Christmas is coming.................

I always try and start to get ready for Christmas early but somehow it never works out that way. I did start buying a few bits and pieces every time I did a food shop, I always look for things on offer and things that we are not going to start eating before the Christmas festivities start. So far a box of Roses chocolates and one bottle of wine have not made it to the Christmas festivities! The Christmas mugs and plate have come out of the sideboard and are now being used. I love Emma Bridgewater pottery and I am slowly building up a little collection.

Last week we visited Chatsworth House (www.chatsworth.org) in Derbyshire to see the house decorated for Christmas. this year the theme is Wind on the Willows. I adore this story, it is one of my very favourites. The house was not a disappointment at all it really was magical and it really got us into the Christmas spirit. They have a new booking system so the house doesn't get to crowded when you visit. We booked our time in advance and it was worth it, no queuing and we got to have a good look at everything without feeling rushed or crushed.

    Mole is my favourite character, I love his personality and how he finds himself becoming brave.

Carol Singers 

Delivering Christmas Gifts

I want a front door like this.

Hedgehogs warming themselves by the fire

Naughty Mr Toad

Oh no poor Mr Toad

Any washing?

A naughty weasel, I love his hand knitted jumper

Champagne anyone?

After looking around the house we had a wintry walk in the beautiful gardens before having a gorgeous meal in one of the restaurants within the grounds. a cheeky glass of Prosecco was in order!

Leading the way to the dance

                                      I just had to take a photo of roots of this beautiful tree

                                        A beautiful greenhouse, the iron work is so glorious

                       Two elegant people walking through the grounds looking very stylish

                                                              It is Christmas after all!

Since leaving nursing and starting my little business I have been busy sewing and making lots of little things of loveliness. I had a little stall recently at a Christmas fete at a local school so I got busy and made some Christmas tree decorations. I love snowmen so I couldn't resist making some using Little Joys fabric from Penny Roses fabrics. I have a few left so I am going to add them to my new Etsy shop this week.

                                                 Snowmen Christmas tree decorations

 The day after Chatsworth House we decided to put up our very own Christmas tree decorations, sadly they are not on par with Chatsworth House but we love them all the same.

Fairy lights always make me smile.

Well that's all for today, I have some bunting to make and cards to write, presents to wrap...............

Well we are now well into Autumn and I must admit I love this time of year. Walking Mabel is even more of a joy, with the leaves turning colour and sun lower in the sky,  I especially love it when there is a little bit of a nip in the air too. We are very lucky to live very near some stunning countryside, its just a walk up the hill and we are in fields and the walk up to the woods is one of our favourite walks.

Mabel loves it even more if she can find something smelly to roll in, which she did last Friday which resulted in her having to have a bath. As you can see from then the photo she was not impressed! I had a Fitbit for my birthday and it really does motivate me to get my 10,000 steps in daily. I have challenges with my friends too so that gets me moving even more!

I love all the different colours the leaves are turning and Mabel loves rolling in them!

Life has been very busy here. I recently completed a commission and I am hoping it is received warmly, I always get very shy about my own work and always see things I could improve on. I don't have a lot of self confidence with my own work, I know I should but I do find it difficult to be more forgiving of my work. I have been putting more cushion kits together too and I have to admit sitting down and writing the instructions and photographing as I make a sample up is slowly getting easier.

I would just love to be able to just sew daily but I do need to make a living so I am getting more organized! lots of new fabric has come in recently and its all gorgeous, Bloom and Bliss by Riley Blake is just beautiful and its just asking to be made into quilts. I am going to be putting some bundles together and also pre-cuts, as I think pre-cuts are really good if you want a little of everything and you want to make a project quickly. Christmas has come to You me and Mabel, we are stocking Little Joys by Elea Lutz for Riley Blake and Santa Express which is really happy and colourful.

One of my lovely neighbours has got the quilting bug and she made this beautiful quilt for her sofa. She loved the Gentle Forest collection from Studio E and we added some Riley Blake Flutterberry Green to it which really brings out the colours and on the back Riley Blake dots on a brown background. I love putting fabrics together and seeing how adding one fabric can really make all the other ones "POP" It is just one of my very favourite things to do.

Well lots of fireworks are going off outside as its the Saturday after Guy Fawkes night, some are really pretty. Mabel isn't the least bit bothered by them which is good, Hubby said "well she is a gun dog!" Hope you are all having a good autumn and enjoying all the colours and sounds it brings.

Love Sally and Mabel xx

Good Morning,
It's been a busy weekend with new stock arriving, the gorgeous Guess how much I love you arrived and it is just lovely.

Then on Saturday we were off to the fantastic Festival of Quilts at the NEC.

This is my favourite show, full of beautiful quilts made by very talented folk and hundreds of fantastic stands selling everything and anything you could possibly need. I was very good and only brought four fat quarters from the lovely Messy Jessie's stand, some oil cloth and I am going to do a block of the month by the very clever Lynette Anderson. It's called a dog's life and surprise surprise it's dog related! Oh and I did also buy two lights, one for downstairs and one for upstairs. I did indulged in the very clever Janet Clare's new book The Wordsmith. It is such a beautiful book with lots of amazing and inspiring photos. I had my photo taken with her which was lovely except it did show how much fat I need to lose!

I did take a few photos of my favourite quilts but it was difficult to take them as lots were surrounded by people marvelling at them and how wonderful the stitching was. The photos are not the best as I forgot my camera so had to make do with my phone. So I apologize for not doing justice to the quilts and the very talented quilters.

 This quilt was made in six panels, I love the colour of the bike.

This quilt looked just like a photo, the colours were so realistic and both me and Stu loved this one.

Pinks and pastels and hearts are always a winner with me.

This quilt just shouted out winter and America to me.

This amazing quilt was the winner in the Traditional category and each piece of fabric is a tiny 1/4 inch and there was hundreds of  tiny log cabins, it makes you wonder how long it took to make. 

Snowmen, I have a thing for snowmen.

A gorgeous kiss. so sweet.

I can not resist a quilt with a dog on and one with a puppy is just the sweetest.

The best things about the Festival of Quilts is the wonderful quilts and fabrics available which are just so inspiring, the people who go to the show, quilters are the friendliest people in the world, always so helpful and chatty. The worst thing is I always leave and the next day think oh I wish I had brought this, that and the other!

Well I need to start sewing now so I will say cheerio.

Using up Scraps of fabric.

I absolutely love fabric and can not bear to throw any away. I recently got some shelves / drawers from a local Laura Ashley shop that was closing down and I decided it was time to sort out all my scrap fabric into a more organised way. I took example from the talented Lori B Holt and I cut them all  up into either different size strips or squares, with the view I would use them rather than just let them sit all messy in a scrap basket. They all do look neat however I still have ended up with a scrap basket! I will sort it out soon.

My hexagon quilt I made was with scraps, all hand sewn using the English Paper  Piecing technique, and I have to say I love it. We have it on our bed and it makes me smile everyday

                  

I have just finished the top of this quilt, again it was used with lots of scraps and I love this one too. I think a quilt with lots of bright colours really are me.

I am off to the festival of the quilts this weekend and I am looking forward to seeing all the quilts plus having a little shop too. I am going to try and resist buying lots of fabric, because I have enough in my personal collection to last me about ten years plus now starting our little online shop You, Me and Mabel I have bolts of beautiful fabric I can just go and look at and stroke whenever I want. However I do love seeing what you lovely folk order and make out of the fabrics. I have a lovely friend who puts together I wouldn't normally choose yet they always look fab and work brilliantly together. I think the secret is being brave. Well need to go now as I have sewing instructions to write up for a kit.  Thank you Sally

Hello, I have finally got round to blogging, its only taken about 6 years to do it! I am Sally, and have said goodbye to nursing and I am following my dream of working in the world of sewing, fabric, patchwork and quilting. I sew everyday and decided after twenty years of nursing to try a fresh start. I have the wonderful support of my husband Stu and we have a lovely little cocker spaniel Mabel, hence the name of our online fabric shop

 You me and Mabel. On this blog I will be posting lots about sewing and what I have made, I will be posting a little about our life, I don't want to bore you too much and I will keep you updated with what fabric has come into our little shop. I follow lots of talented folks blogs and have decided to be brave and join the blog world. You can find our shop, You me and Mabel and we are also on Instagram and Facebook. I would love to read any comments and love sharing sewing ideas and tips. Thank You, I'm off for a cup of tea now