Couldn’t live without

A couple of years ago I did a post about what things were in my sewing bag. That got me thinking. Out of all the items, what was the one thing that I couldn’t live without?

It would have to be my left-handed tape measure.

For many years I made do with a regular tape measure (numbers going from left to right) and read it upside down.  It was not ideal but as there wasn’t anything else I just made do.

About 17 years ago I was sewing a lot more than I had been and was getting fed up with my tape measure being ‘wrong’. I searched online for a left-handed shop I’d visited in London in the early 80’s, to see if they were still going.

They were, and guess what they had in stock, a left-handed tape measure !!!! Sadly though I didn’t buy it as the postage was phenomenally expensive. It was about three times the cost of the tape measure....

A friend of ours used to visit London quite regularly so I asked him if ever he was passing the shop, could he call in and get it for me. A week later he handed me a little present. It was the left-handed tape measure. As he wasn’t due down to London for several weeks he’d asked a friend who lived in the capital to buy it for him.

Over time the tape measure has seen a fair bit of action, resulting in a lot of battle scars and a few of the numbers have worn off, but I could never be without it.

Gertie xx

Fabric challenge

When my mam died four years ago I inherited her sewing things. Whilst I’ve made use of most of the items I haven’t done much with all her quilting fabric.

Shortly after she died I finished off the quilts she had started, or was about to, and gave them to the charity she had intended them to go. However the rest of the fabric hasn’t really been touched.

I thought it was time I did something about it so I’ve set myself a challenge to try and make use of some of it (I can’t say all as there is a lot....). I don’t want to profit from the things I make using the fabric so they won’t become Gertie’s Bags. I decided they would be turned into quilts and given to charity.

Our new next door neighbour is a Pastor and he mentioned doing work for the elderly and homeless. As I’d already made four quilts out of John’s old work shirts looking for a good home, I asked if he could make use of them. He said yes so I’ve decided that any quilts I make from my mam’s fabric will go to him. 

Gertie xx

I want….

At this time of year newspapers and magazines have articles about New Year resolutions. I don’t do resolutions – never have – but what I do have though is a ‘want’ list.

This list is all sewing related but over on my other blog I’ve posted a general ‘want’ list.

For 2017 I want to….

• ….use up the fabric I inherited from my mam.
• ….use up the fabric I already have before buying any more.
• ….remember to get up and move around every 45 minutes or so instead of sitting in one place for hours.
• ….become more skilled at free-motion quilting and embroidery.  
• ….try and adhere to the rule Mr Gertie set (for my own good….) that I can only sew for one third of the day.
• ….get over my fear of social media in order to promote Gertie’s Bags.
• ….blog more and catch up with my old blogging friends.

Come six months time when I do the interim update, will I have made any headway? Who know !!!

Gertie
xxx

Happy New Year

"Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress"

I wish you a very happy and peaceful new year.

Gertie xx