A Meg-centric update

I'm still snowed under with work, both in my job and studying, and also trying to plan my Brownies' birthday party for Brown Owl's 50th birthday next Friday. Brown Owl is away this Friday so me and the Brownies will be crafting up a storm making cards and decorations for the celebrations next week.

I have been finishing off several cardigans for Meg, there are pieces to be seamed and buttons to be sewn on. I will blog them soon, but I need to remember to charge my camera (after remembering where I have put the camera. And the charger).

In the absence of crafting time, I have been doing crafty shopping, both online and in the 'real world'. More on that, too, when the camera is back in action.

For now, though, some pics of Meg who is quite the sweetest and most delightful baby I've ever met. But then again, I may be just a little biased.

I'd rather be quilting

I am, however, working on an essay that needs to be submitted at uni on Wednesday. 3000 words and I've only just started. I know that I can write that much quite quickly if I know what I'm talking about, but I feel like I just don't know what I'm talking about at the moment. I hate feeling like this.

For Jen's new bairn, due late July

For Jen's wee girl Isabella, soon to be a big sister

I'm looking forward to handing in my final piece of coursework on 31st July so I can work on these quilts. They won't be finished in time for the arrival of Jen's new baby, but hopefully won't be too, too late. The tops are pieced, they both need a wide grey border adding, then they can be quilted and bound.

You might remember I was just making the first quilt for Jen's new bairn. Well, she left a comment saying she wished someone had made Izzy a quilt when she was born. How could I only make one quilt after a comment like that?!

Right, I'd better get back to the essay and try to get rid of my case of writer's block.

Hey, Purlpower, you were right...I DO sew!

I managed to plan my recent trip to Newcastle to catch up with knitting friends to coincide with Purlpwer's visit. While we were knitting in the pub on Tuesday night, we got onto the subject on sewing. 'Oh no, I don't sew', I said. 'Yes, you do' said Purlpower. 'No, no, I just make quilts and bags and things, that isn't sewing'. For some reason, because I haven't sewn anything from the kind of pattern where you buy a pattern, cut out the pieces and follow instructions to make a garment, I had got it into my head that 'I don't sew'. Which is a bit ridiculous. I mean, I often knit without a pattern, but I still consider it knitting!

This latest project makes me feel like I really can sew. It isn't from a shop bought pattern, I designed it myself, but that makes me even more happy than if it was made from a bought pattern. I feel like I really accomplished something with this bag, which has nice features like this button and loop closure.And 5 rows of top-stitching to secure the handles and the fabric outer to the lining. I love the contrasting stitching. The inside of the handles is a co-ordinating orange, and they are folded and stitched in the centre so they are a comfortable width for carrying. There is a layer of heavyweight sew-in interfacing sandwiched between the lining and the outside as well, which makes the bag feel nice and sturdy.

Not only does this bag make me realise I can sew, it also made me realise how much I like designing sewing projects. I've just been reading an interesting post about publishing patterns over at Craft Apple's blog, which made interesting reading. While I'd love to design and publish patterns, I think that's a long, long way off yet!

The leaf fabric and orange handle lining are from the Moda 'Fall Back in Time' range, bought at The City Quilter in New York a couple of years ago. The bird fabric is by Joel Dewberry for Rowan/Westminster Fibers and was bought at Liberty in London a couple of weeks ago.

Can you tell this project has made me happy?!