Happy Christmas

As I'm working today and will be chasing my tail on Christmas Eve trying to get presents wrapped and delivered and to do the big food shop, I won't get to spend much time on the old computer tomorrow, so I want to wish you all a happy Christmas and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year.

I hope everyone gets what they want in their Christmas stocking (hint for Santa FABRIC, FABRIC AND MORE FABRIC PLEASE).

Nollaig Shona agus Bliain Nua síochánta (Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year)


From LindaC and family
XXXXXXXX

Name Game Swap

Anorina over at Samelias Mum is having a Name Game Swap.
Why not go on over to her page to have a look and see if you want to join in.

Knitting and Stitching Show

Can't wait, I'm going to the one show that we have here in Ireland at which you can buy goodies for our addiction.  Yes, fabric, thread, kits, templates, patterns, buttons, sewing machines (maybe not this time) and there is always a sweet stand as well to get something to bring home to hubby.
I usually try to take a workshop at it but this year youngest daughter is coming with me as her dad and older sister are both working on Saturday.
She has recently been talking about knitting so we are going to see what goodies she can find to get her started.  She has her needles and practice wool so wants to actually make something.
Older sister wants an aran cardigan with lots of cables on it so I'm hoping I will find a pattern for her.
I've printed out the exhibitor list and highlighted the stands I want to visit.

I'm also hoping to meet up with some of the ladies from the Sew Irish flickr group
I'll show you what I spend my money on over the weekend.
Have a great weekend.

LindaC

Winter Stitching

I've linked up with Sarah for the Winter Stitching.

The list of things I hope to get finished are

1.  Hexagon quilt from Vignette magazine
2.  Some Christmas placemats
3.  Table runner for a swap
4.  Some Christmas ornaments
5.  Blue and white quilt for youngest dd for when her room has had it's makeovr
6.  An owl cushion that I've promised youngest dd
7.  Finish a shoe quilt for eldest dd for her room
8.  Make a bag for myself
9.  Finish off some quilt tops
10. Make a list of things that I've started so that I can finish them.

What do you think, do I have any chance of getting all this done?

Oh well, will just have to knuckle down and get going.

LindaC

My Friday Night Sew In project

These are the hexies I sewed on Friday night.

 I still have a lot more to do and then to start putting them together.

Hope you had a good Friday night.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

LindaC

Friday Night Sew In

I've decided to take the plunge and join the Friday Night Sew In hosted by Bobbi.
I have some hexies to sew so I think I will try and get some more of these finished.
What will you sew tonight?

Enjoy Friday Night.
LindaC

mug rug and goodie swap

Yippee,  my goodies have arrived.

These were from Tammi all the way from OZ.  A mug rug and needle case. My fav colours and she had it wrapped in part of a dressmaking pattern (neat idea).

These were from Jules in UK.  Again my fav colours.  Mug rug, fabric covered notebook and a great sewing case.

I will miss the excitement of waiting for the postman each day now.
LindaC

Another doll quilt

I received another doll quilt from my swap partner Monique.
The theme was black and white with a pop of colour.
I think it looks very southwestern american which is very apt as Monique is from Texas.

She also sent me a load of goodies.

I have my doll quilt for Monique finished and just need to finish off the label on it.
Will post a photo when I know she's received it.
LindaC

PAY IT FORWARD

I saw this over at Fabraholic's  blog and I would like to do the same on my blog. I love getting surprises in the post so why not pass that feeling onto somebody else? This is how it works: I promise to send a surprise gift to the first three people to comment on my post. This gift will be a goodie made by me and sent sometime within the next year. Yes, that gives me a whole year to make it but I promise to try to make it as early as possible. Now for the business end of it:

Rules:

1. I will make a little something for the first 3 people who comment on this post. It will be a surprise and may arrive at any time in the next year (you can give me a hint as to what colours you like or if you want it to be a total surprise).

2. To sign up to receive a gift from me you must play along too. Share on your blog by promising to send a handmade goodie to the first three people who comment on your blog post.

3. You must have a blog.

4. After commenting on my post, you have to post this (or similar) on your blog to spread the love.


So now, who will be first?


Hope everyone is having a great weekend.


LindaC

Mug rug and goodie swap

Well I've finished my goodies to send off on the Mug Rug and Goodie Swap.
Partner one likes pink so I hope she likes these

There is a hexagon needle case, a small triangle pouch/thread catcher and a larger triangle pouch.  The larger one was made when I misread the instructions to make the triangle pouch which you make from only one triangle.  I misread it as having to make three and then when I put them together it had no bottom so had to make a fourth triangle.  It turned out not too bad.

These are my goodies for partner 2

Another hexagon needle case, a small purse and a travel sewing organiser.
Here's a photo of the inside.

I really enjoyed making all of these.  The little purse is a really easy make.  I think I might make some for my daughter to give to her friends in school at Christmas (yes that dreaded word).  The sewing organiser turned out better than I thought and was a lot easier than I thought it would be.  I might just have to make some of these for myself now.  

I'll be posting these off this week and will be anxiously waiting to see what I will receive in return.

On another swap that I joined up for, I received these lovely blocks from my swap partner for September (Katie).  Aren't they lovely?

I asked for yellows and blues and these are just perfect.  I have to finish my block for Katie, a doll quilt for a swap and three fabric mini quilt postcards (no pressure).

LindaC

SWAPS

As part of the Mug Rug and Goodie Swap organised by Cindy I've made the two mug rugs for my two partners.
Here is the mug rug for Partner 1

She likes pink (that's all I'm saying in case I give too much away)
This is the back of it

This is the front of mug rug for Partner 2 who likes modern fabrics

This was the first time I tried adding circular pieces in patchwork.  It was not one of my finest works.
This is the back

Now I have to make a goodie to go with each one.  Have some ideas, it's just a matter of making up my mind exactly what so I can get started.

We are getting the end of Hurricane Katia here.  The winds are very strong so I think I will have to get together some more hexagons to sew in case the electricity goes off.

Post in and out

I've made a block for A Quilt of Love which Theresa at Confesssions of a Craftaholic is making.
Here is my block which I'm posting to her today.

I have to admit I'm not a big fan of orange and had to work my way through all my fabrics to try to find some but it doesn't look too bad.  The block is from a book by Jennie Rayment who does a lot of fabric manipulation.  The blue/flower sections are squares folded into triangles twice and stitched between two orange squares so that you can then fold them out like a kite or a windmill blade.

A few blogs ago I told you how I had won a giveaway at Possum Blossom  (thank you Joanne) for some die cut papers for paper piecing.  My lovely postman delivered them to me today.  I am really going to enjoy using these as I like doing english paper piecing in the evenings while watching telly.

It is a beautiful warm sunny day here.  Kids are back at school.  Training for camogie (for those not familiar this is a sport for girls a little bit like hockey but the ball is hit through the air as well as on the ground and the hurley stick is flat)

has started back and youngest girl had a match last night which her team won so she was a happy camper today.  Sailing regatta on this weekend which eldest girl is helping out with rescue, another camogie match on Sunday as well, so a busy weekend but as I have a day off from work tomorrow I might manage to squeeze in a bit of much needed sewing therapy.
Bye for now.
LindaC

Small Blog

I've joined the small blog link at Lily's  http://lilysquilts.blogspot.com/2011/09/fresh-sewing-day-and-small-blog-meet.html quilts today.
I have 18 followers.  I started blogging in May and was amazed that I got any followers.
My daughter is shocked that I can do a blog (I admit it's not a fantastic one, I find it hard to get links to work and copy buttons).
I've met some lovely people through the blogs and love reading what they are up to.

Giveaway on Lisnaweary Quilts

Lisnaweary Quilts Blog is having a giveaway for some Creative Grids (http://www.creativegrids.com) goodies. The website is http://lisnaweary-quilts.blogspot.com/2011/08/creative-grids-giveaway.html. It closes on the 31st August.
Good luck
LindaC

I WON

I can't believe it. I just won a giveaway on Joanne's blog (http://pbpatch.blogspot.com). And what a prize, a nice big pack of: 100 x die-cut 1" hexagons, 100 x 1" diamonds, 100 x 1" triangles, 100 x 1 1/2" hexagons, 100 x 1 1/2" diamonds and 100 x 1 1/2" triangles. I love doing hand piecing in the evenings and at the group I go to (roll on September till we're back). If you like doing English paper piecing please check out Joanne's site. What a lovely start to the day. Thank you Joanne.
LindaC

Festival of Quilts

Having come back from a week in Cork, my two girls and I set off for the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. Originally we had planned to go on Thursday for shopping in the city and to go to the show on Friday and Saturday and return home on Saturday night. We were up very early on Thursday morning (3am), drove to the airport, checked in our two very light suitcases (heavy coming home)and got the 6.30am flight. We stowed our bags in our hotel and the concierge assured us that it was safe to go into the city during the day. So off we went on the train. After the riots we didn't know what to expect. When we were leaving the train station in the city, eldest daughter (age 16) was a bit ahead of me and younger one. She was wearing a hoody and carrying a backpack and looked like she was on her own. The ticket collecter did a lot of looking at her ticket and at her but when he saw her waiting on the other side for us he gave her a smile as if to say "okay". We've been to Birmingham many times and it looked a lot different this time. A lot of the shop windows were boarded up with the shops still trying to sell inside. One of the banks was completely closed and boarded up. There were also a lot more police around. We did feel safe and were able to enjoy our visit and spend some money.
Friday was our first day at the quilt show. We all had workshops organised to go to so while one was at their workshop the other two could wander around, buy some things and look at some of the amazing quilts.
Here are a few photos.

this one had two different views depending on if you were looking at it from the left or from the right side

This carousel was one of my favourites.

The stitching on this one made it stand out in more detail.

This one was made up of very small hexagons.

The colours in the pyramid quilt were stunning.
I'll try and post some more photos later on in the week.
Needless to say, we bought quite a lot (some heavier things to come by post later on), a lot of fabrics, some patterns, some gadgets, threads etc.
The girls both sail and they went around every stall that had fabric looking for nautical fabrics as they've decided to make a sailing/boat themed quilt. One stall Lady Sew and Sew had a wave fabric that they liked but they had none left. The lady very kindly arranged for some extra fabric to arrive on Saturday so that they could get some. Now that's what I call service. They will have fun sorting out all their fabrics and deciding what pattern to do with it.
We saw some wonderful quilts and had a great time. On the plane home on Saturday night, youngest asked "Mum, we'll be going next year as well won't we?". Better start planning.
LindaC

Holidays and high days

Sorry I haven't been posting for a while but I was on hols (yippee). We spent a lovely week in West Cork in a small village called Durrus. We had a wonderful week, eating plenty of good food, visiting some lovely places.
Youngest daughter was happy as it was her birthday while we were away and her wish was to visit Fota wildlife park. Here are a few of the photos from our day there.

We also took a boat trip to Cape Clear island. A very tranquil place. Here are some photos of some of the lanes we walked.

On the island we visited the church, quess what I found, a tiled floor, another quilt pattern maybe?

sorry for the blurry picture, I still can't get to grips with the different settings on my camera.
The trip out on the boat was a very enjoyable one partly due to the lovely views but mostly to the very informative captain who was very knowledgable on all the different islands, areas, people, sealife and on our return journey even played the squeeze box (accordian) and sang for us.

Fab things received and made

Over the last couple of days I have made and received some lovely things.
First the received goodies
This lovely doll quilt is from Susan who was my swap partner for the July doll quilt swap on www.quiltingboard.com. This was my first time to make a doll quilt for a swap and I hope Susan likes the one I made for her. Here is a photo of the one she sent to me.

Secondly I received a postcard from Cheryl for the Lake Life fabric postcard swap I took part in from the Postcard group on Yahoo.

Now to things made. I have been watching The Vignette Hexagon Quilt along site and have started making hexagon flowers. They are one inch hexagons and I am using scraps and 5 inch charm squares to make them (trying to stick to at least one project that I don't have to buy new fabric for). Here are the flowers I've made so far.

I also finished off a half started project, a bag. I had cut out part of the pattern so I cut out the rest and the lining and sewed it together. Here is the finished article.

and here is a picture of the lining and pockets

Lastly, youngest daughter had been playing with her friends in the sunroom. They had the dolls out, dolls furniture, little house and some small blankets and quilts that I had made for her. Guess who decided that she was taking one of the small quilts? Yes you got it right, the cat thief who I think has decided that everything belongs to her. Here is Tilly with the little quilt.

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That's all for now. We've been having some fantastic weather this past week. Long may it continue.

Guest Blog by Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting

Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting was a guest blogger on the Quilting Gallery.
If you get a chance check it out here at
http://quiltinggallery.com/2011/07/13/spotlight-on-irish-quilting/
I read it and spotted a quilt by one of the ladies in my quilt group (LUSK QUILTERS).  The Forever Autumn quilt by Jackie Preston (the second lot of photos).  Well done Jackie and thanks Cindy.
We have glorious sunshine here all this week (very unusual for Ireland).  Kids doing lots of sailing

 so I'm not getting much sewing or quilting done.  Hopefully I will have something to show you next week, in the meantime, here is a picture of our cat Tilly waiting to go to sea.

Lovely weekend

It's been a beautiful weekend here.  The sun has visited us at last and it really feels like summer.  School finished for the younger kids as well.
I finished my block to send away for the Cead Mile Failte quilt for the quilt festival next year.  Here it is

I used a piece of lace that I had to make it look like a sleeve on an old style blouse.  The rings are a yo-yo and some gold thick embellishment thread that I had.

I also got a parcel in the post with some items I'd ordered. Here they are

This is the superior frosted donut with bobbins of 39 colours.  Really good for applique.

I can start using some of my scraps to make fabric flowers with these templates.

I also got some machingers (gloves for free motion quilting), a pattern for a jacket and a fabric glue stick.

Here is a photo of my box of hexagons to make flowers for the Hexagon Vignette blog.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Linda