Out it came:

I bought these sticker a couple of weeks ago. I don't know why I bought them to tell the truth, they just caught my eye and ended up in the shopping basket. Since then they have sat on my desk in my sewing room. Yesterday I was trying to have a bit of a tidy up and i picked the stickers up. Suddenly I just had to make a quilt using the images from the stickers. You know when something is in your head and it just has to come out, well this was one of them moments. So out came the pencil and paper and then the bond-a-web and finally the fabric. Two days later here is what came out of my head. It started life as a cot quilt but quickly changed to a wall hanging.

Stocking up:

A few weeks ago I took some of my hand made journal cover to a Vintage Shop and the owner kindly agreed to sell them in the shop. The deal is sale or return. Yesterday I received a call to say she had sold three of the four I had left with her. I was thrilled, but sadly I am not skipping to the bank as I had to cut the price I sell the journals for in order so she to could make something on them. Still they sold and the owner has asked for some more stock. Funny enough I had just started to rebuild my stock of journal covers so she is in luck. However, I will have to revise the price. This time I am also taking some cushions. You may recognise this one, it is one of the blocks from the home sweet home quilt I was making, from Tone Finnagans book. I did four blocks and got board so they are currently being turned into cushions.

Seahorses:

My seahorse wall hanging is finished. I did the quilting on Saturday and last night I manged to put the binding on whilst watching TV. I am delighted at how it has turned out, it was a really lovely project to do. I also managed a trip to Marshside quilt shop on Saturday and was able to purchase some fabric to match the jelly roll quilt I am currently making. I can now put the final borders on and it will be ready to layer and quilt.

One piece at a time:

Here are my almost finished sea horse it took me the best part of yesterday doing these. I took a photo every time I had to stop to empty and reload the washing machine. I love the colours I have used lots of blues, greens and turquoise. I only need to free motion quilt them and then pop the binding on. Alas this will have to wait till next week as I am at the Aintree show tomorrow babysitting over the weekend and attended my nephews first holy Communion. Phew! its an all go kinder weekend.

Meet Pippatea:

I began making Pippatea last night but only managed to stuff her body and one leg before running out of toy stuffing. Using left over polyester wadding just didn't work. so today I popped into town and purchased some toy stuffing and here she is. Part of her name is because she was made using the tea dyed calico I did yesterday. She is terribly sweet, just like Harry but notice She does not have a hat. This is because I accidentally threw it away and I do not have any of her dress fabric left to make her another one. No matter, I think Pippatea is fine without one.

Hip Hop recycle:

Sometimes I like to take a break from making quilts and sew smaller projects. I realised it has been quite a while since I last made a doll, so out came the magazines. I came across a lovely wishing Angel from one of my favorite magazines, Homespun, but this entailed tea dying calico and waiting for it to dry. So whilst the tea dyed fabric was in the tumble dryer, I ran my finger across my much loved Tone Finagan, Tilda books and stopped on her Springtime book. It has the most delightful little bunnies, hares, ducks, lambs and funnily enough witches (whats all that about?). These characters are made from linen and I remembered that my favorite pair of linen trousers had come to an untimely end whilst holidaying in Wales last week. Sadly beyond repair I cut the legs off and used the fabric to make Harry. Isn't she lovely? She took me the best part of the day to make from start to finish but I thoroughly enjoyed making her. I still have a trouser leg and a bit left so I think Harry will be joined by a friend very soon.

Down on the beach:

At Hafan Y Mor you can stroll through beautiful lush woodlands. One of our strolls led us to the beach. The beach was covered in pebbles with just a few small areas of sand. As you can see I could not resist the blank canvas of the sand and the wonderful different colours and shaped pebbles, I had a bit of an art moment.

A mini break in Wales:

Our four day break away in Wales was delightful and it certainly recharged my batteries. The weather, unfortunately was hit and miss with lots of rain showers but this did not stop us from getting out and about. We visited Corris Craft Centre and this little dragon was outside the pottery shop. He had smoke coming from his nostrils. The Russian Dolls where door stoppers and lined the windowsill in the cafe. The scenery was breathtaking, notice the picture I have taken in the car door mirror, this was coming back from Corris. Whilst there, I also visited Bumble Bee Quilt shop but when we arrived it was closed. However, there was a telephone number on the door so we rang it and the lovely owner came and opened the shop for us. I did not get her name but she was very nice and made us feel very welcome. Yes I purchased several pieces of lush fabric to add to my stash.

Funky Birds are a big hit.

Our area day on Saturday was fantastic. Amanda Hall was fab, a really enjoyable speaker and her work is lovely. I had the most amazing day. The funky bird name badges went down a treat and everyone admired my little funky bird quilt. Amanda is well known for her bag patterns so we asked people to bring along a bag they had made and held a bag exhibition. Unbeknown to our guest Janet asked Amanda to pick three bags from the exhibition that she liked and the owners of the bags won a prize, courtesy of Janet(who is so very very generous, words fail me). Then Amanda announced that she really liked my funky bird bag and she gave me a prize, one of her quilt patterns. Everyone clapped as I received my prize, I was complete overwhelmed. The whole day just floated away on a tide of laughter and friendship.

Its in the bag!!!!!!

This Saturday is our area day and the guest speaker is Amanda Hall from Monkey Buttons. I have not heard Amanda's talk so I am really looking forward to seeing her work and hearing all about where she gets her inspiration from. Amanda has several patterns for bags she has designed herself and with this in mind Saturdays exhibition is bring a bag. I am looking forward to this part of the day too as it will be so lovely to see other peoples work and the diversity of the bags. Of course being area rep, I felt I had to set an example and bring a bag but what bag would that be? Seeing as I only have one homemade bag, which is very tatty and worn but much loved, what on earth was I going to bring? So the books and magazines got hammered over the weekend and I did manage to make this bag from one of my favorite books, Homestyle so pretty by Tone Finagan. however yesterday whilst idling time away in my sewing room i decided I needed to make another bag but my very own design. It took me the best part of the day but I am now the proud owner of my very own exclusive Funky Bird bag. It is top secret but I promise I will reveal all after Saturday.

It just needs a label:

My little Funky Bird quilt is all done except for its label, which is ready but needs to be sewn in place. It is a bright, colourful little quilt and I think it has turned out pretty good. However, with that said, I used polydown wadding and it needed a lot of quilting to get flat. I have therefore, come to the conclusion I am not a puffy girl. I have sort the advice of my trusted, exceptional, friend Janet and have now order Quilters Dream wadding request for my next quilt.

By the cannal:

Yesterday Janet and I went to East Lancs area day. The speaker was Liz wall and the venue was Oldham museum and Art Centre and what a venue indeed. Situated at the side of the Huddersfield narrow canal in the village of Uppermill, it was delightful. During lunch time I popped outside to take some pics. The weather was glorious and a proud family of ducks showing off their eight little ducklings they were so cute. We had a great day filled with gorgeous quilts, lovely fabrics and lots and lots of laughter. Liz Walls work is certainly breathtaking and whilst I have seen some of her pieces several times it never ceases to amaze me. The afternoon was a work shop with Liz making a postcard size piece of her work which depicted birds in a tree. It was great and everyone enjoyed it immensely. My birds look like the birds from in the night garden. All will be revealed later as it is not quite finished. Janet and I ended a perfect day with a scrummy yummy icecream from the icecream parlour across the road, delicious.