The Treehouse

Sunday Sewing

The rest of the family have been out splashing about in boats today so I've had plenty of lovely sewing time. Yesterday while they were splashing about in Coniston I made a couple of GFG flowers and did a little bit of stitching on the sunflower wall hanging. I made another GFG flower this afternoon when it was too hot to be in my sewing room and did a little more stitching of the poem on the sunflower.

I've not stitched any of these for quite a while and it was lovely to get back into the swing of things with them. I'm going to try again with the one-a-day and see if I can get them finished off...then it'll be onto the next ring and then the diamonds. No pic of the sunflower just yet, I'll wait until I've finished stitching the poem.

I made another 3 Summer Bow Ties this morning and stitched them together with the one that I made on Friday - I really like the look. I saw this layout on Jodi's Pleasant Home blog and it convinced me that I needed to make some bow ties!

I did quite a bit of cutting out for the bow ties as well so that I can sneak in the making of one now and again during the week :)

Finally, I made this month's Henrietta Whiskers block and it's another very sweet one - I'm getting spoilt for choice for a favourite block now!

The applique is only stuck down at the moment so I've the treat of stitching that to come as well as the little bit of embroidery that's on the block.

On Friday I picked up my two cross stitches that I'd taken for framing and I'm very pleased with both of them.

 

The teacups are my favourite stitch so far this year, it's a shame I can't get a better picture of them.

I'm itching to get the next block for the Designer BOM sewn, it looks lovely - hopefully I'll fit it in over the course of the week. I had thought I might get it made today but a Henrietta Whiskers block takes quite a well to prepare. I'm away to enjoy some of the evening sunshine with a glass of wine now and then perhaps some stitching on the Library later on.

My Garden...in the garden!

It's a beautiful sunny day here today. After getting the necessary jobs done quickly this morning I got down to stitching together the blocks and borders of Lynette Anderson's My Garden quilt. I've thoroughly enjoyed receiving the little package with the button and pattern each month - the blocks are so pretty and don't take a huge amount of time to stitch and applique. My favourite blocks are the beehive and the tree but I like all of them. I took my completed block out into the sunshine to photograph...quite tricky as there's a little breeze. I'm glad I signed up for this BOM and hope that the next one is just as enjoyable because yes I did - I filled in the form and posted it off on Saturday to reserve my place for the next Button Club quilt!

Now to contemplate the quilting...something simple is all I'm capable of and I've saved the buttons to stitch on once the I've done the sandwich so that they hold at least a part of the stitchery blocks to the back (I won't be quilting into those).

Pioneer Wife

A little more progress on the Pennsylvania Dutch quilt this morning. This one has been sitting on my table for a couple of weeks ready to stitch but got moved down the queue while I was working on the birthday cushion and the cross stitch...and also because I wasn't keen on all those stretchy triangles for the middle square in squares. Turned out they weren't too bad to stitch after all and this block has come out at the right size :smile:

Only 5 blocks left to make now - the next one is Down the Well and doesn't look too tricky, I must have skipped ahead at some point. I'm rather behind with Barbara Brackman's Civil War quilt but hopefully I'll catch up at some point, I have a couple of difficult ones and two easier ones to make and then I'll be up to date - think I'll start off with the easier ones and put off the tricky ones for a little while longer, lol!

Friday Night Sew In - February

I had a lovely FNSI and got up to date with the courthouse steps part of the My Garden blocks. I had only put the steps onto two of them...and on one of those I had started on the wrong side! I contemplated leaving it but I knew that once it was on the wall it would stand out (to me) like a sore thumb. So...I cut out all the bits for the other blocks and undid that one. After that was all done I traced the latest block and prepared the applique for it so I'm ready to get that stitched next. Didn't get around to doing any cross stitch - I was ready for a glass of wine and a few chapters of my book. 

I've laid the blocks out here more or less as Lynette has them on her blog - only one block left now and I think it won't be too long before that one arrives. I'm looking forward to seeing this on the wall but need to think about some quilting ideas...not my favourite part of the process! I wasn't going to do the next button club - I may even have said that on here somewhere but...I like getting the little surprise parcel with the button in each month so I signed up again. I'll just have to get John to build more house for all the Christmas things I keep making to display on the walls!

Friendship Birthday Pillow

I finished the secret stitching project yesterday just in time for Wez's 40th birthday celebration crop. I hope she likes it :) The stitchery design is taken from a friendship project by Helen Stubbings The original idea was that you stitched the centre design yourself and then 3 friends would stitch and add the borders. When I was thinking of what to make for Wez's birthday gift I wanted something special that celebrated friendship and this design came to mind. Instead of making a wallhanging, I've made the finished stitchery (minus the final border) into a pillow. I picked the thread colours from the fabrics that I chose for the little hexagons - I think they really add to the design, I'm always happy to be including hexies in something.

*Happy Birthday Wez*

Happy New Year

We had a nice quiet New Year with just the 4 of us - we had a chinese meal out early in the evening and then came home and relaxed until Big Ben did its thing at midnight. Christmas holidays always seem to speed by so quickly and tomorrow Twelfth Night arrives! 

I have a couple of things that I finished last year that I've not shown yet. This is the wrap that I finished at the ver last moment on Christmas Eve...well actually by the time I finished it was actually Christmas Day! I had to beg for this photo! I long to make things in pink but the preferred colours is blue so I used Sweetwater jellyroll of Pure (same as in the tutorial on the Moda bakeshop as it happens) and for the back I found some rather wonderful snuggles fabric with quite a deep pile on it - it's very luxurious indeed although I think I inhaled a good deal of it when cutting it as it shed like mad! I was glad to find the snuggles in the UK at Minkyland as otherwise I think shipping would have been prohibitive...very good service too.

I've one more finish from 2010 to take a picture of and that is My Little Heart - I'm amazed that I kept up to date with it and finished it on time. 

 

 

 

 

My first finish for 2011 is block number 6 from Lynette Anderson's mystery button quilt project, I think this one is called Window Box - the button is a ladybird, very sweet but will be sewn on at the end. I've enjoyed this BOM and noticed that Lynette has a sneak peak of what is possibly the next mystery button quilt on her blog today...it looks Christmassy to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've thought about stitching plans for this year and have a very loose 'plan' in mind - as soon as I start being too formally organised about it I'm turned off doing anything at all. My current loose plan involves working on some projects that are already in progress and actually finishing them off as well as a few new starts.

Already working on...

Tail Feathers : I've stitched all of the blocks for this and have the top partially sewn together...as soon as it's completed I going to make a start on either Leanne's Down in the Garden or her Vignette in Stitches quilt. I've arranged to send this quilt out to be long arm quilted - something of an extravagance but I really want a good job making of the quilting on this one.

My Garden : I'm up to date with the stitching on this although I think the next block is due soon, there are only 3 left to stitch, I'm looking forward to seeing what this will be like finished.

Scandinavian Christmas : oh dear, I didn't get very far with this at all in fact, I have yet to finish off one block. I'm going to get that one finished before the end of this month and try and get the applique cut for the rest of the blocks. I've already done the tracing for another two blocks so I just need to give this project a little bit more time and hopefully get it completed in time for this year's Christmas.

Theresa's Garden : love stitching the hexagons and I will be carrying on with this as and when the mood strikes me throughout the year, I'd like to finish it this year. (I'd also like to train myself to cut down on the number of projects on the go at any one time!)

Green/Black Pinwheels : I've formulated a plan for this quilt and bought a bigger ruler to make trimming the blocks easier. I've thought up a quilting design and hope to get it done and dusted this year.

Folk Medallion : another lovely project which once I've finished doing the stitcheries will go together very quickly.

Life is Beautiful : I'm making progress on this one and have worked on the blocks since Christmas. I have all of the fabric cut out for the actual blocks and have them half sewn together. Once I've finished the stitcheries for the Folk Medallion I'll resume stitching the lovely little designs for this quilt.

Pennsylvania Dutch : I love this and should have had it finished last year - the blocks are so easy to make. Definitely on my list of things that I will work on this year and would like to finish.

Bluebird of Hope : progress totally stalled on this quilt. I'm leaving it for now until I feel excited about it again which I know will happen when I've ticked a few other things off my list.

Dear Jane : oh dear, no action on this one for quite a while but I'll get back to it eventually.

Clamshells : no action here either as I still wasn't liking the colours and then I decided that I need some nice creams to go with the blues in this quilt...I think it will look altogether different once there is more cream in there. Won't be working on it just at the moment though.

Kim McClean's Heart quilt : I was going quite well on this but have stalled - I may take it along to the next crop and get going on it again.

I think that's all my WIPs in the quilt department...rather a lot :blush: Of course, I keep stumbling across enticing designs on the web which tempt me no end. The 3 that are currently tempting me the most are...

Birdie Stitches by Little Miss Shabby : I'm waiting for my charm pack to arrive for this - I'm going with the Sweetwater Sunkissed, it's gorgeous and lets face it I won't get to use it for my lovely but pink-hating daughter and I would love to use it for something! I'm going to make it smaller though - I have printed out the first month's picture at 50% of the size so my block will finish at 4.5" instead of the larger 8.5".

Henrietta Whiskers by Bunny Hill Designs : first block made available today - how cute is Henrietta? I'm very tempted and may look for some wool.

Barbara Brackman's Civil War Quilt : irresisitible...little 6" quilt blocks plus tales of history every week for all of this year to celebrate the American Civil War Sesquicentennial. 

I am also committed to making Leanne Beasley's Down in the Garden and Vignette In Stitches quilts because a) I love them both and b) have bought the fabric to make them with! I won't start one until Tail Feathers is in the post to the quilter though. I have the pattern for Susan's Garden, a Dresden Plate design as well and Kim McClean's Stars and Sprigs quilt pattern.

Oops - not mentioned any cross stitch :o I have LHN The Bookshelf, a Blackbird stocking and Mary Wigham's wardrobe in progress. Won't be starting anything new until one of these is finished.

That's my sort of plan. No doubt something will leap out at me and demand to be made in addition to all of this. There is no way I'll finish it all this year of course but I'll have fun trying!

Friday Night Sew In - September

I had a bit more than a Friday Night Sew In - I had a whole Friday Sew In :o I had booked a class at Patchwork Chicks - the quilt was so pretty, I couldn't resist and part two is on my birthday so it was meant to be, lol! I had the tricky job of choosing fabric for the quilt before I set off for the class of course, always a nail biting experience for me. I had been tempted to buy some Park Avenue...I have a couple of fat quarters already (they're destined to become a cushion) and really like the fabric but...I was looking at my stash of French General and it looked a bit neglected - I've only made a bag from it so far, and so I decided it was time to cut it up! 

Yesterday in the class we got started on the centre applique panel and I managed to fussy cut the bird for the centre of the design...here's the progress so far (I'm itching to do more)

 

I managed to put together everything from stash for this quilt except for the large outer border, it finishes at about 54"x54" I think. The rest of the quilt is made up of 4.5" squares some of which have stitcheries of quilt block designs in them. I did make a start on a stitchery yesterday but there isn't really enough done to show just yet. I did buy a metre of the beautiful blue bird print from Rural Jardin for the outer border - it's my absolute favourite from that line of fabric.

When I got home John and Catherine had an evening of kayaking planned and Matthew was communing with his friends on Xbox live so I was all set to carry on sewing :D

I had brought a couple of little bundles of wool felt home with me - needed for Lynette Anderson's Beehive Sewing book. Patchwork Chicks sell great little bundles of felt for £2.50 which is much more affordable for projects that need only a little bit of felt than buying great huge pieces. I was eager to play with the felt so I did...

 

and these were the result!

I had already appliqued the beehive onto the front of the book and done the stitchery on it - I'd come to a full stop though because of the lack of felt. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out - I would have carried on to finish it off last night but a) I was shattered and b) I had forgotten to buy a magnetic clasp!

I'll be slipping off to the market while Catherine's having her hair cut to get one so that I can finish this off later on. Since I stitched the My Little Heart block for August I seem to have added a bumble bee obsession to my bird obsession  -  I have a few more bumble bee things in my stash to make at some point!

So that's my Whole Friday Sew In - I had a fabulous day, it was a lovely treat and I'm already looking forward to the next one and seeing what everybody else got up to with their needles and thread last night. 

 

 

By the Lake

This is block 8 of the Fat Quarter Shop Pennsylvania Dutch BOM. I'm on a mission to catch up as I'm a little bit behind with it (a lot actually!). I was beginning to think that I would catch up in Autumn however, I have fallen victim to signing up for another FQS BOM :blush: Now that I've got this block under my belt however, I'm reminded of why I just could not resist this quilt - the fabric (lovely Minick and Simpson) and all of those lovely triangles.

I love this block - I see more of them in my future :)

 

 Not a brilliant pic - had to use the flash as it's dark now.

Speaking of catching up  -  I'm almost up to date with the My Little Heart SAL, I've about a third of the June block left to stitch and then I'm done. It's such a cute little sampler, I hope Catherine likes it when it's finished.

Am off to crop with my lovely friends tomorrow and as always I'm really looking forward to it...I will be sewing of course, not cropping! Going to put some work in on my current Tail Feathers block :) and maybe a hexie or klosje or two as well.

Mmm new stash!

The postman visited yesterday with a lovely envelope stuffed full of this loveliness...

 

A layer cake of Rural Jardin - beautiful, just beautful.

A few Fig Tree fat quarters to add to my 'collection'

Some Cosmo threads. I can't find a supplier of these in the UK so I scoured the earth to find them...well, that's what it felt like anyway! Having determined that I would have to buy from abroad I wanted, of course, to make the most of the postage. I'm looking forward to trying them out - I've read a lot of good things about them in Blogland. The autumny shades pack goes with a BOM that I'm collecting...I've not begun making it yet so I can only say that I'm collecting it! The other bag of Cosmo is the Spring collection and I have plans for a meeting of those with my Fig Tree collection :D

Fig Tree Madeleine pattern - no idea when I'll get around to making it but I've liked it since I saw it previewed last year and I have plenty of Patissierie jellyroll left overs to use :D

So many ideas floating around in my head that want to be made...just need an injection of Time now! 

I spotted Matthew setting up the Sky+ to record every football match under the sun in South Africa this morning so I think that when we're not out and about actually doing sport we'll be overwhelmed by it on the television! Thank goodness I have portable stitching to take out and about with us and what a good job I don't watch a lot of television myself, lol! Although I am very eager to see the new season of Private Practice...I'm fairly sure that Violet survives but I'm certain that it's going to be a roller coaster first episode with the need for a box of tissues!

 

Saturday Klosjes

I can't resist this pretty fabric - it's Garden Song by Nancy Halvorsen. I first came across when I was looking for fabric for Karen's birthday bag and couldn't resist getting some for myself with the intention of using my Inklingo Dresden Plate shapes on it - I'm still going to do that but am using the scraps for Klosjes. I cut out lots of shapes today that I had printed off using Inklingo yesterday and managed to get two sewn up as well. Here they are posing with the 'just about to bloom' lilac in the garden.

 

We cropped today, well - I sewed...everybody else cropped! and I had drawn Karen in our birthday swap. I made this bag for her in the blues from Garden Song.

   

It almost didn't make it to the wrapping stage...I rather fell in love with it and I think Karen likes it too :) Happy Birthday Karen!