happy

I finished this skirt for Missy Big last week. This was a compromise skirt, she wanted a straight denim mini skirt (as seen in a magazine at the library). I don't think so. 

I persuaded her that frills would be fun. Agreed. Would you like one or two pockets? NO! Only if they are invisible, (in the side seam) would she have a pocket. Some trim, some embroidery? NO! 

I added the buttons without asking, I think I got away with them. When did 6 year olds get so focused on the details of their clothes, I wasn't expecting this for at least another few years.

This weekend was a good one. No rushing around, no trying to cram in more than is possible, no (huge) tantrums, warm days to play in the garden (they made a wormery) and lots of things crossed off the endless list of things to do. All very satisfying.

Following a great weekend, I noticed blossom on the trees this morning. Spring is coming. *big smiles*


Then the postman came, *even bigger smiles*. I was lucky enough to be a runner up in Jenny's giveaway over at Love and Peas. I love her embroideries and her paintings are so charming, so I was thrilled with the gorgeous note book and brooch that she kindly sent to me, and some choccies too, mmmm. Thank you Jenny! 

Jenny also woke me up to the perils of pinterest and a whole debate that is going on. It had passed me by completely, but I will revisit my boards on pinterest and delete any pins that aren't credited back to their original source, though I'm wondering if that's enough? It's all leaving a very bitter taste.


Hope your weekend was a good one, x

why, thank you

A very kind lady recently passed the Liebster Award on to me. So I thank you Flaming Nora and I am blushing very slightly.

The Liebster award comes with some rules.

(shamelessly copy & pasted from Nora's blog)

 

A Liebster blog award is given to blogs that are gaining popularity but have less than 200 followers. The rules for nominating are:

1. Thank the giver and link back to her/him.

2. Reveal your top picks and leave a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love too!

 

So now to pass them on:

 

Greer from ..typically red is a straight talking Mum of 3 (including twins) whose posts always make me smile and remember what is important in life.

Kelly at Jeliquilts, as my new obsession in quilting grows I have looked at MANY qulting blogs, and as a fellow member of the LMQG, I like her quilting style. Though I haven't actually met her yet. 

 

Nicole at MamaLoveQuilts, again with the quilting, this very new blog has helped me heaps already and Nicole makes some wonderfully colourful creations.

Anna at casual, casual easy thing, yes, she is my sister-in-law, hope this isn't cheating, but I love her honesty and sometimes scary kitsch taste she shares with us.

So now I will put on my best frock and celebrate this award in style. Or maybe have a cuppa before school pick up. Happy Weekend x

the good, the bad and the ugly

Lets start with the good:

My challenge, set by the London Modern Quilt Guild for this month is to make something inspired by Valentines Day. I decided to make a hot pad (again for camping) focusing on the actual quilting. I am using a whole piece for the front and hand quilting heart shapes all over the front. 

It's not a great photo - but trust me, it's looking good.

The bad:

I finished the cushion cover, and it's on the sofa, but I just don't like it. It's too busy, the squares, the triangles, all those colours, all those prints. The are just fighting. 

 The back is more pleasing.

I have learned from my mistakes, I like lots of multicoloured quilts, but I have now realised that it's the ones with the simpler designs, that are broken up by lots of plain fabrics that I prefer.

The ugly: 

The back of the above mentioned hotpad. My stitching is A MESS. It's nice and neat and even on the front. The back. Eeeeuuuggghhh. Some teeny tiny barely there stitches, some wonky, some enormous and almost joining up.

I'm struggling to to do a whole stitch in one movement (down and up again), maybe it's the extra layer of InsulBright that's making it too bulky. Maybe I'm just making excuses. I have started going down, then up, then down, etc. It's looking a little neater, thank goodness this thing is small though.

Some more good:

Thank you to Flaming Nora for generously sharing this bundle of Joan's Scraps. Not sure what these will become yet, but there are some lovely fabrics indeed.

Some more good: 

Little Missy is all better, did you know Scarlet Fever is still around? Well it is, though I've never heard of anyone getting it before. Thankfully she's well again now, very worrying though.

Even more good:

over at Freshly Pieced.

hearts and triangles

Cushion cover no. 2. I've made some progress, it's been slow, but this bugger will not defeat me. 

Whilst I love all these fabrics by themselves or with a partner, I do not like them all together, or cut up into small pieces it seems, seeing how fabrics work together in quilting is proving to be a challenge.

This half-square triangle cushion cover was going to end up like this. But I really disliked it.

So I decided to sash it (get me with my quilty lingo), with one of Mr's old shirts, also another skill to try out. I do prefer it like this, but I don't love it. 

I machine quilted this with my fancy new walking foot which was fun, but I wasn't very adventurous, I stuck to (almost) straight lines. It will get bound soon, hopefully.

I whipped up this potholder before I started on the cushion, slightly happier with this, though the quilting is a bit gathered - no walking foot at this point. It'll be perfect for when we go camping in the summer.

And of course we didn't forget Valentines day, just a bit late - lots of sickness in our house. 

Add a marble to your cake tin...

bake, sit back and watch the tiddlers decorate your hearts.  Yummy. 

Freshly Pieced Quilts over here and creative types over here.


See you after half term. x
 

fabric & yarn

A little retail therapy, to feed my new quilting habit, (nobody told me how addictive it is).

From Raystitch and John Lewis. 

When I'm watching Missy Big at her swimming lessons I like to have an easy and small crochet project on the go, I have more than enough ric-rac now...

...so I've started a new blanket, the Bullseye, also seen on Kate's blog (yes I'm stalking her crochet makes), which of course meant I needed more yarn. Gulp.

Child free, free time after a lovely and inspiring quilt meeting this weekend was dangerous for my purse.