Bean Salad

I couldn't think what to title this post,

but I thought because it's a bit of a mix

of things, it's a bit of a bean salad ;o)

 

First up:

My first scrappy Corn and Bean block

a-la Scraps & Threadtales!

These blocks are such fun to make

and I plan to make them super-scrappy

thanks to Sio for getting me itchy to make them

and another friend who gave me the most awesome scraps!

(Yes, it's true - other people's scraps

are always better than your own!!)

 

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Another 2 rose-star half blocks:

And loads more cut out!!

 

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I was rather penniless

at the Great North Quilt Show,

but these came home with me:

As did these gorgeous Owl fabrics.

I'm sure I'll make something out of them

for Baby-Kalico

 as I rather like owls at the moment:

And a ruler - made out of perspex,

but bought with plastic ;o)

The pencil case was bought at a local supermarket

(couldn't resist!)

 

*****

This week was 'Back to school!'

My baby boy started Year 1:

I think they were both almost as happy

to go back to school

as Mummy was to send them! :)

 

Walking up to the bus on the first morning:

Baby-Kalico misses them terribly

when they are at school...

But she's a joy to have around.

Quilting, Shopping & Crawling on the Floor

Last night I had a wonderful evening with my dear friend Vicky. We talked about quilts and stuff and then she got me on my hands and knees laying out a quilt for her. What fun! I just wish I had taken photos! I delivered some quilt tops to Vicky for Project Linus that were kindly donated by Kate (Thank you Kate!) and I saw Vicky's WIP's and latest fabric accrual from a new-to-me patchwork shop that is actually very close to where I live. I will have to check it out soon...

After crawling around on the floor and browsing through patchwork magazines, I sewed a few more stitches on my NYB quilt...

Thank you for all the input with how to quilt it.... In the end, I went with following the circles in the darker thread and now I am filling in the borders and gaps with circles...

I do sort of wish I had machine quilted it, but then I would not have had anything to do while on holiday :-)

Today my husband needed to collect something in North Wales very near a fabric shop that I had heard about from my lovely bloggy friend Andrea. (Apologies Andrea that we couldn't pop in to meet you, but by the time we got there it was like a 20 minute trolley dash! I could have spent more like 2 hours there!! Next time!!!) Well, it's an amazing place and the fabric selection was great. I felt it would be rude not to purchase something (ahem!)...

Although the colours are not true in the photo, they are great in real life and they will be very useful for backings as most are about 2 or 3 metre pieces! I am pleased as punch as they say! And now I can get my Cathedral Stars quilt top quilted. (DH even chose the fabric for the back of that one - the teal with spots, although I may go with the brown swirls - ssh!)

Setting off on our road trip, we were behind some travellers with their beautiful caravans...

Appelby Horse Fair is over now for this year so they are all making their way home.

I just wish it would stop raining so they could have a more pleasant homeward journey!!

Filling in the gaps

I picked up my hexagons again as I have not had a chance to get any white fabric and I just can't sit and watch telly without something to stitch. So while my Lilies lie languishing, I am trying to get my rose hexagons to finished top stage. Quite a feat with crutches, but I am sure it must be good physiotherapy to get down and pin hexagon pieces in the gaps :-)



A friend bought a second-hand sofa and was so unhappy with the cushions that I offered to make her some new ones. We bought the fabric together and I made these seven for her. The biggest are approximately 28" square.


After they were made I thought I had better make us some new ones. I have made six and just have 4 to complete, but I am definitely all cushioned out for a while now!!! (Especially as I sewed my own cushions the wrong way up. They are stripy so perhaps there isn't really a right or a wrong way LOL)

I found some photos on the camera....
Here's a snap of the travellers leaving. I just didn't get a chance to get any photos with my quilts this year....



And Nichole and I have done a fun private fabric swap. I received these amazing surprise fabrics...


And these gorgeous spots. I love spots at the moment!



Nichole also included some quilting magazines and some lovely goats milk soap. I have sent her a selection of African fabrics, some magazines and some surprises! Thanks for swapping Nichole!

I was the lucky winner of 2 monthly challenges on one of my online groups and won vouchers for thespiderswebfabricshop. This is what I ordered, plus some black fabric for my African blocks:

I may have gone a bit spot crazy.... :-)

Wins, Lilies, Gifts and Gabs

I am still stitching away! And this is my favourite Lily block so far. The colours appeal to me so much. The red fabric is from Elsie and the green fabric is from Siobahn:



Thank you Ladies!!

I guess that is what this post is about. Thanks. I am so very honoured to be part of such a generous and lovely community of bloggers, quilters and friends. At times I have wanted to give up this blog, I have never wanted to give up sewing, but blogging maybe. I am not sure why I blog. At first it was to record family life for us and the SA family alongside my sewing, but then I realised that my Mother never got a chance to read my blog and the sewing probably bores my brother stiff so he doesn't read it either. So then I thought I'd just blog about my sewing, and bore off the rest of them LOL, but I sew so much. Everyday! and it's not always that interesting especially if I have the odd craft market coming up or if I'm just sewing curtains or repairs or finishing something I started years ago...

I do like to record the momentus finishes and the little stitches though,


but I worry that I am just wasting blog space with it all. So I am going to have a little think about this blog and try and decide what direction it should take. Ultimately it is for me, but through it I have met some lovely people and I have enjoyed the company so much...

I have been spoilt rotten again lately by bloggers and friends!
Reds from Elsie:



Greens from Siobahn:


(these greens are from The Carolinas! So fitting for my Carolina Lily!)

And Fran:


(A green and roses too!)

Belated birthday presents from
Sonnja,:



Josie,:


My favourite chocolates and beautiful embroidery scissors too!

And Kandy!!:


Kandy made me a beautiful Log cabin kit with 12 gorgeous little logs, borders, batting, backing fabric, bobbins, thread, needles etc. Amazing!

Thank you Kandy, Josie, Sonnja, Fran, Siobahn, Elsie...
Thank you all very much.

I drew a winner yesterday for my giveaway. Guðrún from Iceland!
Well done Guðrún! I'll send you a parcel this week.


I would have blogged the winner yesterday, but I managed to overdo it in the garden and I have been feeling a bit rubbish ever since. I am taking it easy now, but feel a little shaken. I guess I was getting used to crutching around like a maniac and forgot my limits for a minute :-(

On another note:
I like this picture. It makes me think of me....

A big fat mummy and her 2 cheeky little lambs!! :-D

It's my party...

It's been a lovely birthday this year.


There was cake.., (GF of course!)


Family to visit, so we had a lovely trip out...






T insisted on wearing my hat!




J informed us that there was another person on crutches which I found quite amusing (least he didn't shout it out LOL)


and lovely presents...

Thanks Hubs

I can't wait to start cooking with this baby!

Thanks Kate!

(Kate those hexagons are TINY!!!)

Thanks MIL!


I'm hoping something grows :-)

Thanks Estelle!:

So bright and summery!

Thank you VickyC!

So wonderfully rosy, I love the FQ and the card with roses and spots!

So I was thoroughly spoilt and very grateful for all the wishes, cards, thoughts etc... Thank you!

Bish-Bash, Lilies and Gifted Stash

I have now completed 2 whole Carolina Lily blocks with many others in parts. I am still not sure of my final layout, but I think I will make about 8 blocks and then decide :-)
Each block is about 18 inches in size.
I took this photo to show the back of a block too so that the papers can also be seen...

I swear my stems are worse this time round!!! I shall have to start taking some of the good advice I have been given on how to do them especially as I fancy some more applique after I've finished these Lilies.


I have some very overdue thanks! Andrea sent me these fabrics while I was still in the hospital (6 weeks ago! Sorry!)


Thank you Andrea, I remember them brightening my day, they are so cute and will be great for some of my Linus projects. Plus a friend has an eye on the cats, so I shall have to make her something fun with that fabric. The owls are my favourite.


Jenny (no time for a blog) made me this gorgeous needlecase as a get out of hospital gift.


It's lovely. Thanks Jenny.

Kandy and Vicky made huge contributions to my red and green stash!!
Thanks Kandy!:


And Vicky C!:

(This is just a small selection of what Vicky kindly gave me!)

Kate sent me 2 African blocks for our swap. Now it's my turn - eek! Perhaps I can handsew them?

Kate also included some gorgeous rose fabrics and 2 magazines that were gobbled up immediately. (They are next to my bed and I'm not crutching up and down stairs just for a photo!) Thanks Kate!

Josie (my patron :-D) sent me the most lush reds and this beautiful sheep fabric. Thanks Josie!


Josie said the fabric reminded her of where we live.

A while back I drew a sheep wallhanging idea on the back of an envelope and this fabric has got me thinking about that project again... Then Anne sent me some green fabrics this week and I'm thinking that some of her green fabrics with the sheep fabric would work really well in realising that scribble on that envelope!!

Thank you so much Anne:

Such a wonderful selection and some tasty hand-dyes too!

I hope I haven't missed anyone, but I can honestly say that I am blown away by the kindness of fellow bloggers and friends! Thank you.
Thank you also for the kind comments when I was feeling so low. In the end we discovered that perhaps I wasn't ready to come off all the pain medication so soon and that the pain was indeed counterproductive. So I am back on a some pain relief and suddenly the whole world seems brighter. (I'm very tired again, but comfortable at least!)

And now for the bashing!:


We like to help Dad especially when it means we get to swing a hammer around! DH is making dust again, but at least it means the old kitchen will finally become a new bedroom/play-room or office. I joked it would be a great sewing room, but I think it was a no LOL!