Negligence

I have been very negligent, and I will try and remedy lots of overdue thanks in this post!  

The lovely Jackie made me the most useful pressie when she came over a few weeks ago, and I haven't properly thanked her for it - as you can see it is already in good use:

It holds pins and needles, my glasses (sigh) and I've attached the scissors that Jackie previously gave me to it too - now there are no threads on the arms of the chair - yippee!

She also brought Lisa a lovely crochet hook case as a thank you for the loan of the bed

but given that Lisa wasn't home anyway, and I had to clear the room (admittedly of my stuff) to even *find* the bed, I think I deserve it more - luckily for Lisa I cant crochet, so it's no good to me!!!! 

I also need to thank Teje in advance - I commented on a post on her blog . . .  well actually I commented on a guest post, posted by her handsome Alsatian, Nero.  Nero was very kindly offering one of Teje's lovely 2-in-1 makeup bags to celebrate summer (they live in sunny Crete, not cloudy England).  Nero very kindly picked my name from the basket (well he ate the others and didn't eat mine, that's as good as being picked isn't it?),

Teje is sending me this super bag   Do visit her ETSY shop and look at the others she has made too

I also, in the last few months have been awarded this award from Annabelle Serendipity who says "Benta at SLIK stitches really does do some amazing stuff and I like to see her photos and hear about her exploits - but - get that kitchen sorted Benta!"

(and I was really chuffed to be awarded it in the same keystroke as Hadley at Flying Blind!!!)

 

and I have been awarded this award by Rebecca who said "Benta at Slik Stitches is absolutely lovely! I've followed this blog for ages now and she creates some absolutely beautiful quilts among other things!", and also by Amo who said "Always making things and does so much in her community to encourage stitching."

I have to tell you 5 things that you may not know about me:

Hum, 

• I love instant coffee, but not real coffee, 
• I was so bad at sewing at school I had to take Home Economics (yes Annabelle, cooking!) for my practical subject
• For all the sewing and other crafting I have tried over the years, my two very best creations are my daughters
• Next spring I'll have been married 25 years (!)
• My favourite colour is yellow, but I don't have any yellow clothes

So THANK YOU to all of you, and I am so sorry it has taken me so long!

Blogging Awards

In the lovely world of blogging there are some lovely people, and there are some people who are very tardy in acknowledging their loveliness.  Sadly, I am in the second group. :-(

Recently Teje and her Alsatian Nero, over at Nero's Post and Patch Blog, AND Hadley over at the bizarrely named Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle Blog have very kindly awarded me two different awards, and I have only just got around to acknowledging the award, and thanking them - So thank you Nero and Teje, and Hadley.

I now have to tell you some things about me, and then nominate some other blogs for the awards ...

• The first thing I think I need to tell you about me is  that I do not have the technical ability to post the award Logos here - what a dunce!
• Second:  My family all have assorted quilts that I have made them (mum, mother-in-law, daughters, cats, niece and nephew all have at least two quilts or blankets) , but we don't have one on our bed, but my mum is knitting one for us
• I am scared and excited about going freelance, teaching crafts and sewing, but very excited to have the opportunity.
• I LOVE boxes and having places to put things.  I have a huge collection of boxes, and love the philosophy of "a place for everything and everything in its place" ... but I'm still untidy
• I have loads of things on my too-do list, and yet I sit here at the computer reading blogs and adding to mine!

Now for the blogs I think you should visit ... Two of my blogging friends have become real friends too, as they live just half an hour away by train ... please go have a look at Plum's blog, and at Avril's to see what they've been up to.

In the virtual world, how can I choose ... Go and make yourself a cuppa, and then go for a trip around the world.  Go and see Wilma at her blog, and Beth at Love Laugh Quilt (see what Beth has done with some house blocks I couldn't see a use for!) and Nelly at Nelly's Junk Drawer.  I also recommend Malia at Yesterday on Tuesday (love the blog name) and Sue at her blog , and the aptly named Not Enough Time To Craft blog.  Jo at Bear Paw has some great ideas, and Victoria needs to remember that even if she doesn't have time to live up to She's Crafty, she still should be posting regular photos of that gorgeous baby!!!  Finally, Beate who is taking a break from crafting, but has some awesome photos, and Amo,also have very enjoyable blogs

Phew! (but any of the others shown on the left are worth a vist if you still have some of you tea left!!!)

I won an award!

Teje and her gorgeous Alsatian, Nero, have awarded me a Beautiful Blogger Award... They cant see me blogging in my pyjamas, with my hair unbrushed, but I think even if they could, it's OK as the award is aimed at the blog, not the blogger!

Thank you Teje and Nero

There is a condition to accepting the award - that I have to post 10 things that you didn't know about me. I see the blog really to keep mum and Jackie (my patchwork twin, but she doesn't blog) up to date with what I'm working on, and there isn't much they don't know. However I have some other lovely people who also come and visit my blog and leave comments so maybe the 10 things are more for you guys ... anyway here goes:

1. I was born in Norway, but lived in UK since I was two-and-a-half
2. My Mum, Dad and Brother all live in a different country to where they were brought up: I live within 15 miles of where I was brought up
3. My blog is called SLIKstitches as my brother's wife had their first baby at the same time as I got an embroidery machine, and they signed their emailed S (my brother's initial) L (his wife, Lisa) I (their daughter's initial) and K (for Kodi the dog!)
4. My mum is my biggest fan and although she doesn't patchwork, I learned all my sewing skills from her - she is an awesome dressmaker
5. I was politely invited NOT to take sewing at school - so I did cooking instead - now I don't cook, but I do sew!
   
6. 18 months ago I offered a bed for the night to a total stranger, known only through a Yahoo group, and she is now my bested patchwork buddy and we have manage to meet twice last year and twice this year at patchwork shows even though this involves trains and planes. (Love you Jackie)
7. My family all have assorted quilts that I have made them (mum, mother-in-law, daughters, cats, niece and nephew all have at least two quilts or blankets) , but we don't have one on our bed!
8. I taught myself to patchwork, and although I have since attended classes, I still do things that are probably crimes to the quilt police
9. My sewing room is tiny: 2.5m x 2.25m (with 1 square m taken up by a built in cupboard) but as British houses are generally small, I am lucky to have this space, and not to have to put things away every day
10. I started patchworking 19 years ago when I was sent a quilt for oldest daughter - and I thought "I can do that" ... actually I couldn't then, but I can now!
    

(my first quilt, now used as my camp blanket!)