Only six Union Jacks.

The weather was extremely wet and miserable today so I decided to stay in and make some more Union Jack blocks. Everything was going extremely well until the fifth block and I cut the template paper that determines the diagonal pattern with the rotary cutter!! Now if I'd of used my brains, I would have scanned the template before cutting it out and I could have just printed a new one. I was so eager to make a block I didn't think and I cut the template straight from the pattern. I did manage to make another block so that I could at least make a small lap quilt. Maybe somethings are meant to be because its a nice size for a lap quilt (26 x 54 inches).  The original quilt consist of 15 blocks and is 72 x 91 very big. I love this little quilt even more because almost all the fabric came from my wonderful friend Janet from her spring clean. (she has such good taste in fabric).  I started to make this quilt for my little man but after block two I decided the fabrics where quite floral themed and maybe a bit girlie. With this in mind my thoughts turned to Paige, she goes to Uni in September and I would like to make her a new quilt to take with her. However, by block three I new it was for me as I was completely in love with it and I knew I could not give it away.   

Union Jack

I have wanted to make a Union Jack quilt for quite sometime and I received a fabulous pattern from my lovely friend Leanne. (thank you Leanne). This is my first block it took me a little while to figure it out because the pattern uses the width of yards of fabric.  I wanted to make this quilt from my stash and not all my fabric is in yards, I have a lot of fat quarters. However I am in the middle of my second block and getting there slowly.  These are big blocks and I am sure once I get the hang of cutting the pieces from my stash it will come together quite quickly.

Sneak peek at new design.

I have been enjoying the bank holiday weekend by designing some new images in my sketch book. My latest one is called Rabbit and friends and here is a sneak peek. I have decided to stitch this image for a change rather than applique however, the design lends its self to both techniques.  I have already spent the best part of three hours stitching away but the beauty about this little project is it's portable and that means I can take it to my sisters this afternoon and continue to stitch while enjoying the nice weather in her garden. Hope you are all having a great bank holiday weekend too.

Cole and ? go to the seaside....

My beautiful friend Kath suggested that I write a story for my little man Cole after seeing my last post. Whilst I have not written Cole a story I did make a story up all about him and his friend  going on their holidays. I even did some little illustrations but at the time I thought his little friend was Lily hence the name in the illustration.  However this was not the case his friends name is Evelyn. You get the gist of the story from the drawings they go to the beach, build a sandcastle, have a swim and take a donkey ride. The also have an ice cream and a can of coke (Cole added the can of coke to the ice cream bit of the story, maybe because he is not allowed coke in real time and thought he could  have it in his story, bless).  It was my intention to write it up and add some drawings, so out came the sketch book and this is how far I got.  That was over a year ago, then other things happened and I forgot all about it until this morning when I received Kaths comment. So I have dug out the sketch book with the seeside drawings in and maybe its time to just do it.

Time simply slips away...

when you decide to have a good clear out of your sewing room and make space for a single bed! Yes peeps I have succumbed to finally putting a single bed in my sewing room. I suppose its because I had my precious little man stay overnight (very rare) and he had to sleep in our bed with me while DH slept on the couch. Whilst our couch is a big leather corner suit and extremely comfortable I felt a bit mean on Colin as he works long hours in the cab and he never complains. Overwhelmed by guilt I set to in the sewing room. Oh lord it took all day Saturday and the best part of Sunday and I still have a little bit of rejigging to do before a single bed will fit into the allocated space.  So all sewing has been on hold and I have therefore had nothing to blog about so today I thought I would share some pages from my sketch book showing rabbit and his two new friends Hedge and his son Hog. Original I here you all say ha ha but that's the names that popped into my head when drawing them. I think these guys might find themselves appliqued and stitched one day you never know????? 

Almost finished...

Here is my little wall hanging almost finished but I have just noticed when I took this photo that I have not put a tail on my rabbit. This will keep till tomorrow. I am really pleased with how it has turned out, from sketch to stitched applique I think this was a success.

Rabbit has lost his balloon......

can you see where it is. Hence the name of the quilt 'The Balloon'. In my original drawing the rabbit was looking up at the tree but I decided to add a balloon and that is why he is looking up. Poor rabbit his balloon is all tangled in the branch also you may notice he is missing his tail but i asure you he will be getting one. This morning I added a few more bits of applique and began the quilting but I have still not decided on wall hanging or quilt? It may just become a lovely wall hanging as I have so many other quilts I am itching to make not to mention several quilt tops that need layering and quilting! I must point out the little bird in the tree was a gift from my friend Leanne in Tasmania (Australia) isn't it delightful (note to self) must ask her where she got it from.