Beginners Quilt Making One Stitch at a Time

This week's post is a 'Cushion Cover 101'.  This is as simple and basic as it gets because I'm NOT a sewing guru, in fact I am most definitely a virgin when it comes to all things needle and thread, but sewing does come under my 'Do Something I've Never Done Before' banner, perfect for my resolution challenge.

First of all I must say a huge thank you to Nicki from Sunshine Reflections who was my 'Yoda' for this challenge.  She patiently talked me through the process, offering her expert advice and a calming word when the sewing machine freaked me out!  Take a look on Nicki's blog at some of the amazing projects she has done.

So, as a quilting virgin I opted for a cushion cover rather than a king sized bedspread (phew!) and in an 'Idiot's Guide' fashion here's how I got on:-

1.  I chose my pattern; a simple 15" cushion cover with 9 x 5" squares.  The pattern I picked had a star in the centre so 5 of the squares were broken up into sections of the star (it will make sense when you see the picture!)

2.  I chose my fabric and still feeling patriotic following the awesome Olympic and Jubilee celebrations last year, I opted for a truly British theme of red, white and blue.


3.  I traced the pattern shapes onto paper and cut them out.  Top Tip - If you think you will re-use your pattern cut outs, laminate them so they last.


4.  Using a large cutting board and a very nifty wheelie knife I cut out the fabric using my templates.








5.  Once all my pieces were cut out I lay them out to double check before I started sewing.

(There are 4 x 5" corner pieces, the other 5 sections are made up of triangle slices, the very centre square has 4 sections - 2 x red and 2 x blue - and the 4 outer sections have 2 x flag pattern and 1 coloured triangle).



 
6.  Next step was to pin the sections together, we did this two little bits at a time so I only had to sew small sections to begin with.  I did one row at a time until I had three strips of 15" x 5".













7.  Once that was done I sewed the strips together (carefully!) until I had a finished front panel, yay!

 

 

 

8.  With my 'awesome' front section completed we chose two fabrics to make up the back side, 1 x 9" and 1 x 12", these would overlap to form the envelope to keep our cushion filling safe.  I did a hem along one edge of each piece so they looked neat and then it was time to put it all together.

 

 

9.  Turning the fabric so it was pattern side facing each other, I sewed the front and back pieces together and did a reverse stitch over the seam ends for added strength

 

 

10.  Once I had gone all the way round it was time to turn the cover the right way round and see the finished product...

   ...so proud!

 

 

So there you have it, my first ever hand made quilt cushion cover and no blood, sweat or tears!

 

I'm off to Hobbycraft now to stock up on fabric...thread...pins...buttons...ooh I may be addicted.

 

Log on to find out about the craft courses Nicki runs at Hobbycraft Solihull and watch this space for more amazing cushions, there will be no stopping me now.

 

 



What have you made that you are proud of? I'd love to hear your 'I made that' stories, leave a comment below.

Please remember to select a 'Comment As' from the drop down box so we can all read about your fantabulous creations.

Four Simple Steps to create your Perfect Fairy Garden.

My resolution for May is to do something I've never done before.  Last week I had the privilege of teaching year 6 at my local junior school on how to survive anxiety caused by exams.  Could I top that?  Well, no probably not but then unique opportunities should never be overlooked. 

This got me thinking about my lovely clients who patiently pour over my blog posts and listen to me waffle on during their holistic sessions and so I thought that this week I'd have a go at something new that was accessible for my readers to try.

How to Make Your Own Fairy Garden...

We have always had fairies at the bottom of our garden so it was fairly apt that on a sunny bank holiday weekend, my daughter and I set about making a fairy garden.

With 20% discount at our local garden centre we filled our trolley with plants and compost.  I dug (no pun intended) about in the shed and came across an old wine crate which was the perfect size for our little fairies. 

1.  We assembled our tools.  The crate (any small container will do - remember to drill drainage holes in the bottom), our compost, plants and of course the fairies! 




 2.  We filled the crate with a black bin bag so the wood didn't rot and then added a layer of stones to help with the drainage, once this was done we emptied the compost on top and smoothed it out.

 

 3.  Once the compost was in place we could plant up our flowers, we used some extra stones to mark a path through the garden (so the fairies don't get their shoes dirty!) and added a solar lamp (available at any garden centre or supermarket), well fairies do like to play out at night!

We chose mixed Lobelia as they are easy to grow and will give us a colourful garden for the summer.

 4.  With all of our flowers planted up we could invite our fairies along and they all seemed delighted with their new garden!  Don't worry if you haven't got any fairies to hand - sprinkle your garden with a little fairy dust and they will find you!

So there you have it, a perfect fairy garden.  Great for any garden or patio area and don't worry if you don't have a garden, why not have a go at making one in a plant pot.  With some left over plants and a selection of crystals my daughter made a smaller garden in a little plant pot that was going spare - perfect for a window ledge! 

Having a go at something new doesn't mean you have to break a world record or reinvent the wheel.  This challenge has certainly made me think outside the box, but I've also realised that it's the little things that count just as much as the life changing achievements.

I spent a wonderful weekend with my daughter and seeing the smile on her face when we watered our little garden and watched the solar light flicker on at dusk was simply priceless.  Doing something I've never done before really has been my favourite challenge so far.

Why don't you have a go at your own fairy garden, I'd love to hear how you get on or what you think of our gardening skills so please leave me your comments below...




...remember to select a 'comment as' from the drop down box so we can all hear about your fabulous fairies.

Stress Busting Workshop - How One Hour Helped with Exam Stress in a Junior School

As tempted as I was to break open the bubbly and celebrate the end of my alcohol free month, I refrained so I had a clear head for the start of my May resolution challenge.

'Do Something I've Never Done Before.'

On paper this challenge was going to be fairly straight forward.  I have a VERY long bucket list and all I needed to do was to choose my favourite four, but the Universe had other ideas and suddenly my well laid plans were up in the air.

I can't complain though as the challenge which presented itself to me was:-

1. Definitely something I've never done before
2. An opportunity I couldn't pass up

When I originally wrote my challenge list I selfishly included things I knew I would enjoy (it is my list after all) even if I knew they would push me in some way.  So which of my favourite things could I include in my challenge? 

• I enjoy spending time with my kids and find all children hold that spark of magic and a wonderful imagination, maybe I crave that simple life and therefore long to revert back to my own youth?
• My passion is writing, but as anyone who knows me will tell you, I can talk for England.
• I love my job and I am devoted to helping my clients be the best they can be by running personal development workshops on a range of self-help techniques.

So when an opportunity arose to talk about my job in a bid to help an entire junior school year group I jumped at the chance.

This is how I ended up running my first Stress Busting Workshop for year 6 at my local Junior
School.

As my own daughter is struggling to cope with the anxiety of sitting her SATs I felt a responsibility to these children who, aged just 10 and 11, are coping with an ever changing world, a mix of emotions and anxieties and raging hormones which they are struggling to understand.

Out of all the self-help techniques I offer my clients I decided to use Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) with the children and based my entire talk on 'Tapping' to release their fears, anger and worries prior to their tests.  With a move to Secondary school also on the horizon we covered their feelings towards this.

So what on Earth is Tapping?

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a simple energy therapy which enables you to free yourself from emotional negativity.  Our body operates in harmony with our energy system and when this energy is distrupted we experience blocks.  Any imbalance in the body's energy system can have profound effects on our personal psychology.  A distressing memory causes a negative emotion and this in turn can manifest as a physical illness.

It's founder, Gary Craig, recognised that tapping on the end points of the body's energy meridians was effective in relieving these blocks and releasing negative emotions and memories which may have plagued us for years.

Deep rooted issues are always best handled with the support of a qualified EFT practitioner, you can find a local therapist through the AAMET website.


Children take to this therapy very quickly and I therefore knew that my presentation would need to be quick and fun so I didn't lose my audience.  I included a variety of exercises and tied this in with relevant key stage curriculum links to enhance their learning.  I introduced my bear, Ray who was happy to have stickers attached to him to show the tapping points.

It was a huge success and the children were amazing.  They got involved with the practical side of the workshop and volunteered where necessary.  When I asked them to suggest emotions we could work on they provided me with a variety of feelings including being stressed, bored, nervous, scared and even excited.  They were a credit to their school and a pleasure to work with.

Running through the presentation prior to their arrival, in a bid to ensure I didn't let the children down, I had rehearsed and rehearsed the slides so much that the practise tapping I did on myself totally chilled me out and I was able to thoroughly enjoy the experience.

What an incredible way to start my May challenge. 

I do love to plan and organise and I am an avid list maker but the one lesson I have learnt during my resolution challenge is to be wide open to opportunities as some of them could just change your life.

What opportunities have presented themselves to you, where they a surprise?  How did you feel and did it change you in any way?

I would love to hear your stories.  Please remember when posting a comment to choose a 'Comment As' from the drop down box so the whole world can see what awesome things you have to say. 

No Alcohol fuels Chocolate Cravings - Am I alone in this?

I'm on the last leg of my April challenge - it's just a matter of days before I can taste the sweet nectar of a crisp Australian Chardonnay.  I may even break all the rules and have a glass on a school night to celebrate my month off the demon drink.

It's been a very busy couple of weeks at work and I've been asked by every one of my clients 'how are you coping without alcohol?'  I obviously have a reputation!


My answer surprised me.  I am miserable.  Never did I imagine that giving up alcohol would be so hard.  I've had three children and was able to abstain from drinking while pregnant and for many months after giving birth each time, I even gave up for a year in 2010 after having a bout of low self-esteem.  So why have I found this particular challenge so tough?

This got me thinking about cravings and how it could be possible that the 'stuff' between my ears, commonly known as the brain, may be the culprit.  I was right and during my research I discovered that alcohol cravings are linked to low blood sugar, this therefore explains why I have been stuffing my face with four Wispa bars a week!

The part of our brain which is affected by addiction is also the same part which allows you to exercise willpower - no hope for me then!  Heavy alcohol intake can cause changes to our brains which then takes a while to return to normal.  The advice handed down from the professionals suggests changing your habits and mental association with alcohol. This makes sense as I often find myself pouring a glass of wine at 6pm on a Friday evening from habit.

If this sounds familiar then why not try to retrain your mind and body.  Instead of pouring a glass of wine, put the kettle on.  If you always have a bottle with a chinese, order a pizza and make a jug of squash.  By doing something different you are altering your brains associations and making it easier to cut down on your alcohol intake.  Try it out for yourself or see what other habits you can change; I always have a blueberry muffin when I go to Costa out of habit - there lies my next challenge!

As I trawled the web looking for like-minded souls I came across Tara Gladden's Wonder Woman blog at The Telegraph, she gave up drinking in January to support Cancer Research and her Diary of a Dryathlete is definitely worth a read.

Will I do it again?  Yes I would, but I think giving something up for a good cause, as Tara did, gives you a reason and therefore tricks the grey matter into thinking it's a good idea.

If you are planning to give up drinking whether it's for charity, health and weight loss reasons or you just want to cut back,then the internet is full of useful information.  The Drink Aware site is a marvelous resource and for those with a more serious addiction Alcoholics Anonymous have a refreshingly helpful website. 

Six days left - why not join me for the final weekend and let me know how you get on.


Please remember when you are posting a comment to select a 'Comment As' from the drop down box before hitting Publish otherwise the world won't be able to see your amazing response.  Thanks x

EXTENDED OFFER - Get your FREE book The Showman's Girl by Julia Douglas at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-showmans-girl/id639618472?mt=11

World Circus Day - 3 ways to Celebrate including Book Giveaway

Clutching a bag of popcorn in her small hand she gazed up at the expanse of painted stars; vibrant shades of yellow, blue, green and pink covered the ceiling.
The sweet scent of toffee apples mingled with the woody aroma of the sawdust under her feet and as the lights dimmed her eyes grew wide with wonder...

Can you remember your first trip to the Circus?

On Saturday 20th April it's the 4th World Circus Day.  What are you doing to celebrate?

• Join In or Hold Your Own Event

Log on to World Circus Day website to find out about Circus events in your part of the world, take the kids to a show or hold your own event at home with your pet as the star!  There are so many events planned across the globe so you are sure to find something. 

• Hold a 'Mocktail' Party

As my April challenge is all about giving up alcohol I thought it would be fun to include a mocktail party as part of our Circus celebrations.  Following on from my impromptu moment of stardom on stage with 'Patchy the Clown' at Paulos Circus, I asked you to send me your Big Top related mocktails and I have picked my favourites from the many I received.  Thank you to everyone who emailed me with their suggestions.

'Flying Fairbrother' from Tracey Mason

In a shaker half-filled with ice, combine 2oz grapefruit juice, 1oz orange juice, 1oz cranberry juice and 1 tsp of honey.  Shake well.  Strain into a Collins glass almost filled with ice cubes and top with 3oz ginger beer.  Stir well and enjoy.

'Lion Tamer' from Brenda Wilson

Cut 1 small watermelon into chunks and freeze overnight.  When fully frozen, blend with 2 1/2 cups of almond milk in a blender until smooth.  Pour into a glass and garnish with sprigs of mint and enjoy.



'Coco the Clown' from Amanda Thomas

Drizzle some fudge sauce around the rim of a martini glass.  Blend 2oz chocolate ice cream, 1 can of coconut cream and crushed ice for 2 mintues in a blender until smooth.  Pour into the prepared glass and enjoy.


*** BOOK GIVEAWAY ***

If you can't make any of the events planned then don't despair as I have an amazing treat for you.

To celebrate World Circus Day, Julia Douglas is giving away a free download of her circus novel The Showman's Girl.  The Showman's Girl follows the adventures of a girl who runs away with the circus in the 1930s and falls in love with the charismatic showman Adam Strand, a man seemingly
torn between his wife, the daredevil wirewalker Jayne, and Molly, the elephant trainer.  Julia Douglas is the author of Nashville Cinderella, Closer! and The Fairground Girl.  The Showman's Girl, which will normally retail around £4.99, is available to my blog readers FREE at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-showmans-girl/id639618472?mt=11  for a whole month.

Grab your copy today!

I love to hear your feedback, don't forget when you are posting a comment to choose a 'Comment As' format from the selection box such as a Google Account.

Alcohol Free Holidays

Greetings from Somerset!  I have found a lovely cafe with Internet access and wanted to send a quick post from our wet and windy holidays. 

Heading down the M5 to spend our Easter break at the Haven Holiday Village, Burnham-on-Sea would normally be a cause for celebration.  On this occasion I had a sense of trepidation; could I enjoy my holiday without alcohol? 

Yet again I appear to be giving you all the impression that I am some half-soaked mother who is permanently attached to a bottle of gin.   I assure you this is not the case - I prefer vodka!

Holidays go hand in hand with relaxing by the pool (okay so maybe not the ‘outdoor’ pool in the UK), watching a good turn at the club house and enjoying a meal out at a local restaurant.  Staying on a site with everything you could possibly need on your doorstep means you can leave the car and let your hair down - or enjoy a latte in the coffee lounge if you are off the demon drink!

Cheers!

So my mission for week 15 - surrounded by clinking glasses and merry holidaymakers – was to work my way through the soft drink menu; lemonade, diet coke and a hideous slushy which left my tongue blue! 

Alcohol Free Zone Ahead

Most people enjoy a tipple or two, you may enjoy catching up with colleagues in the pub after work on Thursday; your Friday night curry just wouldn't be the same without a couple of beers.  The pub lunch with the girls on Saturday is crying out for a glass or two of Chardonnay and no Sunday roast would be complete without a nice Rioja!

It is far too easy to include alcohol into our lives and before we know it we are drinking above the Government recommendations.

I do enjoy a drink or three and not wanting to come across as a raving alcoholic I decided to do a spot of research for my Alcohol Free resolution.  The results were shocking......