Progress

I have actually managed to find my sewing space again for a few hours over the last week or so!

I spotted the All Hearts Appeal over the weekend and whipped up a couple of blocks.
Check out Caroline's Blog for details. She is putting together quilts to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Unfortunatley I think it's difficult these days not to at least know someone else who has been affected by cancer in some way. Anything that can be done to help find a cure for this terrible illness is a worthy cause.



These are the blocks I made. I enjoyed the opportunity to try out some hand applique again. Even remembered what they taught in the class I took (just!)
These honestly took me an evening to complete so if you have a bit of free time and want to make your own block for Caroline just check out the blog link above.

Everything is starting to kick off over at Welovefrenchknots too! As I still don't really have much access to my sewing space at the moment hand projects are easier to get on with and keep me busy. Tonight I downloaded the "Sewing room sampler" pattern and transferred it onto my fabric.

I also finished cutting out my white fabric for the next 7 pinwheel blocks for my pinwheel sampler from way back when! Now that is done I hope to sneak into my sewing space at some point over the weekend and get them pieced.





The Hexalong over at Lily's Quilts has also inspired me to get on with my own hexies. I love the hexie blocks that are popping up in the flickr group and would like to try these bigger, random hexies at some point. However I decided to carry on with what I started rather than abandon it as another WIP! So I will stick to my plain old 1" hexies :) They keep me busy while watching TV anyway :)

Completed Tilly!

I have been wandering in Southern Ireland for the past week and just got back yesterday. Today has been a super lazy day and I am not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow! Monday mornings are always even worse after time off! :)

I have lots to catch up on it seems in blogland! Lots to read in my google reader! But I am armed with my brew and biscuits so I am all set to nose through for an hour before sleep becomes inevitable!

The one thing I have done today it to complete the binding on Tilly...



I started and got halfway through the binding before I left for Ireland and finished stitching it down before tea tonight. I love it! I purposely cut it on the bias to make it magically stripy! Thanks to Julie for the tutorial!

I know she is mug rug sized but to be honest I still don't really get the mug rug craze.. I get that they are quick and small which makes them great, and don't get me wrong I have seen some beautiful ones on numerous blogs! The part I don't get is when it comes to me putting my brew on it (which will obviously dribble and spill because I am me!) and making it all tea splattered! So Tilly is destined to eventually end up on the wall with my BQS quilt when I eventually get my room or my sewing room back, right now either would do lol!

Finished BQS Quilt!!

I know I know, it took me long enough right? But it is finished now, just in the nick of time. It will be in the post on Monday partner!

So where did we leave off.... (Sorry there is LOTS of photos because I am a rubbish blog updater!)

Tree stitching is started...





Finished tree stitching.





Birdie swirls are stitched down.




Black outlining is done.




Birdies are looking more realistic now!



The back! I love the picture the stitching creates on the back!




Pebble quilting is done!




It is all starting to come together now!



Back again!




Started cutting out the teeny tiny blossoms for the tree...



Lots more to cut yet!



All cut, placed and pressed!



All stitched down. THOUSANDS of threads hidden in this quilt =D
Seriously there are loads in there!




The background quilting is started. Swirly quilting like Tilly!
(Using Leah's examples.)



All quilting and stitching complete!



All trimmed up.Tilly got trimmed at the same time!



The finished quilt with the original design!



Label complete. Who's it for?!! (You nearly all knew because I almost forgot to blank it out before uploading! Ooops! )



So thats it! I really, really hope my partner likes it. I not totally sure if she will but I've got my fingers crossed. If not I'll happily have it back lol it looks good next to my quilt from Jeanette!

I already mentioned Don't look now as inspiration for this quilt. Another source of inspiration was Carol who I've spotted around flickr & blogland for a while.
One of the great things about this swap is that it's pushed me to do things that were on my "one day" list. I always wanted to be able to do something like this but always thought I wouldn't manage it. This swap has pushed me to go for it and I am really pleased with the results. Of course there are things I'd change and practice would make things better but overall I am happy. As I said though lets hope my partner is! I will wait nervously once it's posted off!


Also linking this up to Fresh Sewing

Look what I got.... =D

Look what came in the post today....

My BQS quilt from my partner Hobbylass!



This quilt is even more amazing up close than it is in the pictures! I love it, everything from the bright colours to the randomness of the shape, the curved piecing, the quilting the label... I could go on and on!

More pictures here!

Thank you so much Jeanette for all the time and energy that you put into this quilt for me! And for all the goodies that came with it! Yummy chocolate and scraps! I've been spoilt! :)

I felt a little guilty opening it as I've not posted my quilt yet, but there was no way I could let it sit there looking at me!
My quilt is now finished though and will be in the post on Monday so don't panic partner! I will post the finished pics of my quilt later or tomorrow before I send it off :)

Thanks again Jeanette!