Getting even more prepared...

With less than 5 weeks until FQ Retreat, I am trying to get all prepared.  FQR, the end of the school year, and my long break from work all clash, and things are only going to get more hectic from here on in.  Next week we have two sports days, my birthday, Village Day along with two lots of swimming, Cubs and Rainbows, and then it doesn't really slow down.

So I am already suffering from a delightful cold that dear son has brought home from school, and I will probably flake out completely tomorrow.  But for now, I have just cut all my class fabric; I am using Architextures for all my classes, curved EPP, Portholes and Cathedral Windows, so I am aiming for three matching cushions at some point after the weekend.

If anyone is after 'calico/muslin', I got a meter of Moda 90" wide from Eclectic Maker and I had enough for the cathedral windows, and 4 porthole blocks.  It's an off white, more cream than pure white and is a lot softer than Kona solids. 

Also in preparation I have made a purse for Krista; we talked about a private swap yonks ago, but life intervened, but seeing as she is coming all the way from Canada to see me, it would have been extreamly rude not to.

So Liberty-linen frame purse it a tick off the list...

I used Emily's brilliant tutorial from over at The Village Haberdashery again; I love the size this comes out.

So that's me for now; if this cold kicks in, I doubt I'll blast through my To Do list tomorrow as I was planning, but either way, I am going to settle with a cup of tea at some point and listen to Rhonda's latest podcast. 

FAL Q1 2013

Now I know I needn't go into too much detail on the whys and wherefores of the Finishalong, as it does appear that pretty much everyone I know is either linking up and/or has heard me, or someone else mention it previously, but I am really pleased to be linking up again.

I have linked up my Q4 2012 finishes already; I didn't write a whole new post, as I had finished all 7 items on my list back at the end of November, and blogged about them here.  How did you get on?  It was my best quarter ever for finishes.

Linking in 2013 with the new hostess with the mostest, Leanne, I know for sure that she will continue the successes encouraged by awesome Rhonda throughout 2012.  Thank you Rhonda for getting this brilliant ball rolling!

Leanne has a calming influence in my frequently hectic and emotional existence, so I am thrilled that she will be there, making things better, keeping a level head and encouraging us all.

I did joke after Christmas that I better start a few projects just so that I could make a list, which was kind of true.  Like many of us, Christmas Makes were the be-all and end-all of the last couple of months, so once the gift-giving was done, I was free to start new projects again.  And start I did.

So here are my four for the first quarter...

1.  #scrappytripalong

I have 6 blocks to finish, and I love it so much already.  As soon as I have ordered some more batting and backing, there will be, I hope, no reason not to get this beauty all sewn up.

2.  Sizzix Commission

I have two quilts to make for Sizzix by the end of the month; I have batting and backing for these (grr!), and the top of the first one completed already, and they HAVE to be done, so I will be putting the pedal to the metal on these soon.

3. A hexie project

I know, a bit vague.  I have started basting a bunch of lovely hexies which I trimmed from the mini-charms sent to me by this lovely lady; I have a couple of ideas, but want to see them all hexed up before I commit!

4.  Brit Bee 2 - Diamond Nipples

This one is kind of out of my hands for the immediate future.  My block is made, but once the others head back my way, I am not one to hang around and will get those mega-blocks made into another BB smasher.  Well it's a plan!

So there we have my hopes for Q1, and I am sure I will start, and maybe finish a load more and have a bigger list in Q2!!

My Siggy Block...

I love Brit Bee. 

All my wonderful friends helped make my Constellation quilt the stunner that it is, (Alison, I'll tell you about it some day!), and since then I have gone on to make more and more of Katy Jones's inspired stars.

The latest is for Susan's Brit Bee 2 month, asking for a star or stars on a charcoal background, it was a no-brainer for me.

So here is the latest, and sorry Susan I have kept you hanging all day to see this, but I have been finishing off a pair of 'thank yous', so actually you could just blame yourself (or Trudi!).

Susan added a second solid to all the fabric packs she sent out, which was perfect for the secondary star...

It will measure in at 24" and I used Madam Pings' super-duper, quick and easy trim-tastic method of getting those HSTs all nice and squared.  If you haven't seen Sarah's post over at Rhonda's, have a look!!  Honestly it works, and with the added luxury of a new rotary blade, (why oh why do I struggle on with a blunt one for so long, every time!?), this was effortless!

I hope you like it my friend - it will be winging its way to you with a load of other things very very soon, well Saturday, probably!

FAL a La La La!

Time to link up with Rhonda's Finish A Long Q2 before I get stuck into the chocolate again...

I have a double roll-over from Q1 with my Hexi cushion...

... and the Mystery Quilt is still haunting me!

I thought I better chuck a couple more into the mix.  OK, so one of these will be a guaranteed finish, as I am almost there.

My Stained is up at the top of my 'big makes' list just now, and will hopefully be done and dusted this week, the quilting has begun...

And I have just started my Retro Flowers Quilt, and this is not one I want dragging on; I want it to be finished, like yesterday!

The final goal is the last FPPFTT block...

I finished the rest, so I want to complete the course; just like anti-biotics, if I want to get better, I can't give up before the end!

So that's my 5; however I also have a lot of things that I've not even started, like my FQ Retreat swaps, Katy's Stitch Tease block and I can't bring myself to think what else right now.

Today though, is typical bank holiday, it's pouring with rain and perfect for sewing, every cloud and all that xxx

Its 2012!

Happy New Year!

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my last post of 2011 - I will get back to you individually, I promise; UNLESS of course you are a No Reply blogger, in which case this is your thank you! x).

I just have 3 fabric-related New Year Resolutions to share with you tonight...

1.  Be brave enough to use some of my favourite fabrics.  All too often I use scraps and pieces I don't care for and then end up wishing I had used something better!  Why?  Because I am a scared of messing up, wasting my precious FQs and yardage, and fearing that some way better idea will come along!  Daft I know, so there will be a concerted effort to use my stash.

2.  Use more fabric than I buy!  This is a hard one but requires no.1 to be put into action to achieve it.  Last year I acquired way more fabric than I can sensibly use, but each piece was chosen with either projects, or pure love, in mind!  I have a lot of Flea Market Fancy and some pre-cuts on order for a few months time - so once my latest parcel appears, I think I conveniently forgot to mention that one, I will need to crack on!  My Winter Sewing List should help on this one too, but I need to justify 'needing' not just 'wanting' more fabric!

3.  Be a bit more adventurous!  I stick to what I know, and 'quick hit' quilts, when I really should be going for things that require a bit more thought and time.  So this year I will, maybe not go as far as designing my own, but certainly attempt to widen my repertoire!

Have you made any resolutions for 2012?

Tomorrow I am going to link up with Rhonda and the girls for the Finish Along - I've had a long day, so I haven't had the chance to sort myself out yet, but I will get my list written and take the plunge, how about you guys?

And just because it seems to be all talk and no action this evening, here's a glimpse of my last make of 2011, and first gift of 2012...

2012, so far, so good x

Working...on a Wednesday!

I know, I am usually pushing the pedal to the max on a Wednesday, but this week I have swapped my non-working day for Thursday.

Today I had my In-year review at work, I am so 'good', and this afternoon I spent a couple of hours building a machine to recycle plastic bottles into fleece jumpers!  OK, so it was only sticking old cardboard boxes, bottle tops and toilet rolls together with dear son and his classmates, but it was good fun; but boy, those Dads are competitive! 

Then home for the quick Ballet/Beavers turn around, to be met by a fun parcel from a crazy lady!

A couple of Wednesdays ago I managed to listen to 3 Quilter in the Gap podcasts in 2 days.  Obviously I immediately told Rhonda that I surely deserved a medal for such a heroic feat!

Look what I got...

So of course I knew who it was from!

If you are not familiar with my friend Rhonda, then please pop over to her blog, leave her a comment, preferably with at least one word with more than 4 syllables and have a listen to one of her so funny podcasts!  Rhonda wants to be a Brit (sometimes!), so I have made it my civic duty to use my British sense of humour to tease her as much as I dare and see if she 'gets it', it makes me chuckle!  Rhonda and Rachel are also running the Duo Quiltalong, and I'm sure they'd let you join in and catch up if you wanted to!

Anyway, you probably want to see what was inside... 

Look it's got my little house on!  And ta-da...

Cool postcard and sweetest mini needle case which I should have taken with me to Ballet this evening; I was sewing hexies and having to use my trouser leg to keep the needle away from those bare ballerina feet! 

Thank you again Rhonda, you are such a great lady to know x

For my real day off, I have a school open morning then cakes with the headmaster at the end of the day followed by the school disco where, in some moment of insanity, I volunteered to 'help'!  I may get some sewing done, if I do, you'll be first to know!

PS If you want to win yourself one of Kerry's wonderful paper-piecing patterns, pop over to either Ayumi's, Lynne's or Amy's.  Look at where a bit of Minchin-love gets me - smack-bang in the middle of the coolest girls, (Cindy, you can be cool too by association!)!

My Big Day In...

I have been busy, although just looking at the photos, it doesn't really look that way; you decide.

I was home from school by 9am and did not move from the conservatory for the next 6 hours, all bar a 'comfort break' (so polite), and to pick up the post from the mat!

So want to see what a 'day off' looks like? 

Firstly, what some of it sounded like was Rhonda!  She kept me company and in stitches for hours, (OK not hours, but at least one!); another fun podcast, and lovely to know more about you **nicke.

There was more cutting to start with.  The binding for the Across The Sea, just because I want to be ready, and even though I haven't checked if I have enough batting yet!

I trimmed and cut all my Oakshott Fat-eighths into 9" squares for the Dead Simple QAL, they do look lovely, and even the trimmings looked great!

...and a quick stack of 2.5" squares cut, to add to the mini charm pack of Sherbert Pips that I converted to hexies last night...

After that, I needed to sew.   So an instant hit, 2 Farmer's Wife blocks using some left over HSTs from my last blitz; matching them to blocks they would fit, (well I still have a lot of choice), today Broken Sugar Bowl and Flock...

So now there are 10... and so far behind it's not funny!

Then I got a pang of the guilts that my machine is almost 3 months old and has never been given a good clean.  Oops...

Dust-free from now on, I promise.

After that, I knuckled down to the Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge, and I have just finished for the day.  I took some 'in progress' photos; but they are rubbish, so I will make one or two more tags before the competition finishes and post about making them properly.  In all honesty, they are so simple, a few written 'instructions' would be more than enough. 

So do you want to see?  OK, just a peek...

These were made with some non-competition scraps, as I didn't have enough 'pink' for both girls to have 2 more each of this batch; and Twin 2 threw a complete wobbler over the first pair; so anything for a quiet life.

The 'real' ones I will keep under wraps for a little longer, just to keep the Competition on their toes.  I have made six that are already in use daily on the girls' book bags, lunch boxes and PE Kit bags, and including the two above, and I made 7 more today.

So that was my making, and this was the icing on the cake... Post!

I have been eagerly awaiting 2 packages from the US, and one arrived today.  My super-duper Rainbow Swap Charms from Jennifer.  She is such a lovely friend, she also sent me a beautiful mug rug, I was so excited I was trying to type a 'thank you' and lay out the charms simultaneously!

OK, so the Across the Sea will go into piecing-overdrive again tomorrow - but having received such a lovely gift, those 170+ pieces have been well and truly excused!  Once the other parcel arrives, I will get Goodie 2 sorted, and then I'll almost be on top of things again, phew!

Next Wednesday I have my long-awaited, full-on dentist appointment, so I can't imagine getting much done before (nerves), or after (pain and dribbling!); but this was definitely a lovely interlude in this working week.

Hoo's in the Gap!!?

Rhonda was the winner of my blogiversary giveaway back in July, and I am happy to say that the mini quilt that I made especially for her, has now winged its way to Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.

I decided that as Rhonda had expressed her love of 'owls' that I would take that idea and run with it.  Also panic-struck that you would all get to literally 'hear' what she thought of what I made, I was keen to make it a good one eh!?

So here she is...

... because Rhonda likes the little house!

Based on the cover of the Boo Davis book, (oh talented 'she' of my Brit Quilt Swap skull for Sarah), Dare To Be Square Quilting...

... but not actually owning a copy of the book, I had to make it up from the picture, but I think I pulled it off.

I backed it with some Kona pink of some forgotten shade, and some of the backing fabric from my Mum's quilt, I am really quite pleased with how it turned out.

Rhonda, you are fun to know, and fun to make for;  thank you for being my 'winner' x

Sunny Sewing Saturday!

Well much of today has been taken up with finishing Rhonda's prize, but if it's going to remain a secret, I really wouldn't trust her to look away if I showed you!  So you will all have to wait until it has arrived in Tennessee!

But one thing I did discover is that prescription sunglasses are the business!  I have never had them before; my vision hasn't really been that bad to bother, but now I have literally seen the error of my ways.   I sat in the sun sewing and I could actually see what I was doing without squinting!  Bloody marvellous!

So in trying to think what I could show you this evening I found a few of pics I took this week and didn't get to include already...

... this £2 linen Western Australia souvenir table cloth from a charity shop just begging to be cut up and rearranged into something else, (which will probably just look like a bigger table cloth... eventually!)...

... these childhood favourites in a local bakery, which the kids thought were hilarious!  Cornets, without ice-cream but marshmallow instead!...

... and to counteract the above, the apples in the garden are ripening quite nicely, (I've killed the strawberry plant and the sunflowers, so I take no credit for these!)...

Off the Kent to deliver the birthday quilt in the morning, so I will report back tomorrow xxx

Mixed emotions!

Today I have been happy, sad and proud, mostly revolving around it being the girls' last day of nursery and the end of an era for the whole family.

The last pre-school breakfast!

We have been going there almost daily for the last 5 1/2 years; firstly just with dear son, then all 3, then just the girls.  We have lived in 3 houses, had big highs and horrible lows, endured changes at work, and mixed fortunes, but all with the security of nursery 'being there'.

The girls were stars, hugging and telling their favourite staff that they would miss them so much; I obviously had to start everyone off crying; but it's all good.  We moved house to get them all into a lovely village school, and soon they will all be there, and our plans will be fulfilled.

So whilst they played and dressed up this morning, poor son watched the final tweeks on the bionic woman rebuild for the week, new glasses...

When we got home....  woohoo!!  Parcels galore!

Japanese Fabric Swap...

August Brit Bee Package...

Sewn Spaces Needlecase Swap...

I didn't really know what to look at first! 

The charms are excellent and I can foresee the girls demanding many of them, but that's OK, I owe them!

Sarah's Brit Bee plans have been left wide open, but after last months' I can do anything!  ('ark at me, and my famous last words!); and so many goodies with the fabric, I'll do anything Sarah asks!  Look at her inspiration mosaic...

And my fantastic 'turquoise' needlecase from my mystery partner Blue Bellbird, with the most brilliant extras; that made me smile, a lot!  Some you will be crossing paths on the Sew Bee Blissful - small world!  I loved this case as soon as it was posted in the group pool, and for it to arrive here, chuffed to bits!

After all the emotion, I have managed to get Rhonda's prize almost finished - I just have to hand finish and I will get 'it' in the post to The Gap!

I've been Rhonda'd!!

If you go down to the Gap today, you are sure of a big surprise!

In today's podcast, by my super crazy friend Rhonda (with an 'h'), you will find out more than you ever wanted or needed to know about me!

Yep, I agreed to let Rhonda 'interview' me and how could I resist, if only to get an American to say Leicestershire and Worcestershire!!!  It was really good fun to compile the answers, and strangely enjoyable to have them read back over the computer.  My children kept saying 'she's talking about you, that's your name."  I am now their 'famous mum'!

Please pop over and have a listen, and have a good scoot round Rhonda's blog; I guarantee you'll be back for the next podcast to hear all about the wedding; I've got my hat ready and everything!

And yes Rhonda, you can put my name down for the quiltalong x

In other news, I ordered my Rainbow Swap 'Blues' from Sew Me Happy last night...

I seem to have a thing about Jenean Morrison's California Dreamin', as last time I picked the pink Yosemite, and this time Santa-Rosa...

... and to make sure I wasn't getting too close to the turquoise buyers, a nice bit of Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley Diamond Dandy New Day...

Now, at the risk of getting a bit repetitive, and it's only Tuesday, but especially if you have popped over from Rhonda's today, please stay a while and maybe enter my blogiversary giveaway.

Happy listening everyone xx