Productive!

***Firstly, the missing book bag was ready and waiting when we arrived at school this morning, so it was all smiles as I left the girls for their second morning.  Phew!***

The last couple of mornings alone have resulted in a mass of making and a haircut!  After yesterday's delightful weather and complete bad hair day, I got chopped back into shape straight after drop-off today, just like the photo of me here in Vogue Jennifer's Saturday Spotlight; so I feel and look much better and actually got what I asked for, always a result!

So on to the making...

I have finally finished this...

...Lining it, as I'd hoped, with the aqua crosshatch and making quite a good job at the seams where the lining and the open-edges meet, even if I do say so myself. 

Sewing up close to the handles, even using the zipper foot was a little awkward, wood does not bend, who knew?  So if I were to make one again, I would leave longer pieces of fabric at the top; but all in all I am rather in love with my hexie bag; now I just need to go somewhere that requires me to take along some sewing!

Then I got cracking with my Across The Sea quilt top, managing a finish before the peace was well and truly broken...

I decided not to cut into the remainder of the layer cake squares that I had put aside for the border, as they were going to introduce new patterns, rather too many colours and generally spoil the purple and green vibe I had originally opted for. 

So my border alternates between pattern and background fabric - obviously it wasn't going to work out perfectly, but I hope I 'bodged' the opposite corners with enough aplomb to carry it off.  Thinking about it afterwards, this quilt will spend it's life crumpled and used, not pressed flat and hung to scrutiny, so I am more than happy to have it like this. 

I've got a mild case of 'quilting jitters' already though, it is rather large!

I have made Susan's siggy block so I can get her Bee blocks in the post and now I need to concentrate on my remaining makes for the Mug Rug and Goodie Swap.

There is the little matter of the Mystery QAL that I have definitely not forgotten Sheila, honestly, as well as a tonne of other things, but I've made a start.

I have begun my Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge though.  I needed to get a few made before school started as the PE Bags disappear into oblivion until Half Term and I wanted them on the girl's book bags from day one, (fat lot of good that was eh!), but not so sure I want to post pics yet. 

Not that the competition can copy, but I want them to imagine something so fantastic, get in a panic and muck up with nerves; however, I fear any wobbly seams will be the result of laughing too much at my meagre efforts!

So there you go, back to work again tomorrow and all 3 kiddos will be in school for the full day, so here's to the next 12 years or so!