In circles...

I finished the last of my Amitié BOM circles; and the silicone sheet arrived, so I will be testing my theory of pressing circles for appliqué very soon!

It may have catastrophe written all over it, but if it works, I will be thrilled to bits!

Out and About...

We made it out and about today.  The sunshine was limited, but it stayed dry until teatime, so the cabin fever has been abated for a while!

First the girls got the chop…

They have been growing their fringes out, and waited until it could all be cut to one length.  I may be biased, but I think they look beautiful.

After stepping out of the salon, we went up to the new and improved park at Southwater.  We usually make it there in the holidays, and since Spring it has been revamped, and become Dinosaur Island.  The beloved big slide, zip wire and climbing frame with plenty of space to run about and lay out a quilt, has now become rammed with new features and infested with hundreds of toddlers, their anxious mothers, and wasps who cannot believe their luck at the amount of sticky food on offer…

Patches of grass were few and far between, but we nabbed a spot, had a picnic, and I managed some sewing; the kids got to run about with some school friends for a couple of hours, so we were all happy, but won't be venturing back this summer.

Back home, the kids have been planning a camp out in the garden tonight and I finished all my hexie-star circle Amitié blocks…

The next set of blocks have been decanted into my travelling pouch, as tomorrow we are hoping for a little beach-time!

Right, anyone want to place a bet on what time we get the first 'can I come back in' knock on the back door?

Let the (fun and) games begin!

Last night we were out until late; the Year 5s had an awesome send off, so these three…

… were a little tired and more than happy to mooch about for most of today, meaning I got to stitch up these Amitié BOM beauties without resistance…

They are un-pressed, not wonky!

We also got to register for this year's Library reading challenge.  Guessing the first couple of books will be finished by the end of tomorrow, as, surprise, surprise, typical summer weather will be headed this way tomorrow.

Hey Ho xxx

A tiny bit of tranquility...

… in the most hectic of times…

Making the most of an hour in the park, whilst the Brownies ran amok.

Have a good weekend my friends xxx

Cool...

The only option I had this afternoon to keep cool, keep my sanity and indulge in some stitching was sat on a quilt, in the shade, in the garden, and it was lovely!

I appliquéd the last 4 flowers onto the centrepiece of my Amitiê Mystery BOM…

I am pleased and relieved that my changes to heart shaped leaves and oval flowers look as good in reality as they did in my head.

Next I will be on to the birdies; they are going to be a whole other kind of challenge!

RIP Fresh Sewing Day, the first of the month isn't the same without you x

Two more, makes four...

Slowly, slowly stitching my flowers…

I am at work tomorrow, and busy Thursday and Friday, so I am not putting money on any major sewing breakthroughs this week; good job I am happy plodding eh!

Progress…

I love being able to see my Amitié BOM quilt progressing; I took this during the torrential rain this afternoon…

… and now I only have 2 more leaves to appliqué.

I am hoping that over the weekend I will be able to top those stalks with flower heads!  I have swapped out the very curvy flowers from the pattern; check instagram for amitiemysteybom2014 to get an idea, and will be using the, what I call, double Jen Kingwell flower ovals, which I can cope with!  After the hash-up I made with my claw-like centre leaves, I won't be making the same mistake again!

It did amuse me when I did all that cutting on Wednesday, how, when the BOM began, I was picking the exact fabric as shown in the monthly photo guide, too scared to deviate, but now… what the heck!  Confident?  Over-confident?  Time will tell.

So have a great weekend everyone; I am hoping for a mix of sunshine and showers sewing xxx

I did it, I did it!

All 22 blocks made…

Woo Hoo!!!

I also cut all the remaining pieces for Months 2-5 that had been awaiting extra fabrics from future months or that I had generally slacked on!

It's a bloody good feeling to be at this stage - cutting and marking up for hand-stitching is such a long-winded affair, and definitely not my favourite part, BUT getting so much done in one go is great.  I am good for about 6 months solid hand sewing now!

More prep...

I am on some sort of quilt-nesting mission right now.  Today I have prepped the whole of month seven of the Amitié Mystery BOM, having prepped the hexies for month 8 already.

I am going to machine-piece these, in-set seams 'n all, and in my head they will be perfect!!  And I am going to get all 22 little blocks made tomorrow.  That's if I am not distracted by the sunshine, my new book or some other shiny.  Tesco are also meant to be delivering back the Hudl, so we'll see how that goes, eh! xxx

Getting caught up...

I hope you all had a lovely weekend; we had a kid-free couple of hours on Saturday, which is always good, and managed to have our first BBQ of the summer yesterday, woo hoo.

I cut another 96 hexes for another Amitié Mystery BOM border, each from a different fabric…

I am planning on saving the two hexie borders for my holibobs, to appliqué on if/when the mood takes me, but I will baste these at my leisure and look forward to finishing them off.

I also finished the book I have not been reading since about September!  I have about a dozen books piled up ready to read, and I am loving being able to lounge in the sun and see what is in front of my face, so happy!

This evening I made my Stitch Tease Bee blocks for Di.  These, from an Ashley - Film In The Fridge tute were super easy and nice to make; thanks Di!

I now have to just get the Inbox under control, well you can't have everything!

Parking...

Well if the news/weathermen are to be believed, we took our lives in our hands to brave the outdoors today and spend a couple of hours in the park!  Fresh air may have been in short supply, but the kids had fun on their bikes, and I was able to do a little Amitié BOM stitching…

When we got home I finally got round to making the bias strips I had planned on prepping a few weeks ago.  I always get round to things eventually!  I didn't take any pictures but they turned out rather well.

I ordered some Aurifil 40wt for my Betsy Travel bag too, so I have parked that project until it arrives; I figured the slightly thicker thread, in 2310, creamier than my usual 2021, and some new heavy-duty needles will see me right.

I have a list for the nest few days, Bee blocks and other 'must-dos', it's all good.

Have a great and smog-free weekend everyone xxx

To look forward to...

I have to stick my head back above the sewing parapet this weekend, World Book Day beckons, and I have pattern writing to do, but whilst I get busy with the 'have to' I will be looking forward to the 'want to'…

Hope you have a peaceful weekend my friends xxx

Round in Circles...

It has felt like I have been busy going no-where recently, but I am almost convinced that I can see a dim light at the end of the tunnel, if I squint, and stand on tip toes.

The chaps came back and fiddled with the radiators this evening and they have hopefully balanced things out a bit better.  We now have heat in all rooms - what a luxury!

So with the girls' quilts finished, and minimal enthusiasm for sitting at the machine in the evening right now, I am concentrating my efforts on my Amitié BOM blocks…

One down, four more prepped.  Good job I can feel my fingers again xxx

Mystery Catch Up...

Over Christmas I stitched up a few more of the mini blocks for my Amitié BOM quilt which I don't think I have shown you.  I've made 5 out of the 11 of November's blocks, although I am stalling on the rest, as future packages will contain more of the fabrics required; I am following the instructions, not making excuses!

I now need to get at least the same of December's made, before I can crack on with the amazing January package that arrived yesterday…

This is now starting to look like the quilt that Jen was working on at FQR last summer and got me all excited to join up in the first place.  So thrilled!

I need to crack on with the girls' quilts tomorrow, as well as a couple of other projects on a deadline, but I really really want to get my appliqué-action on asap.

Month 2 of !!!!!!!!!!

These will keep me busy…

… although the agony; some of the fabrics will be coming in future parcels!  According to the notes, I have the ingredients to complete 4, so that's what I'll be doing, as soon as I can x

I am going to love this quilt!

I know, only one block made, but I am smitten!

I pretty much mastered the 1/4" wheel, I didn't stitch through any seam allowances and resisted the urge to press it.  Hence it looks a little wrinkled and wonky, but fortunately that's just bad lighting and urgent excitement to take a photo!

If you are wondering, the block is only 6 1/2" in diameter.  Those pieces are tiny!

Roll on next month!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excited, moi?

That's my weekend sorted, don't wait up!

BOMing...

I've signed up for a BOM.
Not any old BOM.
A mystery BOM.

I have never signed up for anything so quickly; how on Earth was I meant to ignore Jen Kingwell's mystery BOM!?  The promise of fabric, hand and machine piecing and appliqué, heaven!

GT&SB block

There's still time to sign up, the BOM begins in October; 12 months of awesomeness for sure.  Anyone else taking the plunge?

I am so excited!