Super Saturday...

Waking up and being able to breath cannot be over-rated!  I've still got aches and pains, but my head is clear at last, and it's been a good day.

The sun appeared at long last, so we made the most of it this morning and went for a walk at The Warren, a local wood/heathland frequented by every dog walker for a 50 mile radius it would appear; but fresh air, and a nice bench to sit on whilst the kids ran about, was just what we needed after the last week, OK, 3 months of snow and bitter cold!

If the miracle of sunshine wasn't enough, after lunch, I baked!!!!  Banana bread, edible banana bread at that.  Our oven is probably not the most accurately calibrated, fine for heating things up, but not what a master baker would require. 

The recipe was courtesy of the Moshi Monsters magazine, again... I wonder what I will make next month!?

Whilst the banana bread baked, and the Grand National pre-show went on in the background, I made my second block for Ceri.

This is a lovely Brit Bee month; guided improv, I can just about cope with.  Last month Ceri asked us to post a doodle in the flickr group.  This was mine...

Clever old stick that she is, screen printed all our doodles to then be included in our blocks, which were to be based on this from Ashley-FITF.

So yesterday I made this one...

I think I must have over-thought it a little, because the second one came much easier and quicker...

Ceri has masterminded such a wonderful plan, I really really can't wait to see what an amazing quilt our combined efforts produce.

My Liberty charms also arrived today, but they, and my Marcelle Medallion deserve a post to themselves, so you can see more of those tomorrow.  For now, I have a date with a Sky+'d Doctor Who and a rotary cutter xxx

Looking Up...

I think I am over the worst of this coldy-flu-y thing, thank you for all your well-wishes.  I managed to get the house into state of relative cleanliness today, and ventured out to the supermarket, kids in tow, and even managed to get food that may actually go together to make a couple of meals.  That's good enough for me!

I have not been completely inactive in the sewing department this week, just incredibly slow.  I have made one Brit Bee block for Ceri, hopefully I will get the other made tomorrow; and I also got this colourful pair made for Judith, Sarah and Bee Blessed...

Full details of this month's request can be found here.  I used Jennifer's super 2 for 1 tutorial, which I have used before, and is highly recommended, even with ye olde HST trimming!

I have also begun my Marcelle Medallion quilt; I am using a mix of Liberty and other fabrics.  I am awaiting some more Liberty charms, which will hopefully come tomorrow, and I will then tell you all about my plans for that too.

And finally for today; any UK folks looking for zips, I found this seller on ebay, selling a load of liquidation stock, so I nabbed myself some funky looking short ones for purses, some 17.5" concealed ones to try on cushions and a couple of super bargainiferous long ones, one of which is destined for my Aeroplane Bag; dusty pink, 26.5", chunky plastic teeth and a metal pull, 99p, perfect!  £8 for 16 zips, delivered...I may have to go back for more!

Walk This Way...

Just because I am still feeling under the weather, doesn't mean you shouldn't have some fun; go on, off you pop...

Linking with Cindy for all things random xxx

FAL Q1 2013 Round up...

I posted my FAL Q1 plan of action back here; it seems so long ago, yet it is still freezing cold, snowing and could be mistaken for January, what's the deal with that!?

It is probably widely known that I don't like to have stuff hanging about, don't have the room to have things unfinished either, but there are usually a couple of bits in need of attention that have been pushed to the side as I jump head first into another shiny project.

I didn't think I was being too ambitious, as these were all I had on the go anyway, so I didn't have much choice.  

Anyhoo, here's how I got on...

1.  #scrappytripalong - yep!  I am under it right now, the perfect poorly-person-on-the-sofa quilt!

2.  Sizzix Commission - yep!  Sent on their merry way, on time, to France.

3. A hexie project - rollover! 

 

4.  Brit Bee 2 - Diamond Nipples - hell yeah!!  On our bed, and I love every inch of it.

I think 3 out of 4 is quite respectable, especially as my hexies should be my next finish; and in the last 3 months I also clocked up loads of other finished projects including my x+ and Orbit quilts, a number of cushions, pouches, Bee blocks and a handbag!

Linking with Leanne and all the other finishers, working my way through a box of tissues and getting ready to write my list for Q2. xxx

Orbit - the one with the photos...

As soon as Lindsey showed her Orbit quilt, I knew I wanted to make one, and I knew I wanted to use up some of my stashed Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow that John Lewis had foisted upon me on at least a couple of visits!

The QAL is now finished, but Lindsey is keeping the pattern as a free download for a short while longer, if you haven't already availed yourself.  It is a smashingly simple quilt to piece, finishes at 60" square and makes an awesome throw.

The top and backing were pieced a couple of weeks ago...

I quilted either side of each orb's horizontal, vertical and diagonal seams, with a couple of extra diagonals thrown in...

All pieced and quilted with Aurifil 50wt in 2021, my go-to thread for everything!

Despite the fact that there was a snow storm (OK, flurry) at my parents' on Easter Sunday, I was determined to get some cool lifestyle shots, for a change...

And just before the Boat Race started, the sun came out, so I took a couple more for luck...

This one may be gifted, but I haven't quite made up my mind yet.

Well the sun is out but I feel like death warmed up, so if you don't mind, I am going to find a sheltered spot in the garden to try to clear my head and maybe breath in some some fresh air through my blocked nose xxx

Marching...

Well pinch-punch first of the month again! Time to do the Fresh Sewing Day linky-thing...

I thought I'd had a bad month, but it doesn't look too shoddy, although, it has to be said, a lot were only March reveals; I did finish two quilts though.

Firstly my Brit Bee II, Diamond Nips, which I am head over heals in love with...

I took it to my parent's yesterday and was able to get a few shots (in the snow!), this one is my absolute favourite...

My second quilt was my Modern Meadow Orbit.  Made in conjunction with Lindsey's QAL, I got this finished on schedule, which after playing catch-up, I am rather surprised and pleased about...

Seeing as it also got the fancy photo treatment, I will give it a post of its own tomorrow. 

So into April, and I need to get my first quarter FAL post all sorted too, and start thinking about what to put on Q2.  Can't believe we are a quarter of the way through the year already!

It's shaping up to be a typical bank holiday here, cold, miserable and I am suffering from a nasty throat, earache and headache type thing, which goes oh so well with the kids' loud voices, murderous intentions and sugar overload. 

Time to go hide somewhere quiet under a quilt xxx

Happy Easter...

The look of love!

Hope you have all had a lovely day xxx

Bits...

It's been one of those days, not the greatest - and I am very tired.

You know when you tell the kids that if they eat too much chocolate they will be sick, and they don't believe you; well after last night, they do now...

The toys got swiftly ousted for their own benefit! (Ange, keep your thoughts to yourself x).

So not much sleep and a lot more washing than I had anticipated.  We didn't therefore go on the village egg hunt today, and it snowed anyway.  Nothing settled, but why is it still that bloody cold?

I did finish my Orbit though.  It is all washed and lovely, and I will take it to my parents' tomorrow for a proper photoshoot, all things being equal...

Pre and Post crinkling.

I also cut all the templates for my Marcelle Medallion quilt.  I have some additional fabric en route from Pink Castle, and can't wait to get on with it.

Well I think I better just grab a quilt, settle on the sofa and try not to spread my mood this evening, don't you!?

I really hope your weekend has started on more of an upbeat note than mine xxx

Bags Of Fun - Winner!

Mr Random has spoken, and the winner of the full collection of 9 Sew Sweetness bag patterns is...

Congratulations Cathy!!!  I will email you straight away.

I am sorry you couldn't all be winners, but fear not, there are more chances out there on t'internet.  I already know of giveaways over at Katy's and Megan's, so all is not lost.

You could always treat yourself to a copy of your favourite from Sara's online shop, a super speedy PDF pattern might just be what you need after all those Easter Eggs!

Thank you all so much for entering, and a huge thanks to Sara for such a generous prize. 

***

I only managed to get a little hexie stitching done today, nothing photo-worthy yet.  We also went to my sister-in-law's for egg-hunting, Wii-ing and smiles all round...

... a good start to the weekend for us, and hopefully for you too xxx

Random stuff kids do...

Well as it is Thursday, that's all the excuse I need to show you this little selection.

Firstly a clip of last week's recorder 'concert'... you didn't think I would just keep the experience to myself did you!?

This week parents were treated to an African 'inspired' dance, sorry, only photos, no movie...

...and then I had to buy these...

That's a pincushion, in case you weren't sure!

If sewing is an unlikely career path, then maybe a bit of fabric designing could be on the cards...

For added random, after months of cold, wet, snowy, miserable weather, I managed to get all the Rainbow and Cub uniforms out in the sunshine for the first time today...

...until it clouded up about 30 minutes later!

And finally, my car tax disc came today; is it just me, or does this just not look like a real date!?

Linking up with Cindy's Really Random Thursday.

Back tomorrow to announce the winner of my inbox-busting Sew Sweetness bag pattern giveaway and maybe a bit of stitching xxx

Checking in...

My Inbox is busting from the sheer number of comments on the Sew Sweetness bag pattern giveaway, and I know I have a load of other emails to reply to, especially about my beautiful Nips, so just a quick hiya and apology for my tardiness ce soir!

I have received an awesome parcel though, which I am waiting to show you in full, but here's a sneaky peek...

...and this evening I have basted and quilted my Orbit quilt, so hopefully I will at get the binding attached to that soon too.

I swapped my regular day off today for tomorrow, so I had to work, but I am now on Easter holidays!!  Such a long, cold term, I am so glad that's over.

I need to run a few errands, shop and do all those boring housey things tomorrow, but that will clear the way for Easter and family things, and hopefully time for a few stitchery bits in there too.

So I can't stop now... I have a list or two to write xxx

Bags of Fun - A Giveaway!

*** The Giveaway Is Now Closed***

Well I gave you good warning about fixing your No Reply Blogger statuses (stati?), and here's why...

My lovely friend Sara aka Sew Sweetness is offering one lucky, lucky follower of this here blog, the chance to win a set of her amazing bag patterns!

I know, that's all 9 bag patterns, pretty much one for any occasion that you may require a bag, and maybe even some occasions where you actually don't need a bag, but still want one anyway!  I already have the Aeroplane pattern waiting in the wings, (because, let's face it, I am never going to make a Weekender!).

If you don't think you are familiar with Sara, she's the really super talented, very cute one who makes the most amazing Melody Miller dresses amongst other things; and if I didn't love her, I would really really hate her!  She also sent me this beauty...

Over the past few weeks Sara has been showcasing all her new patterns on her blog, and an army of pattern testers have been making up all her designs in such a diverse range of fabrics that you would be hard pushed to not be able to visualise any look you may be after!

The patterns are rated from Confident Beginner to Advanced, so if you are new to bag-making you could work your way up the range.

So do you think you are up for a spot of bag makery?

3 chances to win... 3 separate comments please, I will delete any extras above your 3 chances!

1. Tell me, if you won, which of Sara's patterns you would make first...
2. Sign up for the Sew Sweetness newsletter, and come back and tell me so...
3. Bonus for followers of my blog; I prefer the traditional google click thing up there, on the left-hand side, but you can follow in any another way, just let me know which.

No Reply folks, please leave your email address within your comments so I can contact you and give your email address to Sara so that she can send you your patterns; if I can't get hold of you, I will redraw, sorry.

Open to anyone, anywhere.  I will draw one lucky winner at 8pm GMT Friday 29th March, it'll be a Good Friday for someone xxx

A Labour of Love...

In January I sent out a stack of precut HST triangles to my fellow Brit Bees.  Greys, oranges and pinks, one of my all time favourite combos.

I requested (another, I know) whopping 24" block, instead of the usual two 12 inchers.  I toyed with just asking for random placement, but then decided on the Diamond Ripples block by Lara Finlayson from the Modern Blocks book.

Here's my original block...

Obviously as it was to be a Brit Bee quilt, Diamond Ripples was immediately renamed Diamond Nipples in my head at least, and is now affectionately thought of as my Brit Bee Nips!  You can stick to Ripples if you prefer.

I received all my blocks back by the end of February, and since then I have stitched up the mega-siggy block, embroidered over all our names, pieced and then quilted my new favourite quilt.

I am really trying to build up the tension here, but what the heck, here it is...

Ta da!!!

I bagged a seriously cheap bolt end of Loulouthi whilst all the blocks were out with the ladies, and I couldn't wait to use it on the second side; no backside here, I love both sides equally!

I madly decided that I wanted to contrast with all the pointy angles with some curvy quilting.  But FMQing is not my friend, and the only pattern I kept coming back to was the continuous spiral, on a 72" square quilt, with 1.25" spacing...

As it happens, that's 42 full 360 degree turns, plus corners!

NB.  If you quilt an anti-clockwise spiral, you will end up with more and more of your quilt passing through the throat of your machine until you reach gridlock.  If you lie awake at night knowing there must be a solution, and then finally twig that flipping the quilt and working from the other side will rectify the problem, and an ever decreasing throat-mass, you will be a lot happier.  If you are smart like Fiona, you will realise this quite quickly; if you are a bit slow, like me, and are too stubborn to google it, take heed!

Anywho, this quilting was hard, I still ache, but I LOVE IT!!!

I used a variegated 28wt Aurifil thread (4657), it's reddy-pink, orange and yellow, and works perfectly.  I almost chickened out and went for a straight grey or orange, but I am so glad I didn't.

Once it was quilted I thought I wanted a solid for the binding, to give it a proper frame, but firstly I didn't have enough of any solid, let alone a perfect one; secondly I didn't want to wait, and thirdly I had the perfect print ready and waiting.  Patty Young's Dandelion print in raspberry.  I bought a couple of yards ages and ages ago on sale, and the last serendipitous 20" was absolutely perfect as an almost solid in the colour I wanted...

As you know, I was a bit worried that the embroidery of the siggy block was going to end up looking like a dog's dinner after a wash and tumble; so many useful and wise suggestions received, brain not fully in gear, I promptly forgot them all and remembered at the point when I had basted the whole quilt!

But fear not...

Before & After.

The photos are not too clear, the grey block is 16" square, which is why the signatures appear so teeny, but rest assured, all the embroidery is still perfectly legible, and another favourite thing about this quilt.

I cannot thank all my fellow Brit Bee ladies enough for their sterling piecing, and speedy return of blocks, you have enabled me to have the most wonderful quilt...again!  Mwah mwah mwah xxx

As you are probably aware, us Brit Bees are an emotional bunch, and not getting this quilt finished quickly, (even though it is on my FAL list), was never an option.  I know that as a Bee quilt some people may not think that I have made best use of all the mighty skills we have between us, but the fact that these blocks all merge and flow together is exactly what I love about it.  A lot of love and meaning got stitched into this quilt, and it will rank up there as one of my most treasured possessions for always.

I am snuggled up under it right now; the only perk of this damn cold weather!!

If you need me, you know where you can find me, cosy and smiling xxx

Winner!!!

I felt like a winner, plucking my finished Brit Bee quilt from the tumble dryer this afternoon; oh it is so beyond what I was expecting.  Working close up on it all week, despite laying it out on the floor from time to time, still didn't prepare me for the full effect of having it held up to be oggled at!

Of course there were photos, but I am going to save the full reveal until tomorrow, when I have had the chance to sort the pictures; however just to keep you going...

Enough of the teasing, I have a winner to announce.  The recipient of a roll of 1.5" HSTs, courtesy of the Fat Quarter Shop and Alyce's Having A Starry Time bloghop is...

Congratulations Mareenchen I will email you shortly.

Thank you for all the naming suggestions and block history, I would love to be a position to need to give it a name, but it was just for fun.  I really liked Benta's Scrolling Stars imagery; I had been thinking Staggered Stars, but Chiska's Peek-a-Boo Stars really made me snigger like a 14 year old!

I want to mention now that I noticed there were a tonne of No Reply Bloggers entering this giveaway, fortunately I picked someone I can contact.  Please check your settings peeps, or leave your email address within your comments; I'll make it worth your while again in a couple of days... just saying ;)

So see you tomorrow, when I will reveal my Brit Bee Diamond Nips in full glory xxx

Hexing about...

Whilst you lovely folks have been leaving me so many wonderful comments about my Sizzix cushion and the Starry block, (some of your name suggestions have, maybe unintentionally, had me in stitches), I have been busy... oh yes.

We have luckily had no settling snow, unlike so many of you; but the miserable weather this week has certainly been very conducive to staying indoors.

I have cracked on with my Brit Bee quilt.  I had an unscheduled day off on Thursday with dear son having a nasty looking itchy rash, which turned out not to be Shingles after a second Doctor's opinion; but with a late morning appointment, it really wasn't worth going to work afterwards, so the spiral quilting got finished. 

Today I have started on the binding, and I am almost half way round already; if it isn't finished this evening, it definitely will be tomorrow, and I really really can't wait to show you.

Last night I played with my basted hexies.  I had an idea the other weekend at the Brit Bee get-together, and so I decided to hone my low-to-high value layout...

In the poor night-time lighting, using the black & white filter was it was easiest way to sort them all into order...

First try, just by sight, not too bad I reckon!

After a little re-jig.

Once I had pretty much got them in the right order, I played with sorting the colours and came up with an almost there, on the left, and then final layout...

I am going to make them up into a panel for a huge tote bag; I am partial to using a Tesco Orla Kiely bag for day-to-day haulage, but I think it would be nicer to actually make something of a similar size.  My mum just gave me all the excess cotton/linen from their new curtains, which I think will be perfect.

The hexies, as well as my Brit Bee quilt are both on my FAL list, so I only have a week to get them done, and I wouldn't mind getting my Orbit snuck in under the 1st April QAL deadline too.  It's going to be a busy week.

So stay warm folks, unless you are in Sydney and experiencing record-breaking heat, in which case, be cool xxx