Scissors and Thread

January in Review

2012-02-01T08:36:00.001Z

Back here I made a few plans for January's sewing. Here's how i got on:

1. Quilt top for new niece - she finally arrived hurrah! I went with all the advice from this post and added another 3 blocks.

2. Cushions for older niece and nephew - erm nothing to see here, move along now!

3. Quilt top from Hushabye fabric - I finally cut into my huge collection of this. I have plans for the rest including the Swoon-along but for January I just sewed a bunch of squares together for a lap quilt. Not loving that my eyes are drawn to the brown but I don't care enough to unpick so I might applique something onto it.

This is my Year of the Stash project for January and I am linking up to Slash the Stash with From the Blue Chair

4. Bathmat - erm I have the backing now - does that count as progress?

5. Cushions from leftover HST from this quilt - done

6. 4 hexagon flowers - done but no photo!

7. 9 patches - all cut but still 15 to sew together

8. Fresh Modern Bee 2 Quilt - I decided to add one further border to this and am definitely happy that this is big enough now!

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day on Lilys Quilts.

And Work in Progress Wednesdays

Work in Progress Wednesday

2012-01-18T22:12:00.000Z

Back in September last year, once my sister in law found out her new baby was going to be a girl I put together a few different fabric bundles. She chose this one:

The baby wasn't due until 8 January so I obviously decided that it was much better to wait until just before Christmas to think about a quilt design. I decided on something based on Retro Starburst from Material Obsession 1. And again I decided it was much more sensible to wait around the baby's due date to actually start working on the quilt.

I decided to make my blocks more scrappy then the ones in the book and I now have pieced 5 log cabin blocks. My original plan was to have 9 blocks; 5 log cabins and 4 large panel pieces like this:

But I really like the log cabin blocks and am now thinking of just having 1 panel piece (the dresses) in the centre surrounded by 8 log cabin blocks. Like this but with another row of log cabins:

What do you think?

Linking up with WIP Wednesday for the first time too.

And the winners are. . . .

2012-01-15T18:41:00.000Z

According to Mr Random Generator the first winner is:

and the second winner is

My comments were numbered and no matter what I do they now aren't so you will have to trust my counting skills but I made number 11 to be Diane and number 13 is Gill.

Swaps & Quilt-alongs

2012-01-14T13:08:00.002Z

I decided not to join another Bee this year when the two I was in finished. I wanted to spend more time sewing and quilting stuff for me (selfish aren't I?). But I missed the Flickr interaction of a Bee so I appear to have ended up signing up for 2 quiltalongs and a swap and we are only half way into January!

Quilt-along number 1 is the Swoon-along started by Katy.

This is a huge 80 x 80 quilt using the Swoon pattern from Camille Roskelley. I have had the pattern for ages but havent' started it! I am going to use some of this huge Hushabye stack and some Kona Stone but I will definitely be doing this one at a slow pace.

Quilt-along number 2 is Made in Cherry started by Pins and Bobbins

This one uses the free Made in Cherry pattern by Sarah Fielke. I think I am going to use my Amy Butler Love scraps and Kona Charcoal for the solid.

And the swap is Mouthy Stitches run by Susan, Hadley and Cindy where we will be making zippy pouches for our partners.

I signed up for this because I have never sewn a zip. Now that probably doesn't make me the best candidate for this swap and I almost didn't sign up. And several times I have drafted an email to a Swap Mama to back out. I am really nervous about sewing zips and pouches but I really want to learn how to do them and thought this should make me do it. And hopefully I can make an ok pouch and my swap partner won't hate me for never having made one before. And now I've blogged it I am going to have to do it!

This is my inspiration mosaic for my partner:

And finally if you haven't already done so pop over to this post and enter my giveaway for a Hushabye Charm pack, it finishes tomorrow.

The year of the stash (includes giveaway!)

2012-01-08T10:38:00.000Z

I like fabric. I have a lot of fabric. Sometimes I hoard my fabric and don't make anything from it. In fact I have a lot of fabric I like which I sometimes hoard and don't make anything from. Part of the reason I dont use my fabric is I can't quite decide what to do with it, not enough ideas and sometimes too many ideas. So 2012 will be different. I am not going to make any resolutions about not buying fabric as that would just be silly and I may have already bought some this year already! But I am going to try and use some of the fabric I have and love. So each month or two I will be picking a different selection of fabric from my stash, asking for ideas and cutting it up and doing something with it. As a little thank you to all the lovely bloggers and followers out there I may even have some giveaways!

Hushabye by Tula Pink

Those are 1 yard cuts, which is a lot of fabric that I couldn't decide what to do with. The husband (not usually known for his quilting wisdom) asked why I had never made a "proper patchwork quilt?" He means one made out of squares so I decided to stop procrastinating and cut this into squares with some squares made up of smaller squares. An instant gratification project and hopefully I will have gotten over my fear of cutting into it!

And then just yesterday Katy announced her Swoon-along quilt along using Swoon by Camille from Simplify. I couldn't resist so 18 fat quarters of this will be made into a Swoon quilt provided that I can master flying geece. It's going to be fun so join up!

There is still a lot of fabric left! Ironing and cutting this fabric took a long time so when I was doing it I decided to cut some layer cake and charm pack sized squares and some jelly roll strips ready for making quick projects. I know a few babies due this year and thought the colours in this would be perfect.

And now for the giveaway bit! I am giving away a pack of 42 5" squares to 2 different winners. This time you don't have to be a follower but thank you if you are. Just leave me a comment either telling me what from your stash you have been hoarding or a pattern/idea for a jelly roll, layer cake or charm pack which you think would work for this fabric. It's open to all and I will draw a winner next Sunday.

January

2012-01-06T21:36:00.000Z

Well as my work in progress list is now down to 4 I thought I really should start dreaming up some new quilts and planning a little sewing for the next month or so.

There are 3 people who I really ~~need~~ want to make quilts for this year. Firstly my new niece due on Sunday (or within 10 days or so) but she won't be getting her quilt until February.

My sister in law wanted something that wasn't too pink and hopefully this collection still looks girly enough without being all pink! Fabrics are a mixture of Riley Blake and Sarah Jane Children at Play. I am thinking of log cabin blocks with some bigger squares like Retro Starburst from Material Obsession 1.

Since I made this lap quilt for my Dad my Mum has been hinting that she would really like one. I am aiming to get something done for sometime in the spring.

My Mum brought me this stack of fat quarters back from Canada "because the colours reminded her of the mountains". They aren't really my colours so I decided to make something for her from them. I didn't have enough to make a quilt and nothing from my stash went with them. Luckily I found 2 charm packs at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham last August. I am planning on making a zig zag quilt hoping it will remind my Mum of the mountains.

My sister is 30 in September. Other family members have got quilts for recent 30th, 60th and 80th birthday celebrations so naturally she is expecting a quilt. She just mentioned that her bed is super king sized! I know I could make her a smaller lap quilt but I guessed this is the only quilt I will be making her for a while and I know she would really like one for her bed.

I have plenty of time to work on this one but thought I should get planning. I am still thinking of ideas and am guessing it will be a Quilt As You Go given the size of it. So far I am thinking of this one or this one or maybe I will use my Swoon pattern from Camille.

And finally I am cutting into this fabulous stack. I will be back on Sunday with my plans for it which include my first giveaway.

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye

2011-12-31T18:04:00.000Z

Way back in January I made a couple of Quilting Aims for myself. I didn't get there with all of them but I did stick to Number 1 which was most important to me - Quilt because it makes me smile not because it is one more thing on my to do list. I have really enjoyed this fabulous hobby this year. I have also made some great bloggy (and real life) friends and am chuffed by how many of you follow and comment on my posts - so thank you!

I didn't make all the quilts in my head because 324 is a bit much in one year but I did make some quilts, quilt tops & knickers that I and thankfully the people I gave some of them to (not the knickers) really like.

I only have 2 aims for 2012 - continue to quilt because I love it and use up some of the fabric I love that I have been hoarding. My work in progress list is down to 4 which is unheard of for me so I am going to spend the next couple of days planning some new quilts so expect a post on that and a giveaway as part of my "Year of the Stash" project for 2012.

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day on Lilys Quilts.

Happy New Year!

The quilt I really wanted to make

2011-12-30T19:59:00.000Z

Ever since I first started quilting I had this quilt by Cluck Cluck Sew bookmarked and later favourited on Flickr and later again pinned on Pinterest. I don't quite know why it has taken me until now to make it.

I bought the fabrics 18 months ago and have been making HSTs every so often for the last 9 months or so.

For some unknown reason I decided that the 3 weeks before Christmas was the ideal time to finish this.

Thankfully it quilted really easily!

I love this one!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2011-12-21T22:12:00.000Z

Why have I never made a cushion before?

2011-12-11T20:32:00.001Z

I love making quilts. I love choosing the fabric, not quite so keen on the cutting but love piecing, quilting and the final hand sewing of the binding. But it takes quite a long time to make a quilt. I can't quite believe it has taken me until now to realise the potential of a cushion (pillow if you must). It's like a quilt in miniature. Ok it doesn't keep you warm but it looks pretty and takes a fraction of the time to make.

Remember this quilt I made my Granny for her 80th birthday?

I decided to make her a cushion to go with it for her Christmas present.

Fabric are all Tanya Whelan Delilah on the front and Amy Butler on the envelope back. I am really pleased with how it went except for the missed line of quilting I have just noticed now I have taken a photo :( .

I see a lot more cushions in mine (and my nearest and dearest's) futures.

Bye Bye November

2011-12-01T08:28:00.001Z

There wasn't a lot of sewing this month but I am really pleased with what I did get done including finishing a quilt and almost a quilt top as well as a lot of trimming of triangles and a little hexagon making.

Linking up with Lily Quilts Fresh Sewing Day

and I just about qualify for the Small Blog Meet

A finished quilt

2011-11-26T16:56:00.001Z

This quilt has been a Work in Progress for a very long time.

Pattern: Wild Thing by Camille Roskelley
Fabric: Momo Oddyssea & a creamy white solid (can't remember which one)
Backing: Pieced Momo Oddyssea in an attempt to use some of my stash
Quilting: 1/4 " outline on the white bits - note to self for future reference this took forever

Lovely post

2011-11-24T18:00:00.001Z

I've received lots of lovely things in the post recently. Firstly lots of lovely 10" squares of Echino as part of a swap organised by Sew Sweetness

And a prize - 6 mini charms packs from I'm a Ginger Monkey's lovely Quilt Market giveaway.

Now I just need to decide what to make with it all - answers on a postcard please (or in the comments box below!)

PS - check out this exciting news from Katy, Lynne & the Fat Quarterly gang - it has made my ~~day,~~ ~~week,~~ month.

Fresh Modern Bee 2 - the end

2011-11-20T17:08:00.001Z

Things have been a little hectic yesterday and there hasn't been a lot of sewing going on and what has been sewn hasn't been blogged so there will be a few catch up posts.

First up is my last Bee Block for Fresh Modern Bee 2 is for Yvonne from Nellies Niceties

I am hoping this looks like the tulip I had in mind. . . . .

And to finish off the Bee - a mosaic of all the blocks I made. Hopefully I will be posting a finished quilt top of the blocks made for me by the end of the year.

Stop procrastinating, start sewing!

2011-10-09T20:56:00.000+01:00

Work's been a little busy for me so far in October and no sewing equals no blogging. But now I have a couple of weeks with some time to sew and I need a little focus.

So this week I am hoping to:

1. Make 2 more hexagon flowers - thanks for checking up on me Nicky!
2. Get the sashing cut for my Bee Quilt
3. Finish outline quilting the white on the Wild Thing Quilt
4. Finish trimming the Tilda Triangles

Robin's Quilt

2011-09-17T17:54:00.002+01:00

I was cutting it fine with this one - I started it 2 weeks ago.

Finished sewing down the binding at 10pm last night just in time for his birthday today.

From this tutorial

He seems to like it (or did a good job of pretending anyway!!!)

Robin's Quilt Top

2011-09-09T16:49:00.000+01:00

It finally stopped raining for more than 3 seconds so I could get some photos of this quilt top outside. Followed this pattern from Moda Bake Shop but adapted it to make the quilt slightly longer than the original.

Backing is done, binding is made and quilt is basted and ready for lots and lots of straight line quilting.

Sewing club

2011-09-07T23:09:00.004+01:00

Hmm not much progress made on my hexagons at sewing club at Millie Moon. Too much talking, not enough sewing!

I did get some trimming done on my Tilda half square triangles though.

This little bundle of fabric seems to have purchased itself last night (probably when I was too busy talking!)

However progress has been made on my husbands quilt and the top is finished. Thanks for all the suggestions. Hopefully I can get some better photos when I baste it on Friday

New Quilt Top finished

2011-09-03T13:35:00.000+01:00

I have finally got one of my old UFO quilt tops finished. I started working on this in September last year! Am planning on making a pieced back this weekend and am trying to decide how to quilt it. I can't do free motion on something like this yet so am thinking of diagonal lines but am open to suggestions.

I also need to get working on what may be another mad dash to finish quilt. My husband reminded me this morning that I promised to make him a "manly" quilt for his birthday from my Authentic strips leftover from this quilt (well not really leftover, more because I widely miscalculated fabric requirements). I have 14 13.5 days until his birthday. I am sadly required to be at my place of employment for 5 of those days (and for some strange reason they don't allow sewing machines) and will also be away from my machine for another 5 of them. Thankfully they are all cut into 2.5" strips already (refer to miscalculating fabric requirements point above) so I am thinking of a jelly roll race or strip quilt of some sort. Any ideas gratefully received!

Bye Bye August

2011-09-01T20:35:00.001+01:00

August has involved a lot of trimming of blocks

A ~~very~~ quite restrained amount of stashing at Festival of Quilts

A Bee Block or two

Laying out quilt designs.

And making lots of blocks

Linking up with Lily Quilts Fresh Sewing Day

and Small Blog Meet-up

Here's to September!

Last 3 Dolce Pinwheels

2011-08-30T10:16:00.000+01:00

I finished my last 3 pinwheel blocks to complete my Bee Quilt from Fresh Modern Bee 2.

Block 1 from PS I Quilt's Pinwheel Sampler

Block 4 from PS I Quilt's Pinwheel Sampler

Lily Quilts Triple Framed Pinwheel

Last Bee Block for Bee Quilted

2011-08-28T09:39:00.000+01:00

Bee Quilted has drawn to a close and here is the last block I made for Chocolate is the Best Medicine

This Bee started out as Quilt as you go but in the end only half of the blocks used this method. I now have tried most of the different ways of quilting as you go so hopefully can put this into practice again.

To Bee or not to Bee

2011-08-26T22:56:00.000+01:00

Back in May last year I got an email from a fellow UK blogger to say she was setting up a Bee and would I like to be part of it? Hmm I thought - send my lovely fabric to people I don't know and they cut it up and I rely on them to send back blocks I like enough to make into a quilt??? What? Why on earth would I do that? But I was new to this blogging and quilting lark and the lady seemed nice so I said yes.

That lady was Lynne of Lily Quilts fame and the Bee was Fresh Modern Bee 2. November was my month but I haven't got around to putting everything together and blogging about it until now.

I eventually settled on Tanya Whelan Dolce and Kona Medium Grey (from Mandy at Simply Solids) and asked everyone to make Pinwheel Blocks (inspired by PS I Quilt's Pinwheel Quilt Along). I struggle with things not matching and was worried that lots of blocks made by different people wouldn't "match" enough. So I sent some quite paticular requirements. Luckily no one took offence!

Any doubts I ever had about joining a Bee soon went out the window when these fabulous blocks started arriving in the post.

Little Island Quilting and Sew Justine Sew

Petits Elefants and Where the Orchids Grow

Lola Blue Ocean and Fissiett

Shiner's View and Quilt Happie

The Nellies - Reene and Yvonne

Pioneer Valley Girl and Lily Quilts

Chickenfoot and Scruffycat

Now I just need to make 3 more pinwheel blocks and its ready to sash with lots more grey. I am now a convert to Bees. I have made lots of virtual friends and even met one in real life. I also no longer think people who join Bees or mad; slightly unhinged perhaps and obsessive about fabric but not mad . . . .

Whatever makes you happy bee block

2011-08-20T21:05:00.000+01:00

July (yes I know its August!) was Little Island Quilting's month in Fresh Modern Bee 2. She sent some gorgeous Anna Maria Horner fabrics and asked for whatever block we wanted in whatever size we wanted. Sounds easy right? Except I struggle to create and design and am not very good at thinking up block ideas. Lots of thinking and procrastinating followed. And then last weekend I did the Design Challenge Workshop with Fat Quarterly at Festival of Quilts.

This drawing and the block in the top left became this sketch last week:

And today I actually sat down at the machine and sewed it into this:

It's by no means a new or exciting design but I made up the measurements myself and there's even a little fussy cutting going on in the middle. I wanted something to showcase the lovely fabrics and I hope Alison likes it!

Festival of Quilts

2011-08-15T16:46:00.001+01:00

I don't know where to start! Yesterday home from 3 brilliant days in Birmingham at Festival of Quilts. There were so many amazing inspiring quilts on display. I got to meet up for coffee with one of my first blogging friends, Justine and met some newer blogging friends from Brit Quilt - Susan and Nicky.
I also got to meet the lovely person behind one of my favourite shops - Mandy from Simply Solids

One of my favourite things about the Festival (apart from the shopping!)was the workshops I attended with the lovely girls from Fat Quarterly. I have followed it from the first issue and love what they do.

After being inspired by Katy's talk on Quilting & Social Media I have finally given in and joined Twitter as @scissors thread I am just starting out and trying to figure it out so if you are on Twitter say hi. I haven't worked out how to add it to my blog side bar yet.

English Paper Piecing taught me lots of tricks for making hexagons and I fear a new addiction! Hopefully I will finish the bathmat I started in the not too distant future.

The Design Challenge workshop showed us how to play around with block designs and charm packs (and I got to do some lovely colouring!)

Finally the shopping haul - I thought I was rather reserved this year (husband did not agree whilst lugging back my case from the train station!!). Lovely grey solids from Simply Solids to finish off my Bee Quilts, some Christmas fabric, a little bit of Far Far Away, some books and quilting cotton for hand quilting.

Iris & Delilah Quilt

2011-08-11T10:05:00.001+01:00

It's ages since I posted about my Granny's Quilt made from this fabulous stack of Tanya Whelan fabrics.

It was another "intense quilting" experience but it got made in time. I forgot to take photos of the finished quilt to had to wait until I went home a few weeks ago.

The design is simple rectangles to showcase the gorgeous fabric and is based on Cluck Cluck Sew's Roadtrip Quilt

More Delilah & green solid on back

The quilting is lots and lots and lots and lots of straight lines. Thank goodness for my walking foot - there are no puckers and it feels gorgeous.

Binding is a print from the Delilah line and the finished quilt measures 66"x80"

Iris (my Granny's name) & Delilah (the fabric) Quilt

My Granny cried when I gave it to her so it was worth all the 2 am finishes and it remains my favourite quilt to date.

Bee Quilted Bee Blocks

2011-08-09T18:54:00.001+01:00

I haven't blogged my Bee Quilted Bee Blocks for months so here is a catch up.

April/May Dream On Liberated Log Cabin for Becca

May/June X blocks for Karamat

June/July Applique Circles for Franswimmer

Chocolate Envelope Quilt

2011-08-07T18:50:00.000+01:00

Remember this post and the fabrics which needed to be a quilt in 6 days. . . .

Moda Acardia, Kona Chocolate & Momo Freebird

Well I made the deadline and was able to finish it before flying home to see my family and gave it to my Dad for his 60th birthday.

The pattern is from a tutorial from the fabulous Shiner's View which has been on my to do list for a while.

Unintentionally I had chosen similar colours and fabrics for my Dad as those in the tutorial and I love how the envelopes pop agains the Kona Chocolate.

The back is some Momo Freebird and the leftover Kona Chocolate. It is quilted with horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines but not too many as I wanted to keep it soft as its a tv quilt.

Binding - Momo Freebird Eggs

That weekend was also my 30th birthday which resulted in an IT upgrade for me (iPad 2!!) that I am just figuring out how to get photos onto and blog hence the delay.

PS - is anyone going to Festival of Quilts next weekend - I will be there from Friday to Sunday and am very excited!

These need to be a quilt in 6 day's time . . .

2011-07-08T18:56:00.000+01:00

Arcadia Charm Squares, Kona Chocolate Brown (from the lovely Mandy at Simply Solids) and Momo It's a Hoot

Blocks Blocks & More Blocks

2011-07-06T21:52:00.000+01:00

Once I had caught up on my Bee Blocks on my week off I spent the rest of the week working on blocks for my 9 patch quilt:

I love putting together al the scraps and remembering where they came from. These all came from Bronwyn's Quilt.

I also worked on blocks for my Oddyssea Wild Thing Quilt:

Baby Girl Coin Quilt

2011-06-30T09:51:00.001+01:00

Another one off the to do list! This one has been in the works for ages - it uses the scraps from this quilt.

The back is an Amy Butler print and a pink and white polka dot print from my stash.

The binding is the same as I used for the previous quilt - I love striped bindings!

I hand quilted this one - the first time I have tried it and I really like the effect with the chunky thread, I am just not sure I would have the patience to quilt a larger quilt by hand.

I made knickers!

2011-06-28T20:58:00.000+01:00

Yes that blog title is correct!

Yes these are my knickers!

It's my birthday soon and yesterday my friend treated me to a knicker making workshop at the fabulous Makery in Bath.

We got to choose our fabrics from a selection and the fabric pieces were then cut for us. We added lace trims and in just about 3 hours I managed to sew these up. This is the first time I have made anything to wear and sewing with elastic was definitely a challenge.

I really enjoyed making these and it was lovely to have something to show at the end of the evening. Unfortunately we don't get the patterns as instead they advised us to cut and trace a comfy pair we already own. My friend who sews clothes is going to have a go at making a pattern so there may be more of these in my future.

Bee Blocks Round Up

2011-06-27T23:19:00.000+01:00

Today was the first day of my sewing and blogging week so I caught up on my Bee Blocks for Fresh Modern Bee 2 finally.

For May Lisa who blogs at Shiners View sent fabrics and inspired by her trip to Amsterdam asked for blocks based on whirlys or pinwheels.

I made 2 blocks one whirly and one pinwheel by stripping together some of the darker fabrics, pairing them with a neutral solid and then framing them in a pale yellow.

June is Lil's month and she sent mostly neutral fabrics and a few colours and requested blocks in a liberated log cabin style.

I didn't feel like my first block was particularly liberated and preferred the next one:

Liebster Award

2011-06-26T22:09:00.001+01:00

A long time ago the lovely ladies at Nellie's Niceties awarded me the Liebster Blog Award.

The award (rumoured to have stared in Germany) is a way of getting less well known blogs know. By accepting you link back to the blog who nominated you and pay it forward to 3-5 other new blogs.

So why the delay? I was nominated whilst I was on holidays in Canada in March and intended to do my post when I got back. Life got busy, I haven't blogged in a while due to work and I forgot about it. I am on leave for a week now and am dusting off the sewing machine and laptop and am planning a week of sewing and blogging. In my draft posts folder I found this so if it's not too late I accept!

I was nominated my mother and daughter team Nellie's Niceties who I am in Fresh Modern Bee 2 with. Check out their lovely blog with recent posts including a sofa cushion (literally), a yummy Sherbert Pips Quilt and this lovely Nicey Jane Quilt.

So on to my nominations. Today I have also been discovering the small blog network over on Flick group Brit Quilt so I have decided to check out the blogs on there and choose my nominations from those so without further ado:

1. A Life in Lists

I have actually been following this blog for some time and am in awe of the fabulous sunshine quilt, wonderful wedding preparations and all that she manages to get done on the never ending list for 2011 (all with 2 small children). So time to stop lurking and start commenting!

2. Amelie's Whirlygiggles

I just discovered this blog today over on Brit Quilt and am loving everything on it especially this, this and this.

3. Ramblings of a Novice Quilter

Again another blog found today on Brit Quilt. I love these gorgeous pin cushions, and am so jealous of her Singer machine.

Happy Blog Surfing!

Granny's Quilt

2011-06-15T22:33:00.000+01:00

Delilah by Tanya Whelan

My Granny has been saying for the last year that she loves the quilts I have made and would love one but she just wouldn't get the use or "wear" out of it! She turns 80 soon so I decided that I wanted to make her one for her birthday. I love Tanya Whelan fabrics and have been trying to think of an excuse to buy some of her newer range - Delilah. I thought it would be the perfect range for my Granny as its got lots of lovely flowers in pinks and greens but is still fresh and modern.

What attracted me to quilting is all the fabulous fabric and I really wanted to choose a design that showcases all the gorgeous fabrics in this range and wouldn't take too long to make as it would need to be double bed sized and my time limit was tight (as usual!). This is my inspiration mosaic:


1. wonderland baby quilt, 2. Summer Blooms Quilt, 3. postcards from the park quilt, 4. Mia's Quilt, 5. oddysea bricks quilt (1), 6. New Image23, 7. birthday quilt, front, 8. Color Brick Quilt Front, 9. Hushabye Quilt Created with fd's Flickr Toys

I decided to base it on The Road Trip Quilt from Cluck Cluck Sew

Quilt top

Taking Stock

2011-06-06T14:33:00.000+01:00

No I am not taking stock of my fabric - that would be far too scary of a task. No I am taking stock of my WIPs now that I finally have some time to work on them. So here they are:

1. Baby Girl Coin Quilt - ~~needs ironing (a lot), backing, basting, quilting,~~ binding is almost finished hurrah! This was my first attempt at hand quilting and I like the look.

2. Sampler Quilt - finished hurrah!

being replaced with . . . . . ..

Delilah by Tanya Whelan

3. Wild Oddyysea - this one is all cut out and I am starting to piece the blocks.

4. Red & Aqua Little Windows

5. Nine Patch - only 4 new ones added since my last post

6. Tilda Hexagons - which I will be working on until I am at least 83 80 and a half! (I basted lots of these on holiday so need to sew them together).

7. Tilda Red Quilt - lots of squares cut and waiting to be paired with squares of Kona Bone which are yet to be cut.

Well 4, 5 & 6 are ongoing projects with no specific end date but with the others I am determined to finish one before starting another new quilt. I am so pleased to be able to replace number 2 with something new (post coming soon) and I really need to spend 1 hour finishing number 1 so I can add another WIP!

It's been too long . . .

2011-06-05T23:10:00.000+01:00

Bricks Block for Leila for April Fresh Modern Bee 2

I have really missed sewing.

I have 1,245 posts in my Google Reader, lots of pictures to look at on Flickr, lots of Pins to stick on Pinterest, a trip to the Festival of Quilts to sort out. Oh and a quilt I need to finish for my Granny's 80th on 12 June hmmm better get going!

Bee Blocks

2011-03-23T16:20:00.000Z

After being away I have been catching up on blogging, bee blocks and blogging about bee blocks.

Jan/Feb was Amy's turn in Bee Quilted and she requested these wonky Quilt As You Go blocks. These were super quick and easy to make.

February was Justine's month in Fresh Modern Bee 2 and she chose Modified Bento Box Blocks based on the tutorial from Film in the Fridge.

The fabric was Amy Butler Love and some co-ordinating solids which really helped to frame the fabrics. They are cut into quarters and then Justine will mix them all around.

Sunday Stash - the Vancouver edition

2011-03-20T16:20:00.000Z

My husband thought he was safe from quilt shops on this holiday - we were going skiing. There would be mountains and snow and fresh air. There would be no quilt shops and no sewing machine. The only sewing I would be doing was hand sewing hexagons in the evening (whilst watching the snow with a glass of wine).

But he forgot about the 3 days we were spending in Vancouver which I certainly had not forgotten. In fact I had done my research well. One short bus trip would take us to Spool of Thread. I actually thought I was very restrained . . . .

Now I think I mentionned once or twice before how much I love Momo Wonderland. I may have also mentionned that I was done collecting it as I now have a little bit of each of the fabrics in the collection. Well the new rule is that doesn't apply if I happen to walk into a shop and find 2 yards left of the pink scissors fabric.

And I bought this Central Park fabric just because I liked it!

Sunday Stash

2011-02-27T08:00:00.000Z

Dots from Bliss by Moda's Bonnie & Camille

My Fabric Diet is going well - I've lost 9lbs so far this year. This is my first purchase this year as I am saving most of my money for the release of Sherbert Pips in April. But I couldn't resist these lovely dots on sale from Simply Solids.

A finish!

2011-02-25T10:10:00.000Z

I started this sampler quilt in a 6 week class nearly a year ago. The blocks were finished quickly, even the sashing was but I hit a mental block when it came to quilting it.

Eventually I decided to outline quilt each block and the individual design. It took forever but I am really pleased with it.

The back is an Amy Butler design and is interior weight. I found this kept it from moving too much when quilting.

The binding is a Kaffe Fassett spot in purple and green. This one is going to be a picnic quilt as its quite robust.

Sunday Stash - the Bee Quilted edition

2011-02-20T08:00:00.000Z

I am a big fan of Amy Butler. At first I wasn't so sure about her new collection Love and didn't buy any fabrics from the line. And then I starting adding the odd fat quarter here and there and soon I had fallen hard. I decided to use this fabric for my month in Bee Quilted and quickly collected up the fabricsI was missing from the collection.

I have added a few fat quarters from her new Soul Blossoms line too.

The dots in this collection, as always, are my favourites.

But I did pull together this little collection of aquas, blues, pinks and tangerines too . . . .Luckily I still have some of each fabric left after sending out for my Bee!

Bee Blocks

2011-02-19T18:05:00.000Z

I have been taking a break from blogging over the last 2 weeks and to be honest I haven't got much sewing done either. Work has been really busy as I have been preparing for an office move, 2 weeks away from the office and some appeal cases in the Crown Court. I do however have quite a few things I haven't blogged about starting with my Bee Blocks from December/January.

In Bee Quilted I made this block called Stir Crazy for Nursey Girl.

It's not my usual colour palette but I really like the way the coloured strips stand out against the dark green and it came together really easily. I also did partial seams for the first time and was pleased with how they turned out.

January in Fresh Modern Bee 2 was all about circles reqeusted by Krista. She sent us some linen and fabric in a colourway and asked for any size blocks. The linen proved a real challenge for me and I stuck to a fairly simply snowball block for both of my blocks. I love how the snowball block shows off the fabric and see a quilt of these in my future .. . . . .

Slow Quilting Progress

2011-02-05T19:16:00.000Z

I have spent a lot of time in January working on one of my Unfinished quilts. I finished this top in June last year but haven't been able to motivate myself to quilt it. I had this Amy Butler print picked out months ago for the backing.

I decided to outline each ampler block 1/4 inch from the seamline and then outline some of the shapes in the quilt also a 1/4 from the seam line.

This makes for very slow quilting, lots of turning and starting and finished and pulling threads through. But the quilting is finished and the binding (purple and green fabric below) is ready to attach. Hopefully my first finish of 2011 is not too far away.

I can't wait for Spring if only so I can take better photos of my quilts - any tips?

A little progress

2011-01-18T14:39:00.000Z

I mentionned here that I need a little focus so once a month or so I am going to post my works in progress to see how I've done that month and motivate me to keep working on them. Here are Januarys:

1. Baby Girl Coin Quilt - needs ironing (a lot), backing, basting, quilting, binding, someone to have a baby girl to motivate me to finish it.

2. Sampler Quilt - currently being quilting. I am taking this one slowly a block at a time, outlining each block and then outlining various parts of the design in each block.

3. Wild Oddyysea - this one is all cut out and I am starting to piece the blocks.

4. Red & Aqua Little Windows

5. Nine Patch - gradually progressing with 6 new ones added this month

6. Tilda Hexagons - which I will be working on until I am at least 83 80 and a half! (but I have started the next colour with 2 new ones added)

7. Tilda Red Quilt - lots of squares cut and waiting to be paired with squares of Kona Bone which are yet to be cut.

Well 4, 5 & 6 are ongoing projects but I am determined to finish one of the others before starting another new quilt so all efforts are going into number 2 at the moment (because its the closest to being finished which means closer to starting something new!!!

Sunday Stash

2011-01-16T14:58:00.001Z

Wonderland - how I love you!

When I first started quilting I fell in love with Moda's Momo Wonderland but it was already a year old and difficult to get hold of. I bought what yardage was left in my local quilt shop and other UK online shops before snapping up a great bundle of 8 FQs and a couple of yards at the Festival of Quilts in August last year. I had most of the red and brown prints but was missing almost all the green and pink (or pistachio and jam) ones. Prices on Etsy seemed extreme until just before Christmas I found this gorgeous set of 40 Fat Quarters from this fantastic Etsy shop. I think almost all the lines are included and I have more than enough variety to make a Wonky Log Cabin Quilt. It arrived just after Christmas and wasn't stopped by customs so even including postage these worked out at £7 a yard.

This will be the last new fabric for a bit for me. There's a lot of talk of Fabric Diets in blogland and I am doing my own version. For every lb of weight I lose I get a certain amount of money to spend on fabric. No other fabric buys allowed (except fabric for my Granny and Dad's quilts). Week 1 I lost 3.5 lbs so it looking good so far.

2011

2011-01-06T22:06:00.000Z

Almost a week into 2011 I have been thinking about what I want to achieve this year. I don't make resolutions but I do think in terms of aims for the year. I am a very goal oriented person and work best that way. So each year I make some fairly general aims. I have learnt not to beat myself up about not achieving everything and at the end of the year I keep a note of that year's successes (which can include getting part way to a goal or staring to work towards one) and tear up the old list of aims and make a new one.

I am a big fan of Jennifer's Quilting without Obligation posts and I don't want to be overly prescriptive or goal oriented about what I do or don't quilt. However I do want to push myself a little in my quilting this year and there are some quilts I really want to make so without further ado here are this year's:

Quilting Aims

1. Quilt because it makes me smile not because it is one more thing on my to do list!

2. Try free motion quilting on a quilt.

3. Join a new Bee when the 2 I am in finish towards the end of the year

4. Make some things from my lovely stack of sewing/craft books

5. Attend Festival of Quilts in Birmingham (and hopefully meet up with some blog friends)

6. Keep blogging but take better photos!

Quilts I would like to make this year

As I mentionned here there are ideas for 324 quilts running around my head. I am trying to start noting down my ideas and will be adding a page in the header above. I am also going to visit my Works in Progress page once a month to keep me on track.

1. Quilt for my Granny 's 80th birthday - at the moment I am thinking of using Tanya Whelan's Delilah but haven't got an idea of what pattern yet.

2. My Tanya Whelan Dolce Pinwheel Quilt made with blocks from all the fabulous girls at Fresh Modern Bee 2.

3. Quilt for my Dad's 60th birthday - no ideas at all yet!

4. A quilt for our bed - each time I start something my husband asks if it is for our bed and each time I answer no. But this year will be different and I am going to use some of my precious precious Momo Wonderland for this and am thinking about Wonky Log Cabins.

2010

2010-12-31T10:48:00.001Z


1. Sultry Garden Quilt, 2. First Doll Quilt, 3. Baby Boy Star Playmat, 4. Twin Girl Quilt, 5. Twin Girl Quilt, 6. Millie Moon Quilt, 7. Moda Sweet Coasters, 8. Sorbet Pinwheels, 9. Simple Squares Panache Baby Quilt, 10. Moda Sweet Placemats, 11. Red Hippo Craft Bag, 12. Authentic Quilt, 13. Space-Boy Quilt, 14. Christopher's Quilt, 15. Bronwyn's Quilt, 16. Crazy Sweetness in the snow!

I can't believe it is the end of this year already but here it is - my mosaic of 2010's makings. I love that both the first and last quilt of the year have been photographed in the snow! I have had a really great year learning to quilt. I took 4 classes, visited several quilt shows including Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, took part in some swaps and 2 Bees as well as making lots of virtual quilt friends. I can't wait for 2011 and to start making some of the 324 quilts that are running around my head!

Crazy Sweetness

2010-12-29T17:26:00.000Z

I finally finished the quilt I started in January using Camille from Simplify's pattern Piece of Cake. I finished the quilt top back in April and then put is aside as I was terrified at the thought of basting and quilting such a large quilt. I finished hand sewing the binding on Christmas Eve and gave it to my parents for Christmas. Happily it now lives on the bed in my old room so I will still get to use it when I visit.

The quilting on this one almost drove me insane (hence the name for this quilt) and it is a long way from perfect. Whilst it was in progress I finished a few other quilts and learnt a lot from them but I was determined to finish this one in all its imperfectious (is that a word?) glory anyway.
Note to self for the future:
1. A plain coloured back is not very forgiving when you are newish to quilting (there are a lot of puckers in this quilt)
2. Diagonal quilting is very ambitious for your first large quilt (next time maybe stick to straight lines)
3. Use 3 times as many pins as you originally planned to use when basting
4. Your Mum will love anything you make (no matter how many imperfections you point out!)

In an effort of full disclosure here is the puckery back:

Bronwyn's Quilt

2010-12-23T15:56:00.000Z

The twin quilt of Christopher's Quilt from yesterday.

Made in 20 hours over 3 days!

The recipient, my neice (aged 2 and a half) jumped up and down for 2 minutes shouting "I like it I love it I like it I love it". Worth every minute!

Christopher's Quilt

2010-12-22T15:44:00.000Z

I finished this quilt for my nephew for Christmas but can't come up with a more imaginative name!

I loved the idea of squares inside squares as a way of showing the fabrics off and was inspired by these lovely quilts

This is a first for me for lots of reasons:

1. First time I used this design

2. First time I used fabrics that aren't all from one fabric line

3. First time trying wavy line quilting.

The back is Ikea fabric.

Sunday Stash

2010-12-12T16:57:00.000Z

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had been in Ireland for a weekend in November - we stayed with my parents for a weekend and attended my best friend's wedding. In between we spent 3 days in Galway in the west of Ireland. The hotel was gorgeous but it rained all day for 3 days (minus a 2 hour hiatus when I dragged my husband for a walk to a beach I used to visit as a kid.

By Day 3 cabin fever had kicked in but a quick Internet search revealed a Quilting Shop just half an hour's drive away. So the husband was ~~instructed~~ politely requested to drive me there in the pouring rain.

Once there it would be rude not to buy something - I think the packs above are Moda Arcadia made up by the shop into charm packs. I thought the colours would be perfect for boy quilts.

And these I bought just because they looked pretty!

And an update on Bronwyn's Quilt from yesterday that needs to be finished by Friday. So did I get up early and crack on with it? Of course not its the weekend, I work hard all week (or so I told myself when the alarm went off this morning)! The morning started with coffee and the papers in bed, catching up on posts on my google reader, flicking through magazines before a lazy brunch of French Toast & Bacon at noon. Did I mention this needs to be finished by Friday?!!!

PS It is all cut now and the piecing of the blocks is in progress - why do I do this to myself???

Catch up

2010-12-11T19:09:00.001Z

As I said my Work in Progress page hasn't changed as much as I had hoped for but I have made a little progress with some projects.

The quilting is finally finished on my Crazy Sweetness Quilt and the binding is all ready to be sewn on.

Quilting is finished on Christopher's Quilt - binding and then it's finished!

This little collection of fabric is going to be the twin of the one above (literally as it's for Christopher's twin sister, Bronwyn). Lovely as it is having twin nephew and neice it does mean making 2 of everything - the same but different. It is Saturday night and this is still a pile of fabrics and it needs to be finished by Friday . . . .

I'm Back!

2010-12-08T22:49:00.000Z

Where did November go?

November is usually a really dull month for me but this year it was crazy. I spent a week in Ireland and 5 days in New York on holidays. In between I spent a weekend in London and also tried to do my day job. Quilting and blogging have taken a little bit of a back seat recently. But I do have some posts to share of a lovely quilting exhibition I saw in New York and a little fabric shopping I did in Ireland and New York.

I have 600 unread posts in my google reader to catch up on too. But for now Christmas is looming and I need to keep working on my neice and nephew's quilts - this is the finished top for my nephews which I have now basted and started the quilting:

Blogger's Quilt Festival

2010-10-30T13:27:00.000+01:00

This is my first entry in the Bloggers Quilt Festival - which Amy has organised again this autumn.

I am entering the Authentic Quilt I made for my brother's 30th birthday in July this year.

I followed Dana from Old Red Barns Quilt Along several months after it was finished. This is the first big quilt I have made and I learnt so much quilting it particuarly how much easier it is to quilt if you have basted well.

The female members in my family were a little disappointed that the first quilt I gave away was to my brother and warned me he may not appreciate it. His reaction was so funny "You made it? What with?". When I said fabric he replied "But it looks like newspaper!".

Go check out the other amazing entries:

Sunday Stash - the Bee edition

2010-10-24T12:50:00.000+01:00

Dolce by Tanya Whelan

From the moment I first saw this quilt line, I had to have it, all of it and not just a small amount full metres or yards (yup I'm greedy).

Purchased from Allegro Fabrics, Pink Chalk Fabrics and Fresh Squeezed Fabrics in the US and Saints and Pinners in the UK. The grey at the bottom right is Kona Medium Grey and is from Simply Solids also in the UK.

I love them all :

Pinks

Lavenders

Oranges

Blues

Greys

This is my current favourite. I am currently cutting some of this beautiful fabric up to send off for my month in Fresh Modern Bee 2. I can't wait to see what they come up with.

Bee Blocks

2010-10-22T06:00:00.001+01:00

I am finally caught up and ahead on all my Bee Blocks. In Bee Quilted I made as my Sept/Oct block for Marlynn. This was a real challenge for me and I had put it off for ages because I was scared of applique. Marlynn had a great set of instructions on how to applique and I found it really straightforward. I really like the look it gives and might try it on a quilt soon (though probably a simpler shape like a heart or circle!).

This Bee is Quilt as you go and the Oct/Nov block (see how caught up I am!!) for Lucinda was a log cabin made out of gorgeous Alexander Henry and Keiki fabrics.

For Fresh Modern Bee 2 the October block was for Danielle who requested blocks made of squares from this selection of fabric.

We have really similar tastes in fabric (I particularly love Wonderland) and I love working with these fabrics. These are the blocks I came up with - I liked the idea of the blocks being window or frames for the fabric:

I am really struggling to get good photos with the light at the moment - its dark when I leave and get home from work. I can't wait until the clocks change so I don't have to get up in the dark!

Hippo Bag

2010-10-19T22:57:00.000+01:00

Well the Works in Progress is working - I finished this bag which has been sitting around for ages waiting to have a strap and buttons sewn on.

Red hippo fabric is Ikea and the linking is a white and red polka dot. Pattern is from Quilting in No Time by Emma Hardy.

Does this mean I can start a new project now???

UFOs

2010-10-16T23:45:00.000+01:00

No not the flying spaceship ones - the ones clogging up my sewing room. My ~~UFOs~~ Works in Progress are many, in fact at Sewing Club last week I was struggling to remember exactly how many. So its time to face the music and count them up and maybe try to maintain a little order and a lot of progress.

First up are those that really should be finished if I just got a move on:

1. Red Hippo Bag - just needs a handle and some buttons sewn on, no excuse really . . .

2. Crazy Sweetness Quilt - needs a little perseverance to finish the quilting and binding

Then there's the ones that need a little more work to finish:

3. Baby Girl Coin Quilt - needs ironing (a lot), backing, basting, quilting, binding, someone to have a baby girl to motivate me to finish it.

4. Sampler Quilt - needs quilting (I just can't decide how to do it) and binding.

5. Wild Oddyysea - needs everything except cutting done to it!

And then there's the long term projects which I have convinced myself don't really count as UFOs do they?

6. Red & Aqua Little Windows

7. Nine Patch

8. Tilda Hexagons - which I will be working on until I am at least 83 and a half!

And finally the newish projects that are distracting me from the oldish ones:

9. Christopher's Quilt - deadline Christmas

10. Tilda Red Quilt - deadline Christmas/Valentine's Day?

Hmm seems rather a lot listed out like that - I will try for an update in a few weeks which hopefully will keep me motivated. Though knowing me as I cross one thing off the ~~UFO~~ Works in Progress list, I will almost definitely add another. Just as well I'm not listing all the quilt ideas running around in my head . . . . .

Bee Blocks catch-up

2010-10-15T21:47:00.000+01:00

Finally catching up on my Bee Blocks! For Bee Quilted I made this Robot Block for chez-j using the Quilt as you go method.

In August (yes I do know it is now October!) Lynne in Fresh Modern Bee 2 sent these beautiful Whimsy fabrics and requested Union Jack Blocks for which she has a fantastic tutorial on her blog.

These are the blocks I made - for some reason the first block is actually better than the second!

I had never done paper piecing before and these were definitely challenging but that's why I joined this Bee and I actually quite enjoyed them. I can't wait to see the finished quilt.

For September Jessica in Fresh Modern Bee 2 sent these beautiful solids and black and white spots. She asked for modern pieced rectangles.

These are my 2 blocks. I loved making these. I have never worked with solids before or made up a design for a block so this was great fun.

Spaced out Squares Quilt

2010-09-28T21:41:00.000+01:00

I'm back and I've finished something hurrah! A proposed visit to a friend and her 8 week old baby who I have already seen twice with no gift spurred me on to finishing this:

Fabrics are mostly from David Walker's Robot line with a couple of tiny polka dot orange and yellows thrown in.

(Unfortunately I finished it late at night and it was really dull the next morning before I had to give it away so some of the photos aren't brilliant).

For the backing I used the red robot print from the front.

I quilted it in red thread 1/4 inch from each seam line.

I love love love stripy bindings!

Sewing Catch-up

2010-09-05T23:44:00.000+01:00

I have finally had a weekend that didn't involve a budget airline flight to a wedding or 30th birthday party and therefore some time to sew. I have made a start on my Fresh Modern Bee 2 block:

Tried to keep a track on my scraps with some more 9 patch cutting and piecing:

I love seeing all the little pieces and remembering the projects I used them all in.

I have been working on some of my UFOs - more quilting on my Sweet Quilt (renamed Crazy Sweetness due to the "fun" I am having quilting this!!!):

Almost finished this fun red hippo bag:

And because I made so much progress(!) on my UFOs I got to start 2 new projects - a large quilt made from Oddyssea Charm Packs:

And a robot baby quilt:

I love sewing weekends!

Sunday Stash (The Festival of Quilts edition)

2010-08-29T10:07:00.000+01:00

Hmmm Make Life - an entire Fat Quarter stack, yummy, yummy. I have drooled over this for ages and had considered ordering one from the US before finding this at the quilt show.

This is my bargain of the show. I love Wonderland but got into it a little too late and can't find it much anymore. I spied the 2 yards at the back of the photo and as I was buying it the lady said "these FQ bundles are half price now". I glanced at them expecting the usual not very popular colours or ranges and spied the 8 fabrics at the front all in a bundle for £10!

A bundle of baby boy blues and browns (just because)

Anna Griffin Lizzy (I bought this as part of a kit so I have a plan for it).

Amy Butler Love Fat Quarters (I had to buy something - I met her and she signed my book . . . . )

It does look rather a lot all stacked up together . . . .

Bee Blocks (finally!)

2010-08-28T19:05:00.001+01:00

Fresh Modern Bee 2 on Flickr is my first ever Bee. I started really well for June but slipped behind. I finished my blocks last week but having lost my camera/computer connector thing, eventually had to buy another one today.

Susan aka Chickenfoot sent these beautiful fabrics and requested wonky square in square blocks.

I have never done wonky before and loved making these. No pressure to get seams matching!

This was my first block which isn't quite as wonky and then I used the scraps to make the block below (which needs another square added to it to make it the right size).

I also decided for this Bee that I would use my pink scraps each month to make the same block for myself (with a tiny scrap of that month's fabric too). At the end of the year as well as my own Bee quilt hopefully I will have a sampler of sorts with a block from each of the months. June and July's blocks are below.

I am also in a second bee which uses the quilt as you go method - Bee Quilted. This Bee runs from the 15th to the 15th so I'm not quite as late with these ones! The first month was Tracy who sent fabrics all in a different colour way to each person and asked for pinwheels.

I made 2 mini pin wheels and framed them. I opted for simple straight line quilting. I love this type of close quilting but don't think I would have the energy to do it for an entire quilt.

I made the scraps into a second block but didn't quilt this one.

I'm off to work on this month's blocks now!

Festival of Quilts - Birmingham

2010-08-19T21:46:00.000+01:00

I am back from my first ever trip to the Festival of Quilts at the Birmingham NEC. WOW - it was amazing, I found it overwhelming at first. Expect a few posts about it but for now just some sneak pictures. (And if my husband is reading, these bags do not contain far too much fabric that I bought!) For the rest of you pictures of said loot to come!

This is the Amy Butler part of the Rowan stand - I met her, she was lovely and signed a copy of her new book for me.

There were lots of amazing quilts entered in the competition - this one really caught my eye - its Avocado and Pink Rosalind Gregory & Joan Herrington and is called Where have all my shirts gone? and is made from recycled men's shirts.

Sunday Stash

2010-08-08T23:16:00.000+01:00

I won a giveaway on Jen's blog Little Scraps of Happiness a few weeks ago and this lovely package arrived last week. This was the first time I have won anything! I love pink in quilts and am going to put some of these into a quilt I want to make for my neice. Thanks Jen!

Authentic Quilt finished

2010-08-01T21:36:00.000+01:00

I finished the Authentic Quilt top just in time for my trip back home for my brother's 30th birthday.

It's all Authentic Moda Fabrics and I used the tutorial from Dana at Old Red Barn Co.

I quilted it in black thread in straight line (or not so straight line) quilting. It's the first quilt this size that I have finished so I am really pleased to finish it.

The back is the number print I used in the front with left over strips edged in green and sewn in the middle.

Sunday Stash (Christmas Edition!!!)

2010-07-25T23:27:00.000+01:00

As its 5 months today until Christmas day I thought I would show my festive stash and start thinking what I am going to do with it. Firstly some Fat Quareters of Be Merry for Riley Blake Designs. I am thinking of a throw for my lounge to use at Christmas with these and possibly using them for my month in Fresh Modern Bee 2

Christmas gift bags with these reds and greens

Yummy Tilda (to stash and look at and fold and stroke!)

Figgy Pudding - I have a Jelly Roll of this too but not sure what to do with it yet.

Authentic Quilt top finished

2010-07-19T23:45:00.000+01:00

Progress on my brother's 30th Birthday Quilt - shown on a King size bed but quilt will be double bed size when finished.

It was really poor light when I took these. I may be absent from the blog for a bit - I am away with work and any spare time I do have will be spent quilting this before my deadline of 30th July eek!

Sewing Catch - up

2010-07-13T21:11:00.000+01:00

Oops real life really is getting in the way of sewing at the moment. I have done something productive however, sorting my scraps and making them into 9 patches before they overspill out of the ever larger Ikea basket.

And manically sewing and trying to finish these blocks for my brother's 30th birthday quilt (his birthday is 23 July but luckily for me I won't see him until 30 July!)

Post!

2010-07-05T20:55:00.000+01:00

I've had some really great post arrive in the last week or so. First this gorgeous mini quilt from Manuela as part of the Modify Tradition swap.

Next was my package from Misfit in Toyland as part of the A Little Fabric A Little Chocolate swap on Flickr. Lovely fabrics and ribbons (especially the Scotty Dogs!).

And finally I discovered with great exitement that Seamstar had some Hushabye. I fell in love with this design when I started quilting but was late to the party and its out of stock in a lot of places. I have gradually being buying it where I see it (usually in the US) so I was really excited to find it hear in the UK. So I ordered a metre of each design they had.

I couldn't resist a FQ of this lovely design too. The fabrics comes beautifully wrapped in tissue paper and tied up with ribbon.

And I was eligible for free postage and this lovely mini bundle of fabric and ribbon (which includes Tanya Whelan's Dolce, another of my favourite ranges).

Sunday Stash

2010-07-04T19:55:00.000+01:00

Limited edition Liberty Prints purchased at my trip to the Quilt Exhibition at the V&A Museum in London which closes today. I had a fab day there a week ago and the exhibition was amazing.

Sunday Stash

2010-06-20T22:59:00.000+01:00

Yummy yummy Moda Tula Pink Hushabye - arrived a few weeks ago as part of my parcel from Whipstitch Fabrics on Etsy but not blogged about. No plans for these yet - I really am stashing this fabric line until I can get as many of the different fabrics from it as I can. Then I may consider cutting into or maybe I will just continue to admire and stroke it!

Speaking of stashing I see some more of it in my future - a fabulous new UK shop Simply Solids has opened. It stocks Kona solids and postage on orders over £15 in the UK is free. To celebrate Lilys Quilts is having a wonderful giveaway click here to read all about it.

A Sweet Sewing Weekend

2010-06-14T22:33:00.001+01:00

A day late I know but I had a very productive sewing weekend - the World Cup has made me very focused on not being near a tv.

As well as doing my Bee Blocks for the Fresh Modern Bee 2 I cut all my fabric for my brother's quilt into lots and lots and lots of strips. Then there was some gift making

The placemats are the final four for part of a set of 8 for my Mum. She got the first 4 as a Mother's Day gift but I have just finished the other 4 this weekend. Fabric is part of a Moda Sweet Jelly Roll.

Coasters are my Granny's birthday present with the same Moda Sweet Jelly Roll fabric

I made this quilt top a few months ago and then put it away too scared to even contemplate finishing it due to its vast size.

(Anyone guess my favourite fabric line this Spring?). This weekend I made the back

I am going to baste it soon but am terrified about quilting it. I am going to try diagonal staight line quilting and see if it will fit through my machine. If it won't it looks like this will be my first attempt at hand quilting! It's unironed because the photos were taken during this weekend's "Irongate Crisis". I dropped the iron breaking it beyond repair and had to wait until Argos opened the next morning and I could dispatch husband there. I am now the owner of this lovely iron (I like the colour most!)

Sunday Stash

2010-06-13T11:15:00.000+01:00

I just realised I hadn't posted about these when I received them. They are top to bottom: Moda Sweetwater Make Life Charm Pack, Moda Sanae Panache in Exclamation, Flourish and Fearless all in the Pomegrante colour way and Amy Butler Garden Maze. Purchased from Whipstitch Fabrics on Etsy.

The Panache fabrics were used for binding on my Simple Squares Quilt and I still have another Panache Charm Pack to use up so I will add the rest of the yardage into that. Make Life and Amy Butler just because I love them!

Bee Blocks

2010-06-12T20:01:00.000+01:00

These are my first ever Bee Blocks for Amy aka ScruffyCat1970 as part of the Fresh Modern Bee 2. Amy requested string blocks made by paper piecing from the tutorial by Film in the Fridge.

My points don't match up quite as perfectly as I would like. Doing this block has been great for me though as I am no longer scared of paper piecing. Also it has yet again shown me that fabrics which I may not instantly like on their own, look great paired with other fabrics. It also took me a lot less time than I thought to make this which of course means I want to make a whole quilt of these for myself and as you can see below I have become quite attached to these blocks!

And now for the fun photo, we are supposed to add a fun photo to Flickr of our "blocks on tour". So I decided this evening that my block and I should bond and spend some quality time together. Does this mean watching England v US in the World Cup. Nope - I am Irish and by its colour scheme the block is honorary Irish and neither of us are particularly intersted in football. So here is my block spending its evening in the garden with a nice cold glass of wine, a stack of magazines and a netbook to catch up on blog reading.

A Finish - Simple Squares Baby Quilt

2010-06-11T18:59:00.001+01:00

I have always loved Film in the Fridge's especially her quilts made out of simple squares. When I very first went shopping for fabric I bought some Panache by Sanae Charm Packs with the idea of making something similar. I pieced it together right at the beginning of my quilting and then whenI realised that you could still buy Panche on Etsy so I ordered some yardage to complete the backing and binding.

I made mine with only 1 charm pack so it is pram or buggy sized. The quilting is 1/4 inch from the seam line in red thread. Its going to be my "If its a girl" present for a friend who I know will appreciate a baby present in something other than baby pink.

Modify Tradition Mini Quilt Finished

2010-06-08T07:54:00.000+01:00

I finished my swap for the Modify Tradition mini quilt swap. Hopefully my secret swap partner likes it. I was really bad at coming up with an idea and I have always loved this quilt on Flickr so followed it.

This mini quilt was lots of firsts for me:

1. First mini quilt

2. First time making something for another quilter/sewer

3. First time making this block

4. First time labelling a quilt (but I can't show it as the swap is secret until received)

This weekend's sewing and a lesson learned . . . .

2010-06-07T08:08:00.000+01:00

Lots and lots of sewing done this weekend.

Sampler quilt top finished - backing below - any ideas on how on earth I would quilt this. I'm not brave enough to free motion on somthing so big yet so any ideas gratefully received?

The other 2 quilts in the picture are either finished or I am finishing sewing the binding on tonight. Posts of both soon. I was 4 inches away from maching sewing the binding to the pink and orange mini quilt when my sewing had a funny moment (or an hour now that I come to mention it!). The bobin thread was catching on the case and the fabric was getting sucked into the machine. Cue take the machine plate off, bobin holder out, clean out the lint, put it all back together and the same thing happens again and again and again. I try putting the bobin and bobin holder in several different times and cleaning again and again. Then I find a huge hidden bit of lint and I think I've sorted it. All back together AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN.

Change needle, bobin and just about to change the spool of thread when (1 hour after the initial problem) I notice it isn't threaded properly!! Re-thread and it works like a dream. I think the lint initially started the problem and with all my taking apart the needle became unthreaded.

Lesson to self: ALWAYS CHECK THE MACHINE IS PROPERLY THREADED!!!

Sunday Stash

2010-06-06T09:04:00.000+01:00

Yummy yummy Moda Sweetwater Authentic Fabrics for a 30th Birthday Quilt for my brother. I am going to make it following the original Quilt Along from Old Red Barn - a rail fence.

About 2/3 of the fabric were from my local quilt shop in Bath and the others I ordered online from Bramble Patch. I was so pleased to find Authentic as its an older line there isn't much of it about anymore. I think it is the perfect man quilt.

Last week's sewing

2010-06-02T20:09:00.000+01:00

I finished all the blocks for my sampler class last week - these are the last few - Birds in the Air

Sailboat

Card Trick

Double Pyramid

Churn Dash

I also made a couple of gifts for my Flickr May swaps but can't show them until I know they have been received.

Fabric Swap Post

2010-05-31T19:03:00.000+01:00

This arrived in the post today from my swap partner in A Little Fabric, A Little Chocolate on Flickr. Lots of yummy chocolate, sweets, tea, ribbons, buttons, a needle case, a fold out bag and of course beautiful fabric

I love spots!

This is what I sent my swap partner last month:

American Museum Quilt Exhibition

2010-05-28T08:37:00.000+01:00

As I said in my previous post I visited the Quilt Exhibition at the American Museum last week. I went with the girls from my first quilting class and it was brilliant to catch up. It was a gorgeous day and we had lunch in the sun on the terrace.

The special exhibition which just runs this year was amazing. The quilts were huge. They also have about 50 quilts permanently on display and these were gorgeous too. We are all amazed at how modern some of the quilts looked. Some of the designs are not a million miles away from what some modern quilters today are working on. I would really recommend a visit to anyone who is in the UK (I'm biased anyway but I think Bath is a fab place to visit in its own right too!)

We weren't allowed to take photos but here is a photo of a card I bought which features one of the quilts from the show.

Last week's sewing

2010-05-26T22:28:00.000+01:00

For those of you were fooled with my prolific blogging the week before last this is the real me. Work which thankfully I love (and not just because it pays my mortgage!) does get in the way of other things. And for me if its a choice my spare time will always be spent sewing rather than blogging about sewing.

But this is what I have been sewing last week:

More blocks for my sampler quilt class (check out the new bathroom floor tiles underneath!!!)

Part of my mini quilt for the Modify Tradition Swap

I also had a trip to London for work which meant I could sew some more of these:

It wasn't all work no play last week though - I did manage a trip to the Quilt exhibition at the American Museum in Bath but that deserves a post all of its own . . .

Sunday's Sewing

2010-05-16T19:42:00.000+01:00

More blocks for my Sampler Quilt Class:

This is my favourite so far - I think it is called T or Tin Soldier but I'm not sure.

This is a variation on Windmill

I love this one too - Drunkard's Path

I also tried out a sample block for the Baby Boy Quilt I am making. The points aren't perfect but I am quite pleased how it turned out. Half the blocks will have the red pinwheels and the other half will be the same design but orange pinwheels.

I just met Kaffe Fassett!

2010-05-14T21:43:00.000+01:00

My local book shop had a talk by Kaffe Fassett tonight about his book Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts. He was so funny. I am not the biggest fan, don't get me wrong I like some of his fabrics and I love his spots, he's just not my favourite ever (Amy I will be forever loyal!!) but his talk was wonderful. He is so funny and he had lots of really interesting things to say about his views on traditional v modern quilts.

Sorry for the lack of photos in this post but the only bathroom in our house is being refurbished and apparently it is necessary to store all the tools in the computer/sewing room (and all the bathroom parts in the lounge and all the rubbish on the patio grrrr!) so I can't plug in my camera properly.

But I did post every day this week, well every weekday anyway . . . .!

Inspiration - next quilts

2010-05-13T23:21:00.000+01:00

This fabric selection is hopefully going to be for a friend's baby due in July if its a boy.

And this is for my nephew who will be 2 - also in July. Looks like I am going to be busy especially as he has a twin sister who is also obviously 2 in July (fabrics yet to be decided for that one but almost definitely pink!)

Modify Tradition Swap - possible sneak preview

2010-05-12T23:16:00.000+01:00

Post!

2010-05-11T23:05:00.000+01:00

Look what arrived at the post office for me to collect today. Yummy fabric from Pink Chalk Fabrics. As I am a little late to the party on a couple of fabric collections I have been trying to locate and purchase a few of my favourites. These are Momo Odyssea.

Momo Wonderland

Hushabye

I'm off to stroke my fabrics!

New Quilting Class Blocks

2010-05-10T23:05:00.000+01:00

I started a new Quilting Class at Millie Moon Shop a week or so ago but haven't gotten around to posting about it yet. Its a sampler block class with 12 blocks in total. This one is North Wind.

This one is Attic Window. I really wanted to do this class as I wanted to try different quilt blocks to see what I like, to stretch myself and to hopefully get inspiration for new quilts (although I must have about 25 quilt plans in my head at the moment!)

This one is called spools. I was also trying not to use pink (or too much of it anyway in this quilt). I love pink but don't want to fall into a colour rutt so soon.

And lastly for now Pinwheels - my favourite so far! I am away for the class this week so am going to try to get a couple done at home.

I am also going to see if I can blog every day this week. I have the whole week off work which is the first time I have had a week off since March last year (excluding Christmas which frankly made work look like a doddle at times!). I can't wait although I am not sure how much sewing I will do as we are having a bathroom refurbishment and a couple of days away.

Modify Tradition Swap Inspiration

2010-05-05T22:27:00.001+01:00

1. full swing., 2. Nicey Jane Charm Quilt: Front, 3. Amy Butler Sorbet, 4. wonderland lap quilt, 5. goldfish stripe baby boy quilt, 6. Pinwheel quilt a long Top, 7. Finished Triangles Quilt, 8. Nine-Patch Quilt-Along, 9. Pieced Border Scrap Quilt, 10. Hour Glass Quilt, 11. Hope Valley Quilt - quilting, 12. Red + Aqua Finished, 13. Red Triangle Quilt, 14. Zig Zag quilt, 15. pint sized, 16. Dolce Jelly Filled

Modify Tradition Swap Inspiration
Originally uploaded by Scissors & Thread
I am so excited to be taking part in the Modify Tradition Swap. This is my flickr inspiration mosaic. I had a lot of fun compiling this.

If my swap partner is reading this, sorry I didn't send my Flickr link but hopefully you can work it out from this (it is Scissors & Thread). I love stars, pinwheels and triangles but am also really drawn to simple squares. I love most colours, blue, red & aqua and certains lines together (Amy Butler, Moda Wonderland and Tanya Whelan Dolce are my current favourites colour wise). However these are just ideas, I am so excited to have someone make something for me and don't own a mini quilt so am sure I will love whatever you make.

Hope this helps. I need to get on with looking at my partner's blog and Flickr and try to decide what to make. I am so nervous that what I make won't be very good, I haven't really done this before. I can see myself doing a practice one first!

Nine Patch Update

2010-04-27T22:56:00.000+01:00

I have been using up the scraps from my recent quilts and bags to make Nine Patches.

Lots more to go!

A good weekend's sewing

2010-04-26T22:54:00.000+01:00

I finished piecing together my Piece of Cake Quilt and added the borders. I also picked the solid above for the backing and the varigated thread to quilt it. I am tryin to decide how to quilt it and am thinking either diagonal staight lines or staight lines a quarter inch each side of the seam lines.

I also basted my Panache simple squares quilt all ready to quilt. I am going to quilt this one with red thread 1/4 inch from each seam line. I really enjoyed making this one partly because it was quick and also because it enables me to practice accurate 1/4 inch sewing and different quilting designs on a small quilt.

I also packaged up my swap parcel for A Little Fabric A Little Chocolate Swap on Flickr (pictures when I know it has been received), worked on my "Red Hippo" bag and didS some 9 patches. And I happened to stumble accross a Jelly Roll of Figgy Pudding and seeing how rare it now seems to be I just had to buy it!

My first order!

2010-04-23T21:21:00.000+01:00

Not really an order - my Mum asked if I would make some coasters for her friend whose 40th Ruby Wedding Anniversary was earlier this month.

I made 8 of these from a Moda Sweet Jelly Roll.

My First Swap

2010-04-22T21:03:00.000+01:00

This was my first ever swap on Flickr through the group Fat Quarters Fabric Swap with a Twist. I sent this to my swaping partner NotYetTheDodo and my last post has the lovely parcel I received from her.

The fabrics are a black and white swap, a Michael Miller cake print (the theme this month was Birthdays) and an Amy Butler Nigella print. I also sent her a copy of SewHip which I love, blue and green ribbons, a tomato pin cushion and 2 coasters I made from Amy Butler fabric.

Another Parcel in the Post

2010-04-17T17:20:00.000+01:00

I received this fabulous parcel in the post for my first ever swap in Flickr. It's from the group Fat Quarter Fabric Swap with a Twist and my swap partner was NotYetTheDodo Here is a close up of the fabrics (the sun was casting strange shadows across it!)

Millie Moon Quilt Finished

2010-04-10T17:41:00.000+01:00

I finally finished this quilt, it took me ages to sew the binding on, mostly because I kept getting distracted with other things! The back is an Amy Butler print (as you can see I didn't try and match it when I pieced the back) and the binding is my current favourite Micheal Miller polka dot. I called it Millie Moon because that's the name of the shop where I took the class to make it.