Play it Forward

I love the idea behind Pay It Forwards no matter what shape or form they come in. I was fortunate enough to become involved in one, even though the crafter didn't particularly want to post outside of the US. I can't wait for this surprise to appear on my door step.

So... here it goes...The concept of a PIF occurs when acts of kindness are performed without expecting anything in return and are passed on, trusting that the recipients will do the same and Pay It Forward, resulting in a never ending chain of kindness.By signing on, my commitment is to make and send a gift to the first 3 friends who post a comment to this post requesting to join this exchange and who promise to Pay It Forward to 3 other persons, and so on.I am not exactly sure what my three gifts will be just yet, but I will assure you it will be a gift made by me and from my heart that I will send to you within the next 365 days. This way, it will be completely unexpected and will be that much more rewarding. By signing on, what YOU then have to do in return is to Pay It Forward by making the same announcement and commitment on YOUR blog. I am very excited to be participating in this wonderful venture and I hope you too will join me.If you are one of the first 3 that sign up, please be sure there is a way I can contact you through your blog or email so I can get your contact info.

For those of you out there that arn't quilters but follow my blog in some way, (or just happened to stumble across me by chance) that is fine as well. It doesn't have to be a quilt related project, can be absolutely anything you think is from the heart that someone else would like.

So... Who will be my 3 PIFs???

On another note, I have a great blog for you all tomorrow, my first complete quilt, from cutting to finishing binding in less that 24 hours!!! thats a record for me! Maybe I will break it one day!

xxx

New Announced Winner

Well, I think I have given enough notice for you to come forward to claim this prize.

So I am offering this again

The winner is Bev of My Wee stitchy Blog!!

Please contact me Bev and let me know your address to send a lanyard of your choice to.

Please also include what colours you would like this in

Louise

No News from Sally

Come on Sally,

This is your last chance to claim your prize, I've waited for you all week to hear back from you.

Please please please contact again before midnight GMT or I will be forced to choose another winner.

Sorry to do it but Its not fair for someone not to be enjoying this!!

Louise

Winner

Well, I know I have left this a little longer than I had originally offered. Had a very busy week, but no one has entered since the deadline anyway.

The soon to be proud new owner is someone very close to my own heart. She is also a Textiles Teacher, and she left me such a lovely message. Congratulations Sally, please Email me as soon as possible, with your address and what colours you particularly like.

On a slightly different note, I am getting ready to open my own shop on Folksy. I have several Lanyards left over from my recent sale at school. So keep your eyes open, you can always buy yourself one.

Congratulations again to Sally, and everyone pop back soon to find out about a PIF. Just got to think carefully about wording etc. so Till then.

Louise xx

Presents and a giveaway!!

Well I offically leave my final placement school on Friday and qualify as a Textiles Teacher. I really can't wait.

Iv been racking my brain for what I can buy some of the people who have really molded me during this year. Decided I should make them something a bit more personal.

The school has these lanyard things that lots of schools have, and to be perfectly honest they are pretty Naff. So I thought I would liven them up. Some teachers do have different Lanyards so I know they could have differnt ones.

This is what I created.

These were created from the same fabrics as I got for this. I really love the way they have turned out. As you see below. I thought I should practice one for myself first. Those of you that know me really well know i have issues with keeping track of my memory stick. So thought my first attempt should give me a chance 2 keep hold of this.

I made sure the front fabric was different than the back, and that they went together really well.

All of these lovely Lanyard have gorgeous homes to go to. But as an offer to you, I want to offer you one of these. Weather you want it for keeping your ID for work round your neck. Attach it to your keys, or to attach your ipod round your neck. What must you do? I really don't want a simple enter me. I want to hear what you would do with a lanyard if you won one of these lovelys, what your favorite colour/s are (so I can make one you would like).

Only one enterance each please. BUT you can get extra names put in my hat if you...

• Become a follower of my blog

and/or

• Write about me on your blog.

Please come back to me and post another comment telling me you have done this.

Best of luck to all of you. For every 25 people that comment I will make 1 lanyard so chances are quite high.

I will leave you now with a sample of the fabrics I have already created, to inspire you to enter my give away.

This give away will be open until Friday 5pm (GMT) any entries after this will not be counted. Sorry.

New handbag

Well I really don't know what the weather is like where you are but here its been absolutely gorgeous. My handbag I made a while ago (see here) looks a little bit wintery with sandles and lovely summery clothes.

So I dug out some gorgeous Amy Butler fabric that I fell in love with but thought I would never find something suitable for showing it off well enough. (BTW I brought this fabric as a reminant but had no idea of how much I had, I made this bag and still have a fair amount left over)
I have had this idea for a bag for ages but haven't had the courage to try it. would you believe it took me less than an hour to create it. Unfortunatly I didn't create a pattern I just cut and sewed. Would be a really simple one to make again though. Im really pleased with the way the handle turned out. Was going to carry on with the Amy Butler print but discovered this vintage piece of fabric that went really well with it. I also used this for the lining and felt using it for the handle broke the print up really well. Thought maybe at first it was going to be a bit too big but turns out its the perfect size.

My housemates feel I should create a pattern for this and share it with the world, I'm not so sure its good enough to do that.

If I could change it I would probably put pockets in side and somewhere to hang my keys. but thats a minor thing I can always do if I make this bag again.

So what do you think? Would you like to see this?? What have you done with this Amy Butler fabric?

Halloween Theme block swap 2009

Head on over to Jane's Fabrics and quilts she is hosting a

SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN THEME BLOCK SWAP 2009

It looks so exciting even is Halloween is so far away. I saw it and signed up straight away, Iv thought over previous swaps that have come up and missed the chance once I made my mind up.

Jumped straight in and decided I was going to make Ghost's myself. Can't wait to get started and have already been looking at fabrics, the UK has nothing at all exciting for Halloween fabrics, hoping my friends in Canada and America will be kind enough to bring me some fabrics home during the summer.

I suggest you hop on over to her blog as soon as possible so you don't miss out to!!

P.S - Does anyone know how to put this picture in my sidebar so I can show off I'm on a swap??

Charity Shop finds!

Iv been staying with my parents this week as it is Half term here. I quite enjoy wandering around the charity shops with my mum and often come out with some amazing bits.

I haven't taken photographs of EVERYTHING as I really didn't want to bore you all. I brought a large box full of buttons. 15 Zips. some old patterns (most never used) several sewing books. lace, beads, buckles, pop studs, brooches. I also brought a large pile of old fabrics, some table clothes, some bed spreads and others just old cuts that have never even been used.

This is my most favorite thing I have found in a charity shop in ages. Thought it was perfect to photograph in front of my WIP my grandmother's garden quilt.

I Love that this mouse is doing the patchwork. If you look really closely the mouse also has a little tiny needle and thread to help her do this. I adore the way the tail curls up around her body.

So tell me do you go charity shopping / thrift shop shopping??? What is the best find you have found???

Quilt Block Swap May

My partner finally recieved her block today, so I can post about this.

It took me ages to ponder over what I was wanting to do for my partner. I had plenty of initial thoughts, but nothing quite seemed to fit my Partner. Getting to know her a bit better I finally decided on this one.

If you look really closely you will notice there are tiny little hearts on the red fabrics, I thought my partner might think I was crazy including a "this way up" sign, but Im sure she understood the reason for it!!

Took me ages but Im sure this perfectly suits my partner.

Fingers crossed mine will arrive soon as they were posted on similar days. I just don't understand the amount of flights etc across the big pond why it always seems to take sooo long for post to arrive. Oh well the wait will surely soon be over.

WIP

Well this week I am lucky enough to have another follower this week!!! WAHOOO!! That brings my followers up to 3! lol. Check out Evelyn's blog shes a very talented knitter, makes very cute baby things with a very gorgous family with 3 adorable cuties!!!!! Very jealous, wish I could knit as well as she can!!

Well progress for me this week, I have 2 very similar projects going on at the moment, both I plan to be christmas gifts, but not giving full details away at the moment because Im sure the person these gifts are for is reading this at some point!!!!

These strips were a real bargain at my local quilting shop!! can you believe I got over twice the amount in all these photo's for only £2!!!!!!! I had to go back a few days later and clear out their basket full, got plenty of ideas for these.

This one has a very christmassy theme and I plan for it to only be used during this time of the year. The other a much more all round theme (with any luck I might actually get this one finished for someone's birthday but I have a few months for that yet!!!

I aim to be making a few little gifts for people at work as I am leaving in 15 days, its sad to be going but I have an absolutely amazing job to go to!!! So good and bad points soming up soon!!

Hope to show you my creations at some point again soon, as those of you as lucky as me to have a week break this week enjoy what ever you are doing!

xx

Waste no Want Not

I needed one of those bags for carrying odds and ends in the bottom of your hand bag. This was the creation I came up with, based very much on the similar pattern as my pencil case . Totally made out of recycled fabrics and selvedges.
It tickled me and I didn't realise until afterwards about the selvedge that I chose for this bag. I find it quite funny I wanted this big enough to take Paracetamols and vaseline etc. and its a Quilt for a cure! lol.


I love these colours and think they work well together. Lots of work at uni at the moment, but its half term next week. Got one or 2 more WIP's to show you over the next few days and hopefully by next weekend one of those WIP's will be finished!!!

What are you up to at the moment???

School Projects

I made this for a group of low ability year 9 pupils that I am currently teaching in my placement school. The project is cushions, based around "make do and mend" to a particular theme of their fancy. I really wanted them to think about cushions of different shapes etc.

This was the only way I seemed to achieve this was by giving them examples to hold. I also tried to include some of the information they needed to include on their cushion. Such as 2 forms of decorative technique (applique and tucks)

I found this in a magazine for a soft toy which was slightly too small so blew it up on the photocopier to make it large enough to make a cute cushion. The kids absolutely loved it! and it really inspired them to think outside the box as well!!!

Quilt block Swap

Not sure if I shared this information with you before, but Im part of the quilt block swap. I get really excited at the begining of every month to find out who my partner is and make exciting blocks for them. Unfortunatly due to my excitement with my job interviews etc I never got round to blogging about this one. Really sorry about this Angela, this block is absolutely amazing, and Im really sorry the photograph doesn't really do it justice!!

I promise you it didn't arrive this screwed up. I'm looking forward to collecting these over the next few months and making myself a gorgeous bed quilt for my first house I plan on buying in 12 months(ish) time!

It would be absolutely amazing to say this quilt was made all over the world especially by me, and know that as much love and care was put into them as there was into the squares I made for others.

Thanks again Angela,

Louise.xx

Long Time no see

Well its been ages since I last posted anything.

So quick up date. I have a brand new job, is absolutely perfect and I get a house with it as well. Can't wait to start but Have to wait until September, its at an amazing school in Essex. Working with a very friendly team. And I have even had the opportunity to meet one of my classes already!!! Im so pleased.

Unfortunatly this means I haven't had quite as much time as I would have liked on quilting projects but I do have several new projects to post about, but unfortunately I dont have time to right now, as soon as I do I will let you all know.

I have been teaching my year 9 (14 year Old) pupils how to do patchwork and quilting. Hoping to get them as "quilt-fingered" (just like green fingered but for quilts) as I am. I will try and get photographs of their efforts to post here once they have finished.

So just as long as you are all sure Im still alive.

MissOakden

Tardiness

Sorry for the lack of posting at the moment. This is only a really quick one.

I have not been able to post for a while as I am currently on a job hunt. The deadline for teaching jobs is in the next few weeks so I have been working extra hard recently in preparation for the job interviews that I have recieved.

Sorry crafters of the world I will be updating you soon..

xx