Getting even more prepared...

With less than 5 weeks until FQ Retreat, I am trying to get all prepared.  FQR, the end of the school year, and my long break from work all clash, and things are only going to get more hectic from here on in.  Next week we have two sports days, my birthday, Village Day along with two lots of swimming, Cubs and Rainbows, and then it doesn't really slow down.

So I am already suffering from a delightful cold that dear son has brought home from school, and I will probably flake out completely tomorrow.  But for now, I have just cut all my class fabric; I am using Architextures for all my classes, curved EPP, Portholes and Cathedral Windows, so I am aiming for three matching cushions at some point after the weekend.

If anyone is after 'calico/muslin', I got a meter of Moda 90" wide from Eclectic Maker and I had enough for the cathedral windows, and 4 porthole blocks.  It's an off white, more cream than pure white and is a lot softer than Kona solids. 

Also in preparation I have made a purse for Krista; we talked about a private swap yonks ago, but life intervened, but seeing as she is coming all the way from Canada to see me, it would have been extreamly rude not to.

So Liberty-linen frame purse it a tick off the list...

I used Emily's brilliant tutorial from over at The Village Haberdashery again; I love the size this comes out.

So that's me for now; if this cold kicks in, I doubt I'll blast through my To Do list tomorrow as I was planning, but either way, I am going to settle with a cup of tea at some point and listen to Rhonda's latest podcast. 

Oops forgot!

Now I showed you the great FQR name tag that I received from Julie last week, but blow me, I didn't show you the full reveal of the one I made.

I did flash it up on Instagram, along with the fab self portrait of the happy recipient, but I got caught up in blog hops and other commitments and never showed you here.  Sorry.

I made for the lovely Sonia, who, between receiving her details and mailing her name tag, we both joined the Siblings Together Bee - yay!

I kind of had a plan before I got my partner assignment, and with a little stalking decided to go with it.

I did the teeniest of embroidery, which probably means you will have to invade Sonia's personal space to read her name, but I can live with that, (Sonia, you have no choice, unless you accidentally leave it at home!) .

I really enjoyed the tiny Liberty piecing, and getting in the FQR spirit; not long now chaps!

NB. It is now 2 hours after I 'posted' this and Blogger is not playing nicely, so hope you can see it soon xxx

Teatime...

Week two of the fabulous Zakka 2.0 sew along making Patchwork Please! projects, and tea towels are getting the Ayumi treatment.

Not that I am cheeky or anything, but I opted to go simply for 'Tea' and to decorate a bargain tea towel from Tesco; I am British after all!

I got the binding stitched down whilst at my Mum and Dad's yesterday, and then promptly gave it straight to my Mum for keeps; out of sight, out of mind when it comes to using it on actual dishes!!!

I googled for a teapot template and happily found this.

This was a totally quick make, a great gift idea, and had I thought more deeply about it, I could have gone more masculine and given it as a not-so-subtle Father's Day gift to dear hubby!  Dammit!

Linking with lovely Lindsey once again x

PS.  Thank you all so much for the Marcelle Medallion love - I will try to work my way through my chocablock Inbox later!

Da da daaaaah!

There's nothing like a visit to my parents' and a potential pretty photo shoot to get me to put the pedal to the metal and get things done.

My Marcelle Medallion has been a long time coming since the top was completed, very out of character, but I wanted the quilting and backing to be perfect.  I think I sussed it.  I love this quilt...

OK, I took loads of photos, and here they are!!

The Full Details:

Pattern - Marcelle Medallion from Liberty Love by Alexia Marcelle Abegg
Top - mix of Liberty and other high & low prints, mostly from here, here, here and here
Back - IKEA print plus Liberty and low volume charms
Binding - Tula Pink - Prince Charming Fern, in Indigo
Pieced & Quilted - Aurifil 50wt 2021
Spiral quilting from the centre out
Finished size c. 57" square

You don't need to hear me rave on and on, but I have to say this is the quilt I am most proud of; that I didn't rush for the sake of a finish (and a FAL tick), and that has cemented my love for Liberty completely! 

Sorry, can't stop...

I want this finished this evening; halfway round already...

xxx

Randoming again...

I've been feeling a bit snowed under the last couple of weeks, and the kids have tended to get on my nerves rather than fuelling my random posts!!

But we're all back on form...

Moo!

Random continents!

The mouth that bankrupted the tooth fairy!

Mub & Grub

And not a lot makes me smile more than my kids on a good day, but...

My beautiful winnings!

Talking of which, I have finally quilted and attached the binding to my Marcelle Medallion quilt, and am heading towards, what I am hoping to be, a Saturday Reveal.

Linking with Cindy and the Randomeers once again xxx

Siblings Together June Bee Block

Unless you sew under a rock, you will know all about the Siblings Together charity, and you probably know that Lynne recently set up the first Siblings Together Bee, of which I am a proud member.  This in turn has lead to the creation of spin off Bees, all making quilts for this brilliant cause.

Lynne has secured such an amazing bunch of sponsors for our Bee to whom we all owe so much, and this morning I finished off my contributions to the first, June quilt.

      

            

      

Lynne sent us all some PB&J by Basic Grey, and blogged the full instructions right down to which way to press the seams; and there were a lot of seams, but they result in a great mega-block...

I would have added a picture of Lynne's Touchdraw representation of the whole quilt top, because it is going to look great, but I haven't worked out how new Flickr expects me to do this!

It's not my month until next April, so I have plenty of time to think up what I want the ladies to make, and I am going to enjoy all the other Bee blocks in the meantime.

Modern Mini Quilt Challenge Blog Hop

Welcome to my turn on Jennifer's Modern Mini Quilt Challenge Blog Hop.  I am chuffed to bits to have been asked again to add my tuppence worth; if you have followed the rest of the hop, you will be as surprised as I am!

I have made, swapped and received many minis over the last 3 years; on the whole they make me very happy, come in useful for covering up those things that need a little hiding away, or to simply look pretty and make the world a happier place.  Too much?

So when Jennifer first asked me, I thought I would definitely try to do something different.  Something that I probably wouldn't make on a larger scale, something a little out of my comfort zone.

I tried, I really did!

I cut into a charm pack of Lucky Penny, and then started doubting if it would work, and pulled out the colours and prints I didn't like, aka the browns!

 

I thought I would go wonky, and improv'.  I made small wonky log cabin blocks, but couldn't help myself, and squared them up!

Mini's are the perfect way to try new things, because if you don't like the result, it's not been a huge waste of time or fabric, and if it works, well you can then super-size to your heart's content!

I made this with the idea of having it on the dining table to replace the seen better days IKEA placemat we use for the sauces and things; I tend to flinch at the thought of mucky things near beautiful fabric but I will actually have no problem with using this!  It didn't turn out at all as I planned, and I don't completely dislike it, so it was still a success; even though I won't be making a bigger version.

To right the balance, I reverted to type this weekend, and pulled some of my tiniest scraps, to make something pretty.  Something I love, and something the ketchup will not be coming anywhere near!

The pieces were cut 1.5" x 2", and the finished mini measures up at a pleasing 8"x 15".

So there you have it, not everything turns out as you hoped, but being a mini, it will probably find a place, a use or a way to make you smile.

Today is the last day on the hop, so now it's your turn to get organised and join in.  Here's Jennifer again, in case you need reminding!

Here's the deal. The Modern Mini Challenge is a call to challenge yourself. Try something new: a new technique, a new pattern, a new thread, etc and make a mini quilt. 

A mini quilt makes it possible and oh-so-doable! 

What's a mini quilt? It's a mug rug, a pillow, a wall hanging, a table topper... you get the idea!

Check out the AMAZING minis in last year's contest! There were over 200 awesome entries! 

You don't have to be an experienced sewist to enter! Don't let your lack of experience keep you from joining in! I want this event to be fun, encouraging and inspiring- just go for it! Believe in your ability and go CREATE!!   Go be AWESOME!!

Speaking of awesome, there will be fabulous prizes available just for entering! So try your best, pick something fun to create that speaks to you and get sewing. 

The details:

You can enter any mini quilt that you've made within the past 6 months. Remember, a mini quilt can be a mug rug, a mini quilt, a pillow, a table topper, etc. Only one entry per person. 

Size requirements: must be at least 6" x 6" and no bigger than 24" x 24". 

You can enter a mini quilt made from your own design or from a pattern. Please give credit to the pattern designer in your description. 

Need some inspiration? Never fear. I've got that covered! There's a snazzy group of quilters ready to share some of their creations to show just how fun a mini can be. The Modern Mini Blog Hop kicks off June 5!

June 5: Ellison Lane
June 6: Happy Quilting
June 7: Swim, Bike, Quilt 
June 8: Craft Buds
June 9: From the Blue Chair and Sewing Under the Rainbow 
June 10: The Sewing Chick
June 11: Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle and Fresh Lemons Quilts 

Starting June 12, you'll be able to link up your entry here at Ellison Lane. You'll have until 5:00 PM EST on June 16 to add your mini quilt. Link from your blog (a NEW post please), your Flickr account or your Threadbias account. Remember, you don't have to have a blog to enter! 

PRIZES! Did she say prizes? For sure! Check out these amazing goodies up for grabs: 

$125 Gift Certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop

$75 Gift Certificate to the Intrepid Thread

$50 Gift Pack of Pellon Products

$50 Box of Coats and Clark Threads

(2) $50 prize packs of Dritz sewing products

$25 Gift Certificate to Christa Quilts

A Bundle of Marblehead fabrics from Fabri-Quilt

The $125 Gift Certificate winner will be chosen by my husband- his is the Wild Card Choice! The other prizes will be awarded by random draw.

So what are you waiting for? Get excited, get creative and get sewing. Challenge yourself and go make something great!
xo,
Jennifer

Thank you all for getting this far; thank you to Jennifer and to all the others on the hop for the continual inspiration, and now it's your turn xxx

Mine!

I have to admit, since they changed flickr I have not been looking around it as much as I used to - the discussion threads remain the same, but actually browsing pictures is a right royal pain in the slow-loading butt, if you ask me, which you didn't, so I'll move on...

Anyway yesterday I had a look through the FQ Retreat pool, commenting a little before getting fagged off with the we know you want to see EVERYTHING so will load it all and grind to a halt mularky, sorry sorry, but I saw a name tag with my name on it, except I didn't know that it literally did, until today!

Cue excited pause, whilst I unwrap...

Flash, moi?

I'll be wearing it all weekend in July, and quite probably at other times too!

It was made for me by Julie, who goes by the name Forest Poppy and blogs here.  Thank you so much Julie, I love it, and I think we can all agree that she stalked me good and proper!

So now I am going to spend the rest of the evening making up parcels and packages, and maybe wearing my name tag, just because I can! 

39 days and counting xxx

Apples & Peppers

My first pepper from Patchwork Please! was met with shouts of 'nice apple' from the household hecklers.  Hmm...that gave me an idea!

So here is my pepper...

I am going to take this one to work to help  make the hours pass more prettily; I am only in for 3 mornings this week, thanks to a timely Inset Day, but anything to make that time more in-keeping with what I would rather be doing, can't be a bad thing.

The idea?  Teacher gifts, actually Teaching Assistant gifts, and to make them a bit more 'teacher-ish', I rounded them out to really look like apples!

I just had to use the Dick & Jane print on the backs !

This is such a super easy, quick and effective little make.  I used freezer paper for my templates, and a frixion pen to draw round them.  I used ribbon instead of felt for the stalks, and felt for the apple leaves.

After making the pepper, I decided to put a little woven interfacing on the inside of the top piece as I could still feel the turning slit, and with the light fabric I thought, and it does, give it a better finish.   2 layers of fusible fleece instead of batting, cut a little smaller than the template to reduce the bulk, and Bob's your uncle.

The best bit, Mary mentioned using pinking shears in passing yesterday, and bugger me, if that wasn't the most obvious, useful and amazing tip for the curves EVER!  In fact, I used them for trimming the whole things.  Honestly, I would never have thought of that!!  Thanks M xxx

Linking up with awesome Lindsey and Debbie for week 1 of the Zakka 2.0 Sew Along.

Well apart from tripping out the mains power 3 or 4 times with the iron; even after changing the fuse, I had to resort to my old one, which is half the weight and probably just as rubbish good; I made Terri's second Brit Bee block...

It's a Twelve Pointed Star from Fat Quarterly's Shape Workshop book, and I think it looks lovely in T's low volume prints against the Kona Wisteria.

I might get my final June Bee block done this evening, or I might just stitch down the binding on the mini I finished today for the Modern Mini Challenge.

Decisions, decisions xxx

S-S-S-Saturday!

Super, smashing, sun-fuelled, sewing-filled and smiley Saturday.

All the cleaning and washing stuff completed nice and early; hubby took the kids to town, something to do with birthday shopping I believe, and that left me to sew in peace and quiet with the conservatory doors flung wide open.

So I now have 5 out of 7 June Bee blocks made.

That's two nice quick and easy Woven blocks for Bee Blessed...

Two not so quick, but still easy blocks for Katy in Stitch Tease, paper-pieced flying geese and an AMH-esque feather...

And the first of 2 stars for Brit Bee honey Terri...

After those, I sat in the sun and sorted some teeny scraps for my entry into Jennifer's Modern Mini Challenge; I made a mini already for the bloghop, but it just doesn't feel or look like me, so I am having another go...

And more blog hopping, I whipped up a little yellow pepper from Patchwork Please! for me to take to work; I'll get some snaps and show you tomorrow.  Honestly, so simple and I want to make more already!

So that was my day.  Hope you had a good one too xxx

Friday Frolics!

Apologies, the following anecdote contains blood and wee... but no pictures!

Well the after-school shenanigans were slightly more stressful than I was expecting - picture me trying to get twin 1 to wee into a cup whilst twin 2 is running round screaming because her second top front tooth in 24hrs had just fallen out, accompanied with rather a lot of blood, and all the while we were already late for Rainbows.  So with no success on the wee front, we had to head to Rainbows tissues, and funnel in hand. 

By the time we had seen the doctor a bit later, and the eventual wee given the all clear, I couldn't quite believe my blood pressure was not fit to burst, but it was fine; I must be getting used to life in the stressful lane!

OK, so maybe the delivery of fabric today may have got me in an untouchable mood...

Fabrics for the first month of the Siblings Together Bee, Terri's Brit Bee with some cheeky extras including popcorn teabags and a few sale bargains from Quilt Me Happy.

I have spent the evening making blocks for Bee Blessed and the first of Katy's June Stitched Teasers; I am hoping to get all my June blocks made this weekend, so 3 out of 7 is good going for Friday night already I reckon.

Right, time to don my Tooth Fairy wings again... until tomorrow xxx

Phew...

Not only has it been a scorching week, it has been just a bit of a busy one too.

This evening I am almost caught up on blogs and emails and ironing, and I have a 'To Do' list all ready for the weekend.  I can't wait for Saturday, as tomorrow's after-school activities will be calling on my taxi service more than once, and other than a quick sprint round with the hoover, I have nothing else booked.

So as not to leave you picture-free, at 5pm this evening the girls had their first 'proper' swimming lesson, not just the water-confidence fun the school deliver in class; I sat in the sun, whilst they went back and forth, wishing I could jump right in with them, so not fair...

I am too exhausted to be random this week sorry, I really need an early night xxx

Show & Tell

I have a stinking headache, so I am going to give you some quick show and tell!

The show...

I have turned all that prep from the other day into the simple pouch for Danny...

I used the Elizabeth Hartman perfect zipper tabs method, and oh boy I am impressed!

I have also made my swap items for Fat Quarterly Retreat...

There are four Liberty Love Pincushions, but don't be fooled, I may not be in a group of five, four just look way better then three.

I got these all finished up in the sun today; I think it may have gone to my head, so hopefully a good night's sleep and some aftersun will ease me into tomorrow!

The tell...

I am linking up again this year with my friend Jennifer for the Modern Mini Challenge that has started today. 

I'll let Jennifer explain...

"The Modern Mini Challenge is a call to challenge yourself. Try something new: a new technique, a new pattern, a new thread, etc and make a mini quilt.

A mini quilt makes it possible and oh-so-doable!

What's a mini quilt? It's a mug rug, a pillow, a wall hanging, a table topper... you get the idea!

Check out the AMAZING minis in last year's contest! There were over 200 awesome entries! 

You don't have to be an experienced sewist to enter! Don't let your lack of experience keep you from joining in! I want this event to be fun, encouraging and inspiring- just go for it! Believe in your ability and go CREATE!! 

Go be AWESOME!!

Speaking of awesome, there will be fabulous prizes available just for entering! So try your best, pick something fun to create that speaks to you and get sewing. 

The details:
You can enter any mini quilt that you've made within the past 6 months. Remember, a mini quilt can be a mug rug, a mini quilt, a pillow, a table topper, etc. Only one entry per person. 

Size requirements: must be at least 6" x 6" and no bigger than 24" x 24". 
You can enter a mini quilt made from your own design or from a pattern. Please give credit to the pattern designer in your description. 

Need some inspiration? Never fear. I've got that covered! There's a snazzy group of quilters ready to share some of their creations to show just how fun a mini can be. The Modern Mini Blog Hop kicks off June 5!

June 5: Ellison Lane
June 6: Happy Quilting
June 7: Swim, Bike, Quilt 
June 8: Craft Buds
June 9: From the Blue Chair and Sewing Under the Rainbow 
June 10: The Sewing Chick
June 11: Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle and Fresh Lemons Quilts 

Starting June 12, you'll be able to link up your entry at Ellison Lane. You'll have until 5:00 PM EST on June 16 to add your mini quilt. Link from your blog (a NEW post please), your Flickr account or your Threadbias account. Remember, you don't have to have a blog to enter! 

PRIZES! Did she say prizes? For sure! Check out these amazing goodies up for grabs: 

$125 Gift Certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop

$75 Gift Certificate to the Intrepid Thread

$50 Gift Pack of Pellon Products

$50 Box of Coats and Clark Threads

(2) $50 prize packs of Dritz sewing products

$25 Gift Certificate to Christa Quilts

A Bundle of Marblehead fabrics from Fabri-Quilt

The $125 Gift Certificate winner will be chosen by my husband- his is the Wild Card Choice! The other prizes will be awarded by random draw.

So what are you waiting for? Get excited, get creative and get sewing. Challenge yourself and go make something great!
xo,
Jennifer"

So what are you waiting for?  Time to turn some big ideas into compact beauties xxx