Mini octastrings

A while ago I signed up for the Pillow Talk swap on Instagram. I absolutely could not resist it as it was my favourite swap back in the days when Flickr was fun to use. My partner is a fan of scrappy so I decided to resize my Octastring block for an epic mini version.

Each block finishes up around 6" and as each block is made up of 9 patches they are rather time consuming, well over 20 hours of work to get it to this point, but I think the end result is worth it.

Prepare for photo overload, I wanted to remember what each of the blocks looked like.

I echo quilted each of the blocks with a pink variegated Aurifil thread as I wanted the quilting to be simple and fade into the background as there was already so much going on with the scrappiness.

For the back of the cushion I used one of my favourite prints from Anna Maria Horner with the pink solid for a bit of continuity.

Before sending it on to its new owner I had to get a picture of it with the original Octastring quilt. I will admit this was a really tough one to part with!

I really hope my partner loves it as much as I do! Catch you soon x

Nellstar

Time away from my sewing machine has meant more time playing with EPP. Let me introduce you to Nellstar. This eight pointed star is a delight to piece! I started and finished this 7" block using Recollection by Katarina Roccella in just a couple of hours.

I've started my second of four blocks because you know there's a secondary pattern in there, isn't there always?!

I did have to put it to one side yesterday for an urgent itch that needed scratching. A bundle of Elizabeth by Tula Pink arrived yesterday morning and I just couldn't wait to try this block out. I kept the central octagon as a whole for this 12" block, Elizabeth demanded to be the centre of attention.

I'm pretty much in love with both versions of the block. Just in case any of you fancy having a go at your own version of Nellstar I've uploaded a project set to our Payhip store. The set includes an advice sheet, templates for both sizes of the block and a colouring sheet for the bargain price of £2. If you search the hashtag #nellstar on Instagram you'll find lots of progress shots of the making of these blocks. As always I'd love to see your version of this block if you have a go.
Right, I'm off to watch the rest of Scandal. Catch you soon x

The Doris project bag

I've been on a bag making spree since I was last here. The yarn project bag that I made to keep everything tidy sparked a major obsession that my Instagram friends can attest to! I just don't seem to be able to stop making them. I've adapted the design since my original version was only ever intended to be used at home, the bag now has an optional carry strap and an additional exterior pocket with a zip making it a very useful everyday bag :) I've also christened this design the "Doris project bag". I had a very beloved great aunt named Doris and she and I shared an unhealthy obsession with plastic bags. Given that I designed this bag to replace an exceptionally ugly plastic bag it seemed only fitting to call it Doris and it makes me smile every time I think I about it. I'd like to think that I would have been able to persuade her to use one of these bags in the place of a plastic bag :)

left hand bag version 2, right hand bag original version

Yvonne has earmarked the bag on the left as her Christmas present. I think there would be major sulking if it didn't show up in her Christmas stocking, it's Lecien Flower Sugar and Pam Kitty Picnic heaven ;)

I've made a rather special version of this bag using some long hoarded Tula Pink fabric. I've decided to sell this one but rest assured it if it's still in the Etsy store by Christmas Eve it won't be leaving our house. There is a certain teenager with her fingers firmly crossed...

Front of Nightshade Doris bag

 Tula Pink is just a genius designer!

Back of Nightshade Doris bag

Nice and roomy in there for lots of stuff, not just yarn!

I'm currently whipping up 2 more bags, one for a Christmas present and the other for the Sew Mama Sew giveaway which starts on Monday 8th December. I've also been hard at work writing a very detailed pattern for the Doris project bag. It is not easy writing a detailed bag pattern, I totally admire people like Katy and Sara who do this on a regular basis! I've got a friend testing the pattern for me and it will be available very soon in our Etsy shop. The PDF pattern is now available as an instant download in our Payhip store and our Etsy store for £7.00.

Right, now to get off my backside and get sewing! If you fancy the chance at winning a Doris bag of your own you might want to check back on Monday :) Catch you soon x

Few words

After a busy week I'm a woman of few words. I may actually be trying not to nod off as I type this. Jess turned 17 this week! That makes me feel super old because that means we're a year away from landmark birthdays; 18 (Jess), 40 (Me) and 21 again (cough, Yvonne).  Where the heck does time go?

Anyway, I've been doing lots of sewing this week with deadlines fast approaching so I've tired myself out good and proper. I finished the FUCancer quilt for my lovely friend.

Front of FUCancer quilt

Rear of FUCancer quilt

Quilted in chevrons with grey Aurifil thread, then washed and tumbled to get the crinkle going :) It is lovely and snuggly so as long as the recipient doesn't have a migraine this should be just right for comforting her on crap days.

I've also been working on another hand sewing project, Diamonds, kites and stars revisited :) I'm going to try and get it finished in time to enter the Pantone Quilt Challenge...

Sewline glue basting for the win! So speedy and I may have converted a few ladies to glue basting yesterday at EMMQG :) Well that's all I can muster for today. I hope you're all safe and well. Catch you soon x

Testing 1,2,3

Our uber-talented friend, Lynne, put out a call for pattern testers last week and I was one of the lucky people that got the pleasure of road testing her Tube Quilt. I've spent the last couple of afternoons petting and chopping fabric.

I'm a third of the way through making the top and can say that it is a joy to piece! My favourite block so far is this one...

I had so much fun fussy-cutting these frog princes. I'm probably a bit slow on the uptake as I've only just noticed the fly in his belly.

The blocks go together really quickly so I should have a finished top to show you very soon.

When I fancied a change of pace this afternoon I tested out an idea that I'd been cultivating for a few days. I channeled my inner Brioni Greenberg but with a Christmassy twist. I love the little holly leaf additions :)

I free-motioned the edges with red Aurifil and it really makes the holly "pop". It's a really fast and fun project to put together. It's destined to be a coaster, allegedly a Christmas gift... if I can bear to give it away ;)

I hope your Christmas sewing is going to plan. Catch you soon x

Addicted

This week has confirmed to me that I am addicted to fabric and sewing. The first indication of the level of my addiction came with the arrival of my new sewing table. Excuse the mess I'm too tired to tidy but just about rested enough to do a small amount of sewing ;) We decided against going down the homemade route for the craft table and instead relied on good old Ikea. This monster is nearly 5 foot square, no more scrabbling around on the floor while basting quilts, woohoo!

The second indication was that about 30 minutes after the postman delivering this gorgeous package from Sarah I was "racing" up the stairs to sew them together on the machine. Yep, first time using the machine since my op but well worth the exhaustion! I knew it was a good idea getting the ladies of the HipBees to make string blocks for me :)

The third indication was a bit groundhog day...up the stairs to the machine I went this afternoon with this package of goodies from Amy. The result was equally pleasing :)

This is most definitely going to be a favourite quilt! Look how gorgeous they are next to each other :)

If I hadn't already been convinced of my fabric addiction the final indication was the overwhelming need to start another hand-sewing project having been woken in the middle of the night by an idea! I started with this tray of yummy fabrics (I've added more since this photo was taken)...

 and very soon these

became this.

I just love this combination of colours at the moment. I'm not sure how big this is going to grow but for now I'm just enjoying the process. Suffice to say I feel much more like myself now I've got some "proper" sewing done. I'm some way off wrestling with quilts but a cushion isn't too far off achievable now :)  Catch you soon x

Holiday at home

Sorry that it's been a bit quiet around these parts, we've been having a "holiday" at home. Yvonne and I managed a half day trip to the Festival of Quilts! I was rubbish and took precisely 2 photos, neither of which are decent enough to put on here. We had a fab time and managed to meet up with quite a few bloggy/twitter friends (the first time for Yvonne), Di, Trudi, Katy, Justine, Ange, Lucie and Brioni. I hope I didn't forget anyone, apologies if I did. It was lovely to be surrounded by so many like-minded people. I had the great thrill of seeing my Sneaky Stars Quilt hanging in Justine's Simply Solids booth...shameless plug alert...quilt kits are now available here. I also got to meet one of my most favourite designers, the inimitable Ms Tula Pink!

Like a mad woman I decided the day before heading off to Festival of Quilts to make a Tula Pink bag to carry all my loot in, and then tracked her down like a crazy stalker at the show so she could see it :) This photo doesn't really portray the scale of the bag very well but let's just say I could probably have smuggled a small child into the festival in this one ;) It went down a storm and there will be a pattern available sometime in the not too distant future.

Since Festival things have been more sedate but hubby has been home so we got a few domestic type things crossed off our to do list. I'm not sure that they could really be classed as holiday activities though. Garage clearing is not the ideal mode of relaxation.
I did spend an afternoon admiring a gorgeous garden..

Hand Drawn Garden by Anna Maria Horner

...and we revamped some orange pine furniture (well, mainly hubby but I supervised). Hooray for Annie Sloan chalk paint!

Before

That's more like it!

After

Hubby managed to transform the bureau too but I didn't get a before pic. I still need to decide what I'm putting on top of it :)

I love how they turned out. The family room feels much more homely now. It's nice to be able to display some of our retro items in such pretty furniture.

Every home should have a Humpty Dumpty biscuit barrel!

Besides that there has been very little sewing going on. I'm hoping to get some done this week as hubby is back at work now. Before I go I must show you a gorgeous hoop that arrived a while ago from Susan. Perfection!

I hope you're all having a good time :) Catch you soon x

oops, almost forgot. Message for Sabrina, please can you check your junk email box as I've sent you a couple of emails :)

Proof of life

I might not be firing on all cylinders at the moment but I've been doing quite a bit of secret sewing that I can't share with you yet. Here's a little sneak of one of the secret projects that I can get away with revealing :)  A rather lovely man quilt grew out of these yummy Parson Gray fabrics!

 

 I've managed to sneak in some bee sewing too :) This block is for Lynz's month in the HipBees. Lynz asked us to use a bit of our own patterned fabric in the block and I think my choices represent my taste fairly well; Denyse Schmidt, Tula Pink and Heather Ross.

I just had to include this little horse/donkey for Chook!

I'm sure Yvonne will be back very soon to amuse you all with her special brand of humour. I can't promise you giggles but I'll hopefully have pretty stuff to show you next time around :) Catch you all soon x

If I never see another...

... flying geese block it will be too soon! In the last 5 days I have made 80 of the sodding things and I'm sick to the back teeth of them now! Rant over ;-) In their defense, they do look very pretty but they are so tedious to make. First up was this block for Rachel in the HipBees. Rachel entrusted us with some of her Liberty stash and asked us to make this Puss in the corner block. So that's 8 flying geese right off the bat.

Next up I got round to making the October block from the Fat Quarter Shop BOM. As I've mentioned before I'm rather behind on this one. I received the tenth block today and the one I'm showing you is only block number 5. It's a rather lovely block with another 8 flying geese, taking my total to 16.

The remainder of the flying geese blocks were for my Marcelle Medallion. Before I show you the flying geese I need to show you the other borders. I'm not giving you any close-ups as frankly my piecing is pretty dire. I'm definitely applying Sheila's 20mph rule to this one. The equilateral triangle border should have been a breeze but somehow it finished up too long to line up with the previous border, as I said shoddy piecing. I love the overall effect of the fabrics that I've used and if I don't stare at all the triangles that are missing their points or the ones that actually have four angles then I'm happy with it.

 The next border went on with no problem as there was minimal piecing involved :)

Then it was onto the dreaded flying geese, 64 of the buggers! Again the piecing is shocking, there are points missing all over the place and again the border ended up too long to match with the previous border but the fabrics make it so pretty that I need to give myself a break.  

I had intended to keep track of all the different fabrics that I used in this quilt but that went out the window fairly quickly. I know that I added Tula Pink and Anna Maria Horner to the mix but beyond that I'm past caring ;) I'm sure I won't hold a grudge against the flying geese for too long but I'm steering clear of them for at least a week! Hope all is good where you are. Catch you soon x