Sunday Already?

How did that happen?  Is it just me, or is this year flying by already?   Oh well, I better get a move on finishing some more things  :)

I've been taking part in a fabric postcard swap on Facebook  (remember those quilted heart postcards), and these are the postcards I've received so far ...

From Kylie in Oz

from Janetta in Utah

from Sherri in Mission, SD

I was at the LQS earlier in the week, and I had to fight these beauties to stop them jumping into my bag... lol

I lost the fight!

Sunkissed

And these gorgeous teacups ...

Yesterday I had a little play with some spot, stripes and checks...

These are for V, over at Bumblebeans, as part of a 15 Minutes of Play challenge ...

Pretty eh?  I have to get these babies in the mail along with something extra  :)

And today, after spending way too long reading blogs and roaming the web, I felt it was time to cut up this beauty...

I have a (another) plan!

but I just couldn't do it!  This is as far as I got ... Lol 

So I rolled them back up, tied them back with ribbon and put them back on the table to continue to inspire me!

Instead I got round to making my blocks for the Christmas Quilt Along ...

And I forgot to show you what I was doing at the LQS this month...

... everyone else was making a bag, and as you know (you may not) I'm not really a bag lady, so I decided to do an alternative project.  I wasn't the only one, Mary was doing something else too!  :)

This will be a journal cover for my diary ...

this will give you a better idea of what I was doing   :)

Sew, not as productive as I'd like, and Nancy has already announced which UFO we are working on next month (#4 on my list) sew I better get a move on and finish the quilting of my #8 whilst we are still in February!

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend!

Happy Quilting!

quick catch-up

Busy, tiring, trying week....  so a quick catch up!

I got two journal covers made last weekend  :)

finished 8 postcards ready for a swap...

Got my Holiday Hoops quilt top finished, (but forgot to take it down and with me for the class on Tuesday - Oops)

I got the Block made for Pea Room Quilter done, a tad too busy I think after seeing Mary's

finished my mug rug for the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap 3

the back

And got it all packaged up with some goodies and in the post.  My partner should be getting it any day now :)  I hope she likes it!

It's been a lovely day, met up with Friends for lunch to say a final Bon Voyage to our dear friend Sandy who is finally off to French France.  Had a wonderful exchange of e-mails with a delightful blogging friend, a great way to start the day, thank you :)  And this evening an unexpected call from my brother, who although we pass e-mails every now and then, I hadn't actually spoken to in probably 10 years! 

Yes, today was a good day! 

Happy Quilting!

Christmas Quilt Along (February) part deaux

OK, I had a good day!  Not all Christmas related, but things I had to get done today!

So I finished quilting a stack of these into postcards, they are drying at the moment and will be finished off tomorrow ready for posting on Monday.  (deadline day!)  Phew!

I got my Scrappy Mug Rug pieced and quilted, I just have to find the binding fabric and complete it ready for posting on Monday (deadline day!) 

Do you see a theme coming here?

This is the back, the recipient has a thing for Hope Valley fabrics and these tiniest scraps are from some Bees Knees blocks I did last year. 

And then I moved onto Christmas...

I've been playing with the scraps I received from Glen last year, and had a plan ...

I've been playing with the scraps to make bigger chunks of fabrics, but just sticking to greens and blacks, as I found a strip of these in her scraps.  They definitely caught my imagination!

I always saw some of these scraps turned into journal covers...

and I delved into my own scraps for the lining and inside sleeves.  I'm thrilled with how this one turned out, and have some more scraps cut ready for another little notebook along the same lines as this. 

A start to my Christmas planning that's for sure!  Thanks to Sue and Cathi for keeping us all on track and getting ahead on the 'C' word!

My plan for tomorrow? Finish the postcards (trimming and zig zagging, and writing ready to post)

Complete another little journal cover,

Complete the Scrappy Mug Rug and get it all packaged up ready for sending,

and finish my Holiday Hoops quilt from my class at the LQS ( we are back there this Tuesday so I better get it done!) 

Happy Quilting! 

dragging my feet ....

.... in the snow!  (yes it's still here, despite a slight thaw and no prospect of warmer weather for the foreseeable!)

I can't get blogger to put this the right way up -  sorry!  (the Teenage Diva after doing snow angels ... need I say more!  LOL)

I've got all the blocks for my Carolina Christmas Mystery quilt from Bonnie K Hunter last year pieced.  I just have the borders to make.  It's currently 80.5" square, and my frame only takes a max width of 82 -  but I have a plan, and it will look beautiful with the borders on it! 

I also got some more Anita's Arrowhead blocks done, and I'm loving how they look!  I've been pressing and sewing them up in batches, and it seems to work very well rather than one block at a time.  (I have another 16 ready to piece and hope to make good progress on this this week)

I said I'd been dragging my feet, well, I should have been doing a foundation block for my C&G, but as yet, it remains in my head!  Instead I've been meaning to play a little with some crayons (yup, good ol' kids wax crayons)  and a little (naff) quilting practice...

And my copy of Quilting Arts magazine arrived, which distracted me even more!

I painted this after the quilting with acrylics, and I love how the surface pattern on the fabric comes through...

So while I was at it, I had a little doodle, and now I have 5 new postcards  :)

So I guess I better go do that foundation pieced block now I have no other excuses .... hehe!

Happy quilting!

The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap

I received my postcard from Leona, all the way from Florida this week.

Isn't it glorious!  I just love it, bright, fresh and between sewing and baking is me down to a Tee!

Thank you Leona, I just love it!

The (Great Big) Stiched Postcard Swap

I'd Like to thank RuffHaven for the link the the swap above,  I've sent my e-mail and left a comment and am hoping to be accepted. 

If you fancy a quick postcard swap, head over to Beth's Blog Do What You Love Love what you Do  and sign up quick!  And I mean quick, sign ups end on Friday 29 October 2010.

Postcard from Lincoln!

OK, I've been here lurking, but the laptop is still out of action for a little longer, a new motherboard, and speakers have been installed, but a little more remedial work is still required. 

But I HAVE been busy!  This little pile is I've been using to try something out for Qubee!  Go check out his blog tomorrow to see what wonderful surprises he has in store!

I was very lucky to win a postcard of my choice from The Quilt Rat, and I can't tell you how beautiful it is,  Thank you Jill  :)  If you haven't seen Jill's work, I really recommend you go take a peak, she is amazing!

Speaking of postcards, in March I was supposed to make something woven for Expedition Quilt Art, whilst I was tidying up bits and pieces for my city and guilds work, I grabbed the left over strips and set to on a woven postcard.  Not thrilling, but it's done!

I also have one in the mail to a friend.  I can't show you that one, sorry.  I was away last weekend at a quilting retreat, whilst I didn't get as much done as I had hoped, more of that in a mo, I did scrounge a few bits and pieces to get a quick postcard made for Eileen who fell ill and had the prospect of her 77th birthday in hospital.

So back to the retreat, I got bindings sewn on 2 quilts, this one ...

And my version of Amanda Jeans' Film Strip.  Sorry no pic till it's finally done!

And because this is a postcard from Lincoln, I've been out and about, with an early morning (very early!) dash to the Fens for a shopping trip.  I captured this view on my way out of the city.

And last week, my partner and I were out celebrating his birthday, and whilst we were on our way home, I got this shot.  I just love the vibrancy of the rape fields at this time of year.

I've been looking for a great landscape shot to use in one of the assignments for c&g and I think this is it!

I'll be back soon enough to show you what postcards we get from these...

This is mine ...

And this one is the Teenage Diva's!  Based on a project they are working on at school.    Have you been over to Expedition Quilt Art Blog, Tina is doing a 'Follow me' project that will result in lots of postcards, go on, go give it a try! 

Happy Quilting!

Happy Mothers Day !

Happy Mothers Day to all of you! This is what I made for my Mum, another postcard, and I remembered to photograph it this time. I forgot to do the other four and they've already been re-homed. Mental note to me!

My DD surprised me with breakfast in bed! And what a great job she did on her own too! Don't you think! As well as a pot of tea, all for me, croissants, Pain chocolat, and Belgian sugar waffles (my favourite! Nothing like the real ones hot from the street seller!), she also made the fruit salad herself, no supervision with the sharp knives! No cuts or blood anywhere to be seen!

She did get me a card too, and 'Duchess' on DVD and small box of Thorntons chocolates. How lucky am I? :o) I went to watch Duchess when it was on at the cinema with my friend Jean, we both cried and so did ALL the rest of the audience, including the men! I shall watch it later today when I do the ironing. Mothers Day or not, there are still chores to be done!

I hope all you lovely Mums out there have a lovely day and are spoiled rotten by your own special darlings! And not to leave everyone else out, its a beautiful day here, happy spring!