Wednesday 13 August 2014

An update on Bertie


A few people have been asking how Bertie's getting on and I didn't want to say until he'd had his 5 month vet check (I'm quite superstitious) I thought he was looking great with a shiny coat, a soft but trim little body, loads of energy and a very waggy tail, but I didn't know what was going on inside him. He visited the vet this morning and she declared him an almost perfectly healthy puppy! All the major things that they were concerned about have resolved themselves!
Lots of love, fun and good food seem to been the best medicine for him. I can tell you now he's a happy, healthy, mischievous, cute rascal! Yay!!!!!


On another note, our schools go back tomorrow (where has the summer gone???) so I'll hopefully have a bit more time to show you the very small amount of sewing I've been doing in the last few weeks.

Fiona x

Tuesday 22 July 2014

A new bag

I made myself a new bag! I've been seeing lots of Poolside Totes popping up recently on blogs and Instagram and I've been itching to make one for myself. Yesterday that stars aligned for me and I got a couple of hours sewing time.


I used what I had in my stash, and as a result my bag is a bit floppy, but I think it's better that way because it's my new work bag, and I can squash it in my locker more easily while I'm working :)

I had planned to have the lining a different fabric but I got distracted while cutting and had cut the lining out before I realised what I was doing! I kind of wish I'd made the zippy pocket version, but I'll definitely be making another so I'll do that next time.

It all loaded up ready for my nightshift tonight, and it's so roomy there's still room for my lunch box! Yay!

Fiona x

Wednesday 2 July 2014

Quilt Now Magazine


It's only a couple of weeks until the first issue of Quilt Now is out! Katy Jones is the editor and it looks set to be a really beautiful magazine. I am very excited to have a quilt in the first issue and I can't wait to see all the gorgeous projects in this 'Sorbet' themed issue - i'm sure it will be jam-packed with loads of summery inspiration!






I've already subscribed, but Quilt Now is still running their pre-launch subscription offer of 3 issues for £5 in the UK which has just a few days left! So if you want to try out this magazine you better be quick and snap up the offer here!!!



This week I'm juggling a new job, an unexpected, fun but huge sewing project, the school summer holidays and a dog and puppy who have discovered several holes in the garden fence and are having the best time sneaking out of the garden to caper round the neighbourhood visiting their doggy-pals.......


Fiona x

Friday 23 May 2014

Meet Bertie!

I thought you might like to meet the latest addition to our family.


His name is Bertie and he is an English Springer Spaniel just like his big Brother Murphy.


He and Murphy are not actually related, but they both seem to be on the same wavelength (happy, gentle, hyperactive, lovable rogues!)

He's been with us for a couple of weeks now, and he came to us with a few health issues. But lots of love, good food, play and rest seem to be working wonders for him. We've got our fingers crossed that he grows out of some of his health issues, but whatever happens he's one of the family and we'll love him just as he is :)

Have a great weekend!
Fiona x

Thursday 22 May 2014

Stitch Gathering 2014



I'm just popping in to tell you all about the Stitch Gathering 2014 Retreat that is happening in September in the very beautiful city of Edinburgh.


Last year's retreat was fantastic fun and this year Jo is set to run it again, but it sounds like it's going to be even better!

I'm really excited to be teaching again, alongside all the lovely ladies that taught last year.


I'll be teaching two classes, the first is a reverse applique hoop, which is a quick and pretty little hand-sewing project that can be completed in class.


The second is an english paper piecing class where we will be making a panel using apple-cores, one of my favourite EPP shapes! 


You can find out all of the details on the Stitch Gathering website, and book tickets too!

I can't wait! Are you going?

Fiona x

Wednesday 23 April 2014

A little bit of what you fancy....

There's been next to no sewing going on round here, but today I decided to give myself a little break and get my sewing machine out.



I spent a lovely couple of hours slowly cutting and sewing this block. It's block number 7 for my Tone it Down quilt from February's American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.

Sometimes a little bit of what you crave makes you feel like yourself again :)

Fiona x

Monday 31 March 2014

slowly slowly

Well hello! It's been a while. Things have been pretty busy round here and my sewing time has been severely limited. But I have been very slowly working on some pretty things


 I fell head over heels in love with the Tone it Down quilt by Lissa Alexander in the February edition of American Patchwork and Quilting and the very lovely Svetlana sent me a copy because I couldn't get hold of it in the UK. I really love this quilt. It's got this old-time charm about it that I just can't resist!


Over the last few months I've been slowly making blocks using some of my favourite fabrics and lots of lovely low volume prints, mostly bought from Amanda's shop Westwood Acres. I love her Inside Voices club and it feels like Christmas every month when my beautiful package arrives.


I'm making the scrappy version of this quilt so all the background fabrics are cut individually, but you can strip piece it so it's quicker. I've been cutting the fabric block by block in the evenings and then when I get a chance to sew, I can just grab a block and go :)


I've only made 6 blocks so far, but it's the kind of quilt that I don't really want to finish anyway, because I'm enjoying making it so much :)
If you are on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, you can use the hashtag #APQquiltalong to see hundreds of versions of this gorgeous quilt.

Thanks for visiting
Fiona x

Thursday 27 February 2014

Love Patchwork and Quilting - Free download of Issue 4!




The lovely folks at Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine have just told me about a rather nice offer they're running, starting at 9am 28th February. Issue 4 will be available as a free download for a limited time!


My Sawtooth Stars cushions featured in this issue and there is a whole bunch of other lovely stuff for you to make.


Included in the download is the fantastic booklet of block designs by Lynne Goldsworthy using Amy Butler fabrics.


The offer starts 28th Feb 9am GMT and runs until the 4th Feb (9am GMT) 


All you need to do is download the iTunes app - here - open up issue 4 of Love Patchwork & Quilting (that's the one with the gorgeous butterfly quilt on the cover) and click on the 'voucher' icon.

Then tap in code: MADNESS14 and 'submit' and you can download the issue right away – easy, peasy! Hurry though – offer ends 4th March at 9am GMT.


Enjoy!

Fiona x

Thursday 16 January 2014

Finish Along Q1 - The List

Finish Along 2014

I'm going to play again in the Finish Along, this time hosted by the very lovely Katy of the Littlest Thistle. I have quite a big list again, most of which is carried over from the last quarter. So here goes:

1. My Brit Bee round 2 quilt. After Trudi made me the most gorgeous cushion for our Brit Bee secret Santa, I'm more determined than ever to get this quilt made


2. My Happy Go Lucky Hexagon quilt. I randomly started this when I couldn't get those hexagons and stars out of my head and I've just been going with the flow and seeing what it turns into. I'm going to make a plan to get this finished. A baby quilt maybe?


3. Another random start. I fell in love with Scrumptious by Bonnie and Camille and bought a fat eighth bundle as soon as it came out. I started piecing these large hexagons but as usual got distracted by other projects.


4. My Scrap Vomit Quilt. I think I might have lost the plot a bit with this one. It was actually quilted, but I wasn't happy with the backing fabric I used (a flannel sheet that I dyed a hideous colour) or the quilting so I ripped out all the quilting and binned the offending backing, so it has regressed back to being a quilt top.


5. My Fat Quarter Shop BOM 2012 blocks need to become a quilt top. I'm still trying to decide on a layout for these blocks, and I'm considering making a second version of each block so the quilt is bigger, I've got plenty of fabric and I really enjoyed making the blocks. I really wish I'd made 2 of each one as I went along, but that's a lesson learned!


6. My Brit Bee round 1 quilt. The lovely Emily basted this for me and I've been steadily working on this until I ran out of thread and had to order more.


7. My FFA2 Dresdens quilt. I think this might be my oldest WIP. I started this when Lynne did her dresdens QAL and loved making it, but once I basted it I fell out of love. I'm hand quilting this one too and I'm hoping I'm going to love it again once I finish the quilting.


8. My freshcut quilt. I was hoarding this fabric for so long and finally decided to use it in a quilt.  Once I finished the quilt top I didn't like it at all and I've ripped out some bits and it's been sitting sadly ever since. I'm thinking I will love it once it's quilted because I still really love this fabric.


9. My Row Along Quilt. I started this QAL that Lori Holt hosted, but I think I got bored and it got abandoned. I love the fabric and either want to use what I've made so far to make something - a baby quilt maybe or some cushions? Or make the rest of the rows and get it finished!


10. Edited! I'm adding in a last one, which is actually top priority! The Tube quilt which I am pattern testing for Lynne. I made up the quilt and then decided that I love it so much I'm going bigger so I have another 9 blocks to make. I know exactly how I want to quilt this and I can't wait to get it finished :)

I'm hoping to get more finished from this list than I did last time. Life has settled down a bit now, so I'll hopefully get more time to sew. Yay!

Thanks to Katy for hosting this year of the FAL

Fiona x



Thursday 9 January 2014

Stars!


Something exciting arrived through my door a couple of days ago. The latest issue of Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine! And I have a little project in it :)


I made a couple of simple Sawtooth Star cushions, above is a quick snap before they were sent off for their photo shoot.


I made another version of them too for my Brit Bee secret Santa in what I hope is a non-Christmassy cushion in just the right colours for her.


I got really lucky with my Secret Santa and the lovely Trudi made me this stunning beauty! You can see the quilting a bit better in the picture below. I absolutely love it!!! Even Murphy knows he is not allowed to cuddle up to this beauty :)


Happy Thursday!
Fiona x

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Finishing Along - a Round Up

I made grand plans for the final quarter of the FAL 2013, and I never expected to finish many, but the list alone was enough to get a couple of things knocked on the head :)

I can show 2 of the quilts I finished:


1. My St Louis 16 Patch quilt. You can read about it here. This quilt lives on our sofa and I'm so happy I added that extra row. I'm tall and it keeps my toes toasty at the same time as being snuggly round my neck. Just the way I like it :)



2. My Recess quilt.  You can read about it here. It's now part of our well-loved quilt pile. As I write this there is a boy snuggled under it munching crisps :)


As for the rest, well I have finished another but I can't show it yet, and the hand quilting was going really well on another, before I ran out of thread and had to order more.

I'm pretty happy with the amount that I have managed to get done. Life has been a bit bumpy the last few months, so I'm giving myself a little pat on the back :)

Thanks to Leanne for running the FAL this year, and to all the sponsors!

Fiona x