fabrics bought and makes for August

When we were in Canada, we went to the fabric shop. Twice. The first time, Debbie and I went with the girls and, although they were very well-behaved, they did get a bit bored. The second time, Debbie and I went alone and had the best time. I spent quite a lot of money but, because of all the stuff we had brought to Canada, we had practically a whole suitcase available and I did my very best to fill it with fabric! LOL

When we got home, the first thing I did - after washing the clothes, of course - was to wash all the fabrics. Luckily the weather was perfect for me to be able to get it all dried outside. Naturally I had to take photos of it all on the line. I love every single piece I bought and don't regret buying any of it!!

There is a definite blue theme going on! The first photo is a bit in the shade but the colours are still amazing!

I decided I was going to make something out of the pile so decided on the Monty shirt from StyleArc which I have made before. I looked for a link to the pattern but it's no longer available, apparently! I love this shirt and the fabric is fabulous! Very happy with this one!

I then made another one. This fabric was a bit odd in that the stripes were horizontal across the fabric on the bolt. No problem for this shirt, though, as I just turned the pieces around to make the lower part have vertical stripes. I love this one too! (What is with the funny face??)

I'm thinking I might leave the rest of the fabric for now - no point in making more summer clothes when autumn is fast approaching!

When buying all that dressmaking fabric, I had also bought a couple of Christmas panels from the sale table. I decided I would make those - one for Jo and one for us. (I did ask Debbie in the shop if she wanted one too but she said she didn't.)

I made both quilts the same - cutting the panels apart, adding sashing and cornerstones and sewing them back together. These are the results - they're the same quilt but the panels are in different (random) places. Jo's has already gone to her house and ours is on the spare bed waiting for December so it can come out to be enjoyed!

Christmas is coming! 🎅🏻 🎄

sewing in Canada

You'd think, when I was on holiday, I'd get a rest from sewing. Nothing could be further from the truth! I did a ton of mending for Debbie which I didn't take photos of.

The biggest thing I mended was Emily's old rocking horse - Mayo-neighs. You would think by looking at this photo, that he looked perfectly healthy but his frame (inside) was broken and unfixable so we decided the best thing to do was to "just" take him apart and sew him up like a toy.

We had to cut his feet off to get him off the frame and we couldn't undo the fixings so had to think of how to deal with that.

We got his feet off the frame as best we could but he needed new soles so I used some blue fleece that Debbie had in her stash to make those.

I covered the holes where the handles had been with some felt.

Debbie, Emily and Isla stuffed him and I sewed him back together. I said that in 4 words but it took me a whole morning to do!

Here he is all fixed and admiring the girls' Lego boxes!

He looks fabulous now. The girls have been told he is not to be sat upon as he's not strong enough for that but he is strong enough for lots of hugs!

On my last day in Canada, I made nighties for the girls teddies - Howard and Albert.

We had a lovely holiday in Canada spending lots of fun time with Debbie and Emily and Isla. I was sad to leave them but I was also ready to come home. We flew back overnight and I didn't sleep for long on the plane - 2 hours if that! So, by the time Jo picked us up at the airport, we were fuzzy-brained and exhausted. It took a couple of days to get into our old routine again. No doubt the sewing will start up again soon - after all, I brought back a TON of fabric! LOL

chaos reigns!

I haven't posted for a while because chaos reigns in our household. I apologise to anyone whose blog I read and didn't comment on but I know you all know that life just gets in the way sometimes and this is how it's been for me this last week ... and it will be like this for a while to come I suspect.

I showed the photos of the washing that was waiting to be done last time and, well, let's just say that wasn't even the tip of the washing iceberg that came over with Debbie from Canada. Nothing is dirty as such but it's all a wee bit smelly from being in the container so it really does need freshened up. There's still loads to do!

Here's the utitily room. The big box is also full of washing waiting to be done ...

... and in the hall waiting to be sorted ...

There are boxes everywhere. Outside the back door ...

... outside the garage door ...

... at the top of the stairs ...

I thought I might go and hide in my sewing room for a while but that was a bit of a non-starter!

In fairness, I took these photos on Saturday so things are a wee bit different today ... but not much. The washing is still ongoing - 5 loads done today and now it's the turn of the tumble drier to do its bit. If only it was summer and I could get it hung on the line to dry. Oh well, it's not so I just have to keep at it. If you don't see me around, I'll be the one buried under the piles and piles of washing!

a lovely parcel!

Today we got a parcel all the way from Debbie and Jason in Nova Scotia, Canada. I'll let you see the other stuff from the parcel at another time because I'm far too excited by what was in said parcel for me! Fabric! Wheeeeee!!!!!

First of all there are some fat quarters:

And some cuts - LOVE the owl Christmas fabric!

And who would believe that it's easier to buy tartan fabric in Canada than it is here in my part of Scotland? Isn't that just totally ridiculous?

The top tartan is Royal Stuart, the bottom left is Black Watch and the one on the right is the Nova Scotia tartan. Makes sense for us not to be able to buy that one here but the other two should be available at my local fabric shop. I keep asking for it and they say they keep asking for it but their suppliers don't have any. I wonder if I should tell them that I managed to get some ... from CANADA!!!!

more Canada pics

I've decided that my favourite photos of our Canada holiday are of the people - and dog - we went to see. So, here are just a few of my faves.

Silly Debbie. :oD



Jason using his "new coffee mug". :oD



I *love* the look on Jason's face! :oD



Who's chasing whom? Is that right? I think it is but it sounds daft! No dafter than Douglas and Molly chasing each other around and around!



Molly and me - she thought I looked cool in my sunspex. :oD



Douglas had many conversations with Molly.



A pair of nutcases.



Isn't she sweet?



Debs and Molly - taking up most of *my* side of the couch as well as their own!



Having more words with Molly. It doesn't look like she's paying attention to him! Ach well, he's used to that! :oD



Debbie and Jason on the boardwalk at Fisherman's Cove.



Even Molly is smiling for Douglas's camera!



Molly swimming.



Molly under the seat trying to get away from the sun.

my Canada loot

Here are some of the things I bought - or was given - in Canada.

This book is full of the most amazing tips and shortcuts about sewing. I've been sewing longer than I can remember and I've learned a lot already - and I'm not even halfway through the book!



This is something I was given. Jason made it. Isn't he a clever laddie? I'm supposed to use it as a cutting board but it's far too nice to use so it's in my kitchen being admired every time I look at it! :o)



More fabric which we bought in Fabricville in Halifax. There's more than this but it was in various places - left with Debbie, gone to Joanna's house or on the washing line - so I can only show these.



A pinny pattern. I could have just made it up myself but I decided to be rash and buy one. :oP



This was in one of the photos yesterday but I decided to take a photo of it on my sewing room wall. I like it!



And these are free patterns - knitting and crochet - that we picked up in Michaels. It never ceases to amaze me that places give these away for nothing. We don't have anything like that over here. It's time we did!! The pink wool is for making the piggy slippers for Joanna. Aren't they the funnest thing? :oD



I've more to show but I need to check Douglas's photos first. He took over 2000 photos on our holiday. Isn't that insane? I think so! :oD

I am a material girl

I thought I'd break down my Canada postings into separate blog posts. Today's is about the most amazing fabric shop I've ever been in.

Before we went to Canada, I'd been reading a blog which had raved about a fabric store in Nova Scotia so, naturally, I asked Debbie if it was close to her. She said it was about an hour away so I said we HAD to go there. So we did.

We left Douglas and Jason to look at the manly shop next door - I think it was a car mechanic but I didn't pay too much attention. I just wanted to get inside! :oD We chatted to the owner for a wee while and Debbie asked if it was okay to take photos. The answer was yes so Debbie snapped away whilst I just wandered about and drooled.

This is the Avonport Discount Fabric Centre. BTW - they do mail order - to anywhere in the world.



And here's what I bought. (The garish fabric in the background is the bedspread on the hotel bed! I didn't buy that! LOL)



A wonderful place and I fully intend going back each time we go to visit Debbie and Jason. :o)

I just remembered something the owner asked us. What did we think of the floor? I assured her that I hadn't even looked at the floor. I think it was painted concrete but, with all that fabulous fabric etc to look at, who would bother looking at the floor??? Not me!!