One of those weeks

It's definitely been one of those weeks! I've been such bad company that I've stayed well clear of blogging for fear of driving you all away. Anyway I'm sufficiently chirpy to blog today.

One bright spot in an otherwise grey week has been the arrival of my Urban Home Goods Swap. I received a gorgeous package from Lynda, wrapped in one of the prints from my coveted favourite Sherbet Pips! Frankly if this had been all that I received I would have been chuffed to bits but when I opened the package I could have cried!!

Inside was this gorgeous stacked coin cushion

and two Posh Pillow Cases in Innocent Crush prints! Check out the crochet detail on this beauty!

The pillow cases are reversible and this is the print on the other side:

Lynda did such a good job researching what to make for me. The pillows and cushion go perfectly with the Sliced Coins quilt I made during Don't Call Me Betsy's Quilt Along. See how fab it all looks together! I was very nearly emotional but thankfully had a visitor so was saved from the bloodshot eyes and snotty nose :)

I just need to pull my finger out and get this quilted so I can get on and use this fab set!

Hopefully I'll be feeling more chatty and productive next week so I can share some progress on new projects with you :)

Questioning my sanity

Every so often my mad have-a-go attitude causes me to question my sanity. This weekend has been a perfect example. Last night, after a productive day of bee block making, I was perusing some patchwork books. I have an unhealthy obsession with Lone Star style quilts and although I appreciate there must be a mammoth amount of work involved in them I always think "I could do that, how hard can it be?". I have always talked myself out of it quite easily - too much work involved, too much fabric, you'll get bored etc. However, last night I had a lapse in sanity and launched myself into cutting out diamonds!!!

Typically for me I chopped away until closer scrutiny of the pattern led me to realise that I don't have anywhere near enough fabric to make this monster Not-So Lonestar quilt by Kaffe Fassett. Much hasty online fabric buying ensued late last night and thankfully I was able to order all the extras that I need. I'm using Innocent Crush by Anna Maria Horner and Soul Blossoms by Amy Butler so they are quite readily available over here now, phew!

I cut up as much fabric as my impatience will allow so that I could start putting a block together. The scale of this project has now struck me and frankly I'm terrified! This first diamond shape is around 30", I haven't measured it but it's way bigger than my 24" ruler. There will be 8 of these! It's going to be a mammoth task and I'm already thinking this will be one for the long-arm quilters, no way am I tackling this one!

So friends, I'll bid you farewell before the men in white coats batter the door down ;)

Amy Butler's Style Stitches Sew Along with Bree - March -Origami Bag Set

This month's Style Stitches Sew Along with Bree is the Origami Bag set. I've reached out the Ruby Star Rising again as I just can't get enough of this cute fabric. Notice the aqua ZIP...yikes I've never done a zip before, so major trepidation!

Suprisingly enough there was no trauma involved and in less than an hour I have the first of my set completed!! Bonus. Super quick and easy and extremely cute, even if I do say so myself! Here are various shots of the finished extra small bag, there are no witty comments or stating the obvious, just photos :)

This was such fun to make I'll definitely be making more of the bigger sizes too :)

More swap goodies received :)

I've been a busy bee this past week or so but as I'm undecided about what I'm going to do with what I've been making I can't share it with you yet. To make up for this I am going to share with you these fabulous swap goodies that I've received :)

On Saturday this gorgeous package appeared at my house all the way from the States. The best kind of gift wrapped in fabric :) The purple is a tufted tweets tissue pouch! You all know how much I love Laurie Wisbrun fabrics so I was super excited to get this :)

When I opened it up I found this little beauty from Becky (moxiegrumby) in the My Favourite Little Quilt Swap. Typically my photo drains the colour from the fabrics but I think you can see that there is a whole lot of happiness going on here. This is its temporary residence, propped up on my machine, it will eventually go up on the wall behind my machine so I can see it when I'm sewing :)

This morning the post lady delivered another package in the form of my Scrappy Pincushion Swap! Another one all the way from the States. This gorgeous little pinnie and cute extras came from Wendy (On a WhimLittle Whimsies).

Here's a closer look at the detail on the pinnie :) Little beads and that butterfly! Beautiful. This will look so cute next to my machine :) Hooray for flickr swaps!!

Adventures in swapping

Just so we don't confuse you any more than usual I'm writing in black and Yvonne is purple today as will be evidenced by the references to my full name! Seriously Mum!! Anyway, happy reading :)

First of all, if there is anyone reading this who is as old as me and Methuselah, I'm not talking about the free love swapping of the sixties! I'm talking about the, much more exciting, world of craft swapping on flickr!! Once again Correne amazed me with her 'give it a bash' attitude to life in general and leapt into the unknown world of swapping with her usual gusto. I merely watched from the sidelines at the beginning but it didn't take long for me to turn green with jealousy at the fun she was having. I knew I had to 'dip my toe in the water', as they say, when she received her first parcel. So I thought you might like to hear how my first swap went. Well, I'm sorry if you're not really interested I'm telling you about it and thats that!

Unlike Correne, I never dive into anything without much trepidation and hand wringing and after seeing the creativity in the previous Pillow Talk Swap, run by Heather and Co, I wasn't sure if I'd be biting off more than I could chew. Anyway, with suitable (gratefully received) encouragement from Heather, and Correne threatening revolt if I didn't get a grip, I did as I was told and asked for an invite.

I had such fun!! I admit I was worried my partner might not like what I'd made but after reading her likes and dislikes and stalking her blog and flickr favourites it was a challenge to try and make something she'd love. I decided to use Kate Spain's fabulous Fandango fabrics as my inspiration

and actually drew a picture!!! of what I hoped to achieve.

This was a first for me, I'm no artist but I do believe in trying to step out of your comfort zone. I'm glad I gave it a go and the resulting pillow looked quite a lot like the picture too.

It took a lot of time with all the applique and embroidery and the hexies too but was very rewarding.

And the best part? Shelly (Pink Punk Boutique) really liked it and I found her blog and a new flickr friend. :)) Bonus eh? A win win situation. The only downside is the fact that the pillow for me from my partner still hasn't arrived :( But hey I'm waiting on an Angel pillow to replace it and the original may well turn up too. And now I'm hooked on swaps too, so thanks to Correne for her errm encouragement (?) bullying (?) and thanks to the amazing people who work so hard to organise them. "It was definitely bullying Mum ;)"

I did take part in two more swaps; My Favourite Little Quilt Swap run by Kendra (Mccuisti)

and the Scrappy Pincushion Swap run by Chickenfoot and friends.

but I won't inflict all the details on you or you might die of boredom!!! Or, even worse, never return to our blog again and Correne would never speak to me again (imagine) if that happened!

Suffice to say that I had a great time taking part in both of them and look forward to many more swaps in the future.

There are more photos of Yvonne's swap projects here, here, and here.

Sunny just in time...

...to take photos of the finished Doll Quilt :) You can finally see the colours properly!

And here's a shot of the back. I love the way the quilting adds some interest to the simple pieced back.

If you look closely you can see that Kaffe Fassett fabric at work again in the binding :) This quilt has been totally out of my comfort zone but I'm really glad that I've done it and just hope that my partner isn't too disappointed in it.

As far as I can remember that is all my swap commitments finished for now so I can get on and do some sewing for me :) I'm going to be making some bunting for my little brother's wedding which is April so that will take up a bit of time but will still leave plenty of time for other projects. I have a few ideas up my sleeve...

Fabric rocks

On a miserable wet day there is nothing that brings a bit of sunshine like some gorgeous fabric. As far as I am concerned fabric rocks!! Regular readers will know I love Laurie Wisbrun fabrics as I've blogged projects I've made with Tufted Tweets and Urban Circus. A while ago Laurie blogged about a new fabric range she was developing called Nesting Chairs, and that was that...I had to have some!

Today the postlady delivered some sunshine in the form of a fabulous package from the USA and when I saw the sender "Wisbrun" I couldn't rip the envelope open fast enough while still holding the phone and chatting to Mum. Woohoo! So here they are:

OK so for better photos of these gorgeous fabrics you need to visit Laurie's blog or shop and just for the record I'm not on commission I just love her work :) I am now itching to make something with these beauties but think I'd better finish my swap commitments before embarking on a new project for me.