Tony and I met on a blind date on Valentine’s day many, many years ago (24 actually!)

So we always celebrate and give each other a little gift.

This year I have combined the need to make Tony a gift with the need to design another exclusive pattern for my email club.

I know, I know…

I am such a romantic!

So, here it is:

My secret message monogrammed embroidered cushion (catchy name).

I have chosen a very safe message because I know what you’re like-

you won’t rest ’til you’ve broken the code will you!

* If you’d like the pattern, just email me janet@janetclare.co.uk and I’ll add you to my free email club and send you a PDF.

The bolster cushions are covered in Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern Optic Blossom and the wallpaper is by Laura Ashley.

Henry (5) is writing and drawing all the time now

and he loves to leave his little messages all over the house for us to find.

I found these two yesterday.

Wonderful aren’t they?

I’ve been working on some new applique designs this week.

I’m a messy worker and so every un-wanted fabric scrap goes straight on the floor. When I (eventually) tidied up I noticed how pretty and interesting the scraps were.

So, I thought I’d come up with a way of using them:

This is all my leftover fusible applique scraps, ironed willy-nilly onto a piece of calico and then machine quilted all over.

I think I may make a cushion cover with it.

Simple and satisfying.

Well, we managed two days at school this week.

During which I worked on some print ideas. As you can see I haven’t got very far.

What do you think? 

But we woke up to fresh snow and so the schools shut yet again.

There will be no work for me today.

Maybe tomorrow?

Please, pretty please…

You’ll have to humour me if you live somewhere that gets cold snaps every winter

because we don’t

and so I have never in my entire life seen icicles hanging off my bedroom window!

You’d think all this time inside would have enabled me

to get some sewing and creating done wouldn’t you?

But actually, it seems to be having the exact opposite effect.

I have achieved nothing all week.

And frankly, next week is not looking any better.

Well, we had a wonderful Christmas full of family, friends

relaxing and indulging.

And now, after nearly three weeks of festivities 

we are more than ready to get back to normal.

But instead of going to school, work

and my beloved studio as planned 

we woke up to this:

What do they say about the best laid plans?

Just popping in here to wish you and yours

a very Merry Christmas!

Thank you all so much for being here for me this year.

See you bright and early in 2010!

This little chair came home with me from the charity shop the other day.

I don’t really know why as no-one in the house plays with dolls.

Although, now it’s next to my lovely felt dog

I want to make a Julie Arkell inspired doll for it. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Much nicer than going to the bank, supermarket, library and post office as planned.

You know the only thing stopping me spending all day making a doll? The thought of going to the bank and supermarket etc with the boys tomorrow…

I’m getting my coat!

No,

I didn’t really have the time to embroider some rose hips.

But I did it anyway.

Now, I’d better get back to the list…

I saw a camel costume in the supermarket and was sorely tempted to buy it.

Really tempted.

But, of course I didn’t.

Instead I decided that the costume had to cost nothing (or I may as well have bought the supermarket version)

and that it could only take me 2 hours to make (as he’s only wearing it for that long).

So this is what he got:

And old pair of pjamas that don’t really fit,

a cardboard hat

and a vest made out of an old blanket.

For the humps I cut out two big blanket circles, made them into cones, gathered them and then stuffed them with wadding.

I must say I was pretty pleased with myself.

And Joe liked it: