My Siggy Block...

I love Brit Bee. 

All my wonderful friends helped make my Constellation quilt the stunner that it is, (Alison, I'll tell you about it some day!), and since then I have gone on to make more and more of Katy Jones's inspired stars.

The latest is for Susan's Brit Bee 2 month, asking for a star or stars on a charcoal background, it was a no-brainer for me.

So here is the latest, and sorry Susan I have kept you hanging all day to see this, but I have been finishing off a pair of 'thank yous', so actually you could just blame yourself (or Trudi!).

Susan added a second solid to all the fabric packs she sent out, which was perfect for the secondary star...

It will measure in at 24" and I used Madam Pings' super-duper, quick and easy trim-tastic method of getting those HSTs all nice and squared.  If you haven't seen Sarah's post over at Rhonda's, have a look!!  Honestly it works, and with the added luxury of a new rotary blade, (why oh why do I struggle on with a blunt one for so long, every time!?), this was effortless!

I hope you like it my friend - it will be winging its way to you with a load of other things very very soon, well Saturday, probably!

Star, that's what they call you...

...how long you've waited to get where you are?  Ooh Kiki Dee!

Did you see this post?  I did, it made me happy and sad in equal parts.

I don't want to embarrass my dear friend Marguerite, well maybe just a little blush; but she is one of those wonderful people I spent the whole of Retreat saying 'we must speak properly later' to, and later became time to leave, dammit!

Next year my friend!

In the meantime, this one's for you...

I hope you get the super star quilt you really deserve xxx

Goodness Gracious Me!

What can I say other than...

Thank You!!!

The result of the Canoe Ridge Creations Festival of HSTs was announced in the night, and when I got up this morning the blog post was there, but not there, in a 'Revert to Draft' kind of way - so although I wanted to get excited, I was a little anxious that Megan had posted in error and Brit Bee Constellation was really unplaced! 

Anyhow, a house clean, trip to the shops and a little sewing later, I checked again, and it's true! I am so happy to have come in 2nd place in the Viewer's Vote - you guys are the best! 

Congratulations to the ultimate winner Joanna and her mini-quilt top - she is a super talented sewist - have you been following the Sew Out Loud series? 

Well done Brit Bee ladies, I will spend the $50 Fat Quarterly Gift Certificate wisely and come bearing gifts at Retreat x 

Thank you all so much to everyone for your votes and word of encouragement, this was such a fun competition to be involved in; I better get my thinking cap on for next year's Brit Bee quilt eh! 

I mentioned I did some sewing today - I've cut into the Summersville... I'll show you tomorrow! 

I'm off to stick a rosette on the Constellation xxx

Pretty Please!

I had just posted my Winter Stitching Results last night, when I spotted that the Constellation quilt had made the final 10 in the Festival of HSTs!  Wooooooooooooo Hooooooooooooo!

So now it's down to the Viewer's Choice.

There's stiff competition for sure, and always Mr Random, but it's time to blatantly request your vote; you know the whole Brit Bee would be very happy if you did!

Can't remember what to look for?

This one, you know, the one I don't like to post about much!

I think I probably emailed most of you who commented last night, I even tweeted for goodness sake - I am in double figures now!

So please head on over and cast your vote, you have until tomorrow, 25th, midnight CST.  Megan and the blog hop ladies have done a terrific job, I feel so honoured to have got this far.

Great big 'thank yous' all round x

Festival of HSTs...

Today, although it's my day off and having a list as long as my arm of all the things I wanted to achieve, my decision-making skills appear to have blown away with the wind and rain outside!  I've not been very productive so far.

Anyway, one decision made, to link the 'you know what' with the Festival of Half Square Triangles being hosted by Megan over at Canoe Ridge Creations!

I'm afraid you will have to look away if you are fed up with the Brit Bee Constellation already.  There are, apparently, some folks who have not seen it yet, so please make them welcome!

Here it is, my favourite quilt...

Brit Bee Constellation

12 mega-blocks: made by the amazing Brit Bee, smaller HST stars made from the siggies and a few others added to fill the void.

Quilt design: based on the almighty Katy Jones' Constellation quilt from Fat Quarterly issue 5.

Prints: Momo 'Just Wing It', Kate Spain 'Central Park' and some random scraps.

Background solid: Klona Teal.

Binding: Joel Dewberry 'Herringbone' in Aqua.

Quilting: Straight line machine at 3/4" intervals using Gutermann cotton (7325), echo quilting one star from top left outwards.

Size: 72"x72"

The original post from January can be found here, and should I ever be fortunate enough to win anything because of this quilt, I will definitely share the glory, and maybe any goodies, with my Brit Bee ladies xxx

Please make sure to check out all the other awesome HST creations over at the linky party too.

Well I am hoping to get some photos of last night's finish to show you tomorrow; I am guessing they will end up being taken indoors though.  I hope your day hasn't been a wash out x

Finish-along - First Quarter!

Crikey, it was only when I typed 'first quarter' that it struck home how far into 2012 we are already, phew!

So back in the grey, cold times of January, I posted my Finish-along hopes and linked up with Rhonda.

I know I only chose three things, and as it turns out, I only finished one... but it was a great one!

This quilt adorns our bed, and just because I haven't mentioned it in about a week - I LOVE IT!

I did finish piecing the hexies though...

And I did do some sashing on the Mystery Quilt...

So I guess they can carry over into the next quarter.

In my defence, I have made a lot of other things in the last 3 months; these were my January and February mosaics, in case you doubt my commitment to my art!

March has shaped up quite nicely too, but you'll have to wait until Sunday for that; I am trying to cram in another finish or two before then; although my atrocious hand stitching on my Fat Quarter Retreat name tag may just mean a couple of days of frustration!

Thanks again to Rhonda for trying to rid me of my WiPs; unfortunately I think I have more now than ever!  How have you done with your finishes?

F-ing Friday!

I am linking up today with Rhonda and the first quarter mid-term Finish-along and Thank Goodness It's Finally Finished on a Friday... got all that?

Back here, when the New Year was still, um, new, I laid out my first quarter hopes for some long hoped-for finishes...
i) My Brit Bee Constellation quilt,
ii) My Mystery Quilt top, and
iii) My Pips Hexie Cushion.

Well I think you might have noticed that I managed to get the Constellation completed, I've harked on about it enough!  Ooh look, here it is again...

I love this quilt so so much, it is on our bed keeping us cozy each night, and it is just such a joy to have finished.

The Mystery Quilt has moved on a teeny bit; I sashed all my blocks, played about a bit, then popped it all back in a box, a couple of times...

OK they really do look in need of a bit of a press, sorry!  I hope to get this all finished by the end of the quarter.

And during this weeks' ballet lesson, I managed to complete the hexie panel, which I now need to turn into a cushion cover, pronto...

I am going to have to get myself a new half-hour hobby for those dreaded lessons!

So there you go, I have had some success, and not forgetting that I have made a tonne of new stuff too, and started others things which may well end up featuring in the second quarter.

How have you got on?  You can't beat that 'finished feeling' eh!

Well I have to get my Mouthy Stitches parcel all wrapped up this evening, more on that tomorrow after I have laid out all 900 or so pieces that I cut for my Stained quilt, as I know for sure I mislabeled some, and possibly forgot to cut a couple of the others, oh it was a late night!  

New Year Stars!

Well as is customary, pinch punch, first of the month and time to link up with Lynne and all the Fresh Sewing ladies (and gents?).

So after the manic end to 2011, I spent the best part of January 2012 working on big quilts, and it has been wonderful.

My Brit Bee Constellation quilt has got to be my favourite finish ever, I have gushed thanks and posted many many pictures here, but never one to miss the chance of posting another picture, or two...

Then there was my Cherry Star; made using rainbow swap charms and buoyed on by Chelsea's QAL, this is already a chilly-day/night favourite!

There were also some Brit Bee and Bee Blessed blocks for Judith...

And of course the start of the Mouthy Stitches zippy pouch swap...

I also made it to the final 8 of the completely brilliant Quokka Quilt's Blogger's Choice, which I am really proud of...

I think that can be counted as a pretty good start to the New Year, and February is already looking like it is going to be a bit of a Leap Year bonanza!

I hope 2012 has started how you mean it to go on too x

And In The Green Corner...

I promise to keep it short this evening, as I seem to have rather a lot of comments from both here and flickr to respond to!!  Thank you all for all the wonderful compliments, I owe everything to the awesome Brit Bee ladies xxx

So not content with just an fantastic finish yesterday, I started trimming my Made In Cherry charms to 3.5", and pieced one corner...

I have actually pieced a second corner this evening, but no photos yet.  You like?

Right, I need to get replying and put in some stalking hours for the Mouthy Stitches Swap - I have a few ideas, and I just want to see if they are heading in the right direction before dipping my toe in the flickr pool.

PS.  I didn't place in the Quokka Quilts final selection, nor did any of the MS ladies which was a double shame, but still, a wonderful feeling to get so far.

PPS.  I'll be back tomorrow with my 'Winter Stitching Plans' update, linking back with Sarah and the Fairy Face followers, how have you got on?

You asked for pictures...

I will give you pictures!!

Possibly way too many pictures of one quilt, but as I am so totally over the moon with it, and as you keep on asking, I think that I am not going too overboard!
 
I was out in the garden at 8am in my dressing gown and wellies as it was dry and bright, and who knew what the weather would be doing after a quick wash and tumble (the quilt, not me!)... 

Once crinkled, very nicely, I tried some indoor shots...

And finally I roped in dear husband to get the sunny ones at the end...

I can't thank all my tremendous Brit Bee friends enough for making the mega-blocks, they look so completely amazing all together, thank you, thank you, thank you!

And I could never have made this without clever-cloggs Katy Jones xxx

Finer details for those interested in such things...
Quilt design: based on Katy Jones' Constellation quilt from Fat Quarterly issue 5.
Prints: Momo 'Just Wing It', Kate Spain 'Central Park' and some scraps from here, there and everywhere.
Background solid: Klona Teal.
Binding: Joel Dewberry 'Herringbone' in Aqua.
Quilting: Straight line machine at 3/4" intervals using Gutermann cotton (7325), echo quilting one star from top left outwards (does that make sense?).
Size: 72"x72"

Did I mention that I completely love it?