It's that time again!

Well another month has flown by and it is time to tell you about the May block for Bee Blessed.

This is the Bow Tie block by Cluck Cluck Sew, and you can get the tutorial here.

The tutorial shows you how to make 1 quarter block, so we would love it if you could put 4 mini blocks together to make 1 x 12.5" unfinished block.

Please keep to solid backgrounds, any variety of colours will be great.  And have fun using up scraps for the cute little bow ties!

And a big thank you to everyone who tackled the Asterisk block.  It's going to be a really modern quilt for someone to enjoy!

Jude xo

Up-Sizing!

I'm loving many of the giant 'one block' quilts bouncing around blogland at the mo! I particularly like this creation (but then I like everything Hadley makes!).

Being a huge fan of Log Cabin blocks, and having recently flicked through this book over the Easter hols, I decided to put some of my large print leftovers to good use!

Approx. 67" x 68"

These fabrics are mostly Amy Butler, with a little Loulouthi thrown in for good measure!

Giant block quilts are great for those larger scale prints which can often be hard to place in a pattern.

I enjoyed putting this quick easy quilt top together.  As far as the quilting goes, I'm seeing some condensed quilting in it, but it might have to become a UFO for a bit while I crack on with work commitments! 

I blame the hottest day of the year here so far for making me deviate today!

Jude xo

A Scrumptious Finish!

I finally stopped the dithering over the binding for my friend's quilt, and just went with trusty black and white stripe - oh how I love stripey binding!

Finished size 57" x 60" (including the big crease down the centre!!)

This is my first half hexie quilt, using this tool, a Bonnie & Camille Scrumptious Layer cake and some Kona Snow.

And while I've made some adjustments to subsequent half hexie quilts (yet to finish), I really love how this one has turned out.

I've backed this one with red fleece, to make it super snuggly!  Our evenings can still be chilly here, so hopefully my friend will still get to use it straight away!

I quilted in the ditches of the hexies, as well as a diamond/zigzag pattern through the centres.



The handover is this Friday night, at the 70's themed party!  I'm supposed to dress up, but I'm chickening out!

Happy sewing!

Jude xo

Oh la la!

All the lovely sunshine we've had recently has got me in a summery mood (don't worry, I know it won't last!).

My prescription sunglasses don't fold flat, which means they don't fit into a 3.5" flex frame pouch.  So I got hold of some 5" flex frames (from Thailand!!) and made my own sunnies pouch!

I've also got rope on order for some beach bags!

And lookie, lookie!

I can't quite believe I'm now the mortified owner of 2 tankinis!!  Yes there is a hot holiday in my near future, and yes I've been having major dilemmas about having so much flesh on show!  But it's either strip off or die of heatstroke.  Dying of embarrassment will have to be the lesser of 2 evils!!

Kids are back to school this week yippee! And I'm back to work!  But just look who's going to be my beautiful assistant for the summer!

Shannon finishes school this week (yikes) and she is now in training as my much needed PA!! Joy oh joy!

I'm so looking forward to having my gorgeous girl by my side!

Wishing you all a great start to the new week!

Jude xo

Reunited!

I was reunited with daughter no.2 today, up at the glorious north coast!

It was another fabulous warm and sunny day!

We will definitely be visiting here again in the summer!

In other news, I've got the Scrumptuous Half Hexie quilt quilted.  I'm dithering over the binding, but a looming deadline will make me decide soon!

Jude xo

Tea by the Sea!

Some of you may have noticed one of my offspring missing from recent photos.

She's been on holiday with friends, body boarding and surfing like the mad thing she is!

As a thank you to her 'mum for the week' I made her a 'seaside' themed zippy pouch and matching teabag wallet.

The teabag pouch is from Ayumi's book 'Patchwork Please' and a super quick wee make!

The zippy pouch I made up as I went a long (as per usual!).  The Irish Linen worked well with some leftover 'Seascape' fussy cuts.  I especially like the sea turtles inside!

I will be extracting said daughter on Wednesday, only to take her to the airport on Thursday!!  Ah the life of a 15 year old!

Jude xo

Sunnyside!

The sun continued to shine on this glorious resurrection day!

We had a lovely family lunch out, and then walked some of it off by the shores of Lough Neagh!

The rest of the day was spent in the garden.  Oh how I love sitting in my garden!

No sewing today!  But I can show you a quilt top I finished yesterday.

Sorry about Poppy's rear in the pic!

This is my 2nd half hexie quilt top, this time using a layer cake by Kate Spain called Sunnyside!

I'm dithering on the backing for this one.  I want to keep it light and sunny, but don't have anything in my stash that is quite right!  Might have to go shopping (when they eventually reopen - Thursday over here!).

The first half hexie quilt top has now been basted and is ready for quilting!

Hope you are enjoying the Easter break!

Jude xo

An Italian Diva!

The sun has been shining for 2 whole days now!  Hooray!

The toes have been painted (no pics you'll be pleased to hear) and no.1 daughter working on her tan in the garden!  It is exam season afterall!

My daughter had requested a 'makeup bag style' pouch for her (super artistic) friend's birthday. After much deliberation over fabrics and design, we came up with this:

I don't do minimalist, so keeping this one to the 'simple and modern' brief was a challenge.

The Italian wool I was using was also a challenge, quite the diva in fact!  So there was nothing for it but to quilt it to within an inch of its life!

I did veer slightly from the original brief, but I'm really pleased with how this roomy pouch turned out and so was my big girl!

And some of you will be pleased to hear that I am now on Instagram: #justjudebelfast

Please be patient as I haven't quite figured out how to use IG with a new phone I haven't quite figured out how to use!!

Jude xo

Let the Chocolate eating begin!

My current term's classes finished yesterday!  I'm officially on holiday! Woohoo!

Here's a roundup of finishes from this week:

Monday night's Mugrug class:

Wednesday night Gifts:

Thursday night Doorstops:

What a fabulous roundup of finishes!  Well done everyone!  Enjoy your well earned Easter break!

And if you would like to make a 'house' style doorstop for yourself, you can get the pattern here.

Jude xo

Feet . Ground . Not Touching!

Yes it's been another busy week, with precious little to show for it.

Although I did manage to get 3 patterns written!

The only sewing I can show you is this.

I found time to have a wee play with a 3.5" flex frame for a class next term, while I wait on more sizes to come.

I'm also waiting on some pattern tracing paper to progress more tops for youngun', fleece to back my friends' birthday quilt, classroom floor space to baste 2 quilts, and a significant dose of sewing mojo to crack on with a tonne of class samples!

My kids have started their Easter hols, and I've one more week and then I'm off too!  First time off since Christmas!  Boy it's been a long term!

Hope you've had a great weekend!
Jude xo

Cutting Crazy!

I don't seem to be able to stop myself from cutting into fabric at the moment. I've barely finished cutting up one layer cake, and I've hacked into another, or a fat quarter bundle (or 2!). 

I'm clearly needing to indulge the flow of ideas and creativity that are buzzing about in my head like some kind of deranged bumble bee!!

Problem is, I'm not getting much sewing done, just creating more and more piles of WIPs!! Oh dear!

And the only sewing done today, was half an hour of EPP in the Hospital coffee shop!

My daughter was having her legs scanned at half hour, and hourly intervals all morning!  Fun (not!!).

Lying perfectly still for 30 minutes at a time for my 'active' one was her biggest challenge. At least she got a day off school!

But I can show you something I made last week.

hand printed 'peek a boo' flower by Ceri

 Last night started my 2 week mugrug class, and this is one of the examples!

Can't wait to show you the brilliant mugrugs that are being made!

Happy Tuesday!

Jude xo

Sunny Sunday Sewing!

It's been so long since I cut the grass in my garden, I stalled the lawnmower, twice, while going over some extra thick bits!!

But it was too good a day not to!  17 degrees in fact!!

Sewing with the window open is a particular pleasure of mine!

I got the next round of Brit Bee Medallion done, for Katy this month (sorry, only allowed to show you a sneaky peek!).

4 paper pieced corner star blocks!

I also got a few wonky cross blocks made for an in-house Bee Blessed man quilt.

So that's the sum total of my sunny Sunday sewing!

Hope you had a lovely day!

Jude xo

Cute Canines!

Have you ever tried to make a 3d patchwork cushion?

Just look who mastered them today at my Scottie Dog workshop:

Aren't they adorable!!

There were some fiddly, tricky stages to these cute doggies but those nimble fingers coped brilliantly.

Well done everyone!  Enjoy your cute canines!

Jude xo

Half Hexie Fun!

I've been working on a birthday present for a(nother) friend who has a '0' ending birthday next month.

This quilt top is made using a layer cake (Scrumptious by Bonnie & Camille), some yardage (Kona Snow, Paintbox by Michael Millar) and this half hexie 10" ruler.

I've decided to back this quilt in fluffy, snuggly red fleece!

I love this wee ruler so much, I hacked into another layer cake (Sunnyside by Kate Spain), changing the layout slightly so that full hexies extend into the border space.

I have the softest Kona Silver to put round the edges of this one!

And I have plans for a 3rd half hexie quilt (a sizzix die may also be involved!) wink wink!

More on that another day!

Happy Friday!

Jude xo

Overs and Unders Finishes!

On Monday evening my Overs and Unders Quilt class finished, and what a lot of finishes!

I made a few changes to Kim Bracket's pattern, but kept the main design the same.

Aren't they brilliant! Well done ladies! Especially those of you tackling a quilt for the first time!

You rock!

Jude xo

Just a Number!

Someone who inspires and encourages me, and who I have the privilege to call 'friend' becomes a 'significant number' today!

She has a brilliant attitude to life, and even though she has the most beautiful silver hair, she has the energy of a 20 year old!

I wanted to make R a picture that would sum up her quirky and creative character!

All the elements in this picture are significant to R, the vintage lace, the lampshade, even the red boots!

The only thing I'm a little disappointed with is the short hair - looks more like a helmet I'm afraid!

But I'm hoping R won't mind looking like a 20 year old retro mod!

Another friend has a '0' ending birthday next month!  Better get moving on that present!

Jude xo

You Can't Be Serious!

Well that month just went by in a blur!!

Even my kids think March was a quick one!  This time last year it was the Easter school holidays here.  With Easter being later this year, the term has been long and tiring, so we are all looking forward to the school holidays in 2 weeks time.

I'm happy with what I managed to get done in March, only 1 secret project not listed below!

I have a tonne of pattern writing to do in April, so not sure how much actual sewing I'll get done.  But I'm looking forward to lots of chocolate eating!

Happy first of the month!  Linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day!

Jude xo