Look Who's Watching!

I got my Across the Sea blocks done for the quilt back:

I felt I still needed a wee bit of white in there even though the main background will be this boyish, mid blue.

And look who was watching me the whole time I was sewing!

How brave am I even taking a picture of this critter (I was only about a foot away from it!)?

He's still in my sewing room somewhere - I can happily live in harmony with spiders as long as they stick to their side of the room!

Happy Monday!

Finally - 2 finishes!

I don't like not getting things finished.

So it was great getting the fabric I needed yesterday to finish Susan's Brit Bee blocks for September:

2 really bright Drunkard's Path blocks!

These will be in the post tomorrow Suz.

I also managed to wade my way through the mess and corduroy shavings in my sewing room and finish the cushion I was working on:

18" of touchy, feely goodness!

 

I love all that this cushion represents in terms of style and concept; it is very me!  But alas, I can't keep it.  It will be sold (hopefully) in the weeks to come (more on that another time!).

I also managed to get the bordered block done for the back of the Across the Sea QAL.  Just a couple more small ones to do and I'm up to date.

We've had fab weather this weekend in Belfast, so I've been out and about doing family stuff rather than hiding myself away in the sewing room too much. 

The work stuff can wait til tomorrow!

Hope you've had a great weekend.

Blown Away!

I've been completely blown away today by the generosity and thoughtfulness of one of my lovely bloggy friends.

I was waiting for a wee bit more fabric from Susan (Miss September), after I slightly messed up her Brit Bee Blocks.

When I saw the large parcel at the front door today I thought 'that's a bit big for 2 wee strips of fabric'!

I eagerly tore through the brown paper wrapping to find lots of lovely goodies - I was speechless!

Of course the fabric I was waiting for was there, as was 2 more Bee Blessed blocks and my PIF (Pay it Forward) gift.

A crocheted purse.  I can't tell you how adorably soft this is AND it's fabric lined - exquisite!

Then I opened this fun kids monkey quilt top, all pieced and ready to be quilted and bound (binding also provided!).  Susan is very kindly donating this to Bee Blessed - what a woman!!

The monkeys on the fabric reminded me of the toy sock monkeys that were the rage a while ago - here's one my daughter made out of a pair of her socks last year!

Isn't he cute!

At then, I came to a really heavy shoe box, and guess what was inside?

Mmmmm! Delicious!

That's right, a bucket load of delicious choc chip cookies!! I can honestly say I've never received a shoe box of cookies in the post before!  

Susan - you are a legend!  No wonder you were anxiously asking me yesterday had the post arrived!!

I haven't stopped smiling all day!  Thank you just doesn't seem to cover this, but I hope my friend Susan knows that she is v.much treasured by me (& many others) and she has truly touched my heart with her friendship, thoughtfulness and personality. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I'm a Criminal!

I had a very busy day yesterday!  

I don't do busy v.well!  

I get v.tired and cranky (just ask my kids!).

By 6.30pm I had shipped the kids out to their youth group at church and met a friend for coffee in the neighbouring coffee shop.  We had a good old rant about the busyness of life, moody kids etc. etc. and felt much better for it.

So engrossed were we in chatting (and then chatting to others we knew in the shop), we walked out of the coffee shop not realising we hadn't paid!!

It wasn't until I was in the car driving home that I realised we had bare facedly walked out of our local community coffee shop without paying.  I almost crashed the car!!  This is the same coffee shop that advertises my classes with a poster in their window!!

Of course the kids thought this was hilarious and took great delight in calling me a criminal.  I telephoned my friend who was still in the vicinity of the shop, and she went back in and paid - phew!

I'm happy to say that today was a lot less dramatic, but no more productive in sewing terms.  I did however get my Across the Sea QAL back pieces cut out (great cutting instructions Sarah - you're a brain!).

I may or may not put white around the crosses!

At first I wasn't going to go for a pieced back, but instead put a fleecy back on it.  But then I realised I already have loads of solid blue leftover from my colour brick quilt plus a spare cross block that I didn't use in the quilt front.  

So my idea now is to make this quilt like a day & night quilt - the front with the white background is day time napping, and the back with the solid blue and darker crosses is for night time napping!  It just adds a little bit of interest, and I really like quilts that have a bit of a story to tell.

I'm teaching again tomorrow, visiting a friend in hospital and then down at church in the evening, so I don't suppose there'll be much sewing done tomorrow either.

Roll on Saturday!

Going Bananas!

This is what my sewing room looks like right now (8.25pm)!

What a shocker!

After finishing up yet another handbag this morning (can't show you pics yet), I needed an injection of creative fun, and this is what it looks like after several hours!  

Mess, mess, mess! You should see the floor - I get so into 'The Zone', I no longer even try to aim all those thread & fabric ends into the bin, they get absent mindedly dropped onto the floor!

I'm beginning to think that sewing brings out one's alter-ego, 'cos in real life I'm a tidy freak (I know, you'd never know it looking at that horror!).

Still, I had fun, and if untidyness is the price to pay, then it was well worth it.

I've discovered 2 things about myself lately.  

1. That despite falling in love with fabric all over again because of these wonderful new designers, prints, fabrics and colours that abound, I can still return to my first love, recycled fabrics, with the same amount of zeal and passion. 

I don't know why I get such a kick out of reusing clothes that are now too small or out of fashion, or breathing new life into old, forgotten about curtains.  But I do!  Most of what you see on that table there is corduroy clothes and some curtains I've gathered up over the years.

2.  I love making cushions (pillows).  Again I don't know why exactly - I seem to be able to experiment more with ideas and creativity with a cushion.

So as a complete indulgent treat to myself (no not Ben & Jerry's & Baileys on ice!!) I started on a design for a recycled cushion.

This is what it looks like so far:

Sorry pics are dark but it's almost my bedtime!!

I probably would have finished it by now, but a certain teenager needed help making her proto-type GSCE textile project for art (it just happens to be a handbag and she just happens to have a mummy who knows how to make them! Win, Win!).

 Oh, and I made these last night to use up spotty bananas the kids wouldn't eat:

Banana muffins!  There are 15 altogether - but not for long!

Now those of you who know me well know that I hate cooking, so this is something for me!  

The fact that after I put them in the oven I completely forgot about them until I started smelling them from 2 rooms away, is neither here nor there!  This morning they got plastered with a not so healthy dose of cream cheese frosting and down the hatch they went!  I've already had 2 today, might just sneak in another one for supper!

Hope you've had a great Tuesday.  

Huge hugs and kisses to a special friend who had surgery today. xoxo

Top of the Tots!

Firstly, can I ask the owner of 'Under The Maple Tree' blog to send me their email address.  You very kindly sent me an email, and I would love to reply, but unfortunately you are showing as 'no reply comment blogger'.  I've visited your blog, but there is nowhere to leave a comment, sorry. Please get in touch!

I managed to get my Across the Sea QAL quilt top finished, and within schedule (just!).

No chance of photographing this on the washing line today!  Katia might like it too much & whisk it away!

This will be a cot quilt for a pregnant friend (if she has a boy that is!).

The next stage of the QAL is making a pieced back, with 'floating' crosses.  However, I might put a soft, fleecy back on mine instead, which will make this wee quilt super snuggly.

Hope you are having a great start to the new week.  Hold on tight to your umbrella!

A-Tissue!

This morning I got a wee lie in - much needed after 2 really hectic days on Friday & Saturday.

After church, I threw a korma together in the slow cooker for tea-time, and headed up to the sewing room.

All the stuff from yesterday's Bee Blessed had been dumped into the sewing room, and the door firmly closed behind!

So after a sort through and tidy up, I did actually get some sewing done.

I made 3 tissue pouches, one of which is for my Small Goodies swap partner B (but I'm sworn to secrecy which one!).

The others are for friends who need a little lift!

I've also made some progress on my Across the Sea QAL, but more on that tomorrow!

Hope you've had a great weekend.