CHARM ABOUT YOU

Since I'm somehow on a bit of a roll I'm linking up to WIP Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced and seriously hoping you all will encourage me to finish up projects and generally get on with it, I'd love any suggestions or ideas you have! Comments and new followers really do give me a buzz :)

So I'm working on the backing for my quilt along and I've been piecing it together while playing with giant numbers:



Also no further on the blocks for my son's quilt but hopefully get back to that soon, it's pretty much still a pile of pieces! Ok actually it is just a pile!

If you'll excuse me I'm off to make some playdough worms while dancing to Gwen Stefani (I love my job!)

I am chuffed to bits! I've finished my first quilt along. Technically I wasn't quilting "along" because it finished years ago (really, it did!) but Crazy Mom Quilts has been kind enough to leave up the tutorial, she has many more and they are fantastic! Go check it out.

This is my finished quilt top!






Here is a photo of it hanging on the curtain pole! Odd but there was no way I was hanging it outside with the crazy wind we have today.


I'm going to work on getting the back done tonight - I think it's going to be pretty scrappy.

Last time I asked how people plan and handle their projects and I was pondering deadlines, is it worth putting pressure on yourself to get things finished?

I got in conversation with the lovely and very funny Rebecca at Making Rebecca Lynne who made me realise we're all generally in the same boat and it was a big motivator. It was like a heavy weight lifted and I was free to get on with it!! Isn't it funny how you can get so stressed out trying to do something, then procrastinate with a million other things until there's a little spark, you realise you don't give a crap when it's finished and then you suddenly have the motivation to do it?!!

Since then everything around me is like a little reminder to quilt:




Hahahaha... Even the kitchen is prodding me to get it quilted!

I've been drinking too much coffee and eating far too many of the yummy raisin biscuits I made!


I'm still working on that border and I'm hoping to get it finished tomorrow. That's really all I've been doing sewing-wise...


I was wondering how people finish things off if, like me, they start working on other projects. Do you set yourself deadlines for each quilt or project? Does anyone only work on one thing at a time? Do you make a plan for yourself?

Rain, rain and a bit more rain. That pretty much sums up my day. Oh and some dancing around the room with my children listening to Johnny Cash and a bit of Roy Bailey :)


It did clear up There was a break in the rain this afternoon and we went to play with the two fallen sunflowers in the garden :( 
I took some pictures of the ones still standing, they are terrible but I love the shapes and outlines of the flowers against the sky. I want to keep them for inspiration:












On to more quilty things...


I have finished the quilt top for my daughter. The pattern is by Amy Smart:







I have NO idea how to quilt it - I've only done one before and I did diagonal lines. I'm really not sure what will look best for this one. I want to try free motion and guessing stippling is the best thing to start with. I'm going to have to practice. Does anyone have any tips or advice? Also if you can suggest any other ways to quilt it that wouldn't be too advanced I'd really appreciate it. I was thinking of using pale pink or cream thread, any other ideas?
That's a whole bunch of questions but I'd love some input!


I've managed a couple of blocks for my son's quilt and I'm really going to get on this one now and forge ahead (as well as being bothered to press things before I take pictures!):




I have to finish them both before I can hand them over, only fair they get one each :)


I'm still sewing squares together for my sampler quilt and think I'll be doing that forever, I also need to think about the backing.






Alright less thinking and more action needed!


Please leave comments with any suggestions or advice you have for my daughter's quilt, I'm feeling a little lost today.

How do you like dem apples?
My kids love them! These were from my Nan's tree.


I've continued working on my daughter's quilt, I'm up to four rows so only 2 more, then I need to make binding!





Some of the fabric was given to me by my American cousin (if you're reading I love you and thank you!!). I like mixing the modern prints and the more traditional florals together :) Very girly and cute.


I also made a small taggy blanket for my friend's baby boy featuring fabric by Riley Blake Designs on the front:




and a different lovely soft flannel on the back:




I used this tutorial by Melissa Sews. It was super easy! It also made me realise I might need to start collecting ribbons so I have more of a choice :)


At the weekend my Nan gave me this beautiful tablecloth that she hand embroidered! Lucky me :) Now I have to find somewhere for it to live where grubby hands can't reach it!







Finally, is it weird that I prefer to have to sew with my moccasins on?!

I haven't been doing any sewing over the past couple of days and this post is more personal than I generally intend but it was special and I wanted to write about someone so important to me...


This weekend my husband kindly agreed to look after the children so I could go and spend the night at my Nan's house (great-grandmother to our children!). 


First came the sad bit. We had to arrange the headstone for my Grandad's grave, a sad task but it brought up many memories and we spent lots of our time together talking about him. It will be the anniversary of his death next month. Hard for us all.
The nice bit was the laughter. So many of the tales were funny ones and my Nan recalled one conversation she had with him that left her in a fit of giggles. We always end up smiling when we think about him, even through our tears.


We spent that evening watching crime drama on the TV - commenting on the outfits in Poiret was a highlight :)


We had a delicious lunch out with my Nan's wonderful niece and her lovely husband on Sunday and she always enjoys having family around her. She also LOVES dessert!!
Finally I was able to take some pears and apples home with me from their gardens - the kids were thrilled - there's nothing better, according to my son, than Nanny's apples :)


For me there's nothing better than spending time with such an amazing woman for whom I have such love and respect, and I cherish all of my Nan's words of wisdom. She has great strength, which along with her life and marriage provide me with constant joy, comfort and example. 


Here's a picture of the quilt I gave her at her house:






She had laid it out to look at it and show it to more of our family! This isn't where it will live, it's really a lap quilt and I hope she'll wrap herself up in it as it gets colder.





I so wish you could smell the beautiful rose she cut for me from her garden!
Hope you had a lovely weekend too :)

Last night I managed to sew my sashing and four patches to my sampler quilt following the quilt-a-long at Crazy Mom Quilts. I got butterflies putting it all together and I'm sure I had too much adrenalin in my system considering I was only sewing! I was very excited and I'm really happy with how it's turned out:






I took the pictures at night on my mobile so they're pretty terrible and don't really show the colours properly (actually REALLY badly) but it'll have to do for now!
I also took a couple of 'close ups' to show you the detail of some of the fabric:







Just those hundreds of small blocks to sew into borders now... this may take some time!!

I do love my pin tray it always makes me smile! 






I've joined Lily's Quilts Small Blog Meet, so if you've found your way here from there, welcome!
I'm really new to blogging but am having lots of fun and finding some other great blogs along the way.


I've been busy cutting the past couple of days:





This stack is for a quilt I'm making for my son. It is the 'does not compute' pattern from Boo Davis' great book 'Dare To Be Square Quilting':


yep, scrappy bits of post it notes!! I think I need a better system, any ideas?


I also cut pieces for my daughter's quilt and chain stitched charm squares to them. I'm using the fantastic instructions by Amy Smart at Diary of a Quilter for the Easy Strawberry Fields Bricks Quilt






I also managed to squeeze in making another jean pocket toy for my friend's son's birthday!
I hope he likes it...