Playing Shop...

Sunday morning, whilst still in bed, I was pondering my next Hadley quilt, you know, the Denyse Schmidt one, and I got all panicky that I wouldn't be able to back it with something worthy; some things just need more than the IKEA numbers.

So then I searched out an eBay seller from my dreams!  If you are in the UK, take a look here, and I dare you to resist - you want a bargain, trust me, I am the one to find you one...

One of my favourite Chicopee prints - a whole bolt!!!

Yup, a bolt, my first (and probably last, in reality), for a ridiculous price (for us in the UK at least!).  I know we moan all the time, but with a meter now coming in at about £14 here, and with the exchange rate, mailing costs and dreaded import duty-sting, it makes bulk US shopping almost as expensive.  So to buy 8m for £5/m and free delivery, of something you actually want, nay, need, I had palpitations.

So half of it is earmarked for the quilt, and the other half will be cropping up frequently, I have plans for my FQR swapsies and a few other bits and pieces that I need to make.  Hope you don't get bored of seeing it non-stop for the next 6 months!

Right, must fly.  The clock is ticking and Jack only has 24hrs to save the world!

Life is a rollercoaster...

If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that yesterday had its ups and downs!

It wasn't all gadding about and guesting over at Sara's you know.

I went back to work; 'nuff said, albeit that my day was cut short with a hospital visit; a girly with a hurting hip/leg, which is already pretty much better, but that involved waiting for 3 hours, (even having been referred by our GP!), only to be told to come back if it gets worse... we are not going back!

Yes we have that bloody Mr Chimp again!

And then the arrival of a bundle of gorgeous fabric from Denyse Schmidt...

I say from, as in, it really was from Denyse Schmidt she arranged it and everything, because this is her Hadley collection!!  How bloody thrilled and excited am I!?

We exchanged emails a few weeks back, and now I have the full pre-release in my grabby hands...

Sadly no sunny photo opportunities today; loudest clap of thunder at 6am and then rain pretty much non-stop from then until about an hour ago, so you will have to make do with these; but believe me, I'll be getting more snaps as soon as the sun comes out; I need to capture these for prosperity...

And before you all launch in, I know there is a lot of brown, but Denyse does good brown, rich chocolate, none of that stuff that reminds you of babies or really old ladies!

So I am now thinking on what to make; the prints remind me so much of my 1970s childhood, I may have to go with that and run, and run!

OK, I think I have exhausted my supply of exclamation marks for the day a lifetime, so I better love you and leave you.

Here's to a fun and fabric-filled weekend folks xxx

Coincidence?

Randomly named?

What more can I say?!!

Linking with the lovely Cindy et al, well I will later, as my MacBook is having a random moment too! xxx

Show off!

I love winning things, and I really love winning things that I love!

When I saw that there was going to be one specific FAL prize, made and donated by my lovely friend Sheila, and seeing that I had asked and she had sent me the pattern ages ago, and I never got round to making it - I had my fingers crossed!

So how happy am I!?

My girls couldn't congratulate me enough for obviously being so brilliant that I won the best thing they have ever seen!!!  I am in total agreement.

Mega-pinnie by name, mega-pinnie indeed!  It was loaded up with my must-haves within minutes of opening the box, all I need now are new pins, mine are way too shabby and bent up for this awesome new home.

Thank you again Sheila, and Leanne, you made a dismally wet Friday way better!

And if that isn't showing off enough - look what I got in the mail today...

DS-love!  Cindy you are such a superstar, mwah x

Now I've stirred up a little jealousy, I'll be off; see you on the 'morrow xxx

Extremes...

Just a couple of pics for you this evening.

I managed a half decent photo of my Midnight At The Oasis progress, despite the rain, hail and general darkness that prevailed today...

And I also pieced my long-awaited Stitch Tease II quilt top; I made the 25th block from the siggies, but forgot to get a picture of that, but here is a shot of as much as I could get in, whilst hanging it in the conservatory...

I am loving how both of these are turning out; just as I had hoped and some!

My only dilemma is that I now have two quilt tops ready and waiting, LV Vomit and my 'Hadley - Gypsy Shawl', but the backings need to be pieced, and the thought of basting them is the last thing I feel like doing at the moment.   It feels quite overwhelming, which I know is daft, but I can't decide which one to finish first.

I think I will concentrate on a couple of smaller makes that I have on the go for now, and come back to them in a week or so.  The relief of having major health issues ruled out is now being overtaken by the sickness that the magic tablets cause; they are now taking their toll, and I am getting fed up of the whole bloody thing!

Hey ho, there was happy mail too though, Lego (yay!), a good book and some fabric, so on balance it was a good day xxx

I owe you some sewing!

With the sun shining, a fully functioning computer and a body doing a reasonably good impression of pain-free, I thought I better get a couple of pics of my Midnight at the Oasis blocks so far, as promised a gazillion years ago!

I received the beautiful Jen Kingwell pattern as part of the triumphant FQR quiz team prizes, and with Jess and Sharon starting the QAL, and Adrianne being such a good influence, I was in, and opting to go 100% Denyse Schmidt before I knew it.

OK so the 'ick has slowed me down a bit, but whereas I would have gone straight for the machine appliqué option, instead I have embraced hand-stitching in a way that is even more satisfying than hand-finishing binding!!

I used freezer paper templates, painted the seam allowances with starch (another first!) then pressed, and have been stitching away slowly on the sofa all week.  I am not going to pretend the preparation was not a PITA, but sewing the little blocks has been a joy.  10 down, 10 to go.

And here's my centre block...

The pattern calls for appliquéd circles in the centre; I was going to go for portholes (this was all pre-epiphany) but as I had the perfect floral centre-piece, I just added an extra border and I love the result.

My Y-seams are not perfect, but will be more than adequate once quilted, washed and crinkled.

This quilt is making me very happy; I might not say that when I get to the milion-piece borders, but so far so good.

I have a queue of obligations I need to get on with now, plus birthday makes and quilts to finish, so hopefully I will be back behind the machine this week and knocking out some finishes before you know it.

I hope that under the circumstances you will accept this as a global thank you for all your lovely comments over the last week - I have read them all and appreciate them more than you know, but I would be here until Christmas trying to answer them all individually.  I want to add that I have been casting my beady eye over my blog list this whole time, but iPad commenting is a chore I couldn't be doing with, so consider yourselves well and truly read.

Thanks for sticking around lovely people xxx

This is what it's all about!

I'll skip the domestics, school was open, but there was an after-lunch phone call, poorly child, doctors, anti-biotics; and I'll leave what I still managed to get done, Bee Blessed blocks, PLPS Schoenrock Cross panel, Sizzix quilt labels, Stitch Tease siggy blocks and a resultant mammoth trip to the Post Office, and tell you about those tomorrrow, I am guessing you want to see this...

All washed and crinkly and lovely and mine!

From the minute I spotted the first pics appearing on Twitter/Instagram over New Year and the early days of the #scrappytripalong, I knew I wanted one too.  And seeing that 2013 is my self-proclaimed year of Stash-busting, I jumped in with my most precious hoard of all!  I don't know if that was just New Year optimism, but it bloody well paid off!

Charting my progress on Instagram has been a wonderful experience too; I am mrsflyingblind if you were wondering.  We all know how lovely blog comments feel, but there is something about an instant 'Like' that really boosts confidence and confirms you are on the right track...

So this morning, my glamorous assistant headed out into the snow.  These are the before wash shots...

Then straight into the washer, and tumbled to crinkly perfection...

None of the photos really capture just how awesome I think this quilt looks in real life, sorry, I really really tried.  Just know, I wouldn't change a thing.

For those who like the stats...

#scrappytripalong 
Scrappy Trip Around The World pattern and piecing method from Quiltville
Pre-wash 72"x 72" 36 blocks (Post-wash, probably a little bit smaller)
36 Denyse Schmidt prints, gifted, bought and swapped from the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand
Klona Tan backing from Backstitch
Pieced using Aurifil light grey 2616 50wt
Quilted a walking foot's width on each side of alternate seams, using Aurifil off-white 2021 50wt
The Flickr group is here if you want to check out all the other wonderful interpretations, just in case you weren't sucked in already.

Now I am a bursting to start my Sew Stitchy xplusalong! 

#scrappytripalong

I feel a bit bad about only instagramming my progress on the scrappytripalong.  Hectic times means that I have not fully synced all my tech, so the photos have been on my iPad, and blah-di-dah I have finally got my a*se in gear!

A week ago I decided to join in, I knew immediately I saw the first few blocks appearing on twitter/instagram that resistance was going to be completely futile and jumped in feet first.

Anyone who has been following me for a while will know that I love Denyse Schmidt and have been collecting fabric for a while; and to be honest, not really knowing what I was going to do with it, but knowing for sure that I wanted a full quilt of only and as much DS as possible.

So 36 fabrics pulled, excluding the reds, darker blues, and also some of my outright favourites that I've kept for best, and off I went!

If this is all new to you, this tute, this flickr group and this hashtag are all you need, and a big bit of floor space...

Easy blocks that come together nicely; I have even managed to get 6 more finished this evening, having packed up Christmas, done the washing, ironing and sorted all the school bags, PE kits, uniforms and lunch boxes this afternoon.  I was shattered, but I really wanted to increase my block count to 30...

Only 6 more blocks to go, but with school, work, swimming and life going back to normal tomorrow, this will definitely be on my FinishAlong list for Q1-2013.

Here we go again...

Happy New Year Everyone!

Day One has been good; sunshine, family, meals out and sewing.  I have been posting the sewing on instagram, the #scrappytripalong has me well and truly hooked, 6 blocks made already.  More on that here, later in the week, I promise.

I have also sewn up my block as Miss January in Brit Bee, which I will show you tomorrow when I get some decent photos, after I've popped 11 parcels in the post for the wonderful BB ladies to replicate.

I would normally be linking with Lynne's Fresh Sewing Day on the first of the month, but I pretty much summed up my year yesterday, so I will spare you the repetition.

Instead, I will leave you with a picture of 'the end of Christmas'...

...the chap at the garden centre is wrapping up the Christmas display polar bears in bubble wrap, to go into hibernation until the end of the year!  We distracted the children whilst he did the same with Father Christmas.

Hope you are off to a good start too xxx

It was a cold and blustery night...

... and the Captain said to the First Mate, "Have you finished that $%@!ing quilt yet?"

I only went and finished the Retro Flowers didn't I!

The continued cold and blustery-ness has put pay to being able to show you it in its full glory, but this, as my longest ever WIP, is done, ticked off, finished, complete, sorted!

I started it as part of the Retro Flowers QAL back in February.  10 months of putting it off, now over!  I even linked it up as part of the My Precious QAL too, seeing as it is made of my hoarded DS, but no, I could not face all those seams!  The curves are a doddle - there were just so many, and all those little sashing bits, ugh!

No pain, no gain?  You will have to decide when you see it.  I just know that this is now off my FAL list at last, and thankfully I love it!!

Pictures, many pictures, to follow as soon as I can get some, honestly, I am not going to let this one be a one-post-wonder.

If excitement-slash-relief is measured in exclamation marks, I think you can tell how happy I am.

Let's hope the rest of the week is as satisfying, and the rain stops soon.  My cousin's place has had a starring roll on the Exeter/National TV news yesterday/today as they are now living in the River Ex x

It's Fabric Friday!

Well this week I have received a few squidgy packages, some I shopped for and others were gifts and I am over the moon with them all!

Firstly some long awaited yardage of Summersville from Brenda at Pink Castle - I did have plans, then I changed my plans, now I think I will wait until I have finished off a few other things first... probably!

With specific plans, I ordered the backing for the twin quilts.  You know when you just order with your fingers-crossed and hope that the online photo really is what you will receive, and when it arrives you are so totally thrilled that the plan came together?  Well these Essential Stripes from Seamstar so perfectly match the Reunion colours, and were on offer too, so I did a little happy dance when I ripped off the lovely tissue paper!

I also ordered 1/2m of Domestic Bliss to assist in making my Spring Carnival cushion - I know I won't need it for ages, but why pay two lots of postage and not take advantage of 10% off?

And then onto real treats...

A generous benefactor, who may have a lovely online shop in Galway, sent me an amazing sample pack of the full Mama Said Sew line to play with!!!  It's so gorgeous, I thought I was really going to have to think long and hard about what to make, but Lynne's ET Phone Home block is obviously a strong contender.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

And finally today - the mail to end all mail!

I got home to find that 'popping a few bits of Denyse Schmidt fabric in the post' actually meant 'sending a dream parcel of wonderful fabric that will make you giddy'!

My lovely friend Deborah, you may know her as Simply Miss Luella, spotted my persistent moaning around blogland about how we are so hard-done-by in the UK having neither Joann's nor Spotlight to satisfy our DS cravings and so she asked (asked!!!) if she could send me some.  Guess what I said!

I also received a smashing parcel from the one and only Terri - I asked if she could pick me up some DS fabric on her recent trip, (having found out where she was); and she also enclosed was a beautifully wrapped birthday present which I will, (if my resolve remains strong), save for Tuesday, and show you all then...

I have already gushed my thanks by email - but I need to say it again, online quilting friends are the most generous wonderful group of ladies and gents anywhere.

Now I am going to sit back and let my long weekend begin - I am not back to work until next Thursday, which is probably for the best, as I think I need to go and clear some space for all these new additions! xxx

Scraping the bottom of the barrel...

When I was thinking about what to write today, trying to clear my horrible work-enduced headache, I couldn't work out what was more disturbing, the subject that sprang to mind or that I had taken a photo without even thinking about it!?

Omitted from my scrap-sorting post last week, was a little bag I kept recently from cutting my Retro Flowers.  Now, as this is being made with my hoarded Denyse Schmidt fabrics, and even though I am linking with Kelly's My Precious QAL too, it's pretty obvious that I am maybe not as ready to relax into this as I could be.

So these teeny bits have been saved...

But they look sooooooooooo pretty!

Am I the only one who has such unusable scraps, that you cannot bare the thought of putting in the bin?  Or do I have a problem??

But cut they are, and here's the full box of Retro Flower pieces, just to prove to you that I really am making this quilt and not just making it all up...

... the curved piecing began last night, 3 out of 16 flower's worth completed. 

I am using Kerry's flippity method, which I previously used on Susan's Bee Blocks, and the Man Quilt, and they have all turned out beautifully so far.

Well trying to put on a front of 'interest' at work failed dismally today, but hopefully my immunity to tedium will be boosted back to regular term-time levels soon enough, and I will be able to think straight again!

I have real, new sewn things to show you tomorrow, so I'll be back with a proper post then, I promise x

Sewing the Seeds of Love...pt2

OK, pure gluttony of a fabric flavour just because it's Friday...

I am so in love with all these FMF prints, even the red and browns, before you raise an eyebrow!

Poor husband already requested something made of the grey seeds; he was duly told to sling his hook!

I meant to gloat show you these earlier in the week, but with all the 'ick and hiding from the taggers, they got overlooked.

Oh, and in case you were wondering...
The kids could grab the quilts, I'd get the stash and hubby could get everything we actually need! 

If I was undercharged in a 'great' shop, I would speak up, as much as it would pain me - but if it was an over-priced, rudely-staffed store where I'd been queuing for ages, then you wouldn't see me for dust! 

Thank you for all your responses - I think we can pretty much call ourselves perfect customers, well all except Lolly! x

Typical...

Woke up this morning and my throat felt like razor blades and I have developed a lovely cold to go with it.  Only ever happens at the weekend eh!

But all is not lost, the postman managed to put a smile on my face, bringing fabric from Kat...

Glorious Denyse Schmidt, and a new Mollie Makes...

I have resolved my Mother's Day dilemma, thanks to Leila, and hopefully I will get a little bit of sewing in later.  If I can drag my butt off the sofa.

Sniff, cough, achoo x

God Save The Queen...

OK, not really a Royalist, but when thinking what I could put together quickly this weekend, and following on from my Jubilee Going There bag, I plumped for a Union Jack!

Inspired by this purse I saw in Cath Kidston the other week, and having claimed 'I can make one of those', it was time to put my money where my mouth was...

 

This one measures up at 6"x 8", uses a few of my prized Denyse Schmidt scraps, East of India heart ribbon, shell buttons and some shocking pink lining, and I am in love with it!

It's not perfect, but it's mine!  Now I really do need to think of something to make for Valentine's Day and my sister's birthday, probably should have thought about those before, oops.

Smile if you can!

I currently can't.   The double dose of anaesthetic I had at the dentist this afternoon has not quite worn off - but tooth all fixed, although feeling a bit odd, and now starting to feel like I have been punched hard in the face!

I have a lot to smile about though...

I distracted myself by diving into the goodie making this morning, successfully, (although I wouldn't boast perfection), getting my vision completed. 

I had a bit of a worry that i) it wouldn't work - it did; ii) the fabric wouldn't 'fit' - oh it did, perfectly and iii) that my partner wouldn't actually like the long awaited prints - she does!  Hee hee, I am a stalker extraordinaire!

Can I show you?  Afraid not my friends, because... all will become clear, hopefully next week, if the posties play nicely! 

Oh OK, just another glimpse, if it'll stop the moaning!

So other things to smile about...

A while ago, my lovely friend Lizzie Allen gave me her option to buy some of the new Denyse Schmidt Sugar Creek fabrics for JoAnns, being bought back from the US by one of the Wee Pixie Charlotte's friends.  We did a bit of wheeler-dealing yesterday, and this morning these arrived...

Love love love!  Did you get yours Fi?

Not to smile about, having to pick up dear son early, and for ease the girls too, immediately after the dentist, whilst I was still dribbling.  He was feeling poorly, and then he had to miss his first, very long awaited Beavers session.  He's fine, just got this nasty cough and cold.

So another full and eventful day off in my neck of the woods; hope you had lots to smile about today x