Having A Starry Time...

Today I am really thrilled to play my part in Alyce and the Fat Quarter Shop's Having A Starry Time bloghop.  Hello everyone, please be gentle with me...

When Alyce asked me to play, I jumped at the chance and chose 1.5" finished HSTs from the range of Triangles On A Roll sizes available; and they are brilliant, pure and simple.

I am not going to go into too much detail on the 'how', the pictures are pretty self-explanatory, and there's this great video to help if you are in doubt; but honestly, so easy.

Cut from the roll a piece that will produce the number of HSTs you require, I pressed my paper flat, to stop it trying to revert back to a roll; then layer your 2 HST fabrics, right sides together, place the paper on top, pin in place and then stitch.

Sew all the dashed lines, and cut all the solids; simple as...

Remove all the papers and press open, clipping those tails is all the trimming required for perfect 1.5" HSTs!

So for my block, which I have been really slack in not naming, (although I am not claiming originality, so it may well have a name anyway), here's a quick how to...

Cut:
Triangle On A Roll paper to create 16 background & print HSTs
Triangle On A Roll paper to create 8 Two-tone print HSTs
8 x 2" squares background fabric
1 x 6.5" square background fabric
2 x 6.5" x 3.5" background fabric

4 two-tone HSTs should be sewn to create a pinwheel; unfortunately my pictures do not show these Liberty prints in their best light, but if you look closely...

Make up one star, that will measure 6.5" finished; the remaining HSTs and 2" squares will become two halves of an identical block.

Attach one background rectangle to the top and the other to the bottom edge of the full star; attach one half star to two opposite sides of the 6.5" background square; join the two sides to make a 12.5" block as below...

Now it might not look all that, but bear with... First though, I decided to make my block into a mini quilt, and quilted it accordingly...

I think it turned out pretty nicely...

However if you were thinking this is perhaps not the most interesting of blocks, well look what it could create as a 5x5 block quilt...

I am not sure I would attempt all these small HSTs without the assistance of the Triangles On A Roll, (or in this case PicMonkey!), and being just a little bit smitten, I went and made something else; the two Liberty prints show up way better in these pictures...

I loved this little experiment.  The HSTs are perfect with such little effort; cutting the papers does not feel like the usual trimming, especially small ones which have a habit of shifting under my ruler at the crucial moment, and I would entirely recommend them to any HST-aphobe.

So, do you fancy getting your hands on a roll of 1.5" finished Triangles On A Roll?  Well who wouldn't!?

***The Giveaway is now closed ***

Just leave one comment telling me what this starry block should be, or is called; do feel free to expand your comment to include praise and awe.

I will pick a winner using Mr Random Number Generator at 9pm GMT Sunday 24th March.  Open to anyone, anywhere; multiple/duplicate comments will be deleted for fairness, and if more than a dozen people enter, I reserve the right not to respond, unless you ask me something specific x

Thank you for starring with me, and please make sure you catch Alyce's final stop on the hop tomorrow, and here's reminder of all the others taking part...

Monday March 18th - Rita at Red Pepper Quilts

Tuesday March 19th - Lindsey at Happier Than A Bird Quilts

Wednesday March 20th - Jane at Want It, Need It, Quilt

Thursday March 21st - Jenelle at Echinops & Aster

Friday March 22nd - You are here!

Saturday March 23rd - Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts

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!

It seemed like a good idea...

So with the recorder concert looming large in my day off, I cracked on with my Brit Bee Nips, and decided to use the large bit of wadding I had for that, instead of the Orbit.

Basting took ages, despite the spraying; it was the trying to line up the centres of both sides and getting it all square that did my knees in.

And then, I decided that a spiral, radiating from the centre, would be a wonderful way to quilt it!!  (Must have been the fumes that got the better of me, and my original, simple idea).

I picked out a 28wt (not 12wt, as I had thought) variegated Aurifil, and I am loving how it looks.  However trying to stuff the best part of a 72" quilt through the throat of my machine in a tight circle has not been easy.  I battled for 2 hours and then stopped for tea.

My shoulders are now killing me, so I am giving it a rest for tonight.  I am about halfway though the full rotations, then I will have the corner curves to stitch too.  I still have that Sunday afternoon goal to work towards.

Today's Sizzix blog hopper is Ms Laulli of Pops, making some happy bunting, and Having a Starry Time is the awesome Quilt Jane.  Please check them out.

And before you ask, the recorders sounded just as you would imagine; I haven't recovered enough to get the video clips off my phone to show the would-be-proud Daddy; I don't see why he should escape miss out on the experience!

Quick, it's sunny!

It was sunny today, all day, so when I got home from work, I was straight out in the garden, across the boggy marshland that used to be the lawn, and hanging quilts from the trees!!

After last night's teaser, I thought you might like to see my Brit Bee Diamond Nips in their full glory...

The remaining 3 blocks will be on the reverse along with the siggy block, and side two already looks great in my head!

Thank you for the tips on my embroidery.  I had to rinse off the marker pen from the siggy block, so I did it with hot water and there was no ill-effect whatsoever, so I think I will dive in with Sadie's suggestion, I have some light-weight woven interfacing that will be perfect.

I have worked out that I only have enough batting for one quilt though, (boo), so I will be ordering some more tonight, getting side two sorted tomorrow, and then cracking on with my Orbit before the joys of another Year 3 recorder recital; my ears already hurt at the thought.  

In the meantime, did you see Lindsey's Having a Starry Time contribution, or Carolyn's Sizzix-cut Spring Wreath?  No-one is doing anything to allay my fears that I have been invited on these hops in error!

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!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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

Good Geek Fun!

Today we went up to the Excel in London for the Big Bang Science Fair, aimed at children, to encourage them to think about all things, well, science-y! 

OK, so 6 and 8 is a little early for full-on careers advice, but the idea was to show how science is used in so many areas, and as dear son has already decided he wants to be a scientist, this was a fun-filled and educational day out.

There were computer games, interactive games, rocket launching, hoopla throwing and DNA profiling.  Electric cars and buses, jet engines and lunar explorers.  Food testing, sweet wrapping and Rubics-cubing.  You get the picture...

The highlight was the live Brainiac show, full of loud explosions, rockets strapped to revolving chairs and electric shocks; great fun, despite no Jon Tickle!

There was ample swag to be had too, I did manage a cotton bag, to satisfy my fabric needs, along with the 20-plus pens, assorted pompom bugs, sweets and stickers we collected.  I love a good haul, I really do.

Now my feet are aching, I am completely exhausted, and the kids were asleep before their heads hit their pillows.  Happy days, and an all-round successful weekend, hurrah! xxx

Fingers crossed...

I am off to the Apple Store this morning, wish me luck!  Fortunately at the first signs of impending wobble last Sunday we backed up my HD, so all is not lost.

Just so you don't think I am being rude, although I have my iPad and phone, I do not have, (and do not want), them set up to receive my emails; I have to access through tiresome webmail, so I can check for important stuff, but replying is a bit of a fag, so forgive me if I don't for now.

So with the unscheduled trip to Brighton today, sewing is going to be limited this weekend, we are off to that there London tomorrow too, but I will tell you about that after we get back.

For today I just wanted to give you a heads up that I am involved in a couple of bloghops next week, hence all that secret sewing a couple of weeks ago.

On Thursday I will be one of the Sizzix crew celebrating Easter, more details to come soon, and on Friday I am joining Alyce for her Having A Starry Time hop...

Look who else is there!!! 

Monday March 18th - Rita at Red Pepper Quilts

Tuesday March 19th - Lindsey at Happier Than A Bird Quilts

Wednesday March 20th - Jane at Want It, Need It, Quilt

Thursday March 21st - Jenelle at Echinops & Aster

Friday March 22nd - Hadley at Flying Blind on A Rocket Cycle

Saturday March 23rd - Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts

Out of my league... um... just a little!

There will be giveaways too, so make sure you check them out.

Have a good Saturday everyone xxx

Testing times...

Just seeing if this works...

Looks like someone has been playing on my iPad!

Please tell me if I go all "No Reply Blogger" or suffer any other side effects of google+.

I am hoping to be back to normal soon, thank goodness for the hubster's iMac!

I'm off for an evening in front of the TV, Happy Red Nose Day everyone xxx

iScream

I am without my trusty MacBook tonight, we are having a rather on again, off again relationship at the moment, so I am going to let an iGenie have look at its innards on Saturday.

I had some lovely mail to show you, but I am not in the mood for iPad blogger mularky, I think I already made a big mistake of signing up to Google+, so I am off to sulk xxx

Into Orbit!

After my directional dilemmas yesterday, I bit the bullet this morning and just went ahead and finished piecing my Orbit top, trying to get the patterns to match where possible, but not stressing too much if they didn't. 

This is a great pattern, and although there was a lot of initial cutting, and a little extra thinking required by me as I did not have a full 13 prints to play with, the piecing was simple and a joy to make.

It is probably the first time I have ever made HSTs by simply joining 2 triangles, and there was no bias drama at all with that.  (I think that is a urban myth to scare new quilters!).

Having the Modern Meadow prints all folded since I bought them, I had not had them spread out en masse, and I am so happily surprised at how bright and wonderful all the prints are.

There is still snow in the garden, and it is bitterly cold and windy, but I ventured out for a photoshoot; don't say I never do anything for you...

... and then the sun came out...

I have enough left-over fabric to piece the backing and make binding, but not sure on the wadding situation though; I think I need to have a little tidy up of the quilting corner; I can see it in my husband's eyes!

This has been a relatively early post for me; parent's evening later and I am making the most of my MacBook playing nicely, by tonight it will probably need another wallop xxx

What a difference...

... a day makes!

At 6.30am it was still snowing, blowing a gale and school was closed for the day; thanks to a nice early text, we didn't have to do the full getting ready routine and then find out, for a change.

By lunchtime the sun was out, time for a little fun and by teatime, any snow that had seen the aforementioned sunshine was all but gone...

So I got an impromptu extra sewing day, and started on my Orbit top; which I am hoping to get finished tomorrow.  Every bloody print is directional though, unlike my (miserly) cutting, so I had to cast caution to the Siberian wind and just not stress about it...

Oh, and I am back here in full blogging glory, after giving my MacBook a good shaking!  Not what a Mac Geni-arse would suggest I am sure, but it worked, and after a day of trying all the proper technical mularky, that was good enough for me!

What's going on!?

Woke up to snow...

...and now my MacBook is playing hide the hard drive, so I may be a little quieter than usual for a bit xxx

Yo Mamas!

I started the day with a mountain of cards, a beautiful linen scarf, and a nice cup of tea...

We met my parents for a lovely lunch at Pizza Express in Sevenoaks and then detoured via one hellofalady to drop off the cushion and a couple of hundred paper hexies.

Anyone who knows Terri will nod sagely when I say a quick hello took about 25 minutes, involved taking photos, losing the dog and checking up on the family; obligatory laughter, many many hugs and plans for the future. 

Both purse and cushion were received with wide smiles, so my Mother's Day work is done.

Happy Mother's Day all you mothers out there; keep warm xxx

Back on track...

After the diversionary sewing of the last couple of days, I had to get back to the plan today, because there was that small matter of a Mother's Day present becoming due.

Back in the mists of time, I started cutting fabric for a purse, and then for some reason or other didn't follow through; so today I re-sized the lining using my copy of Emily's stonky pattern which you can find here, and pulled some natural Essex Linen and the last pieces of my Just Dandy fabric, the rest of my FQ resides happily with Mrs S in Australia!

I backed the outer panels with fusible fleece and quilted straight lines in orange 28wt Aurifil; which although the flower strips were different widths, I managed to line up the stitching, how cool is that!?

So that's a tick in the box, and will be gifted tomorrow when we have lunch with my folks.

Oh and here's a couple of pics of the finished cushion which I will also hand over tomorrow...

Now time to get back to some quilts!

Keep Calm and Sew On!

To be honest, yesterday could have been worse.  The heating engineers might not have been able to come and install a new pump and get the house all warm again before this weekend's freeze; the car could have been completely buggered and rinsing out the fuel might not have worked and dear husband might not have been home from a work conference to sort it all out.

There were other things that were never going to turn out great, but because everything else was sorted before teatime, coping became an option again.

So last night I pulled half a dozen of my favourite fabrics, those that remind me of people, places and happy times and cut simple 2.5" squares and made them into a quilted cushion panel.  Simple has a time and place, and last night was it...

OK so when I got making up the actual cushion this afternoon, there was a one of these...

... quarter-inch foot vs zig-zag stitch clanger; but I soon had it sorted...

I have just finished hand-stitching the binding, I am going to try and think of something witty to stamp on the back and it will be ready for delivering to an amazing friend on the weekend xxx

Counting my blessings...

The highlight of my otherwise horrible day...

The Grand High Witch, Fantastic Mister Fox and Matilda xxx

Bees!

Today was all about the Bees.

First up, I made a block with all my Brit Bee siggies, all fine and dandy except for not being able to really press the seams because of all the signatures likely to either disappear or become forever-features, but once they are embroidered it will all be good...

Then I got to finishing my part in the first round of Stitch Tease.  7 blocks, all slightly different sizes laid out and arranged and re-arranged until the least amount of tinkering was required, and then I made my block to fit the 'gap'.

Sheer determination meant the top for Di is now complete, and has actually worked out really well; you will have to trust me on that one, but here a highly doctored image as proof; just so Di doesn't get too over-excited before the time comes!

I know Katy has my quilt top on her radar, and Helen worked on hers today too; the end of the month mailing deadline is coming round quickly, then we will all be able to let you in our stitchy secrets xxx

If you can't beat them...

...give them something to do!

I am juggling quite a few quilts at the moment, mostly in my head, but these Brit Bee beauties needed laying out for all to see, and doubled up as some apres-tea fun...

Am I the only one thinking 'redrum'?

As with Constellation, I am going to use 9 blocks on one side, and 3 on the other, along with a siggy block to make another double-sider.

I am adding the siggy block to tomorrow's To Do list, so that I can hoop it up ready to embroider all our names together for posterity.

What goes up...

...must come down.  And I feel like I have come down from this weekend with a great big bump.

Not helped by dear hubby bumbling about in the dark at 5am getting ready for a work trip, me remembering the girls needed photos of the house for school 5 minutes before we were meant to leave, (more haste, less speed on that one, there were swear words aplenty), then a 2 hour workshop about something I care nothing for at work and the usual rounds of school, swimming, feeding, bedtimes and the like.

At least the sun shone.

It also dawned on me that this month I really need to make the final block and piece all 8 for Dianne's Stitch Tease quilt top; so I laid out all the others I have received and pulled the fabric for my mega-pinwheel block in the 5 minutes between work and school...

The heron print is my signature fabric, a piece of which appears in all the blocks and strips I have made.  I made this and a few others after tea, but will leave the layout until my day off.

Also on my radar for this Wednesday's sewing session is my Orbit quilt top.  I cut all the fabric yesterday...

I am really hoping, this will come together super quickly, because I fell in love with the Modern Meadow fabrics all over again and want to see it all sewn up as soon as possible.

Oh I do like to Bee beside the seaside...

Yesterday was terrific; 7 Brit Bees and a couple of welcome friends in Hastings for the day.

There was some firm cooking instructions from Terri, (it wasn't her kitchen, but you would never have guessed), great food, a trip out to an amazing vintage haberdashery/fabric emporium, laughter, a bit of show-and-tell, more laughter, more eating and smiles all round...

Fun, shopping and Trudi's amazingly beautiful quilts.

I am sad that we were missing a few members of the crew, but they were with us in conversation!  Liz and Di were wonderful substitutes; Liz is an expert tea-maker and Di drove Trudi down south, so they are definitely friends we need to keep!

Ceri's house is an amazing warren, including her sewing room, chock to the gunnels with fabric and lovely things.

There was a teensy bit of sewing; Susan got the binding stitched down on a baby quilt for Jude to take back home for Bee Blessed, and Jo was busy cutting and basting her beautiful 3/4" Liberty hexies.  I think I basted about 1/2 a dozen, and then just played with my bagful...

I gave Terri her T-bag and everyone got their dodgy keyrings. 

We all left Ceri's at about 7pm, with Terri, Jude, Jo and Susan heading off to a sleepover elsewhere - I'm guessing sleep was limited!

I don't like to boast, but I am in the best Bee in the world, and I will treasure days like this forever!

Revealing!

Today I will be in the company of some of my bestest sewing friends; Brit Bee hits the south coast!

I am not sure what time I will be home - not too late, but I know I will be exhausted and fit for nothing by the time I get back through the door.  So I am scheduling this so you don't feel like you are totally missing out!

Some of my secret makes have been for today.

The mini (3/4") hexies have been made into little keyrings. 

I used Tacha's Sew Mama Sew tutorial but decided (unwisely) to machine stitch the folded hexies together. 

Talk about sewing in the dark - I literally was, but only in the cold light of day can my wobbly stitching, (made extra special with a bent needle!) be seen in full gory detail.  I am consoling myself that now my buddies will have a bit of hardware they can put onto something else at some point!

Secondly, and way more accomplished, the T-bag I made for Terri.  Totally inspired by the awesome H-bag that Nova sent me, I perfected my Y-seams and made this for my special friend...

I used Jeni's method to make the drawstring bag, but did not box the corners, otherwise the T lines would have been spoilt.

So some of the secrets are out, and I promise to fill you in with the day's fun and games tomorrow.

Happy Saturday everyone xxx

February Fun!

With all the secrecy that has been going on, and what with it being such a short month 'n all, I thought I was going to be strapped for a February mosaic.  But oh how quick we forget!

The b&w in the corner there... secrets!

My bright and happy Sew Stitchy xpluslong quilt, many, many blocks for Judith, birthday and Valentine's gifts, the Emerald cushion and my Sidekick tote; I could have sworn I made those months ago - I think the fact it is March 1st and the weather and temperature are exactly the same as they were on January 1st doesn't help.

So I am linking up with Lynne and Fresh Sewing Day, looking forward to tomorrow, when I get to hang out with some of the Brit Bee ladies, and heading into a month where I have a list of quilts I want to get made, which may either mean a lot of nothing to show you, or some kind of world record for finishes... Brit Bee v.2, Siblings Together, Orbit and I have been decided to jump on the #medallionalong.  I can't wait!

Something a bit different!

Yes I have made something new and I can show you immediately!!

I spotted Judith's blogpost at lunchtime, the March Bee Blessed block, or rather blocks; Monica S-S's Funky Wrench - Nuts & Bolts!

Apologies for the dodgy night shots!

So as soon as the table was cleared this evening, I made a pair, spurred by the knowledge that I will be seeing Judith on Saturday, and may as well make the most of her luggage allowance!

These were super quick and lovely to make, (you made up well for the February blocks ladies!); I used my Sizzix to cut all my fabric, but definitely not too much of a chore to rotary cut I'm sure.

The quilt(s) from this month will be going to Siblings Together too.

I wasn't going to link up with Cindy's Really Random - no-one can compete with her hilarious odd shoe day this week!  But my budding Heather Ross has swayed me to link anyway...

And if that wasn't random or unexpected, as I know my children's drawing are my staple random offering, how about this...

Renowned animal lover that I am (ahem), I am still going to mention Kim's charity auction for Safe Rescue.  If you, or anyone you know is in the market for a beautiful Bloomsbury Garden quilt, bidding closes tomorrow night at 10pm UK time.

Stolen from Kim's blog - I am sure she won't mind!

As I type, the bids have reached £105.  So please pop here for more details.

Now you really weren't expecting that from me eh!?

How I work...

I know you have had enough of all the secrecy; I'm sorry. 

Today though I managed to get a quilted panel made into a finished secret, the binding on my secret block-mini sewn down and the hexie secrets all finished, so it was a good day.  Coupled with a decent haircut (well, trim), and the sun coming out, for the first time in weeks, I will class this as a fine day off.

But I won't leave you completely void of anything new.  Here are all my basted hexies that I need to make into something as declared on my FAL list...

And that's the wider picture of how I have to work to get all this done!

Sorry chaps...

I really meant to have some stuff to show you this evening, but instead I have been pre-occupied with this...

... and a bunch of my favourite people; one of whom will be receiving something made from these...

Look at the Y seams!!

... which I started cutting after tea and is already finished.  I know, another of my not-so-secret secret makes!