on a (ruby) roll.....

....hot on the heels of Connal's quilt being done and dusted, I've finally finished the quilt top and back of the ruby anniversary quilt and have just started to baste the sandwich (is it just me or does that sound rude?!).  So a work in progress photo for you all to enjoy....

needs a little more smoothing out then I'm in with the pins!

I finally finished something!

After weeks of not being able to get things done, I have finally finished Connell's quilt. 

thanks to Laughing Boy for helping to "model" them

Simple straight line quilting (still not got the courage to try free motion!) and disasterous corners (made a school boy error but had a eureka moment half way down the M1 when I realised what I'd done wrong). All washed and crinkly and ready to send to Connell and his mum.  A big thanks to those who commented on Fat Quarterly as this really helped me piece the back and finish the thing.  It's about 40" by 52" I think.  I hope the decapitated animals don't cause nightmares  :-/

Finally, something OFF the list rather than on it (although this week I added another quilt to the list!)

sunday stash #3

Things are a bit of a blur at the moment - life is moving fast...I mean it's the middle of September already!  Unfortunately this has had an effect on my lofty sewing ambitions - nothing has been achieved in the last week or so except buying more fabric and adding new things to my MUST DO list.

I saw this version of AMH's socialite dress

see sewing with sass for more details

and decided there and then not just to make one for myself (obviously I'll wear mine with a cardigan) but to make one for the luscious Mrs R's birthday.  Fortunately I managed to find the material (AMH's drwaing room) at a great price and bought a heap of it.  I also decided that since I've never even contemplated such a feat, that I should make the dress in muslin first to check I can actually do it before cutting up the fabric.  I'm getting sensible in my waning years :-).  I'm hoping that making this dress will give me legs like this! Fingers crossed x

Sunday Stash #2

I was wide awake at 8am this morning and for those who know me, you will understand that is the middle of the night for me on a Sunday.  I woke up listing all of the crafty things I wanted to do this holiday weekend. The list included:

• finally finishing the quilting on Connell's quilt
• basting the ruby anniversary quilt
• starting two new quilts (belated 30th b-day pressie for Jo and hobbit housewarming pressie for the luscious LoLo)
• making myself a skirt
• starting to make a bag (inspired by the new book by the lovely Lisa from U-handbag)
• making dresses for my nieces and god-daughter
• making coasters to protect our new wood floors
• making scarves from old linen trousers and some fabby AMH voile
• cutting out the pattern to make myself a dress using the liberty fabric I bought last week 
• etc, etc, etc

Pretty unrealistic for a day and half's work (nothing gets done before the end of the Archers omnibus!).   Laughing Boy advised that I concentrate on finishing what I'd already started before starting something new - I think he was fed up with the constant finger in the ribs!  I tried to finish quilting Connel's quilt - nearly finished but have run out of thread!  So I'm now looking at cutting out the pattern for the a-line skirt that I dreamt about last night.  Never done anything like that before but have some lovely Echino farbic that I want to use.....

Bought from M is for make

I'm making up the pattern myself so have to take my own measurements.  This may throw me into a deep depression rather than a creative frenzy, but there's always a wee glass of wine to take the edge off!  Wish me luck :-p

sunday stash #1

OK it's monday but I bought this fabric yesterday at the Festival of Quilts in the NEC, Birmingham.  It's Liberty fabric and I remember seeing it when I was in Libertys in London with my sister back in May and swooning ever so slightly. 

(must take better photos!)

It was a (relative) bargain and I bought enough to clothe a small country (oops).  Now I need to summon up the courage to make a frock with it.  This may take some time but in the meantime I can take it out the stash cupboard and stroke it every now and again.  Small things :)

Keep Calm-o-matic

Much fun to be had with this...Keep Calm-o-matic poster generation

Here's one I made earlier......

girl, interrupted...

That's right.  I am Winona or should that be Angelina? I don't think I'm Brittany.  Anyway, basically I can't sew at the moment as we're getting new floor laid downstairs so half of downstairs is now upstairs, penning in my Bertha and meaning that there is no space to sew.  I didn't think it would be an issue really but I've really struggled with finding alternative things to do, especially as most of the alternative things are also behind boxes and furniture.  Sitting on deck chairs and eating off our laps have also lost their thrill.

I am on a self-imposed deadline to finish a couple of quilts before heading north.

Quilt#4 ruby wedding present for the in-laws

(needs a good ironing!)

This has been a real labour of love and I have embraced the seam ripper!  The number of times I have sewed and then ripped apart these babies.....  Well, I finally finished the top and now I just need to sandwich, quilt and bind.  I need the new wooden floors to help me do this so I need to be patient.

Quilt #5 connell's quilt

Connell is my friend Yvonne's little one and I finished this quilt top a while ago.

I have just been struggling to choose backing fabric for it.  I was even featured as the first of Fat Quarterly's Agony Aunt feature.  I have bought loads of fabric as I keep changing my mind but I now know what I want to do....I just can't do it at the moment! 

Floor guys are back this afternoon to finish off so fingers crossed we can get back to normal by the weekend and Bertha can come out of hiding and we can get cracking on finishing these babies!