Well, I need something to do while it rains!
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Packing
My packing for a week in Cornwall mainly consists of....
Well, I need something to do while it rains!
Well, I need something to do while it rains!
Friday, 25 May 2012
Sewing in the sun
After a few hard days at work, I've been enjoying the last few rays of sun in the evenings and getting a bit of hand sewing done.
This is the progress so far with my Kindle cover, based on Clover and Violet's tutorial:
I've also been making a zippy pouch, using Flossie Teacakes's tutorial, which I messed up the first time round
Don't look at those zip ends!
Then, with some very gratefully received help from Susan, I managed to sort out those pesky ends:
This is the progress so far with my Kindle cover, based on Clover and Violet's tutorial:
I've also been making a zippy pouch, using Flossie Teacakes's tutorial, which I messed up the first time round
Don't look at those zip ends!
Then, with some very gratefully received help from Susan, I managed to sort out those pesky ends:
Sorry for the lack of ironing, it's too sunny and hot to be cracking out the iron!
And I've just noticed my toes sticking out on the photo...
Monday, 21 May 2012
Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop
When I saw Plum and June's first post about a blog hop, I thought it sounded like fun, but that I was probably far too inexperienced to take part. Then I saw that it was only open to new(ish) blogs, I thought "Why Not?"
Beth explains it far better than me, so here's her description of the blog hop.
"The Hop begins on May 22, 2012. We'll hop to 4 blogs a week (2 on Tuesdays and 2 on Thursdays)
1. Who can participate? The Let's Get Acquainted! Blog Hop is for blogs that were started in 2011 or 2012 and that focus primarily on quilting. We hope readers with older blogs or no blogs at all will join us as we visit these new blogs but only blogs fitting this criteria will be the stops on the hop.
2. Each blog in the hop has an assigned date. The calendar will be listed on this page as well as in my Monday posts. On each blog's date, we'll all "hop" over for a visit, look around, leave a comment or two, and if we like what we see and want more, we'll subscribe (or follow or join!)
3. What should you post on your hop day? Well, there are no strict rules - just some general guidelines about what your post should include:
***An introduction to you and your blog - maybe create a collage of your favorite finishes or links to your tutorials or favorite posts. (This is optional - it is totally up to you how you want to present your blog to the new visitors.)
***The official theme of the Hop is novelty prints (blogger's choice - examples include typewriters, monsters, bicycles, clocks, animals - or even just flowers.) You can make anything related to quilting - a quilt of any size, bags, pillows, coasters, etc. You don't need to include a full tutorial but you should include pics and a description of your process. Your project does not need to be used just for the hop - link it wherever you want, use it for a swap or a QAL - whatever you want."
Here's the schedule too:
"May
May 22
Kelsey from Kelsey Sews
***Kathy from Pink Chalk Studio has agreed to be interviewed during one of my Monday Blog Hop News posts and she'll also be giving away 4 $25 gift certificates to her awesome shop, Pink Chalk Fabrics - date to be announced soon.
***On June 11th, Lynne from the wonderful Lily's Quilts will be guest hosting on my blog as part of the Monday Blog Hop News."
As you can see, I'm not on until 5th July, but I've already started to prepare (very unusual for me!)- here's a quick sneak peak of the fabric I'm using:
Beth explains it far better than me, so here's her description of the blog hop.
"The Hop begins on May 22, 2012. We'll hop to 4 blogs a week (2 on Tuesdays and 2 on Thursdays)
For
details and updates, see my Monday Blog Hop News that I'll post here on
PlumandJune.blogspot.com every Monday throughout the Hop starting May
21st.
So, what is it all about?
1. Who can participate? The Let's Get Acquainted! Blog Hop is for blogs that were started in 2011 or 2012 and that focus primarily on quilting. We hope readers with older blogs or no blogs at all will join us as we visit these new blogs but only blogs fitting this criteria will be the stops on the hop.
2. Each blog in the hop has an assigned date. The calendar will be listed on this page as well as in my Monday posts. On each blog's date, we'll all "hop" over for a visit, look around, leave a comment or two, and if we like what we see and want more, we'll subscribe (or follow or join!)
3. What should you post on your hop day? Well, there are no strict rules - just some general guidelines about what your post should include:
***An introduction to you and your blog - maybe create a collage of your favorite finishes or links to your tutorials or favorite posts. (This is optional - it is totally up to you how you want to present your blog to the new visitors.)
***The official theme of the Hop is novelty prints (blogger's choice - examples include typewriters, monsters, bicycles, clocks, animals - or even just flowers.) You can make anything related to quilting - a quilt of any size, bags, pillows, coasters, etc. You don't need to include a full tutorial but you should include pics and a description of your process. Your project does not need to be used just for the hop - link it wherever you want, use it for a swap or a QAL - whatever you want."
Here's the schedule too:
"May
May 22
Kelsey from Kelsey Sews
Erin from Billy Button Designs
May 24
May 24
Nik from Bold Goods
Alyssa from Pile O Fabric
May 29
Heidi from Fabric Mutt
Heidi from Fabric Mutt
Amy from Amy's Crafty Shenanigans
Jennie from Porch Swing Quilts
Kristy from Quiet Play
Em from Sewing by Moonlight
Yzo from Chez Roo
June 14
June 14
Jennifer from Sewlandia
Nicole from Mama Love Quilts
June 21
June 21
Suzanne from SuzClaas
Mina from Kindaquilty
June 26
June 26
Svetlana from Sotak Handmade
Beth from Plum and June
June 28
June 28
Julie from Jolie Maxtin
Di from Willowbeck Designs
Sarah from Sarah Lou
Catherine from Knotted Cotton
July 10
July 10
Jenelle from Echinops and Aster
Julie from Bedsheet in the Kitchen
July 12
Rebecca from Sew Festive Handmade
Marti from 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks
July 17
July 17
Katie from Kati's Quilting
Jamie from Sweet Baby Jamie
Janine from Rainbow Hare Quilts
July 24
July 24
Colby from Sew Quilt Explore
Fiona from Celtic Thistle
July 26
July 26
Mary from Spoolhardy Girl
Fiona from Finding Fifth
July 31
July 31
Audrey from Hot Pink Quilts
Jennifer from GH Quilting
Aug 7
Liz from What I Did on My Summer Vacation
Susan from Canadian Abroad
Aug 9
Kirsten from Gemini Stitches
Stephanie from Sewing by Stephanie
Aug 14
Sarah from Sarah Sews Quilting Blog
January from Sew Sew Go
Aug 16
Alison from Little Bunny Quilts
Cathy from Blueberry Patch
Aug 21
Marta from From Marta with Love
Marion from My Quilt Diet
Aug 23
Sunni from Love Affair With My Brother
Ginny from Fish Creek Studio
Aug 28
Lucy from Charm About You
Aug 30
Elaine from Dashasel Sews
TBD
Aug 7
Liz from What I Did on My Summer Vacation
Susan from Canadian Abroad
Aug 9
Kirsten from Gemini Stitches
Stephanie from Sewing by Stephanie
Aug 14
Sarah from Sarah Sews Quilting Blog
January from Sew Sew Go
Aug 16
Alison from Little Bunny Quilts
Cathy from Blueberry Patch
Aug 21
Marta from From Marta with Love
Marion from My Quilt Diet
Aug 23
Sunni from Love Affair With My Brother
Ginny from Fish Creek Studio
Aug 28
Lucy from Charm About You
Aug 30
Elaine from Dashasel Sews
TBD
***Kathy from Pink Chalk Studio has agreed to be interviewed during one of my Monday Blog Hop News posts and she'll also be giving away 4 $25 gift certificates to her awesome shop, Pink Chalk Fabrics - date to be announced soon.
***On June 11th, Lynne from the wonderful Lily's Quilts will be guest hosting on my blog as part of the Monday Blog Hop News."
As you can see, I'm not on until 5th July, but I've already started to prepare (very unusual for me!)- here's a quick sneak peak of the fabric I'm using:
"Next Stop London" from Fabric Rehab - very appropriate!
Looking forward to starting and to seeing what everyone else is making!
Sunday, 20 May 2012
A Single Window Frame
I started Amelia's quilt! She's one in August, so I thought I'd give myself lots of time, in the vain hope that it might be done in time for Christmas. Maybe. (Hubby's birthday quilt was finished nearly two months late. He did snuggle under it on his birthday, but I don't want to let my niece stick herself with the sharp pins. Hubby is old enough to look after himself)
Progress so far:
It's a little wonky, but we'll pretend that it's a lovely, old, Grade II listed window frame rather than a plastic-y new PVC frame.
The pattern is Kitchen Window from Oh Fransson's! Practical Guide to Patchwork, which I know that I've mentioned before but I think it's fabby.
The prints were from a bundle from Eclectic Maker which they no longer have in stock, and I'm ashamed to say that the only one I can remember is the Modern Whimsy Strawberry Circles. The sashing is Klona Ash from the lovely Backstitch, and I've got Klona Pale Pink to use as the other neutral. I've hoping that it's girly enough for a toddler, but not too girly that she'll grow out of it too soon.
Fingers crossed!
Progress so far:
The pattern is Kitchen Window from Oh Fransson's! Practical Guide to Patchwork, which I know that I've mentioned before but I think it's fabby.
The prints were from a bundle from Eclectic Maker which they no longer have in stock, and I'm ashamed to say that the only one I can remember is the Modern Whimsy Strawberry Circles. The sashing is Klona Ash from the lovely Backstitch, and I've got Klona Pale Pink to use as the other neutral. I've hoping that it's girly enough for a toddler, but not too girly that she'll grow out of it too soon.
Fingers crossed!
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Bits and Bobs
Thank you for the help with the fabric dilemma - I learnt a lesson on that one! I've decided to keep the fabric, use some in the quilt it was bought for, and keep some for swaps / other precious makes. My nephew is going to end up with a room full of the bloody stuff!
I've had a stressful week with exams and a wisdom tooth making itself known, so I cheered myself up with a potter round the garden this morning. It's been a very wet few weeks which has been a bit miserable in some ways (and a bit annoying in others - you'd think southern kids had never seen a bit of rain with the way that they reacted to a storm on Tuesday!), but obviously it's done my garden some good. Silver lining and all that.
Alliums and yellow poppies making for some lovely colour, and chives and mint growing like mad!
The clematis doing a good job of covering the bare space where we chopped down a tree.
(Please ignore the Dalek compost bin, and the bird bath full of red muck due to next door's builders!)
I've had a stressful week with exams and a wisdom tooth making itself known, so I cheered myself up with a potter round the garden this morning. It's been a very wet few weeks which has been a bit miserable in some ways (and a bit annoying in others - you'd think southern kids had never seen a bit of rain with the way that they reacted to a storm on Tuesday!), but obviously it's done my garden some good. Silver lining and all that.
Alliums and yellow poppies making for some lovely colour, and chives and mint growing like mad!
The clematis doing a good job of covering the bare space where we chopped down a tree.
(Please ignore the Dalek compost bin, and the bird bath full of red muck due to next door's builders!)
Friday, 18 May 2012
Want to win some fabric and help a good cause?
Celtic Fusion Fabrics are holing a raffle - open til 6pm tonight to win a huge bundle of gorgeous fabric
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
A Fabric Buying Booboo
When in Norfolk the other week, I saw a gorgeous fabric shop, and through the window I could see a huge bolt of this:
Photo from Fat Quarter Shop
As it was a Bank Holiday, the shop was shut. My lovely MIL offered to go pick some up for me as she was staying in the area for a few more days.
Now here's the point where I made a stupid mistake. I thought it would look good for the backing of H's quilt, so I looked up the size required in the pattern, made an adding mistake and asked for 5 yards, without even thinking about what that would actually look like. (I was only 1/2 yard out) I didn't thinking about price either - it came in at over £60!!!!
Now, I'm not blaming the shop or my MIL, but that's not cheap and I don't know whether I should use it as the backing, sell it or save and use it sparingly? Ideas gratefully received!
PS - this post title reminds me of my favourite joke: Why did God only make one Yogi Bear? Because when He tried to make another, He made a Boo-Boo.
As it was a Bank Holiday, the shop was shut. My lovely MIL offered to go pick some up for me as she was staying in the area for a few more days.
Now here's the point where I made a stupid mistake. I thought it would look good for the backing of H's quilt, so I looked up the size required in the pattern, made an adding mistake and asked for 5 yards, without even thinking about what that would actually look like. (I was only 1/2 yard out) I didn't thinking about price either - it came in at over £60!!!!
Now, I'm not blaming the shop or my MIL, but that's not cheap and I don't know whether I should use it as the backing, sell it or save and use it sparingly? Ideas gratefully received!
PS - this post title reminds me of my favourite joke: Why did God only make one Yogi Bear? Because when He tried to make another, He made a Boo-Boo.
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Who knew drunken sewing could go so well?
*Edited to return the tipsy photos!*
We've spent the weekend in Oxfordshire working hard! A very close friend needed some help with the DIY, and as her hubby is away on deployment, off we went armed with screwdriver and sewing machine. Unfortunately I didn't take my cutting mat, rotary cutter or rulers, which turned out to be a mistake.
I took the machine to hem a pair of trousers (the only job that didn't get done this weekend!) but then we went into the fabric section of Dunelm...
As the other major job was to move the baby into the nursery, furniture and all, it only seemed fair that the little lady got a little bit of decoration done too!
So, a couple of bottles of wine, lots of cuddles with her little brother and the BGT final later, we had five cushions and a set of bunting! We did finish it off this morning I will admit.
She likes them "This!" much!
Handsewn by her Mummy from a cushion she's had since *she* was a toddler - it was wonky before she started, honest.
We liked the selvedge, so included it in this cushion
Outtake - Madam refused to look at the camera!
We've spent the weekend in Oxfordshire working hard! A very close friend needed some help with the DIY, and as her hubby is away on deployment, off we went armed with screwdriver and sewing machine. Unfortunately I didn't take my cutting mat, rotary cutter or rulers, which turned out to be a mistake.
I took the machine to hem a pair of trousers (the only job that didn't get done this weekend!) but then we went into the fabric section of Dunelm...
As the other major job was to move the baby into the nursery, furniture and all, it only seemed fair that the little lady got a little bit of decoration done too!
So, a couple of bottles of wine, lots of cuddles with her little brother and the BGT final later, we had five cushions and a set of bunting! We did finish it off this morning I will admit.
She likes them "This!" much!
Handsewn by her Mummy from a cushion she's had since *she* was a toddler - it was wonky before she started, honest.
We liked the selvedge, so included it in this cushion
Outtake - Madam refused to look at the camera!
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Singing in the Rain!
I found something that is enjoying this downpour of all downpours!
No new sewing I'm afraid, exam season is now upon us - just a few more weeks and I might have a life back.
Ps - please excuse the poopy phone photos - too busy! Teaspoon is included for scale.
Monday, 7 May 2012
Our weekend in Norfolk
A stunning (and somewhat chilly!) wedding.
Forest floors carpeted in bluebells and bright yellow fields of oilseed rape.
Wet toes after an unexpected drenching and a starfish found on the beach.
Long hours sat around with Hubby's family, eating, drinking and catching up.
Bliss!
Forest floors carpeted in bluebells and bright yellow fields of oilseed rape.
Wet toes after an unexpected drenching and a starfish found on the beach.
Long hours sat around with Hubby's family, eating, drinking and catching up.
Bliss!
Friday, 4 May 2012
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Stamp Fabric?
This is a very random post, but I saw some funky fabric covered in a stamp pattern the other day, and now I can't find the post!
It would be amazing for one of my friends and i was hoping someone would have a clue what this fabric is! Ta in advance :-))
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
April Showers and May Madness
I can't believe it's May already, I really don't know where the last few weeks have gone! I've not got as much done as I was hoping, especially as we had half term, but I have got quite a few smaller bits done:
(PS - how cool are mosaics???)
Including some blocks for my nephew and for Siblings Together, a porridge-holder out of the reject ST blocks and a present for a little girl who's about to become a big sister
I also made a blanket for her soon to arrive little brother:
And a handbag for a wedding this weekend is nearly complete, unlike their present unfortunately...
(I'm wearing this dress so I'll be covered in raindrops!)
Hubby's quilt is very, very, very nearly finished, I've just got an inch or five of binding left to handsew on the back, which hopefully I've craftily hidden on the back!
Including some blocks for my nephew and for Siblings Together, a porridge-holder out of the reject ST blocks and a present for a little girl who's about to become a big sister
I also made a blanket for her soon to arrive little brother:
And a handbag for a wedding this weekend is nearly complete, unlike their present unfortunately...
(I'm wearing this dress so I'll be covered in raindrops!)
Hubby's quilt is very, very, very nearly finished, I've just got an inch or five of binding left to handsew on the back, which hopefully I've craftily hidden on the back!
I love the binding (I think it was Alexander Henry?) I cut it badly at first, so I had to add in a small strip of the cream from the sashing to make it stretch. The mitred corners are my fav part!
All in all, not bad considering the trips, coursework, ridiculous amounts of work, Scout events and potential bad news health-wise that we've coped with this month.
Linking up with Lily's Quilts
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