Tuesday 31 July 2012

Swaps, Bees & BOM'S.....

Festivals take it out of you.... but I am back up and running... Well almost galloping as I had 2 projects to get off into the post...
After making a frame purse at the FQ retreat with Katy - someone came up with the idea of a Frame Purse Swap... what larks Pip!!
As the main aim of blogging is to connect with like minded souls and I am now a 'Blogger' .... I signed up.
Simples.. - Thinks I...
 Well first I had to come up with a Mosaic of purses I like and post to Flickr... This blogging lark is a huge learning curve... I had to go off and find pictures of frame purses that I liked and then work out how to do a mosaic... Mission Accomplished..

Next I got my swap partners name and had to check out her mosaic for ideas and 'stalk' her blog to see what her tastes were - all very interesting and a little daunting but I got her drift (I hope!)
Then came a bit of planning.... and sewing...  and more planning and a bit of throwing.... Until finally I was happy with the result (actually the one I went with was number 2.. - number 3 & 4 will go in the bin...)

Someone in the swap suggested adding a little 'extra' to the parcel... oohh... more thinking & planning.... I am actually very pleased with what I made... it just took longer to make than the actual purse!!
So it is on its way to its new home, I posted pictures on Flickr of the finished purse and its new owner has commented that she likes it... but doesn't know its on its way to her...
And the best part is that soon there will be was a parcel landing on my doormat and I will get got to see what has been made for me....
Its arrived..... look what Justine  made me...

A gorgeous grey purse with scrummy hexies on the outside and it had some cute crochet hearts and some fabric pieces too... I am a lucky girl..


My next task was to make the first blocks in my FQ Kinky Bee... I know ..you are going to ask..!!.
It came about when we were all getting ready for the FQ Retreat in June... someone suggest a 'Linky Party' or Link up Blog party to get acquainted before we arrived and it all degenerated from there.... A few of us were envious of the Bees that met up at the Retreat - we wanted in on the fun.. So a Bee was formed and there was only one name for it really....

The first blocks for July were for Linda and she wanted Square in a Square with a bit of improv piecing style about them.... They were fun to make and went together quickly... only having a small amount of fabric makes for creative touches.. They are also on their way.
I also signed up for the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Block of the Month (BOM).. My second block has just arrived.. they are super simple and quick to do and I love the fabrics by Camille Roskelly plus they are very generous with the fabric and I get to build a small stash out of leftovers....

I'll save pictures for the next post as I am now off to London to see some of the Olympics... wooo....

Monday 23 July 2012

Where have I been this time?

Been distracted from my sewing machine again..  I made a late decision to go to a music festival held locally...

 In true English festival style... it was muddy.... but the rain fell at night and not during the day so we were spared too many soakings..

Latitude has been termed the 'middle class' festival and if that means a varied programme of music, literature and comedy and no-one staggering around trying to find their tent late into the night - then I like middle class festivals..

Lots of nice touches..

These are lights...

I loved it all... so much to see and do.. and even enjoyed camping again. I plan on going again next year.
The only downside was that I was totally shattered when I got back and I am now behind with my Bee & swap projects... check back for progress..

Sunday 1 July 2012

Still here....

Oh dear... where does the time go...? I am really bad for not posting more often but things have been pretty busy and I just haven't got around to blogging about them... and that doesn't count the lovely blog post I wrote a few days ago.. only to find it didn't save!!!

I think its difficult to strike a happy medium ... to blog or not.... In the main I set this blog up to share in my sewing projects and occasionally other things going on in my life... its not a day to day diary.. My life is good but its not that exciting..!!

At this time of the year I do spend a lot of time out on the golf course.... weather permitting..!! I love my golf and while I can get out and play I take every opportunity to play that comes my way.. I am very fortunate to be healthy & 'wealthy' enough to get around a golf course - however well or badly I play... This was brought home to me this week as I had to attend my cousins funeral, she was only 4 years older than me and had been battling cancer for 5 years.... so hitting a bad shot or missing a putt is not worth getting cross about..

It was my birthday this week too... & the sun shone, I had a lovely time & was very fortunate to receive some smashing presents... none of them sewing related tho'....
Lily's Quilts
I have been working on some of the projects that I started at the FQ retreat in London.. and have finished my Union Jack cushion.....
humm!!!!.... that photo is a little light but I am very pleased with it... I love the size..

I am also nearly finished on my EPP pillow I started with Tacha... just working out how to finish it..

I have joined 3 swaps... wheee!!!.... Never done one before and now I've signed up for 3.... fool! you cry..
They are all pretty different... the first is a Frame purse swap.. I am working on that this week... they don't take long to make but the time is all in the planning...

Swap 2 is the Brit 3 Small quilt swap... again I only have to make 1 small quilt.. but my mystery partner has pretty 'advanced tastes' so it is going to be a challenge to design and execute.

Swap 3 is they FQ Kinky Bee... (don't ask!) this is a normal monthly block swap... I am not listed to host my blocks until February.. so I have a bit of time to decide what design and what fabrics I want my Bee sisters to use..

My niece Mary graduated from Cambridge University this week.... I made her a card....
and then had to make an envelope as well.....

I'm teaching a class tomorrow.... I'll be back with pictures....