Back In The Saddle Again!

I almost feel like breaking into song - but that would really, really scare the neighbours. Singing is NOT one of my talents. But I am happily ticking things off my list of things to do as quickly as my little fingers can accomplish them. Yes, I have my machine back on the table and whirring away happily (other than the broken needle incident, but we won't talk about that).

First thing I did today was to finish piecing my cushion cover, which I then promptly layered up and basted.

The piecing is not as good as on my first cushion - which should teach me to try and rush through piecing something like HSTs before visitors land on our doorstep. I gave myself a talking to, and then got on with quilting it.

I went with straight line quilting on either side of the seams like I did on the first cushion because I want them to compliment each other, but I love how going around the squares on this one makes the green fabrics stand out and accentuates the square pattern.

Moving swiftly on, I made the label for my June bee blocks, photographed everything (to be shown once permission is granted by Miss June) and then put the 'little something extra' with it so that I have it all ready for wrapping up and posting. Fiona (aka Miss June) was the person who spoke up first when I offered up some of my ugly fabric to a new home. So 12 fat quarters of fabric which I no longer wish to own and she has a very good use for will be winging their way to her shortly.

Here are the fat quarters disguising the blocks beneath.

Next on my list was to put a label on my Brit Quilt Swap mini quilt which I was a bit worried about because the wonderful group of talented ladies in this swap have been posting photos of their labels on the swap flickr site. The more I look at them the more intimidated I get. I had to ponder what to do for a long time. I couldn't print one because my computer is not currently hooked up to the printer. I wanted it to fit with the quilt design. Here is what I eventually came up with -

The pencil 'cleverly' hides the name of recipient.

Our date for posting these quilts is the end of this week. I am getting more and more nervous as the big day approaches. I don't think this is what my partner is expecting at all and really, really hope that once they get over the shock of realising that this one is for them that they genuinely like it.

I still wasn't done for the day. I wanted to make a 'little something extra' for my swap partner too. I also wanted to it to be complimentary to the quilt. I quickly set to FMQing a needle case for her. I have placed a piece of felt over the bottom part because I FMQd her name.

And that is what I have accomplished today - so far.

Happy, happy, happy!

Susan

It is Tuesday so I will be linking this up with Quiltstory's Fabric Tuesday - you can find their button on my sidebar.

May Bee Blocks and Other Stuff

I am posting earlier than I normally do today because there are things going on, barbeques to prepare for (the weather man better have been telling the truth when he said summer was returning this weekend!) and toddlers to keep entertained - as well as the usual dance classes, etc. So here is today's offering.

Although it is almost the end of June, we were not to post about our May Brit Bee Blocks until we got the word from Miss May. Well word has been received so this is it, my first blocks in my very first bee. It started with this, a lovely packet full of gorgeous Giddy fabric already cut into squares.

It was at this point that I conquered my fear of HSTs and just got on with it and realised that they weren't nearly as bad as I had imagined - you just had to pay attention and be precise. Our challenge was to turn them into Lynne at Lily's Quilts Lynne Bob Square Pants block.

So I did. And I think I did okay. Then shortly thereafter Lynne posted about this quilt  made entirely with Lynne Bob Square Pants blocks and I saw its full potential and fell way more in love. Ever since then I have been thinking of the combinations and permutations that I could do based on this block or something that is a twist on it.

So thank you Trudi (aka Miss May) for choosing this block, and breaking me of my steadfast avoidance of HSTs. Trudi can be found here and is fast becoming a rising star on the quilting scene as more and more people recognise her amazing abilities with fabric. Most of you probably already follow her, but if you don't then head on over and have a look.

If you like Riley Blake fabrics then head on over to Stitch Steals and see the deal they have on "Lola's Posies". They have all the precuts on a very good special - fat quarter bundles, layer cakes, charm squares and jelly rolls. Something for everyone - unless you are me and have no money in the pot. But maybe one of you likes these fabrics and can benefit instead.

Emily returned from her residential yesterday afternoon. She had a wonderful time and conquered some fears of her own - homesickness, swimming (with a lifejacket) in water over her head, and heights. She loved all the challenges, even the ones that made her wobble at first. I loved the way she raced out the school at the end of the day and launched herself at me just the way she did when she was three and getting out of kindergarten. That was completely brilliant! I also love that she was the only child in her group who did not fall in the swamp and managed to do the whole obstacle course built over the mud from beginning to end flawlessly. It meant I had far fewer clothes to go in the laundry than expected. Woohoo!


My family is all here in the house together tonight. Life is good!

Susan

Monday, Monday, Happy Days...

Edit note: I have linked this post in the Quiltstory's Fabric Tuesday's again. There is a linky button on my sidebar now.

Happy days indeed. I am having a great day here in my solitude. I have three - count them - three finishes and one find. It amazes me that some people don't like to be by themselves. I love it, and some of the conversations are very interesting!!

I am sure you know what the first finish will be. Yup, my cushion, which I adore and am so very pleased with, and it makes my horrid sofa look so much nicer. Must make more - eventually you wouldn't see any of the horrid and only the homemade. Lovely thought.


Front



Back

I shall fore go the ugly sofa photo. I am sure even the little bit you can see is enough to get the idea. We have an ugly sofa because when we came to the UK after Helen was born we didn't bring any of our Canadian furniture. So when we moved into a house we needed furniture immediately - if not sooner. We got it by walking into large furniture stores and asking them what things we could have delivered the next day. This sofa was one of those items. Though I have little love for it, I have to say it blew the vivid purple leather and large floral suites out the water. It was the least of three evils.

So I have finished a cushion. And I liked making it. Think I shall have to add make more cushions to my list of things to do.

Next today came the making of a quilt. A special quilt. I cut, pieced, basted and quilted it all this morning. What do you think? It measures all of 5" square.

And another photo because Baby Bunny is so cute -

Moving swiftly along, I did my bee blocks for Miss June - Fiona. I can't show them to you yet because Fiona has to give the word when she has received everyone's before we can blog photos. I still have to do the signature block as well. Here is a sneaky peak at a tiny corner of one of the blocks -

While I was rummaging about my boxes - I can't remember what for - I came across this little find -

These HSTs are the off cuts from the quilt I am making for Helen and have been lingering at the bottom of a box for a very long time. Maybe I secretly knew that one day I would find a liking for HSTs and think of a use for them. There are 116 of these babies. I had a little play with a possible layout (though I would mix up the colours more and not use all the pink the way I did here). All I would have to do is add some white squares in those blank spaces -

Theses squares will all need trimming to 2 1/4" - won't that be fun?! But I have learned that squaring off your HSTs to perfection is the key to getting things right so sometimes I have to bite the bullet and just do things the 'proper' way.

Here is a little look at the quilt I started for Helen and which I now widely ignore due to the onerous task of hand quilting that I took on. I posted pictures of this quilt when I first started blogging and some day I hope to post photos of it completed. It is my take on the Hugs and Kisses blocks - though some people in the UK call them naughts and crosses. It really is a lovely quilt - or will be when I get it done.



Now you know why I wish I knew about perle cotton thread when I started quilting this. Wouldn't it have had more impact, and been quicker to do? Live and learn. That may end up  my motto as much as 'life is good'.

In the midst of writing today's post I had to go up to the school to get my girlies. I came home with none. I did get to bring home their lunch bags, and their book bags, and their lovely, chlorine scented swimming things - but no girls. Apparently they are staying to make props for the end of year school play - Cleopatra. Apparently it is okay for me to come home and put the smelly swim things in the wash, cook dinner, get Helen's tap dance shoes and clothes and return for them at 5pm. Apparently they are happy to eat at 7pm as long as I bring them a snack when I return. Apparently this is the plan.

Well, their wish is my command after all. (Good, thing you can't see me rolling my eyes!)

Susan

Double Fat Jack Gets Fatter

It has been a productive day here in my little household. Not only do I have a relatively clean house (for me), but I have been cutting and marking, pinning and sewing, more cutting, ironing, and then endless trimming. But I do have something to show for all that work.

First I took my Double Fat Jack and turned him into a Double Fatter Jack. He is now big and he is rounded.

I used one of yesterday's purchases to create an envelope back and turned Fat Jack into Fatter Jack the Pillow -

In actual fact, Jack is such a greedy pillow that he is stuffed with not one but two bed pillows. I think I will either have to go out and buy the biggest, fattest pillow I can find or else make one. I am tending to prefer the first option. If they make oversize pillows for the bedroom. Otherwise I am going to have to make one because this is one big pillow cover! It needs a big pillow inside, or two. Bigger than we currently own.

Once the Fatter Jack task was accomplished I really got into the cutting, and sewing and trimming lark. I was on a HST (half square triangles) marathon. But I did it. I produced with barely a procrastinated moment. Which is remarkably good for me!

Fifty of them, made with another of yesterday's purchases - those green fat quarters. I am even more in love with these fabrics than I was in the shop. I set out with a pattern in mind. I wanted to go for the extremely simple design of this -

I always liked the way the triangles looked once quilted.

But then they were lying there on the table and I started playing. Needless to say the possibilities are endless. I could sew this pattern -

I prefer this to...

... this one as I like the green square in the middle rather than the white.

Not really sure about this one.

Too boring!

Nope, not this one either.

Maybe?

This one appeals because - well because it does.

Umm... hmmm... I don't think this is the one for me. But it could be.

I do kind of like this one too.

Now I am totally confused and know the longer I sit there and play with the various combinations the more muddled my brain will get. Should I go for the original idea of just the small triangles lined up in rows, or one of the other ones? What do you think?

Susan