Stitch Gathering this weekend

I'm getting excited and organised for the Stitch Gathering in Edinburgh this Sunday!

I've got my ticket, my secret partner's name tag, my supplies and all my class prep (almost) done.

Hope you have a great weekend, and if you're going to the Stitch Gathering I'll see you there! :)

Fiona x

A finished quilt and a ticket

 I can finally show off a quilt that I made a wee while back.

It's in the current edition of Creative Quilting, which is a special edition and was being launched at the Festival of Quilts last week. you can buy it in WH Smiths or order it online here

The quilt is made using a jelly roll and I will be teaching how to make this quilt at the Stitch Gathering in Edinburgh later this month.

The magazine is packed with really beautiful projects including a stunning quilt by the lovely Jo, who is the Mastermind behind the Stitch Gathering, as well as some other really gorgeous projects. The photography is really lovely!

Speaking of the Stitch Gathering, I have made my ticket :)

Jo had the brilliant idea to produce a fabric ticket that can be personalised by each attendee, and turned into a quilt! How clever is that?!?

Our schools went back today so I am finally managing to get stuff done, and am hoping that more time means more blogging :)

Here is how my little lovelies looked this morning

Happy Wednesday!
Fiona x

Fat Quarterly Summer Issue is out tomorrow

The Fat Quarterly Summer issue is out tomorrow and it's packed full of fantastic summer projects for you to make! 

And you can find out how to make my essential camping kit too :) Visit Fat Quarterly to buy a copy, or if you are a subscriber keep an eager eye on your inbox!

Fiona x

A top and some blocks

In my last post I had somehow managed to start a St Louis 16 Patch quilt, well it's now a finished top!

the 20 blocks I had already made became 25 and now I have a 70" square quilt top. I was very tempted to go bigger, but the kids have announced they need another quilt for the living room. Apparently this is for them and they have proclaimed it the perfect size as it is. I've already decided how I'm going to quilt it and now I just need to find some backing fabric.

I managed to get my Brit Bee blocks for June finished. I wasn't too happy with the first one. It looked much better in my head. The block itself is beautiful. It's called Whirling Star by Faith at Fresh Lemons, but my fabric choices really didn't do the block justice.

So I decided to draw my own block for the second one, and planned my fabrics a bit better

I spent some time over the weekend stitching and now it looks like this.

I decided to applique it to the background fabric and it turned out to be a bit of a nightmare to get those points tucked in! Seams meeting at a sharp point like that do not make for easy applique! I really need to remember that!

Happy Tuesday!

Fiona x

On the 16 patch bandwagon

So I did it again. I somehow accidentally started a new quilt.

I kind of deserved it, sort of. I managed to get (almost) caught up on Bee blocks and other things that had a deadline and once the decks were (almost) clear, I figured it was just fine to add another project to the teetering pile of half-done, almost-finished, barely started projects that clutter my house!

A while back I treated myself to a bundle of Bari J's beautiful LillyBelle line, and it has been sitting patiently waiting to play.

I love the 16 patch block and wrote a little tutorial for a 12" version for our do.Good Stitches group to make a 16 patch quilt a few months back (another unfinished quilt that is at the top of the pile!) 

But I decided to follow Steffani's great tutorial, as recommended by the lovely Katy so it makes better use of the FQs that I have. It seems like everybody who has made one of these has marveled at how fast they come together, and it's true!

I really needed some mindless sewing today, something fast and easy so I could ignore my lovely, beautiful, but extremely annoying squabbling children. Our school holidays started 4 weeks ago and they are getting a bit sick of the sight of each other! 

Anyway, I now have 20 blocks which will make a 56" x 70" quilt but I'm thinking I might want to go a bit bigger. I might pour myself a glass of wine, play at arranging my blocks, and raid my stash for a few more FQs.

Happy Wednesday!

Fiona x

A new little lady

I saw this lovely little Featherweight on eBay last week and was unable to resist!

I was a bit nervous because the description was a bit sparse and I'm no sewing machine expert.

I had to wait a couple of days after she arrived because I was too superstitious to plug her in (both out cars broke down the day she arrived and there was some very sad family news) but today I decided it was time give her a wee try.

She didn't explode when I finally switched her on, but she started sewing and wouldn't stop!

I got out my screwdriver and appealed for help on Instagram and the lovely Emily came to my aid with a handy manual.

I have removed the capacitors, oiled and cleaned her and she seems to be working perfectly! :)

I think I'm going to call her Martha - what do you think?

I'm very behind on Bee blocks and other projects so I'm going to put her to work tomorrow - I can't wait!!! 

Have a great week!

Fiona x

Still here...

So it seems its been 3 weeks since I last posted. I'm still here, but life is a bit busy at the moment.

I carved out some time for myself and finished my clamshell cushion. I loved making it! I used most of a charm pack of Marmalade by Bonnie and Camille for Moda and a couple of scrap It's all hand stitched and hand quilted and it was the perfect relaxing summery project to get me in the mood for some nice weather :)

I've also discovered a rather brilliant way to walk Murphy when he's fancying a long walk but I'm short on time. My Bike and the canal!

We get to see all sorts of beautiful wildlife as we go too. Tonight I saw the sweetest little cygnet with its Mum and Dad, and a little duckling family.

It turns out Murphy is a bit of a boy-racer and likes to be in front. We managed 5 miles in 30 minutes! With Murphy setting the pace :)

Have a good weekend!

Fiona x