Finding treasures at the Claregalway Indoor Market

There is a new indoor Sunday market in Claregalway Business Park. There are a good few stalls spread over two warehouse-like rooms selling new and secondhand furniture, clothing, toys, jewellery, books, household items, bric-a-brac, craft, food, etc. It's a bit cold in there, but if you wrap up well and warm up with a cup of coffee and homemade sticky bun you'll be alright!





I particularly liked 'The Dolly Tub' stall. Suzanne makes handmade soaps, bath products and candles which are all beautifully presented in delicate, vintage-inspired packages, tins and teacups. But I especially loved her bags made from felted woollen blankets and embellished with felted flowers and transferred images. Check out her website at http://www.thedollytub.com/.

I also found a stall selling cotton and silk fabrics by the metre and some vintage lace. I bought pink and purple shot-cottons for €5/mtr. And 2 reversible woven curtain fabric off-cuts for €2 each. I love the vibrant mix of colours in these: lime green/turquoise and pink/orange. I'm looking forward to including these in future projects.

UFO sightings in 2010

The start of a new year often prompts a tidy up of my workspace. I hoped to be inspired to get cracking on some new projects. I was..... but some UFOs (un-finished objects) were spotted! So I need to also fit these into the plan for 2010.

I gave the primary school children in Claregalway Educate Together National School some fabric paints and asked them to paint something that showed how their school was special. They did an amazing job and then learned how to use an old hand-cranked Singer machine to add a border to their work. I promised to put these together and bring back the quilts to hang at the school or to use as picnic blankets. I really want to get these done for the children to see their work.

This 'bowl' wall-hanging was started at a Kaffe Fassett workshop in Dublin some years ago. I like it a lot, but it's been sitting there and forgotten for quite a while!

This is my current hand-piecing project I sew when I meet with my quilting buddies, the Corrib Quilters, every week. It's been growing slowly and I'm on the last row. It will be approx 40 x 40 inches when complete. It is my first curved piecing project and is made totally from scraps with no particular placement plan for each colour. Perhaps I'll complete it in time for the exhibition in the Galway City Museum in May?

Here's hoping 2010 will see these all sewn-up!

The Betty Draper Evening Gala Gown GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Betty Draper Evening Gala Gown GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check out this website for beautiful hand-made clothing.