#economyblockalong Reveal...

Yesterday morning, nightie, dressing gown, wellies, mad hair, sunshine and photos, at last!

I love how this mini turned out, Dick 'n' all!  I pulled a couple of big scraps that I had fallen out of love with for the back; and although at first I was just happy to use them up where they wouldn't be seen, I now actually love the madness of the combo...

I used Rita's templates to make the 42 x 5" finished blocks, so it measures up just over 35" x 30".  I quilted each side of the block seams in Aurifil 2021 50wt.  The binding is some cripsy cotton poplin I have had hanging about since I really didn't know what I was doing, and the batting was even made with two pieces fused together.

So I am really pleased to be linking this up with Sarah...

Whilst I was out in the garden looking a bit disturbed, I got some pics of a few more finishes, so don't be fooled into thinking we are having lovely weather at last, it was good for about 3 hours so I made sure I got my money's worth xxx

Let there be light!

Please!!!  I am fed up of feeling like I am in northern Scandinavia with 24hr night-time, lights on all day, the most appalling photography opportunities and wearing 2 pairs of socks, indoors and none of the fun stuff, like snow, just rain, rain and more rain.

So the hot chocolate is helping me a little, but it is making blogging anything interesting a little difficult.

Today I collected my Siblings Together FQ bundle; I've never had a whole line FQ bundle in my mitts before, it's a lot of fabric!  I took an instagram snap, but that was on my phone and it's charging in the kitchen.  I am under a quilt in the living room, so you'll have to imagine what it looks like for now!!

I did make Susan's Stitch Tease blocks for February though, (yes Ange I know you are a girly swot, so give yourself a slice of pie for being first!!), but they are subject to the secret treatment for now, so here's a highly tampered shot to prove they exist...

And I have a finish!!  My #economyblockalong mini is complete, but the aforementioned lack of any good lighting meant I couldn't get a decent shot of the whole thing, so here are a few close ups and I will try again tomorrow...

I am going to stay snuggled up here for the evening, and write a long to-do list for when the sun comes out xxx

A little stitchery...

I promised you some pretty pics, and after finding a small patch of almost the right level of brightness on the upstairs landing, here you go...

I only have 6 more blocks to make until my 6x7 #economyblockalong arrangement is complete.  I am not so much torn between making it bigger or not, as this will be the perfect size for what I want and need, but whether to make another?!?

Sense for now will prevail though, I have the rest of my FAL list, never-alone another equally long list of other things I want to make like this, and this and this even though I can't knit!

So many plans, so little time, (but plenty of fabric, just in case!) xxx

A Better Day...

Tuesday was good; there was sunshine, so much sunshine that I came home to sew and had to wear sunglasses!

That'll be five more #economyblockalongs to add to the collection....

I am now at 30 out of 42...

I was planning on getting the blocks finished and top made tomorrow, but I have some new fabrics to play with on a secretive mission, so I may well start something new instead; actually I already started it, and I think I want to spend a little time cutting, and a lot of time hand stitching on the sofa; my day off, so why not!?

And the old first aid badge was removed, and level two stitched on in time, as promised...

... and dear son just got home with 2 more!!  But one was for becoming a Seconder, so proud Mummy doesn't mind xxx

Edited to add - just spotted that I won Sheila's mega-pinnie in the FAL Q4 prize draw - a better day indeed!

Quiet weekend...

We've had a quiet weekend.  Everyone was a bit exhausted after a week back at learning and working, and even the weather took a break; sunshine yesterday and a lot of grey nothing today.  Dear son took the Harry Potter cushion to the party and by all accounts it was very well received.

I sewed up a few more of my #economyblockalong blocks, and now have a grand total of 25/42...

Not a great photo, sorry.

The girls and I also decided on a couple of little projects out of a book Father Christmas got them; we pulled the fabrics, but quit before tempers were frayed too much; so we are ready to get sewing at some point this week, wish me luck!

I am all set for the final episode of Sherlock, (3, that's really not a series, pah!), and then I'll be off for an early night; totally rock and roll xxx

Back at it...

... and I am shattered.

I was back in the office before 8 o'clock this morning, driving into work in the dark was not my idea of fun, and it didn't get much better, but it pays the bills.

When I got home, I used up the last of my energy reserves and stitched up a few more #economyblockalong pretties to cheer myself up...

I really like these ones; and already the dodgy duo are blending in nicely...

My inbox has been cleared, I have read through my blog reading list, and I anticipate an evening of snoozing in front of the TV and an early night.

TFI Friday tomorrow xxx

Economic with the truth...

I started the day with some secret sewing - so you'll have to wait for a reveal of that some time sooner or later, sorry!

But after that, I played with my #economyblockalong fabrics.  Oh it took me ages to go all random!!  I lost 4 fussy-cut centres for 1/2 an hour; stuck to the back of some of the bigger cuts, not back in my scrap bin, favourite fabric box or DS stash, oh I checked!

So I made up my first 10.  I started with my least favourite combinations, and I love 6 of them, feel a bit non-plused by 2 and two have made it to the judge's house, but may not make the final!

This one I just had to unpick, could not live with, even though it looks better in the photo...

The fact it looks better in the picture makes me wonder now if some of those perfect combos and quilts I have spotted, and envied, maybe don't look so fab in real life?  I know I often have to look at photos of quilt layouts to get the right perspective, but this is more sinister!

For now I won't do anything rash, as I suspect the dodgy ones will blend right in at the end; so I will stitch on, and on, and on xxx

... and relax!

By 9am, the kids were in school, hubby was in work, I had already gathered all the christmas from around the house, and in two hours it was all packed away ready for the loft, the house was hoovered, dusted and returned to a passable level of hygiene, and all was calm once again!

I do love Christmas, but I also love the feeling of space that returns again, once everything is over.  Lovely.

So not content with an ordered abode, I then messed it up, pulling most of my stash out to cut all the fabric I wanted to use for a little #economyblockalong action...

Last year, actually the end of 2012, I made a wall hanging for the smallest room in the house.  Multiple Little Reds have peered down at us doing our business since then, and now I think it is time for a change.  The girls already have dibs on the incumbent, and so I cut all I needed for a 30"x 35" wall hanging; 42 5" blocks using Rita-Red Pepper's cutting guide.

I find fussy cutting and pulling so many fabrics a bit stressful; going completely scrappy goes against nature, control freak that I am, but I did it; there are some repeats, but I am pretty confident that it will work.

Time and trimming will tell xxx