fan-daby-dosey friday

Ok, so I summoned the energy today to upload some pics including the 'before' and 'after' of my sewing class bag! My mother would be so proud, I managed to perfectly match the stripes - even now I cannot buy a garment unless the pattern matches perfectly at the seams - I know, I know.... no wonder I have prefectionist tendencies !!

Happy with my two bags that I've made so far, the second one is a really simple tote but I like to use contrasting fabric for either side so it works well to use a different FQ for each side. A total contrast to the matching pattern matter!!

The bag pattern is just the right size for one side and a handle per FQ. You can't really see from the pics, but it's one bag with two totally different sides!

I didn't get to my next sewing project today as planned but I did get my new desk painted with it's first coat so that was something. Have had a lingering stuffed nose for a couple of days and it was accompanied today with a sinus headache so looks like another bout of sinusitis is on the way ! However, took a berocca and hoped for the best - I am far too busy to be sick!!

I found a gorgeous on-line fabric shop recently, through a slightly circuitous route (love that word, had to spell-check it though !) : Long story so stay with me - I once discovered a blog called Twelve22 when I was googling something or other. Lovely blog - great photos. Via that, I discovered Tree Fall written by a lady called Manda who used to edit a magazine I once read. Another lovely blog, very inspiring. On that blog, I discovered another blog by a lady called Karen who runs Blueberry Park, a fab on-line shop carrying lots of goodies. Karen posted about this on-line store called Saints & Pinners run by a lady and her mother-in-law : I mean really, could they have come up with a better name for a fabric shop?!! So, lured by Karen's nice post, I clicked into S&P and it is looooovely ! The postal rates are reasonable to Ireland which makes a change, and they have a nice selection of groovy fabrics. I saw a nice Amy Butler pattern for a bag and emailed the shop to ask what level it would be for - so they told me they would have a look and come back to me - yeah right, I thought, heard that before. Lo and behold a couple of days later an email came winging back to me to say it looked fine for beginners. To be honest, I reckoned it would be but didn't want to find it was awfully convoluted once it arrived. So following such good service, I hot-footed back and bought the pattern and some fabric, so really looking forward to getting all that! Also bought some groovy fabric on ebay and a new rotary cutter from another ebay store, so lots of goodies en route to me. Also due some jewellery components from NZ, busy time for my postie coming up !

This weekend is a bank holiday here, so really looking forward to a lazy one - hope to finish my desk and get my sewing machine and 'stuff' up there and out of my Beloved's way - we really need a bigger house - damn property market crash ! Also I need to get in a proper Artist's Date, today I took my sketch book out but didn't do much aside from doodle bags (obsessed!) so not really an AD. Can't think what I want to do for one, that seems to be the problem. Hoping for inspiration over the weekend.

Beloved is baking a cake as I type - lemon drizzle - yummmm. I have to go to my niece's confirmation next week and if I keep eating I won't be able to get into my outfit - argh !!!

anyway, cake ahoy and now it's time to watch 'Brothers & Sisters' on Sky+ : my abso fave programme !!!