Christmas Gift Ideas to sew - a fabric manicure box

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Christmas Gift Ideas to sew - a fabric manicure box

I love this time of year, thinking about Christmas gifts and planning what to make. I love to put together something small and handmade for all the girls in our family and thought it would be fun to post some ideas up on the journal. Early last year, I did a post about how to make a little fabric box. It can be used for whatever you like really, but in our case it has become a permanent fixture on the kitchen island where it looks after our nail polish and manicure tools. It has been a real hit. Friends and family alike sit around pottering with the pretty colours and painting their nails and for me, often in the early morning hours I like to sit by the Aga, with a candle and a book and do a ‘home manicure’. Our daughter is starting her first proper job in London next week and in packing up and sorting things out, she asked me for a nail box to take away with her. I was quite surprised but realised just how useful it has been. I made her a pretty one with Rifle Paper co. ‘Wonderland’ fabric and bought her a few nice bits and bobs to go in it. She loves it and we both said what a great idea it was for a Christmas gift, so I revisited it, revamped it and wrote a pdf tutorial.

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Sweet Escape quilt along

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Sweet Escape quilt along

I don’t often join in ‘quilt alongs’, in fact I have only ever once before participated in this sort of social media ‘coming together’ kind of idea and that was at least 5 years ago. Instagram, for all the criticism hurled at it - if used ‘nicely’ can be so much fun and when I saw that Camille Roskelley was hosting a quilt along for a log cabin style pattern called ‘Sweet Escape’ I was smitten. Perhaps as well it had something to do with the fact that I am revamping one of the bedrooms in our house and a new quilt for the bed was a good idea. The colour scheme in there will be navy and yellow and white so I rummaged in my stash and ….oh what I surprise….I had enough fabric to make a start.

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A week in Lisbon - the patchwork city

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A week in Lisbon - the patchwork city

It was a late decision to go….but it was a great one. Lisbon is a magical coastal city infused with influences from all corners of the world. With an epic history that includes, a moorish invasion, an earthquake, seafaring adventurers and colonial treasures this city is a patchwork of many cultures and flavours. It is absolutely charming and for a city break it proved surprisingly relaxing. Here are just a few of the highlights from our trip.

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Abigail's Orchard - a tribute quilt and a story (a revisit)

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Abigail's Orchard - a tribute quilt and a story (a revisit)

This quilt though, is one of my most prized possessions, a family heirloom and perhaps one of the most challenging quilts I have ever undertaken. It is made entirely on a domestic sewing machine and by hand and although I have added in a few new photos and text, it is a difficult quilt to appreciate in photographs - somehow when you can run your fingers over the tactile surface it sweeps you back to another time… the time of conquering heroes and heroines and Abigail Adams…..

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Adventures of a novice dressmaker - The Peppermint Peplum top

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Adventures of a novice dressmaker - The Peppermint Peplum top

So this is the first dress making pattern I have ever downloaded. It’s clever, the way it works - the software somehow enables you to find the layer for your size and just print that. It took me a little while to suss it out, but once I had it all printed I fixed it together like a jigsaw puzzle. At this point, I was already thinking that I should probably use some of my Swedish pattern paper to make a copy … if it turns out well.

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Making a Patchwork Bird Pond

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Making a Patchwork Bird Pond

Around Easter time, our youngest son was home from London for a couple of days and it so happened that it was warm and sunny weather. He was lying on the grass in the middle of the garden while the rest of us were sitting on the terrace with our mid morning tea. All of a sudden he jumped up and declared ‘we should have a pond!’ and within 5 mins, he, along with my husband, had got the spades out of the garage and started digging.

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Top tips for exhibiting at a quilt show

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Top tips for exhibiting at a quilt show

Have you got your breath back after the ‘Festival of Quilts’ ? It was so wonderful to meet everyone and thank you to all those who stopped by and chatted, browsed and shopped on Ruby’s Stand. I thought the show was amazing this year and I thought it might be fun to write a little post about what it is like to be on the other side of a stand. This was my second year at the NEC and I learn so much every time I do one of these shows. It is about so many things…..transport and logistics, display and stock, technology and social media, marketing and selling skills and being able to stand on your feet all day for 4 full days.

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Christian Dior Exhibition at the V&A

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Christian Dior Exhibition at the V&A

Earlier this week I was lucky enough to go with my daughter to the Christian Dior exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. All I can say is that it is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Not only is it way larger than I was expecting, it is presented in a such magical way that carries you away into the very special world of couture clothing.

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Scrappy Quilts - a responsible choice

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Scrappy Quilts - a responsible choice

I’ve never really been one for scrappy quilts, which is surprising really and a little unimpressive when you look at my scrap basket which is overflowing with fabric bits just perfect for such projects. However, when I first saw this quilt on instagram, I knew it was a ‘make’ for me.

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Knitting in the round - a whole new learning curve

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Knitting in the round - a whole new learning curve

One of the real joys of platforms like Instagram is that you can find all sorts of inspiration for making things. I am not a great knitter, but I love hand knitted things and love seeing wonderful images on the internet that make me want to rush out and buy gorgeous organic yarn and set my needles clicking. A long while ago, I used to knit a few things for my kids but these days they are not interested and sewing has taken over much of my time. However, I am always totally inspired by the fabulous ‘Loop of London’s’ daily posts and decided to be brave and try the new way of knitting in the round. It was easy to select a pattern - so many delicious choices out there and amazing blogs by the likes of ‘a verb for keeping warm’ and ‘Quince and Co’. This ‘Annabel’ cardigan seemed like a good choice for a rusty knitter with new techniques to learn.

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A trip to the Isle of Wight

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A trip to the Isle of Wight

There is something so deliciously Enid Blyton about going on holiday to an island….you just know it’s going to be full of adventures. We have just got back from the most glorious week on the Isle of Wight. I know we were exceptionally lucky with the weather, but honestly…. it is the most charming island. There is a lot to do and see, fabulous sandy beaches and endless cream teas.

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