Win my WIP!

Blog followers will be familiar with a certain set of hexie flowers that have been hanging around here for years; cropping up on my FAL list every quarter and never getting the attention they deserve!

Well in the spirit of sharing, and moving on and going forth into the New Year, I am basically passing the buck!

So it's a win-win.  I get to move something off my never-ending To Do list, something that I haven't fallen out of love with, just don't have the time to turn into something super, and you get a pretty half-made project to play with.

I am not one for hoops, so just leave me one comment, telling me which WIP you keep putting to the bottom of the pile.

This giveaway is for followers only, because it's my blog, my rules, so expect me to check that you really are, (you can tell me how you follow if you want to be helpful); and if you are a no-reply blogger, then for goodness sake leave an email address!

I will pick a winner next Tuesday evening, 22nd December, 8pm GMT, so if all goes to plan I will be able to pop into the Post Office before Christmas, (although that's a sincere hope, but not a promise!).

Open internationally; multiple comments will be deleted and Random.org will do the business.

Good luck my friends xxx

Jumping the Gun - Blogiversary Giveaway

I honestly think I am going round the bend with the sheer amount of stuff going on right now.  Today, an all-morning course-type-thing at work, followed by a Year 3 recorder concert.  All the regular days for school swimming and forest school are all swapping, swapping back and changing times; I am writing lists, trying to cross things off quicker than the list lengthens, but fear I am losing that battle.

I was convinced that I should be celebrating my 5th Blogiversary this week; a quick check just now tells me I should be waiting until next week, but I sewed my fingers off to get the prize finished, and as it's my blog, I'll do what I want to!

So would you like a chance to win this Cotton & Steel, Jen Kingwell Flutterby block cushion cover?

A little hand-quilting and my new favourite spotty binding, and bob's your uncle.

This little token of thanks will go to one of you lovely people.  I know blogging in general seems to have been hit by the rise of instagram, and I do understand entirely how it seems that everyone's lives have got increasingly hectic and something has to give, but I do still love my little part of the inter web.  I wish I had more time to devote to it, but then I would have no time to sew, so I just thank you for sticking by me.

In order to honour a little bit of tradition, I will leave this giveaway open until next Monday, 13th July, my real blogiversary.  I will mail, (without a cushion form, for obvious reasons), anywhere in the world, the only condition is that you are a blog follower, and not an un-contactable No Reply blogger - sorry but I am all done playing Inspector Clouseau!

So please do have a couple of chances; make one comment telling me how you follow, so should I feel the urge, I can check; and a second, separate comment telling me something you want to achieve in the next 5 years.  You tell me yours, and I'll tell you mine!

I will close down the comments at 7pm next Monday, and let Mr Random pick a winner.  Please don't leave more than 2 two comments or I will delete them.  I am the boss!

Good luck folks xxx

I finished a couple of things...

Yep, linking up the meagre 2 of my Q2 FAL 2015 hoped for finishes!

I know I was NEVER going to get all four finished, and I do love a rollover, but one day I will get the other two completed; I just need to stop chasing other shiny new lovelies in the meantime!

So my actual finishes:

Here…

and here…

Thank you to Adrianne and all the amazing sponsors for trying to chivvy us along.

I need to start thinking about my Q3 list, shame I can't add the 3 cushions, one pouch and a handbag that I made over the long weekend!  I'll show you most of those over the next few days, including tomorrow, my blogiversary GIVEAWAY!!!

See, it is worth stopping by now and then x

Finishing touches...

Just the binding to stitch down, and my Instagram #1000flyingfollowers giveaway prize will be finished…

Please don't feel too neglected if you are not on Instagram, in a month I will be celebrating my 5 year blogiversary, so I'm sure I will be whipping up something for yous then.

PS. The Hudl was collected at the second attempt, after yesterday's cock-up, a teeny consolation x

Good with the Bad...

I topped 1000 followers over on Instagram today!!!!  I am obviously celebrating with a giveaway, so if you haven't ventured to the dark side, now may be the time.  I am @mrsflyingblind in case you didn't know.

Last night I cut all the pieces, and today I pieced and hand quilted a Small Wonders cushion top from Jen Kingwell's gorgeous Quilt Lovely.  I loved making this…

I also spent the day waiting for a DPD driver to come and collect a faulty hudl (tablet), note to the driver, THIS IS NOT MY HOUSE!!!

And Tesco, you then wasted another 2 hours of my life being unable to comprehend that I could possibly need to go to work, do the school run, yes, twice a day and not be able to be home 24/7!

The freezer door being left open, and the whole contents now residing in the dustbin were the perfect end to the day.

I'm going to bed xxx

Don't you know who I am?

Rhetorical question.  Obviously!

Today the postman came good for me, but we are still waiting on the yo-yo, oh dear indeed!

So if you have your copy of Quilt Now, you may have spotted my Oakshott tumbler 'Stacking Cups' baby quilt, it looks so lovely in print, even if I do so myself…

And I am so thrilled to be in such great company in this first edition.  I am trying not to be biassed, but I think Katy has done a wonderful job, and the themed issues, if this one is anything to go by, are all going to look fabulous!

I would love to show you a few more shots, but all my pics were on that other hard drive, grrr!  I will show off more when I get it back home.

Don't forget, there'll be a copy of the magazine for the winner of my blogiversary giveaway, and it will be in UK stores from Thursday.

So as if my head didn't have to be squeezed back out the front door to get down to school, what happened next, well…

You see that envelope up there?  In there is a blogiversary card, from someone who RECOGNISED ME at the school gate!!! So everyone please wave hello to Jean!!  

Meeting fellow enthusiasts of cutting up fabric and sewing it back together in real life is so great, (woo-hoo FQR weekend here we come!!), but when someone spots you and is lovely enough to come and say hello, it felt a little bit mad, and very much lovely!

And just in case anyone wants to pick me out of the crowd on the weekend, (before I get my official swap tag from my partner), I whipped up a temporary one, and the first tick off my Q4 FAL list, go me!

After deciding on the way I was going with it, I did a bit of a swift u-turn, (after cutting my fabrics, sods law), and snipped a little selvedge 'Hadley' from my DS stash, fused and top-stitched a collection of bits and bobs onto white Essex Linen and used some of my Hemingway Design print for the back and lanyard. 

Fun punched hole, and job done…

Tomorrow, less me, more finishes!

4 Years!!! A Giveaway!!!

*** Giveaway Now Closed ***

Four years ago I took the plunge and started blogging.  No-one was reading, but I persevered.  There was no Fresh Sewing Day or other newbie intro sites; I hadn't heard of Flickr, and there was no Pinterest or Instagram.  Oh ye olde days!

So enough reminiscing, as is customary, it's time for a giveaway!

I am not going to apologise for probably spending the next fortnight talking about Fat Quarterly Retreat, so I am going to share the love a little by giving away a Swear Bag, like the ones I have made for the sample swap!

Not only that, but the sample needle book I made for the FinishAlong tutorial week…

And well, seeing as I have so many, a pack of size 22 Chenille needles…

That is not all, oh no no no, the lucky winner will also get sent a copy of issue One of Quilt Now direct from the publisher.  If you had told me 4 years ago, actually even one year ago, that I would be appearing in print, oh how I would have laughed!

Interested in a chance to win??

All you have to do is leave one comment telling me what you would stitch with all those bloody needles!
Followers can have a second chance, leaving a separate comment, telling me how you follow.

Any more than 2 comments and I will delete them, please don't reply to other's comments, as it mucks up the numbering; beware too No Reply Bloggers, if you don't make it possible for me to contact you, then you will miss out, sorry!

Easy-peasy; international entrants obviously welcome.  I will close the giveaway at 9pm (British Summer Time) on Wednesday 16th July; and use Mr Random to do the business.

So that just leaves me to say a huge thank you to everyone who stops by, has a read, leaves a comment and to so many of you who have been with me through the good times and bad.  Your words of encouragement and support continue to mean so much.  Mwah.

Good luck folks xxx

Winner-time!

Mister Random has spoken, and the winner of a copy of Issue 5 of Love Patchwork & Quilting and a custom-made key fob goes to...

Congratulations Marci,  purple it is then!

Happy Wednesday to everyone else too; hope you have got over the mid-week hump with smiles on your faces xxx

Sunny Sunday Giveaway!

*** Now Closed***

To celebrate all things good, like a sunny day at last, it's time for a little giveaway.

I may have mentioned that I was thrilled to be asked to contribute to issue 5 of Love Patchwork & Quilting, and last week the lovely people at said magazine also sent me a couple of copies.  OK, I am a long way off showing the grandkids, so I will give one to my mum, but I thought one of you would like a copy too.

So would you like to win a copy, and I will also make you a keyfob too?  Due to my generous sunny mood, you can even pick the colour!

Leave me a comment before Wednesday 9pm GMT, including your colour of choice, and I will let Mr Random pick a winner.

No more hoops other than that; please just make sure that if you are a No Reply Blogger, that you include your email address in your comment, otherwise I will re-draw, sorry.  Open internationally.  Any additional comments will be deleted for fairness.

PS. If you choose 'brown', I reserve the right to substitute your choice for something less insane.

Good luck xxx

Put a sock in it!

Or in my case, probably not!

I was the lucky winner of Di's beautiful sock sack earlier this week, and today, (when I have been feeling a bit grim), this amazing, cheerful pouch arrived and put a smile of my face...

Once again, a pattern on my 'want to make' list has come my way without me having to lift a finger, for which I am ever so pleased!

It looked like a great pattern for more than just holding knitting, and now having my own, I can definitely see why I have seen many popping up in my Instagram feed.

Thank you so much Di, it's perfect.

And because I have been on the winning side a couple of times recently, I think tomorrow I will host a teeny-weeny giveaway of my own, does that sound OK?

There has been some sewing over the last few days too, but I am stocking up on blog posts as I reckon with half term and the new pills, I may not be so productive this coming week xxx

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

Getting stuff done...

Today was a good day to get stuff done.

By the time we had our Sunday roast for lunch, (yes it is officially winter!), I had cleaned the house, changed, washed and tumbled all the bedding, done all the weekend's ironing and basted my Holiday Memories mini quilt.  Rough with the smooth.

I quilted my mini this afternoon, and will get the binding on in a bit; I am just waiting for a paper-cut to stop bleeding, as the binding, and much of my mini are white, and that's not a good combo!

As promised, a quickie-piccy of yesterday's Eternal Maker haul, minus the wadding...

The multi-coloured bag is a scrap bag of wool felt, with some excellent sized pieces and lovely colours which will be perfect for a bunch of needle books and the like.  I used the Aurifil 40wt for the quilting today, just for a little more definition; 2021 I heart you, no matter what you weigh!

And because I am so kind, as to be honest, I would really really love to win, if you are in the UK, please pop over to my friend Verity's blog, as she has the most amazing birthday giveaway going on right now.

If you do decide to enter, and why the heck wouldn't you? - please mention my name (or I will track you down), thank you.

So that has been my day, but now can we have some sunshine again?  I am done with all this indoor stuff for a bit!

Winners!

I mentioned last night that I was a member of The Team who won the Retreat Pub Quiz, (not a quiz about pubs, as thought by some of our overseas friends); we were lucky enough to win handfuls of Jen Kingwell patterns courtesy of the uber-generous Amitie.

These are what I came home with...

The Midnight At The Oasis was on my 'wants' list, so I am sooo chuffed.

Obviously all of us who were there were winners, what with amazing goodie bags stuffed with fabulous freebies from the amazing sponsors... Liberty, Aurifil, Pat Bravo, Moda, Ahkaban, Riley Blake, Makower, Eternal Maker and many more I have forgotten...

I think I did mighty fine in the winning stakes, especially when topped off with the sample swap.  I swapped my Liberty pincushions for this amazing haul...

... a fantastic cushion cover from the amazingly cute Rachael, perfect Pezzy pouch, pencil and ribbon from Amanda, a beautiful heavy-duty Retreat pin cushion from Mary and the prettiest fabric basket and extras from Sue.  I think we owe Trash big-time!  Thank you ladies for a super swap.

I still have selling, shopping and even sewing to show you, I know!  So more tomorrow.  I spent so much time and energy building up to Retreat, I am most certainly going to eek a weeks worth of posts out of it!

And so onto another winner; the winner of my big 3! giveaway.  Thank you for all your lovely comments, I am sorry I could not respond to you all individually, but please be assured that I value everyone of you who takes time from their day to pop by here.  

Right, enough; schmaltz over.

I will add in a couple of the Jen Kingwell patterns and other bits into the mix, because I am nice like that.  The winner is...

Congratulations Rachel!!!

I may well have emailed you already, if Blogger is having another 12 hour posting delay like last night, apologies.

Laters xxx

Crazy busy...

Trying to get ready for Retreat is making me cranky and anxious and all sorts of sweaty, so I am going to write my Thursday List in a moment and then try to relax for a little while.  I know, unlikely, but it's going to be non-stop from 6.30 tomorrow morning until I get on train just before 10am on Friday.

Hubby and son have just got in from the 3rd and final KS2 performance of Scheherazade.  The Y3s and 4s were singing, the Y5s were doing all the solos and acting.  They all did brilliantly in the heat; polyester Arabian knight costumes did not look any sort of comfortable, it was bad enough sitting still in the audience; I saw it yesterday afternoon...

Apart from making the Giveaway fob and notebook cover last night, I also made a fob for the girls' swimming teacher in the end...

Heather Ross fishes, what could be more perfect!?

So I am now all done with the making; although in a mad moment I thought about making another Staple tunic as an answer to my wardrobe dilemmas, but I think I am just going with t-shirts; life is too short!

I'll pop back tomorrow and let you know how I got on xxx

3!

*** The Giveaway is now closed***

Three years ago I began imposing my daily ramblings on the unsuspecting public.

I never imagined I would stick at it, and I certainly wouldn't have believed that so many people from all over the world would choose to stop by and take a took, and then come back time and again!

I definitely did not foresee the effect it would have on my life.  Fellow bloggers are the people I now call my best friends; I have met, virtually and in reality the most wonderful, inspirational and completely daft bunch of ladies and I want to thank every one of you who have made my sewing and fabric obsession seem completely normal.

So as is traditional, it's got to be giveaway time!!!

I have taken advantage of the slightly cooler evening and made these Liberty pretties already...

... and I will add some other bit and pieces from the weekend coming.

So let's go for one comment, one chance, no hoops.  It's too hot for hard work.

Just say something nice!  Simple as.

Make sure you add your email address is you are No Reply Blogger, or it could be your loss!

I will use Random.org to pick a winner in a week's time, Tuesday 23rd July 9pm BST, because I am going to be a little bit busy between now and then.

Open to all, but please do not expect a reply ;)

Good luck my friends xxx

Sew Mama Sew Winner!

The winner of my Sew Mama Sew Giveaway is...

Lindsey!!  I have sent you an email already my friend.

Thank you everyone for entering and telling me your favourite fabric combos.  It seems that I should be getting some more purple in my life! 

And to all of those who mentioned the 'B' word, you will be either shocked or pleased that I have been making plans for my F8ths of Echo, and there are many (good) browns in there!

Have a great Saturday everyone xxx

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

*** The Giveaway is now closed ***

Hello, hello, hello!

I am going to cut to the chase, you have so many places to go, so many giveaways to enter, I am not going to keep you here for too long; I know you just want to know the what, and the how eh!?

The what is a small (8" square-ish) zippy purse made of Liberty Lifestyle and Essex Linen, my current favourite combo...

There is also a key fob in matching Liberty; you can never have too many purses and keyrings nor too much Liberty in my humble opinion!

If this is your first time visiting, it would be nice if you came back again; I know today is all about the goodies, not going to kid myself about that one, but if you are liking my style, (stop sniggering at the back), please think about coming back and clicking the follow button.

So anyway, the how...

Leave me one comment, (any additionals will be deleted), telling me your current favourite combination of fabrics; things that were born to be together, or others that probably shouldn't work, but actually do; it would be nice to try something new.

The giveaway is open internationally; Random.org will be used to select the winner; and I will say it again, if you are a 'No Reply' blogger, please leave your email address in the body of your comment - if I cannot contact you, I will click the generate button again.  I will not be responding to individual comments, but may well give credit for fab combos in my Winner post.

I will close the giveaway as soon as I wake up on Saturday (11th May), because 5pm PST, or DST or whatever Friday, is the middle of the night in the UK, and I'd rather give you a couple of extra hours than disturb my beauty sleep.

Thank you Sew Mama Sew for the hosting, and thank you for stopping by.  Good luck everyone xxx

Giveaway WInner...

Thank you all so much for entering my giveaway.  The karma gods were looking in when I closed it this evening.  Actually I did have a pang of 'they'll think it's a fix!' when I saw who the random number belonged to!  But Mr Random has chosen, and who am I to disagree?

Come on down Number 70...

Birthday Girl Trudi!!!

I will get it wrapped and sent to you soon my friend!

Thank you all for sharing your favourite makes, I might love the pin cushion as much as my kids, but guessing you really would prefer the Liberty Trudi!?

Afraid I have nothing for my non-UK friends this evening, but if you are at a loose end this weekend here in Blighty, it's free-entry time at the National Trust, so download yourself a voucher and go have some fun!  xxx

Please tease me oh yeah, like I teased you!

I think I am right in saying that I am the last one to post my Stitch Tease blocks.  So in theory, you could have worked out what I made already!

Just in case you haven't been ticking off all the blocks on the tour, here are the ones I made for my fellow Stitch Teasers...

Firstly, for Katy; you can read about her quilt here...

This was fun, although my raw edge appliqué is a little more raw than I would have liked! 

Then Annabella's NYB; you can read about her quilt here...

I loved making this.

For Diane, I really pushed the boat out;  you can read about her quilt here...

These were made using Penny's awesome paper-pieced templates; they drove me a little crazy and came at a really hard time for my family and I, but I am so glad I persevered.  Hard to photograph, Di's pics are way better!

For Susan I was back on familiar territory; you can read about her quilt here...

I had to sneak in a non-white star in my 'signature' fabric, the Cloud 9 herons, which appear somewhere or other in all the blocks I made.

Danny's block meant I had to think!  You can read about her quilt here...

If you are going to make some flying geese, you might as well make hundreds eh!?

Helen's block was another fun one; you can read about her quilt here...

I embraced my inner wonk!

Finally I had to make the last block for Dianne's quilt top and then piece the bugger together!  You can read about her quilt here...

All the blocks were slightly different sizes, I worked a little jiggery-pokery to get it all to fit together, and I am really pleased with how it turned out.  My block is the one bottom-right - I was so keen to mail this off I didn't hang about for great photos!

So that's my lot!  Round 2, a more traditional Bee format kicks off soon, and I can't wait to see what ideas we all come up with.

Apologies again for prolonging the Stitch Teasing, but I had a little giveaway to post about yesterday, I hope you saw!!