Don't Like To Rush Things

Well it's only taken me about 5 years to get around to making this bag. First I got the remnant of white material from fabric warehouse 5 years ago and then on my first trip to Sewing for Pleasure at the NEC I fell in love with this huge cerise pink button. I cant tell you how many times I looked at that button in my button tin but couldn't bring myself to use it but a couple of nights ago I thought that's it, I can't keep keeping all this lovely stash just to look at, it defeats the object, so out came the scissors and within a couple of hours I had a new beach bag (I did think of selling it on Folksy but just couldn't part with it). We're off to Spain again in a couple of weeks so I will use it then.

Yesterday I popped to one of my favourite fabric shops, House of Sanderson, in Brierley Hill, they sell the most gorgeous curtain fabric, and a small selection of dress fabric at the best prices I have ever seen, remnants are just £1 per metre. Well I couldn't resist, I spent under £10 and look what I got. The green floral is my favourite, (feel another bag coming on!) and the one with the fruit on. I could have brought more but had to resist, the ceiling will fall down with the weight of all the material I've got up there waiting to use.

This Is What I Have Been Up To

Thought I'd show you a few of the things I have made over the last few weeks but just haven't blogged about. I want to try and use up as much of my stash as possible, It's taking over the house! I have had a few new books and thought I would try out a few items from them. Had a go at the No Cash Wallet from Bend the Rules Sewing and the Artsy Clutch. They were very easy to sew and I loved the finished result. Got a few more projects cut out ready from this book.










The leopard print bag is the same pattern as I used before for the Rosy Bag. The material was left over from another fancy dress project of Sophie's. I made the make up bag and camera case to match.


Camera case and make up bag

I love this make up bag pattern it goes together very quickly, even though there is a zip to put in. The Spanish ladies fabric was a piece I had left over from a beach bag I made for myself a few years ago.

This chicken was made from a really easy pattern in Prima magazine. He looks great sat on the window sill. If I make any more I think I will put some dried lavender in when I stuff it.

No cash wallet

Artsy Clutch

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Oh my God! Where has the time gone to? Can't believe it's been so long since my last post. Think it may have something to do with the weather being so nice (except this weekend!). Since the last time you heard from me Sophie has turned 18. No more little kiddies in the jojo household! We were so lucky with the weather for her barbecue, last Saturday was gorgeous wasn't it? Her friends came to ours first for a barbie and then they off partying in Birmingham dressed in fancy dress with the theme being Moulin Rouge. We managed to make ours our self as they were quite expensive to buy on ebay. They all looked so lovely, how I wished I was 18 again and had the figures they have got.

Sophie & Laura



Have been busy making a few things for my swop partner Dolly Dollop, it's my first ever swap and I'm a bit nervous, have I got enough, are they ok? Got half the things off my list made so far, just waiting for more fabric to be delivered.

My First Swap

I read about Rachel's swap she is hosting on Moogsmoms blog and thought I'd give it a go. If you'd like to take part hop over here and have a look. The more the merrier.

Look What You Can Do When the Footy's On!

Mom in Laws Birthday Present

Two nights of football on tv so Mr Jojo was kept amused, so was I, at the sewing machine. Before we went away I had cut out lots of things I wanted to try so with a couple of hours to spare I decided to tackle them. I was quite pleased with the outcome, hope you like them too.

I wanted to try putting a zip in a bag so thought this make up bag made out of Cath Kidston fabric would be a good one to start with. I was quite surprised how easy it went together, perhaps this was beginners luck!

Next was a fabric rose. I used a scrap of polka dot material and can't believe how much it looks like a rose! Quite good for me.



Cupcake sleeping mask. I can count cakes instead of sheep!

I bought some strawberry essential oil of ebay and decided to make this to use it on. I have had it on table in the kitchen all day today and it smelt gorgeous. Good enough to eat.

I think this bag looks very summery, it's lined with a blue green polka dot. Even Sophie like this!

I feel much better now that all the bits I had cut out are sewn up. Now I need to make a few items for my Folksy shop. Perhaps I'll get round to this when the cup final is on tv!

I'm Still Here!

I know it's been a while since my last post but I just don't seem to have been in the writing mood. Lots as been going on at home and we have also been over to Spain for a few days. W e thought that was going to be a holiday but we worked harder than if we were at home. We had tiles blew off the roof, gate fallen off, and weeds as tall as me, oh and a palm tree that had gone wild. We also had to do a bit of painting which is not an easy job in the heat! Once all this was complete we decided to put the Villa up for sale, along with the hundreds of other properties! We have had it for 5 years now but seem to use it less and less.

Before we went away I did manage to do quite a bit of sewing, mostly clothes for myself but as usual I have no photos to show you yet. I need to get the machine out again as my Folksy shop is looking a little empty, had a couple of sales whilst we were away.

Jacko had to go to the hospital on Monday evening to have some images taken of the front of his eye to see if he had got Keratoconus, they were able to diagnose it there then. We now have to wait to see if it can be treated by the use of a hard contact lens or a cornea implant. I hope it will be the contact lens.

New Bag, New Award

Last week I was given this lovely award by Amy. Do have a look at Amy's blog as she writes some very interesting posts, especially about here how she copes with her illness.

Here are the rules:

Link to the giver – link to the ones you give to, and give them to at least seven bloggers. Notify them of the award.I am going to give this award to...

Funkymonkey

Country Cottage Chic

Ramblings of an Every day Mom

KitschenSink

Cakes make the World A Better Place

Sykesssillysite

Indigo Blue

I love reading all the above blogs and having a peep at what they are making.

On the making front I have managed to make myself a bag out of Micheal miller fabric , 'Sundaes', which I love. I thought this bag would go with my jeans and it's handle is just big enough to pop on my shoulder out of the way. I got the pattern for it from here its a great blog full of lovely handmade items.

I have made another two sales in my Folksy shop last week so it is beginning to look a bit empty think it will be a while before I get any more items in there as I want to do some dress making for myself, we go away in a couple of weeks time and even though I have probably got enough clothes to take with me I still like to have a few new items to wear. Think this comes from when we were kids and Mom used to get us new clothes for our holidays and then the next lot of new clothes you got were at Christmas, not like our kids now who have things all the time.

Well I'm off to do some housework, how boring, I'd rather be sewing.