in a pastel mood
Maybe it's the summer ending or the fact that it was actually warm and sunny today but I've developed a sudden crush on all things pastel. Evident in the fact that I'm going to be quilting a small English Paper Pieced project and, rather than pick the dark navy or black I was originally intending, I've pulled some pretty pastel shades of perle:
There's lots of lovely bright colours in the Cotton and Steel lines (available here and here) but there's also some soft and beautiful pastels so I'm hoping these are going to play nicely together.
Pastels often feature in 30's repro fabrics, which I'm a huge fan of, and I am joining in the fabric swap hosted by Missouri Mel. You can see all the details and join in the swap here (if there's still any places left!).
I've noticed my follower numbers have been creeping up so I think a thank you giveaway (international) will be in order when it's a nice round number and I've got a really great giveaway coming up (just for UK and Ireland) peeps very soon too!
Nordic bee blocks
Nicky was queen bee of Bee a Brit Stingy last month and asked us for Nordic inspired blocks for her mostly red and white quilt. I had lots of ideas but not lots of time. I knew my blocks would be a little late but I still wanted to do something special for Nicky. They aren't the most adventurous blocks but I enjoyed doing them and think they'll work well with the blocks she already has.
The one at the top is a 6" block called Pentagon Flower by Brioni Greenberg from the book Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop for Quilters
. You are supposed to enlarge the templates by 200% to make a 12" block but I hate enlarging and thought it works well as a small block as is! It is English Paper Pieced and then machine appliquéd onto the background fabric.
. You are supposed to enlarge the templates by 200% to make a 12" block but I hate enlarging and thought it works well as a small block as is! It is English Paper Pieced and then machine appliquéd onto the background fabric.
The two smaller 3" blocks are Cross Stitch blocks, made using this great tutorial by Pile O'Fabric. I have wanted to make them since she did the first tutorial and I love them so much I will definitely make more! Thrilled that the crosses line up too, phew!
I hope you like them Nicky :)
It seems to be turning into a last minute panic each month but since I've had two months to prepare you think I would have started my 'era' project by now wouldn't you?! But no, I haven't. You've got seven days before the Le Challenge link opens, this month you could randomly win a $25 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop and a 10 FQ bundle from Mary! She's also offering a 15% discount code to her shop until 15th September, read her post here. Find out all about le challenge and how to join in here!
Better get cracking on my project now!
I need to write it down
Thank you to everyone that sent me some 'ade' yesterday to help battle the lemons, I appreciate the kind support :)
I'm deviating from my usual sewing posts to show you a little of my first love... stationery.
September fills me with joy, I'm a natural organiser (though baby brain has trashed that of late), and to quote one of my favourite films it makes me want to buy "a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils" (You've Got Mail). With a brain like a sieve I have to make notes about everything and, even though I've tried the technology method (iphone calender, reminders and the like), the best way for me to stay organised is to write things down.
I've seen the 'bullet journal' system (that Trudi is proficient in!) and it appeals to me but since I already have a organiser that I love it makes sense to me to use that. I have used Filofax organisers since I was a teenager and my very favourite thing growing up was stationery. I still love stationery shops and all things cute and useful. Before I had kids I treated myself to a beautiful Smythson Bijou Organiser, small and perfectly formed. I carry it around with me all the time, it's chucked in my bag daily and it's still looking good. The twist closure is one of my favourite things about it, as well as the gorgeous orange colour. All the rings close perfectly and the original card dividers show no sign of wear or tear, which is pretty amazing.
So armed with my organiser I came up with a way for it to work best to suit my needs; a realistic way for me to keep up to date with what I need to do and my schedule. I came across one of the nicest online stationary shops I've seen, full of gorgeous things at reasonable prices: The Journal Shop. I shopped the sale section and got this cute Mnemosyne note pad, which has graph paper perfect for to do lists! The yellow first page has now been been torn out (and kept because it's nice!) and I love that I can open my organiser and see my 'to dos' straight away.
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The only thing my organiser was missing was a 'today' tab/bookmark. I thought about getting a Filofax ruler page marker but they're so boring (I totally would get a clear one if they made them for pocket size though). It was fun to find these cute Midori Arrow Magnet Markers and they work perfectly as tabs at the top of my organiser so I can find the important stuff like what day it is! (...reminds me of Reality Bites where she hasn't used her filofax for years!!). I also couldn't resist buying a super sweet Midori Otegamo Memo Pad, notes that turn into hexies?! Yes please! They also have bows, fish, hearts and more. It also meant I had just more than £10 in my basket so I got free delivery, I love that! The Journal Shop offers free UK delivery on orders over £10 and has free delivery worldwide if you spend £75.
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I already had a photo sticker of Fred as a baby on the front of the diary and decided just to go for it and make it more personal with kawaii stickers from this Etsy shop and washi tape. I've been using the stickers as a fun way of adding cuteness to my schedule and to do list.
I adore the quality of the Smythson paper but since I'm not working full time and now have 3 kids there's no way I can justify buying the refills. Instead I have used the Filofax diary refills in the past (the pocket size fits my organiser perfectly) but while googling alternatives I came across the Paperchase own brand refills so I snagged a pocket week to view refill for £4. Total bargain considering it comes with divider tabs, some note paper, graph paper and spare address pages. I'm not using the dividers because obviously I like the Smythson ones and also since I have a pocket size organiser I really don't have space for an agenda, planner and diary (nor time to write all those things?!). Obviously you get what you pay for and the quality of the paper isn't great but it's not terrible either and it will do the job. I really like the plain layout of the pages, not full of holidays etc that aren't relevant to me and I can just add those dates in myself. My organiser also has two slip pockets, which I have kept sweet notes and pictures of family in.
It's early days but I'm hoping to stop scribbling notes everywhere and really use my organiser to the full. By having my to do list in there I might even remember to keep my appointments as well, that is if I can get out of the rabbit hole that is watching YouTube videos of how people organise their organisers... really Lucy get a life!!
*just so you know I bought all this stuff myself and I've provided links should you want to go get yourself some new stationery, this is not a sponsored post.
lemons
Life has been hurling lemons at me recently and it's pretty exhausting trying to keep making lemonade. The past few days I've done no sewing, just spending time trying to sort out life in general. I've felt all blah as a result and hormonal to boot. This time of year, however, makes me want to get organised so I've been concentrating on enjoying planning with fun stationary and I'll show you more of that tomorrow.
Tonight I'm regrouping and relaxing by getting on with some EPP that will hopefully make a lovely (late) bee block for Nicky.
I have been enjoying the last days of the summer holidays with all three kids at home and tried not to get all emotional when the older two went back to school this morning.
This little mischief brightened my day when we randomly played with loads of toys on the kitchen floor. Kids are so great at creating spontaneous hilarity. Her t-shirt is my motto for this week.
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Keeping Koozie
Possibly my favourite thing, next to sewing, is a lovely cup of coffee. Drinking coffee is genuinely what gets me through each day! Rushing around and playing with the kids often means there's a couple of cold cups of coffee left lying around. The Fat Quarter Shop have come up with a cute little Coffee Koozie pattern to help keep your hands cool while you're drinking and my bright version might help remind me it's there!
The pattern uses 2.5" squares and is a great way to use your Moda Candy.
It would make a sweet gift and they are so quick to do thanks to the clever pattern - you could easily personalise them too, which would be handy for work!
You can watch the Fat Quarter Shop YouTube tutorial video here and get the pattern here. I really recommend watching the YouTube channel, Kimberly is so sweet and always has great advice. There's lots of fun free patterns and tutorials, so much inspiration!
This was a check off my FAL list (#8 secret one Katy!).
weekend of wips
I have made some good progress with the projects I'm doing but still have a lot to get on with!
Another quilt top finish this week, one I will be teaching at work. It's a Japanese + x quilt made with gorgeous Arizona by April Rhodes. It's not often I make a quilt using all one fabric line but I really do love Arizona. The colours are so beautiful and I love the Southwestern American theme.
Apologies the picture was taken in weird light - I'm so busy this was the best I could manage! I will get better pictures once it's all quilted. I really like how the navy plays with the paler colours and the wonderful scrappy effect this quilt has. Oh the mint Triangle Tokens print, which has gold metallic triangles too, is just so gorgeous!
Arizona is available online here and here, or if you're in the Stockport area pop into Patchfinders.
Have a great weekend!
*just a note, I really do have my hands full at the moment - preparing for back to school, lots of sewing, general life - so although I'm grateful to the people that have already asked me to be part of the Around the World Blog Hop, can I please ask everyone else playing along not to consider 'tagging' me because I will have to say no. I enjoy reading people blogs about why they sew etc but I have a full plate so I've decided to be a spoilsport. Thank you. I'm getting back to my WIPs!
Linking up:
Jelly Roll Jam II quilt
The Fat Quarter Shop have a new free pattern, it's perfect for making baby quilts because you can make two from one jelly roll or even make a double sided quilt. They asked me which Jelly Roll I would like to use to make up a quilt and I chose the beautiful April Showers by Bonnie and Camille.
This quilt will be given to my friend who is having a baby boy and it measures about 36 x 38". I chose to take out all the flowery prints and stick with the blenders, raindrops and umbrellas. It was a lot of fun playing with the strips and deciding which ones to use for the narrow blocks, I'm happy I went with the umbrellas and the dots.
I free motioned quilted this clamshell loop pattern using the tutorial by Elizabeth. My fmq skills need work but it perfectly echoes the shapes of the raindrops and umbrellas and I adore the texture it gives the quilt. It puffed up beautifully after being washed and dried.
I used some of the jelly roll strips to make a scrappy binding and backed it with a turquoise brushed cotton fabric I had.
It will be super snuggly for the new baby and my youngest girl was testing it out before I even hand sewed the binding on!
You can get the free Jelly Roll Jam 2 pattern here. Also check out the Fat Quarter Shop's YouTube video, Kimberly has great tips for putting the quilt together!
There is currently a sale on all jelly rolls at the Fat Quarter Shop so grab yourself one and have fun making the Jelly Roll Jam 2.
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