Bits and Bobs

Playing with scraps is fun. I was stitching up a load of HSTs the other night, and it went fast. But I didn't fancy getting cutting and ironing and trimming, so I fished out some scraps and kept sewing.

This is my favourite. It's going to be a cushion cover. The solid borders are from a very special secret project...

What shall I do with this?

Or this? I don't know! 

Finally I just really like this wall art I found at my local farmers market - I never think about what my hometown might sound like to others, imagine if I lived in an actual crystal palace like a Disney princess! 

Finished Trip

I finished my scrappy trip quilt! It's made with Denyse Schmidt Ansonia. I gave it a white border to expand it and then a random scrappy border. It's bound with a turquoise print, good old Ikea Numbers on the back, and it's a good lap/sofa size.

The friend I made it for is a very accomplished needle woman herself, she does amazing cross stich and tapestry work. So it was nice to know she would really appreciate the fabric goodness, and the sheer labour of love that a quilt is. She's going through a tough time and I wanted her to have a hug she could keep. It's a bit cheesy, but that's what a quilt is, a hug you can keep, it literally hugs you again and again!

Here I am trimming off threads in the car on the journey to see her ( my hubby was driving of course) ( sewing and driving is not safe, don't do it!!)

I'm going to link up to My Quilt infatuation, and Crazy Mom this week- thanks lovely link party hostesses. 

Sunday Stash 2

Recently I visited a lovely quilt shop in Suffolk called Quilters Haven. Of course when faced with such an amazing choice of fabric I couldn't make a decision very easily at all! So I ended up with something that isn't very me, but I like it none the less!

Some Flurry in grey, always useful. And then a bundle of Downton Abbey prints which are low-ish volume, vintagey and would go well with my living room if ever I made a cushion or something like that with them.  My son got excited by the thread display , and convinced me I needed some variegated thread. Funny boy!!

We were staying with my mum, and when we got back from the quilt shop I came down with fever and chills. So I packed the car, loaded up the boy and managed to make it home down the motorway just in time. I got through the front door, handed the boy to my hubby and took myself to bed for two whole days. I was so ill it took over a week for me to even open the bag and look at my purchases...I know, really sick right?! 

All better now though, and linking up to lovely Molli Sparkles! 

 

Molli Sparkles

 

Scrappy trip

I made a scrappy trip quilt top. I had these Denyse Schmidt Ansonia fat quarters that I just didn't know what to do with.

 Quite odd prints, high contrast stripes, the weird pink and black swirls...should I go with large chunks or small scraps? My quilty sister advised small scraps, You need to make a scrappy trip she said, you'll love it.

So I did. And I did. Love it, that is. The process was fun and easy. And those odd prints take on a whole new life when chopped up.

Terrible late night photo! This is laying out blocks to decide placement.

It's not quite big enough, so a 2.5" white sashing and then 2.5" scrappy border will pad it out enough I hope. 

I also have this quilt in the pipeline, a family co-production, we're going to make a couple hundred of these:

Out of these colours 

Super yummy! Top secret! 

Hoping I can catch the action at Neefle and Thread Thursday. :)

http://www.myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/needle-and-thread-thursday.html?m=1

http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/needle-and-thread-thursday.html?m=1

Stash!

I thought I'd post a stash feast. I love ordering online, it's the best thing to get in the post! 

This week's arrival was a selection from 'Cuckoos Calling' by Dashwood studios, plus a couple of Amy Butler prints.

Lovely! 

Then some fat quarter stacks I ordered a while ago from Craftsy on sale, that came via my Stateside little sister. Some Denyse Schmitt:

And my favourite, Tula Pink's Acacia. The stack didn't have any of the crazy raccoon print but I have some of that already!

Mmm... Now what shall I make? 

Going to link to Molli Sparkles!

2 quilts finished this week!

So this was a red letter week in sewing land. I finished not one but two quilts, one of them start to finish. 

First I finished the binding on my scandi stars quilt - navy blue. Not black or white as recommended by Mary Fons, but a dark neutral none the less. 

I included double batting and a flannel backing, so it is seriously cosy. Also my first quilt with no white- I love it! 

Second quilt was conceived of and finished in 6 days. I learned that a friend at church was in the middle of a course of chemo last weds, and thought what can I do? Make a chemo quilt of course. So I pulled fabric and had it pre washed by Friday, cut Saturday, top sewn by Monday, quilted, bound, washed, dried and delivered on Tuesday, ready for her next treatment on Wednesday. 

 I didn't use batting but quilted it onto a fleece blanket (ikea £3!) so it's small and light enough to fit into a regular bag, but still soft and warm. My friend really liked it, I hope it cheers up a boring hospital room , I wish it could magic her better too ...

I'm sewed out now, I think for the rest of the weekend I'm going to crochet a scarf just for a change of scenery! 

Linking to crazy mom for show and tell time- thank you Amanda Jean!

And Modern Tradition Quilts. Not sure if this will link through though, this blogger app is pretty basic ...

http://moderntraditionquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/keep-it-simple-make-it-fun-37.html?m=1

Marimekko Bag

I'm very excited to have finished my christmas presents! First up a tote bag for my Marikekko mad sister. I used Jedi craft girl's tutorial, and I'm really happy with the results! 

Quilting in progress...

Finished product!! I even put in a pocket!

I also made a cushion for my mum

And also for my mum in law!

Can you spot the mistake in the log cabin? I decided to just go with it!

Hooray for Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone!