CHARM ABOUT YOU

Once you've done some shopping go and check out Le Challenge, Kristy from Quiet Play is having a  GIVEAWAY of 3 patterns so you can use up some of that fabric!

I finished sewing on the binding on the Girly Garden Quilt last night. It's a gift for my daughter's friend who will be 3 next week.


It's made entirely from my stash. I already had the charms cut out, some left from other projects, and it has a planned but scrappy look that I really like!


All of the fabrics are from Prints To Polka Dots and I mostly got them from the fab sale section (with FQs from £1.35 you can't refuse!).


More stash fabric for the back and quilted it with straight lines using a lilac thread.
I also tried out 'The Binding Tool' by TQM Products that I won from the lovely Jenniffier and, once I got my head round it, it worked perfectly! I will use this every time now. It means that you literally can't tell where the binding ends because it matches the seams in the binding strips and there's NO bulk.

I made a couple more presents for my son's friends who are having their birthday parties this weekend:


I used an adorable mini charm pack of Aneela Hooey's 'Walk in the Woods' and had two squares left over!


On the other side I appliqued the girls' names and used my newly discovered 'baseball' stitch on my machine:



And now the winner of my Donktober giveaway:


Congratulations Jan! I've emailed you. I hope you'll enjoy the pressie from me and I look forward to seeing what you make with the donkey fabric! Erin's cute finish this week might give you inspiration :)

If you missed out make sure you're following along with the Donktober blog hop because there's more gorgeous fabric being given away on Monday


Linking up to:

Recently I've not spent as much time at my machine as I'd like... the good news is I have finished quilting my Shattered Stained Navy and just have to sew the binding on so I should have a reveal soon!

I also managed to make a cute I-Spy baby quilt to donate to my son's school PTA raffle. I hope someone will enjoy it.

I am officially in love with scrappy binding! This is the first time I've used it and it just looks so fun.


I have done a little bit of hand sewing. I finished another Rose Star block:


I adore making these but I'm trying not to think how many I still have to make to do a whole quilt! This is the fifteenth one I've done. If you like to try, please go and visit SelfSewn and her marvelous tutorial!

I also decided to start (and finish) a new project. After seeing Laura's gorgeous veggie stitched bag I decided my plain bag from the Fat Quarterly Retreat could also do with a bit of stitching loveliness! I've totally gone off veggies since being pregnant though so I had to think of something else... and since I'll be carting around baby gear with me again I thought I'd stitch a baby bag theme!


We're not going to find out the gender of the baby (unless my husband can convince me otherwise... although I'd need a really big bribe - like a new sewing machine!!), so I went with bright fun colours.

All the patterns are from the Sublime Stitching book. I seriously can't recommend this book enough! Great tips and I want to sew all the patterns in it, they are so fun.



I have no idea what happened to the glorious sunshine but it's raining cats and dogs here today. Thankfully I was able to relax yesterday and spend some much needed fun time with the fantastic Kitchen quilt guild over at Lynne's. Sitting in the sun, eating cake and talking sewing - life doesn't get much better :)

Yet again I forgot my camera but there was a fabulous show and tell of the wonderful things these creative ladies have been making - go and visit Lynne, Trudi, Katy, Mandy and Laura (whose birthday is tomorrow, Happy Birthday chick!) to see what they are working on. They are so talented! I really enjoyed getting some tips from Trudi and getting to see her outstanding quilting up close was totally wonderful and so inspiring.


Now if you're getting your sew on and fancy a fabric splurge, what better way to do it than take advantage of a SALE!

Prints to Polka Dots are having a fabulous sale, with up to 50% off!! Check out all the great reductions and also use the discount code below to stock up on goodies!




  at Quokka Quilts this week

This weekend I'm determined to catch up on much neglected bee blocks, wish me luck!

A quick reminder of how to party Fugly style:

- Write a blog post and offer some Fugly (ugly, unwanted, unloved) fabric to swap or as a giveaway

- Please include the Fugly Fabric Party button in your post so people can come and join the fun! (you can grab the code over on the right)

- Link up ONE post below and then go and see what everyone else has to offer :)

- Blog, Tweet and Facebook about the party!

If you just came to look around and not link up, that's cool but for those of you that do there is an awesome giveaway up for grabs!

Just by linking up you will be in with a chance of winning this gorgeous bundle of fabrics from Prints to Polka Dots





I really hope you enjoy the party and please visit the other links, it's fun seeing people's fuglies and also a cool way to check out some other great blogs.

Are you sitting comfortably?... Then let the Fugly begin!

It's not finished!! This is the amazing Stained QAL that Sarah cleverly designed! Need to add borders but thought I'd show you where I'm up to :) - apologies for the shoddy picture, the wind was crazy and I couldn't be bothered using any more tape!!

I've also been doing a bit more stitchery for the Fat Quarterly retreat swap, I'm making tea towels:



The patterns for these ones came from this fabulous Sublime Stitching book I bought the other day:



I also got this one after seeing Annabella's beautiful embroidery:


I'm looking forward to reading them properly and learning some more, plus they both have the cutest patterns included.

And just because, I got a few bits from Prints To Polka Dots too!


Some of which are ready to be turned into pouches:


But this but I'm keeping in my stash... I just love it!

excuse the wrinkles!

Look at the cute vintage keys and buttons, adorable



This is from the Walnut Hill Farm Collection by Blend.

If you've not seen it already Prints to Polka Dots have agreed to sponsor an *amazing giveaway of Blend fabrics* as part of the Fugly Fabric Party, go look!!


Linking up to these fine places:

It's time to announce round 2 of the Fugly Fabric Party!!

If you're not yet excited about it, you will be when you see the amazing giveaway :)


I've updated the Fugly page (on the tab above) to include all the details and it's basically the same as last time...

The idea behind the party is to pass on your unwanted, fugly fabric. Or you might have something that's actually pretty but you know you're not going to use and would like to destash.

You write a post offering the fabric in a swap, a giveaway, a competition or whatever. Include the Fugly button in your post and link up to the party. That's it!!

Please read the Fugly Fabric Party page to get the full details.

The link for the party will open on May 8th and stay open for 6 days. Everyone that links up with be in with a chance of winning the giveaway. The winner for the party will be announced on May 15th. Please only link up once.




I'm so happy to announce the sponsored giveaway is from the fabulous Prints to Polka Dots!

Prints to Polka Dots are a UK based supplier of the best in contemporary fabrics design. We search out great fabrics from new and known designers and achieve great prices by buying in bulk. When a bargain comes our way, from our network of suppliers on both sides of the pond, we grab it and pass the discount on to you! 
We only buy the best quality fabrics, so if you see a fabric from a design house you don't recognise, don't worry the quality is assured. 
We pride ourselves in going that little bit further for our customers and so if there's anything you want to know, or a fabric you would like us to source (even if all you know is the theme you are interested in) then please get in touch - we enjoy a challenge!

They really do have wonderful deals and bargains so make sure you visit the website and I recommend signing up for their newsletter so you can be first to know about new arrivals and special offers.

So what's up for grabs??

Prints to Polka Dots have been incredibly generous and are offering the chance to win this amazing mixed bundle of 17 fat quarters - that's a LOT of fabric!!


All the fat quarters are by Blend and are from the following collections: Babysaurus, Believe, Calypso, Pretti, and Kitchy Kitchen. All of Blend's collections can be seen at www.blendfabrics.com