Embroider Bee - Progress

I'm working on my blocks for the Embroider Bee over on Flickr.

All these patterns are by Lilipopo. I absolutely LOVE her patterns, but I've modified some of them a little bit.

I'm really enjoying embroidering at the moment. I learned to embroider as a little girl, but it was all fussy, old fashioned patterns that were ironed onto a yucky bit of fabric.Doing it this way is SO much more fun!

Our schools have just broken up for the summer, so my peaceful sewing mornings are over. I've got to find a way to entertain my monkeys instead!

Happy Friday!

Brit Quilt Swap - Whirlpool finished!

Brit Quilt Swap - Whirlpool finished!, a photo by fionapoppy on Flickr.

I just finished stitching the binding on my Brit Quilt Swap!

I finished the hand-quilting a couple of days ago and had a bit of a *Ta Da!* moment where I proudly held it up for my husband to admire...

"Look! I've finished the quilting on this quilt!!!!"
"Oh, er, very nice"
"Thanks! Does it remind you of anything?"
"Er, what's it supposed to be?"
"It's a tropical whirlpool!!! Look there are mermaids and sea creatures!"
"Oh.... I thought it was just some psychedelic hippy sh*t..... but it's er, very nice....."

So.... lets hope my partner can enjoy a nice cuppa in the British Summertime, dreaming of a tropical whirlpool
OR
Is into "Psychedelic Hippy Sh*t" !!!!!!

Peace Man.....

 

 Happy Monday!.... 

Farmer's Wife Quilt Sampler QAL

So I'm hooked on the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt QAL that is going on in flickrland just now.

The quilt along is supposed to slow paced, doing just 2 blocks a week. But........ I can't stop myself!

 I love the little blocks. They are like little snack-size treats at just 6" finished size.

I'm really learning a lot already, some of these blocks are much more advanced than anything I've tried before. And because they are so small I'm having to be really acurate.

I'm really enjoying seeing the blocks that everyone else is making. There are some Gorgeous ones in the group!

I really like the book. I've found the letters really uplifting and inspiring. My kids and I spent Sunday afternoon weeding the garden after reading about 'God's earth' and being 'so close to the beauty of nature' etc, and we had a lovely afternoon!

So if you haven't already, I really think you should buy the book and jump into this QAL. It's so much fun!

Whirlpool - Brit Quilt Swap

Whirlpool - Brit Quilt Swap, a photo by fionapoppy on Flickr.

I've made some progress on my Brit Quilt Swap and got my Whirlpool pieced.
I had planned to make it a recangular/square quilt and was planning to use the aqua Joel Dewbeery print in the background because I thought it looked a tropical water pool, but now I'm thinking it might be better circular?
I think I'm still leaning towards rectangular/square but need some help deciding....
What do you think?

Fiona x

Dreamy Dandelions

I've started working on a pillow for my partner in the Pillow Talk {Swap} on Flickr and decided to do a little trial run in a smaller scale to see if my idea was going to work.....
I think it does, and I think I love it, but will my partner like it? I hope so ......
Happy Thursday!
Fiona x

Wild Bob

As soon as I saw Anna Maria Horner's new line Loulouthi I was in love, those huge print in gorgeous saturated colours made my heart flutter. The fat quarter bundle I ordered arrived on Saturday and I've been itching to play with it.

I wanted a pattern that would show off the large prints and I remember seeing a pattern in Issue 4 of Fat Quarterly that was made entirely in solids, called Bob by Chawne Kimber. I thought it was the perfect pattern for me. Yesterday morning was spent cutting up the fabrics and when I got home from work last night I arranged all the blocks on the living room floor and took a photo for reference.

This morning I have been sewing up a storm and "Wild Bob" is pieced!

I LOVE it!!!  I threw in a little bit of linen and some shot cottons to tone things down slightly, and I'm really glad I did. I can't wait to quilt it. I think I'm going to quilt in the ditch and then break out some of these gorgeous perle cottons to emphasise some of the beautiful large prints.

I've already cut the leftovers into strips for a scrappy border.

Now I really better go and tidy up the breakfast dishes before I pick up my children from school!
Happy Tuesday......

Brothers

Brothers, a photo by fionapoppy on Flickr.

I've finished my Postage Stamp quilts!
 These quilts are for my 2 nephews and I made them following the Postage Stamp Quilt Along hosted by Rachel Griffith. I used a Freebird by Momo Jelly roll. I had some leftover 2.5" strips of Moda Bella Snow which I used for one quilt and I bought some Kona Chocolate for the other. The light quilt is backed and bound with a navy ikea sheet (on sale for £2.99!) and the darker one is backed and bound in a red ikea sheet.
I really like these little quilts. I think they'll be perfect for 2 little brothers to snuggle up in :)

 We had a birthday this week. My youngest has just turned a very big 4! Here he is wearing one of his presents - all ready to play for Scotland!

 Happy Sunday......

FMQ first attempt

 

I've finally done it! I've just attempted FMQ for the first time!!!!

I'm very excited! I've been wanting to try FMQ for ages but was too scared, but I got a new machine for my birthday, put my big girl pants on and went for it this morning :)

I think it's turned out not too badly. I did a loopy stars random pattern and figured it didn't matter if it all went wrong - it's for my 4 year old nephew and will probably be dragged around the garden. I'm sure he won't notice that some of ther stars are wonky and several loops are jaggy :)

Now it just needs binding and washing and I can cross another WIP off my list!

Fabric is Freebird by Momo with Moda Bella Snow, and I made the quilt top following the Postage Stamp QAL with Rachel of PS I quilt 

Happy Friday!.......

Mermaids

Today I thought I'd show you all the little mini quilt that I made for my Mum's Birthday earlier this month. I made it following the QAL by Rachel of Contented and it was so nice and easy to make.

It's made using Essex linen in natural and scraps of Heather Ross's older line Mendocino. I just love the Mermaids in this line. They remind me of childhood summers spent on a little Hebridean island where my Grandparents lived.

Image courtesy of http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/raasay.shtml#

I found it quite difficult to part with this little quilt but I think my Mum liked it. I can always make myself another :)

I'm linking this up to Lynne's Fresh Sewing Day

Happy Wednesday....