Home Sweet Home.

We are a family that loves to travel but we also love to come home again. There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed, eating in your own kitchen and knowing that the hair you find in the shower is from your own head. Amen.

Much like last year's Spring Trip, we covered a lot of ground in the car. We zoomed up to Paris, then across to Normandy (plus a teeny bit of Brittany) and came back home via the Loire Valley. Despite the weather's best efforts to thwart us, we had a really good time.

En route I got to meet the very lovely Nicky, who blogs at Growing Berries. She had us over for dinner (she has four kids too so it was a biiiiig meal), she let me poke through her fabric stash and test out her Bernina. Talk about a great visit, I even got to meet her Mum.

And look what she gave me:

Isn't it gorgeous? It has Jersey lavender inside so it smells wonderful every time I stab it. Woohoo, I love it! Thanks Nicky.

When we came home I had a parcel waiting for me too, from Krista at PoppyPrint. She sent me a thread catcher/pincushion she'd made - which is something I've been needing for a while but have been too lazy to make.

Catcher in action, such a great idea. Thanks Krista, you're a champ.

Krista also included a sweet collection of fabric perfect for a mum with small kids.

I think I need a badge making machine. Look at those bears.

My one and overcrowded (and old) pin cushion which was leaking stuffing from one corner is gone.

I now have my pins in Nicky's cushion and my 'I'm not dead yet' machine needles in Krista's cushion. I am now so organised it's scary. Yay!

I had a break from sewing while we were away. I didn't even take a small hand sewing project so I'm raring to get back into it. The question is what to do next?

Have you seen the QuiltCon Block Challenge?

Oh how I love the colours.

What about the Summer Sewing Contest over at Ellison Lane Quilts?

Do you know of any other good contests out there? Sometimes being told what I have to make is good for me - stops me vacillating and makes me focus. Not to mention getting me to try new things.

I have a few small projects to finish up - these two need some matching perle cotton.

I'd also like to get into some clothes sewing for spring. I've something planned for the whole family from boxer shorts to spring tops.

All I need now are those extra three hours in a day. If they could be slotted in after the kids are asleep I'd be most grateful.

Have a great week everyone!