Bee Europa July

Managed to get my Bee Europa July blocks in the post just before the end of the month. Not quite sure where July has gone!!
Amy asked for a Wonky Log Cabin block which was great as we had both taken part in the Wonky Log cabin class at the Fat Quarterly retreat!
These are so much fun to do the struggle is trying to get them to be wonky! Here is my block and a half that I made ~

It's never too late....

to be producing a 2012 calendar half way through the year is it??
I picked up this Ikea frame from a charity shop yesterday and had a plan in mind.

It is a great little frame - one because of the lovely gloss white finish and two because it is double sided.
Numerous times I am sat in my little work area when I need to find a date at a glance. I don't have space for a large calendar and don't need space to write anything I just need the days and dates.
So with a bit of searching I found a wonderful desk top calendar that was printable and free!! Find it here.
I also had saved on my computer another little printable that will hopefully get me in the sewing mood.
So with a bit of printing, cutting and arranging here is the end result that now sits neatly on my desk! Not bad for 99p!

For when I need a date ~

 For sewing inspiration ~

Also hello to my new followers! Somehow I totally missed that I reached over 100 followers! Woohoo - I feel totally chuffed that there are 108 wonderful people out who spend the time to read my rambling thoughts! So to celebrate watch out for a giveaway next week!

Sunshine and a bit of sewing

Sewing (and blogging) has been a bit quiet of late as I have been enjoying the sunshine that has finally arrived in the UK!
I have however behind the scenes been finishing off the frame purse for my secret swap partner which is now somewhere in transit on the way to my partner and fingers crossed that they like it?! I'll post photos of the whole package when my partner receives it - don't want to spoil too much of the surprise!
I picked up a few things to get me in the mood for sewing for a total of £2 at the charity shop. I just love it when I find lovely treasures like these!

Mollie Makes

When I heard that Tacha had a write up about the Fat Quarterly Retreat in the current issue of Mollie Makes (issue 16) I quickly planned my visit to WHSmiths to get my hands on a copy. I was not disappointed!
Little to my surprise whilst having a quick read in the store I had to study the page really carefully!

This is what was going through my mind....
Hold on....
Ummm....
Yep I'm sure....
No it's never....
OMG that's me!!! (Damn my hair looks a mess!)
To my surprise there is a little photo of me looking far too serious whilst using a rotary cutter!! How scary is that!

It is a great write up and really sums up the wonderful weekend and Tacha also has a lovely project in the issue from her new book!

APQ radio

I first heard about American Patchwork and Quilting Internet radio over on Twitter a few weeks ago and was curious. Curious because I'm slowly getting into all this techie stuff and curious to see what it was all about!
So today, well actually right now whilst writing this post, I am for the first time listening live to the show with the host Pat Sloan and loving it! Just listened to Tula Pink and loved what she had to say about no fear quilting, and that quilting should be fun! Totally agree! Now listening to Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins of Piece O’ Cake Designs about their work, books and videos. Totally off to check them out and download lots more APQ broadcasts!
I'd totally recommend tuning in! More details of how you can listen here!
If like me you're in the UK tune in Mondays at 9pm.

Blimey - another finished project!

Yay! I finally managed to finish another project from the FQly Retreat.
This time it's a machine sewn placemat designed by Brioni Greenberg who also took the class!

The class was so much fun and where I discovered my new found love for spray starch - it's amazing what a little starch can do!
I actually managed to sew the top together at the class but then unpicked it as I had sewn the sections together in my own little way! I should have sewn it into two groups of 6 which gave me 2 half sections that could then be sewn together easily, as first time around my placemat had what looked like a little volcanic eruption in the middle where all the seams met! Not a good look!

For the layering, quilting and binding I simply followed the instructions (learnt from my first mistake!) and I love the finished placemat!

Now in case your wondering my dining room is not pink! So at the moment I have it hung in my little craft room as a mini quilt, thinking this would be a great pattern for a Christmas themed placemat!!

It's not too early to be thinking of Christmas is it!?
Linking up to Lily's Quilts: Fresh Sewing Day July