Ahead of myself.

February is just here, but my February bee blocks are done!

Our lovely bee mamma for February was up and at it and raring to go...so she sent out the fabric packs in the last week of January.

The brief, make 12.5" (unfinished) churn dash blocks, using her purple fabric for the actual churn dash bits, and use from stash to complete the blocks. Also do something a bit different with the blocks, something to make her smile... Anything goes, she said... well, if anything goes... I went!

 The first one came to me at work...You know I love making those pinwheel blocks, and I just thought, I could do a double pinwheel... couldn't I?   so I did! Very dramatic with the orange and green.

Then, I had thoughts, I had second thoughts, yes, and third thoughts... I was going to twine a vine around the elements of the churn dash... but when I actually came to make the block, something else entirely appeared! How does a block take on a life of it's own and do it's own thing, rather than what you plan? I do not know...





but it does! I looked at what else is going on in the group, and I had doubts... am I taking the 'anything goes' too literally? Well it is done now, and mamma for the month has seen them on Flickr- and she seems to like them! So they shall go in the post next week, but what do I do for the rest of the month?

 I shall have to dig out a UFO or something... You are sorry for me? really?

Pretty things!

 A little while ago, we had a mini competition, in Quilt around the world.
We were asked to find something that said 'spring'. It could be something we had made, but did not have to be, it could be a whole quilt, or just a block, so I found a quirky little block, on flickr, which depicted  a swing under a cherry tree.

(I have put the link in,as I do not think it would be right to borrow her image. You can see it on the link. )
This was made by FlossieBlossoms, and is lovely. There are a whole set of these, in subtly different shades, and the whole thing is just spring in a nutshell!

And my choice was the winner! Thank you Elizabeth, for this super prize! It arrived on Friday.  The twill tape matches the green and blue of the boho perfectly. And thank you to the innocent author of the block!   Amn't I the lucky one?

Strange things appear in strange places. This old bathing dress is a display item in a second hand furniture store. This is one of those odd quirky places straight out of some atmospheric novel. Rooms lead off rooms, you go up one staircase, and down a different one, along a corridor, being careful not to fall over random broken coal scuttles, and up another, broken, and rather dingy stair, and the, on the landing, a gorgeous Edwardian bathing dress greets you!
lovely cotton lace trim, a strong ticking type fabric, and matching underpinnings!

Sorry, the pictures were taken on my OH's mobile phone, and they are not brilliant, but I think you can sort of see the attached bloomers!



And yes, that is me, being wicked and taking a look at those underneaths- 'Down there!'

This is beautifully made- but I am happy not to have to wear that type of garment these days!

I had to have the photo, in case I am ever asked to make one!

 But today, I have managed some intrmittent sewing.

Four more blocks,  two stars, and two more 3D pinwheels.

 Now to do a bit more 'think about it'

'textures' again

I spent much of today in the garden. There are nettles which were taking undue prominence in my garden. And some herb Robert. I hate that herb Robert. It stinks.And there were dandelions.

There are still dandelions, and nettles. And some of that sort of willow herb variant, that is so shallow rooted, that you think it shouldn't be a problem. And is a problem. And I know there is still a bramble lurking amongst the ivy. But things do look a lot better.  And we got round to some pots yesterday- encouraged by DD2.
And now with thorns in my fingers, and well nettle stung, I have stopped for a bit!

And, in between, I have managed to sew a little.

 I admit it, I have a problem. I am definitely addicted.

These blocks are sooo simple. And sooo effective.

So, now there are four like this, with that jade green added in to prevent the whole thing becoming too sickly sweet.











Then this one, again a 'texture' block. Those points on the pinwheel are free, it is just sewn along the hypotenuse. They are ' prairie points', so there is no raw edge to fray.

 And the origami flower.

 I thought it would be best if there were some 'flat' blocks in between, so I chose a star block, and using a print which was supposed to tie all the blocks together, as the central piece, I have made, so far, five blocks.

I have one more to make, but I am now dithering. Should I make another with the large centre, and have four like that, or should I make another with the small centre?Most of these blocks have happened in the last two days. Just the first one last week, and the origami flower. How long to make the last one? any guesses?

and, am I then going to think, I shall just make a few more.... or sash it, or put a border on... or.. ?

You know, if I actually planned stuff, this would make life so much more simple! or did I mean boring?

Aprons and all sorts

 I got a parcel!
Ok, let me bore you with the details. Please.

I arrived home from work on Thursday. A card had been poked through the letterbox, from Mr Postie, to the effect that he had a parcel, that was too big to go through the letterbox. So he left the card instead.

On Friday, I had to go to work again, and my DH was away, so no parcel collecting going on that day.

Now, I normally work on a Saturday. However.. I had taken Saturday off. Because I was off for the weekend myself. Off to visit my DD1. A long drive up to St Andrews, so starting at the crack of dawn.

The Post office depot doesn't open until 8.00am, so I was there, not long after that, collecting a HUGE box, which had to go in the boot- or I would have had to open it then and there, and delay my journey even more!

When I got to DD's house, I brought in my box! So excited- though I was not at all sure what might lurk- far too big a box for a mere apron, after all!

No mere apron here! Parcels, beautifully wrapped in lilac tissue paper.

First out- a ziplock bag of home made oatmeal and raisin chewy cookies! Yummy!-

Then a flat little soft packet. Out of which came matryoshkas! A beautiful oven mitt, FMQed all over, so evenly! and home made bias round that curve, aren't they lovely?

and the obverse? Those delicious onion domes!

I really think this is too good to use! It is wonderful!

But more! there is also another parcel in there! My apron has arrived!

That lovely turquoisey blue! and those inverted pleats. Topstitched, a lovely pocket, and a ring detail with a grommet in , Lovely, well thought out and well executed. I love it!
And the recipe?

Well, there were two! Both look great! we shall have to have a go!

Now, didn't I get the luck!  Worth waiting for!

Thank you, partner, Silly Banana.

I hope I will have a few more pictures of this apron- they will go in another post, when I get them!

Home today, a good long drive, but surprisingly easy in the event, and then, I made a new block. I have some exceedingly pretty- sugar pretty, if you know what I mean- fabric, set aside for some time, waiting for the right inspiration- well someone gave me that inspiration today!

I have had this 'pinned' for some time, with every intention of having a go at some of them. Today I made the pinwheel block. Really quite simple, except- I had to size it up. I wanted 12.5" unfinished and these call in at 11". That 3D pinwheel really sang to me- there will be a few more blocks from this set appearing soon!

 I know we are still in April- just- but the new block for May has been posted on the Stash bee, and as it looked fairly straightforward, I thought I should give it a go.

We have been asked to make asterisk blocks, with a predominantly Red, white and blue theme, using Kona white as our asterisk. Red White and blue for USA. Also, of course, for the UK, and for France, and - just saying! It occurs to me it might be fun to do one with white as the triangles, and a colour for the asterisk, but, not what was requested, so...




They were going together reasonably well- no not perfect, but not far off, when, splurt!

The iron decided, for no very good reason, that it would spit dirty water onto this one! It will probably wash out- but, what would you do. Make a new one? Wash it and see? Or send it just like this, on the grounds that they said to make as many or few as you wish, and she can throw it out if she wants to?





Thoughts are welcomed!

Fresh sewing day

I have had a lovely day off. My lovely friend was across from her home the other side of the country, and chose to come and have a sewing day here.

Unfortunately I have no photos of what we made, but we were busy bees. I started by showing her how to make miniature windmills, to put on cards, like these.

Then I reminded her of the trick to make these pincushions.








 and showed her how to make easy quarter square triangle blocks. And we put together some hearts for ornamental display. Very easy with the fabric she had brought along. So we had a lot of fun, and lunch, and tea, and cake. and we played with some 12 weight Sulky thread, and I had a lovely day! Never mind how her day went! mine was great...

And now I want to join Lily's Fresh sewing day, I can no longer join her small blog meet, 'cos my friends are now over 50!
So here we go, it is the recap for July!

I have done at least this lot in July! I have yet to find out what August will bring!

ok, this is the latest block. I took a long time working out which fabrics to use, and took sneaky peeks at what others had chosen to do with theirs, before getting down to it. I think I am reasonably satisfied with my result. I will need to trim it a little. It sis supposed to end up 12 1/2" square, but when trimmed will be 12 1/2" by 12 3/8". I expect it will do!