Spring is on the way

I started this post as it was a lovely day with the sun shining even though it was cold.  Now it has turned very dark and grey and the ever present rain has made another appearance and then it even changed to snow (which is very unusual here).  Ah well we can but hope.

Spring seemed as if it had made an entrance as the wonderful crocus had started to peep it's head up along with the daffodils and even though it had been very cold in the mornings and evenings  when I was travelling to work and home again, the sun had made it's presence felt during the day and the mornings were getting brighter earlier and the evenings were getting shorter.  I will be positive (after all the flowers need the rain).

I have been catching up on reading the blogs that I follow while having a break from studying.  I am studying for the TMITI (Tax Technician) exams which take place in mid April.  At my age it is very hard to get back into the whole idea of classes and study along with trying to work, keep the house going and the most important thing (as far as everyone else is concerned) make sure that there is plenty of food in the house.  This leaves very little time for sewing but I try to take a half hour most evenings to help relax.
I've been feeling tired lately and put it down to studying and everything else it takes to keep going but have just gotten the results of my annual blood tests back and my iron levels are way down again (this is the third time in 18 months) so it's back on the iron supplements and maybe more tests.  Hopefully the supplements will give me a boost in a couple of weeks so that I can get the 50% I need to pass each of my exams.

To try to keep my mind on sewing I've signed up for two swaps, one is a Rainbow mug rug swap  which I've started on.

This was a coloured glass pattern that I decided to do as an english paper piecing project as I can manage to get a bit done during my half hour sewing in the evenings.  I'm going to make a striped rainbow back and try to get it finished this week.
The other swap is an english paper pieced small bag (around 5 inches).  I have to wait to see who my partner is and what they like before I start this one but I have some ideas bouncing around already.
Can you see a theme here? Yes you guessed it, I love english paper piecing, especially hexagons and I have several books on it.  I've signed up to follow the Milliefiori that Katja is doing as I had already purchased the book but will have to watch from the sidelines for a while.
I've also bought the Millefiori book that Quiltmania have after seeing it on several blogs and sites.  Again this will be a "to do" project.

What I have managed to do are the kalidescope blocks which I'm still working on and some prairie braid batik columns.  I enjoy these as they are nice hand sewing.

If you get a chance please check out Julie's  blog for her visit to a festival in a nearby town (she lives in Japan and writes such brilliant pieces about life, the culture and festivals there).  I love reading her blog as she takes some great photos, is very informative on the flowers that grow in her garden and around her and makes great use of very small spaces where she lives.

That's all for now.  We have a big festival coming up in a couple of weeks, St Patrick's Day (or as we call it Paddy's Day) so I am going to try to take some photos of our local parade.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

goodies and FNWF

I've managed to make a start on the charity quilt blocks on Friday in the FNWF (Friday night with friends).  I got my fabrics together and finished one block.  Over the weekend I now have six ready.

 I was in two swaps on flickr, one was a mug rug and this is the wonderful mug rug and fabrics I received from Sandy of tangled threads.  I love that little running fox.

 the second was a fabric basket and this is the wonderful basket and goodies I received from Tiff.  The quilting on this basket was so good.

 I was also at a quilt shop with friends in Wexford (Kilbora Quilt Shop) where we made wool pincushions.  Will definitely go back again.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

 

I actually got something done!!!!

I actually managed to get some of my goals done (a little miracle).
I finished the binding on my New York Beuaty Scrappy Quilt (which I will be using as a wall hanging).

I joined two swaps in flickr (one is for a fabric bin/basket and the other for a mug rug).
I made the fabric bin today (isn't it great having a day off from work).  My partner likes text fabrics and the colours blue, green, gray and navy.  I used a tape measure fabric for the lining.  This was really easy to make.  You'll find the tutorial on Birch Fabrics and you can make it in three different sizes (I made the small one).

 I hope to get the mug rug made on Monday (long bank holiday weekend).
I've also been working on kaleidoscope blocks.  So far I have the sections done for four blocks.  12 more to go.

 I have loved watching the Great British Sewing Bee (the second series) on the BBC and treated myself to the book which comes with patterns.  Another to go on the To Do list.

  We're making a charity quilt in my quilting group for a cancer charity (some of our members and families are going through treatment at the moment) so I need to go through my fabrics and see what yellows and greens I have.  We're making a crazy patch one.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

April Showers Blog Hop

Today is my day on the April Showers Blog Hop.
The theme is a mug rug made with your interpretation of April Showers.
I decided to use a paper piece pattern that I found here.

I made two with one being reversed.

I then embroidered the words April Showers on some white fabric I had.

I then sewed the two umberella blocks either side.

I always remember the saying "april showers bring the flowers that bloom in may" so I decided to use some flower fabric as edging on my mug rug to remind me that this very wet April will bring the flowers soon.

I am hopeless at doing mitred binding, I really am so as this mug rug was for myself I decided to finish it off by zig-zag around the edges.

Here is the finished mug rug.

I am going to use this mug rug myself in the office as it will make my cardboard coffee cup (health and safety) look a little bit more cheerful.

A big thank you to Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt and also to Erin at Mummy Quilts for organising this great event.

Please check out the other blogs with their wonderful mug rugs today.  Hope you all have a great day.

MONDAY, APRIL 15th

Cathy @ Cate's Linens

Nicola @ Sunshine Reflections

Martina @ Sunshinequilting

Judith @ Frimart

Anita @ Anita's quilts en handwerken

Linda @ Sew Nicely

Kris @ krislovesfabric

Laura Ann @ The Fuzzy Hat Quilter

Carol @ Just let me Quilt

Selina @ Selina Quilts

Mary @ Crooked Gulley Art Quilts

Marisa @ Passion et Couture

Works so far

I've managed to get one thing finished and another started as well as getting the sitting room 95% finished.

I was in a mug rug swap on The Quilting Board.
Here is the mug rug I received from Nelco.  I love the shape of it and will enjoy using the lovely teas she sent me.

Here is the front and back of the mug rug I made for my partner.  She likes yellow so I hope this is cheerful enough.  I used wool (a fancy knitting yarn) around the edges and zig-zagged over it.

I also got my partner's name for the Pretty Little Pouch Swap No. 6.  I decided that I would sketch my idea out after seeing her mosaic of what she likes.  I went with the following.  The first one will be the front using a grey/linen for the background, bright hexagon flowers, stitched lines and fabric leaves.  Not sure about the fabric leaves yet.

The next photo will be the back of the pouch using echino fabrics with four horizontal strips at the top and six vertical strips at the bottom.

Here is my progress so far.

I'm stitching each line in a different stitch.  The orange is chain stitch, the blue is stem stitch, green is backstitch and the red is two different tones of red in running stitch.  The fabrics will be the ones I'll use for the hexagons.  I have some lovely echino 10 inch squares which I bought so I will choose which ones to use for the other side.  I have to go through my "magic drawer" which has buttons, threads, zips etc.  to pick out a zip and I also have to decide on the lining fabric.  Not a bad start.

That leaves me with only one thing left on my January list of to do things.  Only four days left, will have to get a move on.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

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

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.