Let it fly.....

Following on from my last post I can finally reveal some more of the things that I made as Christmas presents:


Grumpy Fish Travel Organiser for my MIL

Pattern: Travel Organizer Tutorial by Thimble

With pockets for a passport, tickets, boarding pass and two zipped pockets for coins I thought that these would make useful gifts to be used for years to come.


Grumpy Fish Travel Organiser close up showing the zips

To date this is the most complicated sewing pattern I've tackled. I did it whilst having a crafty day with a couple of friends and without their help it wouldn't have been a success. The zips proved to be a bit complicated but I got there in the end.


Grumpy Fish Travel Organiser closed

I'm not happy with the elastic closure as I didn't measure it accurately & it's wonky but after nearly 7 hours of work I didn't have the heart to unpick it and reposition the elastic.

Then one for my Step Mum:


Flower Travel organiser

I was delighted when I found this solid cobalt blue cotton in Dunelm as it's just right with the other two fabrics.


Blue flower Travel organiser

and straight elastic!


Flower Travel organiser

and finally one for my Dad:


Travel Organiser

Dad loves oranges so I had to search for the right fabrics.


~Travel Organiser

I couldn't buy orange zips locally but found them here. However the smallest zips they sell are 7" so I made his organiser slightly bigger than the others but I now know that I could have cut them down once sewn into the fabric.

and a shot of the cover with the elastic tucked inside but it's straight I promise:


~Travel Organiser

I added medium weight iron-on interfacing to the two largest pieces of fabric to make them stiffer. DH thinks that the closure needs re-thinking as he's not impressed by the elastic but I'm happy with them.

I've also made another one but it won't be going to it's new home for a while so for now stays hidden. There is also another Christmas present to share but that deserves a post of it's own....

Christmas gifts

Well the cold turned into flu & knocked me flat. DD got it first & in true style was generous with her germs and then I in turn gave it to DH. So Christmas was a bit of a washout in our house to be honest.

My knitting mojo has deserted me yet again and everything I touch seems to go wrong so I haven't been doing much of it. So instead I've been sewing. I made some Christmas presents but they were of the fabric kind rather than fibre.

Firstly a make up bag for my 13 year old niece:

makeup bag

Pattern: Makeup bag Tutorial by 'Come and see the Seitz'

I lined the bag in black cotton but forgot to get a photo of it open.

This was only the second time that I've inserted a zip so it was a bit nerve racking but I'm pleased with the outcome. I put a Boots giftcard inside so she can treat herself to something to put inside it.

Then a bag for her 10 year old sister:


blue batik tote bag

and a peek at the fish fabric that I used for the lining:


blue batik fish material bag lining

It's a pattern I've used before but I left off the applique this time.

The bag in particular was well received and taken to school this week with pencil case and other treasures.

I made a few other things as well but am waiting to hear that they've been received before I share the details.

Airedales playing

Although a bit late I thought some of you would enjoy these photos. The first few were taken in the heavy snow we had early in December:


Oscar jumping on Annie


Oscar sniffing something.......


Oscar enjoying the snow

Then we had more snow just before Christmas:


Oscar posing with his beloved ball


Oscar & Annie running


Oscar bouncing with his ball

Oscar LOVES the snow.....

A year later

Today a year ago I had an an accident. Due to it initially being diagnosed as a sprain I didn't see a physio for a few months. The first consultant told me I'd be walking within 3 months which proved to be too optimistic. Finally after 4 months I had a full diagnosis:

• Bone bruising (fractures under the soft surface of the bone) within my knee

• 2 torn medial hamstrings on the inside of my thigh

• Medial ligament torn off the bone

• Severe damage to the muscle on the outside of my thigh

A year later I can walk but have a pronounced limp. I'm no longer on Tramadol but have to use a walking stick if I go out and still have difficulty with lots of simple things including put a sock on my right foot.

I'm hoping to make a full recovery and am aiming to be able to run with Oscar again.

A year ago I considered two women to be very close friends.

One has been absolutely amazing. Without her help we would have probably have to re-home Oscar as I couldn't cope with him at all. She came in to help me nearly every lunch time for 7 months to walk both dogs, bring me something to eat & drink and help me to the loo etc. On rare days when she couldn't help DH would take half a day off work as I really couldn't cope all day on my own. When physiotheraphy finally started DH would drop me off on his way to work & she would pick me up as I wasn't allowed to drive until the end of May.

I haven't heard from the other friend since February or March.

It's really proven to me that when things get tough you find out who your friends are!

I've put some weight on due to the pain killing properties of chocolate and a total inability to exercise but have decided to forget about dieting this Christmas. Last year the celebrations were a fog of pain to be honest and I just want to relax and enjoy the time with my family this year. When I can move without pain I'm hoping to be able to exercise again.

I gave this amazing friend a present last week of pure cashmere yarn from ColourMart as a 'Thank You for Everything' present and it brought tears to her eyes

Now if I could only shake off this stinkin' cold.......

It goes on......

The snow is getting deeper and it's getting colder....

Poor old girl

Annie didn't enjoy her walk this morning as she had to plod through 16" of snow. She'll be 10 years old next April and is slowing down.
Oscar at 3 years of age had a fantastic time....

However this information is second hand as my knee isn't yet up to walking in snow so my husband is exercising them and has been for nearly a year.... Thanks!

Winter wonderland

It snowed heavily over night & is still coming down. I've been trying to keep the bird feeders full and clear of snow but am fighting a losing battle.

This morning Oscar bounced through a foot of snow whereas poor Annie plodded. Neither were impressed with the bucket of warm water I dipped their legs into!

The street light in the street behind our garden lends a Narnia like touch to the scene.