Morning all. Well, I am back in soft bottom mode again (see earlier post). Have been to doc about my chest and hope the pills kick in soon. Still, all your lovely comments about my house and my website have cheered me up no end. I am very fortunate that one of my good friends has a husband who is an amazing web designer and he built the website for me. He also put up with quite a bit of indecision and dippyness from me, for which I am eternally grateful (thanks Matt!).
Anyway, being ill has given me time at home that I wasn't banking on so I have managed to get quite a bit of sewing done and am going to put new stuff on my website very soon. These are pics of my latest design (it says Merry Christmas but I couldn't fit it all on one photo!). I have also done a 'Happy Birthday' one in more pastely colours. I love choosing the buttons to go on each letter. It just needs a good iron and finishing with ribbon loops for hanging.
(This has now sold - thank you Katy! More coming soon, and I can take orders!)
I am also looking into setting up an Etsy shop. Has anyone done it? If so is it working for you? There seems to be so much stuff on there at the mo and I wonder how much gets sold. Still, every little helps, so I think I will investigate this further. Watch this space! Having sorted through my piles of fabrics I have got heaps of inspiration, and I have even decided to cut into some of my most favourite pieces of vintage fabric. I have had them for ages and I keep taking them out and looking at them, and I almost can't bear to make things to sell out of them, but there is a limit to how many things made from fabric a girl can fit in her house, and more sales means more fabric shopping!!
These are so pretty and I have heaps of different fabrics along these lines. A very kind lady sold me some on ebay a couple of years ago and I have since dealt privately with her so she sent me a huge bundle about a year ago. I have used little bits of some of them but I can't bear to use it all. Silly isn't it?!
This piece I just love and I can't decide what to do with it. Any ideas? 
And this piece is quite big, and I have actually used some of it in projects but can't bear to part with all of it. It is brushed cotton and I was thinking about making PJs for Ruth out of it. Now I have my overlocker I am thinking about adding PJs and nighties to my website too, as I have been making them for the girls for a while. I find it really hard to find nice cotton ones which aren't extortionately priced.
Momentarily forgetting the diet, I am feeling like cake is going to be the only way to inject some energy today, so I may head out to the kitchen to make a Norwegian Apple Cake. I found the recipe on Mia's blog (which is one of the most inspiring blogs I have found - go visit if you haven't already), and I have been meaning to make it for ages.
Well, I am off to hoover up the coal that Bodie has just stolen and crunched all over the carpet. Hope you are all having a lovely week. The tray - for those of you who asked - was from Boots several years ago, and I also have the matching melamine plates and bowls which were used daily when the girls were small but are saved for camping now. I shall leave you with some gratuitous house shots. These shelves are the only bit of my kitchen that I like, so I won't show you the rest. Excuse the boxes of washing powder - I am having a wash-a-thon today! My garden is looking a bit sad at the moment but this is the view out of the dining room window. At least the roses are still thriving!
See you soon,
Cathy X