Stained Blue (or Grey?)

I got a lovely surprise today!

Regular readers will know I've been making a quilt for my nephew's 18th birthday, as part of Sarah's Stained Quilt QAL.

My fabrics are 'It's a Boy Thing' by Michael Miller, and I picked up bargain yardage of the most sumptuous grey flannel for the back.

Some time ago I left the quilt with a friend who is learning how to use a long arm quilting machine.  I said there was no hurry as my nephew's birthday isn't until September.

When I called with her today, she had the quilt all ready for me!  Squee!!!

We had agreed on a large scale stipple, and it was the perfect choice.  It looks particularly good on the back too!

I'm saving the full reveal for when I get the binding made and attached. 

But the quilt definitely seems more grey than blue to me, so perhaps it needs a new name?

There's life Jim, but not as we know it!

I must be bonkers!  Well I think most of you already know that and are just too polite to say!

Anyway!  My brain really must live in an alternative universe most of the time, because despite being ridiculously busy, I've only gone and signed up to 3 new online ventures!!

The first one is Brit Quilt Swap round 3:

My Inspiration Mosaic for my secret partner.

I loved taking part in round 1 last year, which was my first experience of being in a swap. I opted out of round 2 (a pillow swap) because I was too busy!  It would seem that not much has changed, so I just decided to not let being busy spoil the fun of being involved with a great bunch of talented folks (just don't tell my husband! He has to live with 'The Grumpy Head' whenever I get too tired!).

This year I've decided to hone in on more of my 'loves' in P&Q - free motion sketching and paper/foundation piecing, as reflected in my mosaic.  But I'm really not that fussy, and have always been delighted with whatever I receive through swaps. The fact that someone has made something with me in mind just tickles me!

Sign ups don't close until 24th June, so if you are interested, pop on over to the Flickr group and sign up.

The 2nd thing I have signed up to is another Bee! 

When the call went out from the Modern Quilt Guild of Ireland (run by the lovely Cindy & Sarah) earlier this year, I initially said that I would be interested in a reserve capacity i.e. only if they didn't get 12 names. Well guess what?  They didn't and I was offered the place.

This was a group I particularly wanted to join in with, but again felt I was too busy at the time to commit (are you bored yet with the repeating record?).

The funny thing is I won the competition on naming the bee - Modern Irish Bee.  So it feels good to be a part of something I've been involved in naming (I wonder does the Queen ever feel like that -'I name this bee ....').

The bee kicks off in July, so plenty of time yet to panic get ready!

And the final thing I've signed up to? Well I can't actually tell you about that yet!  I will keep you posted though!

So there you have it! Life on planet Judith is definitely warped!  Do the complete opposite of what common sense and a really tired body tells you to and you'll fit right in!

Hope you had a great Father's Day weekend.

A feast for the Eyes!

A friend and I had breakfast at our local indoor Market!  There are so many amazing food and crafty stalls here, it is a feast for the eyes!

To eat,  we could choose from all sorts of fresh bread, Cuban & Mexican food, Curries, Ulster Fry, pies & tarts & more, but we went for freshly made crepes (with strawberries, banana and maple syrup) before wandering around the different stalls.

The cupcake stalls particularly impressed me (I have an incurable sweet tooth!).

One of many cupcake stalls!  Yum

The Seaweed Stall!

These are Cake Pops!  I had to pick up a last minute birthday pressie for a girly-girl, and thought these sponge covered lollypops looked really cute.  They were boxed up in a pastry box, so when I got home I recycled a jam jar, some tissue paper, clear wrap and curly ribbon, and voila!  A much nicer display for these yummy lollys.

I also rustled up a make-up pouch when I got home, to go with the cake pops, threw a few other goodies inside, and that was another birthday present sorted!

Have a wonderful Saturday!

It only hurts when I laugh!

My Wonky Star cushion class finished this week.  Here are some of their fabulous creations!

And what you can't see here are all the wonderfully inserted zips in the bases of the covers!  Well done ladies!

My Friday class produced some gorgeous Beach Huts cushions, using a paper piecing technique, but I will be taking pics of those soon at our Exhibition.

Next week, starts a new project making Travel sewing pouches and journal covers.  Here are some samples I've made for class, and some extra journal covers for June Birthday pressies.

The first journal cover shown here is for a young friend who really enjoys baking with her mum.  Now she can keep all her favourite recipes in her own notebook.  I made it from a pair of jeans, including a pocket on the back of the journal cover, and even the buttonholed closure tab was the bit that holds the trouser leg up when they are rolled up into three quarter lengths!

The linen/lace journal cover is a recycled cushion cover that my pet goat (cleverly disguised as a dog!) decided to chew the corner of.  I particularly liked this cushion cover because of the vintage buttons on it, so I'm pleased to be able to put them to good use again!

Following my sports day antics yesterday, I now ache in muscles I didn't even know I had places! Even my armpits hurt (what's that all about!!).

My Friday night will now consist of sitting down, drinking port and having to endure the England footie match on TV (my husband's English - I've no choice!!). 

Hope you have a lovely Friday evening!

Run Forrest, Run!

Today was sports day for my youngest daughter.  This means, the last EVER sports day I will be required to attend as a parent!  As my daughter prepares to leave primary school in 6 weeks time, I'm slowly ticking off the 'lasts' (last school concert, last school trip, last sports days, and soon, last round of teachers' pressies!).

Bethany - middle of picture

Now my daughter's primary school don't usually have a parents' race, but this year they decided it would be hilarious to humiliate the parents by making them compete in 4 x 80m relay races! Typical this is the one year hubbie decides not to attend!

And so wracked with guilt at not being able to attend all the required school outings, I allowed myself to get talked into representing Room 13!  (My eldest daughter was with me and almost turned green at the thought of being showed up by mum!).

I hadn't come prepared, and had to borrow a pair of trainers from my daughter's 11 year old friend!  Oh why did I choose today to wear the trousers that are too short in the leg (they were tucked down boots up til now) with socks that didn't match!

I leave you with the photographic evidence (see if you can spot me!) and the pride that as my team came 3rd, the first 3 teams had to run again, only this time against the teachers!  No guesses for who came last!!

I left school today with one child grinning from ear to ear in pride, the other hastily distancing & disowning herself from me and my leg muscles screaming at the fact they haven't been made to run in about 20 years!

I think I might be paying for it tomorrow!

Pippi Quilt is Finished!

It has been a joy and a privilege to work on this quilt with so many contributors.

The Front

The Back

Close up

This is a Bee Blessed quilt, which will soon be gifted to a teenage girl struggling through M.E.  I told her mum yesterday that we are making her a quilt & to keep it a secret.  She cried!  She was so moved and touched by the fact that others would think of her daughter, to invest time and talent making something that would be a comfort and blessing to her.

Folks, I really want to encourage and thank you!  You may not think that making a block or two here and there is v.much.  Let me tell you - IT IS HUGE!  I sometimes have the privilege of seeing first hand the impact these quilts make on people's lives.  I don't know what it is, but a quilt seems to represent so much to the receiver.  The impact is deep and long lasting.  Please, please keep up the good work!

I'm not a person who is easily impressed!  But the things that do impress me are humility, courage, hard work, grace and compassion.

I get to see all of these amazing qualities in this wonderful quilting community, both online and through the friends I have the privilege to sew alongside.

Yesterday was one such example.  In preparation for our Exhibition & Fund Raiser day later this month, 10 wonderful ladies gave up their Sunday afternoon to sew bunting, cover jam jar table centres and make up fat quarter bundles.

Here is what 50 metres of bunting looks like!

Thank you ladies!  You are an inspiration to me, and I'm in awe of your dedication & hard work.  When I start to feel overwhelmed and burnt out your sense of humour makes me laugh again, and restores my soul!!

Wishing you all a great start to the new week.

Lovely People!

I was let out for the afternoon today, so I headed into town and my first stop was a local craft/food market, which I'm ashamed to say, I'd never been to before.  It was a feast for the eyes, and the nose, with so many wonderful foods and creations to look at.

Then it was time to meet up with 2 lovely people.  My friend Sarah, and Di, a bloggy friend and FQR attendee, who is in Belfast this weekend.

We plonked ourselves down in a coffee shop and didn't move for the next 3 hours!  It was a wonderful afternoon of chatting, laughing and sharing!  We 3 bloggers have much in common, so the time went by in a flash!

Before we left, we accosted a young and trendy shop assistant to take some pictures of the 3 of us! The poor chap seemed to know we don't get out much so he just humoured us!

And then sadly it was home time!  Back home on the bus to laundry, dishes and family movie night!

I've also been having a free motion quilting fest the past 2 days, which I'll tell you about another time!

Hope you are having a great weekend.