More forgotten blocks

I'm still on a mission to tidy up my sewing stuff, and yesterday I discovered some more forgotten blocks hiding in a bag, in a storage bag under the sofa.

Months ago I fell in love with Jolene's stunning Granny Square quilt, and vowed I would make one. I loved making the blocks but for one reason or another (probably a frantic tidy up because visitors were due) they got bundled away and forgotten.

I made 9 blocks before they were shoved in the bag, so I decided to whip up another 3 blocks and turn them into a little baby quilt.

I've just finished cutting backing and wadding and I'm about to get my pins out and get basting. I can't wait to quilt this. I'm tempted to do some more FMQ practice, but I think it would be really pretty hand-quilted too.

Hope you all have a good weekend!
Fiona x

My finished Swoon!

So it seems I am on a bit of a roll when it comes to finishing things off :)

Drumroll........

I finished my Swoon quilt!!! Yay!

I hadn't expected to be quite so excited to be finished this, but I am and I love it!

It has actually been in use on my bed for a few weeks now with raw edges - it's getting cold in Scotland! But yesterday I managed to get the binding on and it's now washed and dried and looking very pretty if I do say so myself ;)

 I had originally decided to hand quilt this, but after I started, I realised it was just going to join the queue of quilts waiting for me to finish the hand quilting. So I left the centre block with it's perle stitches and machine quilted the rest. I quite like that the centre block looks a bit different to the rest - and it's a little reminder to me to think things through before I start something!

It shrank a little bit when I washed it, I think about 2", and ended up at 78" square. I used Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 wadding and I really really love the weight and drapeyness of it. It's thinner than some other cotton wadding, but I prefer that, and it's really lovely and soft once it's washed.

The backing is my favourite print from Joel dewberry's Heirloom line and I decided to bind it in the same print as the backing (I actually made the binding from the lengths of backing I trimmed off after quilting) I stitched the binding down with my machine, using my new machine binding skills :)

I've started binding using strips that are 1 3/4" wide rather than 2 1/2" and I really like the finish of binding this way and it uses less fabric. Would any of you be interested in a tutorial on how I now do my binding?

For those interested
Pattern is Swoon by Camille Roskelley
Fabric used is Heirloom by Joel Dewberry in the citrine colourway, and a couple of Painter's Canvas by Laura Gunn.
I used white cotton poplin rather than quilting cotton for the white background and I like how crisp and fresh it feels.
I used Empress cotton thread to  quilt it - love it, it's my new favourite - thanks to Alison :)
It's quilted by me, trying out various quilting patterns a la my Angela Waters book

Now I need to tart up my bedroom curtains so the co-ordinate with the new quilt, and make my bedroom a bit prettier, but first I have promised my husband I will hard-wire ethernet cables round the downstairs today, so the internet will be faster and we can stream movies through the Sky box. Sigh...... better go get my hammer, drill and cable clips ready. I would much rather be playing with fabric!

Happy Wednesday
Fiona x

Modern Hexagon Baby Quilt

I managed to finish one of the quilts I rediscovered the other day!

The Hexagon blocks that begged to be a baby quilt have been transformed into a sweet little baby quilt/playmat measuring approximately 48" square. I used the Merry Go Round Pattern by American Jane to make the blocks

I machine quilted it following the seams of the blocks, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The hexagon pattern really shows up on the back of the quilt.

This is also the first time I have managed to machine sew a binding that I am happy with :) I used the green Eyelet print from Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy because they remind me of little seedlings - perfect for a baby quilt I think!

I am more than a little bit in love with this quilt and briefly considered having a fourth child just so I could use this quilt! However I have come to my senses and have listed it in my new little Etsy shop, and I'm hoping it sells before I get broody again ;)

Fabric used is mainly It's a Hoot by Momo for Moda and the backing is a print from the Bliss line by Bonnie and Camille for Moda.

I've also added more destash fabric to the shop if anyone is interested - Thanks to everyone who has helped me tidy up so far! The discount code opening10 still gives you 10% off anything you buy :)


Happy Monday!
Fiona x

It's amazing.....

what you might find if your start tidying your stash!

You might find your completed Single Girl quilt top, along with 7 yards of backing fabric, just waiting to be turned into a quilt

Or you might find a partially quilted Dresden quilt made with gorgeous Heather Ross fabric

You might find a pile of Merry Go Round blocks that just beg you to become a baby quilt/playmat

so then you might just listen to them and make one :)

Oh, and could anybody use this? It's a very cute little panel that I bought when my boys were babies, with the intention of making a wall hanging for their bedroom. Their bedroom is now plastered with pictures of Lionel Messi and other sporting memorabilia so I don't think it would quite fit in any more ;)

It's free to a good home, actually there are 2 panels, so shout if you're interested

Have a good weekend!
Fiona x

A Little Etsy pop-up shop

Just a quick little post to say Hello and let you know I've Just opened a little destash shop on Etsy, which you can visit here.

I've already listed a few things from my out-of-control stash and I'm planning to be listing more over the next few days.

I've managed to figure out how to add a discount code to the shop, so I'd like to offer my lovely blog readers an extra 10% off if you see something you fancy. Just use the code OPENING10

Happy shopping!

Fiona x

Another fantastic swap!

I just received another amazing swap package! This is the stunning pillow I received in the Pillow Talk Swap. It was made for me by Marika {Live, Laugh, Love... Sew} and I'm so excited that it's come to live with me!

When I saw it pop up in the group poll my first thought was "Oh No! That's pretty similar to the one I'm making for my partner, but it's so much nicer!"

Haha! The lovely Marika did a fantastic job of stalking me and making the most beautiful pillow that just fits perfectly into my bedroom! I'm feeling very very lucky at the moment :)

Thankyou so Marika!!!

I haven't replied to all the lovely comments on my last post yet, I'm still catching up with myself. I've got a poorly boy off school today, and a puppy who is still stiff and sore after getting hit by a car at the start of the week. But I had to hop onto the computer to show off my beautiful new pillow! Now I better get back to my nursing duties!

Have a great weekend!
Fiona x

Catching up

Thanks for all your lovely comments on the pillow/cushion cover I showed off  in my last post. It's now safely arrived at it's new home and my partner seems to like it :) Yay! Now I can get excited about the one that will be headed my way!

I got some lovely post the other day, in the form of my Mouthy Stitches tote! It was such a great surprise because it turned out that my friend from afar Elaine was making for me :) We've known each other a while now because we are in the same circle in the do.Good Stitches Bee and she certainly knows me well! My new tote bag is just so perfect and makes me smile every time I look at it! Thankyou so so much Elaine - I just love it, and my daughter has got her eye on it too! ;)

Something else that is making me smile is Lori Holt's Row Along over at Bee in my Bonnet. I think I mentioned before that I couldn't resist this Row Along and had decided to use my most precious little stash of Wee Play by American Jane. I am LOVING this quilt along. I didn't think that it could get any cuter than the apples she gave us for row 4, but this morning she posted cups of cocoa for row 6! They are so flippin cute that I didn't even eat breakfast before I started pulling fabric and sewing! I have a bit of a thing about cup and mugs, and have several favourite mugs depending on what brew I'm drinking. This row was really quick and easy to whip up, and ever since I finished I've been dreaming about getting my hands on a mug with an American Jane print on it. I can't even imagine how much I might love that dream mug!

If anybody has been undecided about joining this Row Along I really recommend it. Lori's blocks are just beautiful and her instructions are brilliant. I've learned loads of new things already!

I've also been busy with Bee blocks, my Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Block of the Month blocks, and I've had another burst of making Farmer's Wife blocks again, but I haven't managed to take any pictures of them yet, maybe I'll show them next time :)

Happy Wednesday

Fiona x