Picnic Rug Progress

Last week I started working on turning blue & orange rectangles into a 'bricked' effect picnic rug.

Here's what I've done so far:

I've been in a bit of a dither over the quilting of this, 'cos I didn't feel the 'outline seam' quilting was enough, and the plain orange 'path' through the middle needed broken up a bit. 

A single line of quilting through the plain orange didn't satisfy either, and I'd done too much to then start free motioning all over it!  What to do?

After much deliberating, I used some of the fabric leftovers to make hexagons & laid them on the quilt in various ways to see what worked.

I'm liking it better now.  This pile of mess will be the binding:

Almost there!  Check back in a day or two to see the finished quilt!

Stylish Blogger Award Winner!

I am very privileged to have been awarded this glamourous award from Leanne at She Can Quilt. 

If you haven't already, check out Leanne's fun blog - there are lots of gorgeous projects to inspire you. 


In accepting this wonderful award, there comes a few honourary responsibilities:

1. Thank and link back to the person who bestowed the award - check (thanks again Leanne!)
2. Share seven things about yourself (see below)
3. Bestow the award on six recently discovered bloggers:

Here are my top 6 out of the huge choice of fab blogs out there:

Sew Me

Lily's Quilts

Pickle Dish

Domestic Light & Magic

Blue Patch Quilter

Nellies Niceties

Please check out these amazing blogs & the inpirational creativity behind them.

7 things about me (not sure why 7!!):

1. I am a born again Christian
2. A tidy freak
3. Eat way too much chocolate
4. Won the fight against depression
5. Favourite colour - purple
6. Love the countryside, especially in summer
7. Enjoy watching 'period' films & dramas e.g. Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice etc.

More Exciting News!

As if it wasn't exciting enough getting this award, I also found out this morning that I've won a charm pack from Lesly at Pickeldish.

To win I had to comment on what my favourite pre 1960 film is - I said 'Cat on a hot tin roof (ooooh Paul Newman, drule) & I like Calamity Jane too. Grease is also up there but think it's post 1960!

Many thanks Lesly - can't wait til Mr Postie comes calling!

Not so fishy!!

Lynne from Lily's Quilts very kindly posted a tute on a mug rug called Fishy Piecing.

I always love the look of curved piecing, but don't usually enjoy the process, but I thought I'd have a go anyway:

'This looks nothing like Lynne's' I hear you cry! And you're right!

When I got mine to the stage where the fishy shapes were pieced, I had an overwhelming urge to slice up my fish!  (must have been a bit peckish at the time!).

After slicing through the fish, I swapped the new strips around and pieced them back together with more white stips in between. 

 Some random quilting lines completed my 'not so fishy' mugrug!

I had a lot of fun making this.  Thanks Lynne for the tute.

Mug Rug Madness Week:

As this 10 day period of madness draws to a close, I thought I'd post one more mugrug:

You can see lots more mug rugs on flickr.

For someone special!

You may remember from previous posts that this has been Mug Rug Madness week!  Check out what the Flickr Group has been making this week.

I've been wanting to blog about a Mug Rug I made for a very special friend, but couldn't until I'd given it to her today (she's a follower of my blog!).

My friend Sarah of SewMe is having a love affair with the colour purple this year.  Check out her amazing cushions and quillow in vibrant purples & greens.

She has also recently taken a shine to paper/foundation piecing, so I thought her Mug Rug had to have these key elements: Purple (a must), green & foundation piecing.  So here's what I came up with:

The little house is significant because Sarah is a true homemaker and her house is full of warmth and love.  She has been a huge inspiration and encouragement to me. 

Enjoy my friend!

New Programme of Classes: May - August '11

Just to let you know that next term's programme is now available to view here.

For information on how to book, see the bottom of the programme page.

I'm starting a new Saturday School for beginner's (details on the programme page), so if you know someone who's inspired to sew but nervous about starting, let them know about this class just for beginners.

Looking forward to starting some new creative goodness with you.

Quilter's Quest - New Web Page

Just to let local folks know that Quilter's Quest Fabric Shop (Woodstock Road, Belfast) is now up and running online. 

Check it out, and they are offering a free bag pattern to everyone who registers their details with them online with their first order.

Dresden QAL Progress Report!

I was really happy with stage 1: Choosing fabrics & cutting out the blades:

Then came choosing the centre & outer fabrics.  Hmmmm, more difficult:

Too plain!

Too flat!

Not bad, but not quite!

Liking the red centre better, but not the plain background.

So there was nothing else for it - a trip to my local fabric shop was needed:

Aaah! Much better!

Close up of smaller polka dot in red centre.

Close up of patterned duck egg background, lovely!

Yes this is singing much sweeter for me now! 

Next stage is sewing it together.  Will let you know how that goes!!

New Fabric & Picnic Rugs

The postman almost got a hug from me this morning!

It's so rare that I order brand, shiney new fabric, but I stumbled across a fab UK fabric website called Gone to Earth.

They have great deals on fabric bundles by well known designers, and their P&P is first class (literally!).

Here's what I got:

Heather Bailey 'Nicey Jane'

I was originally thinking of a picnic blanket with these beauties, but can't bear the thought of using it for that!

Will design something special to show off these lovely prints.

And here's a wee peek at a picnic blanket I am working on.





My crude design!

I was given a metre of Kaffe Fasset fabric a couple of years ago, but have to admit I didn't like it much!  (It's the orange, zig-zaggy, floral print - I'm sure it has a proper name!). 

I am a bit adulterous when it comes to using fabric, I'm more than happy to mix designers with whatever else I've got e.g. the blue floral was a vintage sheet from a charity shop!

I've made a few changes since taking this pic.  Will have more to show you all soon.

New Boxy Bag

I recently saw one of those hessian type 'bags for life' and was reminded of my love of structure (talking of bags here, ok life as well!).

With some offcut lengths of denim & bright prints I came up with these sturdy, quilted bags:

I adapted a pattern I had made last year and am so pleased with the results, I think I'll teach it next term.

I've decided to give my mum the 2nd one for Mother's Day (2nd April in UK). She doesn't have a computer so I think I'm safe revealing this here!

Update: Dresden Plate QAL

So here's what the fabric 'leaves' look like now that they've been cut.

In the spirit of recycling, I've cut up a shirt/dress of mine (the floral), some shirt fabric (plain duck egg) & a curtain offcut (cross-hatch duck egg).  The rest are leftovers from other projects & commissions.

My only problem now is deciding what to put in the middle and the outer! 

Watch this space!

Join in the Mug Rug Madness!

If you are as passionate as me about these cute wee mats that are taking over the world (ok I'm exaggerating!) then next week is for you!

Erin from Two More Seconds is hosting this official madness!

Starting Monday, there will be 10 days of creative ideas & tutorials about mug rugs. 

To get you even more inspired, you are invited to join the Mug Rug Madness Flickr Group, to share any mug rugs you've already made or pics of the ones you'll make next week.

Be warned, these things are addictive!  AND there will be giveaways too!

See you over on Flickr!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, from this beautiful Emerald Isle to everyone far and wide!

A rather large St. Paddy's Hat modelled by Bethany (9)

Go green!



 

For the love of Doorstops!

I've got a wee 'thing' about doorstops at the moment. 

I think they're so cute when I see them in shops, especially the decorative ones in the shape of cutesy houses, or funky chickens!


Picture from Google images




Picture from Google images


I discovered Oh Fransson's doorstop tutorial 18 months ago and loved how it turned out (although not sticking to her generous 1/2" seams meant my squares weren't even - I learn the hard way!).  Be warned though, these babies take nearly 2kg of dried peas to fill them!

I will soon be teaching this wee gem in my class and thought I'd make another one, to refresh myself with the pattern, but also as a potential present for my friend's birthday.

As usual I recycled bits of denim, wool, small cotton scraps & even a zip (the closure is underneath). 

My plain centre square was crying out for a love heart button, but for some reason I find it difficult to source these in my local shops. 

So I thought I'd make my own out of fimo clay. 

Hmmm! Now which one shall I choose?