Right then, you still have until tomorrow evening to sign up for my robot swap. FRIDAY UPDATE ***Sign-up is now closed - I'm just waiting to hear back from 2 people and then I'll pick partners out of the hat/bowl*** It's open to everyone no matter where you live! Just drop me a quick email saying you want to join in and include your NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL and BLOG (if you have one). Send on the back of a sealed down envelope to claire[at]paynedesign.co.uk and I'll put you on my fancy spreadsheet!

I made these robots a while ago! They are getting relegated from my new SWAP SHELF where I'm housing all the lovely swapety-gifts I receive (it's only a little shelf!). Little Mousey will be safe up there from Sausage and can play with the Russian doll family! Ohhhhhhhh, on non-swap news, look at the lovely button goodness I got today! They are mainly for Christmas decorations that I've been doodling while at work. I'm going to go and cut some templates and root through my felt stash to make some prototypes!

I've been branching out a little this week into the world of fabric...Don't worry Sarah! Felt is still my first love, but I just fancied a bit of a change. Yesterday after work I set out to make a few things. This Lovely knitting needle case made with Amy Butler fabric - Full Moon Polka Dot in Cherry and red cotton lining. I liked it so much I had to list it on etsy first thing this morning to stop me keeping it myself! More photos on Flickr.

I already have two knitting needle cases (one was a present from Franny!), I'm not even very good at knitting but I'm sure I could use a crochet hook case in the same fabric. Hehe! I also made a Monsieur Orange tote bag and managed to get one rubbish photo before my battery died. That's on my Flickr account too - I'll try and take a better picture once I've got some charge and if the rain holds out! I was thinking about making other fruity face totes and maybe some coin purses too! And just to remind you all:: there is still time to sign up for the robot swap, just CLICK HERE and leave a comment!

Rolley Pirate will be appearing in my etsy shop this evening!

Another weekend a bit slack on the old sewing front...but I have a good excuse this week! My mum and middle sister were visiting so that we could go and see this show for Mum's birthday this week!

I Really wanted to get an Mary Poppins umbrella as well but didn't have enough money. It was great! I'm a big fan of kids musical-style-movies, although only really watch them when I'm ill. My top 4 are Mary Poppins, the Wizard of Oz, Nightmare before Christmas and the Copse bride. They just help me feel better and I sing along to all the songs! :)

In other Moos....(sorry!)....My new mini moos arrived AND I thought I'd try out a batch of postcards!

You still have a week to sign up for my ROBOT swap....CLICK HERE and leave a comment! I found this robot trim when I was having a tidy in my craft room and now really want to incorporate it into my swap gift, it's just sooo cute! I think I got it from superbuzzy last year.

How excited was I to look on the Cuteable website today and see that it was all about my felt goodies?! Well, I knew it was going to be there, but still I was *VERY* excited to see it in real life! Thank you ever so much for the feature Lynsey - it looks great *BIG GRIN*. Also, when I logged into Etsy I found a message and a link HERE....Another mini feature, and I'm described as a talented felt artist by Meiling! Not quite sure how true that is as I only got an E in GCSE art. My final project exploded in the kiln - I was gutted! I've got a warm fuzzy glow and fell so special this week! Thanks guys!

Monkey news: I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Rolley Monkey Family - he's very shy and as yet doesn't have a name. He likes rolling and making snowmen....

Still plenty of time to sign up for my ROBOT SWAP. Either scroll down or CLICK HERE and leave a comment. Failing that email me and I'll add you to my list! I've been having a look on Flickr for robo-inspiration, there are so many great robot photos on there! Sign-up is open until the 1st August and I'll make sure everyone has plenty of time to make and send their robo-goodies!

Don't worry blog readers, I've not been neglecting you, I've just been far too busy sewing new Rolleys to stop and take photos! I did take a few today, with hubbies help - he held up a piece of felt!, of one of the Rolleys I finished off this evening. Let me introduce you to....Rolley Penguin! Here he is in his arctic home, but he's looking for a slightly warmer home - if you want to adopt him he will be in my etsy shop very soon!

ROBOT SWAP NEWS: It seems we're having a few technical difficulties with leaving comments, if you want to join in the robot swap but can't leave a comment on the previous post you can email me directly and I'll add you to my list. We don't want any robot makers missing out! email: claire [at] paynedesign [dot] co [dot] uk

One last penguin picture...(J had fun making these for me!)

SO, here it is............MY SWAP IDEA................*drum roll*..........

We like robots in our house, and monkeys(!) so toying with the idea of a R.O.B.O.T. SWAP I decided to make a R.O.B.O. Monkey. Don't worry! This robot won't be a swap gift - he looks far too scary! Do you think you may be interested in a R.O.B.O.T. SWAP???

Anyone interested in taking part in the R.O.B.O.T. SWAP needs to leave a comment on this post being sure to leave your email address and/or blog details so I can get in touch with you. I will give you until the 1st of August to sign up (unless I am overwhelmed with participants!) and the rules will be "make a robot" use whatever materials and style take your fancy - softie, mini quilt, card, apron, tea cosy....anything you enjoy making! So if you fancy it - leave a comment!

Other things...I've been making my way through the pile of felt balls I showed last week(?) and here we have...Mr and Mrs Rolley Monkey - they need a top hat and veil, R.O.B.O. Monkey and Pirate Rolley in need of a piratey hat and maybe a fancy sword!

There hasn't been much going on in the sewing front this weekend. We've had friends visiting so I've taken a weekend off and we've been out for a curry!!! I did manage a few rows of knitting here and there though, AND Joy brought her teapot with her so I could make sure her strawberry cosy is a perfect fit! Now it's sewn together and fits, I'm going to make a fleecy lining for it to help keep her tea extra warm and then maybe make one for myself! :)

My sewing list is as long as ever and I've a few challenges to complete by the end of the month, hopefully I can make a crack at those before next weekend as Mum and middle sis are coming over and we're off to see Mary Poppins at the Hippodrome! YAAAAAY! I booked the tickets way back in October as it's Mum's birthday present (her birthday is the 30th July!) from me. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OOO! also....I've been thinking about swaps. I've only taken part in two - and really enjoyed thinking about new stuff and thought I might do a bit of organising one of my own......watch this space and all will be revealed tomorrow (evening some time)! I just need J to make some sort of widgety thing (he's much better using photoshop than me!) and then we're rolling! Don't worry, I know people have the school hols and things now so I'll make nice long deadlines!

YIPEEEEEEE! Lat night I reached 200 hearts on etsy and here's the proof!!! I'm now on 207 hearts and 29 sales! oooO! I'd just love to make it 30 sales for a nice round number!

Strike day news: I've got so much done today! Apart from protesting (a nice peaceful home protest!) about the proposed 2.45% pay rise, I've managed to make 4 new ipod nano cases, finish of the nice striped scarf I started yesterday AND almost finished another pink striped beach bag (see mid June some time!) - I just have a button to sew on. Here are he new nano cases - better photos need to be taken once J gets home with his ipod nano for me to pinch!

AND NOW FOR SOME RANDOM THINGS!

Pang has tagged me with the 6 random things jobby so I thought as this is the first time I've been tagged I'd take her up on it...

The Rules:

OMG! I almost forgot again! Yesterday was a great day at school. It's activities week this week and mon-thurs the science department have had Steve from Tropical Inc visiting with his crazy creatures (amongst other activities). He brought scorpions, spiders, meer cats, a parrot, skunk, pythons AND a cute orphaned albino wallaby.....Awwww! I got to stroke them all! The snakes were really cool!

Today I have mostly been......KNITTING! I got going on a nice chunky scarf using 15mm needles - they are really thick and took some getting used to but I do like them as you can go from a ball of wool to a lovely thick scarf in a couple of hours! And this one doesn't feel too bad. I also had a book to take back to the library today so popped for a rummage in the JL haberdashery and found some half price wool to knit another Christmas scarf with! YAY!

Need to go and mow the lawn now! Stike day tomorrow so I should be very productive! ;)