This will have to do...it's too cold..did I mention that?
Back inside for now.
After much head scratching I came to the conclusion that my thoughts on yellow and grey had changed. The tones of grey are actually more on the green side, so I've gone for a turquoise palette
to keep it clean and crisp.
It reminds me of driftwood and the sea
(well in my head it does!)
I'm thinking of a turquoise back and binding
with turquoise and maybe a little red or rust hand quilting.

I'm off to make some butternut squash soup
before venturing out with a friend and our cameras.

Have a great weekend.
Wrap up warm...it's taters.

Wednesday 1 February 2012

small wonders...

 ..or one day at a time.. 
 ..daydream believers..
All is calm all is bright.

There has been a shift in my sewing of late.
Just an hour or two a week.
I am seeing an osteopath.
(for pain not for drinks)
 Have you ever timed how long you sew?
Me neither.
Have you ever thought about the bad habits of sewing?
(and blogging)
Me neither.
No more lap topping for me, just table topping.
No more resting my head to one side whilst stitching.
And no more stitching marathons.
Sorry if it's a little melancholy
There is a dove pining for its dead mate in my garden,
as I am pining for my beloved patchwork...


So it's quality rather than quantity for now at least.

Have I told you lately that I love you?
xxx

Off to bury the feathered one.. second thoughts..it's too cold!

Tuesday 31 January 2012

very cheery

 I think my 'spring around the corner' statement was a little premature!
Thought I'd spread some cheer with a little colour.
xx

Friday 27 January 2012

keep on the sunnyside


Then there were two!
This idea was totally stolen from Posy,
I'm not a fan of plagerism, but to be fair Posy herself got the idea from 
Caroline Zoob.
I am like Jim Carey in liar liar.
I cannot lie!
I do believe in showing your working out,
which is why I always link back if possible.
I'm so sick of reading new blogs who have a million devotees and not an ounce of originality.
Ooh getting off my soap box!
Let me distract with some pretty vintage hexagons.


 I've finally got round to sewing a back onto this gorgeous vintage piece
thats been floating around the house.
I love this mash up of colours (obvious) 
the fabrics are just lovely.
 Do you buy patchwork?
I made these with the mind to sell them.
238 squares each!!
Insane!
They remain patchwork pieces, should I make them into curtains?
 hope you can all keep on the sunnyside this weekend...
I think spring is just round the corner.
Clare xxx

Tuesday 24 January 2012

resolved to sew 2012

 I may well have left this to the last minute,
but it was always there
filed away in my to do head.
So here is my 2012 resolution post for 
who has brought together such a fabulous group of sponsors for her amazing giveaway.
 My first resolution is well on its way to being realised.
My word for 2012 is connect.
I'm not good at joining things,
but it seems I am good at hosting a sewing party
(see sidebar).
What a great way of meeting like minded friends,
so more connecting for sure in 2012
The second is to finish what I've started,
and if it's not right bin it!!
 My third is to actually get my online shop up and running
like I've threatened to many times.
This also includes to make less fiddly things!

My last resolution is to buy less ugly fabric online.
Therefore my choice of prizes to win would be from 
fancymoon.
They are new suppliers to me,
I expect I will be a customer this year,
even if I don't win!

Monday 23 January 2012

rose starlets update


 life under quilts, carefreegorgeous, dukesayssewwhat, fionapoppy
jennymakesstuff, yummylavender, shadrach, sewkalico
dukesayssewwhat, treecasiano, sewliz, charmaboutyou,
mollyflanders, shadrach, sewkalico, klynq.

Happy Monday everyone!!
I just had to share with you the latest creations from the rose star block party.
I am blown away by their beauty..each one such a gem.
I love this explosion into paperpiecing, I really was on my own for quite sometime
when I made my first paperpieced star quilt in 2009

It's never to late to join the group.
We now have 125 members!!

Friday 20 January 2012

how's it hanging?

Yesterday I finally got round to hanging my 
beautiful quilt from Mary@ Molly Flanders.
Now this is something new to me,
as usual my attempt was somewhat adhoc.
If you want to see how it should be done please hop over to
Stitched in color who yesterday also posted a great how to!
If you prefer to wing it with whatever you have 
stick with me!
 The idea is to make tubes of fabric with which to hold a piece of dowel.
Ever the corner cutter, I struck on this old apron that I'd been chopping up.
The ties made perfect tubes for the dowel.
That's one step down.
Now all I had to do was hand stitch the three tubes to the back of the quilt.
I chose three tubes as this seemed to hold the quilt straighter.
I did feel strange sewing my stitches on to Mary's quilt,
I like how my addition is so me!!
 After cutting my dowel with a saw on the kitchen work surface,
I placed it through the stitched tubes.
Next step bang two nails in the wall,
using the hammer as a measuring implement.
Spirit level?  I have eyes.
So there we have it.
One beautiful quilt hung.
How can I possibly go wrong now that Mary has my back!
In case you didn't know I'm a big lover of independence.
Indie music, indie movies and indie quilters!
Are you an indie girl like me?

Thursday 19 January 2012

thursday therapy


Don't ever assume that sewing squares is a simple task.
she soldiers on
with a shoulder that's wrong..

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Monday 16 January 2012

procrastinating already

procrastinating, putting things off, in a creative hiatus, sewing block, sore back, losing my mojo.
My resolution this year,
when I feel one or all of the above,
is to cut scrappy squares!

I'm in a state of decluttering my doss hole work room.
So being ruthless with my scrapage is partly useful part creative.
I still have far too much stuff....
but I'm getting there.
And now I have my new radio for company.
So I can at least rock out with planet rock or ken bruce!!
ps. off to the osteopath tomorrow to find out the correct term for my bad sewing shoulder.