Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2014

Hello there!  Welcome to my humble abode, maybe for the thousandth time, maybe the first, it's lovely to see you all.

This evening I am linking up with awesome Amy and her Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I love taking part, love seeing so many inspiring and wonderful creations all in one place; so many quilts, so little time, it's great to not have to do the leg work.  We may not be at market, but it's not the end of the world!

I scanned through my photos for the last six months; there are a few quilts in there, not as many as I would have hoped, I think 5 or 6, and this time I have plumped for my last quilt finish.

My #IGminiswap quilt.

I finished this up at the Brit Bee Weekender a few weeks back, but I was so damn productive that weekend, the finish didn't get an all bells and whistles post to itself, so now is its time shine.

My partner in this swap has a liking for improv, and her likes mosaic was pleasingly scrappy.  Improv does not come easily to me.  I like a straight line and a perfect point (not to obsession, but near enough, oh the irony!), so I had to keep us both happy.

Wonky Drunkard's Path blocks.  Cut with a Sizzix, pieced and then squared off to 3.5" with no particular alignment.

I hope this ticks my partner's box, so to speak.  I love how it turned out, sometimes those sketches on the back of an office memo really do make it all worthwhile.

I pondered the ROYGBIV category, but have decided to pop this in with the Scrappy Quilts.

A few more details for those who like them:

Finished size 24" square;
60 different coloured scraps; duplicates in the LV background;
Pieced & quilted with Aurifil 2021 50wt;
Bound with black & white Flurry and a few coloured scraps for luck;
Off-centre spiral quilting.

Thank you for taking the time to have a look, I am certainly looking forward to seeing what everyone else has been up to x

Déjà vu...

Another Friday, another Brownie badge, the one I didn't get round to last week…

… all stitched down in time, just!

The only other fabric-related fun was cracking my way through a couple of meters, in preparation for another one of those secret projects…

I realise that this little blog has been a little light on the sewing front since the summer - I am going to blame school and work for zapping my energy and addling my brain, but I am hoping to rectify that pretty soon, I promise, so please keep coming back.  xxx

That's my boy!

He did it!

First thing this morning we, well he, got on with finishing the Creeper cushion.  I pulled a piece of duck cloth for a bit of fun speed stitching, attaching it to a piece of batting for lining.  Then a simple envelope back was prepared, and hemmed by the youngster.

We layered everything, and there was guided rotary cutting to square it all up; so with stitch 11, a straight-zig-zag combo, the whole lot was stitched together.

Then it was time to turn through and reveal...

Oh what a happy boy!!!

Luckily I had an cushion pad the exact right size, so it could be a proper finish...

And because even he is no stranger to what sells, he did his best Alex V impression...

He's my #auriboy !!

A quick run down...
100 2.5" Sizzix cut squares of misc greens and black Sketch flannel
Pieced with Aurifil 50wt in 2860
Backing Klona Grey and Kona Sprout
Finished size 19" square
Designed and sewn by Master O aged 9

I enjoyed every minute, and the beaming smile he has been sporting all day has made it doubly worthwhile.

He now wants to make a quilt!

HO-bloody-HO!

Today was going so well; penultimate day at work, and home to finish another Christmas present before the school run...

I used Kerry's super tute from the Sizzix Christmas blog hop, and the bundle of fabric from Pin It and Stitch which one little girl had adopted the minute she saw the mice!

Thanks ladies, you are going to ensure a very smiley girl on Christmas morning!

And the not-so-ho?

Our last Tesco delivery before Christmas, (hauling a heavy trolley round the aisles is still not my idea of fun or comfort), and guess what, no freaking turkey crown!  No apologies, just a line of the delivery note, along with the short-life coleslaw and replacement grapes.

One poor lad on the customer service helpline got my wrath; I did warn him in advance, I am fair like that.  We got a without prejudice payment of £20 for the aggro - not enough I reckon.

But be warned; I pretty much demanded that one be waiting for me tomorrow at the Xtra store near work, in fact, whilst on hold I was able to set up a 'click & collect' order for what I wanted - but when the guy rang the store, they informed him there would be none in stock until Wednesday!

Sheesh, I went to the Metro in the next village after tea and got one, smaller than I had hoped for, but safely in the freezer now, so only the fresh bread and veggies to get next week now.

I have never been so prepared, but with all the health issues and rather a lot of stitching miles to cram into the next week, I am leaving nothing to chance, and do not intend to leave the village after I get back from work tomorrow until after the big day.

So please do not rely on anyone but yourselves, especially Tesco - yes Tesco, I am going to warn my friends about your greed and total disregard for your customers; I had almost forgiven you for substituting the nappies we ordered for nappy sacks, all hose years ago!

Sizzix Christmas - Blog Hop!

It's that time of year when I get to hob-nob with some illustrious bloggy folks, showing you Christmassy ideas that you can make with a Sizzix, (or without, if you must, and have way too much time on your hands).

I have been looking at some of our poor excuses for cushion covers; old, dirty beyond the power of Vanish, and figured that Christmas ones would be great whilst I ponder on what I want to make for the longer term.

So I turned to Touchdraw, and came up with this simple but fun design that would make use of some of my scraps and beloved 2.5" HST and 2.5" square dies...

To save you counting, for the main 16" panel you will need...

4 x white 2.5" squares
44 x mixed green HST-triangles
15 x white HST-triangles
1 yellow 2.5" square  - can be cut with the single die or by rotary cutter
3 x aqua HST-triangles
2 x 2.5" x 12.5" white sashing strips
2 x 2.5" x 16.5" white sashing strips
... and 1 brownish HST-triangle, for luck.

Even though the dies cut in multiples of 4, I still use them to cut one or two pieces from small or odd-shaped scraps.

You will also need fabric for the cushion back, a zipper if you so desire, binding and I always line my cushion fronts with fusible fleece, like Vilene H640 to give a more finished interior and make the quilting look better; but I will leave all that to you.

Cut all the tree pieces, and lay out into a pleasing arrangement.  Stitch into rows with a 1/4" seam and remember, with the Sizzix there's no trimming, press row seams in alternate directions, and join to complete the main panel...

I sashed my block, fused the fleece to the back and quilted with simple straight lines...

I like adding binding to cushions, and for this one, a simple envelope back, very quick and so simple to stitch together...

I used Kona white and cyan from Simply Solids, some home deco-weight from Terry's Fabrics for the perfect backing and scraps from all over the place.  All pieced and quilted in Aurifil 2021 50wt, of course.

A nice bushy tree, getting me in the mood for a real one in a couple of weeks time - woooah, not long folks!

So here's how the rest of the blog hop stacks up...
Monday 18th November - Katy Jones
Tuesday 19th November - Hadley Gordon - You are here!
Wednesday 20th November - Carolyn Forster
Thursday 21st November - Angela Southey
Friday 22nd November - Kerry Green

So do pop by them all, there's bound to be a lot more inspiration to get you in the Christmas spirit. I've still got this little bundle of Christmassy joy to play with, from Pin It & Stitch...

... so I am definitely on the lookout for more ideas for sure.

And what sort of blog hop host would I be if there wasn't a giveaway snuck in there!?  Please head over to the Sizzix site for the chance to win yourself all these...

657900 Big Shot Machine Only (Powder Blue & Teal) by Ellison
658317 Bigz Die - Hexagons, 1" Sides
658318 Bigz Die - Hexagons, 1 1/4" Sides
657165 Bigz Die - Dresden Plate, Small
657616 Bigz Die - Tumbler, 4"H Finished

(The giveaway is open to UK and EU residents only, sorry).

Well I hope you enjoyed my stop, and maybe you'll be adding a few Sizzix-y things to your list from Santa.
xxx

Sizzix Spring Bloghop

Welcome to my stop on the Sizzix Spring Blog Hop.  If you are not a regular follower, please feel free to have a poke about and see all the other things I get up to.

Anyone who does come here often will know I am a Sizzix junkie, I could turn out hexies or HSTs 24/7 and be very happy, but for today it is the turn of the tumbler die (657616).  So let's make a cushion!

Tumbling Easter Bunnies Cushion:
You will need:
10 Bunny Print Tumblers
10 Background Tumblers
2 x 18"x 2.5" Background fabric
2 x 14.5" x 2.5" Background fabric
2 x 18"x12" Background fabric
14.5"x14.5" Fusible fleece or batting
2 x 18"x12" Lining fabric
18" x 18" Lining fabric

• Cut all pieces, and layout tumblers as desired. Sew 4 rows of 5 tumblers and then join to make one panel.
• Fuse or baste the batting onto the centre back of the panel - you will trim to size after quilting.
• I quilted 1/2" either side of each seam; because of the way the tumblers are arranged, I used a washable pen to mark where the seam lines pass through the other tumblers as shown below...

• Once quilted sponge/remove the pen lines, press and trim the panel to 14.5" square.
• Sash the panel with the 2.5" strips, and trim to a square.
• You may have a favourite way of making up your cushions, here is mine, a simple envelope back with reversed French seams...
• Take the two back pieces and sew one backing and one lining piece right sides together, open then press wrong sides together and top stitch as desired along the joined edge.
• Layer up your cushion pieces as follows:

         Bottom back panel - right side up
         Outer/top back panel - right side up
         Front panel - right side down
         Front lining panel - right side down

• Pin in place.
• Stitch 1/4" seam all the way round.  Trim the corners and turn through the envelope back.
• Push out the corners and give it a press for luck.
• I use a walking foot, but if you take it slow you should be ok - start midway along one side and stitch a 1/2" seam all the way round the edge, to enclose the inner raw edges.
• This will fit a 16" or 18" pillow form, depending on how stuffed you like your cushion.
• Plump up the cushion, and sit back with a hot cross bun!  (Alternatively let one of your daughters get their hands on it, and never see it again!).

If you haven't already, please check out all the other stops on the hopity-hop...

Monday 18th March -Katy over at her Sizzix residency
Tuesday 19th March - Carolyn at carolynforster.co.uk/wordpress
Wednesday 20th March - Laulli Pops at needlespinsandbakingtins.com
Thursday 21st March - Me!
Friday 22nd March - Anna at cafecreativo.blogspot.co.uk

An just in case you have been remiss in your hopping to date, you can enter this exclusive competition to get started with your patchwork and quilting adventure.

Click here to enter! The closing date is 28th March at 10am GMT.

The rules state its for UK/EU folks only I am afraid peeps, I'm sorry, but I guess if you are heading over here for Retreat or some other attraction, you could enter and if you win, someone could look after it for you.  Good luck.

Thank you one and all for stopping by, I hope this has given you an extra Easter idea that does not involve chocolate, although no reason why you couldn't work some into the mix somewhere!

A Spring In My Step...

I have been making up for the lack of sewing this weekend, by getting the backing of my Orbit quilt pieced, and also my Brit Bee top all sewn together this evening...

I still have 2 names left to embroider into the siggie block, and then I can piece the back for that too.

Does anyone know if I should be worrying that after a wash and tumble, my 3 strand Cosmo floss names are going to look like my kids have attempted embroidery with their eyes closed??

Ideally I would like these two basted on Wednesday, so that I can hopefully aim for one finish over the coming weekend; with all the fun and games of the last few days I could do with a bit of a relax, and a Sunday afternoon stitching down some binding sounds like heaven to me!

I had happy mail to get me in the mood today too; a layer cake of Summersville Spring courtesy of Justine...

I still have my first collection layer cake and a bit of yardage waiting for the perfect project, so I am hoping that my spend to use theory will again pay off and I will be able to stash-bust and make something using both together.  The additional colours are lovely, so time to start trawling for the one.

Did you see Rita's beautiful Having A Starry Time blog hop post today?  I think I am going to have to work on my presentation skills before Friday!!

And as promised, more details on the Sizzix hop...

Katy kicked off today with her 2 Minute Treat bags, then I will be joining these other lovely ladies with Spring and Eastertime makes...

Tuesday 19th March - Carolyn at carolynforster.co.uk/wordpress
Wednesday 20th March - Lauli Pops at needlespinsandbakingtins.com
Thursday 21st March - Me!
Friday 22nd March - Anna at cafecreativo.blogspot.co.uk

And whilst I'm all about the info, and despite not feeling the lovin', I am joining the hysteria and doing the claim thing just in case the world ends if I don't!

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I think that's about it for tonight... crikey, is that the time!

Before the call...

Firstly, thank you all so, so much, for all your lovely comments regarding my #scrappytripalong quilt.  I am once again snuggled under it on the sofa, and keep catching myself smiling at seeing all those wonderful prints together in an actual quilt, and not just saved in a box to be made into that special quilt, one day - I now have the special quilt!! 

I also have about 100 comments to respond to from the last couple of days, so please forgive my tardiness, I will reply, soon!

And so back to yesterday.  Before I got the dreaded call from school to go and collect the poorly child, she's fine now, I managed to obliterate my To Do List, for which I am rather thankful.

I made three Stitch Tease siggy blocks, one I forgot to mail previously, one to accompany Helen's block on it's way to Dianne's and one for the final instalment.

I printed my labels for the Sizzix quilts; I simply called then Geese! and Dashing! in the end.

I popped a favour in an envelope for a tapestry-loving friend.

Next on the list were a couple of blocks for the lovely Bee Blessed ladies.  Honestly, so simple, it would have been way too rude not to...

Shoddy pics, I blame the snow!

I then went off to the Post Office in the snow and got them all mailed out - Czech Republic, Morocco, Scotland, Ireland and almost Wales, here they come!

And last on my list was a Schoenrock Cross block to be used on my Pretty Little Pouch...

As soon as I saw Leila's I knew I wanted to make one too.  I printed out the template from Quilter's Cache and reduced the size so that it came out as a 9" block.  The upper size limit on the PLPS is 12", so I am aiming, after sashing in natural Essex Linen, for an 11" square pouch, OK not so little, but big enough for a nice sewing project, an embroidery hoop maybe, or a tonne of hexies, I don't have to decide that bit!

I always have that 5 minute brain freeze after I have cut my fabric, (I make a freezer paper template for each piece and cut just over a 1/4" seam allowance) and then after flipping them over, I cannot, for the life of me, work out how they are meant to go, but it all worked out in the end.  Am I the only one?

So that was the rest of my day off. 

Earlier this evening I played around with the rest of the fabrics needed for the PLPS extra makes and relieved Justine of a couple of Architextures charm packs.

I am almost out of battery, so I am going to have to hit 'publish' and switch off.  See you tomorrow xxx

Duet!

A nice quiet evening of binding yesterday, means that both the Sizzix quilts are now complete. 

In the five minutes between dashing round Tesco on the way home from work just in case, and heading out on the school run, I managed a rather unglamorous photoshoot...

I think they look pretty cool together, and they will hopefully win approval from the Sizzix-buying public en France...

I just need to put labels on the backs and then mail them off, then my January commitments will be mightily reduced.  Phew!

Both quilts measure 48"x 60"; they were pieced and quilted with Aurifil 50, using Klona White and Jade for backing, and crossweaves of unknown origin; all cut with Sizzix quilting dies.

-x-

Well we are bracing ourselves for snow, which will either be fantastic (for the kids, mostly) or a complete disappointment, but I have the #scrappytripalong to look forward to, so. bring. it. on!

Go Geese Lightning!

It may have not gone above minus 4 outside, but I had a good day indoors in the peace, quiet and warm.

I got the Sizzix geese all basted and quilted, then the binding attached first...

But rather than finishing it off immediately, I've kept the binding for this evening; I am happy about that on so many levels!

Instead, I got on with my #scrappytripalong.  I inset yesterday's big block into my solid backing, and then basted the whole 72" beauty!  Thank goodness for spray, I was done in half hour; I'd still be grovelling around on the floor, sobbing, if I was pinning!

I picked out my binding, the last piece of one of my favourite DS prints, and I'm 99% sure of the coloured thread I will be using on the back; I'll use off-white on the top.

Now I just have to build up the nerve and stamina to quilt it!  It weighs a tonne, and did I mention that it's huge!  This is going to be a bit of a job!  But the prospect of all that binding, 8yds, will keep me going!

Geese on Sunday...

The sun shone, the kids went to the park with Daddy, (armed with a thermos of coffee, it was about 1'C); I sat in the warm conservatory and sewed.

And sewed, and sewed; made a spot of lunch, then sewed some more.

The second commission quilt for Sizzix now has a completed top...

OK, it needs a good press, and some decent lighting.

I really do love how it has turned out.  I hope it is not too modern.  I have the idea in my head already to maybe make another, some day, for myself, but reversed, using patterned scraps and just white for the geese... maybe.

And as I was feeling so buoyed with getting so far, so quickly, I signed up for round 6 of the Pretty Little Pouch Swap.  I have been 'umming and 'arrhing all week about joining in.  There's still time if you are interested; it's a quick turnaround swap, with rather specific skill categories.  I opted for Intermediate; no uber-fancy-pants piecing or embroidery required.  I am good with that.

Here's my mosaic...

With the prospect of no snow here any time soon, I guess it'll be business as usual tomorrow.  Hey ho...

No show, no snow!

Snow? Pah, rain rain and more rain round these parts.  But cold though, so I wore my new scarf all day.  Except for eating.

It is such a lovely huge size that I was in fear of it becoming a bit like Mr Twit's beard!  And because some of you asked so nicely...

After all the family-type business of the day, party drop-offs and a trolley dash round Tesco, I got on with the things I needed to get done, namely finalising my second Sizzix design, in the loosest sense of the word, and then cutting all the pieces...

I made one block up, after I had cut all the pieces, just to make sure it looked OK, I think it works...

On a roll, I then stitched and pressed the rest of the 100 HSTs too.  Even with the very loose weaved fabrics, those HSTs were perfect every time.

It is going to be a very white quilt top, but as balance to my mega-patterned #scrappytripalong, it is quite a refreshing must-make!

So that's my day, we are now going to relax and watch a DVD, well once the kids stop running about upstairs.  

Oh please let it snow in the night so I can shove them out the door at dawn!

Dashing...

Today I have dashed from pillar to post, work, meetings, Tesco, school, post office, (fat fabric package that wouldn't fit through the letterbox).  Back home, quickly outside for a brief photo-call before it got dark...

Who's that dashing young chap?

This is the first of the pair of quilts I need to have finished this month for Sizzix.  This one used just three dies, a 4" square, 4"x 2" rectangle and the smashing 4" HST die.  Given this selection, a churn dash block seemed the rational choice. 

I used Klona white and a selection of those lovely C&H Fabrics crossweave cottons along with my favourite Klona Jade for the backing.

It measures in at 48" x 60", all stitched up in Aurifil 50, grey (2612) for piecing, off-white (2021) on the top and a light turquoise (5006) on the back for the minimal quilting.  Jobs a good'un.

As my lovely Brit Bee ladies are already finding out, (mwah), not having to trim HSTs is rather refreshing and this all came together very quickly.  I am still finalising the design for the second quilt. which will incorporate the same dies plus 2" squares and HSTs.

Day 10 and I am happy to have my first finish for the year, and it's a whole quilt, albeit a small one.  Not sure I am going to be able to manage a quilt a week, oh can you imagine?!  But it is looking scarily like I could have 3 clocked up in January!!

Wonderful Wednesday!

What with all the pre-Christmas performances, lurgies and school holidays, I have not had a scheduled day off, home alone, in ages.  Today was so great!

OK, so I had to clean, tidy, change the bedding and dust all those places that have been home to cards and decorations for the last month, but I ploughed through all that, on a mission to get to my sewing machine - I love a good 'carrot'!

First up, the last 6 #scrappytripalong blocks.  I got as far as finishing all the unpicking last night, then settled for rubbish on the telly.

So all 36 blocks are now complete...

This is not the final layout.  I left them laid out on the lounge floor for most of the day, swapping blocks about now and then; it never really looked any different, I just tried to make sure no touching blocks had the same dominant fabric and called it a day.  I have a couple of must dos to get done before I can get this finished.

The first must dos are quilts for Sizzix heading for a show in France in February, I believe.  Using specified dies, I got free reign on what to make, and today, quilt one was basted, lightly quilted and has now reached this stage...

Hopefully I am going to have my first finish of the year to show you tomorrow as I am already halfway round.  I did ponder just machine finishing the binding, but that's no fun!

I trust you are all feeling the mid-week love too xxx

FAL Q1 2013

Now I know I needn't go into too much detail on the whys and wherefores of the Finishalong, as it does appear that pretty much everyone I know is either linking up and/or has heard me, or someone else mention it previously, but I am really pleased to be linking up again.

I have linked up my Q4 2012 finishes already; I didn't write a whole new post, as I had finished all 7 items on my list back at the end of November, and blogged about them here.  How did you get on?  It was my best quarter ever for finishes.

Linking in 2013 with the new hostess with the mostest, Leanne, I know for sure that she will continue the successes encouraged by awesome Rhonda throughout 2012.  Thank you Rhonda for getting this brilliant ball rolling!

Leanne has a calming influence in my frequently hectic and emotional existence, so I am thrilled that she will be there, making things better, keeping a level head and encouraging us all.

I did joke after Christmas that I better start a few projects just so that I could make a list, which was kind of true.  Like many of us, Christmas Makes were the be-all and end-all of the last couple of months, so once the gift-giving was done, I was free to start new projects again.  And start I did.

So here are my four for the first quarter...

1.  #scrappytripalong

I have 6 blocks to finish, and I love it so much already.  As soon as I have ordered some more batting and backing, there will be, I hope, no reason not to get this beauty all sewn up.

2.  Sizzix Commission

I have two quilts to make for Sizzix by the end of the month; I have batting and backing for these (grr!), and the top of the first one completed already, and they HAVE to be done, so I will be putting the pedal to the metal on these soon.

3. A hexie project

I know, a bit vague.  I have started basting a bunch of lovely hexies which I trimmed from the mini-charms sent to me by this lovely lady; I have a couple of ideas, but want to see them all hexed up before I commit!

4.  Brit Bee 2 - Diamond Nipples

This one is kind of out of my hands for the immediate future.  My block is made, but once the others head back my way, I am not one to hang around and will get those mega-blocks made into another BB smasher.  Well it's a plan!

So there we have my hopes for Q1, and I am sure I will start, and maybe finish a load more and have a bigger list in Q2!!

Santa strikes again!

Well not the real Santa, obviously, we all know he is bubble-wrapped up for the next 11 months, but Secret Santa has struck again!

I was responsible for allocating out all the partners for the Brit Bee Secret Santa this last year and today, my lovely partner Jo's parcel arrived for me. 

A beautiful mug rug which includes some of my favourite fabrics, and I love it.  Thank you so much missus xxx

As for my sewing today, I pieced 20 churn dash blocks for a Sizzix commission, finished another 6 for the #scrappytripalong and also spent a couple of hours at the park with the kids.  

Now I am watching Celebrity Big Brother - forgive me xxx

Diamonds are a girl's best friend...

Today I mailed out my Brit Bee fabric parcels.  For a long long time I knew I wanted HSTs again, and I knew I wanted a predominantly orange quilt.  No logical reason for that; it won't go with anything in the lounge or bedroom, but I need an orangey quilt!

I went from random placement, to specific blocks and back to random again, until this mosaic made up my mind, thanks Leanne.  I probably spent the last 6 months snaffling away all the fabrics I wanted to include until it came to crunch time and I had to get cutting.

I didn't have enough orange!!!  So I threw in some of my favourite pinks along with all the text, black and greys I had piled high, and I was even happier.

The block is Diamond Ripples, from 99 Modern Blocks and I already call it Diamond Nipples in my head, we are Brit Bee after all!

So you want to see what it will look like, (or what some of you will be making!), a single 24" block, all cut by my fair hand Sizzix, so none of that HST trimming nonsense...

 I love my block!

And here is an artist's impression of the finished quilt top...

Very excited about this one, and I know the BB ladies will do me proud xxx

Ready or not?

Well Christmas is coming ready or not...

So here are the last couple of makes that I can show you before the big day.

Lovely Sarah sent me a couple of Doctor Who cuts with a certain someone in mind.  So, as I was already planning on making dear son a drawstring bag, it was a bit of a no-brainer...

He is going to be thrilled!  Thank you Missus xxx

My long-term Christmas project was the low-volume hexie cushion for my Mum. 

I finished this up at the beginning of the week when the fear of the lurgy was starting to make me panic.  I used some natural Essex Linen for the sashing and back, and it measures up at 20" plumped with a feather insert...

I did a (reversed) french seam instead of binding it, and I am really really pleased with how that turned out.

Apart from the present wrapping I am as ready as I can be... I think!

Today I have cleaned and tidied, and now I have a slight sore throat, so am going to try and fend that off with Chocolate, tea, Christmas movies and napping!

I've decided I won't be posting again until this time next week, so I really really hope you all have a wonderful Christmastime, surrounded by the ones you love, and time for thoughts for those who may be missing. 

Have fun, and see you on the other side of the big dinner xxx