And my favourite ….

I do love to work with scraps, it gives me such a buzz, to transform, something that some would probably throw away, but I see the potential, and I create
So I did. And again it never let’s me down
I think it’s quite a photogenic bag

Front

Back

Happy Friend, and that’s all it matters

Hello….

Well, what can I say, apologise probably it would be a good start
So long without news, so many things happening, yet so little time to come and say hello in the blog
Well, I have to say with Facebook and Instagram, they don’t help, do they? But they are fantastic….
The holiday seems a distant memory, Easter has come and gone, and the year just seems to be flying.
Since October 2013, I decided to loose a few kilos. Probably one of my best decisions, actually this last year I have to say that in the whole, it has been, I would say the best year of my Life.
Lots of good things have happened, some not so good, but then this is Life
So keeping the weight off, has proved to be ok, thought it would be much harder, started to eat much healthier, cutting a lot of the sugars, note no gyms, all I do is walking and bike rides, but it is impressive, how much better one feels, started on holiday, with those long walks in the beach, not getting tired, that gave me such a boost, can’t even describe.
I still have days, that are disasters ie some weekends, but it’s ok, have to compensate during the week. Never thought that I could get like this, eating so many seeds, vegetables, and controlling myself in the sweet department.
Yes the shop you may ask? Waiting for a good day to take photographs, have a few bits to start but just need to focus on the photography now
That will be happening very soon. Need to put my skates on.
Been getting a lot of good comments, about my work, which is nice, and probably not wanting to be so perfect with my sewing would be a great idea.
Craftwise, have been doing stuff for the shop, testing new materials, and just getting ideas.
Just feel that I want to make the most of ‘this’ moment, because with so much happening, and so many good things, I just need to relax and absorb this peace that I feel at the moment.
I will be keeping you posted, much more often than I have, I miss writing here.
This weekend I’ll be making a bag, for a Special young Lady, I love doing things for the people I really like.
Have asked her for one pocket of an old pair of trousers, to make it personal, and just going to do with scraps (my favourite), gives me such a buzz, and have lots. And let’s hope after being told about the measurements, that I can come up with something pretty good.



I will show you hopefully by Sunday.
Just be a bit patient with me, I’m here, just a bit too busy at the moment, but soon all will be back to normal, well if I knew what normal was
Have a lovely evening
x

Using Scraps

I buy (quite) a bit of fabric, see how that word is in brackets…….. ok I admit. I love fabric
I have a considerable stash, well not as big as I see some in certain blogs.
I love it, and I think the best feeling is when you are doing something, and there’s a change of mind, and voila, it’s late in the day all the shops are closed, but you don’t need them
You have just that perfect match
Somehow……. I sound a bit addicted
But ….. as I was saying, I do love to use scraps, you know that already.
I love applique, so combine the two, and it’s a perfect match
And those colours, well what can I say …………..
Can’t wait to mix all those softies

The End

And this is it!!
The Blue Quilt is now finished
I’m really pleased with it, and I think It’s a very manly one.
I’ve achieved what I wanted











Now let’s talk Pink
Have a great week x

Four to go ……

And I haven’t been as productive as I expected today … too many distractions
But I’m nearly there
xx

Here it is ...... the first block

These blocks are fun to make.
They are all going to have something in common, they are all going to have that 4” linen square on the top left hand side ……. there’s always a twist
I never sit down, with pen and paper and plan.
Hummmm …. not me. Just Plan as you Go …. and so far it just seems to work for me
I’m pleased how it looks, I know I have to be a bit more adventurous with the scraps, but slowly I think I will get there
And …. I’m not even counting how many I have to do
Just go with the flow

Seriously ….. let’s start!!

I have been with my mind on other things lately , I think they call it Life
But it’s time to move on, less than 5 months till Christmas, with a long list of projects that have to be done.
I can’t leave it for much longer
And I’m starting with a ‘male’ quilt.
Wow challenge for me, as you know I’m the girlie type, pinks, flowers and so on…
Well …. there are some in the list, have to be patient
But for now, and to kick start the next few months we are going blue……. and maybe add some creams
Using the scraps given to me recently, they are just what I need



And who better for inspiration than the lovely  Crazy Mom
I have admired her quilts for a very long time and let’s see if I can make something to slightly look as gorgeous as her quilts look
Wish me luck and finally let’s start sewing
Can’t wait xx

Scrappy Log Cabin

One thing that really causes me that ‘itching’ feeling is the amount of scraps that one accumulates
Always thinking of what to do with them.
Amazing how one can buy fabric with such speed, and then finds that scraps really irritates her lol
This is definitely going to be my on-going project …
All I know is that it’s going to have a colour scheme, that’s a beginning….. haven’t thought of anything else yet
But I’m sure there’s a lonnnnnngggg way to go yet
Not to worry, I’m sure I will have finished a few others before this one
But as I’ve said before, scrappy quilts always make me feel good, there’s the memories, and there’s a Lady that’s waiting to see the result of this one
I went to one of her classes, and while everybody went dark/ light I went light/very light
There’s always one
But what makes a really good tutor, is to accept everybody’s decisions and surely this one did
I was different but I didn’t feel that she minded
Well that’s the story of my life really.
Always see things from different angles
But I’m Happy, and I supposed that’s what matters in the end of the day
As for my Scrappy Quilt, be patient this one will be done ………………………… eventually!!!
xx

Workshop

Yes today was a day to learn and to socialise, or shall I say the other way round
The company, as always, is excellent
What a great day, followed by a nice dinner

But this was the state of my table.
Absolutely not the way I usually work, and one hour before finishing, got so messy, that just I just couldn’t move relaxed had a nice cup of coffee and chatted
Quite easy for me to do that
Example of how not to work



I can’t just show you pretty pictures
We had two options of two quilts
This was the one I chose, well sort of …….



Too many dark colours for me, and I knew I was going to do differently, as always.
Have I ever mention, that I very rarely follow any instructions, or patterns?
Well today wasn’t going to be any different, just have some sort of allergy
And you obviously can’t see yet, but I went as soft in colours as one could possibly go


There’s method in my madness, believe me
And it will look lovely
The amazing thing is that from 12 people that were there you all interpret in a different way, and all so different, and I suppose that’s the beauty of it
We know what we like, so we make it, so it works for us.
And here is the beginning of another scrap quilt!!!!

Bia’s Quilt

Once upon  a time …..
This is how stories start.

This is how the story of this Quilt started:
Once upon a time,  a lovely Lady called Bia, gave me a few fabric brochures, with samples
The rest of the story I will let the images describe









And then they (The Quilt and Me) lived happily ever after.
The End or The Beginning

And today is all about ……

Quilting!!

Let’s attack it!!

Well today, and probably the rest of the week, and if not the other too, let’s finish this beast beauty.
It is huge!!!!!!
When you live in a doll’s house like I do, and when you have a quilt this size to work with, it’s not the easiest of the tasks.
But I do love challenges, it won’t be the first, and surely it won’t be the last.
So let’s start



As some of you know this is also a scrap quilt.
I named it ‘Bia’s Quilt’ because Bia is the lovely Lady that gave me books of sample fabrics
I do love to work with scraps.
The picture only shows half of the quilt.
Have a good day everybody
xx

Sorting out my scraps

As a very organised person, there was a box, that was getting on my nerves.
My beloved Scrap Box, was just messy, and I don’t do messy
So with a lot, and I mean a lot of patience I started tackling that problem
Let’s colour coordinate
Let’s organise
So the journey has started



I would be lying if I said , that I didn’t need a push..
I did, and it’s February, let’s say, it’s a course, let’s say it involves scraps, and yes I can’t wait!!
So excited

Scrap Quilt ….. FINISHED!!

And this is how it started!!

With a £5.00 Scrap Bag



And this is how it looks, the end result

She’s Huge.
She’s Lovely .
She’s a Beauty.
And she’s Bright.
It has been a pleasure, a challenge and in the end a bit of a headache, if I might say so!!
But worth it every single step.
There’s just something indescribable about a scrap quilt, and it’s an amazing feeling
Sadly she hasn’t got a name yet, but she’ll have to have one soon, just need the brain to start thinking about it.
And because it’s Sunday, I wouldn’t held my breath!!
Brain usually is turned off
That will come soon hopefully ….
Next………………………

Have a good Sunday everybody xx

Updates

Well let’s start with the first scrap quilt, the red one, the one without the name yet.
Well little did I know, that adding two borders was going to cause me so many problems.
Little did I know that a 1 and 1/2 inch blue border could do that. But it did
So, just keeping a mental note to myself, that whenever working with fabric in bias, forget the borders, saves a lot lot of time.
But still…. I love it, it’s not finished yet, hey …. but no problem, will soon be finished.
I’m really pleased with the way it turned out, and really love it



Once I finished you’ll be able to see how that blue strip frames the quilt nicely.
All I need to do now, she says is the binding!!!
I really am in love with this one.

The second scrap quilt the backing fabric arrived today.
And I’m too very pleased with the choice, wanted some colour, and I surely will get that



I can see a green binding coming along!! It’s just asking for that.
Funny enough I have both backings in pink, both backings dotty, hummm …..but both very different.
So for the near future, i.e. this weekend I’m going to try and start/finish the red one, it would be lovely to sandwich the second one, it’s quite a beast in size. Let’s see.

So much to do, so little time, and with these cooler nights, I seem to choose to read for the hundredth time my Quilting books, always ready for new ideas, new projects, just love to be wrapped in a quilt with a nice cup of tea and my books, and the quietness of the nights. I really do find this, just so relaxing and confortable. But it’s ok, I don’t feel guilty, I feel relaxed and that’s exactly what I love about Patchwork, it’s to make the most of every moment, and I surely do.
Have a lovely and peaceful evening x

And the Big Weekend is nearly here

And I can’t wait!!
Sewing machine properly cleaned. Check
Fabric. Check
Wadding. Check
Bidding ready. Check
There’s only 1001 other things to do, honestly it’s like moving house, and I will make sure I’ll take a picture of the car loaded, honestly !!
Still hoping the other fabric arrives tomorrow, you never know ………. but, there’s always the third quilt, which involves a lot of hand sewing, and I mean a lot!!!
Will have to show you pictures of that one, next week.
And did I tell you, that in this parcel, that is arriving very soon, apart from the backing from my other scrap quilt, there’s some AMAZING fabric arriving too!!
I’ve been waiting for that collection to come out, and it has, so looking forward, and it will be a very soft one
So I’m sure I’ll have lots to talk about it, Sunday/Monday and please, sun, don’t be shy, because I do have plans for my camera, to come out!!
Just remind me, how many hours are there in a day?
I can surely say that for this weekend….. not enough!
Have a great one everybody
x

Mission Accomplished

Oh yes I did it!!!

Second quilt top finished, bring on next weekend :-)

Half way there…

And loving every single step





Let’s get stuck on the other half
Have a wonderful afternoon x