Rain, rain, go away...

This pretty much sums up my day...

Hope it brightens up tomorrow xxx

Friday night chez FB...

Well the kiddies were packed off to bed nice and early, and poor hubby wasn't too far behind them as he is suffering with a headache and blocked sinuses, so I have been sewing since 7pm, undisturbed.

I made a little something for Father's Day, but that's under wraps until Sunday, and I am pretty pleased with the result.  I then decided to make a quick block for one of the Partnership Quilts at next year's Tokyo Quilt Festival.   I read about this on Ayumi's blog Pink Penguin.

Take a look, it is for such a worthwhile cause, more so than ever before; all the quilts made from donated blocks will be given to victims of the devastating earthquake; last year over 10,000 blocks were sent!

So here is my effort - the theme is 'squares and triangles' - but thankfully a bit of artistic licence is allowed, as my finished 'squares' are not as 'square' as they could be!

I started with this, made with no plan and some scraps...

..then decided to do this...

...then finally created this 9" block...

Considering I made it up as I went along until it was the right size, I am rather excited at the result.  The gingham and solid are a brighter pink in real life, and I really hope it will play its' part in a comforting quilt.

A bit of a tenuous link, but at the time of writing, there are still a few spaces left in the Japanese Import Fabric Swap for those of you in the UK or Ireland.  So pop over to Cindy's and put your name down, you know you want to!

Stick a label on it!

This evening I have played at making labels, and surprisingly easily I have produced the long awaited label for my Brit Quilt Swap.

I finally came up with a name that I am happy with...

Resurrection Tea Party!!

All my initial thoughts seemed to revolve around 'Death' and that wasn't quite the angle I was hoping for; and try Googling 'Tea Party' for inspiration and all you get are blimming Sarah Palin and crew, so no help!  But having bounced it around in my head for what must be weeks, I 'got' it!

So referring back to Lindsey's tutorial, I got cutting and ironing the fabric and freezer paper, tweaking the layout and colours, and bingo - a fantastic label! 

I was convinced it would bleed all over the place, and print all wonky, but no - perfectomundo!  Look at the owl - and wait until you can see the other icon!

So partner, it's all attached and finished; your name and picture are hiding there, especially for you!

Nice Pair...

This evening, eager to get back to my sewing machine for a quick 'fix', the timely instructions for the next blocks of the Mystery quiltalong were ready and waiting, thank you Sheila!

A pair of Ohio Stars...

These were lovely to make (unlike the horror of my paper-pieced effort), and I got them cut, sewn, trimmed and pieced in about an hour and a half, which is pretty good going for me!

I am regretting the background choice, but I think I have gone too far now to start again - it's a fiddle to piece, and is a bit too busy - but I really am treating this as a great learning project.  Sheila's instructions are brilliant, and I have attempted and learnt so much so far, so I am not going to beat myself up about the fabric!

Today I also handed wee monkey over to his new owner, bored ballet brother, who was thrilled!  It's nice to know he has gone to a good home and will be loved.  Phew!

Anyone for fabric???

Not a lot of making going on... but I have a lot of fabric news!

I have signed up and already paid for the fabric for another swap!  If you are quick, live in the UK or Ireland, then get yourself over to Fluffy Sheep Quilting, as lovely Cindy is organising a Japanese Import swap.  I signed up and immediately got onto Jojoebi's Etsy shop and bought this straight from Japan...

I suppose I could have bought some fabric that had already been imported, but I've needed an excuse to get my hands on this, albeit briefly before chopping and sharing, so I simply couldn't resist!

I also came up trumps at a charity shop after work today, a pair of lovely pillow cases, and also a huge double sheet and tapestry/cross-stitch frame all for £5...

If you look closely, the pattern for the half-finished cross-stitch declares it comes up four times the size in the picture, like that's a good thing!!

How about a couple of giveaways which I am, once again, probably not destined to win!  Jo at A Life in Lists is giving away some of her beautiful prized Liberty prints to celebrate 2 years of blogging...

...and fellow Chichester lovelies at The Eternal Maker are giving us mortals the chance to be one of the first to get a layer cake or jelly roll of Cape Ann by Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S

How gorgeous does this line look - this has gone straight on my 'want' list!

Happy Fabric Everyone x

Monkeying about!

I managed to finish one of the felt toys I cut out yesterday.  My secret commission for the 'ballet brother'.  I hope he likes it!

The recipient is a bit of a funky dude, he's only about 7 but with a gelled mohican and wearing a Rolling Stones T-shirt on Saturday, I reckon this shouldn't jeopardize his 'coolness'.

I based him on a pattern I found here, reducing the size, making him out of felt and blanket stitching him together with a little stuffing for good measure.  Finished fella is about 5" top to toe.

One down, a few more to go!

All rise for another tick...

Now, despite deep reservations at about 9.30pm last night that I would get it finished, I did manage to get the binding fully attached before an albeit quite late bedtime, and with the early risers waking me at some ungodly hour, the Union Quilt was washed and tumbled all before 8am...

I am really pleased with it and hope my Dad will be too.  Unfortunately he won't get it until the weekend after Father's Day, as next weekend is the final of the Open Studios, but I'll pop a card in the post and keep the surprise until we see him.

So I have a tick for...
Make my Dad the Union Jack quilt I have been promising my Mum I'll make for him.

On the Open Studio front, things have been going really well, plenty of visitors, selling lots of stained glass, prints and cards, so he's a happy man.

I, on the other hand, am a poor customer.  I thought I had money to play with, but the Sussex Guild show was really disappointing.

Don't get me wrong, having waded across the wild, wet and windy gardens to the marquee, I was confronted with a lot of beautiful things, but the average price tag for a simple pair of silver earrings was over £100; there love at first sight for a glass beaded necklace, however at over £400 my premium bonds will have to do a little better!

I chatted to some of the sellers, Liz Moys who makes great silk-sewn pictures, and whose daughter works for Orla Keily, got the sum total of my spending, £1 on two postcards!

The only quilt stall was not entirely to my taste, a lot of pale Liberty prints, silk and cushions, but the lady seemed to be busy with the 'old fashioned brigade'.

I probably spent more time in the tiny Parham House gift shop, and I bought some cute note cards of Victoriene Parsons Mitchell's Crazy Quilt, just to go home with something a little more substantial!

Well it hasn't stopped raining here all day; so we had another 'cinema' session this afternoon with MegaMind, I fell asleep; and now I'm off to make some little felt creatures... hope you've had a good one x

The Weekend so far...

I've got the binding attached to the Union Quilt, and I am looking forward to sitting in front of the TV this evening and finishing it off.  If I get it done quickly I may even wash and tumble it before bed; yeah right!

In other news, I am now at liberty to show you the card I sent Fiona, but not her June Bee blocks (those pesky rules!).  The idea featured in Handmade Living, and I think it turned out pretty cute...

We've had tears and tantrums over ballet rehearsals although once I arrived, minus one twin (I left home with only one, before you ask!),  I had a lot of interest from a 'bored ballet brother' about a little toy I was stuffing whilst peering through the door at the ballerinas.  I think that'll be my first commission (non-paying, obviously) as he was so sweet, asking about the 'cotton wool' and how it all works and desperate for one!  More on that soon.

Tomorrow I am off 'round the corner' to see the Sussex Guild's Contemporary Craft Show at Parham House.  It promises 'Textiles and shopping', and there's a picture of a pretty dresden plate in the leaflet, so I'm just a tad excited!

Louise Bell's Big Red Tree

I'll be going it alone tomorrow, for my sanity, but will be back there again for the Sussex Game & Country Fair en masse next weekend.  Benta (slikstitiches) and I have already pencilled in a date there on September 4th for the 'Stitches In Time' exhibition - if any of you local types fancies joining us, you'll be more than welcome.

I will report back on my findings tomorrow.

Union Quilting...

It feels like ages ago that I got Dad's Union Quilt all basted and ready to go, so having got the skull 'in the bag', I made the most of the lovely light evening and quilted to my heart's content.

As the back is an expanse of grey, I was a bit anxious about any snaggles showing up, but it's all good.  I even chose to unpick a couple of wonky areas!!  A first, (Rhonda are you proud?), but as it's for my Dad, I really wanted it to look as perfect as my 'old' machine will allow, (2 weeks and counting old boy!).  

OK, so he did have a tantrum and I had to unpick a bit more; your days are numbered my Brother, so behave or you won't even be a 'spare'!  Look what he did the other evening...

Well it's the weekend, so I'll be cramming in as much sewing action as possible over the next 48 hours...  I might even spend my £25 Premium Bond winnings - Woo Hoo!!! 

Happy Weekend everybody x

Sew much to do!

I have just about recovered from yesterday's walking, walking, pointing, chasing, walking and pointing some more!

Last night I made cards and packaged up my parcels for Fiona's Bee Blocks and the Pink charms for the Rainbow Swap, and got them both in the post today, so keep 'em peeled ladies!  I took photos and will let you see, when the recipients have received their goodies.

I now need to re-evaluate my list of priorities, I need to make and attach a label for my swap partner including coming to a final decision on the name for the skull.  I also want to get my Dad's Union quilt finished this weekend.  Then I need to sort a big something for hubby as a Father's Day gift too.   There are many more things floating round my head, so I really need to concentrate!

This afternoon I made a little 'extra' for my Swap partner, but I really can't show you, as I might as well just type out her name, as it would be so obvious!!  I am not sure if it is super-cute, or super-ugly!  I will send it to you anyway dear partner, but a trip to the shops may be in order to compensate!

Most pressingly is the washing of the skull - am I meant to?  I am a bit nervous (again), but reckon a couple of colour catchers and a cool wash shouldn't do him any harm.  Wash or not, spray basted and unwashed cotton batting... a big dilemma, or am I just being a lazy, scared-y-cat?

Well not wanting this to remain a picture-free zone, here's one for the road...  

Don't forget Open Studios again this weekend...

Weary Wednesday!

Some pretty pictures and few words tonight, it was a long day...

PS... I went for plain pink binding in the end, despite thinking the teal would look better at first.  I think it looks smashing - hope you do too partner x

Back in the old routine...

Having spent half term, and the last couple of days, (yep, good old inset day), keeping the family happy with a trip to Legoland on Sunday and a full-on home-cinema afternoon yesterday watching Gnomio & Juliette, with binds and curtains closed and lots of popcorn, today was back to work, nursery and school.  Boo!

But it wasn't all fun fun fun over the long weekend, I did have some time to get down to 'business' and managed to quilt the skull...

If all goes to plan, I am hoping to do the binding tonight - thank you for all the helpful, (or otherwise), suggestions, I will show you the outcome tomorrow.

I've also made my June Bee Blocks for Fiona already!!  I just have the siggy block to make, then they can be popped in the post along with my parcel of pink Rainbow Swap charm squares. 

Remember all the little change trays I've made from the Sew Hip/Jojoebi design, well how chuffed am I to have many of them show up on Jo, the designer's blog today! She is such a talented designer, it's a privilege to be included.

Tomorrow I am off to Drusillas with the girls and nursery, and hubby gets to go to the Bluebell Railway with a lot of 6 year olds!  It's a hard life!

My Secret Obsession...

I am linking up with Kerry to share 'My Secret Obsession'.  Read Kerry's funny post - she loves Tim Minchin, which is excellent, and follow the links to other obsessive folk!

So mine?  I could go with the 'expected', kids eating the wrong things, watching too much TV or the totally 'natural' Harrison Ford crush, but no.  I'll share two, although I think one is just plain OCD!

Pegs...  I cannot hang washing with odd pegs!  If an item of clothing requires 2 pegs, or maybe even 4 for a sheet or duvet cover, the pegs have to match!

If the kids want to help, and pass me non-matching pegs, they usually just shrug, roll their eyes, give me an "oh mama" and play along with the mad woman's request!

Normally it's not a problem, but on those warm summer days when I do about 5 loads of washing, change all the bedding and get down to the faded manky old pegs at the bottom of the basket, it's requires a bit of planning!

Warned you, OCD!

Secondly, flip flops!!

I only own one pair of proper shoes; OK they are yellow and don't go with everything, and I wear boots all winter, but the moment the temperature hits double figures I'm in flip flops!  I don't know how many pairs I have; there's a box in the wardrobe with at least 4 pairs of Havaianas, some Reefs and a couple of Accessorise sparklies.

But I also have a holdall crammed full, and some in the loft.  I have a pair for every occasion!

I wore flip flops for the Evening Reception after our wedding, and will probably be buried in them too!

Oh, and to go with the flip flops, I have equal amounts of nail varnish for my tootsies...

So c'mon, your turn to share!

Square-eyes!

Having been told by a 4 year old that if I stare at my laptop too long I'll get square eyes, I got on with some real-life stuff to make amends.

The Brit Quilt Swap 'sandwich' has been basted together - the decision about binding in pink (pomegranate) or teal (jade) thrown to the flickr masses to be met with a split response, so I am none the wiser at present - so more playing tomorrow before I get on with the quilting and binding.  Last chance partner to convince me to go in your preferred direction!

I then got to work on that lovely pink fabric I received the other morning.

The eagle-eyed of you might have seen the button I added for a Rainbow Charm Swap, organised by super talented Jennifer of Ellison Lane Quilts.  28 of us will cut a yard of fabric into 56 5" charms in a specified colour, return them to Jennifer who will divide them all out and return us all a rainbow of beautiful fabrics!

I chose the scrummy Yosemite from Jenean Morrison's California Dreamin' line, and it's lovely.  As I bought a metre, I have a nice piece left over for playing with too. 

As the sun was shining yesterday, I put a rug in the dappled shade of the crab-apple tree and thumbed my way through my library books - not very inspiring I'm afraid, but I found some good practical advice in the embroidery book.

And if the lap-top won't do it, the TV will - did you see Dr Who?  Whoo-hoo I guessed!

First tick of the month...

Earlier in the week, I was guilted into getting the Boutique quilt finished!

I still don't really like it.  The colours are all a bit 'wrong' to my eye, although I like the biggest, boldest, tricked-me-into-buying-the-layer cake top print, the rest just feel too wishy-washy!  Apologies to any Boutique-lovers, this is just not the one for me.

I found an unused burgundy fleece during my antique shop, fez-buying spree, and with some navy binding decided to get it finished.  Fluff, air pollution and then sitting in tropical temperatures under a blanket in a bikini, (to the amusement, no doubt, of the gliders circling overhead!) I finally got it bound and finished.

It doesn't look half so bad in the photos!

To Do List entry:
Finish the Boutique quilt, even though I don't like it, then let the kids have it for the garden and not get moody when it gets dirty by keeping in mind that I don't like it!!   Tick.

Now that's done, I've got many more things I'd really love to get on with; happy days.

Half Term... part 2

I received a lovely bundle of post yesterday morning...

...my long awaited Riley Blake FQ; my fabric purchase of the week, the pretty Jenean Morrison - California Dreamin' Yosemite print from Quilty Pleasures, and there's also a cute ribbon sample that Liz generously popped in too - thanks lovey.  There'll be more on this fabric's raison d'etre over the weekend.

Also arriving, the lovely pack of fabric for Miss June's Brit Bee blocks.  Fiona wants Disappearing 9 patch blocks made with her Dream On fabrics, and I am more than happy to oblige, I'll do anything for chocolate!

I also made use of the returned fresh air to spray-baste the Union Jack on the deck, so quilting can now commence, and I must admit, I am a tad nervous about this one!

We then spent the afternoon at my parents;  the studio is all set up for the next three weekends, and looking brilliant.

There was plenty of time for investigating (in sparkly Doodles)...

... and simply being bonkers in the Fez!

Long may the sun keep shining x