fitting it all in ...

in between all the relaxing and eating of left overs, there has been a bit of stitching going on ...

you didn't expect me not to right?

I first started this quilt back in September, but on checking, I've never actually shown you a completed picture of the top  ...

this one blew over the fence when I was trying  to get a pic into my neighbours garden, her dog was less than impressed!

anyway, betwix  and between Christmas and new year is all about quilting for me, selfish I know, but it was my treat to myself for having done a quilting marathon just before the holidays

so start I did 

and then I finished!

and the sun shone!  

my last finish of the year, just in time, holding onto the warmth of the summer even in the depths of winter!

and then I set about putting my Swoon quilt together, those poor blocks have sat since late November waiting to be finished.  Today was the day for putting borders on!

so at a mere 89" square, this one is screaming out for some custom quilting, don't ya think?  

Its time  will come, but the quilting fairies need to bring me a new big girls toy first!

and as I was finishing up, there was way too much scrappy strip goodness going on visually on instagram

I had to dig into the big (and I mean big!) box of 2 1/2" strips to see what pretties lurked within

there are too many people to blame for my indiscretion,  but you may already have read one of the culprits own admission of guilt here!

and so, whilst tea was cooking, I ran this one up, and sorted more strips for the next few blocks ...

oh my, we'll have to add this to the ever growing list!  

ok, waffled way too long, the year will soon be out, and I'm not ready for that to happen just yet!

A few last minute makes

So Christmas was a delight, I managed to get everything done and even organised in time for my extra child to stay, with the usual annual quilt pile ...




but this year I had to store them in the fabric pantry as well! Oops!

I can now show you these two gift bags that were given ...



and my DS requested a girlie pretty pouch for his girlfriend, and this was the result



filled with handmade soap and a Lush bath bombe! Success!

There were some others, but in my haste I didn't get any photographic evidence - oops!

The dining table remains clear, shocking I know, and we continue to eat our way through the Christmas cake, one of my goals for the coming year may have to be to banish the extra pounds that came to visit, and brought friends too!

I hope your Christmas was all you hoped for, I'll be back with one last finish for 2012 before the year is out!

It's nearly time ...

The spare room is ready ...




The quilts have been moved for their annual stack, and this year there were too many for the one pile - oops!

Gifts have been made ... I still have a couple to sort out in the morning, but they will be quick :)

And the wrapping is done ...




we have baked ...



and we have an iced cake ...

ok, I do need to find a decoration for the top!

but I think its fair to say, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Here's to a Very Merry Christmas to one an all x

A little something for the weekend ...

The nice people at Fons and Porter approached me and asked if I would review one of their e-books.

Build your Best Log Cabin Quilts

you may have already seen a review or two on this, but then again maybe not!

I found this little e-book very informative, with historical reference, as well as clear and concise instructions, though they do assume an element of competence in cutting skills, having said that, the tables for cutting instructions are very well presented, giving plenty of alternatives for different size blocks on each sample quilt.  

this book covers 3 basic log cabin patterns, traditional, courthouse steps and chevron, with visual examples of both historical and modern made quilts giving the reader plenty of alternatives and creative scope in the decision making progress.  

if I were to have any criticism of this book , it would be the modern versions of the quilts made are all very traditional in their use of fabrics, which, whilst beautiful, may not help someone with a more modern fresh  outlook and stash to see the potential this traditional block can have. 

Thanks to Fons and Porter for asking me, and for the e-book too, I do love a good reference book and this will be added to my collection.

You too can have your own copy by heading on over here!  

now, back to some last minute makes :)

Smell like ...

so whilst I continue the quilt festival at the bottom of the garden I left this happening in the oven ...





and now, it's starting to smell a lot like Christmas round here!

( thanks Susan for convincing me it's time I made my own again!)

The haul!

If you are a little faint hearted, you may want to look away now ...

Just sayin!

Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow  - backing!
Pink Castle Fabrics

Splendour 1920 from Bari J for Art Gallery Fabrics

Fat Quarter Shop

Notting Hill, by Joel Dewberry

Pink Castle Fabrics

and with the Splendour came some Lace Elements from Art Gallery Fabrics

Fat Quarter Shop

which is suppose to finish off my second big star quilt ...

but ... it looks great with the Splendour 1920 too!

oh, and I've seen something else that will go well with these too! 

and there have been a couple of other packages too!

Are you up for some more?

Lovely Liberty from Alice at Backstitch ...

oh, these are so much more beautiful in person, honestly, I was shocked at my love!

and some long lusted over voiles, a bundle of Art Gallery Fabrics to accompany some I already have, and some Lecien grey spot for something new!  

all from the very lovely and generous Tracey at Quilt Me Happy!

and finally, well, maybe not ...

remnants and must haves from the marvellous Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting!

so there you have it, my Black Friday Haul, and a few extra's 

there are more packages of backing on their way, as Brenda at Pink Castle Fabrics recently had an inventory sale which it seems I could not resist! 

and my winnings arrived, and just in case you skipped that bit, I may have started something else new too!  

how time flies

when you're busy!

I've been head down, nose to the grindstone on the quilting front

nothing pieced or finished of my own,

however, I did get this one quilted and will be delivering it on Monday

which meant I could make thread decisions for a certain other quilt 

and whilst I was quilting it, I fell head over heals in love with this fabric!

I'm delivering this one tomorrow, and once the owner has it, and has declared complete and utter love for it, Ill be able to show you more!

and so then I was able to load up the next one, and make another thread decision ...

\mmm, Superior Threads Rainbows Fuchsia Fusion,

right, time to finish off some secret Santa gifts :)  

I'll be back to show you my black Friday haul too! 

November ...

I think the Grinch arrived early and stole November!  

Gone before we knew it!

but it seems I've been busy!

4 customer quilts, bee blocks (though I am still to do my Brit Bee blocks - sorry Sarah)

almost 2 tops for me, framed purses, some EPP, yeah really! and maybe just a little shopping! 

Busy!  

December is shaping up much the same, and the last pic in there is what I am still working on at the moment ...  I may be a little absent, thanks to lots of work, but I will be back!  

Linking up to Lynnes Fresh Sewing  Day 

so go see what everyone else has been up to and say Hi!  

Happy December!

Pea Room Quilter BOM

I didn't quite manage to get the blocks pieced in time for the meeting on Monday, so Tuesday I set to with the prepared blocks to make some progress ...




easy enough, but I did find laying all the pieces out first made the piecing so much more methodical and easier ...





I love this block, I may have to make a set of these at a later date ...


And so I moved onto the next block, chain piecing the flying geese made it all so much quicker ...




As long as the colours are paired up, please put them in any order you like ...



Again, loved this block and think they are going to look beautiful all together!

any problems, please get in touch with me :)

Recent arrivals ...

after a discussion on twitter about flannel I was forced to make a brief detour to the LQS to pick up the last of the Moda Textures flannel,  cross weave but lovely softness!

and one or two FQs just happened to jump into my bag!

then there was Odds and Ends from Justine at Simply Solids ...

I have plans for this, I may have started already!  Oh and have you heard about the Simply Solids sale?  15% of all orders Friday through to Monday using code turkey on checkout ... just sayin!

and the lovely Alice from Backstitch enabled these speedily to my letterbox... 

again, I have plans  :) 

and last but not least, Katy send a fabulous package, for which there are a couple of plans ...

been a lot of planning going on!

oh another package arrived courtesy of Pink Castle Fabrics, but I haven't been home in daylight to get any pics of them ... and there may be a few more to come thanks to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales going on this weekend!

And not forgetting a very special package that is now being eagerly awaited!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone across the pond celebrating too !

Travelling PicStitch BlogHop

Wow time goes fast!  My turn already!

Welcome to the travelling PicStitch BlogHop

Well, I've certainly done some travelling in my time, but sadly, don't have many pics to show for it 

(don't you love it when your laptop crashes!)  

so as this is an international blog hop i thought you'd like to go travelling around the coutryside of Lincolnshire where I live ...

I thought about this early morning shot, love those subtle colours ...

and then there is the local country park I live within walking distance of ...

but, you know me, I like of bit of vibrant colour, and settled on this ...

I often drive past this field, but one day, just had to stop the car, the dark threatening sky against the vibrant rape field 

its been a while since I did any EPP, but I'm always up for a challenge 

so having delved into my stash, I discovered some beautiful fabrics that fitted the bill ...

the colours are a bit off,(must have been one of those rare but bright sunny days!)  but then I started playing with papers and fabric ...

and I forgot how lovely EPP was!

I'm not quite sure where this is heading but I kinda like it and am going to have to make a few more!

Be sure to check out Hadley's blog tomorrow for the next stop in the hop, and link up on the 30th of November for the chance to win some fabulous prizes sponsored by Paper Pieces, Fabricworm, Pink Castle Fabrics, Marmalade Fabrics, Fat Quarter Shop, WantItNeedItQuilt and Aurifil ...

you can find full details of the competition entry here.

Sunday Sitrep

Standby for visual overload ... I've been a tad busy ... in a good way!

pieced this little lovely then quilted it all over with Superior Threads Rainbows called Citrus Cooler ...

cut up my pile of Vintage Modern, and added a little Ruby for borders 

and got this monster quilt!   92" x 92"  

oh but I love it, and all from stash!  Just need to find the right back!

I got a bit of a swoon on, but only the one block ...

and when I visited with Di, we made these beauties for Bee Blessed ...

did I show you these already?  Cant remember, sorry

and I got another block for the Curve Along done too ...

I've been busy quilting too ...

with Superior Threads Rainbows Salsa!

Isn't it fab!

and then took a little cream and grey to this ...

oh, and there has been postal deliveries too ! ...

what no fabric?  

back to that cream and grey ...

got in touch with my inner Angela Walters on this one!

and then I did this ...

Hula  dance anyone?  

great name for a thread colour don't you think?

there have been a few other happenings, but I can't show you those ...

and I'll save my other purchases for a later date !

Come back tomorrow for more ...