Under the wire

I am fairly certain, but would have to check, that I havn't done anything that was on my list for Rhonda's finish along.

Apart from nearly finishing this

 This quilt has been on my list since the beginning and keeps getting bumped

 The girls got me this fabric for my birthday last year and I have been wanting to finish it for ages.
I have hand quilted it

 All that is left now is to put some binding on - before Sunday - and then it will sneak in under the wire.
It has a very very soft and fluffy fleece backing - aka a rug from Dunelm.  It is a dark purple with dots, which you can just seen through the pink material

 The quilt has been used these last few chilly evenings:  Jenny has wrapped herself up and has declared it her most favourite quilt ever, just because of the backing.  Maybe this is the way to go: it's a LOT cheaper than wadding and backing material!

Bargain Buy

In return for going out with work collegues last night, I said that Beccy could have some girls over for the evening and that her best friend could then stay over.  They had asked if I would also take them to a car boot sale - about 30 mins down the road.
I don't do car boot sales, they always seem to be full of tat and grumpy people.  But, I said I would take them.

Who knew that I would come back with this ugly thing

 It's a rocking chair, not on rockers, but on sliders

 When Jenny and I saw it, we both fell in love with it: I have wanted one of these forever.  I didn;t think there would be any point asking how much, as I figured it would be well out of my price range

£15!

Jenny has already sanded it down and the first, base, layer of paint is already on.  It looks completely different already.  I can't wait to get those cushions recovered.
I will post an 'after' pic as soon as it is all complete.

This week hasn't seen any sewing machine time, but I did start and finish a Christmas Rose Star

I love these rose stars and even more so in Christmas material!  I think I will make another two and turn it in to a kind of wall hanging: at some point!

Bee news

I am Miss November for Hipbees. I chose November as it is my birthday month and I thought it would be fantastic to have a bunch of lovely, talented ladies make me a block for my birthday.

I had so many ideas for blocks, so decided to start trying out some ideas

I love this block, but it was fiddly and time consuming and I don't know if I want a whole quilt of it.  I will be turning this block in to a cushion cover for a friend who has a birthday shortly, so it won't be wasted, although I will be sad to see it go

In other bee news, a couple of weeks back I had an email from Sheila, asking me if I would be interested in joining a Bee.  If Sheila was in, then so was I!  So I now belong to:

                                                      

I think it is such a fabulous bee name, I really did chuckle when I saw that.   

The idea is that we make blocks out of our scraps, based on what the queen bee requests that month

Look at all the other fabulous people I am with (some fellow Hipbees too)

Miss January - Lucy @ http://www.charmaboutyou.com/
Miss February - Emily @ http://strawberrypatchramblings.blogspot.co.uk/
Miss March - Jan @ http://isisjem.blogspot.co.uk/
Miss April - Di @ http://willowbeckdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Miss May - Catherine @ http://sewonderfulife.blogspot.co.uk/
Miss June - Colette @ http://poppyandpoochie.blogspot.co.uk/
Miss July - Sheila @ http://bluepatchquilter.blogspot.co.uk/
Miss August - Nicky @  http://mrsssewandsow.blogspot.co.uk/ 
Miss September - Karen @ http://blueberry-park.blogspot.co.uk/
Miss October - Erin @ http://billybuttondesign.blogspot.co.uk/
Miss November - Charlotte @ http://charlottenewland.blogspot.co.uk/
Miss December - Janet @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/16380123@N03/ - jintymaginty on Flickr
(I may have 'borrowed' this list from Sheilas blog)

 We are kicking off with a scrappy pincushion swap, before we start for real in January. I can't wait!

Fabric faries

The fabric faries have been working hard for me this week.  My scrap packs arrived from pink castle fabrics : and they are fabulous!

 Now, I am fairly rubbish at knowing the names of fabrics-I go with what I like and never really see what line it is from, but even I can recognise some 'names' in here

 I can recommend these to anyone, I am really pleased with what I got sent-and sent very quickly too.

I also received this lovely package from Jan who is Miss October (yes, October) for Hipbees

 Jan wants star blocks making, which will be fun.  We were all so quick off the mark with Judes blocks that Jan has sent hers out early.  And, some of the bees have made theirs already.  Jan made the fantastic card that came with the fabric - every one of us had an individual card - isn;t it great

And I also received some fabric from Susan.  She won a very tounge in cheek prize from Rhonda in the finish a long and she blogged about what to do with her winnings

 I told her if she had no better offers to send it here and I would do something with it for the Farleigh Hospice ladies.  Look at the amount of pieces!  This is the pattern in the quilting mag:

 I like applique and it will be great in the winter months.  I am going to try and make four individual items. I think four smaller items will generate more money than one larger item

 This block has already been started, so I will finish this off first and then crack on with the others

Tomorrow, I have bee news to blog about.

It started as a practise block, to see if this was what I wanted when I am Miss November

Some 'seasonal' sewing

Well, I am well and truly back to work, with long days.  Don't know where the time is going, which is a good thing really, as there is nothing worse than being at work and having nothing to do!

I finished sewing my scrappy stars from a long time ago:

I think I will be giving this one away.  My dad and step mum live next door to a lady called Joan.  She is 82 and often tries to drink us all under the table when we go up there.  She is such a lovely lady 

That's Joan, in the hat, on the right. Lovely hot lunch time and we are drinking bubbly



I want to get this finished for her so that she has something to throw over her in the evenings

I have been doing some EPP in the evenings:

Rose star

and a Christmas one (!!!)

I have not done any more on my wedding ring as I have ordered some scrap bundles from pink castle fabrics scrap pack.  I wanted to add some materials that I don't have as my scraps as starting to repeat.  I have something to pick up from the post office and I think that is my scraps.  Can't wait!

Cheered me up

So, day 3 of being back to work and I have already nearly done an additonal week in extra hours.  Yesterday was a really long day and I got home a bit deflated and tired  - but I was immediately cheered up when I saw a parcel for me

Look what was inside

Isn't it fabulous: made for me by Celine at Espritpatch

I had actually forgotten that I was waiting for my swap quilt.  I had sent mine off and knew it had been received

Look at the intricate stitching on the background - its so perfect.  Celine said she had created a sewing room for me, and that is exactly what she has done.  My only dilemma now is where to put it: I have a couple of places I want it to go!

So, a big thank you to Celine, not only for making me this wonderful quilt, but also for knowing exactly when to put it in the post to brighten me up after a long day!

Hello September

So, thats August gone too!! Which means that a) I have had four and a bit weeks off and b) I go back to work on Monday (BOO) 

August has been fairly quiet on the sewing front due to holidays, DIY and study, but I have squeezed some bits in.

I managed lots of these toward my double wedding ring quilt

I have completed two bee blocks, one for August 

 and one for September 

I completed my ET block

Made a quick quilt for my cousins little boy Dan

And completed my mini for the BQ3S, which has been received today by Trudi 

 Probably my most important finish was this - when I found out that I had passed my exam!

 So, September: who knows.  I will be back at work, I am trying to complete a project for my studies (I think it is starting to come together?!) and I have an exam re-take to start studying for. So that should mean a fair bit of sewing, as I tend to reward my studying with sewing. So, if you don't see much sewing going on then there ain't much studying happening either!!

Linking up to Lilys quilts fresh sewing day