Friday 20 September 2013

Show & Tell Summer Edition

Well thank you for the lovely welcome back and for patiently sitting through the somewhat long slide show of holiday photos.

So while we were in England, it wasn't all beaches, playgrounds and museums.  There were some stitchy related things too.

August was my turn as queen bee in the Sew Euro Bee An bee. Despite the fact I had had over a year to decide on my block I prevaricated and then some.  In the end I went old school and asked for churn dash blocks; I sent my bee mates some of Jenean Morrison's Beechwood Park and bits of my low volume layer cake from Rebecca's amazing swap. 

This is where I'm at at the moment. The colours remind me of Opal Fruits or Starbursts if you like, and while I'm sure I will love it in the end - the colours are just a bit different for me. Here are my blocks together with those received from Pippa, Celine and Di - thank you!

Beechwood Park Churn Dash blocks
On the hand sewing front, I finally finished the main panel of my Hexy MF EPP top, almost exactly a year after starting it.  Here it is lazing on my mum's garden bench. Now I just need to build up the courage to applique it to the background fabric.


I also finished a very overdue EPP block for Marguerite. While it was ridiculously fiddly it was actually quite enjoyable in the end.


What about fabric? There were some modest(ish) additions to the stash.

I picked up some forgotten half yards I had ordered from Cindy when she was having a sale many moons ago.  I did of course pay for them but as it was in another season it doesn't count right?


I also collected these gorgeous Oakshott FQs which I bought from Fiona when she was having an IG de-stash (again a while back so they don't count *ahem*) 


and these beautiful charms...


which I'm thinking could work very nicely with my amazing Tula Pink charms below from a recent swap.  I have to give a very belated and huge shout out to lovely Jennifer who took up another place on the swap so that I could join in. It was a U.S based only swap - Jenn cut my fabric for me and then posted the charms on to me in England. Thank you my friend!


The bargain find of our visit was this beautiful Liberty fabric, which I picked up in Greenwich market. I paid a tenner for 6 yards which was just silly really. The colours will work so well here...once I decide what to do with it.


If you are based in the UK and are not a member of Annie's CAB then you should be. In return for giving your view on beautiful upcoming fabric ranges, Annie enters you in to a monthly draw. My name was drawn in July and I spent my winnings on the texty fabrics I used in these paper pieced bee blocks for Katy.

At the end of July I received a token from Annie for my August birthday and I bought some of AMH's amazing Hand Drawn Garden as well as a couple of other bits and pieces.


Lastly, there was the obligatory purchase of some new quilting books. I was eventually seduced in to buying the 100 Modern Quilt Blocks after seeing all these amazing blocks popping up everywhere, and the book at the back has been on my amazon wishlist forever...I bought it secondhand from Amazon for about a fiver including shipping from the States - for that I can forgive a few bent corners. It's a great book on improv. and very inspiring!


Lastly, separated from my stash and a bad case of itchy fingers, I decided to knit! Now knitting and I do not get on. In fact the brand of knitting needles I'm using would best describe my knitting efforts to date. Still, undeterred I bought some gorgeous Rowan Lima yarn and have nearly finished knitting a cowl. This photo doesn't do the colour justice but it's really pretty. it measures from the floor to my chest and so it's quite long.


...and there endeth this long and really quite colourful post.  Now to just shake off a horrible head cold and make a start on my ever-growing to-do list!

27 comments:

Katy Cameron said...

It's been a pretty summer on the collection front then :o)

Leanne said...

Your summer was filled with lovely sewing and fabric, and I love your knitting.

Carla said...

Oh my your hexagons are GORGEOUS! Keep going--you can do it!

CJ said...

Beautiful fabric, and I love the colours in your hexagon quilt, it's wonderful. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Canadian Abroad said...

Love those hexies every time I see them, and think your churn dash will be gorgeous. But that Liberty bargain! Go you!!!!

Diane-crewe said...

well if the fabric was paid for ... way back I suppose it is realy OLD fabric and does not count as being from this (year)season xx

Kelly said...

Those hexies are looking ace and I love the churn dash blocks - Gorgeous!!

Catherine said...

All beautiful! I love your pieced blocks. What a fantastic score on the Liberty front! Get well soon.

cheeky monkey said...

It is a great way to enjoy the summer at home with a little sewing and lots of shopping! The hexagons look amazing

Anonymous said...

You've been very busy, do love your hexy mf!

Just Sew Sue said...

I realised yesterday that I forgot to use my coupon for my August birthday but that's balance by the fact I got an extra one in January by mistake.

Anonymous said...

Love those hexies and that liberty fabric is gorgeous!! Nothing like going home to collect a few bargains. Thanks for sharing Marie (mlismore@optusnet.com.au)

Charlotte said...

I love those churn dash blocks. My month is coming up too, and I am totally devoid of ideas :-/

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

Love the churn dash blocks (Jenean is one of my absolute fave designers), LOVE your hexies and drooling over all the fabric loveliness!

Isisjem said...

What a lovely stitchy summer and that Liberty fabric has to be the bargain of the year!

Joanne said...

Your bee blocks are gorgeous! I really want to make a churn dash quilt just for me!!
Perfect fabric haul too!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Loads of lovely blocks and bits and knitting!

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

You've had a productive Summer! Your hexie panel looks amazing :)

Debbie said...

all sorts of good stuff! I'm especially fond of the churn dash...

Liz DandeliondD said...

Lots of wonderful summer makes. I am smitten with your hexies especially.
Thanks so much for linking up with the Brit Sewing xxxx

Deborah said...

Oh my! What a glorious post! Churn dash blocks are a favorite.

Nat at Made in Home said...

Looks like an amazing summer! Love that Liberty print!

Elizabeth said...

I think your knitting is pretty impressive!
ox

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

I am just getting caught up on blogs. you have had a very productive summer and have bought a lot of pretties. And to think now the summer is gone and hopefully fall and cooler weather will be on the way.

Katherine said...

What a feast of colour and beauty! Those churn dash blocks starting me yearning and then it got worse from there. ;o) So many delights you've shared and I'm positively lusting after that hexie quilt and the LoL fabric. Mmmmm...

Hope you're feeling better!

Martha said...

Oh may lots of lovely additions to your fabric stash. I can't wait to see more of your hexie quilt it is so gorgeous.

Kate said...

So much lusciousness!!!