Hoopla...

I have been taking it easy; sadly enforced, but my arm really does need rest, so embroidery to the rescue.

I didn't get round to attempting the second pattern at Retreat, I was talking, so thanks to Aneela, I got my mitts on her suggested stitches and spent a lovely evening stitching up the little stocking.  I also pulled out an old Mollie Makes and my first Mandy Shaw book and have already stitched up a couple of others...

I am totally smitten with embroidery.  I used to stitch little flowers on things when I was young, but backstitch was the most fancy stitch I mastered.   I am going to have to go back over all the magazines and books I own, and take a look at all those pages that I had previously just skipped over.

You know the simplest thing, getting the pattern to the fabric gave me a mental block and it's so damn easy and obvious, now there'll be no stopping me.

I have Aneela's London pattern ready and waiting; a red bus, phone box and more, which I think I will start this evening - I'm not going to let the weekend's London-love fade away just yet!

The Postman doesn't always knock twice...

...he just leaves stuff under the mat or with those neighbours.

But deliver he has, well it is his job I suppose; I just wish he would deliver my FQ Name Tag to my partner, because otherwise I am going to have to make another one this weekend, grrrr!

Anyway, my absolutely wonderful Aurifil case has arrived from Italy, and the colours are so much more vibrant and amazing than I could have imagined when I was picking from the screen!

Yes, I did put them straight back in the case afterwards!

Thanks again to Lynne, Alex, Katy, Laura and Anna.

I also received the beautiful Stitch at Home book from Mandy...

I have mentioned Mandy Shaw before, she is one of the stitchery masterminds working behind the scenes with Kirstie Allsopp, which makes her great by default, but the fact that she designs and makes amazing things and is fantastic at everything, makes her someone I love knowing even more. 

There's also been this bundle of goodies from the fabulous Sunni, following the recent Farmer's Wife series...

And today I got access to the latest issue of Fat Quarterly.  There are so many excellent quilts and smaller projects in there I am going to have to have a good old think about what to make first.  Those twin baby quilts that I cut a while back may need to be re-thought, as honestly, I have no excuse for not making them a bit more exciting now!  Oh and if you subscribe, you may even spot a little picture of mine in there, thanks John ;)

So basically I am sitting here feeling really rather happy to say the least, even though the prospect of squaring up all the petals for my Precious Retro Flowers is filling me with a little dread for this evening!

All rise for another tick...

Now, despite deep reservations at about 9.30pm last night that I would get it finished, I did manage to get the binding fully attached before an albeit quite late bedtime, and with the early risers waking me at some ungodly hour, the Union Quilt was washed and tumbled all before 8am...

I am really pleased with it and hope my Dad will be too.  Unfortunately he won't get it until the weekend after Father's Day, as next weekend is the final of the Open Studios, but I'll pop a card in the post and keep the surprise until we see him.

So I have a tick for...
Make my Dad the Union Jack quilt I have been promising my Mum I'll make for him.

On the Open Studio front, things have been going really well, plenty of visitors, selling lots of stained glass, prints and cards, so he's a happy man.

I, on the other hand, am a poor customer.  I thought I had money to play with, but the Sussex Guild show was really disappointing.

Don't get me wrong, having waded across the wild, wet and windy gardens to the marquee, I was confronted with a lot of beautiful things, but the average price tag for a simple pair of silver earrings was over £100; there love at first sight for a glass beaded necklace, however at over £400 my premium bonds will have to do a little better!

I chatted to some of the sellers, Liz Moys who makes great silk-sewn pictures, and whose daughter works for Orla Keily, got the sum total of my spending, £1 on two postcards!

The only quilt stall was not entirely to my taste, a lot of pale Liberty prints, silk and cushions, but the lady seemed to be busy with the 'old fashioned brigade'.

I probably spent more time in the tiny Parham House gift shop, and I bought some cute note cards of Victoriene Parsons Mitchell's Crazy Quilt, just to go home with something a little more substantial!

Well it hasn't stopped raining here all day; so we had another 'cinema' session this afternoon with MegaMind, I fell asleep; and now I'm off to make some little felt creatures... hope you've had a good one x

That was the month that was...

Hurray, I love June!  It's my favourite month, not just because I have a birthday at the end or anything like that, but have a sneaky peak at what I am not allowed to play with for another few weeks...

Today I am linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day - Hello World!  Last month I linked directly to the Happy Scrappy block post, but I achieved so much in May, I thought it merited a new post looking back at my best sewing month ever!

First, there were finishes...
Happy Scrappy Quilt - inspired by the Aneela Hoey crazy scrappy blocks.  My flickr pic of the top got added to Explore on 15th May and has had over 640 views; so many comments, so many 'favourites' - overwhelming - thank you everyone!!!!!!

Sherbet Pips Confetti Quilt - Fat Quarterly/Quilt Dad pattern...

There were completed tops...
Union Jack - based on a pattern from Mandy Shaw...

Brit Quilt Swap Skull - based on a Boo Davis design - the recipient is still a secret!

And the best of the rest...
Cushions...

Bracelets...

Toys for the boys...

...and three Mystery blocks...  PS. it's never too late to join in and learn by my mistakes!

I also linked up to Fairy Face Designs' Summer Sewing Plans; wrote a list of my top 20 To-Dos and have ticked off 7 so far!  Nothing like a good list to get you focussed!

If you've popped over from Lynne's, please come back and visit again soon; if you were here already but haven't been over to Lily's Quilts, go take a look there too, it's brilliant.

I hope you all had a great May, and here's to a June full of fun and fabric x

Weekend in print...

This morning's mail was a treat, I received a copy of the Wealden Times from Mandy Shaw...

Her absolutely beautiful home is on the cover and spread over about a dozen pages inside - she is one amazing lady!  Thank you Mandy.  If you are lucky enough to live in the area, pick up a copy, or by the magic of technology you can see it here wherever you reside!  (Thank you Google!)  I will be starting my Union Jack quilt using Mandy's pattern next week.

Lynne has also posted today that Lily's Quilts has been named May's 'Blog of the Month' in Patchwork & Quilting magazine, and Kerry also gets a mention - crazy, I am so proud of these guys, who I only know 'virtually', real 21st Century friends!

If you aren't up for that much reading, then just have a look at these yummies that I received too...

Klona solids from Backstitch, ordered yesterday!  Light grey backing for my Dad's Union Jack, and maybe a bit of each for the Brit Quilt Swap...not sure yet!

**Happy Scrappy Update**  

Final edge of binding about to be finished!!

My family and other animals...

Today we went to down on the farm!  It was a real bonus to be able to take the family out to have fun and be able to looks at quilts, eat cake and buy lovely things! 

The majority of the quilts and activities were in a huge barn, but there were plenty of things to look at outside including a treasure hunt, a walk through the bluebell woods and alpacas!

 

Cakes on quilts - it doesn't get much better than this!!

 

Bet you can't spot the cement mixer!

Feeling brave... the pony, not the girls!

I got to have a quick chat with Mandy, whose union jack quilt pattern is sitting in my 'to do' pile awaiting the perfect fabric, and she signed a copy of her new book for me too.

The quilts were predominantly traditional in style and colour, not the 'modern bright stuff' that Mandy described mine as, but I have committed some ideas to memory and film!  It's always good to see things that perhaps I wouldn't ever make, but still inspire me to do more.

Oh did I mention the shopping?  Only 4 FQs, two Hideaway, an Amy Butler Soul Blossoms and a mystery, does anyone recognise the second one down?

If you get the chance tomorrow I definitely recommend it!  Thank you Mandy and your team for organising such a lovely day out.

Quilts on the Farm this weekend...

If you are in East Sussex at the weekend, this looks like a lovely way to pass a few hours in the sunshine!

The FB gang will be descending tomorrow, so maybe you'll want to pop along on Sunday!  Read more on Mandy's blog.

All things Brighton beautiful....

See what I did there!?

I popped over to Brighton this morning to go to the Creative Stitches and Hobbycraft show, and then took a quick sprint round Churchill Square.

I'm glad I went, and I managed to buy a few bits and pieces, but it was way too busy for me.  Unfortunately about 75% of the exhibitors were selling paper-craft type things which I did not stop to look at, and the average age of the visitors was about 80, which seemed to determine the walking pace and my patience just doesn't stretch that far!

So here are my lovelies, a scrap bag from The Eternal Maker, a nice big rule, and a fantastic pattern for a union jack quilt from Mandy Shaw of Dandelion Designs.

There was also the most amazing/weird knitted/crocheted seascape!  I didn't venture through the undersea tunnel as I didn't want to be trapped under all that wool with a bunch of octogenarians, but it was quite fun, if you like knitted fish.  There was also a small display by members of the Quilter's Guild.   Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so I could only get a couple of snaps on my phone, so they aren't very clear.

After a quick look in Habitat, I bumped into a Dalek or two, then came home for a cup of tea...