Tuesday, June 19, 2012

100 Posts!

It has been really, really cold here over the last week, so evenings have been spent sitting near a cosy fire and making hats galore.  As much as I prefer hot weather, my hat sales sky rocket when the temperatures drop!  I spotted an adorable newborn pattern here and had to have a go at making a much bigger version for my wee girl. The bow is meant to be right on the top but it made her head look abnormally large so we moved it down a bit. It worked out really well and Miss 5 has trotted off to school wearing it today and was beaming with delight that she was getting lots of ooohs and aaaahs about it.  When her teacher asked where she got it, Miss 5 ran over to me and said "this clever lady here made it".  Too cute!! 
Last week I discovered a clearance table at a local shop which had a huge amount of tea pots at bargain prices so I stocked up.  I guess that means I have to get cracking and make some cosies to go with them now to get into my wee shop.  In the meantime, three of my tea cosies are in a REAL shop!!!  The lovely store Stitchbird that I've been raving about, now have some of my tea cosies amongst all their gorgeous wares.  I am beyond proud and get a silly grin on my face every time I walk past!
My sewing machine died a few weeks ago and I have really missed it.  I hadn't actually realised just how much I use it until I didn't have one anymore.  I hate the whole throwaway society thing, but sadly this time finances had to be considered and it just wasn't viable to spend all that money repairing an already old machine.  I had a very limited budget but managed to find a fabulous machine in a sale and got it for a ridiculously cheap price.  It's only a simple machine but that suits me perfectly for what I need to do with it.  Give me straight stitch and zig zag and I'm happy.  Anything else and I start to panic!  This machine has all manner of stretch stitches and fancy things that I will have to investigate in the future.  But for now, straight stitching is just fine with me.
This is the collection of fabrics I have put together to make some cushions and I can't wait to get started!  Lovely strips of fabric in different sizes, pretty trims and vintage buttons.  Now if only I could get over my fear of buttonholes and zips I might actually make a start....
I christened my new machine with a nice easy project - a draught excluder for our front door.  I love this beachy striped fabric and it has added some more colour to our hallway.  And it has succeeded in keeping that nasty southerly wind from whooshing under my door.  I managed to add round ends even if it did make me swear a little bit while I was trying to work it out.  I had my gorgeous friend Ange staying here over the weekend so we sat with our sewing machines on the dining table with a block of chocolate in between us and plenty of cups of tea.  She made a whole dress for her daughter in the time it took me to make this door-sausage!  

Now as the title mentioned, I have just realised that this is my 100th post!  I wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for all your lovely comments and your regular visits.  You can't begin to know how much it means to me.  Since starting this blog and in turn discovering other colourful, inspirational blogs, it has really made a change in my daily life.  It's the little things like buying fun colourful socks instead of my boring old black ones to keep my feet cosy on days like today, it's looking at things that were always in my home but with a different set of eyes, it's the way I have bought op shop treasures and found new places in my home for them, it's the way I carry my camera with me at all times to capture images I love - all these things are small but are making a huge difference.  It's funny considering what I had in mind for this blog when I first created it and chose the name.  But that's another story...

Before I go I also wanted to say a huge thank you to Barbina, AnaBC and Stitches, Scraps and Sparkles in the Sun for passing on such lovely awards!  Thank you ladies - I am chuffed to bits!

Oh one more thing, I have finally signed up for Pinterest.  After hearing so much about it I finally took the plunge and wow, why did I wait so long?  Talk about gorgeous!!!

Have a fabulous week all.
Leah
xxxx

26 comments:

  1. You have so much news Leah! Let's see, The hat is adorable, I bet your daughter looks so cute in it, your fab tea cozies have made it to the big time in a store..how exciting is that! (I'm not surprised, they are wonderful) Hurray for getting a new sewing machine, and your door sausage is pretty and practical.
    Have a great rest of the week and enjoy sewing up that pretty fabric!
    Lynne xx

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  2. Such a darling hat! Thank you for the link; I'll have to try that one. It'll be a hit here in Florida!
    Congratulations on your tea cozies being in the stores and on your 100 posts! I enjoy your blog so much.
    Have fun with your new sewing machine and all that pretty fabric. I love your door sausage :-)
    Blessings,
    Kate

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  3. Many congrats on your 100th post Leah!!! I love your blog and really enjoy your posts. The hat is gorgeous and you must get such a buzz from seeing your tea cosy in that shop! Have a great day! lol xxx

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  4. Your little ones hat is so pretty and how fantastic to be selling your cosies in a 'proper' shop in town.

    Congratulations on your 100th post, I think I'm about 11 posts behind you...........you're right blogging is so much fun.

    Enjoy your new sewing machine,
    lily x

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  5. Congratulations Leah! I am just delighted for you hon and so thrilled you have done your 100th post - yay!!! I adore your door sausage - its gorgeous! And the hat - just too cute. I really will have to take a trip out to Kilbirnie now and visit stitchbird - it looks amazing. Best of all though, I love your reasons for blogging and the wonderful, creative journey it has taken you on. I have always known you were talented (since age 5, when you were the star of the J block show!) and I am so proud of you my friend :-)

    Keep on blogging honey bun!!! Becks xxx

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  6. Oh, Missus! What a great post!
    Congratulations on your 100th- may there be many, many more to come and inspire us all!
    And well done on your lovely tea cosies being in a real life shop too!!!!
    And how funny- my old sewing machine has just died and I suspect it will cost me too much to repair - I feel a bit lost without it.
    Enjoy the rest of your week, hon!
    Xx

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  7. 100 posts - well done! I'm on 15 ... a long way to go still! ... and well done for having your gorgie teapot cosies in a real shop - they are soooo good I'm totally not surprised :o)

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  8. Congrats on your 100th post + your cosies being featured in that lovely store! What wonderful items to touch and awe over.
    I love your Minnie hat; it's adorable.

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  10. Congrats me dear on your 100th post, that's brilliant, I know what you mean about blogging, it's definitely been a huge positive for me too.

    Love the hat, very cute and that fabric is lovely, especially the flowery one near the bottom.

    Your tea costs are gorgeous, I'm not at all surprised they are in a shop, well done you, very exciting. I picked up a knitted cosy book from the library a few days ago and there are some fab ones, although when I fit that in, I don't know!

    Have a good week!

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  11. That is so cool to have your tea cosies in Stitchbird. Well done! And I totally love that black and pink hat!

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  12. WOW, what a lot going on in this post,, where to begin,,,fabby hat crocheted, just too cute...and what a wonderful picture of your lovely tea cosies in the shop,,,you must be soooo proud to see them, i am so thrilled for you that you are selling these little lovelies...well done luvvy....xx

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  13. Leah!!!! I am so happy for your over your huge accomplishment. How beyond gratifying to see your beautiful pieces featured in a shop you adore? That is a dream come true! Your daughter's hat is so cute. Hard to say if the hat or her comment to her teacher were cuter, though. Sounds like you have quite a charming young lady who quite adores her artful mommy.

    Good to know that your sewing machine situation is now under control. What a fun time to share sewing, chocolate and tea with a friend!

    Your posts are always so happy and cheerful. Here's to many hundreds more to come ;-)

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  14. Congratulations on your 100th post!!! I enjoy it so much reading your posts everytime.
    And your lovely tea cosies are featured in a shop! That is amazing! I´m so happy for you!
    I love the beautiful hat you have made for Miss 5, it is soo cute!
    Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs, Barbina

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  15. You are the brightness I needed after a very long week! Thank you for sharing your love of colour, it certainly inspires me to look outside of my shades of black. So much news and so much to congratulate you on. Stocking products in one of your own favourite shops is just BRILLIANT, but I think the most rewarding of all is having a Miss 5 who knows as well as the rest of us, just how wonderfully clever you are! T x

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  16. Thank you for 100 inspiring posts, and here's to at least 100 more. :) I love your door sausage, and well done having your sumptuous cozies in a regular store-store! That's very wonderful. You're a bright spot in my day--I just love seeing what you're up to. Have a lovely weekend!

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  17. hello Leah
    I expect you are over the moon about your cozies being on display in a street-shop...I hope you are telling everyone but everyone!!! I would LOL!
    The Minnie Mouse beanie is absolutely gorgeous. I've seen the original pattern and I think you were right to move the bow. I'm hoping to get around to making one for a newborn babe. I have such a long list of pending makes though. There are so many wonderful things to crochet on the all the bogs I visit or follow.
    Congratulations on your 100 posts! I don't always get the time to comment but I follow with interest.

    Amanda :-)

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  18. Congrats on your 100 posts!!! I had big inspirations from every single post you did so far, how wonderful!
    Take care and keep up great work!!!
    Hugs, LS

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  19. hello Leah,
    thanks for your reply and I've answered via email

    Keep well

    Amanda :-)

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  20. Congrats on 100 posts!!!!
    I always enjoy visiting you Leah as your posts are chock full of the lovely colourful things you've made - the little Minnie Mouse hat is brill, no wonder your little girl is so proud of it and her Mum!
    Congrats also on your awards - very well deserved.
    Gill xx

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  21. Hello Leah,
    I'm stopping by to say 'Hi' and wish you a great new week! I look forward to see your further creations... Love that Minnie Mouse hat, it's too cute!
    Thank you for your visit and lovely comments so far, it's so sweet!!!
    Best wishes,
    LS

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  22. Congratulations on your 100th post, I have a couple more to do before I reach that landmark.
    It is lovely to see items you've made for sale in a shop isn't it? I have Elsie May and Bertha lovelies in two shops now, the second one being quite close to home. I get a little thrill when I walk past the shop window and see my things there. It makes it feel real doesn't it?
    I like your stripey draught excluder, it reminds me that I need to make one for myself before Autumn!

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  23. Hello from (very wet) England. It's supposed to be Summer here, but hasn't stopped raining for ages! Love all your crafty makes especially the tea cosies, they are adorable!

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  24. Congrats on your 100th post, Leah!!!
    Ooooh! I like the idea of making a draught excluder! I might have to make one for myself before the end of the summer.
    Carly
    x

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