2013 - the year of the cat(s)

I'm probably supposed to be doing a serious, thoughtful year-in-review type post. In 2013 we've had a big job change, redecorated half our house and garden, watched relatives health seriously start to fail, had the best holiday in a decade, bought a fancy car and sent our kid into her last year of primary school.

That was easy! *g*

Actually, while reminiscing about the year what kept being mentioned was - and I quote the Spouse here - "those bloody cats!"

They are, without a doubt, the biggest change in our lives for years. It's a lot like having a toddler (or two) again. Toddlers that can fly. And climb the curtains. And claw chunks of fur out of each other. And break into the fridge and eat the raw sausages meant for tea.

Temple and Jones are house cats so they're here all the time. Relentlessly.  And Bengals can be bundles of energy and are known for their cases of the zooms. Normally when we've settled down to watch a film. *tuts* And they can be surprisingly demanding in the attention stakes. You know. Like children.

I've always classed myself as a dog person. Both being workers a pooch was never on the cards but I did not for one second even consider getting a feline. And when Chook started asking for one it just wasn't going to happen. But then I infamously met Jo Bearpaw's two Siamese cats and my views changed considerably in just those few short hours in her home with Simon and Lola. There's a very successful and well known Bengal breeder in our town. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I'm not sure when I turned into a mad old cat lady. But somewhere between February (when 4 months of sick kittens seemed to finally be over) and July (when I picked them up a day early from the cattery post-holiday) it had happened. This is my cat-Instagramming (Catagramming? Nah, that sounds like a medical procedure) just from December.

I totally understand why old ladies (and men!) keep cats. Well, cats like mine, anyway. (And make no mistake. Unbelievably they are MY cats. Or perhaps more accurately,  I am theirs.) They are incredibly intelligent, don't need walking like a pooch and are super affectionate but with a streak of independence that makes them less, well...less dependant than a dog. Which in a busy working home is not to be underestimated. I think the biggest surprise for me, though, is how strongly both have bonded within the family. There are no aloof cats here! 

Jones allows Chook to flip him upside down for belly nuzzles and is generally tortured by her constant cuddling of him. Temple is mine - not by design (he was Chook's choice from the litter and she named him) but he is often to he found in my vicinity, whether I'm blogging on the couch (he's at my feet as I type this) or in his hammock in my wee sewing room. And Spouse? Well after a shaky start - he and Jones had a hate/hate relationship for a wee while - we only get "bloody cats!" about once a week now. The rest of the time? They are "my boys" and Jones in particular is his big, daft teddy. Smitten? Yuup.

So there you have it, how in 6 short months a confirmed dog person can be transformed into a mad cat woman. Thanks to two irrepressible, energetic, frustrating, nosy, clever, affectionate, clumsy, loud, cuddly members of the household. Perhaps Spouse isn't the only one that's smitten, eh?

P.S. I'm feeling much better, thanks! With one helluva cough but not poorly anymore. Here's to a fabulous 2014 to us all!

the secret Chrimbo makes

I was going to say that I didn't make much in the run up to Christmas but that is obviously a big, fat lie. What I mean is I didn't make much that I couldn't show you. But now I can!

My mum asked for a large toiletry bag since all the ones in the shops are too ridiculously small to be any use to her.  I made a make-up bag to match, too, from the beautiful Anna Maria Horner's Sketchbook.

It is lined with pvc cotton from Terry's Fabrics for wipeability and filled with Soap & Glory goodies coz they are the schizzle. The pattern is Noodlehead's Open Wide Pouch which is always a lovely make.

My dad always uses mum's mugrugs so his own one was very much called for. He owns a little "proper" red Mini like Spouse has so after buying Mini fabric for the Ginorma-mini quilt it was a no-brainer!

And 2 paper-pieced cushions for my 2 friends. I bought the patterns on Etsy, I do love all the woodland things out just now.

I was hoping to do lots of sewing the last few days and cut a new quilt out on Friday night. But I've been laid up with this yukky chesty cough virus and have had a fairly miserable 48 hours so I'm hoping it starts to wane soon!

On the 24th day of Christmas blogging - the bauble box

When Chook was 6 months old and having her first Christmas, my Mum bought her a giant red sequined bauble for the tree. It is actually a box and the next year when she was 18 months old I started a new tradition. On Christmas Eve once she's had her bath and Santa's elves have brought her new jammies (another tradition!), she gets to open her box and there is always a small gift inside. Well, when I say small? Sometimes it's the first clue of a treasure hunt that's inside the box - she got a foot spa one year! *g* But the first year it was her favourite wine gums!

I keep a scrapbook of Christmas pages. There's a toddler Chook helping put up the tree, my Papa-Jim carving the turkey one year,  the special baubles that my Mum buys for Chook every year (another tradition!!) and various wee moments like the first time Spouse cooked Christmas dinner all documented. My scrapping, as you know, has largely been peared down to birthdays and Christmas. But I do try and keep the bauble box layouts still going and it's not too arduous since the pages themselves are only 8in square and I follow the same sketch so the basic design is always the same. And I'm up to date after my wee scrappy surge last week!

I'm so very grateful to have discovered scrapbooking when I did, I would never have remembered all these wee things. It's very much a physical blog. With glitter. *g* And this year? The box had one of Kirsten at Quernus Crafts awesome polymer clay reindeer mice in. Chook has wanted one since she first saw them in about October!

Have a superb cool Yule one and all. See you on the other side!

on the 23rd day of Christmas blogging - old mice.

When my mum put up her festive decor a few weeks ago I was delighted to spy this mouse nativity scene again.

I made it when I was about 13 and it honestly looks as good as when I first stitched it. That is more a testament to Mum's care and storage efforts than my early-teen skills with a needle!

I do know the small shepherd on the right here was added later. For a few years there were only 2. I also remember not being able to figure out how to have one kneeling.

The kings were always my favourite. Much fun was had making their turbans and crowns.

I do hope these last another 26 years although that will make me an old lady. I actually quite like that thought!

on the 22nd day of Christmas blogging - a Ginorma-Mini quilt

I finished Spouse's minis quilt last week (or the one before, I forget) but getting photos with the dark, wet days has proven to be a bit challenging! But I needed to get it wrapped and hidden away so I did my best today between showers.

So here ya go. A giant plus quilt. As manly as I could manage while keeping it pretty. Heh heh.

I backed and bound it in flannel from a duvet cover and quilted it minimally on either side of the vertical seams so it is super soft and cuddly.

It's a nice match for the cushion!

And is a good, manly snuggling size.

I hope he likes it. But if he doesn't? Chookie LOVES it.

Quilt deets:
Pattern: huge pluses, totally stolen from Leanne at She Can Quilt and her awesome version of a traditional plus quilt.
Fabric: a bundle from several ranges including Florence, Just My Type, Geekly Chic, Modern Home and Pearl Bracelets. Background is the fabulous Sun Print - Text in indigo.
Size: after washing and tumbling it is 62in x 67in.

on the 21st day of Christmas - the last makes!

Phew! I do believe we are through the looking glass with festive preparations.  I have a bottle of wine and a weenie chocolate for Chookie to buy (the choc, no the booze!) but we're all wrapped up and everything.

So the last sewn bits? Jammies for Chook made from Rae Hoestra's beautiful flannel. I just managed to eak out a pair from 1 metre - only coz Chook is so skinny! But for the first time she has jammie bottoms that are long enough!

And my last Christmas make (although not necessarily my last make before Christmas!) is my very own stocking. I was a bit sad that everyone but me had one so I fixed it. It was another mini charm pack, Moda's Oasis this time. Which isn't very Christmassy but very much my colours!

With its very own tag. With holly leaves, natch.

So now there's three stockings hanging for auld Saint Nick. We obviously have no fireplace!

Hurry up, Santa! Only four more sleeps, peeps!

on the 20th day of Christmas blogging - wee traditions

We don't have a massive amount of Christmas traditions in our home but there's enough to give a bit of warm-and-fuzzies to the proceedings. Putting up the tree is always a highlight for me and the last few years I've had my kitchen dresser to prettify, too. This year it's got my precious baubles on it so the cats can't knock them off the tree. A favourite green one that my mum brought me from Cologne got smashed by 2 little kittens last year so I am being extra careful this year!

When Chook was a baby Mum bought her a babies first Christmas bauble. And the year after she saw a fabulous little pink angel because she was always dressed in pink. And every year since she has bought something relevant to Chook at that moment. We're getting quite the collection.

And also from my mum (she loves Christmas - can you tell? *g*) are the Christmas Minnies. Chookie is gifted a box from Mum every year full of girlie goodness. And for a looong time it has included a festive Mrs Mouse from the Disney Store. And on the few years where Minnie hasn't been dressed for the occasion a friend has stepped in. Like Stitch and Daisy Duck. I do believe it's Pascal the chameleon from Tangled this year!

Our other two traditions are new jammies on Christmas Eve and the bauble box. But it deserves a post of its own. 5 more sleeps!!

on the 19th day of festive blogging - Santa's stocking

I made my spouse a Christmas stocking. You know, with all that free time I have just now. *rollseyes* I had a mini charm pack of Basic Gray's Blitzen (I think it came from Dee ) and used this tutorial for the cuff. I'm pretty chuffed how it turned out.

I even (stand back, now) embroidered a tag. This was Chook's choice of moniker, it's what she calls him (his name is Alan)

And we're another day closer to Santa. Yay!

on the 18th day of Christmas blogging - rockabilly Chook

She wouldn't let me put victory rolls in her hair. *tuts* But I think she looks the dogs dangly bits! And a definite forties vibe is going on. None of the other girls looked anything like her - I do love her style.

 She did let me put her hair up. With a donut and about forty kirby grips! I found a brilliant tutorial on YouTube for doing a pretty hair rope coil round the bottom of the bun to hide all the bands and keep it really secure and tidy. Only you can't see it for the giant fascinator! Heh heh. I suspect those wee ringlets at the back won't still be in when I pick her up - her hair is SO straight.

This is her last primary school party. The sequined dresses and wee tights feel like a loooong time ago!

on the 17th day of Christmas blogging - Spouse's cushion

I know, right? It's Cushion Central round these parts! But after I made the new covers for the couch cushions the other day, Spouse was sad to note that his big armchair cushion was looking a bit dog-eared and decrepit. It was so bashed that the insert was unsalvageable! So what could I do but blow him off with an excuse "oh, I've no fabric left....after Christmas I'll get something sorted" and give him an interim measure of the cushion off the rocking chair in our room. And then, obviously, I hopped to it!!

Nice and easy big crosses to match his Ginorma-minis quilt, minimal quilting and a zip (natch!) and a new puffy pad for inside. Sorted!

I pulled the quilt out of the dryer yesterday but it's so dark and wet here that photos are proving challenging. I might need to wait til the weekend to get some. Especially since I need an extra pair of hands for holding it up! I'm hoping that I can get Chook's jammie bottoms at least cut out tonight coz that's the absolute last thing on my list. Spouse even got an impromptu stocking knocked together last night.

on the 16th day of Christmas blogging - Chookie's tree

Chook was determined to have a blue decorated tree in her room this year.  We bought her little 3 foot affair last Christmas and since her room has been newly decorated she wanted it to match.  And then we were thwarted by a distinct lack of blue baubles anywhere we looked. Curses!

Well on Saturday we were in the local B&Q buying compost for a Christmas present. I'll explain that after Santa has been! Anyways, Chook was pottering round the decorations bit as I was paddling through the garden centre (we had a LOT of rain at the weekend) and Spouse drooled over tools. And by the time I found her she had two handfuls of blue ornaments for her tree!  Very reasonably priced and only going to take a weenie bit of her savings to take home. So we did!  And she spent a happy hour stripping her tree and redecorating it.

I especially love the polar bear topper and all the ponies. It's very her!

on the 15th day of Christmas blogging - more cushions!

You know how it is.  You get all your must-do festive gift sewing done. And then start to think "ooh. I could make one of those. And that would be nice. And they really need replaced" which is how I've ended up with another 3 things on my sewing list! Number 1? New covers for 3 of my couch cushions.

The fabric came from Dee in the summer and is home dec weight canvas and perfect for the living room. Coz she picked it specially. *wubs her* Isn't it great? Birds and daisies and leaves. I LOVE it.

I whipped up 2 yesterday but 1 needed a tiny border to eek out that last bit of fabric. So he got done this morning. They've all got zips,  too. Check me all gung-ho with the zippage!

Thank you, Dolores, you are my most fabulous personal fabric dealer and have such a great eye!! Now, onto the flannel jammie bottoms for Chook,  just as soon as the fabric has finished tumbling. Yes, pre-washing and everything today. Go me!

and the winner is!

Wow. Can I just say how overwhelmed I was by the response to the Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway! When I said I'd have the cats do the draw I was expecting maybe 30 entries - needless to say getting 158 puts me a bit over their capabilities!  So Mr Random number did the honours.

And 56 was Sara.  Who included an email, woop!

There were still a LOT of people who gave me no way of contacting them. Ya silly billies, you'll not be winning anything! Congrats to Sara and good luck with the job and house hunting next year!

on the 13th day of Christmas blogging - gifts.

It's my sister-in-laws birthday on Sunday and I've been a bit stumped what to buy her. I've been trying hard this year to make or buy handmade for most gifts but I've made quite a lot for her over the years and I don't want to bore the socks off her with textiles!

A few months ago I discovered Shelly Lee. Bingo! She is a ceramicist in Devon and makes the coolest things - you must check out her buttons. This jug is one of hers.

Cute, eh? The inside is patterned and purple glazed. I love it and hope sis does, too.

In other news? I'm three quarters of the way round hand stitching the binding on the Ginorma-minis. Yay!

I have also discovered tonight that I'm much quicker hand stitching on a table instead of my knee - who knew?

on the 12th day of Christmas blogging - almost there

Just a quick visit today. I've been doing a bit of trimming of the Ginorma-minis tonight.

So that I could sew on the binding.

So that I can start handstitching it down tomorrow.  I think I might actually finish it early!

on the 11th day of Christmas blogging - festive scraps

In an effort to not have THREE years of Christmases un-scrapbooked I spent last night getting out the sticking and glueing stuff. I also promptly ran out of glue (most inconveniently) but made do with what I had on hand. 

Christmas 2011. I loved Chook in this little 60's style colour block dress. I also love her uncompromising style - cute little pumps AND reindeer antlers for her party. Atsmagurl! I might actually go back and add a couple of strips of journalled cardstock underneath the photo. Both to visually balance Santa's sleigh and to remember what I've just told you.

I'm pretty happy with this one. I even used vellum for about the first time in 10 years! This is last year's party outfit - denim shorts after we couldn't get a non-sparkly dress anywhere. Both layouts have the list of her Christmas gifts tucked behind the photo as is my tradition. It's nice to look back and see who gave what.

I actually finished 2 smaller ones for my Christmas album, too, but I might show them later in the month coz there's a different tradition recorded on them and I have ten pages of them this year. 

 Now if you'll excuse me I have quilt lines to mark - the Ginorma-Mini quilt WILL be finished for Santa coming!

on the tenth day of Christmas blogging - cathedral windows take aaages

I finished my mother-in-law's Christmas cushion last week. She asked for one after I made one for her birthday (a New York Beauty,  not cathedrals) and I've done it in the colours of her bedroom. I had totally forgotten how long it takes to iron those beginning units - the entire Hunger Games for 9 of them!

I'm really pleased how it has turned out - all sensible like and not quirky. Go me! My mil is not one for whimsy in homewares. I did the fab zip tutorial again and fluked the lining up of the top and bottom pieces. It hadn't even crossed my mind to try and match them up. It's a nice big 20 inch pad in it, too.

Thank you all for the entries in the giveaway!  I've been a bit overwhelmed with the response but it's been lovely - although most of you regulars are missing!  Not your thing? That's okay, they're not for everyone!

on the ninth day of Christmas blogging - Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway day!

I can't believe I've actually been organised enough to join in this time!  Yes, it's that time of year when bloggers from all over the world join together in a huge giveaway day hosted by SewMamaSew!

I'm not offering fabric or handmade goodies. I have taken a trip down the homewares route and have these three canvases to offer. I saw them a few months ago (handmade but not by me!) and have nowhere to put them but bought them anyway. I did have half an idea for a giveaway of some kind.

They individually measure 8in square and are being given away as a set of three.

And what do ya gotta do for a chance to win 'em? Leave us a comment telling me where you'd put them. That's it. No extra entries - job done! The winner will be picked by random cat generator on Saturday morning (around 9am GMT), leave an email if you're a no-reply blogger and international non-UK peeps are more than welcome. Go!!

on the eighth day of Christmas blogging - ickle meece

I forget how I found out about her but at some point this year I was directed towards the fabulous work of Kirsten at Quernus Crafts. Kirsten gave up her career in law and now is a master of polymer clay modelling.  She specialises in wee creatures, takes comissions and is a really lovely person and we have several of her critters living here with us here and here and here.

Well one of Chookie's few requests this Christmas was a reindeer mouse from Kirsten. She had a whole load of stuff to sell at various Country Living Fairs and, whaddaya know, my mum was attending one! So pennies were offered and Mum spent the lot! And bought one herself, too.

The reindeer and Christmas cat are tucked away for Chook, the rest are on display around the house. The holly mouse I bought after the fairs when any leftover stock went on sale - I couldn't NOT have it, could I? *g* I'm such a sucker for anything holly related.

We had a ball at our gig, too, thanks for asking. They were one of the best bands I've seen - no bad going coz they're not spring chickens! And I got my last bits of Christmas shopping done. I am officially done. Rock on!!!

on the seventh day of Christmas blogging - old punks never die

Waaay back in July I bought Spouse 2 tickets to see The Damned for his birthday.  Well the gig is tonight and we're up in Edinburgh sans Chookie (she's partying overnight with my folks) for an evening of shenanigans.

The sunset over the castle was very pretty. I've not been up to the castle since I was a wee girl - I must rectify that.

Selfie fail! There's a German Christmas market on in the Princes Street gardens every year in December. Again, I had never been (I don't get out much. *g*) and wanted a snapshot of the two of us to remember. It seems we haven't the skills all those Instagrammers have with the selfie taking. But it makes me giggle all the same!

The Jenners tree I have seen before. Many times. But it's still so cool to see such a huge, real tree inside a department store.

Bringing us right up to the here and now. Getting ready to go!

Old punks never die. They just lose their hair. *g*