Saturday, May 9, 2009

Swap and giveaway

I'm a sucker for a good swap, and this one sounds like fun. I've just signed up for Maree's paper bag swap - there's still time to join. Check it out on Maree's blog - http://paperbagswap2009.blogspot.com
She does come up with some great ideas!
And I've entered Robyn's giveaway; lots of lovely things (hopefully with my name on them!) at http://daisyquilts.blogspot.com
Not handmade - although having swapped with Robyn for Christmas last year I know she's a generous soul whose work is beautiful - just delightful to have.
Good luck!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Time flies

I can't believe how quickly the year is disappearing, or how long it has been since my last post. What have I been up to? Mainly busy at work and home, the usual stuff. Mind you, although I haven't posted, I have done a lot of lurking, so have kept up with all the happenings in bloggersville.
And I have been crafting, although most of it is for others. Despite my resolution (well, aren't they made to be broken??) not to do much swapping this year, I am doing Mrs Martins Christmas in July swap and just couldn't resist the FRIENDS swap organised by sewprimkhris. And although I haven't yet got my teeth into any of the table runners, bags, wall hangings or cushion covers on my long list of things I want to make, or indeed any of the patterns I bought at the 2 quilt shows I have been to this year, I have at least done some stitchery just for me.
One of my projects is a gorgeous bird and heart design stitched on the front of a little drawstring bag I will use for hankies. The pattern is from Rosalie Quinlan's book Gift; the design is stitched in variegated thread in coffee and cream shades on a background of rose-patterned damask fabric. It will be gorgeous when it's finished (she says modestly).
Last year I was lucky enough to win a redwork stitchery pattern called "Amalie Rouge", by Catherine Baynes of Willow Valley Store. The pattern comes with an iron-on transfer - yay! I used the same fabric as for the bag in these two little stitcheries and I am so pleased with them. No pics, though; the camera is lost somewhere in the house and if we ever see it again I will make a very colourful bag for it as the current one is pale grey and not easy to see among all the stuff on our shelves.
Our two dogs, Katie and Gus (mum and pup Cavalier King Charles Spaniels) are no doubt happy not to have their photos taken right now as they are recovering from what was to have been just a little tidy-up pre-winter clip at the pet shop and turned out to be an all-over (apart from head, ears and tail) shave. I don't know who was most horrified at the result, them or DH and me; they definitely looked rather embarrassed for a while, although to compensate they did get more cuddles than usual and spent several nights inside. Now their fur is growing back and they don't look quite so silly, thank goodness.