Crazy Critters!

Tissue Pouches

These might be appropriately timed for 31st October, but they are actually craft stall items for our Bee Blessed fund raiser next week.

I made the denim/pink one for my young niece, whose birthday is also next week.

She's mad about pink, so I made her a cute wee pouch too!  Inside the pouch is a teeny weeny jar of fimo flumps, made by my daughter!

Well I'm off to class. Fingers crossed it won't be too scary!!

Jxo

Isn't it funny .....

.... when you fall in love with a collection of fabric and you just want to keep making things with it?

I had some leftovers from the Fig Tree Avalon fabrics I used to make mum's quilt. So I decided to make her a matching cushion.

I tweaked Kim Brackett's Overs and Unders pattern a bit to get a section of the quilt pattern to fit a 20" cushion cover, and stippled it to match the quilt.

One of the things I love about this set is that only 26 jelly roll strips (plus some yardage) were used across the 2 items!

The big birthday celebrations and quilt handover will happen this Saturday! I hope there will be lots of smiley faces!

Jxo

P.s. a very talented student of mine has just set up a gorgeous wee Etsy shop. Read all about it here, and go check it out!

Baby No More!

This little cutie .....

turns 18 years of age today!  Wow!  How did that happen!

She is away for the weekend, celebrating with friends. But yesterday we opened her pressies.  Wanna see what I made her?

This quilt is called Log Cabin Circles, made with Amy Butler Soul Blossoms (chosen by Shannon) and beautifully long arm quilted in hearts by my friend Janette.



It's a sizeable quilt at approx. 77" x 77", and one that Shannon wants to take away with her to uni next year.



She also hinted at needing some new pjs, after seeing me making some after FQ retreat in July!



Like the others I've made, these too are made from a charity shop vintage sheet, and she loves them!

I will be spending the day coming to terms with the fact that my beautiful baby is a baby no longer.  I'm so proud of the sensitive and talented woman she has become.   Happy birthday my sweet girl!

Jxo

Ladies Wot Lunch!

Today was about celebrating and having fun with friends!

My 'almost 18' year old daughter opened her presents this morning before heading off for the weekend.  I will blog about the things I made for her tomorrow - her official birthday!

As for me, I dined in style, at the best location ....

Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, Co.Down

...and with the best of friends!



The usual bout of laughter and nattering ensued, a day full of gorgeous wee treats!



I could quite happily be a 'lady wot lunches' every Saturday!

Thank you my lovely friends for a wonderful afternoon.

And while the fireworks go crazy outside and make my dog have a nervous breakdown, don't forget to put your clocks back all you UK peeps!

Jxo

I Read a Book!

I'm chuffed to bits to declare that I have actually read a book, in less than 2 weeks!

I don't get much time to read these days!  But Teje very kindly sent me this book as part of a type of blog hop (read the back story here) and I'm so glad she did.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, which explains why I read it quickly (for me that is!). My favourite genre are books with an historical element, and this story fulfilled that remit perfectly!  And I can now more fully appreciate the symbolism of the mini quilt she sent me, which relates to the story.



I now need to get my thinking cap on, not only in deciding who to pass the book onto, but what 'story inspired' project to make for them. 

Geese may be involved - just saying!

Do you like to read 'quilty' books?

Jxo

P.s. For all you UK fabric addicts out there, check out this great offer from Lisnaweary Quilts - free P&P until 28/10!

First Class Quillows!

My Quillow class finished this evening, and what a great final night of oohing and aahing over the amazing quilts!

3 Christmas Quillows

How fabulous are they!  Well done ladies!  I hope you get to snuggle up and enjoy your quillows on these colder nights.

If you're not sure what a quillow is, it's a quilt which folds up into a hidden pocket in the back to create a pillow (or a cushion if you live in the UK!). 

And while I haven't quite got pics of all the messenger bags made in the Friday class, here are the ones I do have.



I love how different they all look!  Great job ladies!

I will be running the Messenger bag class again next term, so if you missed out this time around, you have another chance coming up!

Patterns for both the Messenger bag and Quillow are available in my Etsy shop, and I've also put up a couple of my Christmas Stocking patterns too!

Yes, it's that time of the year again! I wonder could I stay in denial for another few weeks!!

Jxo

Busy Bees

Yesterday afternoon, Bee Blessed met for an industrious afternoon of Exhibition prep.

You see on 9th November, not only will my students from the past 2 years be exhibiting their makes (squeeeee!), we will also be having a craft fair fund raiser for Bee Blessed and Oasis Women's Quilting Group.

This is some of what I'll be contributing to the craft table.

Journal covers and 'boy' pencil cases

Hairbands

I wish I had more time to make lots more (story of my life) but I'll also be submitting some 'no longer needed' class samples.

And today, I hummed along to the Proclaimers in the cinema, feeling really old as my kids looked at me and said 'Who?'

Jxo