Jam packed

My summer so far has been full on. This is my last Sumner off, I go full time weeks (I am already full time hours) from 1st September
There hasn't been much sewing: I have fulfilled my bee commitments - these ones for Nicky's Nordik quilt

And these for Amys Hipbee quilt

There has been a trip to Centre Parks

A trip to Hever Castle

A trip to Sheffield

Sheffield antiques centre seems to have the monopoly on old sewing machines too

 

And a lot of DIY

I still have a trip to Paris (can't wait) and a trip to my dads in the Lake District before I go back to work...... for a rest!

FAL Q3

It suddenly dawned on me that I need to get my Q3 FAL list up pronto: I am away for a long weekend tomorrow and I don't think there's any Wi-Fi
So, here goes:

1: My scrumptious star (sorry about the feet!) I want to make this into a wall hanging. It may come away with me this weekend

2 & 3: This baby quilt: purely because I had the fabric and wanted to sew something, and also the table runner

4: this won't get finished, but hey, you never know

5: And finally, get this made into something

So, nothing too ambitious, which is just as well, I seem to have list my work / life balance recently, which is why I can't wait for this weekend!

Q2 round up

It seems we are at the end of Q2 of the FAL.
I thought I had only managed one finish, but when I had a look at my original post here, it appears that I actually finished two!
First finish was this cushion, back in April

My second finish, and this one took a long time, was my Hipbee quilt.  This is completely handquilted and makes me very happy

So, two out of five. I thought I had only achieved one, but then I thought I also only had 3 on my list!!
Linking up with Katy and all those amazing finishes

Finally a finish!

I have finished my Hipbee quilt, and I love it

Back in November it was my turn to be queen bee and I didn't really have a plan in mind, or  fabrics that I really wanted turning in to a quilt

I remembered the rainbow  charm squares that I had from a swap organised by Cindy, and it seemed like the perfect way to use them and some of my stash

The pattern came from Quiltville (again!) and my bees made an awesome job of putting the blocks together

I used backing from Last Sew and Sew, from a £5 per metre sale they had and the binding is non quilting fabric from my lqs

I hand quilted it using lots if different colours of thread and I love how that has worked out and how it reflects the different patterns within the pattern

It isn't completely finished, I still need to sew my siggy blocks into a label and get it sewn on to the quilt, I will probably be doing that in the sunshine today

A massive thank you to my Hipbee ladies for their input into this quilt.  Linking up with Katy over at the finish along

Jubilant June

I seem to be sewing less and therefore blogging less at the moment (not that I was a prolific blogger anyway!)
I have managed to sew Collettes Bee a Brit Stingy blocks

I did wonder if I might struggle with these are Collette wanted solids or fabric with a very small pattern - turns out I had a lot more than I realised!

I have also managed a couple of bee blessed blocks: these were nice and easy

I have my Hipbee blocks to get on with this weekend.

Life, I think, is about to change very significantly. If you follow me on IG you will know that Beccy secured an apprenticeship with Arcadia, working for their Topshop brand, as a garment technologist (this involves testing of fabrics, fittings on models, etc). She starts on Wednesday and will be working in Oxford Street. An apprentice wage is £100 a week and the train fare is £115 (£6000pa!!!).  The opportunity is amazing, fashion is all she ever wanted to do and to get this on her first ever interview out of so many applications is amazing.  I am so proud of her and excited for her too. Apprenticeships are such a great idea.

Treasure

Its very rare I go to car boot sales - the last time I went I got a great bargain with my rocking chair. This was today's amazing find

£15!! I did a double take as I strolled past and cursed for only having £20 in my purse. I didn't hesitate when he said how much it was. They sell for anywhere between £75-£150 on eBay.
The serial number tells me it was made in 1904. It seems to work, but even if it doesn't it is still beautiful to look at. I will keep you posted.
I have finished sewing my table runner, I need to find some backing and start quilting

And I think I have decided what to do with my scrumptious diamonds

All of this should keep me occupied for a while!

May so far

Its been a few weeks since I blogged and I haven't really done a huge amount of sewing. I have caught up on my Bee commitments:
Mays Hipbee block for Tanya (sorry about my feet!!)

 And Mays Bees Brit stingy block for Karen

So now I can get on and play with some fabric, the block idea came from Sew Mama Sew block of the month. I think I will make a table runner

I have been doing lots of walking, the weather has been amazing. Last week I walked just under 22km, best of all I am feeling so much better for it and its a great de-stress from work

 I have been taking my mums dog with me too