Year's end

It's been a year of ups and downs at Nellie's Niceties but we've made it through largely intact. I'm going to close the year out with this mosaic of just some of the makes I squeezed in this year.

I think it's safe to say we're looking forward to all that 2014 holds for us. We've got some exciting plans that we'll share with you in due course :) Thank you all for the continued support you've given us over the past year. We wish you all a very happy New Year. Catch you soon x

Merry Christmas one and all

Just popping in to wish you all a very merry Christmas or a happy holiday if you don't celebrate Christmas. Our trees are up...

... the Animal Cracker Tree skirt is under the tree and we're waiting for Santa's helpers to deliver their presents.

At this time of year it's very easy to get swept up in all the trimmings and nonsense. It's not always an easy holiday emotionally and there are many people dear to us who will be struggling this year. We'd just like to say you're all in our thoughts and prayers, and leave you with this little image...

...the reason for the season. Stay safe. Catch you soon x

Not quite what I had planned...

...enforced bed rest!

I've spent the last few days in bed nursing a kidney infection when I should have been doing lots of last minute sewing and prepping for Christmas. Well, if it's not done now it probably won't get done at all. Thankfully I finished a really important project before succumbing to the lurgy! My version of Lynne's Tube Quilt now lives on Jess' bed :)

I can honestly say this quilt was a joy to make. At 80" finished this is my biggest quilt make to date! It's been somewhat tricky to photograph as there's nowhere big enough (or dry enough outside) to hang it.

After a false start with the quilting - major puckers requiring the seam ripper! - I attached the Dual Feed foot and just like that no more puckers :) I used a nice green Aurifil thread in "organic" straight lines, I admit it they were wonky but it's not easy to keep a straight line when you're me. 

To my delight and amazement, Jess fell in love with it! I used the ever trusty Nummer from Ikea for the backing.

 I even went to the trouble of pattern matching it! Not too shabby, even if I say so myself ;)

As you'd expect from Lynne, the pattern is slick and I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone! Keep an eye on her blog in the New Year for the pattern release and quilt along :)

Before I go and rest again I've got to share something really exciting. It's a finish, not by me but by Robin who got in touch to show her version of my Animal Crackers Tree skirt!!! I can't tell you how giddy with excitement I was to see a pattern I designed being used by someone else.

There are a couple more pictures of it in our Flickr group. Thanks to Robin for sharing with me and allowing me to use her photo here. Now I'm off to rest again. Catch you soon x

SMS giveaway winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered our SMS giveaway! Thanks especially to those of you who continue to follow our exploits regardless of winning or losing :)

Mr Random Number generator chose...

...unlucky for some but let's hope the winner doesn't think so ;) Congratulations Kay, I'm off to email you now.

Sorry you couldn't all win something. I'm sure it won't be too long before there's another chance to win in these parts...keep your eyes peeled in the New Year!  Catch you soon x

Sew Mama Sew giveaway day!

It's that time of year again folks, Sew Mama Sew giveaway day! Thanks to them we get to peruse lots of lovely new blogs with the bonus of the chance to win some goodies :)
This time round we're offering 2 prizes to one lucky winner.

There's a festive table set of table topper and coasters in the ever popular Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater and a festive cushion in Bliss by Bonnie and Camille.

The table topper is approximately 9.5" x 15" and the coasters are approximately 4.5" square. I think they're festive without being too holiday specific.

The holly is raw edge appliqued with red Aurifil thread and I've used a lovely red fabric from the Rendezvous line by Kristian Howell for the backing :)

Yvonne has made a gorgeous cushion/pillow (depending which side of the Atlantic you're on) cover using one of the blocks from the Farmer's Wife Quilt book.

The colours are much prettier in real life, Winter lighting is so tricky! This will be sent without the pillow form to keep our postage costs low, it's a standard size so you shouldn't have any trouble finding an insert for it :)
So....now to the best bit. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment telling us your favourite holiday movie. If you fancy a second chance at winning you can click the follow button  and leave another comment telling us that you did or that you already follow us.
The giveaway will close on December 13th at 5.00pm PST. In the UK that's around 1.00am so you can rest assured I'll be tucked up in bed asleep then so I'll draw the winner using Random Number Generator when I wake up.
We're happy to ship Internationally but we obviously can't guarantee that the goodies will be with you before the New Year as the lasting posting date for guaranteed delivery by Christmas has now passed.
Again to remind you: 1st chance to win - leave a comment telling us your favourite holiday movie
                                   2nd chance to win - leave a comment telling us you are a new or existing follower   
I will try to answer as many comments as possible but please don't think I'm rude if I don't manage to reply to everyone as these giveaways can be so popular and I have a lot of sewing to be doing :) I almost forgot, please make sure I can contact you if you win by leaving an email address with your comment if you are a no-reply blogger. If I can't get hold of you and don't hear from you the day after the draw I will draw another winner.
In the meantime I hope you all enjoy visiting the other blogs taking part in the SMS giveaway. Good luck to all who enter. Catch you soon x

Updated to add - Winner of the giveaway was:

Thanks to everyone for taking part, sorry you couldn't all win something. Catch you soon x

Claiming the blog apparently :)
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Testing 1,2,3

Our uber-talented friend, Lynne, put out a call for pattern testers last week and I was one of the lucky people that got the pleasure of road testing her Tube Quilt. I've spent the last couple of afternoons petting and chopping fabric.

I'm a third of the way through making the top and can say that it is a joy to piece! My favourite block so far is this one...

I had so much fun fussy-cutting these frog princes. I'm probably a bit slow on the uptake as I've only just noticed the fly in his belly.

The blocks go together really quickly so I should have a finished top to show you very soon.

When I fancied a change of pace this afternoon I tested out an idea that I'd been cultivating for a few days. I channeled my inner Brioni Greenberg but with a Christmassy twist. I love the little holly leaf additions :)

I free-motioned the edges with red Aurifil and it really makes the holly "pop". It's a really fast and fun project to put together. It's destined to be a coaster, allegedly a Christmas gift... if I can bear to give it away ;)

I hope your Christmas sewing is going to plan. Catch you soon x