Alfresco Bathing!

This is the current view from my patio door!

We needed more space in our cramped bathroom, so we thought we'd just move it outside!!!

For the past 4 weeks we've had our new shower, toilet, bath and sink sitting in our lounge (anyone for communal bathing?).  It's so good that the work has finally started!

In more interesting, sewing news, I had some time yesterday to get my October bee commitments done.

The first star block is for Susan (Brit Bee) who provided stunning pinks and red & Kona coal for the background.

Below that one is a granny squares block from my own stash, for Wendy (Sew Bee Happy).

And on the right Karen (Modern Irish Bee) sent me some lovely Cath Kidson fabrics to make a scrappy heart block, and she also wanted some smaller scrappy hearts in whatever way we choose to make them.   I left these smaller hearts 'free' so that Karen can applique them into the quilt in whatever way she likes.

So that's me up square for October, and it's only the 8th!  Not bad!

Hope you've had a great start to the week!

Bee Blessed Finishes!

We were delighted and privileged to be donated 3 long arm quilted quilts to Bee Blessed, which just needed finished off with binding and labels.

I showed you the first one here.  Now just take a look at these beauties!

Isn't that quilting divine!  This huge quilt is going to a lady in her 40's who is currently undergoing chemo.

You can get a better view of the quilting on this whole cloth quilt from the back.

And you may remember the 'Very Square Like Me' blocks we were making in June. Well here they all are in quilt top form! Can you see your block in there?

And proof that men DO know how to hoover, despite what they may say!

Clearing up after Saturday's Bee Blessed gathering

Thank you gents for being our dependable and reliable Bee Blessed helpers!

Airing your Laundry!

The lovely Mary has put the word out about an upcoming UK vintage sheets swap!  I'm super excited about this (& would be lying if I said I had nothing to do with giving Mary a nudge to do this!). 

 

We are both nuts about collecting vintage sheets, as I know many of you are too!  So we thought a UK vintage sheets swap would be just the ticket to feed this addiction fascination!

The swap will be happening in the new year, but we thought we'd give you time to get scouring those charity shops and unearth some vintagey treasures.

Here's a sample of what I've collected this summer:

The first one there is actually a curtain, which I'm itching to make a skirt out of!

Now you may think that some of these are a bit on the fuddy duddy side, and not so pretty, but I've learned not to discount these, because those ugly ducklings seem to get transformed when included in a quilt with other brighter/prettier prints.

On this quilt I made for my friend, I kept to colourway bands, so I needed the brights and softer shades in 6 different colourways.

And keep your eyes out for some vintage pillowcases too.  You can get some great fussy cuts from them:

In a vintage sheets quilt I'm making for myself, I'm also including some vintage tray & table cloth embroidery:

So if you fancy adding to your collection of vintage sheets, or would like to start one, head on over to Mary's to find out more.  You can also join the flickr group here, where there will be guidelines posted about the swap, and also pictures of the sheets that will be swapped.

Hope to see you over there!

Squishy Goodness!

I have to show you the cushiony-gorgeousness made by my Monday evening class!

This was a 4 week project, making double-sided, quilted floor cushions with hidden zippers.

We had lots of fun and laughter in this class!  Well done ladies on your amazing finishes, and being a joy to teach!

A New Month!

Could someone please slow down the seasons please?

I'm reluctantly letting go of September! I was crazy busy, but you'd never know from looking at my monthly Roundup Mosaic:

I have been sewing more than what I can show you here - just so you know I haven't been lazing around all day watching day-time TV nonsense!  It is mostly class samples for the new term next year, the programme for which hopefully comes out later this month.

In Bee Blessed we have decided to run the Crazy patchwork block for one more month, so if you didn't get a chance to rustle one up in September, you have one more month to have a go.  They are starting to come in now from bloggy supporters, and they look fab! You can see all the crazy goodness for yourself here.

Linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day.

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the new month!

Important Notice!

Could Miss Paula O'Neill please contact me at justjudedesigns@hotmail.co.uk.  You have registered for the Skirt Making class in November, but have given me no contact details.  Many thanks, Jxo

October - Yikes!

I can't quite believe that September is almost over?  Anyone else with me on this one?

I usually really like this autumnal month, but it just seems to have whizzed past me without me realising!

I had an interesting month bee-wise, being queen bee in 2 of them, and having a hst-fest in the other 2!

The left-hand blocks above are for Brit Bee and Modern Irish Bee respectively. On the right we have the wonky friendship braid I set for the cool Hipbees to make, and they didn't disappoint!  (They are nearly all in & I can't wait to show you them!)  Bottom right is the block I set for Sew Bee Happy, which will be donated to Bee Blessed, who are also making these crazy colour blocks this month.

And as if that wasn't enough bee blocks for one month, the ever-efficient Jan sent us her fabric last week for her month of October in Hipbees!  Her theme was 'stars in Denyse Schmidt' so I made her this from the Modern Blocks book:

'Three Wishes' pg 186

Also, I already know what I'm to make from my stash for October in Sew Bee Happy - a Granny Squares block, set by Wendi.

But before the last few days of September slip completely through my fingers, I think I'll take a break from bee blocks until we're into October proper!

Wishing you all a fun-filled end to September 2012!