June already!

 Well, May was a busy month! I had decided to participate in a basket swap, and was lucky enough to get May as my partner. She is a quirky fun sweet lady, and in the time I have 'known' her, I have got rather fond of her. Now, we also were in an apron swap, and she got rather a 'thing' about skulls. So, I do not know, if you can quite see the quilting on that top basket? I put skulls round it, as a bit of an in-joke. I was trying diversionary tactics too, that she was not my partner, by starting the basket making, with orange. And then progressing to yellow and red. But she is a clever cookie! and saw right through my tactics, She knew these were for her!

So I added a couple of sillies, and posted them off! Happy baskets May!

 Now, I am also mad enough to have joined the name tag swap for FQR, and have designed and made this tag. I know my partner had a stated preference for a lanyard, so that is what I have produced, and I trust the 3D flower will be enjoyed. It was posted on Wednesday, so, if the Post Office is co-operating, she should have received it by now. I hope to hear soon.

 In hipbees, lovely Sarah gave us a different challenge. She sent fabric, and we could do any block we wished! The red and cream is lovely, and it produces a really lovely block, almost whatever you want to make! Sarah has some really pretty blocks from the whole group.





And, as a by product, it inspired me to use some fabrics which I had already 'bundled', to make 3 D blocks and put together a quilt top. I have started sashing- but life keeps getting in the way!











I occasionally go to a new little local craft group.  The group is mainly papercrafting, but 'anything goes' , so knitters, sewing ladies and all sorts attend. The skill levels are very varied, and everyone is made welcome.
This has started up in Lowton, and they asked me to do a tutorial for these silly little embellishments that I often use on cards- some of you will recognise these. 

 I tend to think they are so simple, I can produce a card in 5 or 10 minutes, with these, but it does take longer to explain than to do, and an hour or so on, about 5 or 6 folk had put cards together, with these pretty little nothings on. Very effective.  I hope they will do them again, without my beady eye on them!

May's Stash Bee block was asterisks, quick and easy, I look forward to seeing what Bri does with them.

and then, there were the round the world blocks too. I can see now, why folk do this round up! It really focuses on what you have achieved, and lets you see past the bits left wanting, and so encourages you to go forward!

And, linked with Lily's quilts, for Fresh Sewing Day!