Do parcels go thud...

... on the doormat if no-one is there to hear them?  Philosophy-Friday anyone!?

Well this week parcels have been arriving with deafening regularity, I received some more Sizzix dies to show and tell at a later date, including hexies - whoop-whoop!  And also more supplies for my secret projects, along with good old fashioned fabric-mail.

I have my October Brit Bee bundle of pink and orange lovelies to make Susan a star block, which in my case will be a mahusive Consellation; a super package from Justine's Simply Solids, Sew Stitchy charms and my christmassy FQ freebie; and then a Sew Stitchy panel, my Addicted to Text - Sewing Guide yardage and some awesome Dear Stella Campgrounds, that just jumped in my basket over at Intrepid Thread too.

I have a lot on my plate this weekend - I will be taking my turn on the Scrappy-Stashy-Hoppy-Ma-gig tomorrow, I have to finish one of my secret projects so it can be mailed off early next week and I want to get a bit more of my Mouthy Stitches tote finished and we may even go swimming!

There may also be the purchasing of a ticket!!!

Any plans my friends?

Feel good fabric...

Well when you are feelings as fed up as I continue to be, whilst waiting for so-called tech wizards to work their magic, the arrival of not one, not two, but three parcels of fabric did make the day a little better.

Yesterday saw my laden Posty bringing my Brit Bee fabric from Katy...

Katy also included a piece of Scottish Tablet, but that lasted about 30 seconds.  Loving the genius of confectionery that is called a tablet, which obviously is only for grumpy adults, and children are not allowed, as it could be dangerous!

There was a parcel from Alice at Backstitch of some Klona pale pink, for the Sizzix quilt backing, some white, plus a couple of FQs that took my fancy...

The Christmas fabric and charms were from Intrepid Julie.

And finally It's Christmas!

My original brief from Sizzix was for some Christmas makes, but that got cancelled and replaced by the quilt I finished yesterday; however in the meantime I had chatted with Aneela and she generously sent me some gorgeous Cherry Christmas scraps, which, seeing how wonderful they were, I boosted with some yardage from Intrepid Thread...

I can't wait to make some early Chrimbo gifts and goodies.

So with such lovely mail, a couple of gold medals for GB and a finished quilt, August started pretty well, all things considered xxx

A Stained Finish!

Thanks to the joy of the rainy bank holiday and sheer determination, I have finished my Stained sooner than expected - woo hoo!

Before I reveal all, I have to warn you that I am so very very very pleased with how this quilt turned out; the sun came out to celebrate and there are lots of photos!

I think I was suffering the same angst a lot of the QAL folks have been having about the actual quilting, but I made the decision a while back to just keep. it. simple.

I used a couple of yards of Klona Tan for the backing, gathered all my random spools of Gutterman white cotton and some awesome orange 28wt Aurifil, and sat at my sewing machine, for what seemed like hours and hours and hours - I lost count at 6 bobbins.

I wanted straight lines, because the quilt top called for it as far as I was concerned, (and I don't successfully do much else!), but I wanted a little wonk.  So that's what I went for...

Pre-wash shots

119 vertical passes later...

I used white thread on the quilt top so as to not take away from the borders, and orange on the back.  In reality I quilted the first central line from the front, following the top to bottom 'lead line', then flipped the quilt and the threads, and worked from the wholecloth back.

If you don't spray baste and have a walking foot, this is probably not the quilting for you!

Did I mention that I love it!?

By complete fluke I had exactly enough Tan left to make the binding, I said I wanted simple; but then I decided to add in a few of the Moroccan Mirage scraps for fun...

So this one definitely needs great big thank yous to all those who made it possible...

Sarah for her awesome pattern - I hope you think I have done it justice!
Annabella and Julie for the wonderful Moroccan Mirage.
Nicky for the perfect Aurifil.
Oh, and I better mention Susan, or she'll gripe that those mega-borders were all her idea; well I suppose they were!
Thank you so much ladies x

It finally measured up at 50"x 64" after washing.  With so much quilting it really has shrunk up wonderfully, and it feels amazing!

It's also my first, and I really hope not last, FAL finish of the quarter!  Start on a high I say x

Time To Cut My...

Losses Winnings!

Yep, I have finally made up my mind to get cutting for my dear friend Sarah's Stained QAL.  I have been pondering fabrics for too long, and today I finally decided to use my Moroccan Mirage FQs that I won from Annabella, courtesy of Julie at the Intrepid Thread.

I don't know if it was because the sun was shining and it was unseasonably warm, or if I just wanted to blow away my grey mood of the last couple of weeks, but the bright colours made me happy today, and now I am raring to go.

So this evening I am going to pop a new blade for my rotary cutter and get down to business.

I really do not enjoy the 'preparation' stage, seeing the fabric pieces getting smaller before they get bigger again seems to contrary to my logical mind, that and it makes my back, hands and head hurt; I am not cut out for manual labour!

Hopefully I will be all chopped and able to catch up with the others soon enough, although some people, naming no names, Ms KC, have finished piecing their tops already!

A Duo of Finishes...

Last night, not only did I get my table runner fully bound and the hand quilting done, but I finished another small project on my Winter Stitching list too!!

First here is my finish for the Duo Quiltalong...

Now it's pretty difficult to see my magnificent stitchery, as I went 'subtle' on my first attempt at hand quilting, but if you look closely, you might be able to see!

Boring or brilliant?  I love it!

I used natural Klona for the backing and binding, off-white for the FMQ and hand-stitching.  The perle cotton I pictured yesterday was just too thick and bright, so after a quick attempt with that, it got pulled and replaced with some old Finca that I have had forever!

I am surprised how good it all looks together; I think the scrutinising of every FMQ curve (or otherwise) and concentrating on the length of each individual stitch (some too big, others too small), convinced me it would look like a disaster.  But one step back, taking a look from a more natural distance, and it actually works. 

Thank you Rachel and Rhonda for pointing me in the right direction - as ever, I took a few short cuts/liberties, but ended up with a lovely little runner that I would not have made without them.

Finish number two, was one of Ayumi's Christmas Baskets.  This is a great pattern, one of those featured in Jennifer's brilliant 12 Gifts of Christmas Tutorial series. 

I made this with more 1001 Peeps to match the runner.  Maybe it will get filled with cutlery, but more likely chocolates!

I love to have finishes, and I love to have ticks, but I especially love to have things that we are going to keep and use...

Now back to the felt parliament!

Rock the Kasbah!

Today when I got home from work, my lovely bundle of Moroccan Mirage had arrived from Julie at the Intrepid Thread...

I won these gorgeous FQs from Annabella, who actually lives in Morocco, which doesn't make me jealous in the slightest, much! 

If you are not familiar with North Africa, according to Annabella it is just like 1001 Peeps, and I suspect her poor mother is currently hiding in a basket, or wrapped in a magic carpet, whilst her clothes are being laundered, as the only luggage she was allowed to take to visit her daughter was fabric!

The colours are so stunning and I can't wait to have time to sit back and think of something that will show them all off to their best.  Thank you ladies, these were just the cheery sight I needed after my day of database interrogation!

Tomorrow I have a tonne of errands and phonecalls to make, but hopefully I will have time for some sewing.  I need to come up with a manly use for a Layer Cake!

Speaking of manly, here's a better shot of the blocks for Bee Blessed, last nights' pictures made them look a bit 'bleugh', especially the blue/green man-block; a bit of sunshine makes a lot of difference...

So for now, a Pinning session calls!

The Good, the Bad and the Tidy!

Happy Friday everyone!

Firstly may I present to you the 'Good'...

Post of the yummy, folding, stroking variety; 2 parcels of loveliness, that I actually, spookily, paid for! 

This lovely bundle, from Julie at The Intrepid Thread...

I was toying between the 1001 Peeps or Little Apples for the Duo QAL, but having now got my hands on the Peeps, they win - how Christmas Panto are those guys!?  A day or so after these were ordered, courtesy of Annabella I won that delicious Moroccan Mirage fabric from Julie too, and I can't wait for that.

I also received this today...

My long coveted Cloud 9 Michelle Engel Bencsko, and a 'Farmer's Wife Scrap Bag' from Sew Fresh Fabrics...

Miles of really huge pieces, supposedly 2 yards - I reckon way more of the most wonderful fabrics all for $9.50, that's just over £6!   Oh I am so happy - I even got Pick Ups!  Coincidently I ordered these a few days before I won the Across the Sea gift certificate for Sew Fresh too.  Is that karma or what!?

So are you prepared for the 'Bad'?  Really really?

Actually 'Hilarious' would be more accurate, but that wouldn't have made for a snappy title. 

I am linking up with Cindy and her fluffy sheep for Free Motion Friday!  OK, so the 'free motions' in my case may as well relate to bowel movements, because this first attempt is quite frankly sh*t!  Look!!...

Natty labelling, huh!?

Mind you, after the break midway to chat to my mum, I seemed to have got a little rhythm, well maybe, a teeny bit!!  Terrible eh?  I must try harder, and practice longer  It most definitely does not look like it was meant to.  All you FMQers who make it look so easy, I salute you!

Not wanting to use up quality batting I did use some horribly puffy poly-wadding, which made the whole sandwich a bit of a doorstep... now I seem to have made up an excuse, I'm sticking to it!

So quick, the 'Tidy'... 

I remembered that I hadn't shown you the full daytime glory of my corner since the conservatory re-fit...

I need to do a bit more re-arranging within the tubs, and shift that huge red posting box, but it looks so much better than before; I love it.

So having given the hoover and duster a quick tour of the house this afternoon, I am all set for the weekend; no parties, no trips, no visitors, wonderful! 

I am going to ignore the fact that many of our US friends are destined for the most amazing weekend at the Sewing Summit, and I am so so so jealous, but whatever you have planned, I hope it's a good one x