Christmas tree star!

 This block came together nicely, once I had decided what to do. I think the tree needs a star on top, but I am not quite sure what type of star on top is wanted! So, I think I shall let it's recipient decide!

And, with a bit of luck all these blocks can slide into an envelope and get themselves into the post this week!  Then Pico Sailors can decide just what she wants to do with them all!

And I can work out which urgent project gets attention next!

I can upset you, quite easily...

I have been making preparations...


the first couple of dozen of these are made... lots more to go...















and a plus sized version of my Christmas tree..

 this one will measure 4" when finished, yes, huge! not quite as fiddly as it's friend..

and an extra 3" one... . I have one more block I want to make and then these can go off in the post again...

Just now, however, I am off to watch my girls perform in those tutus!  I am excited to watch them!

Blocking..

The Fat Stash Brit Bee got a little shake up this month. November's queen bee had a few unexpected items crop up in her calendar, and so, has elected to do her month at the end of the bee. So, December's queen has very wisely sent out her request a little early.
Stacked rainbows. with a lovely sketch background.. Only stipulation was that the rainbow start with red, and end with purple, please...


I do not know if I am on my own here, but I love orange and yellow, and find it really difficult to find good ones!But we did it!

 And then I managed another Christmas block, for a previous queen, and will do a couple more extras..Considering how much I do not like FPP, I seem to be doing more of it than I would expect...
Anyway, that is this weeks offerings.. for what it is worth.

Hipbee quilt!

You may remember this from March last year?? No? well, I am not surprised.. It was a while ago..











My bee mates made more of these with blue or mustard backgrounds, and I finally got around to putting them all together...




























and then I stopped again. Until I found a back for it. A fleece back. It is, if you like, a lazy back, but very cosy!
So, backed, quilted and bound

A mix of Liberty prints and Kona cottons, and sent off to another home, where someone may benefit from it's cosy qualities! and enjoy how cheerful it looks.

I have joined in with Finish it up Friday, over at Crazy Mom quilts

Freeze your Bees?

We have a select group making flying geese blocks to swap.. different ones want different blocks in different colours...

I have started!


You know me. I am not a fan of FPP. But this block, and several others this time, are FPP.

So, there is a method out there, for doing these using freezer paper.. and NOT sewing through the paper, therefore, not needing to rip it off, and not needing to throw reams of paper in the bin. So, I gave it a go.

Shades of blue with light neutrals for background, and scrappy..

This is the first one. For lovely Lizzie. I await her verdict.

so, then I can use the backing paper again! so I did.

Stitching slowly, to keep the needle right next to that sewing line, without sewing the paper..

and producing the same block again, but this time in colours for May! Rich jewel colours have been requested. and a variety of neutral backgrounds. 

 I think I can use that piece of paper again...

So, what tips can I give you, on freezer paper FPP?

If your printer heats up the paper will jam inside your printer and you will print maybe half the page.

wait until it has cooled down before you attempt to unstick it.
No, do not ask me how I found that out. Use your imagination.
so, if your printer is like mine, print on normal paper, and trace the design!
and be patient with yourself. There is still the same issue with placements of fabrics to get the right coverage while minimising waste..

Fresh sewing day...

It has been a while since I catalogued makes for the month.. but having managed, if not a wide variety, at least a lot of finishes.... 

last on the list was this collection of square in a square blues... with red. A bee block for October.. 

And I did manage a first for me- turning a scribbled drawing into a foundation paper pieced block, and then getting it drawn up on the computer, and even translating it into a pdf, which has been printed out by someone elsewhere and used! so we know it works!

But the major event was these tutus! all 32 of them... getting things done folks! though they were started in September.


and I plan to link up with Lily's quilts!

And Breathe

Ok, the bulk of the tutus are with the dance school, and then I got a call... one more please! So, that is prepared, ready for fitting, and should get finished this week, and then I can relax properly.
Meanwhile, I have also done a bee block,
The Fat Stash Brit Bee last month was Square in a square blocks, with pretty geometric blue fabrics, to which we could add, any of our own blues, and one square of RED! Four small blocks, which we could assemble into a strip, or a square, or just leave so. We were sent a paper pieced pattern link, and could just get on with it.

So, that one out of the way, at the last gasp of October, I could turn the brain in other directions...  Ok, I admit it, I fell.... The other odd group I have joined, in good company, I hasten to add, is the Lazy Bums. And an idea was conceived, that we could, as many as wanted to join in, do a relaxed bee. Each of us decide what we wanted to appear, and post notes about it, colour, design, niggles and so on, and make for each other from our own stash, all at the same time. So, no turn taking, but over about a year make for everyone, and receive a block from everyone else. Make sense so far?
Not I must do for Mrs A this month, but rather, some time in the next year I shall do a block for each person, and send.
So, then you must decide what you want. It is a right mixture, some FPP blocks, some 'in house' designed blocks, and some fairly standard. And the group criterion? There MUST be flying geese somewhere in the block!

A list has been made, with everyone's details and what is required... and I made a block, and even- shock horror, did instructions! Weyhey!

I originally designed this for JoJo, about a year or so ago, It looked very different in her colours, 

but it is the same block. So, I thought, why not use it, and see what comes back. 

This time though, all in yellow and grey... 

So, you may see a few more of these popping up over the next few months!

The instructions?  for a 12" block-

Rachels Geese!

No waste method-

use a Goose square ( yellow)     5 1/4

Grey squares       2 7/8

Normal method

Yellow  4 ½” x 2 ½”

Grey 2 ½” squares

Make 12 goose units by whichever method you choose.

Also cut 4 strips 6 ½” x 2 ½” for the edges.

Please make geese in your favourite way!

You will need 12 geese in total. I do not mind if all geese are different, or all geese are the same, or you have a mixture, but, geese should be yellow, with grey skies.

I was playing, and expect to use other geese elsewhere...

So, play with your pieces!

yes, I made 16... I was not sure how I wanted to set them out, so I made spares! ok? 

  and choose your layout...

after checking out the options...

   then sew your centre geese into blocks of two  geese, and

  then sew your centre geese onto blocks of two  geese, and then sew two blocks together,

then sew two blocks together, and sew the central block of 8 geese into a square block. Press carefully!

then sew one geese unit onto each of the 4 strips. make sure it is at the correct end...

The next bit requires a partial seam.

Align the end of your strip with the top right hand edge of the centre block, and sew down to about an inch from the bottom edge of the  central geese block. Press the top half of this strip open,  (sorry for glary picture!).

Rotate the block 90◦ clockwise and the next strip should neatly fit onto the side, and you can sew the whole length. 

Press open, and rotate again. 

 Once strip 4 is attached, go back and finish the seam from the first side. 

Press and Voila! Block done!