Finished for the year

14 quilts finished 7 tops made this year 5 quilts left to bind 25 tops to quilt

December tradition of squeezing the finishes in....

This was a Longarm University mystery quilt. You get the pattern to make the top in advance and on the day, the quilting instructions are released in instalments every hour. The quilt is called Blocks in a Box and I like it now it is finished - I wasn't 100% convinced during it....

Finish!

I made this quilt probably a couple of years ago and it has been hanging on the bannister FOREVER waiting for binding. Finally done and it is going on the bed tonight as the weather has turned cold.... This was a mystery quilt which I did in Halloween fabrics and quilted with a spiderweb panto.

Silent Sunday

Quilter's rules.....

I made a stamp!!!!!!! So excited. I bought a Stampmaker from ebay about two weeks ago but have only just made the time to have a go. I thought it was brilliant fun - Mark isn't so easily impressed..... Just wait until I make a stamp for HIM - then he will be impressed!

Why?

WHY does it take me SO LONG to finish stuff? This was a hand sewing project years ago - I remember taking it to Danetre quilters and doing it there and I was only a member there for a year and I think that was possibly before I joined Lutterworth Piecemakers..... and I was a member there for at least six years. Can this project really be that old?!!! Anyway, finished now. As is my usual style, by the time I abandoned it, it was almost finished. I just spent two evenings sewing it together and another evening doing battle with the handles and getting them passed by quality control(Mark)and it was done. I remember why I abandoned it - all the hexagons are fussy cut and I realised I had cut them wrong so a lot of the cats wouldn't be sitting straight in the patches - does that matter? NO!

Oldest UFO?

Possibly (but not definitely) my oldest UFO. This was a row by row sampler quilt at Lutterworth Piecemakers. At least six years ago I reckon..... I have quilted it this year and just finished the binding.

Like buses

This is a Bonnie Hunter pattern - Jared Takes a Wife. I came across a bit of paper today that told me I started this in June 2012...... I ran out of the pink polka dot fabric (I bought it from a charity shop - bargain) so only made so many blocks, put them on point and invented the other block to go with it using a plain pink. Have just finished the binding.....

In a bind

There is some serious binding going on around here. I have just finished this one and the next is already 3 sides down, 1 to go and then the next to do is lined up after that..... This one is 38" square and the binding used up a whole fat quarter apart from two 2" squares. Why did that make me happy? Maybe because now I have used a bit, I can buy a bit more!!

Scraps and Stuff

Three finishes!!!! Three mug caddies - one for Ann, one for Murray and the Halloween one for me (of course) using HUGE mugs - mugs too big to drink out of - I would be running to the loo before I finished my cup of tea.... Rocheberie yesterday and there was a large pile of scraps to rummage through for Linus. I found the ugliest fabric ever - I can't decide what it is - it looks like half peeled chestnuts. Somewhere on the planet there is probably bolts of this fabric.... I couldn't bring myself to cut it up yesterday - it needs to remain whole until I find a special place for it.

I did, however, slice and dice this - but I loved the fact that someone donated it to Linus instead of throwing it away. I can't throw anything away so I was glad to see someone else out there must be on my wavelength.

NOTE TO SELF: Don't wear Ipod while trying to type - typing in time to music just slows things down.....

Two!

A finished quilt - very old project - a Quilt University class from I don't remember when. I finished the top at the time but quilted it last year and have just done the binding.

And another finish - a scrap bucket from a pattern on Craftsy. I love this - easier to make than reading through the instructions suggests. I have a tub I keep left over blocks and sewn bits in and this used about a 1" layer from the top....

Mark bought me my very own hammer for my birthday (poundland) and I used it for the first time to beat the eyelets into submission.

With cat

I wasn't sure about this top when I finished it ages ago, I like it a lot more now it is quilted and bound.

Kaboodle was determined to get in this photo - but at least this picture has her face and not her bum....(almost anyway)

Two for the price of one

Two Bonnie Hunter patterns: Wonky Wishes blocks with a dancing nine patch setting.

Our kitchen tiling is nearly finished so Mark insisted the photo show some of the tiles. Scarlett had to be in the photo too, and bottom left is Penny's disappearing bum.....

It's official - I'm a stalker....

Festival of Quilts today and who did I meet?...... BONNIE HUNTER!!!!

She was lovely - very chatty. I normally go to FoQ on Sunday (quieter) but I knew Bonnie was going today so I went a day early. I spotted her when I was in the queue to go in first thing in the morning and I was so excited I think the lady next to me thought I was having a fit.... she looked at me a bit weird so I had to point out Bonnie Hunter and explain my hero worship. I squeezed through the queue (very politely) so I could speak to her and ask for a photo.... She was lovely and I spoke to her again in the day when I saw her walking round. I sent Mark the photo on my phone and he called me a stalker...... Mission accomplished!

Busy, busy, busy

A thread catcher - found the pattern on someone's blog but struggled with it, even with pictures.... I must have known I was going to struggle with it - I cut some of my strips from an advent calendar I bought in a sale as I wanted the cat pictures from it- waste not, want not.

Yesterday I went to a workshop at Threads and Patches in Milton Keynes - only a small workshop - 2pm until 4.30 pm but all materials were supplied and it only cost £7.50. Even got a cup of tea. The workshop was to make a mug caddy which I finished in the afternoon apart from hand sewing the binding down and I've just got to go over the stitching of the Velcro on my machine. Good stuff.

Creepy or cute?

How are they staring at me when they haven't got eyes yet?......

Happy Birthday Scarlett

9 today - but refused to pose nicely for me......

I am sure my latest practice piece will end up in your dogbed....

Well, twist me round and call me Simon....

My very own google doodle..... My dad left me a message on the answer machine wishing me happy birthday in Welsh - I thought he had had a stroke.

A finish

A nearly finished kitchen but a definitely finished quilt. This one has been a long time coming. I quilted it on my first Nessie - the first time I used the extended base and a ruler - only I didn't have a proper ruler, just a thick bit of Perspex that Mark brought me home from work. It sort of did the job and was a good learning curve. I have just done the binding after leaving the quilt hanging over the bannister for at least two years.... It is this shape on purpose - a runner for the bottom of the bed for when my feet are cold.

Owls and unmade blocks

I had planned to spend the evening making more Jacob's Ladder blocks, but Murray saw the owl on my blog....

They are one each for Murray, Ann, Jill, Tracey and Sheila and the big one is for Edward, Jill's grandson because Jill went to Thailand to see her sister and brought me back fabric!

Just look at them elephants! What more could a girl ask for?

Let me take a selfie

Ikea on a Bank Holiday Monday - why, oh why, oh why, oh why (the kitchen, that's why). You can't tell but Mark did this under protest!!! (He loved it really).

Halfway there....

290 nine patches Bonnie Hunter's Leaders and Enders style....

now I just have to find the book and remember which pattern it was....

Finish!

I have done some binding! This was a Rocheberie mystery sewing day - some time last year - I didn't do any sewing on the day as I was in the kitchen but I liked the block so came home and did it in African fabrics.

Progress

The kettle is in.

Challenging fabric

Liz, do you remember our challenge fabric from the Bramble Patch sale back in February?

Stuffed with lavender so it stinks (the owl, not Mark).

Mark at a quilt show

I often get asked how I get my husband to go to Malvern with me...... he has a whale of a time.... and it is my handbag he is clutching....

First steps

If I had a hammer...

Not sure about the blue rope but LOVE the eyelets!

Rainy day

What else can three girls do on a rainy afternoon?

Design wall

My new design wall - thank you Mark!

I had to instantly fill it or I knew I would get moaned at. I feel productive!!

Bridlington Retreat

Have been on a quilting retreat this week at The Royal Hotel in Bridlington. The tutor was Jan Hassard for three workshops in three days - tiring but I really enjoyed it. The first day was Dazzling Diamonds and I got this far:

The next day was Interwoven Curved Log Cabin:

and the last day was 3-D Honeycombs:

I just have to finish them now....

3 mice

From the top down: Mark, Peter and Bambi.

Murray has crabs! (and ladybirds, and pirates)

I have moved offices (again) due to an indoor water feature every time it rained. I now share with Ann and Murray - but boy, does Murray type loudly!!!! She needs a mat under her keyboard to dull the sound down.....

Mother's day bag

Mark thought this fabric was absolutely hideous when I bought it on sale from Midsomer Quilting. I said it would make a great bag so I have made one and gave it to my mum with her mother's day present inside today. In proper gift giving fashion, I only finished the bag yesterday. I asked Mark to hold it for me while I took a photo but he wouldn't......

Waterstones wins

I found a book I liked in Waterstones in Coventry. Did my usual thing which was to check the price on Amazon.....

I went back to Waterstones and bought it for £9.99.

Outside help

A work in progress BUT, not all my own work!!!!......

Challenge fabric

I made a bag with mine! Modelled by Mark - he was on the phone to Talk Talk and not paying attention when I handed him the bag to hold for me to photograph - he looks like a natural with it!