Flying Geese Cushion
26 September 2014
I made this a little while ago and forgot to share it here. It's a flying geese cushion that I will be teaching as a class at Patchfinders.
I hand quilted it with Sashiko thread and I'm especially pleased with my covered zip on the back! I had to snap some pictures quickly while I was at work because it's on display. The class is full now but I've put a tab to list all the classes I'm teaching at the top of my blog. Hopefully I will be teaching more in the new year too.
I'm working on a couple of hand sewing projects right now and although I'm enjoying it, I am starting to feel the need for speed! I am actually missing my machine so I think I need a little quick make this weekend and I have the perfect project in mind.
If you live in the UK or Ireland enter my £100 Wayfair gift cerficate giveaway - they have everything you need for your home, from furniture to accessories and so many useful items! Please share this giveaway on social media too, I would really love to help someone get pretty and useful things for their home and even the postage is free!
Have a happy weekend!
Linking up:

£100 Wayfair gift card giveaway! {UK and Ireland only}
25 September 2014
**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**
I have to preface this by saying that occasionally I am approached by companies that would like to partner with me to promote their products and most often I refuse because they have nothing to do with quilting or sewing and I don't advertise companies I wouldn't make use of myself or that don't concern my readers. And while they are not a craft company, Wayfair have such a great range of products that we all use I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share some of their products with you and offer you the chance to win!
Primarily home furnishing and decor, Wayfair have an amazing selection of items; with loads of different brands, styles and varying price points, it's easy to find the perfect item and the website has a super friendly layout that makes it fun to shop!
You could certainly buy items for your sewing room (AKA corner of your dining room if you're like me!):
Wayfair stock these craft scissors that are manufactured in Sheffield and this brilliant craft light pad (I have one, it's really brilliant - so many great sewing uses!), it also comes in A2.
Perhaps some shelves for storing your fabric stash or drawers for hiding it away... maybe brighten up the dark evenings with a lamp while relaxing with a brew?
Or you could just chose anything to pretty up your house, I'm loving these beautiful mirrors:
And think this tea towel would make a sweet Christmas gift:
There are so many great products at Wayfair, you really can find anything for your home!
Wayfair are kindly offering one of my readers a £100 gift card to spend on anything on the site and they will take care of the shipping so you don't need to worry about that.
**GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED**
New followers are welcome - you can subscribe/follow using the buttons up there on the right, stay and look around if you're interested in the sewing and quilting posts I usually write.
Open until Monday 29th September at 8pm BST, the winner will be drawn by random.org.
*This giveaway is only open to people in the UK and Ireland (sorry international peeps, there's another more fabricy giveaway coming up soon though!)
Good Luck!
working and progressing
24 September 2014
I'm feeling like a good girl today because I finished off Janet's Bee A Brit Stingy blocks and got them in the post:
Why is it I never spot those rogue threads before I actually take a picture??
I also had time for a play today and got on with preparing some more green tea and sweet beans blocks, even cutting into this gorgeous Cracking Codes print. I absolutely love the colours, the rectangles are really vibrant in real life and I love that simple pattern.
Tonight it's on with some hand quilting and serious chill time!
Back tomorrow with a slightly different giveaway :)
winner and discount code
22 September 2014
Thanks to everyone who entered the Splash Cotton + Steel Basics Fat Quarter Bundle from the Fat Quarter Shop. You all have set yourself some great challenges!
The number picked is:
who is:
Congratulations Hadley! One of my longest followers and one of the nicest bloggers I know :) I have sent you an email.
For those that didn't win don't despair, there is going to be a couple more exciting giveaways very soon!
And this week there's a sale on all Robert Kaufman Fabrics at the Fat Quarter Shop with the code RK2014. This includes Kona, Ann Kelle, Carolyn Friedlander, Darlene Zimmerman, and many more!
I hope your week is off to a great start :)
random stashing
21 September 2014
**Enter my Cotton and Steel FQ bundle giveaway, closes 22/9**
I've acquired a few additions to my stash recently, nothing huge but fun little bits I thought I'd share. The first is this gorgeous Triangularity Stardust from Chromatics, Art Gallery Fabrics that came home with me from Patchfinders. The Triangularity prints are gorgeous and I had to have this colourway just because. I also bought a little ruler, which is perfect for marking 1/4" lines for my hand sewing and I think will prove useful when I'm marking lines for little bits of hand quilting too.
A colleague at work very kindly gave me these two Acacia by Tula Pink prints that will be stashed away for future use and we just got some of the Paint collection by Carrie Bloomston in the shop, not my usual taste but I'm falling for this cool woven print - need to think of a project I can use it in so I can justify buying some ;)
I recently visited my wonderful Nan and she passed these old sewing magazines on to me, probably not a whole lots of projects I would be inspired to make but worth a flick through and there's something kind of cool about that cross stitch Clarice Cliff (or am I losing the plot?!):
My stationery love has totally taken hold, I bought more stickers (that I failed to get a picture of) and these fun goodies from The Journal Shop. The Iconic Colour twin pens are so lovely to write with and great colours, the Otegami Memo Pads are super cute and washi tape is becoming an addiction.
Hurry and check out Pink Castle Fabrics, you can get an extra 40% off the Super Sale section with code SUPERSALE but it ends today so be quick. And this isn't one of those 'get rid of the horrible fabric' sales either, there's loads of great stash builders, basic prints like spots, stripes and gingham and some of my favourite prints and lines, quick go look!
Enjoy what's left of the weekend :)
I Love Quilting and Sewing Blog Tour + a GIVEAWAY!
18 September 2014
**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**
The Fat Quarter Shop are celebrating National Sewing & Quilting month with a fun blog tour and I was happy to take up the challenge and answer a few questions!
I decided to make myself a laptop bag from the fantastic book Quilting on the Go by Jessica Alexandrakis. I challenged myself by changing the English Paper Pieced shapes to 60° diamonds and squares, which Jessica used so beautifully in her Tanuki stripe throw, and adding magnetic closures. I have never used magnetic snaps before, it was super easy thanks to this noodlehead tutorial, but I did have to wrangle with turning the lining through to install them rather than adding buttons at the end as per the pattern!
The book shows you how to easily make a laptop case based on the measurements of your laptop and mine fits perfectly.
I used Cotton and Steel scraps to make the case and hand quilted it using #8 perle thread in simple straight lines.
I also decided to add some detail to the flap by stitching some pluses, inspired by Rachael from Blue Mountain Daisy and her beautiful stitches.
This was #10 on my FAL list (though I'm not going in numerical order unfortunately!!).
I spend most evenings (and nap times) quilting and I always feel happy and satisfied when I've been able to have time to sew. The Fat Quarter Shop created this banner for me, it's my nod to the famous Goonies* 'it's our time' speech - quilting is my time; to relax, create and do what I love and get excited about the possibilities.
I started quilting just before I started this blog, encouraged by my cousin and my Aunty. I remember doing some blackwork embroidery when I was young and using a sewing machine at school. I love trying new techniques and currently hand quilting, hand piecing, EPP and cross stitch are my favourite. I like the slower pace and have a couple of hand sewing projects lined up to take me through the winter!
When was the first time you knew that you were a quilter/sewer?
I think after I had made a few quilts and wasn't about to stop!
Do you have any sewing/quilting horror stories or faux pas?
I am constantly making mistakes but none of them too horrific and honestly I don't care if I mess up, it helps me learn. I do know I have to stop when I'm tired, too often I sew things back to front, upside down or just wrong!
What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out in sewing/quilting?
The Fat Quarter Shop have released a super cute 'Color My Heart' quilt pattern that you can download for free here.
Here in the UK it is National Cupcake Week and although I've not done any baking I do have a sweet treat for you!
There are 3 chances to enter the giveaway but I MUST have a way of contacting you, so please leave your email address if you've not commented here and had an email in reply before (I will stop the no reply drama!!)
1. Leave a comment, say anything or tell me how you would like to challenge yourself in your crafting.
2. Follow my blog and leave a separate comment - the subscribe / follow buttons are on the right somewhere up there! (optional entry)
3. Share this giveaway on social media and leave another comment telling me how you shared. (optional entry)
The giveaway is open until Monday 22nd September at around 8pm (BST). The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here on the blog.
When was the first time you knew that you were a quilter/sewer?
I think after I had made a few quilts and wasn't about to stop!
Do you have any sewing/quilting horror stories or faux pas?
I am constantly making mistakes but none of them too horrific and honestly I don't care if I mess up, it helps me learn. I do know I have to stop when I'm tired, too often I sew things back to front, upside down or just wrong!
What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out in sewing/quilting?
I think it helps to have someone teach you in person, a friend or a class. There's so many amazing bloggers that post tutorials and tips that you can learn from. It's important to sew things you love, using fabric and combinations that make you happy, and don't worry about getting it 'right', play and enjoy!
The Fat Quarter Shop have released a super cute 'Color My Heart' quilt pattern that you can download for free here.
Hop around and see more of the 'I Love Quilting and Sewing Blog Tour':
Shruti of 13 Woodhouse Road
Sherri of A Quilting Life
Amy of Amy's Creative Side
Alyce of Blossom Heart Blog
Charise of Charise Creates
Lucy of Charm About You - you are here!
Erin of Dog Under My Desk
Amy of During Quiet Time
Rachel of Family Ever After
Anne Marie of Generation X Quilters
Marni of Haberdashery Fun
Melissa of Happy Quilting
Katy of I'm A Ginger Monkey
Elizabeth of In the Boon Docks
Jana of Jana Machado
Lynne of Lily's Quilts
Maureen of Made by Marzipan
Barb and Mary of Me and My Sister Designs
Melanie of I Heart Stitching
Kaye of Miss Print
Dana of Old Red Barn Co.
Natalia of Piece N' Quilt
Denise of Pieced Brain
Stephanie of Quarter Incher
Jane of Quilt Jane
Heather and Megan of Quilt Story
Cheryl of Quilter Chic
Michele of Quilting Gallery
Allison of Quilting Mumma
Teresa of Quilting Stitching & Sew On
Leslie of Seasoned Homemaker
Liz of Sew4Home
Erin of Sew At Home Mummy
Sara of Sew Sweetness
Leanne of She Can Quilt
Vickie of Spun Sugar Quilts
Amy of Stitchery Dickory Dock
Tonya of The Crafty Mummy
Julie of The Crafty Quilter
Paula of The Sassy Quilter
Erin of Why Not Sew?
Here in the UK it is National Cupcake Week and although I've not done any baking I do have a sweet treat for you!
The Fat Quarter Shop is kindly giving away this Splash Cotton + Steel Basics Fat Quarter Bundle to one of you! I chose this bundle because obviously I've been working with the lovely Cotton and Steel fabrics and love them. The basics are totally beautiful, that metallic print on the top is one of my favourites, and this bundle has gorgeous colours from the minty greens through to navy blue.
*GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED*
Good Luck!
* I am overly excited at the prospect of the Goonies sequel. Never say die.
little bits
17 September 2014
Tonight I'm working on hand quilting my Arizona quilt:
I found the most brilliant tutorial for making your own quilting templates by Steffi this week (click that link!). It's really quite simple and I love that you can make your own designs and have long lasting templates. Very clever Steffi :) I will definitely be making some soon so I can get to work on Joan's butterfly quilt.
I'm also making do and mending by patching my son's favourite jeans ready for 'Jeans for Genes' day on Friday. I think this Rocket Age fabric will be perfect!
We have announced a new theme at le challenge, this month the theme is MIX. I hope you will all come and join in!
Pop back tomorrow because I have a pretty finish and a splashing giveaway!
a start not a finish - le challenge
14 September 2014
This is the fifteenth challenge link at le challenge, which means I've successfully finished fourteen makes since we started, but this time... well you've probably already guessed... I have no completed project to share.
I was exciting by the theme 'era' and had lots of ideas but it's been such a busy summer (blah, blah, excuses, excuses!), I had grand plans but as time ran on I realised they were not feasible and I just couldn't find the love for hurriedly cobbling something together.
So instead I made a start and finished the first block of the Green Tea and Sweet Beans pattern by Jen Kingwell.
The fabrics I'm using are mostly 1930s reproduction, though I think this block looks a bit 1950s too. The fabric on the bottom left corner was given to me by my wonderful cousin in America, I absolutely adore the print and have been saving it for a special project. I think this hand sewn pattern is the perfect way to use up my most loved vintage scraps.
So there you have it, the first fail for me. Ok not a fail but this wouldn't count if I was actually linking up to le challenge. Since Nat will be having her baby towards the end of this year, we've agreed we are both allowed a couple of passes and this is mine.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's actual finishes and if you've made anything over the past two months that fits the theme 'era' in any way then feel free to come and link up your finished project. A random winner gets a $25 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop as well as a special giveaway this month of 10 FQs of vintage sheets from Mary Emmens.
Hop over and check it out!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)








.jpg)









