going on a bear hunt...

Just as I was sitting down to write this post, I started singing "I'm going to write a blog post, it's going to be a big one, what am I going to do? I'm not scared".  With immense apologies to Michael Rosen, it made me giggle.  Anyway *awkward shoe shuffle*, cracking on....

After my last post, Pennie commented that I should join up with the #sew4sanity gang over on IG. The rules are pretty straight forward:

1. finish something I've started
2. sew with hoarded loved fabric
3. make something that's not a quilt (like a bag or garment)
4. sew something completely outside of my comfort zone.

And you can mix and match so one project could cover more than one of the rules.  The aim is for it to be a monthly goal to meet all of the rules. At the same time, I've been waking up thinking about patterns and sewing, so McMojo is clearly feeling better and (whisper it) a bit keen.  

These two things have given me the incentive to get off my backside and make the side kick tote I promised Sue, the incredibly patient winner of my giveaway in October last year. To meet the rules, I used some hoarded Tula Pink raccoons for the lining (#2), I made a bag (#3) and I took myself completely out of my comfort zone by putting in my first ever flush zipped pocket into the bag lining (#4).  Boom!

I couldn't quite get my head around the flushed zip until I realised it was like a porthole then it all clicked and I was away.

not perfect, but not bad for my first time

It was only after I'd finished that I'd figured out that I could have practised on scrap fabric rather than going live with the poor raccoons. D'oh!  Anyhoo, it worked out OK. The rest of the bag came together pretty easily.

I need to iron it!

It was a fab accident that ninja racoon showed up and hit the middle of the zip and it give anyone not allowed in the evils!

I added a wee label, you know, to make it more designer!

So, this bag has really helped get me back into the swing of things and ultimately, I really enjoyed sewing it together.  I haven't quite got my sewing space organised yet and am still losing things all the time but it's all about forward momentum.  Just got to make a couple of wee mindings and this bag will be heading off the its new owner and I feel a little lighter.

Now to choose a WIP to finish...it might even be my weekender...Now that would be a bear hunt!.....*feels a little faint*

rethink

Happy New Year to you all.  I hope you have had a grand festive season and are all set for 2015.  We had a quiet Christmas, if you can have one with a toddler trying out his karate moves on you with the heavy end of a pumpaloon. And the workmen next door taking a total of one day's holiday (New Years Day) from using a pneumatic drill on our adjoining walls.

The usual pattern for the first post of the year is to do a review of the past year's makes and set out a plan for the coming year.  I'm going to divert slightly from that, partly because of my miserly output in 2014.  A grand total of two quilts, a shed load of bee blocks (but not as many as planned as I decided to take time out of of the current Bumbling Honeys Bee) and some other odds and sods.  I say two quilts but I realise I've just shown you one so here is the second, a swap for the #IGminiquilt swap thingy. My partner was pretty vague (like I usually am) but had this image on a pinterest board about her favourite quilt colours....

from a great site : http://www.inaluxe.com/

So I chose to copy slavishly use it for inspiration and came up with this....

paper pieced from a made up, slightly wonky hand drawn pattern

My partner went on a big overseas holiday the day I posted this to New Zealand so I don't really know whether it was what she wanted, but hey she liked it on Instagram so that was a relief.

I was fortunate enough to have Nikki from the Ochil Tree as my making partner. I have long been a major fan of Nikki's work so was stoked with this lovely Cotton & Steel creation...

usual apologies for crap photo

On Hogmanay, I spent two hours in a loud (but I have to say quite lovely) soft play centre where the wee man hooned around and I tried to draft my crafting goals for 2015.  The notebook I used had my "to do" list for 2013 and 2014 and it would seem that I have achieved almost nothing from either list.  I could cross out 2014 and write 2015 (which is basically what I did in last year) but no.  I have a slightly different plan.  Use what I have learned, namely:

• setting goals for the year doesn't really work as it is easy to think "manana, manana".  Perhaps setting myself a monthly make or WIP to complete would work better.  Chunk things down, as it were.
• I use "fear" as an excuse not to start things. Even things I've done before so shouldn't be frightened of.
• I can be creative and driven (bonadoochi, even the mini quilt up there ^^ shows that I think) when I am inspired.
• I am super untidy and it stifles me.  I need to get my sh*t organised so I can feel less burdened by it all.
• My health has a direct impact on McMojo and having spent the last 6 months in various stages of poorliness, it's time to set up and take responsibility for becoming healthier.  I hope that this involves #sweatnsew but it will definitely mean better eating.  I am loving "A Modern Way to Eat" by Anna Jones and feel inspired to return to my vegetarian past (part time anyway) as a way of boosting my immune system.
• McMojo will not be told what to do.  For much of the past few months, I have tried to make her go to rehab, she said no, no, no!  I need to trust that McMojo will work it out and come home to me.  I really think she is on her way back, which is nice.  She needs to be inspired home.
• I love love love Instagram but miss the in-depth inspiration that blogs give me.  I have badly neglected my blog reading and commenting this year (I feel really bad about this).  I hate Bloglovin' with an unnecessary passion so need to sort all of this out.  Inspiration from my fellow creators is key to pushing me on.

So here is my plan, I am going to buy myself a new sewing machine this year (not sure which one) but will only do so if I actually use my current one and finish things.  I am not going to list what I will make now as things change and you never know what direction they will take but there are a number of WIPS that need whipped and some things I'd really like to make.  I will aim for one make a month, excluding bee blocks!  I will try not to get enticed by swaps but never say never.  

Onwards and upwards (now to find my seam ripper under all of this mess......)