It's been a funny weekend

I was sent home from work on Friday.  I think I looked a bit too grey and the fact that I was planning what to do when I was sick was enough for everyone to not want me there!

After a lot of sitting and self nursing there was some sewing on Saturday afternoon.  I finished the needle books for the swap and after a quick photo op and wrapping they are to be sent off.



Then there was the wedding reception; great fun and a bit of dancing!

Late to bed, early up to my first meeting at the London Modern Quilt Guild.  For some reason I got the time wrong, but I found the pub and joined in.  It was quite comforting to see faces I knew from Fat Quarterly Retreat '13.

There were less people than I expected but I guess the bad weather and Knit and Stitch show will have impacted.  It was still fun; to see others show and tell and discuss new books, magazines, tools and fabric lines.  In my 'face to face' life there are very few people that I know that are interested in fabric and crafts so it was a definite welcome change.  I'm hoping that I can now say I'm a member of the London Modern Quilt Guild!

I made it through the wilderness...

So things are not quite back to regular yet and I've been arguing with a cold this week.  Not much of a fight needed as I managed to work all week.  So I decided to plan in some sewing over the weekend just to even things out.

Hoorah! I'm managed my bee blocks for this month already.  The mushrooms are from here and I'm hoping that the improv'd filler block is ok.  

Now just have to remember to post them!

Then there was a bit of binding, didn't get done; an ATC, can't decide which design to do and if I need more fabric (no I don't but when did that ever stop me) and a needle book which I need to finish start very soon but like the ATC, can't decide on the design and then I have to pick fabric.  I see evening sewing in my near future...

With all that indecision I made a mug rug instead.  



It's ok, there were some moments with the inner corners but I found a solution.

I also washed a finished quilt.  

Need to work on my photographic staging!

Something that would have happened weeks ago if the colour catchers had been bought!!  I like it with the soft crinkle.  I started this so long ago and now it's finished I can see all the things that hopefully I have improved on since I started it!

Anyway, with yet more significant changes happening tomorrow, here is hoping that the week is full of fun for you and me!

Well, how was your week?

Hi, I've been back at work for about 4 weeks now and this week I'm feeling a bit discombobulated.  Normally by now everything has settled, but so far no.  As usual I have also spread myself too thinly and am feeling it.  I think the two things aren't helping; I do feel for my family.

But moving on from that, I have actually managed to get things finished!!

There was Moira's block...


A needle book for a swap...


And a start on the first of my ATC's for 'Very Berry Handmade' Ali's swap...
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I like to leave the final reveal for my swap partner!

So maybe not all bad.  Hope your week went well and enjoy the weekend.

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts.

Binding with pictures!

It's been awhile but I have at last done some more bias joined binding.  Not only that but I remembered to photograph each stage (I think).  I guess you could call it a tutorial but so many have done it before and I don't even think it is different, anyway I ramble...

Leave about 6 inches free at each end and each end should over lap by the width of the binding and a bit more.

Lay the binding out and crease each end so they join (butt them together)

Cut one end to the crease 

With the bit cut off open it out, lay it on top and perpendicular to the other side (this give you the join point plus the width of the binding)

Cut any excess off (cut is made on the further side from the crease)

Putting right sides together, lay the shorter end perpendicular and on top of the other side.  Draw a line across the square that is made.

Stitch along that line.

Check that the stitching is correct in direction and length before trimming

If you stumble across these instructions, hope they help. 
Enjoy!

Some finishes

Things have been complicated for the last few months, but sorting themselves out now. 
Two weeks ago I wanted to show you these finishes:

It's a large doll quilt or small table topper.  It's also my first try at free motion quilting and it's very 'free'!  I have had huge problems with the thread snapping which I think is down to the small eye on the needle; 2 people have now told me that you need a larger eye.  

Since this I have only done straight line quilting so I need to try again and see if the larger eye and not more expensive thread will solve the problem.

I also finished my cathedral windows from FQR.  Not sure if I would do it again or if I just needed to do a bit more machine work at the start.  It is lovely and surprisingly heavy for it's size.

Last week was also tricky and I didn't get the sewing machine out.  Instead I made a box.

Interesting learning curve;

• I need curved needles to make it work, hence the improvised one in the photo.  I took a regular needle and bent it around the edge of the ironing board!  

• Despite measure twice cut once the cutting could have been better, but all in all I am very happy as now I have somewhere to store my ATC's.

Yesterday I finshed 2 mug rugs.  Well, there was one that just needing binding and for some reason I just hadn't got around to it.

The other I started on Thursday evening as I have always wanted to try string blocks but not make a whole quilt.  I was very pleased with how it looks and also to have it done before dinner yesterday.  

So that's me, hoping that you like the photos and enjoyed the summer.

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts.

It's wordless Thursday

I've been trying to post for the last 2 weeks but life is unravelling.  Not too many wonderful days, so here are photos, enjoy!

Just needs binding now

Another top done. Getting ready for Christmas

I made a box! (Spot the improvised curved needle)

Couldn't help but buy more fabric and start another quilt!

Twice in one day?

Well, things are a bit calmer now we have food.

Yesterday I managed to finish the centre of the scrappy quilt top I have been putting together.  

I think I was channelling a log cabin thing at the end.  I quite like it in a 'wow that's everything, everywhere' way.  So today in the everything else to do list I threw in a trip to the local fabric shop to get the border fabric.  

Here is where I could do with help, what colour for the border?   I looked at orange, yellow and blue was favourite, but the shades were wrong.  I'll try the local quilt shop next then online.

After lunch, I went for a quick win with a flexi frame purse.  I bought the frame at FQR 2013 and it was one of those things that I didn't want to just put away and forget about file carefully.  I altered the top as the frame I had was smaller than the one in the tute.

The opening isn't as big as I expected, you can't really test it until you put it together, and it has a wicked snap shut!  Probably not suitable for small people.  The man has asked for one for his change but a bit more manly.  Think I'll try another shape for his.

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts.