A little something for me.

This week I decided it was about time I used some Amy Butler 'Love' fabric to make something for me before I run out. In the spirit of stretching myself I thought I'd use a pattern I haven't tried before, the spiderweb. I used this tutorial by Heather of {House} of A la mode for the basic principles then just fiddled with fabric until I was happy with it.

I'm such an impatient soul that the end result is not as crisp as it could be. I really don't like having to faff around with precise piecing even though I know the finished product is so much more pleasing. Anyway, for a first attempt I'm quite impressed with myself :)

I straight line quilted for a bit of detail and backed with my favourite pattern from the Love range. I don't know what it's called but it is beautiful and I didn't want to cut it into little pieces so this was a perfect project for it.

The cushion has now taken up residence next to my now ugly looking cushions in our front room. I'll have to make some more pretty cushions to go with it, or in fact wait for my Pillow Talk Swap partner over on flickr to produce me a fantastic companion :)

Prepare to be jealous!

I am beside myself with excitement today as I received an absolutely fabulous package this morning from the US of A!! My SavVy Seasons swap package from the amazingly talented Caroline of Trilliumdesign! You have been warned.....prepare to be jealous!

I am totally blown away by Caroline's attention to detail. Each one of those tiny stockings are lined and attached by ricrac to the cute buttons! The quilting is exquisite!! The fruit ornaments are just so neat and will look fabulous in my basket by the fire at Christmas. I am so lucky! Flickr swaps are amazing, I'm so glad I happened across them!

Even though I don't normally allow talk of Christmas before my birthday in November I couldn't resist the seasonal photo opportunity and am now thinking Christmas in this household will be rather fabulous!

My first ever flickr swap item received!!

I've been anticipating the arrival of my Scrappy pincushion for weeks and it arrived this morning!! So exciting. It travelled all the way from Buenos Aires and thanks to the post person was delivered to the wrong address. I received a mysterious message from a stranger on Facebook yesterday informing me that she had a package in my name and could she have the correct address to deliver it to. Thankfully there was no ransom note :) The stranger (a kind neighbour several doors away) popped it through my door this morning. So this rather well travelled package is now safely at it's new home.I've captured the front and back for you below.

Sandy has done a fabulous job on this pincushion. I love it!!! Sandy also included the green fabric that the pinnie is photographed on, three teeny-tiny hexies, an orange trim, a yellow trim and a recipe for Crunchy chocolate chip cookies! I am so lucky. This has been a very successful first swap through Flickr and I can't wait to see what the other swaps bring me now that I've had such a fab package from Sandy :)

Pickledish and a collaboration.

I really must learn to be more clever in the development of my titles, until then I'm at least factual. I've been busy finishing the pickledish block today. I'm amazed at how quickly and easily it went together! Thank you Aneela for such a fab tutorial! I expected hours of cussing and in fact found that the hardest part was piecing the arches, which I had finished yesterday. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with this block but for now it can stay on the ironing board looking pretty.


A while ago my Aunt bought a cross-stitch kit of Jane Austen's house for Yvonne as she loves that era. Unfortunately Yvonne and cross-stitch equals me and knitting, i.e. a disaster waiting to happen! So, I stitched up the cross-stitch in record time and Yvonne has mounted it beautifully on a cushion. There are more details of the construction of this beauty on flickr. This was a proper family collaboration :)

At least I was quicker doing this project for her than the tapestry of 'The Last Supper' which has been knocking around for about 15 years awaiting about an hour's worth of sewing....I just can't seem to motivate myself to finish it. It's a standing family joke now. Maybe one day.....

Pickledish quilt along with Comfortstitching

I've finally pulled my finger out and made a start on my first block for the pickledish quilt along with Aneela of Comfortstitching. This is way out of my comfort zone as I am notoriously impatient and this design calls for paper piecing....ahhh! Aneela has a fab tutorial which encouraged me that this would be manageable for me. My first pieced arch was somewhat desperate (seen on the top here) but by the time I reached the 3rd pieced arch I think I'd just about got the hang of it. I managed to finish 8 pieced arches in all.

I'm hoping to crack on with the infill shapes tomorrow, I'm expecting much cussing with all that curved piecing!! I've decided to use red for the infill shapes rather than subdued white, I am such a show-off :)

Scrappy Hoop Swap

The order of today was to make a start on the latest swap I've joined on flickr. It's yet another hosted by Heather of {House} of A la mode The Scrappy {Hoops} Swap looked like a fab and quick project so being me I dived straight in. Thankfully so far it has been super quick. I pieced this fabric for the hoop in about an hour. I had no real plan in mind and just added fabric to fill holes as I went.

I'm now deliberating what to embroider on the background. Here's the short-list: vintage hat with a feather, mannequin or hat stand. What do you think?

Pop the champagne...

I've finally finished the Crosses Quilt!!! I'm so pleased to have finally finished this one. I am going to miss looking at the beautiful fabric though....good job I've still got plenty left :) After much deliberation I chose to back the quilt with the red spot fabric and then pieced two strips of fabric for each side of the spots as it wasn't quite wide enough. I quilted with clear thread in a cross pattern...well sort of...I got a bit lost along the way but the clear thread is forgiving.

The end result is lovely even if I do say so myself, however, I was not impressed when I discovered a not so deliberate mistake. I'm resigned to it showing that the quilt was made by me and not some robot.

Onwards and upwards...

I've been practising...

Things have been ticking over very slowly here since my op but I'm steadily feeling more like sewing. I've finished one item for the SavVy Seasons Swap, a table runner, and I'm hoping to be able to do a few small extras to go with it. I was very excited to be able to use some of Aneela Hoey's fabulous Christmas fabric for my swap partner.

I've been practising my crochet skills and I'm now happy enough to post photographic evidence. It's very addictive and I don't get anywhere near as upset about unravelling yarn as I do about unpicking thread in quilts!

I've made a few blocks for the Fresh Modern Bee 2 on flickr and I'm looking forward to taking part in another flickr swap this week, The Scrappy {Hoops} - modern swap. It should be quick and fun to do...I hope!