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When my son, Joe, came over for Christmas 2014, we bought some Alexander Henry, Hurry Down The Chimney fabric and I promised to make him some boxer shorts.
Last week I flew over to St Andrews, Scotland to celebrate Flicky's 21st birthday with her. Five days of fun with some of my kids is just the ticket when I'm missing home.
If you've never visited St Andrews, or Scotland for that matter, it's absolutely beautiful with tons of history but also quite bleak and very cold. I've put together a few photo collages from the weekend.
There was lots of food and drink and a fab spa day at the Fairmont resort.
My son, Joe and his partner Katie joined us and, as it was their first visit to St Andrews, we did the touristy bit showing them around the town.
The University
The Castle...
...don't you love a loo with a view? (centre pic below)
and crawling through the tunnels underneath the castle was a lot of laughs too, though I think there were moments when we were laughing just so we didn't cry.
The Cathedral
Love this selfie of us all at the top of the Cathedral Tower.
The Gin Tour
We also visited the local brewery and gin & whisky distillery, Eden Mill, where we may or may not have sampled four G&Ts each as part of the Gin Tour.
If you're a gin girl (or boy) I highly recommend the gin tour. All the Eden Mill gins are abs delish, the guys at the Eden Mill were super friendly and I think you can tell from the pics we had a lot of fun there.
Eden Mill Gins
Original gin - citrus and seabuckthorn - forget the lime slice add some pink grapefruit
Love gin - tastes of berries and citrus - try it with raspberries
Oak gin - tastes of whisky - great with an orange slice
Hop gin - tastes of beer - add a sizzling chilli slice
And on Sunday, Flicky's actual 21st birthday, there was even a birthday cake...
...with candles that Rob and Colin, Flicky's two housemates helped her blow out.
It was over all too soon but I was almost glad to get back to slightly warmer weather on the US east coast and slightly pained in the knowledge it'll soon be just as cold or colder here too.
Happy 21st Birthday Flicky xxx
If you'd like to read more about St Andrews you can click through to my previous posts on the images below:
Clicking on an image will take you to a new page of crafty goodness :)
This post may be linked to some great Linky Parties, always a great source of inspiration too. If you click through to my 'Fave Linky Parties' page you can see where I like to share my work.
I've increased the measurements to 14" (L) x 8" (D) x 9" (H) and moved the central divider offsetting it to allow more room for larger size nappies. I've divided the front pocket into 5 sections too.
Next, I've made 3 stacking baskets.
Want to make your own?
You need a square base with rounded corners whatever size you wish.
Cut a rectangle of fabric for the basket side that's the same width as the four sides of the base added together plus an extra 1/2" for seams (you can just use a circle base if you prefer and then measure your side to equal the circumference of the circle plus an extra 1/2" for seams). The height of the basket is up to you - just add 3/4" for seams to your height measurement.
Sew the basket side and base together using a 1/4" seam - start sewing with the first 1/4" of the basket side not attached (this is your excess that will become your basket side seam) and when you get to the end the final 1/4" should also be excess and unattached.
Now sew the two excess open sides of the basket together again using a 1/4" seam.
Create the same for the lining (you can use Decor Bond again on the base to make it firmer but you don't need it again on the side).
Press the top edge of the outside and lining down by 1/2" to the wrong side of the fabric.
Put the lining inside of the outside with the wrong sides together.
Line up the top edges (adjust turnings if necessary so the heights are the same) and topstitch at 1/8" then repeat at 3/8".
You can turn the top edge of the containers down to whatever height you like. You can see here where I've previously had the top turned down to - that happens when you use Decor Bond though you can iron it out again to some extent though probably not fully.
I've added tabs to the top of one of the containers before topstitching.
Having 3 fabrics I've alternated each for the outside, inside and base
and, of course, I've added my labels.
And how do those baskets look in use?
There're 54 x 16-28 lb nappies in that basket, perfect!
And the final line-up?
Folded
Stacked
Empty
Full Of Goodies
I can't wait to hand deliver these and making them reminded me that two years ago I shared my eldest son Jack's graduation quilt with you - I mentioned then that he'd always been my little adventurer and explorer, I wonder if he'll pass those aspirations on to his own son Oliver?
So back to that Arthur C Clarke quote at the top of the post and I hope my Grandson finds the moon when he travels his own road to the stars.
Click the images below to read more about other Divided Baskets I've made.
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Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.
I've been waiting for what feels like sooooo long to share the news with you, I just want to shout it from the roof tops
My eldest son Jack and his partner Ana are having a baby and some time around 11 September 2014 my grandson will be taking his first breath. He's a first grandchild for the grandparents on both sides so there's that extra buzz and thrill for us all.
Here's a pic of Jack and Ana in their pre-baby days
I love that photo - I took it last June when I visited them at their home in Seville, Spain.
We're all very excited and I've already been buying maternity clothes for Ana, wool, knitting patterns, fabrics and baby clothes, books and presents. I might be thousands of miles away but I still want to play my part!
I'm sure I'll have lots of projects to share with you over the coming months but right now I'm just walking round with a big smile on my face :D
For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my side bar :D
