school has started, what's a girl to do....

so school has started, and the house is strangely empty.

since the decorations have come down it's also strangely dishevelled and in need of a really good clean, and there's a small mountain of washing/ironing, but not today, no today is a day for me, a long hot soak in the bath tub once the children have been taken to school, a lovely pot of tea and the last of the new years chocolate cake (what, don't you have new years cake in your house - well start a new tradition!), a quick read of blog lines to catch up with everyone, and then the mission to remember where my sewing machine is....... last seen Christmas Eve, finally finishing a present.... no last minute sewing today, no just playing, and practising, and planning.

first I wonder what to do with this - gorgeous ribbon from Zia Koko, anyone wanting ribbon head over there quick, she has the most divine collection. (edited to add, Zia is away for a week on family emergency, so go look at the ribbons and just wait a little longer for them to arrive......)



I can't decide, so I play with this instead, non stick matting, as recommended by my new book, to use instead of quilting gloves, the idea being that you get the same friction, but with wearing the gloves, so it's easier to pick up scissors , move pins etc....




haven't decided yet if I prefer it to my gloves, will keep trying, but I've had fun with some free motion shapes, and I'll try some more later - I certainly need more practise!




the non stick matting came on a roll of a metre, and I've only used a tiny square, so anyone who wants to try some let me know and I'll post you a bit. leave me a comment (make sure I can reply - no-comment reply people) or email me if you want some.