Daisy Made It

Time flies....

....but it hasn't all been fun.  Me and Ross have had our heads immersed in a load of legal paperwork, which we're hoping will be resolved by the end of this week, I'm sick of paperwork, chasing emails, organising....but we did get a trip into London to meet with the barrister, which enabled us to have dinner at the OXO tower.....great views and lovely food, so not all of it was boring :)

The fun part has been finishing my sisters quilt for her birthday, making another bear for a special order

I've also been putting the binding on my other sisters quilt for her birthday next week, can't show pictures yet and preparing for my two gorgeous nieces who are coming for a sleepover at the weekend......they will be staying Saturday and Sunday night and we will have a ball

It's quite frightening how grown up they are looking in the latest photos of them, Lily will be 6 in June and analise will be 3 next month......as I said time flies!!!

Busy, busy, busy...

Phew it's been a busy week, I've been busy sewing, finishing some presents so I can't show pictures yet.....well maybe a sneak peek :)

I also went down to Brighton to stay with Charley for a couple of days, which was nice for both of us.  I enjoyed chilling out with her and she enjoyed the company while she finished her last assignment :)

Charley starts her placement in a weeks time and I know she really looking forward to it, she's working in a Special Educational Needs school and the best news is it's near home, so we'll be seeing lots of her :)

Well time to get back to sewing, no rest for the wicked :)

More goodies :)

Well so far I've had a lovely day :) This morning me and Ross drove over to Patchwork Corner to pick up some rolls of wadding and of course while I was there I had a little look around and got a few more dies for my Go! cutter....

I go tthe Go! feathers

the Go! Funky Flowers

and the Go! Round Flowers

all in readiness to make an applique quilt for Charley :)

So after being thoroughly spoilt at Patchwork Corner we then called into the Fox and Hounds for a delicious lunch.  While we were there we ran into a couple of friends who joined us and we all had a lovely time, catching up and making plans for a future visit :)

So now I am finally home and am spending an hour or two in my studio sewing down circles onto some blocks - happy days :)

A late Christmas present :)

Ross being the super, awesome husband he is gave me a late Christmas present today.....and to say I am a little overwhelmed (and super excited) is an understatement :)

Quite a few months ago, he decided that as I would probably be making quilts for people for Christmas he would get me a quilt made, and he knows I love Amish quilts.....I'm always badgering him about us taking a trip to Pennsylvannia and visiting the Amish community or going to a quilt auction.  Well it's taken a few months to be made which is why I'm just getting it now....so without further ado, here it is

Here's a closer view and a truer colour of the quilt, this is one of my favourite blocks

You'll have to excuse the quality of the photos, I took them quickly on my phone in my excitement.......I will be taking my quilt out this weekend to show some friends and next week when it's on the bed and my camera is properly charged up I'll take some better pictures :)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

WIP Wednesday

I've decided to link up with Freshly Pieced and her WIP Wednesday.

This week I've spent some time dithering and playing around on Pinterest but I did manage to piece 2 quilt tops for birthdays in February, they are both the same fabric range but slightly different patterns/layout....here's one of them

So now I just need to get more wadding/batting and quilt and bind them....should have them done before the end of the month :)

I also started cutting out another quilt today for another birthday in May....this one has lots of appliqued circles on it, so I'm using a cheats way, you've gotta love lightweight interfacing.....life is too short for needle turn applique!!!

Just a quickie post today as I NEED to get back to sewing more and more circles....49 of them in fact......I must be mad!!!!

A challenge...

I've decided to set myself a challenge this year.  I don't make resolutions as a rule but I came across this challenge on Sew Cal Gal's blog and knew I had to join.

I tend to stay in my comfort zone when it comes to FMQ - free motion quilting and I know the answer, as with most things, is to practise, practise, practise, but I am very good at letting things get in the way and not bothering.....so I thought if I joined the FMQ 2012 challenge then I might not find it so easy to put it off until another day.

So here's the first step in me moving out of my comfort zone and improving my free motion quilting skills :)  If you want to find out more about it then you can click the FMQ 2012 button on the right hand side of this post, it'll take you straight there :)

Fresh Sewing Day

Well last month was a busy one, but I couldn't really show you anything as everything I was making was Christmas presents :)

I made 4 quilts...one for Ross (hubby), one for Charley (daughter) and two more, one for each of Ross's secretaries

I also made 4 Quilters Sew 'n' Go's for 4 of my quilting buddies....they have a zip that goes the whole way round so you don't lose anything from them in transit and they have space to hold your tools, thimbles, needles, etc

Charley had also requested a (very) frilly apron in which to bake cakes in :)

And finally, for the first time ever we were eating out for Christmas Day.  A good friend of ours is manager of a pub/restaurant, The Fox & Hounds....since they opened back in the summer, we have eaten there lots, the quality of the food is outstanding and they always look after us very well :)  It's almost like going and sitting in your own house they are so welcoming, so we decided I would make them a little mascot for the bar......I made him in the colours of the uniform, which consists of a burgundy polo shirt, with 'F' & 'H' on the chest and the numbers 1, 2, 3 or 4 on the back.......they were thrilled.  The owners were eating there too on Christmas Day and were delighted with their new mascot - it was a lovely day :)

So I've had a little rest over Christmas and New Year, but my fingers are itching to get sewing again, so back in the studio tomorrow :)

 

A few of my favourite things....

....from 2011.

Well as it's the last day of the year I thought I'd do a little mosaic round up of some of my fav things I made this year....enjoy :)

It's normal on this last day of the year to look back and reflect on what has passed....what can I say about this year???

It hasn't always been great, but through those rough times a lot of "friends" have fallen away, mainly because they are far too judgemental and that me and my family don't jump through all the hoops they set out for us....and what can I say to that......well I say THANK YOU!!!!! It was like breathing fresh air again after being shunned by you all and maybe you should all read Matthew 7:5 and do some self reflecting.

It's not all doom and gloom, through this I have discovered the REAL friends who are in this for the long haul....they accept me as I am, they love me, care for me and want nothing more from me than companionship......you know who you are and I thank you for being TRUE friends :)

So I look forward to starting 2012 with nothing dragging me down and sharing it with the people who matter :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Surprises!!!

Well Santa (insert Ross here) was very kind to me, he got me a fantastic Go Cutter and some dies...

He did pretty well considering he wasn't sure what shapes would be the most useful.  The cutter comes with a die which cuts 4 1/2 inch and 2 1/2 inch squares and 2 1/2 inch half square tirangles.....the extra ones Ross got me were triangles in a square, 5 inch squares, 2, 3 and 5 inch hexagons and a Sunbonnet Sue die......so I have plenty to play with for a while :)

Charley also got me some fab jersey fabric an Eleanor Burns book and the Liberty book of sewing, all things I wanted and the Liberty book is covered with such a gorgeous fabric cover that you can't help but pick it up all the time, it feels so good :)

We've had a busy couple of days so today is all about chilling and relaxing, we have a few movies to watch later, but right now I'm off to get some lunch.

Hope you're all enjoying the Christmas season with your loved ones x

Welcome visitors

Don't you just love visitors bearing gifts???  Especially when they arrive carrying something as yummy as this...

Thanks Joe!!!!