Q2 Finish Along List

Well some of the same old faces are appearing on the list again, but on a bright note, I did manage to make some major headway on quilts last quarter, and cleared 3 off of the list, which is great progress, alongside finishing the top of Hexy 2! :o)

So, without focusing too much on the repeat offenders, and staying positive, here goes for the coming quarter:

1. Hexy 2  

Started: December 2013.
Current Status:  Top Finished, half the hexy binding sewn together, and backing chosen and pieced.  
Plan: Just need to remove loads of papers, baste and get quilting.


2. The Weekender  

Started: Spring 2013
Current Status: Taken back apart.  Reduce size of the base, re-sew together and then fix the lining 
Plan: No comment


3. Plus Quilt  

Started: Summer 2013 Current Status: Central section completed, need to make lots more pluses!  
Plan:  Keep going

4. Star/Bright Sample Blocks. 

Started: January 2013
Current Status: Just Blocks
Plan: Piece and quilt

5. Hand Hoop

Started: Early 2013
Current Status: Needs hoop finishing off
Plan: Finish and hang!


6.Crochet Blanket

Started: End of 2012
Current Status: All blocks finished, need joining and lining
Plan:Sew them together and get them made into a little blanket

7.  Christmas Quilt 2

Started: December 2014
Current Status: Strips pieced, need sewing together, basting, quilting and binding.
Plan:Finish before Christmas

8.Improv Cushion

Started: Autumn 2014
Current Status: Just the top
Plan: Quilt and make up into a cushion to match the other when it returns from Popular Patchwork.

9. Sunprint Quilt
 




  



Started: April 2015
Current Status: Sunprint all cut and ready to sew
Plan: Get it pieced once final blender fabric arrives.

So, I'll be trying to complete another 3 of these at least, and really bringing down my wip's to under 5 before the end of the year, can't have projects hanging around for 2 years plus, forever, now can we!!

Ange x

A Case In Point

A new bit of technology needs a new case to pretty it up, so my recent Birthday gift of a Samsung Tablet gave me a new quick project to get completed. 

After a quick request for tutorial/idea inspiration on Instagram, I settled on Chase at Quarter Inch Marks tablet case as suggested by Helen (thank you very much), and after adjusting the sizes to suit, ended up with this cute little case.

I used twine for the loop, and a button purchased a few years back on ebay from someone who makes them out of slices of branch (cured and varnished), which i rather like.

I'm rather happy with how it turned out, and every time I go to use it, it puts a little smile on my face :o)

Ange x

Sparkle Rainbow Quilt -Siblings Together. Q1 Final Finish

Easter has thrown me off target a little this year, so I have missed the deadline for linking up to the Q1 Finish Along, but as I've had such a productive quarter I wanted to highlight my final finish, and complete a little round up.

This quilt is a Bee one, from Simply Solids a good couple of years ago now, and I figured it was about time the blocks went together, so I could put it up for Siblings Together.

And I have to admit that in putting it together I have fallen in love with it all over again.  For quilting I went with a randomly spaced series of wavy lines, which really gives it a new level of depth.

 This will be a very hard make to give up, but a great excuse to make another solids only quilt of course, and I am hoping it will be loved in its new home :o).

And as a round up for the quarter, I have managed to finish 5 off of the list, including this quilt, a Christmas Quilt,

 the second House Quilt from Stitch Tease, 

a messenger bag for my niece(forgot to photo!), and the Baby Squared Quilt set for Quilt Now.  

As well as another couple of little projects for magazines, the quilt top for Hexy 2 is finished (I'm half way through the hexy binding too), and I am up to date with Bee Blocks, just this months to do.  Now it's clear to see why no housework has been managed for 3 months!

Right, it's a beautiful sunny Bank Holiday, so I need to get out into the garden, my veggie patch needs some serious weed removal so I can get some potatoes in.

Ange x

Seasons Greetings

Happy Christmas!

As I always like to be ahead of the game, I thought I would get my first Christmas make completed, to avoid any last minute panic, or at least that's what I'm claiming, rather than admitting I was trying to get this quilt finished for last Christmas and I'm 3 months late!

I have a seemingly massive collection of Christmas fabrics, so I decided to make a fun Christmas quilt for each of my girls, this first one is for the youngest, and has a fleece cuddle backing I got from Plush Addict at the end of last year. I debated whether or not to add batting, but decided I really liked the extra weight and warmth it provided, so it was included.

 It's quilted using a big zigzag stitch (which reminds me a bit of Christmas crackers), and the 13 by 13 squares measure up at a healthy 141cm square.
The binding is a fun red stripe I got from The Fabric Guild a couple of years back for just a couple of £ per yard,  and I think gives it a fun frame.

The big question now is, will I finish the other Christmas quilt in time for this year's festivities,  it's a tight 9 month deadline, I won't make any promises...

Ange x

Beeing On Track

I made a concerted effort last week to get fully caught up on bee blocks, to help clear my head and conscience, as i hate letting others down, and it was a lot of fun.
First up was the lovely Kari with her Kaleidoscope blocks, with this fantastic colour palette that Val originally used last year, its going to be gorgeous!

And so on i went to Susan's blocks, and she has requested fussy cut blocks with mucho wonkiness and bordered with lots of white and random strips of colour.  The fussy cut centre was requested to be something that represented our personality, and i was desperate to use up one of my monkeys on a bench eating a hot dog, but for some reason S refused my kind offer. Not sure what she has against them, but I've been trying to convince her how good they are for the last two years, maybe next year!

 

I particularly enjoyed making these blocks, and I think the centre of one definitely reflects me, but im not saying which one.

And I have managed to put together one of my long standing WIP's, which I am planning to donate to Siblings Together. Funnily enough, I now remember what I loved about this plan when I decided on this block for the Simply Solids bee a few years back.

More sewing to come this week, I'm hoping to get at least one quilt actually quilted, but im not promising anything...

Ange x

In Print

The last couple of months have been very busy, alongside normal life I have been working on a few projects for magazines, and this last weekend marked the publication of the first two, which made for a rather exciting few days!

The first project was for the fabulous Quilt Now, and was a Baby Quilt set, with cushion and taggie blanket, in Aqua, Coral and Light Grey- not a colour palette I usually work with, but it makes for a really lovely combination, and definitely makes for a refreshing change from girly pink.

I really love the way QN style their magazine, the photos are always fantastic, and I have to say it is absolutely packed with fabulous patterns and articles this month, as well as mine of course :o)

The second pattern is in Popular Patchwork, and is a rather fun Improv Windmill Cushion, made in various shades of blue and white as a contrast, with a pretty, variegated thread.

Right, lets see if I can re-motivate myself to do some more sewing, I'm behind on bee blocks, eek!

Ange x

Scrappy Trip Bee Blocks

I'm a little behind on my bee blocks for Stitch Tease, and decided this last week to catch up with the lovely Di's blocks as she had made it back from her long, fantastic holiday in NZ, and I felt bad I had taken such wanton advantage of the extra time!

Er, worlds crappest picture, taken on my phone, whoops!

Dianne requested a couple of Scrappy Trip blocks, I hadn't made any before, and they were quite frankly, the easiest bee blocks I have ever made.  They came together so quickly, and I can see how everyone found these so addictive (please don't use the word addicting, it makes me cross, I can't quite decide why, but my blood boils!) to make when they were popular, a couple of years back.  I hope I fitted the brief well, as they are bright and fun as requested.  Looking forward to seeing the lovely quilt from these when Di gets around to it (no pressure Dianne).  Right, back to the sewing machine...

Ange x

Sew, Sew, Secret Sew

I have actually managed to do quite a bit of sewing this last month, but as two were secret project, and the other was a bag for my niece, which I promptly gifted and forgot to photograph, I hadn't got a lot to show for it until I finished House Quilt 2! 

Apologies for the rubbish photo, but as usual getting decent weather and time to get outside seems an impossibility!  This was started towards the end of 2013, and the blocks are from my fabulous Stitch Tease buddies, a fun bee quilt.  I kept this one super lightweight like the first, as I want it to be a picnic blanket for myself and the girls when we go out and about, just like House Quilt 1 :o).  As usual I've finished it with some very lightweight quilting, and given it a light grey stripey binding- oh how I love a little stripey binding. Thanks so much for the blocks, lovely bee ladies, can't wait to get using this one too, roll on summer! :o)

Right, back to the sewing, as I am determined to get the FAL down to single figures. :o)

Ange x

FAL A New Year And Mini Roundup

Last year was still quite a productive one, considering the extra person we welcomed to our family, and my FAL dropped down to 10 by the end of the year.  I started last year at 18, and 8 of those are still outstanding, so still some work to do then, and I have managed to add a few on, over the last few weeks, so here goes with the FAL for 2015:

1. Hexy 2 Started: December 2013.
 Current Status:  Widening it slightly, just 4 rows, and the top will be finished.  
Plan: No fixed deadline for finish, but would like to finish by the summer time.

2. The Weekender Started: Spring 2013  
Current Status: Taken back apart.  Reduce size of the base, re-sew together and then fix the lining  

Plan: Just finish it, and never, ever talk about sewing another!

 

3. Plus Quilt Started: Summer 2013
Current Status: Central section completed, need to make lots more pluses!
Plan:  Keep going

4.  Stitch Tease House Quilt 2
Started: Nov 2013
Current Status: Just needs to be quilted and bound
Plan: Easy finish, get it done!

5. Simply Solids Quilt
Started: August 2013
Current Status: Just blocks
Plan: Make into a quilt/picnic throw for summer in the garden

6. Star/Bright Sampler Blocks
Started: January 2013
Current Status:  Just blocks
Plan: Piece into a quilt!

7. Hand Hoop
Started: Early 2013
Current Status: Needs hoop finishing off
Plan: Finish and hang!

 

 8.Crochet Blanket
Started: End of 2012
Current Status: All blocks finished, need joining and lining
Plan:Sew them together and get them made into a little blanket

9.  Christmas Quilt 1

Started: December 2014
Current Status: All pieced, just needs basting, quilting and binding
Plan: Finish this quarter

10.  Christmas Quilt 2

Started: December 2014
Current Status: Strips pieced, need sewing together, basting, quilting and binding.
Plan: Finish this quarter.

11. Secret Squirrel Quilt

Started: January 2014

Current Status: Basted and ready to quilt (the picture is a reference to the fabrics only)

Plan: Finish before end of month. 

12. Messenger bag 1

13. Messenger bag 2

14. Messenger bag 3

Started: December 2014

Current Status: All 3 cut out

Plan: Finish this quarter.  

Well, that should keep me busy, best get back to it
Ange x

A Big Year...

http://vishava.com/happy-new-year-2015-wallpaper-hd-free-download.html

There is always a sense of excitement and trepidation when one year ends and another starts, and in our household, this has never been more true.  2014 was on the whole a very good year for us, the birth of our beautiful second daughter really set the tone as a family year, and we really enjoyed a Christmas Day, just the four of us together. And in 2015 we'll be formalising our little family, and finally getting round to getting married.  

 

Alongside that, we have plans for a single storey extension too, to make best use of the garden, and move our lounge to the back of the house, 

http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/r/re-decorating.asp

and plans for the baby to be baptised, 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/11/12/baptismal-flushing/

all before the end of August.  So you can see, lots going on this year!

With all that in mind, you'd think I wasn't expecting to fit in much else, but I have loads of things I want to sew this year, and finish off, so I will be making a big list to start me off, and give me something to aim towards :o).

First off, I want to get my WIP's down to 5 at any one time, it's currently about 10, with a few close to finishing, so with a bit of a push, I can knock these down by 2 or 3.

Things I want to sew/techniques to try in 2015

• Sashiko/wholecloth project
• A metal framed purse
•  Moomin embroidery
• Right Round pattern
• Aviatrix Medallion Quilt
• Another Sew Together bag
• Double Goosed Pattern
• Princess And The Pea Embroidery
• Oakshotts Quilt
• Doe Fabric Quilt
• Basic understanding of EQ7

I think that may be enough to be going on with, it will be interesting to see how far along the list I am at the end of the year...

Ange x

Progress and a Christmas Tree Decoration

A few weeks back, you may remember I had a list of 5 things I needed to get done before Christmas, and I have made some definite progress on these.  
I've already shown you the quilt for A which was finished last week, 

one of the secret sewing projects is done and written up, 

and the other is close to a finish. 

And then I finished this fab cross stitch tree decoration (pattern by Satsuma Street on Etsy), and it has been on the tree for a few days.

Funnily enough, cross stitch was my first crafty love, many many years ago, and I rather enjoyed this one, despite metallic thread being an absolute bugger to work with (it all came flooding back). 

 I can see some other cross stitch projects in my future, including the rest of the Christmas patterns as part of this purchase, just not right now, as I need to get those other key items made up.

If I'm not back before th big day, Merry Christmas to you and yours :o)

Ange x

More Than A Quilt...

Without getting overly sentimental and emotional, sometimes it is possible to do something more than just sew a quilt.  That is, a quilt becomes more than the sum of it's parts, more than a few pieces of fabric, and in this instance, the aim is that it becomes a message from a grandmother to her grandson, that he was and is loved, despite being gifted to a new family to love and raise him.

On a personal note, I've rather enjoyed making this quilt, it's a simple 6 patch design, and the soft, muted colours make for a calming effect.  On the back I have used the soft, solid blue you also see on the front (and for the binding), and I've cut out the recipients name and appliqued it on, then stitched round in a cream perle, and added his date of birth above it, and even if I do say myself, it looks beautiful (this picture is awful- forgive my late in the day photo).  The whole thing is all wrinkly as it had the washing and tumble dryer treatment, just like a kids quilt should have!  I hope it acts as a comfort for little A in his future, a reassuring constant in his life.

Anyway, enough of the sentimentality, I am making good progress on my "must do" list, and a little on my "like to do" list.  But Christmas is fast approaching, and time is running short, I'm not entirely sure how much will get finished...

Ange x

The Great Demotivator!

My head is full.  Full of lots of things I need, want or have to get done by the end of the year, and it's affecting my creativity.  So, you'll have to bear with me while I get my head around it all, and work out my priorities for the next 6 weeks, before my head explodes!!


Lets start with what I have been up to.  Firstly, Hexy 2 has had a lot of attention, it's been the perfect sofa project when I couldn't get to my machine.  It's fully squared off, but I want to add about 4 rows to the width now, just so it covers a single bed a bit better, oh well back to it then.  

I have also decided to hand quilt it, so I can't see it being finished before the end of the year, but will hopefully be finished early next year, it's a good winter project.

Secondly, I have started to construct this, as I wanted to see how it looked, and if it was going to live up to my hopes/expectations. 

It most definitely does.  I need to make quite a lot of blocks for it though, so it may well go on the back burner until the new year, unfortunately.

So, here goes with the lists, to help clear my head a bit.  First up, the Must Do list:
1. Quilt for Archie.  This is for a friend of mine, whose Grandson is being adopted into a new family in the very near future, so I need to get this completed asap.

2. Secret squirrel project.  No specific deadline but I need to get my bum in gear, as it should have been finished already

3. another secret squirrel project, like above, and now it's bothering me!

4. Bags or something similar made out of the other sparkly Frozen fabric I have, 1 for eldest daughter, and 1 for each of my nieces, deadline, Christmas.

5. Ornament for the tree for 2014, I have these fab cross stitch patterns from Satsuma Street on Etsy, and would love to get them made up.

 Like to do:

1. Christmas Quilt- I really want to get one made, but with the big list of must do's might not be feasible :o(

2. Hand Hoop framed and put up, need to add 2013 to it too, as baby hand is obviously missing :o)

 

3. The second House Quilt from Stitch Tease, all it needs is a little quilting and binding and it will be done, it's an easy finish :o)

4. At least one other from my FAL list, it's currently at 10, so if I can knock a couple off the list i'll be firmly in single figures, which would be major progress since the start of the year :o)

I'm going to get firmly focused on the must do list, so I can get to the "like to do's", and hopefully start 2015 with a clearer WIP pile, as it's planned on being another very busy year!

So, what's on your must do list before the end of the year?
Ange x