fresh new fabrics to brighten the day..

These fabrics just sing out to me "it's a beautiful sunny day, the flowers are out and the birds are singing".

A perfect day where you just feel good to be alive.

I want to make some cheery bunting, birdy wreaths, little cushions, just to enjoy all these pretty colours.

Procrastinating...

There's been a lot of fluffing about and procrastinating at Gozi & Pop headquarters this week.

I should be well underway making Christmas Advent Calenders by now.  Don't be alarmed about the mention of Christmas, but the reality is all stock goes into stores in October.  And last year I told myself I would start making my calenders in July!  But I just can't get into the rhythm of it.  I will get out all the fabrics, cut out some squares and then go and do something else.  Then come back and pack it all away.

But today I saw this fabulous panel at my local quilting shop and it's given me some good ideas.

Stay tuned!

Apart from all my fluffing about I did make some pretty pink and purple bunting for a custom order.  

Over 3 metres worth - lots of different patterns & prints.

Now to start those Advent Calenders!

new cushions for Spring..

I have just finished making this cute little cushion.  It's a custom order for a christening.  It was left up to me to pick the fabrics so I decided to go for a sweet and playful design with a bit of nature rather than too pink and girly.

and on the reverse

I think I spent more time choosing the fabrics than it took to sew up.

This is a cushion partly made by my son.  Using a special marker (it disappears when you spray water on it) my son drew a picture onto a piece of fabric.  Then using different coloured threads, I hand stitched over his 'rocket blast off' drawing.  It's a fun thing to do and a nice keepsake.  It could also be put in a frame, but we decided to make it into a cushion.

and this was an unfinished piece that had been lying around for far too long.  It too has been turned into a cushion.

I stitched these letters so long ago, I can't remember what the stitch is called or how to do it!

a bit of spring cleaning..

So happy Spring is finally here.  I love opening up all the windows and having a good clean out.
On the spur of the  moment I loaded up the car on Saturday afternoon with the kid's old skateboards, 2 big bags of unworn and outgrown clothes, books, magazines, shoes & bags and whatever else we were no longer using.  Then Sunday morning went to the local secondhand market and set up a stall.

I'd hardly unloaded the car when two teenage girls came past and bought the skateboards.  They were really happy and skated off with them.  I think our little dog  wanted to keep the orange one though.

It was a good morning.  I made a bit of pocket money, got to have a coffee & read a magazine in peace without the kids and some shoppers bought some bargains.

In my spring cleaning mode I finally sorted out some of my fabrics.

before (what a mess)

after (nicely colour co-ordinated now).