Ditzy prints updated

Thinking about how to start a quilt.. maybe it will turn out like what's in my head, which looks a bit like this:

hmm, what does this say about the inside of my head, I wonder? I can't think in neat diagrams, but as Picasso said 'if you know exactly what you are going to do, what would be the point of doing it?'.

I have been given lots of old fashioned small print fabric (circa 1970?). Not the style I would normally choose, and therefore a challenge.

So I have picked out all the black and dark colours and I'm planning to add bits of bright modern prints...

Can't wait to see where it will lead me!

Still waiting for a brighter day to take a 'finished' picture of the last quilt- maybe tomorrow?

Nearly finished...

At last I have finished the quilt that I was hoping to have ready for the Christmas pop-up shop! Life seemed to get in the way somehow..

So I have been sandwiching:

quilting:

... and binding:

Maybe a miracle will happen and the rain will stop tomorrow, and there will be enough light for a photo of the finished article!

wordless wednesday

inspiring colours

a soggy christmas and a happy new year

turquoise, taupe, blue, green, pink

Today we took my newly finished messenger bag for a test run at the seaside:

Just think, we could have been fighting the crowds, doing Christmas shopping... instead we were filling ourselves with beautiful colours:

and watching flocks of starlings and geese doing their aerial ballet, whilst drinking mugs of tea in the beach cafe.

a lovely way to begin Christmas.

One of the best bits of this bag are the natty inside pockets! Here it is inside out. The smallest 'hip pocket' is just right for a phone, and the zipped one on the left is made from the fly. Very satisfying working out how to re-use everything.

the festive shop

The creative community that is Handy and Divine had a great week at our Christmas pop up shop last week. The Upholstery Shop in Midhurst kindly let us into their shop, and even provided a beautiful Santa's sleigh for the window.

... its looks as though Santa left his hat behind! 

There were lots of lovely things to choose from:

bags, decorations, wallets, lavender bags,

and lots of things for stocking fillers, and all locally hand made.

I just love these mice, and they are sold in aid of the charity Mind.

and how could anyone resist the sock monkeys?

we will be popping up again at Easter!

booty

I think I could easily get addicted to indoor car boot sales. What a civilised idea- no standing around in a cold muddy field for a start, and it seems to be really difficult to buy anything for more than 50p!

I went to one last Saturday with a like-minded friend and bought a tiny 'present from Bognor' mug (50p)

..which is the brother to the splendid 'present from Southend' teacup I already have:

I think this one is really old- I can imagine a skilful Victorian Hoopla thrower winning it at a fair..

Also a delicate transparent teacup decorated with a lovely camp Chinese man (£1)

Probably even older- the lady on the stall said 1820's (and who am I to argue?)

a vintage pyrex casserole- my special weakness (50p)

and two little willow pattern cups and saucers (50p the lot) and a 1950's tablecloth ('Oh if you like it, Love, you can have it for nothing')!

Mr P, however is unimpressed. He thinks my friend and I should set up our own stall at the next sale and 'get rid of some of the junk we already have'! Actually we might do just that......?