Espritpatch

  January has been a busy month and I can't believe the first month of the year is over. I picked up the 365 Challenge blocks project that I had abandoned a long time ago. I managed to make 21 more blocks, not quite a block a day but at least that's more than I have made for this project in a very long time. I finally finished 6 two-in-one pouches that I had cut before Christmas I also made a handbag for my Auntie that is on its way to her. And I finished a quilt that was already nearly there! I also started the Fandom in Stitches sew-along but haven't managed to keep the pace  and I cut a Lahja Dressing gown but haven't got any further than the cutting. Linking to January Furtle Celine

  I know, I know, January is not over and already I am starting a new project instead of concentrating on my huge list of UFO. Well, this one was on my 2021 Planning Party list... so far so good, right? I have been watching the sew-along/patterns/quilts on the Fandom in Stitches blog for a long time and have thought that one day I would make one or more... With the announcement of the 10th Anniversary Multi-Fandom Bookcase quilt-along , I thought it would be a perfect time to jump in. The quilt-along is a mix and match so there are a few blocks to choose from each week. The fun started over a week ago with Star Wars and I picked 2 blocks: Darth Wader Lightsaber to start with, a rather easy block! and D-0, a much more intricate block, which I am still in the process of making. Linking to  Midweek Makers ,  Wednesday Wait Loss ,  Needle and Thread Thursday Celine

  It only needed the binding to be finished off and it nearly took all month to sew it by hand. And of course what took the longest time was to bury all the threads since I changed colour to match the fabric. And this is for sure the part I like the least! But at least there was good TV to keep me entertained... I have started to watch Bridgerton and I must say it is hard not to watch the series in one go! I am not a binge watcher but this series has certainly caught my eye!  Last finish of the month most probably, which also was my  One monthly goal  for January!  Linking to  Midweek Makers ,  Wednesday Wait Loss ,  Needle and Thread Thursday ,  Brag about your Beauties ,   Off the wall Friday ,  Patchwork and Quilts Celine

  I am still slowing adding to my collection... last week I managed to make 7 more blocks 16 July - 3'' green 16 December - 6'' pink 17 July - 3'' green 18 August - 3'' green 18 October - 3'' green 19 July - 3'' green 20 October - 3'' green Linking to   Slow Sunday Stitching ,   M onday Making ,   Monday Design Wall Celine

  I saw so many of these gorgeous Guadalupe bags on Facebook over the Christmas holiday that I really wanted to try it too!  Everyone was saying how beautiful and easy/fast it was to make. Plus that came as a free pattern from the designer Sammie Valencia, so I was sold. I had cut all the pieces on New Year's day and starting the assembly shortly after.  As often, I was put off by picking/cutting and using the interfacing so I parked the exterior pieces while I was constructing the lining.  The pattern doesn't have instructions to add pockets but Sammie's website does. That was my first time making a pocket with a faux leather overlay too! I started working on it again at the beginning of last week to add  the straps connectors, only to take them off the following day (and to realise I had cut 2 but needed 4....) as it looked awful... Strolling through YouTube, I found this great video for hidden straps connectors and that gave such a nicer look. With those done, it didn&

Another UFO bites the dust! I had a bag of leftover blocks (8 of them finishing at 6") from over 10 years ago (I originally made the blocks during a Mystery Night in 2007...)  and a multitude of HST (not yet trimmed!)  that I had stashed away probably too make a cushion cover similar to the one I made 9 years ago. You can read all the details here I found the bag again a week or so ago and decided that I worked probably never do anything with those so it was time to let them go. Well they're now in their way to someone else.  Another UFO less in my stash, and again that's one that didn't even appear on any list... third one to go this year, not bad for me, who until a few months ago wouldn't even consider getting rid of UFO.  Celine

 I had plans to work on a bag this week, but I was too tired in the evenings to do much so I decided to make more of these little blocks. Overall it has been quite a good week for this long standing UFO! I picked the blocks that had the same date as the day I was making them from any month that I hadn't yet done. I must admit I picked some easier, less intricates one as I wanted to try to make more than one everyday. Here are the 11 blocks I made this week. 11th November - 3" green 11th December - 6" pink 12th July - 3'' green 13th July - 3'' green 13th October - 3'' green 13th November - 6'' pink 14th July - 3'' green 14th August - 3'' green 14th September - 3'' green 15th May - 6'' pink 15th July - 3'' green After I realised there were 2 blocks I made twice, I spent a whole evening trying to work out which blocks I have made and which I haven't. I have now stored my blocks per month in bags so I

  l had cut all the 11 pouches I was planning to make before Christmas together and finished 5 before the day, my hope/goal/dream had been to make all 11 of them at the same time....  When it became obvious that it wasn't going to be the case, I moved on to other equally urgent projects and set those 6 aside. Finally last week, I felt it was time to pick them before they fall right at the bottom of the UFO basket. Well, I guess first week back at work but even worse, first week back in full lockdown was too much to bear. So although I did spend a little time with my machine every night, I think I spent more time unpicking the mistakes from the previous night than actually sewing.... But finally this week-end, I completed all 6 pouches, 3 will be gifted to family and friends, the others will be for us. I added the cross and tick with my Cricut maker too. My first finishes of 2021! and 6 of them for that matter, that's not a bad start really. And one of my Q1 FAL list too. Linki

 At the end of last year, for the first time, I finally decided to part with 2 long-time UFOs. And actually it felt really good, liberating even to pass them on after so many years... So i n the 2021 Planning Party , I stated an intention to get rid of 2 more UFOs that I will never finish. Well, while sorting out my sewing space during the Christmas holidays, I found 2 kits that I had started and quite quickly abandoned. I have no idea when I bought those kits, apart that I bought them at the Festival of Quilts years ago. I have even less idea about when I started them. All I know is that they have been sitting in a drawer for a very long time and there is hardly any chance I will ever finish them. So I decided that they should NOT  go back in that drawer but instead go away to someone else. One of the kit was by Brenda Walker and although it is cute and I like the design, I know I wasn't going to finish it.  The second one was by Mandy Shaw, again I hardly started. I remember that