Friday night with friends

Last night I stayed in and sewed with virtual friends around the world interspersed with taking Nick to his works dinner and picking Lizzie up from her dance show at the Arts Centre and taking her to JACY. I'm lucky that her friend's Mum brings her back from JACY so I don't have to wait up.

So last night I finished sewing the rows of my Farmer's Wife quilt together. I couldn't find my red moda dot and I needed just twelve 1.5" squares to finish it. My local Moda retailer didn't have any and neither did Lorraine. Sigh, so near and yet so far. And then yesterday I found some in a pile!!  And this morning I found even more amongst the fabric for the Bee in my bonnet row along. I mustn't use it up on other projects as I still need it for my Vignette BOM and the binding for my Thimbleblossoms Hopscotch quilt.

So now I just need to put one border on it and the top's done. Most of the foundation papers have been taken out but finishing that could take an hour or so (a job for Wednesday morning). Then I'll have to wait patiently for the PC that runs my long arm to come back from the menders, which will hopefully be before Christmas as I have quite a backlog of customer quilts. I daren't count how many.

Inspired by Linda

Linda made cute zippered pouches for the Fat Quarterly Retreat sample swap and I was lucky enough to be in her group for the swap. I have been using the pouch to store my stitching so it has been constantly in my line of sight over the last week. I finished this weestitches free pattern - Avengers and wondering what to do with it, I thought I'd make a zippered pouch for Lizzie to put her stitching in. Lizzie is working on the wee little stitches Big Bang Thoery chart.

Chez Soi are having their Christmas party this week and the challenge for 2012 was log cabin blocks and their many variations. So this is a very last minute make for this challenge and I've done the back and around the stitchery in court house steps with a little wonk.

If I was stitching this chart again on the grey Aida, I would change the prescribed grey for Thor's helmet to a darker shade which doesn't match the background.

In Blogland

I found a couple of interesting blogs whilst participating in Lily's Quilts small blog meet last week and I wanted to mention a couple of other blogs you may not have found yet.

The first blog I came across was Sarah's Quilt Candy blog. I was surprised to find that Sarah lives in Jersey and is friends with Liz Dandelion. I hope we get to meet in the New Year after Sarah's trip to South America.

Shanna left me a comment and suggested I install the Google Friend Connect button. I eventually managed it after getting distracted by Google +. Thanks shanna for the suggestion

A blog that I read every morning is Quilterblogs.com which is a list of posts from blogs all over the world. Mine is one of them and so is Lily's above. It's a great way to keep up with news without having to click lots of links.

And lastly the Weestitches blog, which as you know is a current addiction.

Time to go to the dentist or I will be late and you know I hate being late.

Bee in my bonnet row 7

I have given up waiting for my fabric order to arrive. I seem to be waiting for lots of parcels at the moment - blinds, fabric, thread, moda prize, book club book, biscuits and the list goes on. And I haven't even started online shopping for Christmas yet.

So here is row seven along with the other three rows so far.



Seven rows have been released so far and by my calculations row 8 will be published on Wednesday. I will take a break from these until new fabrics arrive. I fancy doing the apples (row four) next.

In the mean time I have sewn together all the rows of my Farmer's wife quilt and today I will sew those together between appointments. I hope to have the quilt top ready for when my long arm is back in service. However I have four customer quilts waiting to be quilted too as one more was delivered yesterday.

And Lizzie is now working on her Big Bang Theory cross stitch, but again we're waiting for threads to be delivered. I also gave her the Paul needle case yesterday which she appreciated. She was having difficulty threading her needle yesterday bu has made it quite clear that she doesn't want a needle threader as an advent gift. :)

Advent calendar

For day one of advent, as well as chocolate, Lizzie received a Big Bank Theory cross stitch chart. It would have been a nicer gift had the threads arrived in time, but we do have white, black and flesh to get her started.

For day two I have made this needle case with the Paul cross stitch, some denim from Michelle and some felt.


I have put a piece of ribbon on the outside to hang something from it. On the inside I used felt as the backing to the denim and for an insert to store needles. I pinked the edges as the denim was too thick to stitch and turn inside out.




A busy day for Lizzie tomorrow with a dance show dress rehearsal and a nativity rehearsal. A chance for me to do some sewing I hope. I am halfway through another row along row of leaves and I should continue my Farmer's Wife.

Fresh Sewing Day and Small Blog Meet

Today I'm looking back at what I've created this month and joining in with:

I have sent off my results to Peg of OPAM (one project a month)  - seven finishes this month and whilst looking for photos for each, I realised that I hadn't shown you the red coin purse. That'll have to wait. I've also done three rows of The Bee in my Bonnet Row along and two lots of bee blocks.  

I worked on a nice variety of projects this month and have also managed to change my blog header and edit my favicon which makes me smile every time I see it.  

I now need to sit down and decide what projects I want to finish for the 2013 Eisteddfod as that's only three months and a lot of work away. Probably I should start with my farmer's Wife Quilt so that it's ready for when my long arm is back in action. I have about two thirds of the blocks sewn together so it's not a big job.

Another 241 bag

Love them.




Some linen, Momo and Summersville. Heavy iron on interfacing in the handle is the way to go.

You gonna probe me?

I've got as far as I can with the Paul pixel pattern. I now have to wait for my thread order to come from Ebay. 90p in our local shop and 45 p including postage from Ebay. Will my patience last or will I cave and pop into Imagination tomorrow and buy the skin and hair colours?




I also need to look for some denim to make the embroidery into something. Perhaps I need to visit a few charity shops tomorrow.

Pixel people

Nicole of Follow the white bunny has a giveaway on her blog today.

Yesterday Nicole had an interview with the couple behind Wee Little Stitches and it got me thinking. I have bought two of their patterns today and one is going to be an advent gift to Lizzie, my 14 year old geek, who is constantly saying that she is bored. Most of the embroideries are postcard sized so achievable in a short time. Lizzie has a picture frame to fill with photos and I could see a couple of these sweet embroideries interspersed with the photos. So look out for her Big Bang Theory cross stitch later this month.

And if you go over to Kitschy Digitals you can pick up a free Wee Little Stitches pattern to try out. This pattern comes with a stitching chart and DMC and Anchor numbers so I plan to stitch this up to make a needle case for Lizzie as another advent gift to provide some variety along with the expected chocolates. Lizzie has a 45 minute French lesson in town later so I've added the pattern to my shopping list and will stop at Needle treasures to pick up the threads and Aida.

Bee in my Bonnet row one

I cut the remaining squares of fabric for row one of the row along last night. This meant it was a quick finish this morning as all the prep had been done.





So I have now finished Rows 1, 2 and 3 in the space of three days. I'm not sure which row to do next as I am still waiting for my bundles of fabric to arrive which I had planned to add to the fabric I've already used. Row 6 –  cups looks easy as it is only seven blocks to make and you can use a bigger print for the block.



Whilst waiting for my new fabric I think I will print out the instructions to the remaining four rows ready to go.

Jenny gave me this lovely box last Christmas. However I haven't decided until this morning what to put in it.



As I continue to tidy my workroom, I came across more Presencia threads. More than I can fit into my current storage box so I have moved them to this lovely box. Don't they look pretty. I see there are still a few spaces left in the box so perhaps I need to buy a few more.



 

Next job is ironing and then paying bills and reconcilling bank accounts and other thrilling jobs that I have put off for several weeks.

New blog banner

I know it's not rocket science but I've designed myself a new blog banner using Picasa collage feature and added the text in PSE.

Now that I know how to do it, I can change it as I finish projects. Now I want to replace the little B sign next to the URL with a picture. I know I have the instructions somewhere.

Upadte - I changed the flavicon, see the little picture next to the URL. So chuffed.

Bee in my Bonnet row along

At Sunday's UFO day I also managed to complete row three of the row along and this row is called chubby chevrons. I have some strips of background fabric to add to both rows two and three and I'll do that when I have caught up with all seven rows published so far.



Here are rows two and three together.




Once my new fabrics have arrived I'm hoping to get row four sewn which is called apples.

Ooooh

The postman has just forced a parcel from Florence through the letter box. The parcel contained my mini quilt swap and some extra goodies.




I think Lizzie might claim the Eiffel Tower key ring.

The mini quilt is now hanging in pride of place in front of the fireplace. This is our first Christmas item to go on display this year.




Florence has judged my tastes well with stitchery and Tilda fabrics. Thank you Florence.

Bee in my Bonnet row along

Sunday was Caesarea Quilters UFO day. This happens every last Sunday of the month apart from August and December. Mine was less of a UFO day and more of a starting yet another project day. I decided to start doing some of the rows for the Bee in my Bonnet Row along. Here is the first row which happens to be Row Two. So far seven rows have been revealed.

My fabrics include favourites from Bonnie and Camille, Aneela Hoey and a few other prints thrown in. I thought that the pinks and blues of Sew Stitchy by Aneela would fit in with the colours I'd chosen however the pink is too bubblegum pink and the blue isn't turquoise enough for most of the prints. However I have used this pin print. The butterfly bodies are Kona cotton.

I am going to prepare the squares for row one this evening ready to sew along with Row three which is chubby chevrons. I am also waiting for some Lori Holt fabric and Marmalade to be delivered this week which I also hope to incorporate. The red fabric above is the lining for my latest 241 bag.

A preview

More on this quilt later next week.

Black Friday

In the US today is known as Black Friday - a day for sales, pushing and shoving and bad manners by all accounts. Fortunately we can beenfit from the sales without having to get out of our pyjamas.

I hear that Justine of SImply Solids has 15% of all orders Friday through to Monday using code turkey on checkout.

And now I know why the Fat Quarter Shop were so keen to get my order out with a 20% coupon, there's now a 25% off coupon.

My order might arrive with some Bonnie & Camille Marmalade and Lori Holt's Polka Dot Stitches, ready to join in Lori Holt's Bee in My Bonnet Row Along. If my new fabrics arrive I might even take row seven to our UFO day on Sunday. I'm planning to mix them with my already large stash of Bonnie & Camille fabrics used for my Farmer's Wife quilt as I've now finished pieceing the blocks. I can't believe it's already the end of November. Before starting anything new I need to finish a pattern for Justine at Simply Solids.

So for Sunday's UFO day, I think I'll take along:

241 tote unless I finish it tomorrow

Farmer's Wife Quilt

Row seven of the Row along if my Fat Quarter shop order arrives today (no post on a Saturday)

Fat Quarterly tree skirt if my new fabric doesn't arrive

So for our UFO day I think I'll take

Spotty mail

I won a £10 voucher from The Village haberdashery which I used to purchase two red fabrics to audition for linings for another 241 bag. ThIs happy mail arrived yesterday and packaged in the lovely spotty mail bag. I'm loving the coloured bags that many shops are now using. And I recycle them by using them to send off bee blocks. Not only are the bags lighter and thinner they are also beautiful.





I hadn't realised until last night that this Sunday is the last Sunday of the month. That means it's Caesarea quilters' UFO day. I'm not sure what to take perhaps I'll finish my 241 bag or perhaps start my tree skirt using a fat quarterly pattern from the magazine from 2010 I think.

Another FNSI finish

Whilst tidying my sewing room yesterday I came across this mini quilt which was almost finished. Having finished the blocks I planned to sew last night I decided to finish this mini quilt. All that needed to be done was to quilt around the letters and the bug, embroider the antennae and sew up the gap at the bottom of the mini quilt.





Having taken the Christmas mini quilt off the stand to take this photo, I think it is time to post it to its recipient. The deadline is 25th November so it should get there in time.

JoJo's grandaddy blocks

JoJo made a call out to both the Bumble and Honey bees for a block she'd designed which started as a trip around the world block. I'd finished my November bee blocks and we are having December off so I said yes. This parcel arrived on Wednesday and I told JoJo I'd make my blocks as part of FNSI. In the end I couldn't resist and made two blocks with the grey background fabric  provided on Wednesday. It's then taken two days to start tidying my sewing room and discover the pack of Kona blues and greys in the place I thought they were but couldn't see on Wednesday and Thursday. So I have made five more blocks today as part of FNSI.

 So first of all I drew up a diagram of the block in QuiltAssistant as a visual for me, printed it off and scribbled down the cutting directions to remind me what I needed to cut.

You need to cut for each 10.5" (unfinished) block:

Background - Four 4.5" by 2.5" rectangles and four 2.5" squares

Fabric A - One 2.5" square

Fabrics B, C & D - four 2.5" squares

I was able to cut five blocks from one fat quarter of the Kona grey.

Then I lay out the pieces on my design boards see Lori holt's blog for instructions.

Then sew the pieces into five rows and press. I pressed open but to one side would also work, it's a personal preference.

Then back onto the design board before pinning and sewing the rows into the final block.

I admire the members of our bees who can combine an eclectic mix of fabrics so skillfully. I added the pink stripe to the fabric provided and the purple outside squares from some scraps from another project which will be revealed at the end of November. I hope my additions meet with Jo's approval.

I particularly like the white script and tape measure fabrics and can't wait to get these in the post tomorrow so JoJo can start putting the quilt together.

Harrison's quilt

I finished this quilt yesterday for Christine. I used the tickle pantograph in a blue thread and I think Christine has made a beautiful job of this quilt.





Just one more customer quilt to finish and then I can send my touch screen computer back to the manufacturer for fixing.