Pin Pillow

I've been spending the last couple of day sorting out my sewing corner.  I now have a long list of fabric requirements to get things finished, and I definitely will need a good sale!  While I was sorting out flimsies, I found the lost binding, a bit late, but at least I wasn't going mad.  I also found a block leftover from the blue quilt.

Not wanting to waste it, I turned it into a pin pillow.

A couple of buttons from my tin, and a piece of ribbon, and it's all finished and useful.

While I was sorting out the fabric, I've prepared some hexagons for sewing.  My new sewing case has everything packed into it, so that will be my project whilst out and about with the boys.  Handwork that doesn't require a lot of thinking.

There are still some scrap pieces to cut into charms or 21/2" squares and some crumb blocks to keep me busy today.  Other than that, I think it's back to some hand work.

Borders

 I've finally got the border attached to the Mystery Monday Quilt.  I had to wait to get some more of the red to do the last side.

I had planned to add a green one too, but when I saw it laid out on the bed, I thought it would be big enough as it is.  It's only for a single bed, so it will be plenty big enough.

The next borders had to be put on the purple crumb blocks.

Now, for both of these, I need to find some suitable backing fabric.  I am determined that, between now and the end of the year, I shall get some of these flimsies completed and out of the way for good.  All I need, is some good fabric sales

Flyboy update

It's been a busy week here, and we were out every day for the first three days of the week.  This meant snatching a few minutes here and there to do some sewing.  In the odd half hours I had before leaving, I've been piecing and joining flying geese.  Finally, yesterday, there was some quality time with the sewing machine.

All the borders around the central design have been added.  The pattern has it finished here, but I've decided to find some fabric and get it to a quilt size.  As I don't have anything suitable here, this will have to go in the WIP's pile. 

Today, I'm hoping I'll get the final borders on the Mystery Monday quilt.

Needle Case From Bonnie

I had hoped to post this yesterday, but blogger seems to be having a bad week.  Not only has it been impossible to leave messages on some blogs, it wouldn't let me upload pictures.

This is the needle case that I received from Bonnie.

Opened up and with the extra goodies that Bonnie included.  There was a fat quarter of fabric, scissors, quilting needles and needle pullers.

I've never seen needle pullers before, but several times, I've been in situations when they would have come in very useful.  Now I can be prepared.

Thank you, Bonnie, for such a lovely swap, and all the hard work you put into making the group swap work so well.

Friendship Quilts

You may remember that quite a while ago, possibly last year, I received a beautiful little cross stitch kit from Claire in a swap she was organising.  I've been collecting the threads I needed and the little embellishments, and finally got to stitching it this week.

I thoroughly enjoyed stitching, and with my new found love of quilting, it was great to see the different blocks depicted.  I am thinking I may make a project bag and use this stitching on the front, but that is for another day.

If anyone would like the chart, please let me know, it would be great if someone else could make use of it.

Creative Tuesdays-Tree

I was so pleased when I saw that the next theme for Creative Tuesday was "tree".  At the time I was cross stitching a spring tree, perfect for the theme.

When I saw the picture, I just liked the spring feel of it, and had no idea as to how I was going to finish it, but ideas started coming.  Once the cross stitching was completed, I knew exactly what I was going to do.

My youngest son grow carnivorous plants, and has seed heads to harvest in the autumn, as well as trading in seeds from other growers.  At the moment, he has little bags,and folds of paper floating all over the place.  Having somewhere to have them safe and organised seemed like a good idea.



 The cross stitch formed the front of a seed book.  The inside is divided into compartments to hold the seed packets.  They are of different sizes as some of the packets are quite small.  I've used a popper/press stud for the closure to keep them all safe.

A Venus flytrap may have been more appropriate on the front, but as spring is the time for planting most of the seeds, a tree in spring will do.

This is the last project out of the old copy of Discovering Needlecraft that I'm doing, so it can now go in the post to it's new home in Australia.

Garden of Tulips

It's been a great week this week for getting things finished.  After a big piece of batting arriving in the post, I could get the tulip applique wall hanging finished.

I've used the same stripey fabric for the binding, which I hand finished.  As this could be used for a table topper or a wall hanging, I put in a hanging sleeve.

So glad to have something else completed to clear some space.  Next thing on the list is a pile of flying geese units.

Jellicle Cats

I love the generosity of bloggers.  One day out of the blue, I received a package from Terry, it was the most beautiful collection of batik cats.   Of course, I had to look for some special fabric to go with them, but I found some and spent a lovely hour or so playing.  The result was this:

 I made it in a completely different way to the wall hangings I've done before.  I pieced the cats, then made a sandwich with the fabrics right side together and some batting.  I made hangers and pinned them in place.  Using the walking foot, I sewed all the way around, leaving a space to turn it all the right way.

Once it was all turned out, and all flat, I then went around and sewed just inside the outer edge all the way around.  I was really pleased with how it turned out, and I hope you think I've done justice  to your wonderful gift.

Thank you so much for the gift, and the fun I've had putting it together.  Now I can enjoy looking at them every day and think of your kindness.

Half Square Triangles

Rebecca at Chasing Cottons is holding a quilting class, Quilt Class 101.  I started following as I'd like to have more confidence to design quilts, and gain more experience in the quilting process.  This is where the HST's came in.  There seemed to be lots of them when I was cutting and trimming them, but eventually, they have made it into a quilt top.

I used a bundle of fat quarters with an autumn theme and  whatever neutral colours I had in my stash. 

I was amazed at the number of patterns could be formed just using half square triangles, and shall certainly be trying them out at some time.  In the meantime, as there is another week or so before the next lesson, I shall work on some of my other projects, and hopefully, get some finished and off the work table.

Needle Case Swap

We've been having a needle case swap on the Yahoo group, Small Quilt Talk.  I had to wait patiently for my needle case to arrive at it's new home before I could post pictures.  Now I know it has arrived safely, here is what I made.



 Bonnie's favourite colour was red, so I hoped that the fabric I found in my stash would be suitable.  I found the button in my tin to go with it, and some fabric for the binding.

The pattern came from Kaaren, but instead of using black, I used red.

I forgot to take a photo after the accessories had been put inside, but there were a pair of scissor, tied with a bow in the scissor keep, pins and needles, some vintage poppers/press studs and hooks and eyes.  There was also a fat quarter in one of the pockets.

This has been a lovely swap and I was so glad Bonnie was happy with hers

Pink Scraps Update

I did go back and continue piecing the baskets, but as you can see, there still wasn't enough to complete the top.  This is going to have to wait until I can get some more, hopefully not too long.  I shall have to get something for the backing too.

In the meantime, I've cut and trimmed loads of HST's.  Now they all have to be sewn together.

May Heart

I'm enjoying these hearts from Raspberry Rabbits, they are quick and relaxing to stitch.  As I've done this one so soon after it's release, I now have to wait four weeks for the next one.

In the meantime, I have a little white work project to keep me busy.  This will be the first time I've attempted cut outs, so I'm hoping it won't all fall apart.  So far so good, I've only done the satin stitch elements of the design.

Crocheted Squares

I needed to clear some space in my working area, so I thought I'd better get the next four blocks of the crocheted afghan done, especially as they arrived in a box this time.

Three of the blocks I've done before, but I don't remember doing the pattern on the top right.  These are getting easier each time as I get more comfortable with the stitches. 

Next months, or should I say this months magazines are due this week, so these have been done just in time.

Two Challenges in One

Pink is still the colour for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, so I thought I'd incorporate it with the quilt challenge on the yahoo group, Small Quilt Talk.  The challenge is to make a quilt, no more than 30" square using a basket block.  Now, I haven't done these before in a big block, let alone a 4" block.

I did make a start in the week, but it was a bad day,  Every bit I sewed, I had to unpick and do again.  After three blocks like that, I gave up.  Thursday was a better day, but I still did not have enough blocks, so I did some more yesterday.

This the first time I've set blocks on point, so it's been a bit of trial and error, but this is what I ended up with by the time I finished yesterday.

I ran out of white, so I packed it all away until I could get some more.  As I was tidying up, I found another piece of the white, so I've cut it ready to piece some more today.  I think there my be enough to get the top done this weekend.

These small blocks are definitely a challenge, and less forgiving than the larger blocks, but using some tips from other blogs, I starched than ironed the fabric before cutting.  I found it was so much easier to work with so will try to remember to do it the next time.

Keyrings

I was running out of small gift items, so I made some key rings.

The designs are cross stitched, cut out and then put into the Framecraft key rings.  One of them has already found it's way onto some one's keyring.

These were a fun, quick to do project for the evenings.  It now means, that I no longer need this magazine.

If anyone out there would like it, please let me know, and I shall be happy to post it to you,  As well as the projects you've seen me do, some of the other projects include spring pictures, wedding cards, invites etc.  If no one wants it, it will go to the recycling box next week.



Purple

I seemed to go on strike during the purple month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, so when the theme for this week's Creative Tuesday was announced, I knew I had to make up for it.   I don't know why, but the first thought I had was tulips.  I was going to do a single tulip, but while I was looking for a suitable picture to adapt, I came across a couple of tulip patterns that took my fancy.  I ended adapting a pattern from freepatterns.com

Unfortunately, I didn't have enough batting to finish it into a wall hanging or table topper, but hopefully, it should arrive later today.  With a bit of pink in it too, it will fit in with this month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge too.

All the pieces are fused to the fabric then, using invisible thread in the top of the machine,  I stitched them using a zig zag stitch.  The petal details are done with a straight stitch. 

This was the first time I've done mitred corners on the outer border, and, though not perfect, I am happy with the result.

If you click on the Creative Tuesday link over the next couple of days, you'll be able to see how other artists have interpretated the theme.

Summer Days

Yesterday was the day for sorting and packing up swaps ready for posting.  The needle case is finished and packed, photos once it reaches it's new home.

Next were the blocks for the Barn Door Swaps.  Unfortunately. the other blocks got packed before I remembered the photos.

This was all done in time for the start of the grand prix.  Then it was time to sit and finish the back stitching and french knots on the cross stitch.

That's both the stitched pieces done, now is the time to choose the fabric to make them into a wall hanging.  I have some ideas, but it may be a little time before it gets finished.  I am determined to shrink the pile next to my sewing table first.

In the pink

This month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge colour is pink, and I don't really like pink.  I got out my scraps and looked with dismay at them all.  I just didn't have a clue what to do with them.  After leaving them on the side for a couple of days, ideas slowly began to trickle through.

The first thing I did was to cut strips from four fabrics and join them, by adding some white, I came up with this.

This is big enough for a baby quilt or lap quilt, all I need to do is find some backing fabric.  I am thinking of a pink gingham and to bring the back over for the binding.  For the moment, I shall be putting to one side and thinking about what to do with the rest of the pink I have.

Stage One Complete

I have been plugging away at the Warm/Dry cross stitch, and now it is all done.

Now comes the fun part, all the back stitch detail.

At the same time, there is some piecing going on, but it is taking a little while to get anything put together.  Maybe if I could stay home a bit more, it would get done quicker.

Another Great Post Day

Packages in the post always mean good things, and this one was no exception.  This is what was inside

A little while ago, I won a giveaway hosted by Wendy and yesterday was the day it arrived. The heart is now hanging in my bedroom and I have my thinking cap on for ideas on how to use the two charm packs.  Thanks Wendy, they are all a great delight.



From Linda

It's lovely opening the post when this is what you find inside:

These are from Linda in the USA.  The different fabric combinations never cease to amaze me.  I had never thought to use a different fabric for the centre square, but this block works really well.  I know this year is going quick enough as it is, but I am looking forward to the end of the year and I have all the blocks here to put together.

Mystery Monday-the final step

The last installement of the Mystery Monday quilt was released, and it was with great joy that I got all the blocks together.  At least, that was until I saw the photo on here.

I couldn't see it when it was on the floor, but on the photo, it is glaringly obvious-there is a mistake on the left hand side.  I've just gone back to look at it and it will be staying, lol.  It's a mistake in one of the blocks, not in the positioning.  As this will probably go to Daniel, I don't think he will notice, especially as he is colourblind.

Over the next couple of weeks, I shall put on a couple of borders.  I shall use one of the reds and the green that I have left over from making the blocks.

Beautiful

Two beautiful blocks from Ailsa.

What I love about these swaps, is seeing the fabric combination that people use.  Sometimes they put fabric together that I wouldn't have considered, and it works!  It really helps me in being more adventurous in my fabric choice

Thank you, Ailsa, these are a lovely addition to my collection