tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40306443337332166972024-03-13T17:53:10.643+00:00Scissors and ThreadScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-21823159242081498552017-09-05T10:35:00.000+01:002017-09-05T10:35:07.846+01:00SCHOOL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Today is the day that I'm told as a Mum, I should have been counting down to since my little boy was born. Today is the day I'm supposed to simultaneously burst with pride and dissolve in tears. Today is the day my oldest son starts school.</span></div>
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And so far I've concluded there must be something wrong with me - I just don't seem to have had the run up of teary emotions that others have. I don't have any pangs about wanting to turn back the years or wondering where my baby went. I didn't choke up as I labelled up his uniform (last minute of course). </div>
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I realise that my situation is a little different and for me today isn't just my little boy's first day at school. It marks a huge personal achievement for me. I'm so very happy that I'm here to take his first day of school photos. I'm so chuffed that it's me who gets to walk him to school and pick him up (armed with all the snacks) afterwards. If there are tears today they will be happy ones as I'm so pleased that I'm here to be part of this huge "first".</div>
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But I've also been determined not to become so overwhelmed by this milestone and whatever significance it does or doesn't hold for me and him, that I don't enjoy experiencing it. I don't know how many firsts I will get to share. I don't know how many school drop off and pick ups I will get to do. But then do any of us really? Today isn't about me - it's about James and his first experience of school. So I'm going to drop him off, hope he has fun, enjoy a cup of coffee and slice of cake in peace and look forward to hearing all about it later!</div>
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ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-88001934681015052862017-07-06T15:53:00.000+01:002017-07-06T15:53:07.081+01:00FEAST (Cookbook Challenge)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a large stash of recipe books - below is only a small selection! I spend a lot more time reading and flicking through them than I do cooking anything from them. So my husband set me a challenge to see if I could cook 3 recipes from each book. I've decided to blog it to keep me semi accountable, to remind me what I liked and didn't like and hopefully over time to improve my terrible food photography!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have always had a cook crush on Nigella and it was an obvious choice to start with one of her many books from my shelf. I've purchased most of Nigella's books as soon as they came out and watched her tv programmes whilst salivating. One of the things I like most about her books is that you can read them. It's not just a series of recipes, there are musings on where the recipe came from, what inspired it, tips on making or adapting it. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> I went to a book signing for her latest book Simply Nigella and found her charming and actually very funny answering questions. I was too embarrassed to ask any but hope I can rectify this if I make it to another signing for her newest book due out later this year. I was also thrilled to discover that she has contributed to the Vintage Mini series with Eating. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I took it as a very good omen when I was told my Oncologist looked a little like Nigella and she does a little! I keep expecting her to whip out a batch of brownies or cookies in our consultations and still always feel a little disappointed when she doesn't! </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ5aOlTLJ70/WV5JznT8YGI/AAAAAAAAAx4/MKui3-Hc5MwsjhlQfkY9P4sH6r2sPH67gCLcBGAs/s1600/Nigella%2BBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ5aOlTLJ70/WV5JznT8YGI/AAAAAAAAAx4/MKui3-Hc5MwsjhlQfkY9P4sH6r2sPH67gCLcBGAs/s400/Nigella%2BBook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Feast is my most well thumbed and food stained book of hers. It was the cook book of my 20s - any invite to friends almost certainly involved me pulling out Feast to choose a dish to cook. The Cornbread Chilli is definitely a top 5 in our household. So I decided to start this project there but to try new recipes from it that I hadn't made before.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See terrible food photo - with shadow!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I actually started this at Easter when I had my in laws staying so it was the perfect excuse to bake cakes that would get eaten by lots of people. This is the Chocolate Easter Egg Nest cake and its a perfect easy make as its supposed to sink in the middle like a nest. Load it up with icing and mini eggs and it was delicious!</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IWZzWnik0B0/WV5K71vCa2I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/TqpdthLSOsYfEu-32uPkhoGPTyf3qfYfACLcBGAs/s1600/Ham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1568" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IWZzWnik0B0/WV5K71vCa2I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/TqpdthLSOsYfEu-32uPkhoGPTyf3qfYfACLcBGAs/s400/Ham.jpg" width="391" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's really hard to make some of this look as appetising as it was to eat! Ham baked in cherry coke, squashed dauphinoise potatoes and cauliflower cheese. While the ham was lovely I have a favourite recipe of my Mum's for cooking ham and thus far nothing has topped it! But I think that is one of the lovely things about recipes and cooking - trying new ones but also savouring and enjoying the ones from my childhood that have been passed down from my Mum or Granny.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b8TeiorGt-E/WV5K7RlLu_I/AAAAAAAAAyE/ZIX1WC4CVSU3TVmQQIaZKUx4iJ0q_hp5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Chicken%2B%2526%2BSausage%2BBake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b8TeiorGt-E/WV5K7RlLu_I/AAAAAAAAAyE/ZIX1WC4CVSU3TVmQQIaZKUx4iJ0q_hp5gCEwYBhgL/s400/Chicken%2B%2526%2BSausage%2BBake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a huge fan of a tray bake meal - chuck it all together (often in advance) and pop in the oven! This one is delicious and very clever as it uses chicken, sausages and other ingredients which give it the flavour of a roast chicken dinner. It's definitely made it onto the "make again list".</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PX4POpww3kE/WV5K8K1wtrI/AAAAAAAAAyM/IaP84ADAiHIP5JvAtFSId-onTepxgYXfQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Lemon%2BCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PX4POpww3kE/WV5K8K1wtrI/AAAAAAAAAyM/IaP84ADAiHIP5JvAtFSId-onTepxgYXfQCEwYBhgL/s400/Lemon%2BCake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">And lastly the absolute winner recipe from the book - Lemon Curd Meringue Cake. I actually made the curd and given the season made it as Passionfruit Curd as per the variation suggestion. Was the curd delicious? Yes. Would I make it again? Probably not at £1 a passionfruit and needing 8, a jar of good quality passionfruit curd from the local farm shop will definitely suffice next time! I would however make lemon curd again as its so easy to make and tastes delicious! Anyway onto the cake - it was divine. Layers of cake, meringue, curd and double cream - I can't think of anything not to love and am waiting for guests or an excuse to make it again soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I've really enjoyed cooking some new recipes as part of this project. Next up is Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Meals!</span></div>
ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-78284540151865361422017-06-01T18:36:00.000+01:002017-06-01T18:36:15.617+01:00MAY MEMORIES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CVlZ_A3gBU4/WTAynlaRmiI/AAAAAAAAAu4/RcPhsTR03SkKuTjE2Wigs4OSKwAQdoneACLcB/s1600/Scooter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CVlZ_A3gBU4/WTAynlaRmiI/AAAAAAAAAu4/RcPhsTR03SkKuTjE2Wigs4OSKwAQdoneACLcB/s400/Scooter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've written <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/reflections.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> about how I wanted this blog to reflect who I am at the moment and I've decided to try to do a monthly post on what we've been up to as an online journal of sorts. I wasn't sure what to expect from May as I was starting new chemotherapy treatment and the first 6 sessions would be every week. Thankfully it's all very manageable, I'm working 2 mornings a week, having a very restful Thursday and packing a lot in with my lovely boys the rest of the time! I've been truly spoiled by my lovely friends who take it in turns to come with me to hang out on Wednesdays at the Day Spa as we've nicknamed it, supply me with meals for the tired days and magazines and lovely cakes for the better days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LOVELY LYME</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My in laws have all moved to Dorset in the past few years - my sister in law and family to just outside Dorchester and my mother in law to just outside Weymouth. Whilst it gives us a lovely base it does mean we tend to stick to those areas without exploring the rest of Dorset. So the last time we went I insisted we venture further afield to Lyme Regis for the day as I hadn't been for years. We started our morning at the <a href="https://townmillbakery.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Town Mill Bakery</a> which is the most delightful cafe. Picture long rows of wooden tables, delicious coffee, self service bread and toasting stations, piles of fluffy pastries and gorgeous looking cakes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we walked along the pier before lunch (it's a pastel Instagram dream!), visited the dinosaur museum and watched the street performances. The children were all happy digging for fossils (or eating stones if you were Thomas) and there were the obligatory ice-creams before rounding up the day with pizza on the beach for tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE COURTS NATIONAL TRUST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've been National Trust Members since we've had children but use it more some years than others. Embarrassingly <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-courts-garden" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Courts</a> is less than 10 miles from Bath and we've never been. The house is lived in by private tenants but the gardens are open to the public and are just beautiful. I'm currently obsessed by alliums and they had the most amazing displays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a children's forest school play area and we dodged the showers with a picnic and finished up with delicious cakes in the tea rooms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BRISTOL ZOO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend we packed another picnic and headed to Bristol Zoo for the first time. It was a fabulous day out and we were so busy looking at all the animals that I didn't take many photos. The flamingos were my favourite while James loved the penguins best! The zoo also has a great playground, small water splash area and a dinosaur exhibit at the moment. The flowers all around the zoo were beautiful too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MY BOYS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been trying to spend an hour or so with James each Friday just on his own. Mostly we go to a local cafe and eat too much toast or cake, browse the charity shops with change from his money box for new books and pick up any errands for the weekend. James is particularly used to standing around in flower shops while I spend forever deliberating over what to get! I can't quite believe he starts school in September so want to make the most of these precious days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thomas took his first steps last month though still seems happier crawling everywhere at top speed instead. His favourite toys are balls or anything that belongs to James rather than him and his favourite thing to do is to climb on anything he can!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And those are my May Memories! </span></div>
ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-647927995182801362017-05-25T06:00:00.000+01:002017-05-25T06:32:15.138+01:00BABY QUILTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So this is another catch up post about the 5 similar baby quilts I've made over the past 18 months. They all follow J<a href="http://www.incolororder.com/2011/08/giant-vintage-star-quilt-tutorial.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">en B star quilt tutorial</a> downsized but were made in colours to match the recipients nurseries. But taking the photos and uploading them got me thinking about the babies and their very special Mummies that I made them for so that's what I've written about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ever since I left university with an on tap supply of similar people who were available for drinks or a chat at a moment's notice, I wondered how adults made new friends. I wasn't friendless but I didn't find it easy to make new friends and once I moved to Bath I missed my old school and university friends who no longer lived locally. Gradually over the years I made new friends at work and I made online and real life friends who shared my crafting interests but that was about it. When I became pregnant I wondered how on earth I would make friends to spend my maternity leave with. Everyone said that when you had children it was easy to make friends but the idea of walking into a baby group on my own terrified me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My sister in law swore by her NCT friendship group and all but signed me up herself. For those who aren't familiar with NCT its Natural Childbirth Trust who run ante natal classes in small groups for parents to be. There is obviously a lot of focus on natural childbirth and after just one session I came away convinced I would just breathe this baby out. (For the record I didn't breathe either baby out and took all the drugs and interventions offered!) But most people go along pretending they are desperately interested in learning about it all whereas in reality they just want to meet another gang of parents who just might want to be friends with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also signed up to pregnancy yoga (again on the pretence of learning breathing techniques but in reality so that I could snooze for half an hour in the relaxation session at the end). After a few weeks of talking to the same person each week we made a throw away comment about swapping numbers the following week and meeting for a coffee. I was so excited and rang my sister in law to say I had finally made a friend. And then the next week she didn't come to class and I joked to my husband that I had scared her off. And then the next week she didn't come either and I honestly felt like crying. At the end of the class the yoga teacher approached me to explain she hadn't been able to come for a few weeks but had asked her to pass on my number. Hurrah- she didn't think I was a crazed stalker new Mum (or at least she didn't then!). Over the next couple of months with a couple other yoga Mums we had coffee and dinner and pizza and more coffee and cake so by the time our babies arrived I knew I had a group of great women to keep me company for my year off. Between the two groups there were 5 of us and in the summer after we had our babies we did Mum & Baby yoga (45 mins yoga, 2.5 hrs in the nearest coffee shop afterwards) and cemented our little friendship group.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Four and a half years later and these wonderful women are still my Mum Gang. Our first year of maternity leave was spent at baby sensory, swimming, baby massage, baby cinema, coffee shops and play dates at each other's houses. The babies every cough, wave, spot, developmental milestone and coo was admired in minute detail. Weaning success and lows, lack of sleep, teething cures, lack of sleep , feeding dramas and lack of sleep were all mulled over and analysed. Slowly we all returned to work after a year and I wondered if we would all lose touch. But by then we had more than our babies in common - though all different we had enough common ground that we were now friends because we liked each other enough and not just because we had babies the same age!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've been through many house moves, job changes, a fabulous hen weekend and wedding and many many many cups of coffee, slices of cake and glasses of wine together. And then the impending arrival of second babies started to be announced. Somehow we managed to time most of these babies into a relatively small window meaning a second year of maternity leave off together. But oh my how different it was with the seconds. No whiling away the hours at coffee shops and baby cinema this time round. No instead, the babies were strapped into slings while we rang after escaping toddlers at the park or forest school. Coffees were drank in take away cups while lobbing malt loaf and cheerios at hungry toddlers. Conversations were frequently interspersed with requests for drinks, snacks or the toilet. But it didn't seem to matter. Our second babies just fitted in in a slightly haphazard, neglected way (speaking for myself anyway who has spent the last 2 weeks moaning about Thomas' lack of sleep but failed to notice he had actually cut 2 molar teeth.......) But I thought it would be nice if each of the "neglected Team B babies" at least had their own special quilt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the past 8 months, despite having busy family lives of their own, these wonderful women have been my rocks. From practical help with childcare and food, to arranging lovely treats like afternoon tea and spa visits and magazines to read, to always being at the end of the phone or text I literally could not have got through it all without them. Or at least it wouldn't have been so much fun! They also just allow me to still be me - we still mostly talk about everyday life, our children, our work or moan about our husbands or mothers in law. We still sit scoffing cake while pretending to watch our children in their gym class where everything smells like feet. We still squeeze in nights for dinner at each others houses where there are no children to interrupt us. And very occasionally we venture "out out". We still all have good days as mums and we still all have bad days as mums. But we know that there is someone else going through it too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm so lucky to have found my Mum Gang and I was so pleased to be able to make each of them a special quilt for their second babies. In September our oldest all start school and they are all going to different schools. But this time I'm not worried about losing touch - I know our friendship will last. And anyway you can be sure I'm going to continue making them all cake on a regular basis to hang onto them!!!</span></div>
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Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06553445564452637345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-76832413201494744692017-05-11T23:05:00.000+01:002017-05-11T23:05:01.832+01:00BEHIND THE PETALS<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been scrolling through my gallery for the last month and it is photo after photo of flowers and blossom and more flowers. I could do an entire blog post of pictures of flowers (actually who am I kidding - tulips) and it would look like I'd spent the last month in a petal induced haven. But as we all know photographs don't always accurately capture our daily lives. We choose what to stop and photograph, we choose what to edit, we choose what to share and post. So I've been reflecting on just why I've taken quite so many photos of flowers and why its helped me find joy over the last month. This does of course mean that I still get to do a blog post full of photos of lovely flowers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all love a photo of flowers - in vases, in gardens, petals scattered on a table, people holding bunches of flowers and gorgeous flower shops. If you are stuck on what to put on Instagram, post some flowers, any flowers, and people are almost obliged to like it! I wrote last month about how part of the reason I had returned to blogging was to ensure that I had a place to be true and authentic to myself and to write what I wanted. So while I'm not about to post pictures of my dirty washing and toy strewn living room, a post full of pretty flowers without any context doesn't accurately capture my life recently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bottom line is cancer isn't very floral or photogenic. True, you get given lots of lovely gifts of flowers but you can't really pretty up the realities of cancer with some creatively strewn petals or greenery. A month ago after a really good stint on my first treatment I had a scan that wasn't as good. Everything stops. They act fast to change things. The old treatment that I'd gotten used to and worked out how to make fit around me was gone. There were Consultant appointments, discussions about next options, about funding, about blood results. It was a very unsettling and frightening time though luckily I still felt well throughout it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so in an effort to not drown in the vastness of it all I continued to embrace the ethos I've tried to adapt since last October. I turned it around. I sought out the things that made me smile, the things that made me laugh, the things that brought me joy. I went back to the simple things, to appreciating what was around me, to appreciating the beautiful and fun things that are there to be experienced every day. I slowed down. I opened my eyes. I rather embarrassingly discovered not one, but two blossom trees in my front garden that I hadn't noticed before! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so I sought out flowers. I got sent them, I grew them, I bought them, I stopped to photograph them everywhere. I was also lucky enough that the past month was when all the tulips planted back in October in our new garden starting popping up. I'm still not quite sure about why I've been particularly drawn to flowers but every time I see some I can't help but smile. I think its partly due to their being inherently part of nature, part of something bigger than us. The fact that they follow a natural cycle also appeals; you plant them, they grow and then they ultimately do wither but while they are here they can bring so much joy, much like we all can too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've now started new weekly treatment and I'm doing fine. I'm determined to fit this into my life and to continue my approach of appreciating the simple things in life and turning each day around. And I'm most definitely still going to be seeking out flowers!</span></div>
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ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-77315275809026354902017-04-22T22:48:00.001+01:002017-04-22T22:48:17.829+01:00KNIT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I must be the only person who is secretly pleased that the weather hasn't completely warmed up so that Thomas may get a little bit of wear out of these. I'm not a seasonal knitter. I knit as and when - that could be summer or winter meaning I often finish items at the wrong time of year. I wrote in my last post that there were lots of things I made that I've never recorded here so this is a little catch up together with some musings on knitting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I learnt to knit when I was at primary school and I still remember the teacher who called us all Miss Tight Boots as our knitting was always too tight. The wool was red and scratchy and I made a scarf that never got worn! Then when I was pregnant with my first baby I developed an overwhelming urge to knit all the tiny baby things. I managed a few little baby hats for James before he was born and a few bigger toddler ones since. The teal green one below was a pattern from the lovely <a href="http://made-inhome.blogspot.co.uk/">Nat.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've had my fair share of disastrous knitting projects too. I spent an Easter at home at my parents being so chuffed at all the free childcare help which gave me free time to knit James what I thought was a lovely jumper. I sewed it all up and went to try it on and it wouldn't go over his head, not even close. Everyone thought it was hilarious but I was gutted. I ended up leaving it behind with Mum who cleverly added some buttons so we could get it over his (not that large) head!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A second pregnancy meant I wanted to knit all the tiny baby things again and this time I had progressed to tiny cardigans and bootees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thomas was tiny and his wardrobe of beautifully knitted cardigans was way to big for him at first and I was desperate for him to grow to fit into them before the weather got too warm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like my addiction to most crafts, my rediscovery of knitting was fuelled by the beautiful materials you can now buy to create with. The huge selection and beautiful colours of modern wools are a long way from my first itchy scarlet red scarf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just recently I've been knitting a little more again. Just simple patterns. A little at a time. Much has been written about the therapeutic benefits of craft and knitting in particular. The soothing repetitive nature of easy knit and purl is calming. It requires just enough concentration to occupy my mind and stop it wondering onto things it doesn't need to worry about right now but not so much so as to tire it out. It also provides the perfect portable distraction for all the waiting I do for appointments. And then after a while you have a beautiful handmade object to keep or gift. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-77425244341100659492017-04-04T20:37:00.000+01:002017-04-04T20:37:06.155+01:00REFLECTIONS<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oyzjVenbibs/WOPwziPDtWI/AAAAAAAAAp8/JmpkXDuq4QkmWOrSNnsoNPnPkq0a0m3lQCEw/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oyzjVenbibs/WOPwziPDtWI/AAAAAAAAAp8/JmpkXDuq4QkmWOrSNnsoNPnPkq0a0m3lQCEw/s400/image1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's a long time since I've written anything here and a lot has happened in that time: </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I've had another baby boy (who is now 1!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I've made 8 quilts</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (mostly small baby ones)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I've had a promotion at work </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I've knitted 7 things (some tiny baby things and finally some things for me)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I've been diagnosed with incurable cancer </span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tiny Thomas</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of these things have meant that blogging has taken a back seat. In fact I actually came on here a month or so ago intending to close down this blog. But instead I started really thinking around why I stopped blogging. Lots has been written about how the instant gratification of Instagram has led to the decline of blogging. For me that is partially true but the bottom line is that I just I felt this blog just didn't reflect me and who I now am anymore. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I started blogging as a way of recording things that I had made (especially as most of them get given away) and through it found an amazing online community. At the time I had lots of spare time and was able to spend hours sewing, reading quilting magazines and browsing lovely fabric websites. I didn't quite believe it when people started following and commenting back. But I still tried to remain true to my reason for blogging - an online diary and voice - rather than writing posts attempting to please others or gain more followers. But with the shift in my life over the past couple of years I no longer have much time for creating. In addition to this some of the treatment I receive affects my hands and my ability to sew or knit at times. So I thought as I didn't have anything to contribute a lot of the time I should just close this old blog down. But then I thought about the amazing sewing community who I would miss, about not having somewhere to record what I am able to create and most importantly no longer having somewhere to put my thoughts down. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJWz10yt_3c/WOPw1tIguNI/AAAAAAAAAqg/adOofCw2uMMOu47Sa06avyRvnCJCEWVAQCEw/s1600/image8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJWz10yt_3c/WOPw1tIguNI/AAAAAAAAAqg/adOofCw2uMMOu47Sa06avyRvnCJCEWVAQCEw/s400/image8.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A visit from my oldest online sewing buddy Justine and the lovely Katy!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So instead I've decided to keep this blog, to try and do some catch up posts on what I've made recently and to maybe even write some new posts which better reflect who I am and what's important in my life at the moment. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't plan on this becoming a "mum blog" or a "cancer blog" or a "lifestyle blog" (not that there's anything wrong with any of these as blogs!) I also don't want to build a huge following or turn my blog into an income source. I just want a space that is mine, that reflects me and right now that's a mix of a whole lot of different things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what is important to me now? What exactly does represent who I am now? I still love to sew, knit, cook and bake when I can. And of course I love my boys and the little people they are becoming more than anything in the world. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since I was diagnosed I've developed a new appreciation for the little things, the simple pleasures in life. I don't have a bucket list that involves jumping out of planes or seeing far flung places. Instead I decided to focus on slowing down, appreciating each day, finding joy in the smallest things, using little treats to turn around even the most rubbish of days. My <a href="https://www.instagram.com/scissorsthread/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram account </a>is full of the little things that have made me smile in the last 6 months - my boys, flowers, cake, books, things I've made, coffee, places I've been. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I'm hoping on expanding all this here and making it a place where I have more space to write and one that truly reflects who I am now.</span><br />
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Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06553445564452637345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-21697268190806408352015-05-22T08:15:00.000+01:002015-05-22T08:15:00.349+01:00George's Quilt<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is another catch up post of a 2014 finish. I made this quilt for James' lovely godmother, Emma, to gift to her first nephew George.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fabrics are a bundle that has been in my stash for years from my very first trip to Festival of Quilts. The back is an old Ikea print - I wish they still made these!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the pattern is the very fast and very satisfying Disappearing Nine Patch.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6CEC-G-DOM/VVZXzqZvuSI/AAAAAAAAAnE/i2JymITdv2o/s1600/DSC_0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6CEC-G-DOM/VVZXzqZvuSI/AAAAAAAAAnE/i2JymITdv2o/s400/DSC_0074.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linking up with Finish it up Friday at <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a></span></div>
ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-67578154782496462122015-05-15T21:11:00.000+01:002015-05-15T21:41:39.521+01:00Rachel's Giant Purple Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mNX9tTawpPk/VVZPPxsledI/AAAAAAAAAmo/ujeeaJgnvN8/s1600/Rachel's%2BQuilt%2BClose%2Bup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mNX9tTawpPk/VVZPPxsledI/AAAAAAAAAmo/ujeeaJgnvN8/s400/Rachel's%2BQuilt%2BClose%2Bup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the biggest quilt I have ever (and for the record will ever) make! It is a very late 30th birthday present for my very patient sister.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started it back <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/a-new-start.html" target="_blank">here</a> in July 2012 with this lovely stack of fabrics. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/7599127260" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Fabrics for my sister's quilt by Amanda, on Flickr"><img alt="Fabrics for my sister's quilt" height="263" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7135/7599127260_8eebddf01f_k.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I stalled. In my defence I had got pregnant and then I had a baby and then I went back to work and then I ran out of excuses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rachel has a king size bed so this was going to need to be a big quilt so I decided to try Quilt As You Go. And my verdict? Well the positive is that it gave a beautiful finish to each block and made it look heavily quilted without the need to push an enormous quilt through the machine. But the downside is it is hugely repetitive and just a little bit boring! Luckily I loved these fabrics so they maintained my interest which is a good thing seeing as how long I spent working on this! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily she loves it!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMe6T-jDNh8/VVZPB8LEH8I/AAAAAAAAAmg/x8ZJQaSeGXM/s1600/Rachel's%2BQuilt%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMe6T-jDNh8/VVZPB8LEH8I/AAAAAAAAAmg/x8ZJQaSeGXM/s400/Rachel's%2BQuilt%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my link up post for the Blogger's Quilt Festival Spring 2015 with <a href="http://amyscreativeside.com/2015/05/15/bloggers-quilt-festival-spring-2015/" target="_blank">Amy's Creative Side</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/good-neighbors-scrap-happy-purse.html" target="_blank">Finish it up Friday</a> at Crazy Mom Quilts and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://quarterinchfromtheedge.blogspot.ca/2015/05/tgiff-is-here.html" target="_blank">Thank Goodness it's Finished Friday</a></span></div>
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ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-8139088775615535682015-02-05T21:37:00.001+00:002015-02-05T21:38:07.711+00:00What I'm working on right now .....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AjOP58uJrRs/VNPdTWsN4YI/AAAAAAAAAk0/fz_NySbMYwQ/s1600/Rachel's%2Bquilt%2Bblocks%2Bstack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AjOP58uJrRs/VNPdTWsN4YI/AAAAAAAAAk0/fz_NySbMYwQ/s1600/Rachel's%2Bquilt%2Bblocks%2Bstack.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm enjoying being back in this space and recording all my missed makes. And in doing so I have been thinking some more about why I stepped away from it. A couple of things stood out. Firstly I don't have as much time to create anymore so I didn't have as many finished things to blog and so I simply blogged less often. Secondly because of this, the blog just became a record of things I had made without any mention of the process, decision making, and fun involved in making them. My efforts to simply just have a record of what I made had led to a very depersonalised account and when I read back over it it just didn't seem to reflect who I was. I've also been sorting through my online photos and realising how many things I do that I don't record. So with that in mind this post is simply as stated - a look back at what I worked on (but didn't necessarily finish) in January and a look forward to what I'm working on in February.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been working on these Quilt As You Go blocks for my sister's 30th forever (don't ask how old she is now!) Finally I have completed 42 of them and sewn them all together. I now just need to pin a back on, add some quilting lines and bind it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J-uF3zwYG-w/VNPeQy2EkJI/AAAAAAAAAk8/yuTPZN51k2w/s1600/Rachel's%2Bquilt%2Btop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J-uF3zwYG-w/VNPeQy2EkJI/AAAAAAAAAk8/yuTPZN51k2w/s1600/Rachel's%2Bquilt%2Btop.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There has also been some knitting: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot of coffee drinking:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FY9fUQgsWf0/VNPeadI1PDI/AAAAAAAAAlg/e-lUYCIxCrs/s1600/Coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FY9fUQgsWf0/VNPeadI1PDI/AAAAAAAAAlg/e-lUYCIxCrs/s1600/Coffee.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some organising of the new sewing loft:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SQv1EwyWBuU/VNPebYwVjUI/AAAAAAAAAlo/ihKer4b-PvA/s1600/Quilting%2Bbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SQv1EwyWBuU/VNPebYwVjUI/AAAAAAAAAlo/ihKer4b-PvA/s1600/Quilting%2Bbooks.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And exploring of the new house:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Hr-1_CMj8Y/VNPfmGLuDoI/AAAAAAAAAlw/h6py-BkAps4/s1600/James'%2Bhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Hr-1_CMj8Y/VNPfmGLuDoI/AAAAAAAAAlw/h6py-BkAps4/s1600/James'%2Bhouse.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next month should see some more work on the quilt and the cowl (which to me sounds like the title of my ideal craft book). And hopefully starting a birthday present project for James with this lovely fabric:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J2P_A18VUqM/VNPea35fYwI/AAAAAAAAAlk/N4XAWRKJtgo/s1600/New%2Bfabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J2P_A18VUqM/VNPea35fYwI/AAAAAAAAAlk/N4XAWRKJtgo/s1600/New%2Bfabric.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And hopefully (please I desperately hope) the first house renovation project should also get completed.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dJqtIxQ3Pg/VNPeaBM063I/AAAAAAAAAlQ/nGTY_95D4TM/s1600/Bathroom%2Bbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dJqtIxQ3Pg/VNPeaBM063I/AAAAAAAAAlQ/nGTY_95D4TM/s1600/Bathroom%2Bbefore.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-31739815616580046722015-01-30T22:07:00.000+00:002015-01-30T22:07:37.684+00:00A Christmas Quilt (in January)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKfycBI9z0k/VMv6n8zHMfI/AAAAAAAAAkU/HawmsRYNNEY/s1600/DSC_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKfycBI9z0k/VMv6n8zHMfI/AAAAAAAAAkU/HawmsRYNNEY/s1600/DSC_0243.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the first of my catch up projects from last year. Every December since I started quilting I would look at all the lovely Christmas quilts and wish I had the time to make one. So this year I started in July! I still didn't finish it until December but this year for the first time I snuggled up watching The Snowman (a lot - James became somewhat obsessed) under my very own Christmas quilt.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LoyxZfyxAks/VMv6oHU-EwI/AAAAAAAAAkM/9RnxX2U3Am0/s1600/DSC_0244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LoyxZfyxAks/VMv6oHU-EwI/AAAAAAAAAkM/9RnxX2U3Am0/s1600/DSC_0244.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't get around to taking any photos until now but I figured as there is a lot of snow in the UK and it is still January I can get away with it! These are taken in the new garden which is somewhat sloped, step ridden and unsuitable for quilt photo taking - honestly a suitable quilt backdrop really should have featured higher in my house essential list.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rxZLx7nUms/VMv6o9qJ_aI/AAAAAAAAAkc/Hg9bYQN7omM/s1600/DSC_0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rxZLx7nUms/VMv6o9qJ_aI/AAAAAAAAAkc/Hg9bYQN7omM/s1600/DSC_0256.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fabric: Moda Countdown to Christmas & Timeless Treasures in Cream Sketch, Binding - Kona Charcoal, Backing is Ikea Britten Numbers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pattern: <a href="http://www.lecien.co.jp/en/hobby/patterns/img/st_ives.pdf" target="_blank">Made in Cherry</a> by Sarah Fielke</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quilting: I followed Katie's fab guide <a href="http://www.the-littlest-thistle.com/2013/01/how-i-quilted-my-indie-star.html" target="_blank">here</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWQp0InbxTY/VMv6n2DGeuI/AAAAAAAAAkI/jOJqEncC1bU/s1600/DSC_0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWQp0InbxTY/VMv6n2DGeuI/AAAAAAAAAkI/jOJqEncC1bU/s1600/DSC_0254.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I may be using this for another few months yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linking up with Finish it up Friday at <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/a-mish-mash-of-finishes.html" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts </a></span></div>
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<a href="http://tgiffriday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="TGIFF"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OY3a_N2KxI0/UGpO-s7LVwI/AAAAAAAACwE/EpSYVY17B9M/s800/tgiff-button-blog.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which this week is at <a href="http://devotedquilter.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Devoted Quilter</a></span></div>
ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-67490805588449525642015-01-24T22:34:00.000+00:002015-01-24T22:34:31.107+00:002014 - where did you go?<div style="text-align: start;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I've been looking back through my photos and noticed just how long it is since I blogged. Going back to work part time in May meant that life just got a lot busier. But ironically I actually sewed more in the second half of the year once I was back at work. I decided that I wanted to spend more time making stuff than thinking about things I would like to make. So something had to give and a combination of less time, a broken photo connector and an iPhone in the washing machine meant blogging was it. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">At the end of the year I read <a href="http://verykerryberry.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/money-money-money.html#comment-form" target="_blank">this post</a> by Kerry and her comments on blogging got me thinking about the reasons I started this blog and to begin with it was simply to record the things I made. So I've got some projects I finished in the past 6 months that I want to catch up on blogging so I have a record of them all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But in the meantime and in order to not let the second half of 2014 completely slip by here is short summary of 2014 courtesy of Instagram.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Djgby1SPPDg/VMQXcuU7n_I/AAAAAAAAAjk/ZzrI9c9uCj4/s1600/IMG_0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Djgby1SPPDg/VMQXcuU7n_I/AAAAAAAAAjk/ZzrI9c9uCj4/s1600/IMG_0065.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've also really missed the blogging process, the reading and commenting on other's blogs, the lovely people I met, the feeling part of an online community so I'm going to blog a little more often and find my place here again.</span></div>
ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-50519460597169460842014-06-13T14:11:00.002+01:002014-06-13T14:11:45.557+01:00Charlie's Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiEzX08qAoE/U5r4JIrC4jI/AAAAAAAAAiw/yC5BbLcK0Fw/s1600/Charlie's+Quilt+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiEzX08qAoE/U5r4JIrC4jI/AAAAAAAAAiw/yC5BbLcK0Fw/s1600/Charlie's+Quilt+front.jpg" height="395" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My very good friend Charlie was 30 some time ago and I promised to make her a quilt. Luckily for me she is a very good friend (she bought me a </span><a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/i-made-knickers.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">knicker making workshop</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for my 30th!) and was very patient waiting while I "adjusted" to motherhood. And by that I mean adjusted to the serious curtailment of my sewing time!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TxiCp3AwzI/U5r4LNFYwZI/AAAAAAAAAi4/E8sXFM7M1Pc/s1600/Charlie's+quilt+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TxiCp3AwzI/U5r4LNFYwZI/AAAAAAAAAi4/E8sXFM7M1Pc/s1600/Charlie's+quilt+back.jpg" height="383" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pattern is <a href="http://www.incolororder.com/2011/08/giant-vintage-star-quilt-tutorial.html" target="_blank">Jeni's lovely giant star</a> and I followed Katy's lovely tutorial for quilting it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fabric is a very old Tula Pink line - Hushabye and the back is a Riley Blake extra wide chevron (it was so lovely not piecing a back)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I see more of these in my future. </span></div>
ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-9708506342026436562014-03-15T20:34:00.003+00:002014-03-15T20:34:59.591+00:00Paper Crafting<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a lot of fabric scraps so last month I tried something new with them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unsuprisingly everyone in my antenatal group has a baby celebrating their first birthday at the same time. I was uninspired (& unimpressed by the cost) of what was on offer in the shops so made a batch of these too. Definitely time for a new needle when I finished.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also did a little paper crafting for my own boy's birthday invitations and decorations!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now all the birthday celebrations are over - it's time to get back to sewing. I have at least another quilt to make before I go back to work in 7 weeks eek!!!</span>ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-83374310993711450492014-02-09T16:00:00.001+00:002014-02-09T16:00:46.096+00:00Adventures with Wool - No. 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm browsing knitting patterns at the moment as I miss having something to do in front of the television in the evenings and I realised I had some more finishes from last year that I hadn't blogged this time of the woollen variety!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKyhDuUfwJc/UtmQZSJ1REI/AAAAAAAAAfI/V0cepqFFArM/s1600/James%2527+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKyhDuUfwJc/UtmQZSJ1REI/AAAAAAAAAfI/V0cepqFFArM/s1600/James%2527+hat.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made lots of <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/a-tale-of-3-hats-adventures-with-wool.html">these hats</a> when I was pregnant so made another one in a bigger size for James in the autumn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also finally finished the crocheted ripple blanket. The pattern is on <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html" target="_blank">Attic 24's blog</a>. I loved making this curled up on the sofa in the evenings in front of mindless television. I'm really missing it and am tempted to make another one but this time big enough for me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm making the most of making James model my woollen goodies before he is old enough to object!</span></div>
ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-40567593304939421642014-02-01T21:18:00.000+00:002014-02-09T15:58:27.854+00:00Thomas' Quilt<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My very good friend from work, Lauren, had a lovely little boy 3 weeks ago and today I got to meet him and hand over his quilt in person.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xt63N-lFNiA/Uu1c8QYeltI/AAAAAAAAAg4/KkLlcucp-Tg/s1600/Thomas'+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xt63N-lFNiA/Uu1c8QYeltI/AAAAAAAAAg4/KkLlcucp-Tg/s1600/Thomas'+Quilt.jpg" height="640" width="482" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I offered to make Lauren a quilt for the impending arrival I asked if she had nursery colours in mind. She sent me this photo which I hope I matched well. Terrible weather this morning meant not very good photos!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the middle of January I started with <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/something-new.html" target="_blank">this</a> selection of fabrics a</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nd finished hand stitching the binding down last night.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uczxLd1rIXQ/Uu1c7ZFVOsI/AAAAAAAAAg8/t3VdZX54qKY/s1600/Thomas%2527+Quilt+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uczxLd1rIXQ/Uu1c7ZFVOsI/AAAAAAAAAg8/t3VdZX54qKY/s1600/Thomas%2527+Quilt+back.jpg" height="640" width="488" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fabric: Safari Soiree by Dan Stiles for Birch Fabrics, Kona Snow and Aqua Sketch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pattern: Little Man from <a href="http://www.camilleroskelley.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Camille's</a> Simplify book</span><br />
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<a href="http://lilysquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/fresh-sewing-day-and-small-blog-meet.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Lily's Quilts"><img alt="Lily's Quilts" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wq1RbuDPH10/UGiU7-dNjcI/AAAAAAAAFLk/X8vT4yp2Us0/s150/FSDB.png" style="border: none;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-70165501840720720262014-01-17T21:02:00.000+00:002014-01-17T21:02:31.208+00:00A stocking & a quilt<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mentioned in my last post that I hadn't done a lot of sewing towards the end of last year. But I was absolutely determined to make a stocking for James' first Christmas.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C0ZJl60qJDY/UtmWDSFoqAI/AAAAAAAAAf8/29CtRAm-uVc/s1600/photo-4+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C0ZJl60qJDY/UtmWDSFoqAI/AAAAAAAAAf8/29CtRAm-uVc/s1600/photo-4+copy.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used <a href="http://www.camilleroskelley.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Camille's</a> Merry <a href="http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/product/merry-pattern-141-pdf" target="_blank">pattern</a> and finished it the night before we left to go to Ireland for Christmas.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TzA2wqb1zOw/UtmWA4pu0UI/AAAAAAAAAf0/ou-XYvbner0/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TzA2wqb1zOw/UtmWA4pu0UI/AAAAAAAAAf0/ou-XYvbner0/s1600/photo-4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems to have been a success!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x1NqYTyBe4w/UtmYj7Gl-6I/AAAAAAAAAgQ/CMhXXGZtl5A/s1600/James+&+Stocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x1NqYTyBe4w/UtmYj7Gl-6I/AAAAAAAAAgQ/CMhXXGZtl5A/s1600/James+&+Stocking.jpg" height="320" width="307" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also used the leftover fabric from <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/bens-quilt.html">Ben's Quilt</a> to make a similar pram sized one for James' Christmas present.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linking up with Finish it up Friday at <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a> </span><br />
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<a href="http://tgiffriday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="TGIFF"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OY3a_N2KxI0/UGpO-s7LVwI/AAAAAAAACwE/EpSYVY17B9M/s800/tgiff-button-blog.jpg" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which this week is at <a href="http://thatssojulie.blogspot.ca/2014/01/tgiff-small-finishes.html" target="_blank">That's Sew Julie</a></span>ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-82011865437049609032014-01-15T15:24:00.001+00:002014-01-15T15:24:13.668+00:00Something new<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a while! I haven't sewn and therefore blogged in a long time. 2013 was quite a year for me. But there will be no apologies and no recaps of what was or wasn't done. It's January - a time for new starts and looking forward. So with that in mind I've started a new quilt for my best friend in work who just had a little baby boy last week.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpKlBOUW6iQ/Utam_XhVS_I/AAAAAAAAAe4/ZY5q7krHUog/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpKlBOUW6iQ/Utam_XhVS_I/AAAAAAAAAe4/ZY5q7krHUog/s400/DSC_0043.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fabric is Safari Soiree by Dan Stiles for Birch Fabrics with some Aqua Sketch and Kona Snow. I'm using the Little Man pattern from <a href="http://www.camilleroskelley.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Camille's</a> first book Simplify.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now this is what I am working on mostly in nap times and a little in the evenings. I am trying to just focus on one machine sewing project at a time so for the next few weeks this is it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linking up with: </span></div>
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<br />ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-1568275001088142132013-09-23T08:00:00.000+01:002013-09-23T08:00:03.689+01:003 Random Things<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Back when we were pregnant <a href="http://aprairiesunrise.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sharon</a> and I arranged a little baby goodies swap. Well my lovely parcel arrived last week and I was very spoiled with lovely cloths, a flannel blanket, mini sewing kit and gorgeous pixie hat for James.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9789109756/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Swap goodies from A Prairie Sunrise by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Swap goodies from A Prairie Sunrise" height="201" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/9789109756_5a396af892.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. I made another 2 fabric baskets</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Summer is well and truly over and I've pulled out all my Christmas fabric to choose some to make a stocking for the baby boy using <a href="http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/product/merry-pattern-141-pdf" target="_blank">this lovely pattern</a> from Camille. (And yes I just quickly pulled the duvet cover over all the random stuff on my bed to take this photo - keeping it real!)</span></div>
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ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-6044108225183790422013-09-21T08:00:00.000+01:002013-09-21T08:00:03.604+01:00Adventures with Wool<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started knitting at the end of last year when I was pregnant and last blogged my adventures with wool <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/a-tale-of-3-hats-adventures-with-wool.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since then I've finished the matinee jacket (and made James wear it at least 3 times before our heatwave!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9788607286/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="James' Matinee Jacket by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="James' Matinee Jacket" height="333" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3674/9788607286_3bb73b0451.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've also started a new hat for James</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9788683286/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="A new project - a baby hat! by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="A new project - a baby hat!" height="264" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5481/9788683286_b45705b130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and almost finished my crochet ripple blanket</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9788746303/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crochet blanket almost there! by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Crochet blanket almost there!" height="264" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/9788746303_d3eb409d13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But my biggest challenge was this little jumper</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9788588884/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="James' Jumper by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="James' Jumper" height="329" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5461/9788588884_a62a03ffb4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent most of a week's holiday at my parents working on it when I had lots of babysitters (and so my Mum could help me with the neckband). I proudly cast it off and with just the last few side seams to sew up, held it up to said cherub and very quickly realised there was no way it would go over his head. It was thrown down in disgust and left behind with my Mum to wave some magic. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9788599516/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="James' Jumper Back by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="James' Jumper Back" height="323" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5344/9788599516_5ba1f1c33e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which she most certainly did with the addition of these clever buttons. And I couldn't resist a picture of the little man himself modelling it!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9788636184/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Untitled by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="400" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/9788636184_9ca3a24938.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-90349489270277144062013-09-20T08:00:00.000+01:002013-09-20T08:00:01.617+01:00Ben's Quilt<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember this little stack of fabric?</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8543110574/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Making fabric combinations - red & grey elephants. by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Making fabric combinations - red & grey elephants." height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8543110574_1f261518a8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well I finally made it into a quilt hurrah! In fact I made it a month or so ago for friends who live nearby and had a little boy 3 months after James was born. The very first quilt I gave away was a <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/baby-boy-play-mat.html" target="_blank">little playmat</a> I made for Ben's older brother Adam. (I'm rather embarrassed looking at it now but it's nice to see how far I've come with my quilting.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9788611736/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Ben's Quilt by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Ben's Quilt" height="397" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/9788611736_783692df6d.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simple tumbers (cut using a template - I really need a Sissex!), backed in Ikea hippo print, quilted 1/4" in from the seams and a Bonnie & Camille spotty binding.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9788677733/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Ben's Quilt Back by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Ben's Quilt Back" height="433" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/9788677733_42e2e2ca63.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one was hard to give away - so just as well I have enough Tumblers left to make a little pram quilt for James.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linking up with Finish it up Friday at <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a> </span><br />
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<a href="http://tgiffriday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="TGIFF"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OY3a_N2KxI0/UGpO-s7LVwI/AAAAAAAACwE/EpSYVY17B9M/s800/tgiff-button-blog.jpg" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which this week is at <a href="http://www.missymaccreations.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">MissyMacCreations</a></span>ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-32022943185459449612013-09-18T08:00:00.000+01:002013-09-18T08:00:03.492+01:00Hello!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Erm now where was I? Is there anyone still here? It's been ages since I blogged anything but I have been doing a tiny bit of sewing over the past couple of months. Now that I don't have a sewing room I find it easier to work on one main project at a time (with a little bit of cheating with different things at the weekend!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9788325765/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Rachel's Quilt Blocks by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Rachel's Quilt Blocks" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/9788325765_9faeeb193b.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My current Work in Progress is this huge quilt as you go quilt for my sister's 30th (she is 31 later this month . . . . . .) I've got a little system in place where my machine is set up on the kitchen table and I can sew a few strips at a time when the baby boy naps. I now have 21 out of 36 done and I've run out of wadding so can fully justify working on something else until I create some more wadding scraps!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linking up for the first time in ages with </span><br />
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<a href="http://freshlypieced.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced" height="150" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8253389546_fdb631e427_o.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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<br />ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-22415618760095341342013-07-13T20:22:00.002+01:002013-07-13T20:22:56.490+01:00A lovely gift<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello! I should say straight off that the lovely quilt below wasn't made by me - it was made by the lovely Reene who blogs at <a href="http://nelliesniceties.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Nellie's Niceties.</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9279092116/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="James' quilt - made by Reene by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="James' quilt - made by Reene" height="264" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/9279092116_38b2227c68.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fabric is gorgeous and it's the perfect size for a lovely play mat for James.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9279091334/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Fabric detail by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Fabric detail" height="264" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5444/9279091334_9f8a363226.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reene designed this quilt herself - isn't it fabulous. The pattern will be released together with kits for making it through <a href="http://simplysolids.co.uk/" target="_blank">Simply Solids</a> in time for Festival of Quilts. You can read all about it and see other versions of the quilts on Reene's post <a href="http://nelliesniceties.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/sneaky-stars.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/9276309481/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Quilting detail by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Quilting detail" height="264" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/9276309481_4dab159904.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other news things have been a little quiet on this blog recently - it's been a challenging few months and I haven't been doing a lot of sewing. You can't have missed the blog posts from everyone introducing themselves before the Fat Quarterly Retreat. I made the difficult decision a few weeks ago not to go this year - the timing just isn't right for me. I will be sorry to miss it and especially not to catch up with everyone but there will be other years! </span></div>
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<br />ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-4558305096741790262013-05-17T10:24:00.000+01:002014-06-13T13:51:20.048+01:00My new favourite quilt!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my entry into the <a href="http://amyscreativeside.com/2013/05/17/bloggers-quilt-festival-scrap-quilts/" target="_blank">Scrap Quilt </a>category of <a href="http://amyscreativeside.com/2013/05/17/bloggers-quilt-festival-spring-2013/" target="_blank">Blogger's Quilt Festival</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8724371682/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="DSC_0598 by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_0598" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/8724371682_4a77bea818.jpg" height="331" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been making this quilt for a very long time. It is from <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a> 9 patch a day quilt. Every time I made a quilt I used the scraps to make 9 patches. I love it because it reminds me of lots of quilts I have made and given away like <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/christophers-quilt.html">this one</a> and <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/bronwyns-quilt.html">this one</a> and <a href="http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/iris-delilah-quilt.html">this one</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8723253065/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="DSC_0604 by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_0604" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/8723253065_cb79ab6c2f.jpg" height="331" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided that being 8 and a half months pregnant was the perfect time to sash, baste and quilt a 66" x 90"quilt! In fact I finished machine sewing the binding on to the front half an hour before I went into labour.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8723253177/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="DSC_0601 by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_0601" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/8723253177_5e164bed9d.jpg" height="362" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been hand sewing the binding on in 10 minute gaps between baby feeding and cuddling and a trip to the mother in law's garden at the weekend provided the perfect photo backdrop.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8724372382/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="DSC_0595 by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_0595" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/8724372382_aef411d0f2.jpg" height="331" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4030644333733216697.post-23127272093433381272013-04-13T15:10:00.002+01:002013-04-13T15:10:30.615+01:00Lovely handmade gifts<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favourite thing about blogging and social media is all the lovely people I have met online (& some in real life too). I am lucky enough that some of these people have become friends. And James and I have been sent some lovely gifts by some of them too.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8644609607/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Engraved wooden heart from sewjustinesew by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Engraved wooden heart from sewjustinesew" height="264" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8644609607_81eb9702f4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Engraved wooden heart from <a href="http://sewjustinesew.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Justine</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8644605951/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Burp cloth from sewonderfulife by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Burp cloth from sewonderfulife" height="264" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8118/8644605951_01a672babd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Appliqued burp cloth from <a href="http://sewonderfulife.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Catherine</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8645702208/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Burp cloths from verykerryberry by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Burp cloths from verykerryberry" height="264" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8544/8645702208_82dac774fc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Burp cloths from <a href="http://verykerryberry.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Kerry</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't wait to meet/catch up with these lovely ladies at the Fat Quarterly Retreat in July.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may remember the progress on my crochet blanket:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8512995864/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crochet blanket progress by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Crochet blanket progress" height="214" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8512995864_21d146ded3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well my Mum decided to make one too and luckily for James and I she is a lot quicker than me so he has a finished blanket!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scissorsandthread/8644608299/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crochet blanket made by my Mum by Scissors & Thread, on Flickr"><img alt="Crochet blanket made by my Mum" height="264" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8644608299_294c82d27f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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ScissorsandThreadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480792077919226095noreply@blogger.com6