A little present for you

I wish my creative brain worked like this - all ordered and structured

but it doesn't and so the sewing room is back to looking freshly burgled. 

This evening I will be sending out my last newsletter for the year, full of Holiday wishes, a discount code for the shop and a brand new free pattern. That makes right now just about the perfect time to sign up if you haven't already. You won't get another newsletter untill next year and you can unsubscribe once you get the freebie if you like.

Let your friends know, let your mum know -  I hope you like it !

(The winner of the AQM goodies is Jody Herbert )

You wouldn't believe me,

if I told you that the broken ankle was just the starting point to a month of crazy medical interventions for the Ric Rac clan. We have had biopsies and lumbar punctures and flesh eating parasites. (not all on the one person) It has been bonkers.

Amidst the bonkers was AQM, the last big event on the crafty calendar. A trade-only show, it seems to be as much about showing of new products as it does about everyone catching up. 

Of course, there are also goodies at AQM , so I bought a few and begged a few and brazenly snaffled some to share with you guys. To enter, just leave a comment. Tell me the best thing you have made this year, leave a blog link if you so desire.

The winner will be picked at random tomorrow, and no shouting from the mountaintops will increase your chances, but just between you and me, I did aquire quite a few goodies so there is another giveaway on Bookface and one on Instagram as well. ( shhhhh).

Posted with Blogsy

Going then stopping

This was meant to be one of those "you will not believe all the things I am doing" type of posts.

I have just finished a  secret charity project. It took me forever and included one massive crisis of confidence.

I made a mushroom garland and have eight more (yep 56 mushies) cut out and ready to sew. Don't even bother adding up the number of spots.

I have almost made myself a new froggy friend - one last tweak has been twuck since this photo and I have 11 little crowns finished awaiting 11 little frogs .

 I was going to tell you how I have a new project that I would like to get finished and written before Trade show at the end of the month,

 I was going to tell you I have nine D-is-for-Deer friends in various stages of completion.

 I was going to to rant and rave at my own crazy pants ways.

 Yesterday the Mr broke his ankle. Yep,  I know, I remember it too. As the verdict was delivered in the curtained off room in casualty, I know that our brains both went to exactly the same place .

So now, the one-armed, one-legged man is in a not-too-happy-state with a giant boot and a walking stick and the able bodied woman is breathing deeply and hiring bathroom equipment.

(The able bodied woman is also wondering how long it has been since the bathroom floor got a wash)

How embarrassment

Sorry guys, I thought you knew each other....

blogfriends, this is Bruce,

 Bruce, this is everyone.

D is for Deer

A sweeter soul you will never meet. He thinks the best of everyone (people and deers).

This fellow brings my little family of hand sewn animals to six. I love making these !!! I want to make the whole alphabet, so at the current rate of about 3 per year we might get done in about 2021.

This Saturday I'll be teaching a class at The Cotton Factory.  Its a great fun class where you can choose any one of these six little friends to make on the day.

 Hand sewing classes are awesome, very relaxed and apart from the peals of laughter, pretty quiet (in a no sewing machines kind of way).

 The cost of the class includes the pattern, coffee and yummy lunch.

Beginners, novices and never-sewn-a-stitch folk are most welcome.

Which letter will I do next ? Got any ideas? Want to take a guess?

(you might want to check out tomorrow's newsletter as well folks...nudge nudge wink wink)

weekending

 I had been re-writing my Tea-set pattern in a kind of half-arsed manner over a few months. Pattern writing is boring, but pattern RE-writing is even more boringer .

 Not that there is anything wrong with the original pattern, but it was written a while ago and I have learnt a few things since then, so it was time for an update.

 When Emma offered me a selection of her yet-to-be-released fabric range, The Linen Cupboard I knew it was the perfect tea set fabric.

 I bought considerably more than two cupcakes to star in these photos but in the spirit of artistic integrity I ate the photogenically challenged ones.

(let's be honest I ate the photogenic ones too!)

This post will self destruct in 24 hrs.

Psst - the antidote to a day of craptastic proportions is a little sale. (24 hrs only)

Use the code FRIDAYFORTY to get 40% off these little dudes pictured.

You can share it with your friends, 

You can share it with your mum,

You can tell the repairman to stick one up his bum !!