Knot Bag

I am going to make a huge effect to be more organise this year.  So I have spent time tidying up my computer files when I came across photos that I took last year as I finished quilts and bags but forgot to upload into my OPAM page.

Better late than not at all.

This is a knot bag.  It was not that easy to make due to it being a very tiny bag. It is only about six inches in height.  Next time I make this bag I will increase the size of the pattern.   

OPAM 2013

I have be playing with a new design of pencil case or small bag.  I cut out extra make up bags in December just in case I needed to make quickly some extra Christmas gifts.  

As I did not need the extra gifts I thought I would play around with the a new design for squaring the ends of a pencil case. 

This is my first finished item for the 'One Project a Month' for 2013! Check out Kris and Peg websites to find out more about OPAM. It is a great way to inspire you to get projects finished. Plus you meet some wonderful talented stitchers.

Weather Statistics

I live in a village in the South Hams of Devon.  About six miles from the edge of the city of Plymouth.

At the beginning of 2012 the meteorological office warned that we were going to experience a drought. We have a few months of sunshine then the heavens open and it rained and rained.
December 2012 was the wettest on record for Plymouth with 289cm of rain.  The previous record was 246cm.
South West England had the wettest year on record since 1910. Our reservoirs are 100% full.  That is alot to rain.
Provisional statistics from the Met Office show 2012 was the second wettest year in the UK national record dating back to 1910, and just a few millimetres short of the record set in 2000.

The Met Office has a very informative website. I am hoping for a drier and sunny 2013!

Bags

I made this Rose Make Up bag and Pencil Case last November as samples for inserting a zip into a bag teaching session for a local quilt group.  These samples sparked an idea for Christmas presents for my family and friends.

I filled the bags with a white flannel and sponge, soap, bath bombe, shower gel and all sorts of smellies. Now I have less that twelve moths to whip an idea for next Christmas gifts. A few quilting friends and I are going to try and make several gifts a month.  Our Christmas sew along will start this week.  Anyone wishing to join us, please leave a comment and I will send you an invite.    

Christmas Gift

I love heart ornaments. I had a small collection of embroidery and patchwork hearts in my studio.

I received this hand made heart as a Christmas gift from Baby Girl on Boxing Day.

Blog of the Week

I love to visit and read many blogs on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis.  I am going to try this year to recommend one blog for my readers to visit each week.

The first blog to visit is Miche'le called By Hoki Quilts.  Please stop by Hoki Quilts and say hello to Miche'le.
If you take time to read some of Miche'le posts, especially in October 2011, she explains why her shop and blog is called By Hoki Quilts.  Mr D and I were very fortunate to visit the area in 2010, South Island of New Zealand.
Please let me know if you enjoy visiting with Miche'le.  See you next week with another blog to visit.

My Word for 2013

Welcome to 2013 and a new start again.  My word for this year is 'Peace'. 

Peacefully work forwards a quiet family and quilting life.
Be at peace by reducing my commitments and saying no to any new ones. 
Be peaceful about my huge number of UFOs.  It is not going to harm me or anyone else if they remain unfinished.  Just enjoy working on the UFOs when time allows.
Be at peace about my very large fabric stash. Be at peace about using every piece of special fabric in my stash. Just use the special fabric to help turn it into a beautiful item.
Be peaceful when life throws me some curved balls.  A peaceful soul can deal with curved balls.

My word for 2010 was 'Clutter' or rather de-clutter.
My word for 2011 was 'Frugal'.
No word for 2012.

I will be a peace about my cluttered life and needing to be more frugal again in 2013.

May the Peace be with you too.