CHARM ABOUT YOU

2. Summer dresses for my girls, I cut all the pieces last year and now I'm worried they won't even fit and summer might be over already (!) but might as well give it a go:

3. Baby star quilt, I think I have one row to add and it's been sat in a crumpled state next to my sewing table for way too long!

4. A skirt for me, just because I couldn't resist this beautiful Japanese denim - I would like to prioritise some selfish sewing:

And the new projects that I've recently started or need to get done...

5. Another make just for me. I loved the drawstring tote I made using Svetlana's pattern so much I immediately bought supplies to make one for myself. It's such a perfect size, really handy for nipping to the shops or for carting home the kids crap models and art from school.

6. My Star Crossed Night Sky quilt, using this It's Sew Emma pattern:

7. Teachers gifts for the end of term - which is next week so need to get on it. I'm planning on making some drawstring bags (I like using Jeni's tutorial) and to put inside I got some mugs for the kids to decorate, so that should be fun! I got this Pebeo Marker, which I've read works better than a Sharpie so we'll see:

8. Just today I saw a fabulous instagram tutorial for these cute tissue holders by Kelly - she kindly let me borrow her picture (thanks Kelly!) - check out her IG feed! I think these will be a nice little extra to pop in the bags for the teachers so I've picked out some fabric ready to sew.

Finally I'm making samples of patterns I've designed to teach at Patchfinders...

9. An English Paper Pieced mini quilt, which I started a few days ago:

10. A pencil quilt (no pictures of my messy quilt maths allowed but I will be using some solid fabrics!):

11. An embroidered needle case, this gives me a great reason to use my new Fat Quarter Shop Aurifloss Set:

I also have to whip up a few samples of free motion quilting patterns for a class, not sure I'm allowed to count that in the fal since they will probably stay as quilt sandwiches but it's more stuff I have to get done so I'm noting it here anyway (maybe a cheerleader can let me know if class samples like this count?!).

**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**

{despite my best efforts I have no idea what that colour is! It could be Mint by Bella Solids}; Chinese Lanterns, Lark by Amy Butler; Kasbah, Lark by Amy Butler; Jewels by Lizzy House; Mallow and Bee, Misaki by Melissa White.

School Bus by Kona; Triflora, Loulouthi by Anna Maria Horner; Lovesme Lovesmenot, Innocent Crush by Anna Maria Horner; City Planting, Habitat by Jay McCarroll; Raise The Roof, Habitat by Jay McCarroll.

{Again not sure but I think it's Popsicle by Bella Solids}; Souvenir, Lark by Amy Butler; Dot N' Square, Mini Mikes by Michael Miller; Farmhouse Birds, Farmhouse Retreat by Renee Nanneman of Need'l Love for Andover; Floral Drop, Deer Valley by Joel Dewberry.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED - THANKS FOR ENTERING!

To win the entire 1/8 yard bundle of fifteen fabrics just leave a comment telling me what your favourite band or song was when you were fifteen. (I suspect mine was something from Crazy, Sexy, Cool by TLC or Gangsta's Paradise!)

For a second chance to win follow Charm About You by Bloglovin, GFC or email and leave another comment.

I like to reply to comments but since giveaways are usually busy I won't reply to comments on this post. That doesn't mean that no-reply bloggers will be able to win though! If I can't reach you then you can't win, so please leave your email (myemail at soandso dot com) in the comment.

The giveaway is open internationally, the winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on 17th May.

Once you've entered head over to Sew Mama Sew to see more great giveaways!

I try to resist a good sale... for about 3 seconds before checking out if there's any gorgeous fabric that I have to have! This week I received some real lovelies.

There was an extra 30% off these Japanese fabrics from Pink Castle Fabrics:

Summer Plaid in Red, Summerhome by Hemma Design; Petit Point in Navy, Petit Points by Michael Miller; Graph Check in Orange, Citrus by Another Point of View and some Wonder Clips

This is the first time I've tried the Wonder Clips and now I know what the fuss is about. I have used the hairclip style clips for binding before but they were kind of annoying and tended to leave dent marks so I gave up using them. The wonder clips are so easy to use and I've found that as I'm hand binding they really keep the binding in place so well that even when I take them off the fabric behaves and stays neatly folded over. Also I have a lot less tension in my left hand - usually I have to stop because my hand hurts so much from holding the binding in place. They are also available in the UK here.

I receive a few email newsletters from different online shops, it's a fun way to see what new fabrics are available and also to find out about special offers and sales. Tikki had 20% off for May Day and I needed some neutrals solids so that was my excuse:

**Make sure you enter my giveaway, closes tomorrow**

I got some lovely fabrics this week from the Fat Quarter Shop. Most are to be added to my Green Tea and Sweet Beans quilt. I wanted some basics to counter the bright 30s repro fabrics but didn't want boring neutrals so I picked some pretty patterned prints. I also got some 108" wide backing and a useful charm pack of Kona solids.

left to right: Bella Solids 108" wide in grey;  Screen Texture in Cream Sketch by Timeless Treasures Fabric; Brown Houndstooth, RoundUp by Samantha Walker; Green Gingham, Calliope by Stitch Studios (less yellow irl); Yellow Gingham, Summer Fun by Maywood Studios Fabric (again less orange, more yellow!); Vanity Stripe in Mint, Vanity Fair by Dear Stella; Stella Dot in Charcoal on Clay, Portico by Dear Stella; Lime Crosshatch, Textures by Angela Walters; Bright Kona solids charm pack

I wasn't in love with Textures when it came out but that print is gorgeous and the Dear Stella prints are fabulous stash builders.

I've done a little sewing this weekend and it's always satisfying to be able to fix something that needs repairing.

So this was the state of the edge of our bath mat. Annoying because there's nothing actually wrong with the mat itself and I like the blue colour (hard to pick up in these pictures but the last one is truest). All it needed was some binding.

I wouldn't have paired it with this crazy binding but I asked my kids to choose from my left over bindings (I save all the extra bits when I make binding so I have ready prepared binding on hand even if it's scrappy!). Obviously they chose the brightest but I love orange and pink so it's all good.

There's been some happy dancing going on, partly because I've done a little productive sewing on projects I REALLY love and some secret sewing but here's what I can show you...

First up I have finally got the binding sewn on my feather quilt so just an epic amount of hand stitching it down and then I'll be able to show you the finish. I can tell you that the fusible wadding was amazing and I will definitely order more - it was still stuck while I sewed the binding and it's been through a lot since I have hand quilted it, constantly thrown it around and dragged it about! I can still feel a little stiffness so I will let you know what happens to that when I wash it. I'm madly in love with the Sun Print feathers I'm using for the binding (available here and here):

And after the initial hiccup of tracing the pattern the wrong way I've done some more needle turn applique. Now I will probably gasp in horror when I look at it in the future (you know when I've been doing it for the next thirty years) but for a first try I'm pretty happy with it and I had a lot of curves to do with those first pink/purple flowers. I am so thrilled I found Jan Patek's tutorials on YouTube, she explains things really well and is so entertaining - I've watched some of them a few times!

So a bit more to do on this one and then a couple more applique blocks to add to the butterfly quilt for my eldest daughter. I've had amazing butterfly blocks from my Bee A Brit Stingy mates and I will show you them all together when I get a chance.

Finally I did a happy dance tonight when I placed an order at the Fat Quarter Shop, they've got 30% off international shipping, so hurry and place your order it ends on the 6th. They've also got Bella Solids on sale (precuts, yardage and 108" wide - perfect for backings!) and 20% off the binding tool - one of my favourite notions! No codes required for discounts, they are applied automatically. So go shop and join the happy dancing!