Life is good.....

I have had a lovely day off today- I had to pick my son up at Heathrow- he has just had a year in Japan as part of his degree ( reading Japanese) and this is what he brought back for me!

It is an amazing patchwork book, with loads of gorgeous blocks and such good diagrams that language is not a problem- that said, he can translate for me when needed!! I first saw it on another blog, but I cannot think whose it was so at this moment unable to say thank you for the tip! 

Meanwhile, my disappearing 9 patch attempt is coming together nicely although not sure what to make with the blocks, probably end up as a lap quilt.

Once again, I am using lots of Kaffe Fasset fabrics as they are my favourite and I have lots in my stash. 

My daughter has just seen the Red Arrows over at the Bournemouth air show-she lives near the coast there, lucky thing! I am hoping to see them over the weekend from the beach hut, and especially cant wait to the the Vulcan-that is truly a sight for sore eyes and the roar of the engines is something else!!

Have a good weekend all

Heatherx  

Back in Blogland....

Well, I dont know what I have been doing to make the time go so fast, but my sewing went into oblivion when the sun came out a few weeks ago!

However, with time back on my hands and a few cloudy skies, I have actually started to sew again!

I must thankSvetlana for a great tutorial on Quilt as you go- I have been desperate to try this since seeing her pot holders!

This is my first attempt using up scraps. I am not sure what I am going to make it into, waiting for inspiration!

I am into my hand pieced project from my newest book- Hex a Go Go  bu Tacha Bruecher.

It is that ld favourite, a union Jack, this time in pale colours- I have scaled it down a bit so not sure if it is going to look completely balanced when  finished! However I will have the option of adding to the outer edges to increase the size if I need to. 

The garden has been lush this year and the baby banana trees have actually flourished and attained a reasonable size too!

Did I tell you about my lovely trophy head I saw in Liberty's and then bought online? 

It is one of those had to have things!!

Well, back to the scrap heap- 

TTFN

Heatherx

More sun less sew!

Yes, the sun wins hands down when I can get to the beach and get in the sea- hence no sewing this week -until last night!  I have just received my copy of Hexa go-go by Tacha Bruecher- an amazing book of EPP projects to die for! I love EPP- and have been inspired!

Here is the start of my next project- made with an assortment of pink blues and off white- not giving away what it might be just yet!

Went fabric shopping yesterday, with an idea of what I needed- however, the shop had a few bolts of great fabrisa at half price, so I added a few 2metre lengths to my stash ready for backing the lap quilts or baby quilts that I like to do.

Then I found a selection of fat quarters of Robin by Erin Ries for Clothworks-I resisted it last time but this time it had to come home with me!

And then I spotted an new charm pack from Moda -Petite Odile by french general, and that too had to come home with me! Not sure what I will do with it but I loved it!

And finally, my daughter bought me a little gift from South Africa- 

A shweshwe lovebirds sewing kit- isnt it cute? I love the fabric!

So- the garden is mowed and the edges done, the washing is blowing on the line, blog is blogged - it must be  hex o clock!!

TTFN

Heatherx

All done-bar the buttons....

Ta Dah........

What a glorious Sunday it has been at the beach! I took my latest quilt to finish the binding- nothing like topping up the tan while you sew! This is a tabletop quilt from Simplify by Camille Roskelly. It is called Coming Home- but I know that I have seen the same block pattern called something else-can anyone remind me ??I am sure it has the name of a USA state in the title.

I used 5"charm scraps and left over fabrics for background. I made a bit of a hash of the quilting and then realised when it was complete that I had not put my walking foot on!
Anyway, it was a learning project and I am quite pleased with it. Everyone that passed me by at the beach hut commented on how nice it was!

My daughter returns from her volunteering in South Africa tomorrow- I have  a 5am run up to Heathrow! I hope the customs and immigration folk are not being difficult! While she was away I have knitted her early birthday present-

I just have to finish putting the buttons on- I reallydo hate the fiddley bits! 

And now- I have no ongoing projects!! What to do next?? I am addicted to creating- I must find something to do. 

Hxx

Improv baby.............

 quilt! A friend asked me to make a baby girl quilt, so I improvised and came up with this-

I am pleased with the result- I hope she likes it!

I took a few pics in the garden today- I have many different colours and textures of leaves and plants:

I can name them all , but havent bothered! They are lovely eh? 

I am embarking on a new quilt top using scrap 5 inch squares- watch this space....

Heatherx

Going round in circles....

I am soooo excited I just had to share this straight away!
I have made my first disappearing nine patch block- thanks to a tutorial from This years dozen !

And then I discovered free style quilting!! Well of course I didnt exactly discover it, as it has been around for donkeys years! But I discovered that I can do it!!

What do your reckon for a first attempt???

This could be the start pf something big!!

H.x

Another day trip to London

I wanted to avoid the mayhem caused by the Olympic torch coming to town , so took the train up to London to see another Japanese ( as you know my son is studying there at the moment so I have a kind of affinity) exhibition. This is   re:new Tohoku, at Asai House, showcasing the wonderful an creative products that are coming out of the area devastated by the tsunami last year.

Here are some examples of the sort of products there

I love these papier mache Roll models!

These handbags are made out of wood!

I love Kokeshi dolls.

These are ceremonial coats , shorter than kimono, used for local ceremonies.

Bamboo woodwings.

After chatting to one of the organisers, who also has a company in Tokyo, he was happy to give me his card to pass on to Alex as he may be able to offer him an internship when he graduates. I was lucky enough tobe given one of the tenugui-a traditional japanese hand towel, as there were some left over from the press packs!

I then traipsed the wet streets of the west end, saw a couple of decorated phone boxes that are dotted about all over the place,

and lots of flags about  since the Jubilee and of course for the Olympics!

And still it rains...................

H.x