weekend shopping...

Saturday morning, first weekend back at school and no lie in for me. I'm up early to get myself to The Makers' Fair in Saltaire. If you have nothing on today and you fancy a day out do come along. The Makers' Fair is an awesome event full of wonderful original work (crack on with early Christmas gifts, you'll be pleased you did!) and if you do come please do stop and say hi!

Just before you go I wanted to let you know of a couple of awesome sales with 2 of my sponsors for this weekend only. The nights are drawing in - hey, it's a fact, don't shoot the messenger - perfect opportunity to stock up with sewing needs.

First up Saints and Pinners are having a crazy flash sale...25% off everything! What are you waiting for?? (No code needed...works it out at the checkout)

Over in the US at Pink Castle Fabrics there's 25% off all Kokka fabrics.Now that is worth rushing over for. Just enter KOKKA25 at the checkout for that one. With that discount it's certainly worth having a bundle shipped over.

Hope you have a great weekend whatever you are doing x

the changing of minds...

 So, the Low Volume quilt for our bed has had various transformations while I searched for just the right block design.

You may remember it started life as a Log Cabin on Sunday...

 Early yesterday morning it had morphed into HSTs...

 And before the day was even out it had changed again into straight line piecing cut within an inch of its life. 

I woke up dreaming (yes, literally dreaming) of wonky windmill blocks, having gone to bed wowing at this beauty and finding this ace tutorial.

My Tuesday running buddy was coming round at 8.30 so I was hard pushed to do a trial block before then....I am seriously my own worst enemy.

That said, I am now 100% sure (yeah, right, until the next change of plan) that this is the block I am going to use. 

The log cabin would have been too busy, even if it is Low Volume...

the HST gorgeous, but too full-on for a king sized bed (yes, Charlotte, you were right...I do listen)...

as for the straight line piecing, I have no idea where that one was going.

I'm hoping the wonky windmills will be easy on the eye, be as asymmetric and random as I like and still be the one I love when it eventually gets onto the bed.

Now I have made a decision this will now have to be put on a shelf high up out of temptations way. I have a lot on. And I mean a lot. And if I'm good I'll let myself bring it down and do a few blocks for a while.

Ooh I'm so strict.

Summer of the Simpatico...

September already? Wow where did the summer go?

Amazingly for once I actually got a summer project finished. Well, if you exclude the fact that it isn't actually made into anything, but a completed thing none-the-less.

Summer 2012 will definitely be remembered as Summer of the Simpatico. I did a tutorial of my fold-over pouches for The Daily Stitch - Annie of The Village Haberdashery's blog in Simpatico and I had such a summery, fresh making time with them that I decided that I was going to use the collection for my summer of hexie fun. We spent a lot of time in the car this summer - London for the Olympics, Bristol for family birthdays, mid France via London (again) and Paris. I was in need of a good hand stitching project that could be done on the move as well as picked up in a shady place.

Perfect!

 I am not 100% sure what it will become - possibly a wall hanging, possibly a cushion, but definitely not a quilt! I really really loved sewing these little hexies (just over 1" across!) and loved sewing them together too, but the reality of now the summer is over that it will stay in a corner with all the other "i've-started-but-goodness-knows-when-i'll-ever-finish-it" projects is making me realise that I need to stop here.

Also, to be honest, I'm a tad disappointed with how I've pieced it. The flowers (top pic)  were so lovely when sewn individually but when I began piecing together they all got lost together and looks rather random instead. If I wasn't away and impatient about not wanting to wait to come home and finish (besides, we had a 600 mile journey - I needed some hexie-ness) I would probably have pieced the flowers with solids between so they would show up better. I may trying embroidering in coordinating floss around each flower. They may stand out a little clearer.

Either way Summer of the Simpatico was a very enjoyable one.

Now we are back I have started on the next project. This one may take a while. I have been wanting to make a quilt for our bed for a couple of years. I even started some blocks last year but I was never that enamoured and now I've gone right off them - too much yellow. Yes, you did here correctly. The wallpaper in our room is rather bold and I think what is needed is something a little more easy on the eye. I've been drawn to all the Low Volume creating going on at the moment and thought this was the way to go here. I am also tying my hands behind my back and not including any yellow but a little splash of red. You may remember the gorgeous pillow my lovely friend Kylie sent me at the beginning of this year. The splash of coral red works so beautifully in the room. I am not entirely sure where this quilt is going or where it will end up, but here is the start of Block 1.

I hope you have had a good creative summer (month for you Southern hemisphere peeps) and do link up to Lynne's Fresh sewing Day if you want to see what other people have been up to.

Exciting inclusion

It is always an exciting moment when you find you are featured on not only a great blog but in the presence of greatness. 

Melanie from A Sewing Journal did this lovely round up of Seven Awesome Quilt Patterns and my Hexie Quilt Pattern was included. The fact that this quilt lives in our living room and the fact that my hubby was unable to pick which of the 7 was mine when he responded to my shrieks of delight, is neither here nor there. The fact that it is in the company of greatness that includes Amy Butler and Riley Blake and written by Melanie is what has made my day.

Large Hexies Quilt Pattern by Blueberry Park

Cherry Autumn Quilt by Art Gallery Fabrics

Sunshine Quilt by Amy Butler Design

Flight Fancies Quilt by Art Gallery Fabrics

Pinwheel Baby Quilt by Better Homes and Gardens

Chevron Lollies by Riley Blake

Supperclub Quilt by Modern Quilt Relish for Monaluna

In celebration of the pattern having such honorary status I am offering 20%off the pattern until after the weekend. Go right here if you have been meaning to purchase but as yet haven't and enter SEWINGJOURNAL at the checkout.

What's new...from my UK sponsors...

As well as each of my sponsors providing you with the fantastic new ranges of Bella by Lotta Jansdotter and Bloomsbury Gardens by Liberty Lifestyle amongst others, they all have their own individual taste and picks of what is new out there.Lucky us to have so many wonderful fabric lines hand picked for us.

Here is a review of some of my favourites available from each of them.

First up Kate from M is for Make brings us Patty Young's terrific Running Stitch fabrics. They are so zesty and zingy and will liven up any project. I'm planning on using some as the coordinating fabrics in my pencil rolls, but in the meantime have cut a little scrap for some cards. I think I will be using these in cards a lot in the future.

I don't know how long this fabric will be available in Kate's store, so you had best head over here now to stock up.

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Umbrella Prints fabrics. I fell in love with their hand screen printed designs and now just as head over heels with their organic quilting collections. 

The latest collection Elephants Love Water (such a clever title!) by the talented Amy and Carly is now available at The Village Haberdashery. Annie should be praised to the heavens for being so discerning as to step out of the box and choose something a little different. It isn't the cheapest choose, being £7/fat quarter, but being cut from a 150cm width bolt it ends up not being as pricey as you think.

Live a little...and some of these to your stash and you'll be thanking me big time. Go right here to grab a little...or a lot...

Next up Petites Odile the new chic and sophisticated collection from French General chosen by Alice at Backstitch. The pretty design is beautifully made in muted colours which would be a class act in any project as well as being perfect for dressmaking. I particularly love Claudine in Oyster. 

Head here if you fancy stocking up on something a little classy to your stash.

Last but by no means least something a little quirky. I'm not a huge fan of novelty prints but these Ric Rac Rabbits are so fun! Courtney from Seamstar always finds something fun and this is no exception. I used Bunny Friends in Burnt Orange on Teal (more turquoise) in my pencil rolls and so pleased with the result. It teams perfectly with Summersville Brushstrokes in Orange too.

If quirky fun is your thing go here to grab some. There are several great designs in various colours. You'll be spoilt for choice!

If like me you are lucky enough to be in sunnier climes enjoying a bit of R & R, what better than to be enjoying a little happier hour ordering some of these lovelies in the happy knowledge that a few pretty parcels will be waiting for your return.

Oh for the love of our modern world!

Introducing Saints & Pinners...

 Saints and Pinners is another of my lovely sponsors and another great UK online fabric store. It is run by mother and daughter-in-law team, Fran and Jo (how great it must be to get on that well with your mother-in-law and have a shared passion!)

Their website is a lovely site, very easy to navigate around and divided into interesting sections. I particularly like the "make this" section where Jo and Fran have listed projects made from fabrics they stock and navigate you to what was used and where in the shop it is.   

 You will find a lot of the usual favourites in store - they are big fans of Cloud 9 and Anna Maria Horner, amongst others, but Jo and Fran will surprise you with some more unusual finds.

One particular collection that I haven't seen anywhere else in UK is the batik prints they currently have. These wax block prints are very striking and very different from what you normally see out there.

Jo and Fran sent me some samples to have a play with and they are so lovely to use. They are very happy fabrics for one! Also the cotton is very crisp and really lovely to sew with. The fabric holds its shape well so was perfect for my pouches.

I really enjoyed sewing with these fabrics and making something that is a real departure from my usual look. I was sent Oak, above, Zigzags, below (my favourite I think - I just love that stripy blue zigzag) and hydrangea at the bottom. 

These fabrics, along with the 2 other designs in the collection are available here and I really recommend you giving them a go in your next project. Step out of your comfort zone and have a play with them. You will be rather pleased you did.

In the meantime I am doing a little giveaway with my makes here. The winner gets to choose the 3 pouches in either Oak, Zigzag or Hydrangea.

Usual story to enter...

4 ways to win...

1. Leave a comment here to say you'd love to enter!

2. Go 'Like' Saints & Pinners on Facebook and come back here and tell me you've done it.

3. Go sign up for Saints & Pinners' Newsletter (scroll down to the bottom of the page on the right) again come back here to tell me you have.

4. Go tweet about it and yup, you guessed it, come back here to tell me you have.

Good luck! you have quite a while on this one...I'll randomly pick a winner at the end of the month...August 31st.

If you can't wait that long to get your hands on some of this go check out this and S & P's other delights right now!

So that was the summer...

 Ok, I know it isn't over quite yet, but in terms of all the work I can do before September it is, which means all those things that had to get done in preparation for the silly season and haven't, actually now won't.

Which means....aaagggghhhhhh!

I was panicking before the kids broke up and apparently that was well justified as I got so little done. I would like to say I just about kept my head above water, but that would be a gross exaggeration...just about avoided drowning more like.

Despite not getting as far with Autumn/Winter prep as I would have liked, it is looking like with sheer hard work, grit and determination it will. (Do you like the air of positivity there?)

I have decided on the 2 autumn winter colour-ways I am working towards - Utility on the top right and Still Unnamed (let's call it Ice for now) on the left. Lists have been made, deadlines put onto the calendar. Crikey, I am so ahead of the game, it's frightening. (see what I'm doing with this positivity thing?)

So can I go away at the weekend and not have any sleepless nights or panics because everything is so in control? As we would say in Yorkshire...

Can I 'ecky thump!

P.S. After various suggestions Still Unnamed (thank you everyone who sent me alternative names - and still thinking that is a rather cool name - think it may have to be the name of my first fabric line...) will henceforth be known as Frozen Berries - thank you Charlottte - genius!