Signs of Spring!

The sun was shining in Belfast today (while everyone else was getting snow apparently!).

It's so lovely to see a stretch in the day and vulnerable signs of spring pushing up in the garden!

Today I'm showing you my mixed textiles 'Man' quilt!

This quilt was a return to my first love, recycling textiles. Despite it being a 'man' quilt, it was made mostly from women's suit clothing and linens!

Quilt top pic taken on a sunny October day!

I wish I had taken more 'up close' photographs to show you all the lovely textures here!  Perhaps when I get it back from Popular Patchwork I'll take a few more pics.

Making a quilt from recycled textiles can be a very organic process.  If you like reusing cottons, shirts and linens, then why not have a go at making your own quilt!

It's so satisfying seeing how unused clothing and unwanted textiles can be transformed into something snuggly and useful once again!

Linking up with Scraptastic Tuesday!

Keep warm!

Jude xo

February Already?

No, no, not really!!

But the February issue of Popular Patchwork is out now, and I have 2 projects in this issue.

This is my Cathedral Windows cushion, made in Essex linen and Heather Ross. Mustard and purple might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really love this colour combo!

If you've attempted Cathedral Windows before, you will know about the 'fiddle factor'!  Fiddly ironing, fiddly folding and fiddly sewing!!  But I'm pleased to say the Essex linen behaved beautifully!

This is one of those patchwork techniques where the results definitely make the process so worth while!  My advice? Don't rush it!

My 2nd PP project will be a separate post and link up.

Keep sewing!

Jude xo

Tova The Younger!

My 'uni girl' returned to Uni today!

It's been so lovely having her home again over Christmas.

You might remember a few months back I made my first Tova Tunic.  Well my daughter liked it so much she asked for one for Christmas!

Thankfully we are the same size (ish) and have similar tastes in prints. So no adjustments were needed!

I miss that cute smile already!

Jude xo

Apache Tote Bag Tutorial

Do you find that some fabrics really lend themselves to particular projects?

When I first saw Fabric Yard's Arrow Apache deco weight fabric (in orange) I immediately knew what to make with it!

And just look at the perfect lining to go with it (Fletching Chant):

This is a really simple tote tutorial, which you can get here on the Fabric Yard blog.
 

And check out their gorgeous range of faux leather handles, the perfect finish to any bag, and in cool, funky colours too!

A super easy make to kick off the new year!

Happy Sewing!

Jude xo

Keep it Tidy!

I love storage! (sad, I know!)

I've made a few fabric storage buckets, and was pleased when Pretty Patches magazine commissioned this one!

I made it with Lecien fabrics from Sarah's lovely shop, Pretty Fabrics & Trims.

I haven't managed to pick up a copy of the magazine yet, but it is in the current issue (19) on sale at the moment.

At the weekend I managed to get the next round of Siblings Together Bee2 blocks made.

These are wonky cross blocks, made for Sue.  This is going to be a fabulous 'boy quilt'.

I've been doing lots of sewing this week, and it's frustrating not being able to show you yet! But there are many projects afoot, which will be revealed eventually, promise!

Happy Wednesday,

Jude xo

A Year in Quilts!

I always do a wee roundup each month of my productivity and what I can show you for that month!

Here is what December looked like:

And at the end of each year, I like to see what quilts (& table runners) I've managed to make:

2015 has been a great year for productivity, working with 6 magazines and teaching 5 weekly classes.

I have some new business ideas I want to explore this year, as well as continuing to teach and develop new patterns (if there are any well behaved minions out there looking for work, send them my direction!).

So watch this space!!

Jude xo

H.O.P.E.

I love New Years, perhaps even more than Christmas!

Not everyone shares this sentiment, but for me, it's a blank page, a new start, fresh hope!

My word for 2015 was 'Restoration' - after burning out in 2014, I needed time out, time to reflect, time to restore and to just be!

As I look back, it certainly wasn't the year I had envisaged this time last year! But there were many positives and blessings.  And for those I am thankful and grateful.

For some reason, it's perceived as a bad thing to fail! Whether that's in business, relationally, spiritually, creatively!  I've learnt that sometimes failure is good, because you learn stuff!  You learn so much more about yourself and those around you, and if you are open minded enough to absorb that learning, look forwards and not backwards, you might just take a step forward, develop vision and start believing in better once again.

From all the highs and lows in my 2015 I have done some restoring, but mostly I have done a lot of refining! I have refined my dreams, my capabilities, my boundaries, my self-confidence.

And as I go into 2016, my word for the year is HOPE.  I know there will be some down days, a failure or two, lows as well as highs, but that's ok, because that is glorious, wonderful life.  And this life is worth living from a place of hopefulness and expectation.

I pray that as you go into 2016, you will be unburdened by your past, you will choose to live this year differently from the last many years, that no matter your age, you will grow wings and fly on the thermals of hope and expectancy that this year will be different and better.

I'm waiting for an awesome 2016! How about you!

Jude xo