The Start of Something New....

Well, if the first week of 2013 is anything to go by, I can confirm it's going to be a busy one.  

After a lot of trimming of half square triangles (actually not a lot of fun at 28 HST's per block!) and matching up a LOT of seams, I have finished my first 6 blocks for the 3x6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee (Group 13- Sampler). Colourwise not really my taste (and another awful picture, I think the sun has barely shone this week), but I felt a huge relief when I managed to get them finished.

 I was a little over-ambitious when I signed up for this 3 months ago, so I joined 2 groups, and still have 6 star blocks to make, paper pieced, like this sample I made in the first week!

I have the feeling I might be a little paper pieced out at the end of next week, as I have a deadline for posting of 15th of January, that's just 8 days away, I am determined to get these done, I may be gone for some time!!

What else have I been up to? 2013 started out as a winning year.  I joined the lovely Erin at Sew At Home Mummy 's Simply Solids Bee at the end of 2012, and little did I know that she was running a little competition alongside it (I missed that in all of the original excitement), and I was lucky to win 1 of the 2 UK prizes (there is only one group of 12 in the UK, so the odds were pretty good).  On Saturday, I received the most beautiful set of Rainbow Fat Quarters from The Village Haberdashery.


Aren't they just stunning?  And even more perfect in real life- I love them so, so much.  Thanks Erin, and TVH you are the best!!!  :)))))) I cannot possibly incorporate these into my stash, they are just too perfect together, I will be making them into a quilt or similar as a set- they just couldn't be parted.

Next time I will have a little post about some fabric shopping (Rob, please avert your eyes to that one, you don't need to know, honest!).  And I can tell you how very, very naughty Kerry @ PennyDog is, she made me do it, twisted my arm and everything (not really she's lovely, but she definitely encouraged me, which is a dangerous thing!).

Ange x

Linking up to Sew Cute Tuesday...

A Book Review & Giveaway. Stitch and Sew Home- Eline Pellinkhof

Eline Pellinkhof is a rather fabulous Dutch designer, crafter, author and blogger.  Her style is similar to that of the beautifully styled Tone Finnanger, and so with that in mind, lets get on to the book review (and giveaway!).  

Stitch and Sew Homes' subtitle is 45 cross stitch, embroidery and sewing projects, and that is exactly what you will find inside the pages, a sumptuous mix of projects from the simple (crocheted edge towels- if you can crochet), to the more involved cross stitched book cover.  Many of the projects would make terrific little gifts and presents for crafty friends, or to brighten up your sewing/crafting space.  

 I would say this book is similar to 101 Ways To Stitch, Craft, Create, which I reviewed at the end of November, in that it has a range of projects that would be easy to do in a few hours with your daughter/grandaughter (or son/grandson, I'm not sexist, if they don't mind all of the flowers and soft focus fabrics!), and would appeal to their love of pretty little things.  But it is prettier than 101 ways, so much prettier!

To help explain this, let me do a sample of 10 or so of the projects, and a few pictures:
Flower counted cross-stitch (see picture above)
Paper and fabric decorated cards
ABC Sampler and book cover
Stamped photo frame
Mini canvases with fabric flowers etc
Marker roll (could be a crochet hook roll if you slightly amended the little pocket widths)

Embroidery hoop pictures

Fabric baskets
Fabric birds

Little sewn bags
Embroidered lampshade
Key fob cushions 

I think you can agree it's an eclectic mix, but there are some fun ideas in there, and many could be used in other projects, so the key fob cushion would make a great little pincushion, some of the embroideries could be used in other items from cushions, to pillowcases, and bags, and some of the crocheted butterflies, hearts and flowers could make garlands, bunting or even decorate bags and other items.

So, all in all, it's a cute project book, with lots of great ideas for gifts or little pretty things to decorate your own home, if you happen to live in an ultra beautiful Scandinavian style cabin (or fancy pretending you do!).

To be eligible to win a copy of this book, you need to make a project from another book this month and:

1. Add a link in comments with your blog post in the month of January for a book made project, something crafty, embroidered, sewn, or quilted- mention this competition, and link back to it please.

2. For an extra entry, be a follower (you must have linked up a project), and tell me your on screen name

3. And for a 3rd chance to win, tell me about a great crafting book and what you like about it- I LOVE books, and my wishlist always needs new books adding, it's my birthday in March, and it stops all of the rubbish presents!! ; )
 
Don't worry if you don't get a chance to make something and enter this month, there will be another giveaway next month.

I have also started a new Flickr group for the Monthly Book Challenge, so you can post any work in progress pictures in there for everyone to see.  I would love to see what you're making, and if you don't finish it this month, you can always enter next month.

Winner will be chosen at random on the 1st of February, Good Luck!

Ange x  

You can buy this book at RUCraft.
 No payment has been received for this review, but I was given the book for free from F&W Media, this is an independent review.

Linking up to Plum and Junes Monday Link Up (It's Monday somewhere, so that counts!)
  

2012 Round-Up.... and hopes for 2013.

Better late than never. : )

On the sewing front, 2012 has been a big year for me, I've learnt sooooo much from blogs and online resources, started my own blog, "met" some fab new people who actually have great senses of humour, and love sewing/quilting like me (so I realise I'm not quite the weirdo I figured I was when I mentioned quilting to some of my "old" friends!!), and I have made a few things, from quilts, to bags, to pouches (bleurgh, that word) and learnt to crochet.  

So here is a little mosaic of some of my favourites of last year, but I see LOTS more quilts in my future, and I am damn sure I will make A. My own lap quilt, and 
B. Some pouches (bleurgh) for myself, for all my travel (quilting and embroidering) bits and bobs.

And for 2013, I have so many things I want to achieve, including a more professional look for my blog, to keep meeting new people both online and in person (the Fat Quarterly Retreat- squeal!!)(and maybe an East Midlands Modern Quilt Guild, extra excited squeal), develop new skills including FMQ, maybe run some kind of swap/bee/or similar (later in the year), and enter my first quilting competition (aaaargh).  

That should keep me busy for a while, starting this month with the list on the left, lots on there! Oh yes, and I don't think I'll manage them all this month, but it's something to aspire to. : )

UPDATE: Anyone wanting to show me photos of their progress so far on Book Challenge projects, i have set up a new Flickr group, so get posting and joining.  Tomorrow, I will do the Book Review for the prize book, and all entries can be attached to that post : ) 

Ange x  

The Book Challenge: Copy Cat & Smarty Pants...

Well, I have chosen my book and project for this months Book Challenge, you didn't think I wouldn't have started now did you?  What kind of hostess wouldn't be on top of this for at least the first month!  So, I have chosen a project from Modern Designs for Classic Quilts (you can read my review here), after putting my neck on the line saying I wanted to make every project in the book (that's not an actual commitment you understand, I'm not THAT much of a madwoman!!!), I had to choose one at some point soon.

And which quilt might you ask?  Well, like it says, I'm a little copycat, and I've gone for the Baby Quilt/Playmat which my friend Sarah at Duck Egg Threads made just before Christmas- you can see her boys version here, I am doing a girlie version however.

I have been the ultimate copycat, and even used the same central fabric (Aneela Hoey's Girl on Swing from her Sherbet Pips line- beautiful!) as the book quilt.  I did get a photo of my progress this afternoon (see below), and have since added some patchwork square borders, but no photo yet- so the quilt top is nearly finished, yay!

I'll keep you posted in the next few days. This will probably be for a friend of mine who is due to have her baby any day, and if it is a girl (I'm just guessing, it could go either way!) then I will get it all finished up as quick as possible.

So, the big question is, how are you getting on with your Book Challenges? I would love to see your progress, feel free to link up to any blog posts, flickr pics or the like in the comments section below, and I can have a good look.

Ange x

Unexpected Squishy Mail.....

 Just a couple of days before Christmas I received a really lovely squishy mail present from the wonderful Kerry @ Penny Dog containing some beautiful fat quarters of Oh Deer by Momo, which I have been coveting for a while, but resisting due to my fabric buying ban (which isn't going that well, but for reasons outside of my control!).

Kerry is an absolute sweetie, and wanted to thank me for my support of her new quilting magazine idea, Fabricate, which unfortunately didn't make it's target at midnight NYE. It is a massive shame, as I said before, I don't think there is a good quality monthly modern quilting magazine in the UK, and I for one would have loved to have one to look forward to every month.  Oh well, maybe the idea will get off of the ground at some point, and it wasn't quite the right time right now. : (

So, now I have even more beautiful fabrics to stroke, and love and find a home for, if I can just find a little time to sew more fun stuff.........

Thank you Kerry, it was a lovely thing to receive a surprise, and I'm confident you'll realise some of your dreams, but maybe at another time. : ).

For anyone looking to do a little fabric exchange, pop over to Kerrys blog as she is running one via Scrapbot Swapbot, oops (I'd never heard of it, but it seems pretty straightforward).

Ange x

Happy New Year, and a New Years Resolution....

 Happy New Year!! I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year, and are as keen as I am to get back to some sewing and quilting, so with that in mind, welcome to 2013!!!

I don't really make NY Resolutions, as they invariably fail, but this year I have decided to make a resolution that gets me off my backside encourages me to use some more of my Sewing and Quilting Books.  As I said before, I have lots of lovely books with great project ideas, and I do use them for inspiration, but if I am ever to be allowed to get new books (guilt free), I need to be more proactive with the ones I already own.

Cosmo Bag from Amy Butlers Style Stitches

So, I figured I can't be the only one who loves books, and has lots of "must do" projects, and it seemed to be a good chance to hold a book giveaway, and get the chance to see what everyone else is up to.  So, if you want to sew along with me this month, and be in with the chance to win a new book, this month it's Stitch and Sew Home by Eline Pellinkhof (which I will be reviewing later in the week), you're in the right place.

Knitting Bag from Poppy Treffry's Freehand Machine Embroidery

To enter the giveaway, you need to do the following:

1.Amendment- link up to the Book Review (this will be live Sunday 6th of January) Link up in comments to a blog post in the month of January for a book made project, something crafty, embroidered, sewn, or quilted- mention this competition, and link back to it.

2. For an extra entry, be a follower (you must have linked up a project), and tell me in the Book Review for Eline's book.

3. And for a 3rd chance to win, tell me about a great crafting book and what you like about it- I LOVE books, and my wishlist always needs new books adding, it's my birthday in March, and it stops all of the rubbish presents!! ; ).  Also put this in the Book Review post for Eline's book (live on 6/1/2013).

The Rules
The project doesn't have to be completely finished if it's a big one, so for example, if you're making a quilt, and the whole top is pieced, that counts for an entry, but if you're making a little pouch or cushion, then it should be pretty much done.  It can be a project heavily inspired by a book pattern, for example, when I made this pouch

  a few weeks ago, the embroidered pattern and basic style, came from the coaster pattern below in Stitch Craft Create, which I reviewed here, but obviously its not a coaster, I "up-projected" it.

Hope that makes some sense, any questions, ask away, and lets get some guilt free sewing in, a chance to win a new book, AND once we start to use up our "old" books, we have a guilt free excuse to get some more, yay! 
  
Ange x 

To get the button, copy the text on the right hand column and add it to your post! : )

 
 

Merry Christmas.....parental advisory, naughty word included, not THAT naughty!

http://www.someecards.com/

I could say I'm all ready for Christmas, everything is wrapped and sorted, all the food is ready, and all of the drinks have been bought, but that would be a lie, and well, what's the point in lying about it???  What can I say, I work better under pressure, and seeing as we made the decision to move about a month or so ago, I have been furiously decluttering the house to try and get it on the market before Christmas (yay, it went on, on Wednesday!), so now I have that pressure I needed (lucky me).  So, I have a LOT to do tomorrow, including finishing off the Banoffe Pie and Lemon Drizzle Cake to take into my little ones nursery first thing.  
 

http://www.someecards.com/

So, on that note, Merry Christmas everyone, have a great time with your friends, family and loved ones, and enjoy a little relaxation.  I'll see you next year for a little book giveaway/competition- all you have to do is have a look through some of your unused sewing/quilting projects, and pick one.  Well, you've got a few days with your feet up, so get a mince pie and a little mulled wine and have a browse through your books, after all, it's nearly a new year, and everyone knows, New Year, new start!

http://www.someecards.com/

Ange x