Even more stars - look how they twinkle

A week off work has given me time to get sewing - and look what I've managed to acheive!

I'm really happy with this especially as it is the most complicated pattern I've attempted.

It is actually quite simple to piece as it is all strips, but the cutting and measuring require a bit of concentration.

Not one to be working on while enjoying a glass of red!

I got the outer borders sewn on this morning and spent quite a bit of time with the iron and a can of starch before taking these photos. Then I took a trip to the local quilt store to pick backing and binding fabric, batting and thread. The backing is a terracotta-orange colour and I picked up some fqs of the fabrics used in the stars so I can do a scrappy binding. I'll even have some leftovers for cushions if I ever get around to it.

The plan is to get the quilt basted by Sunday afternoon and then work on it for an hour or so every day or two and hopefully I'll have a finished quilt in a few weeks. I've even tidied up the sewing room so I can leave it underway once I start.

I did sign up for the EB doll quilt challenge at the same time - -although I'm hoping to get both finished together.

Stars in my eyes...

Completed - the first block of my scrappy star quilt. Approx 30in square. dodgy photo - when I've done the next block I'll take pics during the daytime ;)

I've wanted to attempt a lone-star style block ever since I started dabbling in patchwork.

I found this pattern in the Jelly Roll quilts book and some scrappy strip rolls in my LQS and decided to dive in.

The diamonds came together pretty quickly and I'm quite pleased with my seam allowances and the straightness of my stiching. The colours in the strip rolls worked fairly well and I only substituted one star center with fabric from my stash. I've tried not to overthink the colour placement but there is one set of greens in another star that I'm not happy with - lack of contrast.

Cutting and sewing the background setting triangles has been a bit more of a challenge. The bias seams in the corner squares don't sit quite flat so I'll need to make some adjustments.

Otherwise, I'm happy.

Three more piles of diamonds and two piles of setting triangles are starched and ready to sew.

And on another theme - an early reminder of Father's day......

Here is my little man and my big man - one is mopping and the other is 'helping'. Check out the action the little guy has already. I might need to invest in a real mini mop for him.

And of course the dog has to be part of the action. I think it took three times as long as normal to do the floor this weekend!

Blog-land prize haul

This post is long, long, long overdue.


I was lucky enough to be the winner in two great blog give-aways.



The first was from Miss Kitty Boo Boo (http://misskittybooboo.blogspot.com/) in the Sew Mama Sew giveaway (yep, it's taken me that long to blog).
I won a great set of hair clips and have had to hide them from several of the girls at work so they don't dissappear on me. Thanks very much for these!



The second was from Bec (http://becclarke.blogspot.com/) for the Sewn giveaway.
She sent me a fantastic hand-crafted pendant and two lovely bars of hand-made soap.
The soap is really nice to use and the pendant is a summery, bright colour that is sure to get lots of use.
Thanks Bec, love your work!

Helping Mum in the sewing room...

Who needs toys?

Shopping....

Look what happens when you drop into the local fabric shop while waiting for an appointment!

This strip roll is for a lone-star style quilt. Only got 20 strips to see if I can manage it, and if I like it. If I like the way the first two blocks turn out, I'll be back for more.

And this bright set of FQ is from the Adalucia range, sitting right inside the door just to tempt me. I really didn't need it but just couldn't walk out the door without it! I'm thinking of making a QS quilt with it in a similar design to the one below.

I'll use 10in squares that will give me final blocks of about 9-9.5 in (the ones below are 5.5in) with five fabrics per square. Not sure what to do for sashing and if I should add cornerstones to the sashing. Might use either the first or the third one in the top row for a 10in border, if I can get enough.

I'm a bit hesitant to cut them, in case I don't like the design when I put it together. These colours are way outside my normal style!

The alternatives I have in mind are simple large squares, large squares combined with a four-patch or a stacked-coin style. Any other suggestion would be quite welcome...

This is the design I'm thinking of using as a starting point. This one is only lap-size. The blocks are about 5.5 in, the sashing is 1.5in and the borders are about 6in. it began life as a pack of thirty 6in charm squares. I wanted one fabric in the border but could only get single fat quarters in the same fabrics so I improvised. The creamy looking fabric is actually a goldy-beige and tones quite well. For some reason the camera altered the colours quite a bit.

Well, certainly some sewing in my future - best get cracking.

Bag swap - yippee

Opening day is here and look at the fantastic bag I scored from the lovely Emma!

Here is a close up of the embroidered label she put on it to remember the swap - a very nice touch. Sorry Emma, but this is strictly a keeper and you can't have it back!!!

Appologies for the dodgy photos but hubby has the camera at work so I resorted to mobile phone images. I couldn't get bluetooth to work so then had to recharge my account, set up phone email, email them, save them on the computer then upload them here. Two hours and a bit of aggro later, here they are.

She has done a great job and when the camera comes home I'll try to put up some better photos. I'm very impressed with the internal zipper pocket and the big pocket under the label. She also made a matching tissue case which is great because I can never find the things in my bags

And here is a pic of the bag I made for Sahra using the fabric from my last post. I enjoyed making this one and really hope she likes it. The photo is pretty bad, but the cross-over trim hides two big pockets on the outside of the bag and the whole thing is lightly quilted.

Yay - what a great start to the day. I'm off to pack my new bag up so I can take it to work and show it off!

Bag swap sneak peek

Here is a sneak peek of the fabric I'm using for the bag I'm making for my partner in the EB bag swap.

I'm rather in love with it and just happened to buy enough to make something for myself afterwards. It is called 'Jacobean Rhapsody' by Timeless Treasures fabrics.

The bag is taking a little longer than expected because I rolled my foot at work and couldn't walk for three days - right on they day I was meant to be going fabric shopping! My foot is still several lovely shades of blue-black but it is my left foot so I'm able to sew right-footed without a problem.

I spent the weekend fussy cutting to make the most of the fabric design, cutting out and ironing-on interfacing and pellon. I also unpicked the small amount of quilting over and over again.

Now I've got to make and apply some binding, design and apply some pockets and try and figure out the rather poor instrustions for the lining.

Hopefully it will be all ready to post off on Monday. I don't think I'll have time to make the little purse I wanted to put with it.