Sneaking in some stripping!

Yes this is what Sarah asked us to do as Queen Bee in the Modern Stitching Bee.  She loves a strip pieced spider web so that's why I've been stripping!

I haven't done any of that since last August when I eventually finished this quilt

That was a lot of stripping mind you so maybe it is not surprising I haven't done more!
So it is a bit like going back to the beginning to remember it all but it does come back and I did finish two spiderweb blocks, with bright, light fabrics, selvedges, dots, stripes, and text fabrics as requested!  I have put in some of my favourites - some new, some not so new, even some Oakshott!  And not one bit of batik or marbled fabric - tempting as that was (not really)!

Just hope she likes them and I can send them off to Shetland...they have quite a long way to go possibly by snail?!

More charming....

I am still receiving new blocks for my charming quilt!

It is certainly fun opening up those packages and seeing where they have come from and who has made blocks for me.

I see a photo of them on Flickr but they are always so much more beautiful in real life aren't they!?

The most recent set to arrive are from Jeanne aka Grey Cat Quilts on Flickr and her blog greycatquilts.

I love them!   Such pretty colours!

And don't they fit into my quilt so well

Can you spot them?  Can you spot your own if you were so lovely to make some for me?   

I love all the variations that people have made and how they all contribute beautifully to the whole - now if only we could be content to be different and yet be together the world would be a much happier place!  

Who knew quilting had such a great message for us all?   You see what we do is very important....and that's my excuse anyway!

At last...

Ages ago I promised I'd make this for someone!

She has been very patient!

I am sending it to her today!

Hope you like it 'someone'!

Made using the wonderful tutorial by Ayumi over at Pink Penguin.  And have you got her book yet??  

Spring sprouts!

In the Bee a Brit Stingy bee the lovely Di asked for some scrappy-sprout blocks!

Have to admit I have seen these around and been tempted to make some as I love the work of Orla Keily and these so remind me of her multi stem pattern

Anyone got a spare £650 to buy me this rug!?  No!?  Shame!   Maybe I'll just settle for her mug then at £8.50....both available from John Lewis if you are interested!

Or maybe I'll just make more of these....

And here is my siggy block - ok I goofed a bit as you have to turn you head to read it but maybe you could see that as exercise!??  I did add a wee sprout growing up the side cos I think I can draw - well simple stuff anyway and I bought all these different coloured Sigma pens ....got to make use of them

Hope Di is happy....but if not I could be starting another project putting them in my orphan box!

Incoming!

In the post on Tuesday was a gorgeous bundle from my friend May!  May loves to organise things and so having 'met' her in the Scrappy? Sew Bee It! bee she organised me into the Star of Africa bee and Lazy Bums (a support group for quilters with an addiction for starting new projects - made for me that one !)  

And now she is well into organising her Europe only Text Charm Swap - and yes I'm in that one too!  ( sorry think you are too late to do anything but watch and drool with the swap).

Moomin Mama below comes to me as my block for the Star of Africa bee.  Although May lives in Germany she has her roots in Finland - the home of Tove Jansson and the Moomintrolls!   I loved those stories!   So when I  picked children's books or fairystories, myths or legends as my theme in the Star of Africa bee May knew what she had to make for me.

Check out her apron, her handbag and her wee tail!

In the Mouthy Stitches 2 Swap May made me this uber-cute tote with Moomin and Little My.  When she was making it I had no idea she was making for me so I made her a bit nervous with my lack of comments but I think she knows I love my tote - but just in case - I LOVE my tote!

I am really pleased that Moomin is re-united with his mama!  

She also snuck in some goodies of the fabric kind - including more Moomin magic and some chocolate - but disaster struck here as those choccies seem to have mysteriously disappeared!  I'm not blaming Moomin Mama but some guilty party ate those up quickly!

Being Queen Bee this month in Scrappy? Sew Bee it I am also lucky enough to get these gorgeous charmers!  They are so pretty and if there wasn't another project up on the design wall at this minute I'd show you how well they fit in my charming quilt!

May is on some travels at the moment - she may even be in a spot near you?! If she is be sure to thank her for these beauties!

If she turns up in Sussex then I'll do that myself!  She is coming to FQ Retreat in London in July so no doubt I will meet her then!   I'm half expecting her to turn up in Viking helmet but she had better bring her Stargazer quilt with her.     

What project is up on my design wall?  Aha you just need to wait a little while and I'll show you but I'm pleased to say it is coming together easier than those flipping baskets!

I'm a basket case!

...but you knew that already!

Along with the lovely Sarah and maybe a few others...I sometimes find it difficult to stick to the plan.

Of late I have been starting numerous new things instead of finishing off the mountains of old!

Well I dithered about my latest FAL list and one project was in then out but it seems to have got under my skin and grabbed me in a most unfortunate and unexpected way!

I made a basket quilt several years ago which looks like this!

I started it at a workshop and before attending this workshop I did research into basket blocks and collected a file full of patterns.  I then decided that one basket quilt wasn't enough and started a basket sampler quilt.

Typically I got as far as seven blocks!  All pink and cream....

Now of late I have looked at these blocks and thought - I don't really like you!  

All my other UFOs I have managed to salvage and update to my current taste but these were steadfastly refusing to submit!

Until yesterday....... when I took some lovely grey prints and made my ever so pink blocks the centre square in a square ! 

I like them so much better now and can at last see a way forward with this project.

Pity it's not on this quarter's list as I'd really like to make more pink basket blocks....mutter, mutter, lack of self discipline - sigh!  

At least this is an old UFO and not another new project so no need to bang your head Helen!!

I've got mail!

Bee-utiful mail!

From India for my international book shelf I have Hindu gods Krishna and Ganesh gorgeously executed by two lovely ladies Tina and Veena!

The detail is amazing.  Krishna is known in India as the butter thief and this block shows him butterhanded ...  Ganesh is the elephant headed god stitched impeccably!

I love them both and the sumptuous brocade fabrics that came with them but I haven't taken a photo of yet!

From Sweden, I got the top three charmer blocks made by Annika and the others from Australia made by Helen, my Scrappy? Sew bee it! mates.   I love these Charmer blocks.  

 It seems that anything goes in this quilt, soft colours, bright colours ...and with these six taking me up to 35 - my fingers are twitching as I want to fill in that missing block to square this off

I might just have to do that this evening!