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Charm About You


This is a going to be a long one so grab a cuppa and get comfy!!

I'll start with some makes. Since it was mother's day yesterday I made my mum a couple of gifts, a bag for her knitting and a mobile phone holder.


I used this tutorial from Buffy of Passionate Design. It's a nice tutorial - I even managed to put a pocket inside but couldn't get a decent picture. The only change I made was the straps, instead of messing around turning them inside out I used the much easier method from Jeni's tutorial!



For the phone holder I used this tutorial from She Wears Flowers. Very simple and clear instructions! It fits her phone perfectly. I chose not to embellish the flap because the fabric looks lovely as it is. The outer fabric was part of my birthday gift from mammafairy sews, I only used a bit so the rest is all mine!! The inner fabric (also used for the straps on the bag) my mum gave me and was left over from the back of the Not So Charming Rainbow Stars quilt.

I managed to finish another Rose Star block (I also got a few more cut!). This one is my favourite so far :)


If you've not joined in the Rose Star Block Party get yourself over to selfsewn and look at Clare's amazing blog, then start piecing!

Following my background dilemma I ordered a bit of Kona Apple. I adore this green and it makes the colours of the rose stars pop so nicely!


It's just not going to work out though. It's too much and though I love it right now I know I'll tire of it. I tried some darker colours too (Charcoal and a Navy blue) but I don't love them either. So I think I'm going to go with the mint or variations of mint/aqua, thank you everyone for your input!

At any rate the apple won't go to waste - I also ordered some Dr. Seuss fabric from Prints to Polka Dots
and it goes really well :) Think this will turn into a bag for the kiddies toys!


They also included some cute little square scraps with my order:


Love those helicopters!

Now my worry... I'm really struggling with the name badge for the Fat Quarterly Retreat swap. Here's the direction I'm finally thinking of taking (must credit Clare - Selfsewn - for providing inspiration for the piecing), can you all please give me honest opinions:


crap attempt at Hadley's genius photo tute!

I'm thinking of embroidering the mystery name on it with this gorgeous blue perle that Madame Samm kindly sent me when I won one of her amazing giveaways from that other brilliant blog ;)
Obviously I'll take out the basting stitches and put a back on it!! What do you think??

Finally thank you all for the kind wishes for the little ones birthday. We had an amazing time:



I had a blast with the kids and even did some bouncing of my own!


Yeah my hair's not blonde anymore, I should update my profile pic!!
If you recognise that skirt then you're probably Janine :) She kindly sent it to me after threatening to chop it up!!
I finally lost enough weight to wear it :) I'm hoping Erin and Izzy are proud of me!! Although it's mostly down to being ill not being good!!

My husband managed to snap this pic of me and my son -  very similar to the last one I showed you but fours years later :)


Unfortunately I think all the fun wiped him out because I got a call from school today and had to pick him up early because his temperature was high again :( So we're now back to this:



Linking up to Sew Modern Monday



Hope you all had a great weekend, now go get writing those posts for the swap ;)