Birthday Bags!

The little sewing I have managed this week has involved bags or pouches!

My sister's Bag for Life, to go with her birthday picture:



And for my step-MIL, a pouch to match the Modern Maud handbag I made her for Christmas.



Finally, a pencil case/pouch for my friend's daughter:

I just love that Wellie fabric!

Happy Friday!

What Matters Most!

I got back home on Monday from a brilliant weekend away!

The main reason for my visit was to spend some time with this special lady:

Nigella, eat your heart out!

There were a few tears, no tantrums, and mostly lots and lots of laughing! But on the Saturday, Terri, me, and a few more bloggers, gate-crashed Ceri's!



Terri was our 'Nigella' and served up a beautiful Mexican soup. Then followed a particularly inspiring Show & Tell!



It was a real highlight for me getting to spend time with some of my Brit Bee mates (Terri, Ceri, Susan, Hadley, Trudi & Jo) as well as another bloggy mate, Di, and my new friend, Liz.

On Sunday, we left Ceri's cottage in Hastings & Terri introduced me to the historic town of Rye!  My, did I fall in love!



Cobbled streets, vintage shops aplenty, and the cutest coffee shop (called Edith's) decked out like Granny's house, complete with real dog called Boo!  Can't get more quaint than that!

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I've not felt much like writing here since I've been back.  It was a truly special time, and it's hard to put into words the roller coaster of emotions that I've travelled these past few days.

I will treasure these memories, and hope that I get the chance to make many more of them, with these truly talented and special people I get to call my friends.

"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same!" E.Hubbard

Jxo

March Madness!

I know February is a short month, but didn't it fly by!

Here in Belfast this month, we've enjoyed some of our best weather in a long time!  Gorgeous blue skies and crisp, fresh air!

It has been a productive month for me, getting caught up with class samples and presents.



And here are the blocks I've made this month:



And on the theme of blocks, just take a look at these lovelies, made by my Block Party class which finished last night:

The photos don't do these amazing blocks justice!  Well done ladies!  You are going to have some fabulous sampler quilts!

Today I'm super excited to be nipping across the Irish Sea to meet up with some of my best bloggy friends for the weekend!  So I won't be blogging until I get back, but I'm sure you'll see some pics of our antics popping up here and there!

Let the madness fun begin!

Linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day!

Jxo

Bee Blessed March Block

I recently pinned a really lovely block and thought it would be an excellent one for Bee Blessed to try for March.

By Happy Zombie



As you can see, there are 2 blocks here, using the same pattern but reversing the prints.  We'd love it if you would like to have a go at a nut or bolt block, or both! 

 

Last year Bee Blessed donated a quilt to Siblings Together, and we will be doing so again this year.  We would like these Nuts and Bolts blocks to make up the ST quilt.

 

So, you can find the tutorial here.  Please follow the cutting instructions for a 12" block & as always, please use plain white as the background (as shown above). As this quilt will be for a child or teenager, please keep to a 'brights' colour theme.

Thank you wonderful ladies for your continued support. 

Jxo

Donating Wonky Chevrons!

Last September it was my month to be Queen Bee in the Hipbees quilting bee.

I asked these super talented ladies to each make me a Wonky Chevron block with some rainbow scraps I sent them, and they didn't disappoint!

Here they all are, sewn together, with the extra yellow chevrons that Di kindly made, in the borders.

It was so bright and sunny earlier this week when I snapped this, that the yellow gingham border looks really insipid.  But rest assured, it isn't half as washed out as it appears here!

I've thought long and hard about what to 'do' with this quilt, and after running an idea past my lovely Hipbee ladies, have decided to donate this cot size quilt to our local Mums and Babies HIV unit. 

Bee Blessed have been making kiddy quilts for this unit recently, and this one will join the growing pile which will soon be handed over to some very needy families.

And the other sewing I've done this week ...



... a scrappy Spider's web block for Thursday's Block Party class.

And I've also been chopping into these ...

... which will hopefully become a 'boy' quilt for a very special wee man!

Happy Wednesday!

Jxo

Only Sisters Know!

It's my favourite sister's birthday next week (I only have 1 sister lol!).

She has requested a 'bag for life', which I will of course make her, but I was wanting to make her something a little less boring more creatively challenging!

My sister is 5 years my senior, and I grew up in awe of her, always wanting to be like her, have her wonderful clothes and confidence!

It wasn't until I was an adult that my sister told me she always wanted to be more like me!  Go figure!

So following on from the thoughtful little girl here, I sketched up a picture that only a sister would appreciate!



Those of you who have seen my sister will know that she is the blonde and I am the (ginger faking it as a) brunette!

It's really tricky photographing something with glass in front of it, so here are some pics without the frame (the inner frame is 11.5" x 8").

No, I'm not showing you a close up of that photo of us bottom right!

I'm still in awe of my sister.  She inspires me, encourages me and always makes me laugh! We are as opposite as chalk and cheese, and yet fit so well together, like peas and carrots!

Want to know what I wish I had of hers and she of mine?  Now, that would be telling! *wink*

Jxo

My Very Special Quilt!

It is finished!



This is my 2012 Brit Bee quilt, made by 12 women, who joined an online bee early 2012 as complete strangers.  We are all now firm friends, who can laugh, cry, moan, and eat heartily together!



I set a Log Cabin theme for the blocks, and asked folks to personalise the centre of their blocks, with a favourite fabric, some embroidery etc. Like any self-respecting parent, I don't have favourites, I love how each and every block reveals something of their maker, but it has made photographing it fairly quite a challenge! Apologies in advance if I haven't managed to get everyone's block photographed.

Yesterday, I talked about the circular quilting I decided on.  I'm delighted with how it turned out!

The back - Giant Log Cabin

A Brit Bee!  How cute is that!

To say that this quilt will be very, very special to me for a long time, is probably an understatement!  Can you tell how much I love it!!

 



Thank you ladies for being so inspiring, encouraging, cheeky funny & of course, talented!



I can't wait to get my 2013 Brit Bee quilts finished!
Jxo