Friday 31 October 2014

FAL Q4 Finish 2 Frozen Blanket

Well I hadn't actually intended to finish this next as I was very close to finishing the second Stitch Tease blanket, but after a lot of hand sewing on Hexy 2, I thought I would have a look at the Frozen panel, and see what it needed, and before I knew it I was sewing on a white border, quilting it and adding the binding, job done!

This is planned as a Christmas present for my eldest daughter who adores Frozen, so I figured it would be fun to give her something she will adore, even if it makes me ever so slightly sick into my mouth!!! 

 The backing is a cuddly soft fleece I got from Plush Addict  and it is really lovely to touch, so I decided to bind it in the same fabric, I'll definitely be backing more quilts in this kind of fabric, especially for winter quilts.

All in all it was a good, quick project, and great to have another off the list, I'm down to 10 now, which is fab, can't wait to get to single figures on my WIP's!

Happy Hallowe'en and enjoy the weekend, I can't believe tomorrow is November already, now that's scary!!! 
 Ange x




Monday 20 October 2014

FAL Q4- Finish 1- Georgias Christening Cushion

Well I'm on track so far, and have finished the first item off the FAL/WIP list from hell!  

This Christening Cushion for my friends daughter was "due" about 4 weeks ago, but I was away that weekend in the Cotswolds so I missed the main event, and was a little slow getting it finished.


Not as lumpy as it looks here, honest!
I finally decided to get a move on as some other deadlines were looming, and had some free evenings as my man was working away at the start of the week- which is generally my most productive time in any month.

This was finished Friday morning, and by lunchtime had been gifted.  My friend opened it when she got home, and was absolutely delighted with it, in fact she cried, and called to tell me how much she adores it, what a sweetie, I love making for people who appreciate the time and care that goes into handmade gifts :o)


This week I also made a little drawstring bag to hold some baby shower gifts, unfortunately I was double booked and couldn't make this one either, it's hard work being a social butterfly, I was busy eating these, which I made for a friends, husbands 50th birthday party. I love cake, and any excuse to make and eat it :o)
View IMG_20141017_204129.jpg in slide show
Lemon Cupcakes, Banana Cake, Chocolate Flapjacks, and Cinnamon Roll Cake
Right, onto the next one on the list, but as it's half term this week, progress might be a little slow.

Ange x

Sunday 19 October 2014

Two Weeks...

Photo shamelessly , sorry (ish) :o)



It's 2 weeks since I returned from the Brit Bee Weekender (I was a temporary honorary member).  There has been plenty more cake and sewing since, but it's just not the same.  Always an interruption, no chance to just sew without having to clock watch for the next meal/school pick up/end of nap time etc. I loved it. I managed to get a few finishes, including a Sew Together Bag:


A little drawstring bag using the pattern by the clever Svetlana at Sotak Handmade:

And my October Bee Blocks for Jen (Stitch Tease Bee)


Got my t-shirt printed, and a panel I need to make into something when I get a plan.

I could have made more in the time, but life is all about balancing the quality with the quantity, and this was the perfect balance, fantastic company, great food and cake (especial credit to the fab Susan and Trudi) and fun sewing, what's not to love.

Now I just need to see if I can wangle an invitation to their next Weekender....
Ange x
 


Sunday 12 October 2014

FAL Q4

I should only have 9 finishes on this list, but as usual I have other things half started or need to get them done this quarter, so I'm adding them on, and hoping to get 2 finishes per month this final quarter, so fingers crossed we'll be down to 6 before the end of the year :o).

Those in green are the priority list, the ones I hope/expect to get done this quarter, we will see! 

1. Hexy 2
Started: December 2013
Current Status:  From about 33% of the way through at the start of the quarter to about 80% done now
Plan: Aiming for end of year finish


 Up a little early so a little epp to ease me into the day....


  2. The Weekender
Started: Spring 2013
Current Status: No progress. Taken back apart.  Reduce size of the base, re-sew together and then fix the lining
Plan: Get it done so I can face making another bag (one day)
My wrestling partner for the morning! Just the lining to do tonight. #weekenderbagiwillbevictorious
 
3. Plus Quilt
Started: Summer 2013
Current Status: Handful of blocks, plus I have added the New York Beauty to this plan, as the centre piece.  Now have an additional 100(ish) plus blocks from Stitch Tease ladies, just need to calculate how many additional blocks are needed
Plan:  Unlikely to finish this year, but would like to put together what I have so far.
Some selfish sewing for my own bed quilt.



 
 4 Stitch Tease House Blanket 2
Started: Nov 2013
Current Status: Top together, just need to add backing, quilt and bind.
Plan: Complete asap


5. Simply Solids Quilt
Started: August 2013
Current Status: Just blocks
Plan: Make into a quilt/picnic throw for summer in the garden. Unlikely to get done this year.
Simply Solids August Block, finished.

6. Star/Bright Sampler Blocks
Started: January 2013
Current Status:  Just blocks
Plan: Piece into a quilt, unlikely to get done this year.
12 blocks from grp 11 & 13 of 3x6 Bee



7. Hand Hoop
Started: Early 2013
Current Status: Needs hoop finishing off
Plan: Finish and hang!
Hand Hoop WIP

8.Crochet Blanket
Started: End of 2012
Current Status: All blocks finished, need joining and lining
Plan:Sew them together and get them made into a little blanket

9. Jumper Blanket
Started: June 2014
Current Status: A big pile of squares cut from some of my old, favourite, felted jumpers
Plan: Sew them together for a winter blanket, fabric backed



10. Georgias Christening Cushion
Started: October 2014
Plan: Get it finished asap as it's already about 3 weeks late!

11. Frozen Blanket
Started: September 2014 fabrics purchased
Plan: Finished before Christmas
And before anyone asks, I am sick of Frozen, but I'm working on my Mum of the year award, currently failing miserably ;o)

12. Christmas Quilt
Started: September 2014 fabrics pulled
Plan: Finish before Christmas Day :o)





 And yes, these are all Christmas fabrics, I didn't realise I had quite so many, maybe 2 or 3 quilts might be in order!

 I am aiming for 2 finishes this week (that's pretty hopeful but reasonably realistic), but as this is my man free week I have 4 nights free to get my sewjo on.  

Ange xxx


Monday 6 October 2014

FAL Q3 Roundup

So, I started the last quarter with 12 items on my list, aiming to do 2 per month to get them all completed by the end of the year.  Well let us all have a big laugh at that then shall we, before I tell you what I really managed.  

Finished laughing? Ok, well the Summer holidays totally killed all hope of any serious crafting, and those 6 weeks were sewing drought territory, and that means just 3 finishes this time around, although there is some good progress on a few others which i'll include on my next quarter list.
 
1. My Sampler Quilt
Started: 2012
Current Status: DONE

2. Stitch Tease House Quilt
Started: Nov 2013
Current Status: One DONE, second one, top together, just need to add backing, quilt and bind


2 more beautiful blocks arrived for my Stitch Tease quilt, thx so much @lifesrichpattern!



 

3. Portholes blocks
Started: Retreat 2013
Current Status: DONE

I have got some other finishes to share from my fantastic weekend as hanger on to the Brit Bee ladies, and their sewing Weekender.  I can't find the words just yet, but I will.
Ange xxx