Better Late Than Never Fabness...

Apologies for the lateness, bit of a busy weekend has thrown me off track, and as I'll be at the Fat Quarterly Retreat this Friday-Sunday, the next one will be a little delayed too.

So, out of the previous bunch of talented ladies, lets pick a few favourites, and then offer up the latest list of lovelies!

So now that's all done, let's have a look at this weeks willing victims:

Friday, July 5

Christa @ Christa Quilts!

Alyce @ Wonderland By Alyce

Anna @ The Crooked Banana

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After 

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher

Shayla @ Sassafras Lane Designs

Caroline @ Carolines Craftiness

Lisa @ Hilltop House Creative Works

Alyce in her fab new dress, over at Wonderland By Alyce..

 

The Washi Dress looks great, and I plan to make my very own tunic version of this soon, very soon...

Next up is Rachel at Sew Happily Ever After, and this time its the Staple Dress, isn't is gorgeous...

 

Think i must have clothes sewing on the mind, but these both jumped out at me!

Stephanie at Quarter Incher, isn't this cushion just stunning, love the colours, love the textured background, love everything about it!

That's it for this (last) week folks, the next set of bloggers are as follows, so get nosing around, I know there are some absolutely great blogs in here:

Sew and So Farm  
Wombat Quilts
{no} hats in the house
 playcrafts
  627handworks
 Let's Begin Sewing . . .
Quilting Along the Grain
 Love by
 Quilty Creations

Ange x

Retreat Swap And A Play Date

Today I've been over to Susans for a heavy dose of nattering, some light sewing (lets be honest, we never get much done), and some fab choccie cake (she makes the best cake!).

I took my 3 almost finished travel sewing kits with me, all I needed to do was sew down the binding, which I managed to do today.

I kept them reasonably simple on the inside, a zippy pouch area on one side, and a needlebook and couple of pockets on the other with a loop and button to secure it (the button is covered with a fabric that says sew, sew)

I chose 3 different patterns for the front covers, the first is a paper pieced square in square- this one is also interfaced with Pelmet Vilene, but it felt a bit too cardboardy for my liking, so I didn't bother on the other two.

And the other two are English Paper Pieced blocks, the perfect little projects for the current bbq weather, as I have really enjoyed soaking up the sunshine, stitching them together, with a glass of Pimms (or two).

Each one is about 8 inches square, and hopefully big enough to carry around a little project for it's new owner for their travels or classes.

I didn't follow a particular pattern, as I decided to just wing it a little bit, but the basis is this pattern by Lots of Pink Here, this is the version I made last year.

But I also rather liked the Patchwork Please! embroidery pouch (like the one Hadley made, fabulous), so decided to freestyle it a bit.

I still have the Weekender to re-start/finish, and the Siblings Quilt, but there is still a week left, just a week, so I had better get my skates on- although their is talk of a certain man being away for work  from Sunday, not that I'm planning any all nighters or anything, but you never know!!! :o)

Ange x

A Little Distraction...

Whilst I should have been finishing of my sewing kits for the Fat Quarterly Retreat swap, I got a little distracted, and accidentally made this bag, whoops!

 

In my defence, it was  Karen at Blueberry Park's fault.  She showed a photo of some of her bag collection, and one particular bag caught my eye, so I asked the obvious question, what pattern is this bag from, and she kindly pointed me in the direction of the Origami Market Bag, on the fantastic Whip-up website, pattern written by Alexandra Smith.

Not only is it a fantastically simple and quick bag, it's also free, can't say fairer than that!  I did deviate from the pattern a  little, instead of using the guideline 130cm of fabric for the length, I used  115cm, as it was the width of fabric, and reduced down the size of the width accordingly.  

I made a second bag, and used it as a lining (the £2 a yard polka dot I bought at the Fabric Guild a few weeks back), as the Essex Yarn Dyed in Black I used for the outside fabric wasn't quite heavy enough for the bag.  I sewed the bag and lining together around the opening, and so it's reversible.

The other main difference being the extension of the handle with another piece of fabric, and extending the length of the tube that covered it- this was to account for the reduced dimensions of the original fabric, which made the handle length smaller, so it could still be used as a shoulder bag.  

I would definitely make one of these again, and would line it again.  The question is though, would I make any other changes?  Yes, I would probably make the slightly bigger version, and most importantly, put pockets on the inside, to help me store all of the junk I seem to carry with me.

And now back to the travel sewing kits... 

Ange x  

Finish Along 3rd Quarter Goals...

As quarter 2 was a mixed result, I decided to mix up the types of projects for the next quarter, some big, some small, and see where I got to from there.  But to start off with, lets include 2 of the not finished from last quarter.

1. Siblings Together Quilt- It's all basted, and I tried to start quilting it the other day, but after wrestling with it for an hour or so I had to do some unpicking, grrr!  I might need to wait until a lightly cooler day, it's all sweltering hot at the moment, and I get really grumy when I'm too hot and trying to quilt big things.

2. 2012 Craftsy BOM- Also basted, but I still haven't figured out how to quilt it.  I might even do it by hand with white perle?

3.  Weekender Bag- I really want to finish this before Retreat- we will see!

4.  And I have to make a baby quilt out of these hexies, as my friends baby is due in August, eek (actually 2 friends are having girls in August, best get my skates on)

I think that's enough for this quarter, don't want to set myself up for toooooooo much of a fail!!  What are you making this quarter?

Ange x

A Bit Of This, And A Little Bit Of That...

Last week has been a bit of post out, post in type week, firstly, cool post in were these delicious 4 blocks from the lovely Lynz @ Domestic Light and Magic, aren't they stunning!

Lynz is a total superstar, and after posting my original 2 blocks on Instagram last week, she very kindly offered to make me a few to help me out.  Now I can't offer her my first born (her Dad wouldn't like it), but what a kind thing to do, whilst asking nothing in return.  I'm reminded once again what a terrific community I am part of, thank you Lynz you are lovely, your kindness has not gone unappreciated.

So now I have 318 more to do for a Super Kingsize bed quilt, I think I'll leave it a couple more weeks until after I've been on my jaunt to London, as I have a few other jobs to do.

And on that note, the name tag I made for my secret partner has arrived at it's new home.

Sarah at Guerilla Embroidery is the new owner of this tag, and as an embroidery expert (check out her Flickr photostream), it did mean I avoided like the plague, any embroidery on the tag, hence the splotchy printing of her name!  Sarah seems pretty happy with it, but I admit it was a bit of a shot in the dark from one of her Flickr favourites!

And finally, one of my fabulous bloggy friends, Karen @ Quilty Creations, has a little linky party over on her page, for a Something Old, Something New Challenge:

It's a fabulous idea, you can showcase a project where you have:

• made an item from vintage fabric
• repurposed something in your home for the sewing room/space
• given something a new lease of life by transforming it into something new.

You are not limited to one entry, the more thrifty posts the better!
International entries are welcome.

I have linked up my Hexy Quilt as it has some vintage and recycled materials in, and there are some great entries- and a whisper of a giveaway, and we all love a giveaway, right? :o)

Ok, off to get some more FQR prep done, as time is running very short!

Ange x

Queen Bee, and Lucky Ducky New Projects...

It's been a busy week with starting new bits and pieces for my must do's for July.  I've started putting together the sewing kits for FQR swap, and this is the block for the first one, I'm thinking 3 different ones for variety:

And in preparation for my month (August) as Queen Bee for Simply Solids, I've been putting together my chosen, tester block.  It comes together quickly, and I think a whole load together should give a nice effect, they're all random width pieces, good for stash busting.

And I've been rather lucky, and won a giveaway of a Pink Chalk Fabrics voucher with Clover and Violet.  Unusually, I didn't choose to get fabric (shocking I know), so I decided to get 2 patterns I have been hankering after for a while, including the Single Girl Quilt Pattern by the fabulous Denyse Schmidt:

and the Washi Dress, Made By Rae pattern

These are future projects, September onwards, when I get a little time....

Ange x

All About Me...

Oh wow, I seem to be doing a lot of posts about me at the moment, and I'm really not that interesting, but as this is the introductory post for Fat Quarterly Retreat, it needs saying I guess, so if you know this stuff already, feel free to skip this one, I wont be offended! :o)

I am a 37 year old mum of 1 little darling, full time at home, and formerly a wage slave in the Electronics Industry as an Office Manager (snore).  Now full-time, sewist, gardener, house renovator, occasional cleaner, and general dogsbody!

There is a picture of me over on the left hand side, forgive the cheesy grin, I was a little drunk at a friends wedding when it was taken, I'm much more miserable and serious in person (sometimes!). ;o)

I have just finished the first quilt I ever started, it was a massive Hexy quilt, started 2 and a half years ago.

I started blogging about 11 months ago, and wondered who one earth would want to listen to my ramblings, but it seems a few crazy people lovely ladies keep coming back for more, and it is an absolute pleasure getting to know them!  

I am a member of 2 bees, Stitch Tease with an incredibly talented bunch of international ladies (many of whom will be at Retreat), and Simply Solids, which is all UK quilters, and also stacked with talent- perfect for my love of solids.

And I am also part of the East Midlands Modern Quilt Guild, along we a lot of very clever quilters, many of whom will also be at FQR.

I will be travelling down to Retreat with 2 lovely sewing friends, Kerry who lives nearby, and Sarah, who will be travelling down from the north to join us for the drive into London.

On the day(s) I will be sporting this beauty, made for me by the immensely talented Helen at Indianna Dreams.

i love it, and she has clearly spent lots of time making it just right, It has a little forest featured, and as my blog is named after the (Charnwood) Forest in Leicestershire (where I live), just perfect!

Class wise I am doing the EPP Curves with Joanna and Julianna followed by stalking of Lu Summers as I am in her 3 classes, Improv, Portholes and Hand Quilting- whoops!  And yes I have to admit I have a little sewing crush on Lu.  There, I said it, I adore her prints, her AMAZING solids quilts for the style, design and texture she creates, and she's a fellow East Anglian!

And I might be sporting this bag, maybe, but hopefully in a more finished state, hopefully!

Ange x