Beetles

Do you know the old game called Beetles? You basically have to roll a dice to win beetle body parts. The first to end up with a whole beetle wins. I bought this game a couple of weeks ago and Little Miss Bossy-Boots really loves it. It’s great as it has made her recognise the numbers on the dice and is lots of fun.

However (and sadly there is a however) the plastic beetle parts are a bit cheap and cheerful. The legs don’t fit properly, the antennae fall off every now and then and the head keeps splitting open. Not a nice sight, I can tell you.

Mummy to the rescue! I’ve started making beetle body parts in my spare time. Yep, no joke. Here we go:

Sorry for the bad pic, the light isn’t very good today.

After making a body, head, two antennae and a few legs from some cheap felt I bought, I’m resolved to make no more. I hate the feel of the felt, it’s too thick for the magnets to bond properly and I hate the feel of the felt. Oh, and I really must mention that I hate the feel of the felt. After putting my thinking cap on I’ve decided to start again with some quilting weight fabric. I believe that if I use some woven interfacing on the back I could make some really fun, pretty and, most importantly, pink beetles which feel nice too.

However, (oh no not another however) before I do that I’m off to play Bridge. See you all tomorrow!

Somewhere over the Rainbow

I have been thinking quite a bit about what to make for my partner in the Mouthy Stitches Swap. The night before last inspiration struck and yesterday afternoon I spent a good 30 minutes pulling fabric from my stash. I decided early on to use some Essex linen in ivory for the bag (not the most practical, I admit) as my partner likes rainbows and I wanted the colours to pop. After pulling out a rainbow of fabrics and putting it on the background I decided to ditch half the rainbow and ‘only’ go with purple, blue and red. At the last second I threw in a little orange but am not sure whether I will keep it in there or not.

The aqua Kona is for the lining and a couple of accents. This is going to be a reversible tote so the lining needs to be pretty as well. We are allowed to change the pattern inasmuch that we may add a small pocket on the inside. I’m thinking of turning that pocket into a bit of a feature so that both sides are equally pretty.

Now, should I wait to see if my partner comments on the picture I’ve put up on flickr or should I just dive in?

 

Pay it Forward

Two posts in one day? Gosh, I’m really going for it, aren’t I?

One of the lovely ladies I met in London at the Fat Quarterly Retreat is Di of Willowbeck Designs. In fact, I was in a swap with her and came home with the cutest pouch she’d made.

THere she is on the right. I’ve been reading her blog ever since and on Thursday she wrote about this game “Pay it Forward” where you have 365 days to make something handmade for three people. Those three people then have to do the same thing and send three handmade items to three other people and so on. Sounds like fun, right?

I just had to participate as I love getting handmade gifts.

What have I done?

Oh yes, I’ve done it again: I’ve signed up for Blogtoberfest 2012.

Don’t know Blogtoberfest? Kat from I saw you dancing is hosting it this year so check out her blog post and sign up if you feel up for it. I had so much fun last year finding lots of new blogs and challenging myself to post something every day. I admit that some post were pure fillers with nothing to show or tell (and I may or may not have missed three completely) but I hope I’m better prepared this time round.

I have the “I’ve done this all before” feeling which will probably make me run around in a panic frantically searching for something to photograph and blog about. I apologise beforehand.

Right, I’m off to write a few blog posts. Ha, ha, just trying to give the impression I’m well prepared….

Scraptastic

I thought I’d show you how far I’ve gotten with my Spring Carnival quilt. Sorry about the dodgy picture. The weather here has been quite depressing and I took this picture last night with my phone.

I took a little break from hand sewing to start a quick knitting project but have gone back to it now as my elbow and wrist don’t like me knitting for too long. Getting old, I believe. I will show you what I’m knitting once it’s finished and has been gifted to a certain lovely lady.

When I first started sewing the plan was to make a cushion in pink and aqua. Then I added a couple more colours and decided to make it into a lap sized quilt. Now, I’ve my mind set to go for as long as I have any of the black and white ticking left. If I’m lucky I might be able to turn this into a quilt big enough for a single bed.

My biggest problem, however, was to find enough scraps in my scrap bin for all the wheels. As I haven’t been quilting for very long, I don’t have a huge scrap bin but I needn’t have worried. First, an envelope full of scraps arrived from Helen and then, a little while ago, another one from Dianne.

The quilting community is just the best and I’m so glad I’ve met these lovely and very generous ladies.

More Sea Glass

Today I finally managed to finish the second bee block for Helen. I really loved the process of improv piecing and I can definitely see myself doing some more of it in the future.

The second block came together more quickly, I suppose because I (sort of) knew what I was doing. I used up all the Kona snow Helen sent but still have a few scraps of the green which I think could be Kona spring and some tiny squares of blue and turquoise scraps.

Here they are together. I can’t wait to see the finished quilt.

Partner

This morning I got an email from my Mouthy Stitches swap mama to let me know who my partner is.

Mouthy Stitches 2

I literally threw myself at my computer to check her out and, oh my, I’m so0o happy. Her taste is very similar to mine, her mosaic lovely and full of wonderfully inspiring pictures. I can’t wait to get my thinking cap on and get started.

One thing I have done already, though, is order some more fabric from Simply Solids. I already ordered some last weekend:

The top two are fat quarters I received for free simply for ordering some fabric I “needed”. Mmh, I could get used to that…

Simply Solids is an online shop which carries a great range of Kona solids, Essex linen and Moda pre cuts. It has just been taken over by Justine from Sew Justine Sew and she’s doing a great job. I met her and baby Hunter at the Fat Quarterly Retreat in London an as I like to support people I know I placed an order last week. It arrived quickly and was beautifully packaged. So go and have a little look around the shop, please.

 

 

Sea glass

Our bee, the Sew-Euro-Bee-An, has started. Ok, to be honest, it started a while ago when Helen sent out her fabrics and a mosaic to show us what she would like for her blocks. I admit it, I’m a slow coach.

image source

Here are the blocks she made:

image source

Aren’t they gorgeous? I’m sure a whole quilt would remind me of every holiday I’ve ever had on a beach but especially the time I spent in the Netherlands sitting on a beach collecting sea glass.

Here’s my first block which I made yesterday. I never knew improv piecing could be that exciting. The seam ripper came out quite a few times but I’m really happy with the end result. Now I just have to find the time to make a second one.

The wonderful East Anglian wind just didn’t wan’t to stop for even two tics so I could take a picture. Hence the block blowing in the breeze.

I just hope Helen likes it.

Village Show

Today, our little village held its annual village produce show in the community centre. For years I have been saying that I will enter and I never have. Till today.

This morning I decided to enter my Rainbow Hexies cushion. It was competing in the “all crafts” section as there wasn’t a quilting one and had to compete with some fabulous woodwork, a bag, fabric covered boxes and other things. I didn’t win but I got a Highly Commended and am very happy with that.

Now, I was a bit unhappy today as I am at times a little blonde. The enrolment form had the opening times on and I didn’t check them before I dropped my cushion off.

Once I realised that I didn’t know what time to go back for it I checked times on the website where it said 12 noon. Off I trundled to find the doors closed. Slight panic on my part, home to check website again, call number of guy in charge, no answer. Really annoyed now as I want my cushion back. Fast forward to 3.30pm when I take the dog out, walking past the community centre. The centre is open and they’re putting stuff away. Viewing time was from 2pm till 3pm. Arrgggh! At least I got my cushion back.

On a Roll

I’m on a roll. My list of UFOs is getting smaller by the day. First I finished my Swoon, which is being used by the whole family.

Then I finished my Rainbow Hexies.

I wasn’t sure how to quilt them and in the end quilted straight lines in every other row, while following the hexies in the others. I’m hoping that once the cushion cover is washed it’ll give a nice effect.

The back is simply the same Essex linen with a bright red zip so that I can easily take off and wash the cover. Which, I’m sure, will be necessary as this is our cat Charlie’s little corner.

Next on the list is my Hexy Heart. However, before I start on that one I will have to clean the house. I’ve turned a blind eye to all the dust bunnies hiding in the corners but they’re slowly growing into elephants. Time to roll up my sleeves, I believe.