Still here!

Well as it's been over a week since my last post, I thought I better let you know I'm still here! 

I've been busy quilting, and finishing this quilt for a friend, this is going into a specific room in her home.

It's hard to see the real chocolate of the batiks, but there are little butterfly wings all over, very subtle.

And of course it just screamed at me to quilt feathers all over !  LOL

Now although this was a sort of commission, I was very flattered to receive one of Elena's paintings in exchange for the quilt.  She does the most amazing botanical paintings, and this was something a little different for her.  And I love it! 

I know where this is going to have a home, but for now it is propped in my living room waiting for another special delivery that still has some way to go. 

At the weekend, I joined the other members of Expedition Quilt Art for a talk and workshop with Madline Millington.  She does the most amazing work with recycled dyed woolen blankets.  I highly recommend taking a class if you get the opportunity.  Everyone in the class made something different and for some of us, very much outside of our comfort zone.

I still have a lot of stitching and embellishment to do on this little piece, it's a very organic process, but I have to admit it's a great way to work letting the piece lead you in it's own direction. 

I've also been working on my quilt from the Old Red Barn Quilt Along over on Flikr.  This round is being led by Pat Sloan. 

I've got the top together, and I've been a bad girl and jumped ahead of everyone!  I've started quilting!  I'm doing this one in the traditional, time honoured, free motion, push, pull and tug on my domestic machine! 

Why? do I hear you ask, well,because I wanted to raw edge applique this, but after it was layered so it could be quilted at the same time.  Such a quick way to work with applique, imho!

Of course, I've been playing!  hehe

I've moved onto the red/cream today, and hope to have this one done by the weekend!  Ooops!

Well, If you made it this far, thanks for hanging in there!

Happy Quilting!

PS,  I'll come back in the morning after I've caught up on some sleep to add in all the links, for now it's bed time! 

Reluctant

We had a glorious day today, the sun shone and I stayed home and sewed.  :)  (instead of heading to the allotment for doing some weeding!)

I was pleased to get Jen's blocks done, and can now get these back in mail to her post haste!

Perhaps I've been a little reluctant in doing most things lately, I have a large to do list and these just have to move off from it.

When I was taking part in last months Christmas Quilt along with Sue from Quilt Times I started a project that was to be a leaders and enders.  I chose to use Aviary from Moda.   A really pretty range of fabrics, very soft, and summery.  Now perhaps it was a bit of Freudian slip, doing Christmas in August but still choosing such summery fabrics.  When I thought about it today I realised the perhaps I'm a little reluctant to let go of the summer.  Maybe this was my way of hanging on.  It is fitting to finish this top on such a glorious day!

This is such a pretty top, I think I may be savouring this one in the depths of winter just to remember the warmth of the sun on the first day of autumn.  Thanks to Kim for another great pattern!

I'm not ready for autumn, let alone a long cold winter!

Happy quilting!

Scrappy Mug Rug Swap

OK, so I told you I had signed up the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap over on Flikr right?  I got the details of my swap partner earlier in the month and have been secretly stalking her!

What I didn't show you yesterday was my progress with my little mug rug.  I'd got the top made and the back cut.  So today I finished it off and did the quilting.

The front

The back

Bound and ready to send :) 

(sorry about this pic the light is bad ... well, because it's dark and I couldn't wait to take pics  hehe)

And while I was at it, a little 'mini me' mug rug to go with it.

I continued to piece my leaders and enders that I started last month with the Christmas Quiltalong, and now have 20 blocks waiting to be laid out and turned into a top.

So all in all, a successful day! 

Now I must get my caught up on me Bee blocks!

Happy quilting!

Sunday!

It started on Saturday morning, when this little beauty arrived in the mail!  Thank you Kim, I'm so loving reading this and have ideas swimming round my head already!  LOL  Watch out for the story of the giant pumpkin!

The Teenage Diva and I headed into town for a bit of girly shopping (ok, school coat isn't exciting, but necessary) what a giggle we had!

Whilst we were there we saw one of those mobile stands selling cupcakes for an enormous amount of money. 

Cue these ...

... and a few paper muffin cases ...

vanilla, strawberry and some chocolate (that didn't make it into this pic)..

Torture I tell ya!  (I'm on a diet!)  LOL

Remind you of anyone?

We did giggle!

I did a little sewing too...

I'm still trying to decide which colour to use for the inner border.  Any ideas?

And whilst I was sewing all those bricks together, I continued piecing a quilt I cut out for leaders and enders ...

I've got all 20 bocks ready to lay out and turn into a quilt top! 

I did a little bit more, but haven't loaded the pics up onto the laptop yet, so ...

... to be continued!

Happy Quilting!

It's been a while ...

... since my last post.  It's been busy, but I'm glad to be back into a routine with the Teenage Diva back at school and me back at work.  The adjustment is pretty slow though, and the demands on my time have meant I just haven't got as much done as I would like. 

In the mean time, I've been busy quilting for friends, and can show you this one I did for Maureen before she took it off to family in Canada. 

I've been working on the latest Old Red Barn Quiltalong ...

... this round is hosted by Pat Sloan.  The applique (yes the 'A' word!) is yet to be added!

And I also made it the Harrogate quilt show where I picked up these little beauties that are heading for something special for my swap partner in the Mug Rug Swap on Flikr. 

And finally, a little relaxation on a river trip up the Brayford with colleagues from work...

Happy Quilting!