Bad blogger

Well I have been a very bad blogger! It's amazing how time flies, we all think I'll do it tomorrow and then before you know it tomorrow becomes next week, next month, next year argh!!

Since my last post I have had yet another grandchild, the adorable Ailsa who actually turned 1 on 14 November (yes over a year since last blog so bad bad blogger).

I have drifted away from blogging over the past couple of years I guess favoring the instant access/ response of Facebook and its by pure fluke that I'm here today. My Ipad is up in the bedroom where hubby sleeps and woe betide anyone who wakes him, so I'm on the old laptop! I thought whilst waiting for him to stir I would do a quick online food shop and upon opening up my internet there on the fav bar is the link to "my blog"! I'd forgotten how much I love it, my own page just for me and you! No random interruptions from ads or posts from vague acquaintances like on facebook, just us.

I'm not one for resolutions but if I make one for this coming year it is to try and blog more, after all I only need to blog twice next year and I'll have achieved it lol. I hope life has been good to you all over the past year and that the next year is even better. I am now away to catch up on all your blogs and see what i've been missing out on.

See you all soon and Happy New Year 

Px 

Ok so I haven't been round much! Its been a busy year what with work, family and all the usual. Then of course there was grandchild number 4s arrival.

He's now 4 months and granchild number 5 due in another couple of months (different daughter lol).

Then there was the commonwealth games, four weeks of long hours but loads of fun.

Met loads of amazing people and would highly recommend the experience to everyone!

So basically just life but why I'm posting is because what has happened to blogger? I know its been awhile since I last looked at it (nearly a year?) but now I can't find all my watched blogs and I used to have hundreds. So how am I supposed to see you all??

Any ideas? or am I just being incredibly blonde and missing the obvious?

LOL Ok just gone back into my dashboard and you've all appeared! Will spend the next week catching up on what you've all been up to while I was gone.

Scrap Mat Sunday!!

Well the weather outside is disgusting, grey, wet and blowing a gale so there's nothing for it but a bit of sewing!!

Today I'm going to share how to make a scrap mat using up some of those scraps.

You'll need scraps of fabric

Something to add padding to your mat, you could use synthetic wadding, batting but my favourite is old blankets, I bought a couple of large wool blankets in the charity shop and at £3 ea you get a lot for your money plus your recycling and it's natural fibers! Oh and you'll need some bias binding or a long off cut.

Well I have heaps of blanket circles left over from making  wreath last Christmas so I'm going to make a round mat. I'm not going to give any sizes for this project as you can make them as big or small as you like.

First put your center piece in the middle, you are now going to work round it  a bit like a random log cabin design. Lay you first strip face down and sew along bottom edge. Remember you are working outwards.

Now fold your first stitched strip out and press in place, you will find its much easier and tidier if you iron as you go along.

You are now going to continue working round, stitching

and ironing as you go. Don't worry if pieces are odd shapes you can trim excess off

Just keep going round and round, ensure that each strip you add is long enough to reach the end of the fabric your covering and remember your working out so seams are on the outside edges.

Once you've covered the whole piece of padding

You can then trim off any excess fabric (over hanging)

And your nearly there, now cut a piece of backing fabric and stitch bias around the edge to finish off

I always machine sew the bias on the front then fold over and hand stitch it on the back to have a neat finish.

And Voila one finished mat. These are fun to make as there is no right or wrong and each one is completely different. Also a great way to use up small scraps of favourite fabrics.

These are the first two I ever made, but since then have made dozens.

Now a tip if you make a mistake and find when you finish that you have a small gap or raw edge, just cut a small shape I used hearts and stitch them over the offending area! Like I said there are no right or wrongs and no one would know that you hadn't planned it like that in the first place!

You really can make these any size from coaster to table runner and the little mats make great pressies with a nice plain mug for people in the office at Christmas, something personal but very useful.

Okay that's me for today, mat made, coffee made all that's left is for me to curl up in front of the telly and watch a couple of hours of DIY SOS.

Happy Sunday (even if it is disgusting!)

Anticipation

I was planning on posting another tutorial but have been busy today at an interview. 

Back in February I applied to be a volunteer at the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow. Then in May I was sent an invitation for an interview and 4 months later today I had my interview!

It was quiet exciting, they took us in groups of 14. First they gave us a little talk about how much fun it is to be a volunteer . Then we each had our details and IDs checked and our photos taken (great it had been raining and I looked like a drowned rat!). Followed by a short presentation and talk about the team we had applied for. Before we finally had our individual interviews. 

The team I was interviewed for was Protocol which wasn't one I'd picked but I'm glad they thought I was suitable as it the team that get to look after all the VIPs!

Now all I have to do is wait to see if I've been picked, 55,000 people applied, 25,000 people are being interviewed and there are 15,000 positions! So fingers crossed should find out beginning next year!!

Someone did ask if we all had to dress Clyde the mascot !! Not sure about the purple hair..

A 10 minute make!!

Ok so we're now into September which is officially autumn apparently! So that means the days are getting shorter and that lovely summer weather will begin to disappear forcing us inside. But never fear as crafters this means more time to dedicate to our true love "making ".

I've been a very bad blogger this year due to circumstances outside my control but now I'm going to make up for it. With Christmas fast approaching I don't know about you but money is tight so I have decided to try and help by sharing some of the things I make. We all have stockpiles of supplies, bits and bobs of this and that, so I am going to try and show you things we can make with what we have and that won't take long!

I never throw scraps away and any off cuts of fabric no matter how small goes in here my scrap basket

Then the rest of my fabric is stored here! Oh apart from the two large boxes under my desk!!

But back to the job in hand, now you'll have to bear with me as I am slightly nervous I've never done a tutorial before but here goes...

 I'm starting with something very simple (for you and me) a tissue case.

 You just needs two small pieces of fabric
The piece for the outside is 15cm x18cm
And the inside piece is 15cm x 22cm

Pin the two pieces right sides together then seam along each end, allow 1cm for the seam.

Turn the fabric right side out and press so that there is approx the same amount of the inside fabric showing at each end.

At this stage I always fold in half and press gently so you can see where the center is.

Now fold each side in to the center and pin.

Again allowing 1cm seam allowance stitch each end, if you don't want the end left rough then either overlock (if you have that facility I don't so tend to just use a zigzag stitch) or trim with pinking shears.

Now turn right side out and press .

Add a pack of kleenex tissues and viola!!

These are great standby gifts and I guarantee it'll take you longer to choose what fabric to use than to make!

Makes my day

I count myself very lucky to live where I do, the village is lovely and still has a good range of shops although we are due to loose our post office in the near future. We have a library and a train station with a regular service into Glasgow. But the best thing about living here has to be the view!! If I walk along the path down the side of my house I can the wander up the lane and this is my view!!

Daisy loves walking up here

And you never know who we'll see

 It really makes my day!!