Round Two

I have started another sketchbook the first two pages are the same as before, well almost I did make another stencil. Looking back at the two colours I've decided to stick with red. I know that will make it the same as Gina's but red and poppies have been my favourites for some time now and you just can't change things like that. I'm clearly not finished with poppies and I already have another project in mind but on a large scale.

Here I've added some words but it doesn't show very well. On the green page I used some stamps that I've had for a while which came in a very cute box but I can't remember where from. The letters used on the red page came from the local newspaper. I really enjoyed doing this. So much so that I have already made another stencil for the next page. 

This is the cute stencil box, just incase you wanted to see it.

Now for a real treat. Look what I made all by myself and probably never again. It's social stitching today so I made cakes to go with the tea.

I hope there's enough.

A Bag For Ellie

I've finished the big bag and I have to say it's very nice. Baby now has a name, Ellie- until they change their minds again!

I have started on my sketchbook and I'm still working with poppies, they are so pretty. My drawing skills are still lacking.

But I think you can see which two I chose to draw.

I did this step last night, when I'd finished I thought it wasn't very positive and I had doubts but now it's had a chance to dry properly I am quite pleased with it.

The work was done in the sketchbook that I started last year but I've decided to start another one so I'm back to square one.

See this old lady she's been sitting on my window sill for quite a few years now and I think it's time for a change. She is very old fashioned looking and fading quite badly but I'm not going to throw her out I'm just going to make a few alterations maybe something in red and black. Any suggestions?

Coincidence

How about this for a coincidence? I started this bag a couple of months ago (I'd had the fabric for quite a while as you can imagine) so I cut it into 5" squares and set about the making and that's as far as it got.

On Sunday evening I was looking throught the new issue of Australian Homespun which happens to be the Christmas issue and is full of great ideas for gifts and decorations. Anyway I digress, but look at what I found. The bag I'm making, it looks very similar even if it isn't the same one. I obviously have good taste.

Think I'd better go and do some work now.

Finished

I finished the quilt last night and I'm very happy with it. Can't imagine why I didn't finish it sooner!

Here's a close up of the binding and quilting. 

So pretty.

I have at last made a decision about how to finish the edges of my Wonky Log Cabin. You can see on this sample that I've tried binding in both colourways. I did consider the orange-but not for long,  I'm going to bind them in the accent colour used in the block. I think this helps to give each block a strong and positive finish. It feels as though the hanging is really starting to come together now and I may have decided how to join the blocks together, just need to do another sample to try out my idea.

Today I'm hoping to do a little more quilting on this.

I'm hoping to get to Gina's on Sunday for the Open Artists Studios . Hope you all enjoy your weekend.

Finishing and Wishing

Tuesday was a day for a special cake. It's the birthday of one our regular customers on Sunday but she comes in every Tuesday with a group of ladies so to celebrate we had a Sainsburys special (any excuse) and it was very nice.

There has also been new fabric and they are gorgeous. It's a linen and is wider than the normal bolt of fabric.

I can't wait to make a bag using these fabrics.

More linen.

This is what I'm finishing. I made this quilt last year and it was my first try at free motion quilting but I wasn't happy with it so it just got left in a dark corner somewhere. On Sunday Neil and I tidied up the store room and this was one of the things that we found. Looked at with a fresh set of eyes I realised that actually the quilting wasn't that bad and I should stop being a drama queen and just get it finished. Of course there is another reason to finish it now that there is a granddaughter on the way.

I love the crochet trim I used on it.

So the binding was made and is now been stitched, all we need now is the grandaughter but there's a little while to go yet.

I'm hopeful the quilt will be finished today, I'm going to go and do some stitching now whilst I've got a few minutes of free time.

Not Much

There hasn't been much creativity going on since my last post. Last week Neil and I went to Wales for a few days. Unusually I said it wasn't long enough - normally I can't wait to get back!. Unfortunately before we went I'd been ill with an awful cold and throat infection that made me lose my voice for two days. Neil was happy though. But I was so tired and just getting over being poorly that I wasn't able to appreciate the break.

All I've managed in the last three weeks is 20 star blocks. I wouldn't have managed these if it hadn't been for Barbara. I think I may have driven her mad, I was having trouble concentrating but we got there in the end.

I am so far behind with everything including all the blogs I usually read, there must be a lot for me to catch up  on, I'm hoping to read a few blogs today so I'm off to start now.