Happy Mail Catchup + Thankyous = long post

Hello lovely peeps … I know I haven’t been blogging regularly for some time, but if you follow you’ll know it’s because I’ve had a bit of a rough summer year with my health.

However, that’s no excuse for bad manners, and I have some serious thanking to do for some lovely happy mail, before I crawl back to my corner to get on with planning the new term …

First off, thanks and delight to Hadley@FlyingBlindOnARocketCycle – I won and received the prize from her giveaway way back in 1952 August …  and lookee see what wonders I received … Thank you again Hadders, it’s all just perfect!  Zips too!  (to make me face the fear, no excuses now – stay tuned! LOL)

Look at the little Melody Miller brooch and the birdy magnet!

  

How amazingly wonderful is this purse?? Forget all that “fits a chapstick and a halfpenny” crap.
This could accommodate a ferret, should the need arise … 

… or indeed 16 my-kind-of-cute* Aneela Hooey foxcubs … grubby fingerprints all mine!



* I have a distinctly bipolar relationship with ‘cute’.  My deeply supressed stiff upper Brit genes take over, I think.  That and my synaesthesia kicks in big time - it's just one of those words that tastes bad -  even typing it or saying it in my head makes me a little sick in my mouth. 

This in turn makes me wildly reinterpret 'cute' in my head to something more like this:

Anyhoo, I digress ... This was also in the haul!



Now, I know I’m a bit late to the party here, but just in case you’ve been holding back on buying this, let me tell you, Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop for Quilters is a fantastic collection of all things inspirational … I read it cover to cover when I was a-bed this summer.

 There’s a few serious must-makes in here for me, not least this wonderful Fast Forward/Rewind flying geese quilt from
<-- Tacha Bruecher


.... or this Orange Soda Pop from Katy@ ImAGingerMonkey -->

 I love the whole concept of the book and the way it builds on the amazing versatility of the geometry of quilting shapes. The instructions and whole tone of the writing are great too.

I would have loved to see some of the blocks multiplied to get a better idea of their ‘quilt appeal, but it was easy enough to close your eyes and picture it, just bein lazy ... but the blocks themselves, practical advice and the complete projects far outweigh the limitations of my noggin by a gazillion …

I don’t buy a lot of quilting books, the writing is just as important to me as the visuals and, historically, I have often been disappointed with one or t’other.  I think Shape Workshop and Hexa Go Go (another thoroughbred from the Fat Quarterly stables, so to speak) are absolute must-haves for anyone’s library.  I would definitely have bought it if I hadn’t won it. which I did. Squee! A feast for the mind as well as the eyes.  Also, as I hadn’t made it to London for the Fat Quarterly Retreat this summer, it made me feel all 'included'! Icing on the cake, Hadders!  By hook or by crook, man, I'll be there next year ...

Then, the day I got home from my hospital stay, I had such a treat waiting for me, from the most lovely Mary@ MollyFlanders – a little surprise package just to say hello!  Just look at the wrapping paper on this!  Love.  Couldn’t have timed it better, Mary!  Thank you sooo much …

wouldn’t that make great embroidery?

that pincushion’s such a beauty!

This is a rubbery silicone ‘spool’ for keeping yer headphone cord untangled!  Absolute. Genius.
It now lives in my bag - fools me every time when I have my hand sewing in there, too!


I also just got my winnings from Leona’sQuiltingAdventure’s giveaway - 2 charm packs of Dear Mr. Claus from Cosmo Cricket for Moda - nice retro colours, not too heavily saturated … Yippee! Thank you Leona!

So, thank you very very much, ladies of the Blogolopolis.  You brightened a pretty sodden summer no end!


I do have some progress to report, and some really fun stuff coming up.
Bear with me and stay tuned!  It could be to your advantage … Just sayin.

Thankful - One Gal’s Scraps are Another Gal’s Feast!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you across the pond, here in the UK and in fact anywhere in the world …

I love the idea of Thanksgiving (bar the turkey, cos it's just rank, sorry - I'm with Katy on that one). 

I think we should make more of being thankful here in the UK but we’re all a bit up our own arses - call it stiff lower lip if you will ...

Anyway ...

A couple of days ago I received a wonderful package from Aneela Hoey @ comfort stitching of some Quilt Market scraps from her new ‘A Walk In the Woods’ line (well about a ton actually) which I wasn’t going to show until way closer to its release date … but listen up guys … this is one gal who may suddenly have come under the spell of the toadstool after years of meh-ness!

Foxes? Who wouldn’t love them?  I have an almost obsessive love of 'em ...

But really, me? toadstools?  …. mmm hmmm … I think I’ve moved along apace … (I will never openly admit I love cute though, right?!)




And if that wasn’t enough … Today I came home from a tiring day at work after horrid doctor’s prodding around yesterday to what is fast becoming a tradition in the Pings household. (sorry about the lazy in-bed photo, which in no way does justice to the colours … but I’m pooped.)



… the scraps from Melody Miller’s Quilt Market table, of her new line Ruby Star Shining … just heaven. Oh Melody. Typewriters, clocks, coffee pots, flubbers? swoon and weep.

Both of these fabric lines are soft and beautifully buttery, inviting touch and love and desire to sew.

Thank you ladies.  I am truly lucky and truly thankful to have made such wonderful online friends. 

Love to you and yours, wherever they may be … n'night!

sunday sorbet

I meant to post this ages ago …  A few weeks ago lovely Lizzie from Liz'sQuilts was giving away some Perle cottons and this is what she sent me! 

Aren’t they just mouthwatering?

Thanks again Liz,

Yay! Swap Delights …

You may have noticed (I hope you have!) that I’ve been a little bit offline lately - I went to stay with some friends in Oxford and now I’ve been sucked into the swirling maelstrom of ‘start of term’ …

That, coupled with a really dodgy internet connection, has meant that it’s been almost impossible to get online long enough to post anything!

I treated myself to sweet peas at the station.  my house is singing with their scent.

So, straight to business … this post is all about the yumminess I received in the post:

This fantastic package in the Doll Quilt Swap, from Samantha all the way across the oceans in Bellingham, WA.

It came in a Flintstones Pebbles cereal box - you can just see it in the top left corner - such great colours!  I love getting a little bit of packaging from another country.  It has its own little story to tell.  (Or one for me to completely invent, at any rate.)






Tucked in were some pretty scrummy Girl Scout cookies, some little transfers and the most lovely letter …


But really we should be looking at the quilt - the detail is wonderful, although my photos just can’t catch the butterfly quilting - you’ll just have to imagine it.














‘Butterfly Queen’ - That’s me :)





I was so excited  that as soon as I saw there was a letter I decided to stop and savour the whole unwrapping, reading thing - so I went and made myself a lovely cup of coffee, cracked open the Girl Scout biscuits and sat in the sun to read my lovely letter. 






Thank you Samantha! Really. Thank you. 

The quilt has a perfect new home disguising that boring flat top of my scanner, which is right next to my desk.  So, I get to gaze at it while I’m working.  Perfect!

In other swap news - My Make Mine Modern Swap  parcel arrived for TinyHouse!  I was getting really worried as I posted it weeks ago …  but it did all make it … phew!




I made my first ever potholder for this swap - that was good fun - I even used Insulbrite inside so it’s heat proof.  Get me, eh?

As it was my first real applique attempt I was a bit iffy about my sewing, but seeing it photographed safely at its destination I feel much better about the finished items.

So, there’s a little roundup of swappy news … I’ve got lots of other stuff to tell you, just no time to sit and tell it! Maybe tomorrow will be better …

…  now to try uploading with my mobile dongle, perched in the dying sun on the top step of my flat - all to catch one measly bar of signal !

Technology.  Gotta Love it.

Farewell Blogtoberfest – it’s Been a Blast! {Blogtoberfest #31}

So, 31 days of frantic blank page paranoia later, eh? 

I think I missed about 3 posts, but then Blogtoberfest crash-landed into the first few weeks of a very busy term, so I think I managed quite well. Yada Yada Yada

I have had such an amazing time that I thought I’d pick 10 (random and in no particular order!)  blogs that I first visited this month to share:

(if I missed you out this time round, please don't fret - I'm going to do this regularly)

(Don’t forget you can enter my final Blogtoberfest giveaway here until 7th Nov!)

Chantal Vincent Art	http://chantalvincentart.blogspot.com/ I love Chantal's funky prints and her avatar!  I collect ceramic cicadas and have one by my front door, so I feel we bonded without even knowing!
Chunky Chooky	http://www.chunkychooky.blogspot.com/ Cath has a great blog, balancing life, craft, kids and humour – we secretly bonded over one of her favourite books – The Art of Looking Sideways – one of mine too!  I loved the meme she did as we all started to run out of steam!
The Lost Crafter	http://thelostcrafter.blogspot.com/ Sarah has some really gorgeous vintage style there – both thrifted and handmade – fab – especially the vintage knitting – we also share a love of beetroot, so I’m very squeaky about the beetroot hummus recipe
Gertie’s Blog for Better Sewing	http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/ Sarah’s blog led me to Gertie’s – her first inspiration was to sew all 14 vintage styles from Vogue’s New Book for Better sewing – but there’s much much more – including some really fine tutorials
Owlet Designs	http://owlet-designs.blogspot.com/ What a lovely blog!  Great craftyness, super kids clothes, and a real feeling for family life.  Hard to pick a favourite post but I’m plumping for the rhubarb and lemon cake for the combination of lovely photography and stonkingly good recipe!
One Flew Over	http://www.oneflewover-oneflewover.com/ What this lady can do with solid colours and beautiful quilting just amazes me – every piece is so tranquil and I want them all!  But her use of pattern is fantastic too – just look at Gerald!
Bellgirl	http://bellgirl.com.au/ Annabel grows veg, sews, has kids and does all with a real zest for life.  I love her blog and we bonded over sewing nerdy platonic solids!    Check out her dodecahedron bowling ball with these cute owls!
Create for Life	http://larageach.blogspot.com/ Larissa celebrates nature and sewing with such intelligence and wit – I was lucky enough to win her giveaway for one of her spirit dolls too!
I speak Melsh	http://ispeakmelsh.blogspot.com/ I love Mel’s blog for her photography, her crafting and her sense of humour – take a look at the interview and the interview!
It’s All About the Fabric	http://itsallaboutthefabric.blogspot.com/ Emma’s blog is choc full of fantastic fabric addict drooling, great crafting and a fab vibe. She had such a fun giveaway (even though I didn’t win!) but the guessing was hysterical!

Not all these bloggers were necessarily part of Blogtoberfest, but if not, they left comments on those that were.  I visited about 200 Blogtoberfest blogs this month but maybe just as many again from comments …

I love the serendipity of comments sections – do you? How do you find new people to visit?  Do you feel that your Reader is out of control?! – tell all!

and in case you had amnesia while scrolling  … you can enter my final Pay it Forward Blogtoberfest giveaway here!