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Showing posts from April, 2017

April in review

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Another busy month with lots of travelling and some unexpected news... anyway, I have managed a few finishes (dressmaking and cross stitch) and made some blocks too.... Hoping for finish 1.  Sorbetto top - finished 2.  Saunio cardigan - this will be my  One Monthly Goal  - finished 3. Pencil skirt gold - finished 4. Lizzie skirt - not started Bee Blocks  1.  Flower hexies for the Inchy Hexie Swap (April ) - started WIP 1.  Farmer's wife, let's try for another 10 blocks - 7 blocks 2. Solstice challenge - 8 blocks behind already.... - no progress 3. HST modern sampler quilt - half way - -  no progress 4. Pumpkin Passport - finished! 5. Dear Jane - aiming for 5 blocks - no progress 6. Long Time Gone - let's try and keep up! - still on track! 7. Mischief blocks  -  no progress New Project 1.  Custom cushions    x 2   -  not started 2.  Flora Sew Along  -  not started 3. Dress for C - ne

Making blocks

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I have made a few more blocks over the last few weeks but I haven't had time to blog! First some blocks for my Farmer's Wife quilt, going a lot slower than I was planning/hoping 19 [Checkerboard] 22 [Corn & Beans] 23 [Country Farm]  24 [Country Path]  27 [Darting Birds] Some Long Time Gone Blocks, so far so good I am still on track but then there's 21 churn dash blocks to make this week! A rainbow Trip Around the  World block the Plus a Star block 4 little Churn Dash blocks (17 more needed!) and A Courthouse Steps block for next week! That's 12 more blocks for the 350-blocks challenge taking my total to 20! Linking to  Let's Bee Social ,  Needle and Thread Thursday ,  I may have a scrap problem Celine

100 day challenge - results!

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Well, the challenge is over, the 100 days have passed a few days ago! Time to check the focus of the last 100 days So back in January I selected 3 projects I really want to focus on and make progress on. Of course, since then lots has happened.... including new projects that I just couldn't resist! I also managed to finish some quilts and make myself some clothes. And it's been a busy time at work and with the family too! Time to look at the 3 projects now... 1. Hello Kitty quilt for my niece - squares all cut -  no progress at all on this one during the 100 days of the challenge 2. Farmer's Wife blocks - I had 30 blocks at the beginning of the challenge and I am now at 48! Still a long way to go with 111 blocks in total... 3. Project 48 -   I didn't make all the blocks from this quilt-along but I made all the blocks I wanted to make. So one with no progress, one with just over half of the progress I was planning/hoping for and one complet

Long Time Gone

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I started the quilt-along by being ahead every week but this is now over, and this week I even had to rush to finish the blocks.... I posted my weekly picture about 30 minutes before the deadline... wow! Time to focus again as this will only heat up! So here are my 9 Jacob's Ladder blocks, all made out of my scrap basket (but the monsters print). That's 4 more blocks for my 350-blocks challenge this month, taking my total to 8. Linking to  Confessions of a Fabric Addict Celine

Happy Easter

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Happy Easter to you. I am not baking on Easter day (!) but I made some hot cross buns for Good Friday, following the British tradition. Celine

Sorbetto top

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Another Colette pattern! but this one a free one with a quilt-along. I like the style of the Sorbetto top and it came as a free pattern on Colette's website and a sew-along . Of course, I had to jump in! I bought some crepe and organza fabric that I was planning to use to make it. But then when I read the sew-along instructions (I jumped in after it started), I read about the muslin (frankly, who has time for a muslin) and also about all the alterations that might be needed... and finally decided that a cotton/muslin first try would make sense. I cut the pattern and sew the top quickly and sure enough when I tried it, I thought it didn't fit me that well. So after more trying and measuring (I always seem to measure myself fatter than what I am in reality), I ended up taking it apart completely, cutting the pieces one size down and doing a small bust adjustement. Wow! Never thought I'd understand or manage that one but then the sew-along explanations were really good.

Back in the saddle

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After catching up on the Project 48 Quilts blocks last month, I have decided to focus again on the second project I had listed on my 100 Days Challenge list . The 100 days will be up in the middle of the month already so it would be just nice to report progress on a second project! So here it is, I have picked up my Farmer's Wife blocks again... and I must say it has gone slower than I planned/expected but life and work are a bit crazy just now. Anyway, I have made a few blocks: 17 [Cats and Mice] 18 [Century of Progress] finished is better than perfect will be the mantra here.... of and I have squeezed a few Long Time Gone blocks too so as not to fall off the wagon! 2 more Jacob's Ladder blocks A slow (?) start of the month with just 4 blocks so far. Celine

Gold pencil skirt

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If you follow me on IG or you read my blog regularly, you will know that I had put on my gift list for Mother's Day the Maker's Atelier' s book, that I received and I must admit, I could't wait to get started. So I went for the first pattern of the book which is a stretch pencil skirt and I bought some lovely PVC gold fabric similar to the one pictured in the book. The skirt is easy to make as it consists of 2 pieces sewn together and has an elasticated waist. Because of the nature of the fabric, no hem is required! So here it is, my finished skirt ready to be worn, it is a little on the larger size (I always see and it seems measure myself fatter than I am!) and maybe long (I might trim it off) but it is very wearable! And I have now taken it in a little and shorten it and it looks great (even if I say so myself!) Another OPAM for April  and the second item to be crossed off my  Q2 Finish Along List . Linking to  Whoop Whoop Friday . Celine

Saunio cardigan

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The Saunio Cardigan was the second task for Sew My Style, set for February. I never managed to get to it in February but finally started it last month. The fabric was very difficult to line up at the edge and keep straight and I must say for once, the quantity I bought was tight. So I cut the larger size of the pattern as I fell between 2 sizes and started sewing last month, only to realise that I didn't have any black interfacing so I couldn't finish it. I am glad I went to my local shop at this stage because the pattern doesn't specify what type of interfacing to use and being a beginner, I didn't have a clue it was possible to find interfacing for knit/jersey fabric. So with the interfacing available, I could finally finished my cardigan. There is no "closure" for the cardigan, no buttons or zip or anything and I am not a big fan of the front pieces just hanging so I followed Jessica 's "hack" and made 2 belt loops. I didn't mak

Q2 Finish Along

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Spring has arrived and I am hoping that the additional daylight will give me lots of energy and maybe free time too! Let's hope and get started on the unrealistic list :-) with high expectations, some must do here too! 1. Blanche Bag for A - not started 2.    Quilt for E - HK QAL - all cut, it would be good to have it done for her birthday in April 3.  Belle Bag for C - not started 4. Modern HST quilt - half of the blocks done 5. Super Mario quilt - a few blocks still needed  6. Project 48 quilt/Solstice Challenge 7.  Impromptu along - abandoned 3 years ago!  8. Pumpkin Passport Cross stitch - not far now.... but still some way to go 9. Sorbetto top - cut (cotton) and started 10. Sorbetto top (crepe) 11. Dress for C - not started 12. Saunio cardigan - cut and started 13. Floral Supply Case Sew Along - not started 14. Shirt Dress  (Darling) - not started 15. Bridgetown Dress - not start