Scrappy Stars Stitchalong Top

This has been such a great week, from a quilting perspective, and from a home perspective too.

I got one of the tops from the Scrappy Stars Stitchalong put together, I'm so very pleased with how it looks:

The bottom row of blocks is cut off in this picture (also it's upside down), but you can see how the fabrics in the setting squares and triangles look. I'm so pleased I went rummaging in my stash closet, I really like the fabrics I selected. Hopefully this week I'll get the second top put together, and then I'll get ready to quilt and bind them. I don't think these little quilts are candidates for hand quilting, I have plenty enough of that in the queue already!

And speaking of hand quilting, I moved the hoop once again:

I don't always feel like hand quilting, so when I'm in the mood I really have to go with it. I'd love it if I can have this quilt finished some time next year, so let's hope I can remain focused!

In other news, I'm so thrilled with all the decluttering I've been getting done at home. During the week I went through all my quilting books and donated about a third of them. I wanted to free up one of the shelves in my quilting room - little Mary loves the Sylvanian Families and I have a couple of sets for her. I've popped them on the spare shelf in the sewing room and she happily plays with them while I get a little stitching done. 

And my handbags too - I gave a whole bunch to a friend today, she was interested in them and it was a great opportunity to reduce their numbers. I think I kept five total - only absolute favourites, ones that I know I'll use.

It's amazing to me how much I'm preferring having space instead of stuff. I'm going to look forward to continuing organisation in the sewing room. There are so many projects I'd like to work on, and I'm loving getting through them!

Well, that's it for me this week, I'm going to get a little more hand quilting done, and then it's night-night time! Chatter soon xox

Scrappy Stars blocks finished!

This week when I've had stitching time, I've mainly been hand quilting. But I have managed to get the last two blocks from the Scrappy Stars Stitchalong finished:

These are blocks nineteen and twenty. They're probably the least busy of the blocks, especially the last one. The project has been an exercise in letting go a little for me, as I prefer my scrap quilts to be much more 'controlled scrappy' in nature and all these different prints and patterns as well as wonky orientations have been tough for me to work with. I've done my best, and even though there were some things I just couldn't do, I'll say I'm growing!

The next step is to put the top together with setting squares - the original quilt has a largely solid fabric in a taupe/cheddar tone. I don't have anything like that, so these are the fabrics under consideration for me to use for my setting squares etc:

I'm thinking that if I can't do a solid fabric, I'll do a fabulous pattern instead. What are your thoughts? I'll be interested to hear.

This is where I'm going to leave off tonight, as I'm really itching to get back into some more hand quilting. So I'll wish you all well, and chatter soon! xox

Blocks, blocks and more blocks ...

Though I've been working on several secret squirrel projects, I've also been working hard to catch up on other blocks I've gotten behind on:

These are blocks twelve thru eighteen on the Scrappy Star Stitchalong:

I'm not sure what order they've been arranged in, but it doesn't really matter :-) The blocks were fun to put together and the best part is trying to find fabrics in my stash that somewhat match the original blocks.

There are only two blocks left to make and then it's time to put the quilt top together. I've made two of each block, so I'll be able to make two little quilts. I'm looking forward to that part.

And today I managed to put together another of the Opa Sampler blocks, a cute one too:

Block 22 - Quadruple T

I managed to find two fabrics that were somewhat similar to the original in my stash. How am I working on two projects that require this kind of attention?!? There are still many blocks to make, but I'm sure I can get them done.

In addition to working on some Christmas items, this week up I finished up painting the bathroom, and I've had bunches of orders to take care of from my Etsy store. I do love being busy, but I've paid scant attention to blogging and emails, so I promise to catch up asap. Hope you're all well, chatter soon! xox

Back to Friday posting ...

This has been a great week, a busy one, but great. I've had some stitching time - I've been working on some mmmCrafts decorations:

These ones aren't tricky ones, I'll work my way up to some harder ones later in the year. It's nice to work on something simple here and there.

I also managed to move the hoop again on the Lily Rosenberry quilt:

I go through fits and starts with hand quilting, sometimes it's all I want to do, and other times I really have to force myself to keep going. I'm wanting to quilt at the moment, so I need to embrace that and get plenty done.

There was also a Opa Sampler block to complete, and I was able to get that done on Tuesday evening:

Block 19 - Crooked Mile

This block was super fun to make, I really enjoy curved piecing. The green fabric was a find from deep stash - it was the very bottom fabric in the stack of green yardage in the closet. Who knows how long I've had it or where it came from!

And last of all for today, some happy mail from the lovely Karen from Somerset Patchwork:

Aren't these fabrics darling? I do love Karen's fun sales on Instagram, and I'm sure there will be more happy mail in my future.

It's likely I won't be doing too much quilting tonight, on a wild hair this week I decided to paint one of our bathrooms, so I've been up and down the ladder and working hard to get it done. It's pretty much worn me out, so I'll be in bed soon. Not sure how much I'll be getting done this weekend either, as we're babysitting a friend's dog, it will be such fun for Rowley, and a bit of an adventure for us too I'm sure! So that's it for me for now, I'll be sure to chatter soon! xox

Monday Evening

As the title suggests, it's Monday evening here now - we were so lucky to have had a long weekend (Labour Day), so sleep ins have been on the agenda, and sewing too! But as promised, I'm checking back in with some additional quilting eye candy.

First up, during the week I pieced and quilted a new Slightly Spooky Halloween Table Topper. I had given away the one I made last year, so because it's the season, time for another:

I love this little project, it's always a breeze to make. One of my sweet customers had asked me for some tips to bind scallops, so today while I was working on the binding I took some pictures to make up a little tutorial. Scalloped binding is super easy, nothing to fear at all - I plan to put a selection of photos with some information on Insta when I have a chance. Also, the pattern for the table topper is in my Etsy store if you like it.

Another thing I finished last weekend was some placemats for my Mum which were almost identical to the one I made for Nanna. The cream and green stripes are narrower in this version, which I think looks nicer.

This placemat is based on a picture that a quilting friend found on Pinterest and she really wanted to make some. The Pinterest link on the picture of the black and white mats didn't lead to anything other than some very suspicious looking links, and though we hunted far and wide for a pattern, we just couldn't come up with anything. So, because of our lack of success, I put together a few very basic cutting and piecing directions for my friend, and though the dimensions don't appear to be exactly the same, we're both pretty happy with the end result. If you'd like a copy of my rudimentary directions, pop me an email, I'll be happy to forward them to you.

And back to piecing, I put a few more of the Scrappy Stars blocks together in an attempt to catch up:

These are blocks eight, nine and ten. The group is up to block thirteen, and I expect fourteen to come out at any moment - I feel confident I'll have some free time this week so I'll catch up soon!

And I've (mostly) been able to keep up with thirty minutes each evening of hand quilting, and last night I was able to move the hoop on Lily Rosenberry:

Gosh I love this quilt, the hand quilting is so relaxing, and I must remember to savour it, and not race toward a finish. 

Last of all for today, a little Rowley snap:

Marty was watching the MotoGP, and I don't know if Rowley was genuinely tired, or if he wasn't happy about not being the centre of attention ... but he had his back to Marty with a less than pleased look on his face. Funny dog! It's hard to believe that in two weeks time Rowley will be eight months old - it has gone so fast!

So that's my little early week catch up - Friday I'll be back to my regular posting schedule. Chatter soon!