My New Pattern Book

I have been wanting to buy one of these sewing pattern books (Oh and a few bits of fabric for my stash.) for a long time from M is for Make.

I just couldn't decide which book to buy.

Ok, I don't know how to read Japanese but the pictures are so pretty.

The book has come with some instructions from Kate but there are step by step pictures in each step to sew the pattern together.

Is anyone else thinking of the movie 'The Ring'....

But such great patterns. All 20 of them. 

I think my sisters will want to get their hands on this when I venture home.

My blogging will now be limited from now until the beginning of the New Year. 

It's beginning to get busy with events and dinners and a birthday thrown in there for a bit more celebrating.

I am trying to get a bit of sewing in as well but I think I might be being a bit too optimistic.

Enjoy your week!

Fresh Sewing Day. November

Look's like it's  Fresh Sewing Day again.  And once again I'm linking up with you all at Lily's Quilts and look forward to seeing what everyone else had got up to for the month.

Well seeing that I missed last months, I can put all of Octobers into this months photos.
(Is that aloud?)

So here it is!

My first few photos I believe you all out there are in love with the new line of fabric from Lotta Jansdotter, Echo. 

Material was bought Sunday.

Fabric arrived Thursday.

Cut up on Saturday and quilt top finished on Sunday.

(Lucky I finished off the quilt top so I have something else to show.)

My next  photos are of my three sets of placemats that I am STILL making.

I used the Cut Out and Keep fabric and some natural linen.  Very easy to make and found the pattern on Handmadebyalissa .  The scraps were used to make up some coasters to go with each set. 

All sets have been quilted and now is the task of binding each set.....I've put this on the long finger at the moment.

Now my last row of photos are of my FMQ that I  did each Friday with Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting.  I really enjoyed linking up each week to this but all good things come to an end.  

I have decided thought that I'm  going to join up to two other FMQ groups to keep practising.

 Another month gone. 
And what will December bring?

Short and Sweet.

Finally got a photo of the quilt top!

Enjoy your day.

Yea I know... but I couldn't resist.

Last week I was on the computer and some how my fingers took over the keyboard and before I knew it...Lotta Jansdotter Echo Bundle was bought from Fabric Worm.
It wasn't the complete line, but enough for me.
Ah well it's almost Christmas isn't it?

Now what to make...A Quilt of course and I have seen some fantastic designs out there already.

With only myself at home last night, I was able to get a good bit of time to sit at the sewing machine.
I purposely turned off the computer so there was no reading of blogs to distract me and fabric was cut and blocks sewed before midnight and then up early this morning to sew them all together.

I had cut the fabric into 7" squares  and then into triangles.
Co ordinating fabric were all Kona fabrics. Coffee, Sage, Ash, and White.  All in my stash.
 (I knew they would come in handy!)

Although it is very bright outside now, I knew it wouldn't be when I finish the next 6 rows this afternoon so I took the opportunity to take a photo of what I have done so far.

And the best bit is there is still a bit of fabric left over...which is great as I have an idea for another quilt.

I don't think there will be much more buying until after the Christmas posting rush is over. 
I wouldn't want any precious parcels going missing.

Thanks for dropping by.  Erin

Look... I won!

Look, My first win from blogland. And aren't they so cute!

Lauren at Wilde Snapdragon Designs and I linked up together from Small Blog Meet at Lily's Quilts a few months ago.  I suppose I always find that I come back to these early followers of my blog because they helped me start and give me a bit of confidence that I could do the whole blogging thing too.

Now when I found out I won, I thought I was getting my favourite strippy heart...but oh no....look what else I got...A little felt pouch for my phone. A lovely broach, lots of little peg hearts. And when ever I go over to the bowl that they are sitting in the wonderful smell of lavender is so calming.

I really admire bloggers out there that sell their work too.  I think I'm a bit nervous that someone may not like their product when they see it in the flesh.  But have no fear..I LOVE THESE.  Now Lauren has re filled her Etsy store and has a few markets to go to in the comming weeks.
Thanks very much Lauren . 

Now back to some sewing...

Free Motion Quilting Friday....

Can you believe this...I'm posting my FMQ to link up with Cindy...I'm feeling a wee excited that I am so organised this week.  Usually the FMQ task is lagging behind and squeezed into Saturday or Sunday.

This week Cindy of Fluffy Sheep Quilting had us trying .......... Superstar

 It did take me a little while to find my way but I found that I turned the fabric at each point, my lines seemed to be straighter then and therefore kept the shape of the stat.

Oh if you should think that you may need to sneeze....it might be a good idea to stop, as I found.

 I chose to use yellow thread for my Superstar...maybe I should have chosen a different colour to show off the sewing.

I wonder what she will have in store for us next week....Looking forward to it already Cindy.

Thanks to all that suggested ideas for the binding, I will bring them out again this weekend and make my final decision on what to do.

And I have found a new home for my fabric, Now I need to find a new home for the DVDs.

(Hubby doesn't know this yet)

Oh and Happy Thanksgiving to all in the US.  Hope you all had a great day.

Will anything be finished?

I have been trying my hardest to finish off some projects before I start anything new.  And then there is always a set back of running out of fabric or you realise that you have no thread that matches.
So this is what I have been doing the past few weeks.

Do you remember these?

My place mats are being quilted.....oh and there are some little coasters to go with each set.

I may have to put this aside for another week while I decide what to do for the binding.
Any suggestions? I thought the prints might be too much to use as binding?

And I just have to finish off the hem on my Amy Butler Barcelona skirt....

There are a few more projects that need to be finished....doesn't seem to stop me from buying more fabric though....

Can you have too much fabric?  Because I think I'm beginning to run out of storage space soon.

Happy sewing!

FMQ with H2.....OOOh no!!!

Is it Friday you ask...No unfortunately not, but with my Christmas shopping finished off yesterday, (so I'm organised for some things.) my only day for sewing was today.

H20 is the challenge this week...thanks Cindy...it was a challenge.  Circles are far from perfect. 

 I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but I find that each week I do these samples,  I finish with a very tense back.  The concentration is immense and I end up scrunching up my shoulders and bending over to be closer to the needle..... A good posture for sewing goes completely out the window.

No I don't think these are H2O, but some aliens maybe from out of space...maybe I should have used green thread.

Now believe it or not I did the FMQ Star challenge too and all the advice to give you is to pivot your needle at each point of the star to get a straight line....Oh and if you feel like you are going to sneeze...STOP......

Enjoy your week!  Erin

FMQ Friday Pine Needles and My New Fabric Stash.

You may not believe this but fabric stores in Ireland are few and far between.

It can get frustrating at times so when you can get your hands on quilting supplies, you can go a little bit crazy.

The Knitting and Stitching show was on this weekend in Dublin, (along with some bulls) so I headed over to get a few bits and bobs.  New larger mat, cutting rulers, freezer paper, bobbins (good idea Eva). 

I didn't spend much time there, as it was packed.  The stalls were really more for traditional quilters so no fabric was bought. And to be honest I don't even like shopping on a Saturday with crowds, so this was defiantly not my scene.  I like to just swan around like you can in a book store...take my time.  But it really was like 2000  bulls in a china shop so after an hour I legged it.

When I got home the postman had kindly left something behind the flower pot at the front door.

Now that's shopping for you!...Jealous?

I was really disappointed when Fabric Worm ran out of Daisy Chain (Prints Charming) and I wasn't leaving it to chance to wait to see if it was coming back in so I headed to  Charm Stitch at Etsy.  And there it was. 

 Expensive but well worth it.  ( Months fabric budget blown in one go)

But really I still have this.....

Jay - Cyn Designs

And this to use...

Kona Solids from River Fabrics

Head down now Erin no excuses not to start.

I am loving this FMQ each week.  It really puts me out of my comfort zone and this little bit of homework for me each week is playing on my mind all week to finish

(Oh, how it comes around so quickly) 

It also finishes up all my almost empty bobbins and my scraps of batting. 

(Yes I'm a hoarder...and I get it from my Grandmother)

So here it is.....Well some of it. 

(look right to left)

When I started , I sewed a line down the block.  It was easier to concentrate on the pine needles and not think of the straightness of the line....so I found out in the third line.

(Because I didn't stick to logical thinking on this line).

I was playing around with the angle of the pine needle and then realised how messy it looks. So yes you need to keep the angle the same for each pine needle....

And then........I started thinking.  (light bulb please)  Pine Needles, Christmas Tree....Presents......

And this is what happened.



Oh... the power of  media.

Puppy Love with Sherbet Pips

I know, I know, Sherbet Pips is not the latest design from Aneela Hoey, but I do love the designs on the fabrics...Although I can't decide which particular fabric I love the most.

I had bought two jelly rolls of this range...Yes I did indulge, but I am happy that I did.  I suppose my two quilts I have made from these designs have two different layouts...nothing too tedious or over adventurous, but I was glad to try them out.

I cut up my second  jelly roll up in strips of 6 1/2" and made blocks out of three different strips. 

56 blocks made in total, sewed up and a few strips left over for two rows of the puppy's on the top and bottom of the quilt.

Binding was made from the strips of dots in the range and the backing was the pink puppy fabric.

Cotton wadding was used and I machine quilted the quilt with straight lines...No FMQ here, well not yet.

I do wish now that I did buy more of this range... but well I still have this in my cupboard and haven't a clue what I am going to do with it.

Now this was not on my list of Winter Stitching Projects that I have joined up with from FairyFace Design, but its another quilt on my finished list.

My Halloween Wedding Anniversary.

I haven't been around much of late and have no sewing really to show you.  But that doesn't mean the mind hasn't been ticking over thinking of new projects to do.

My FMQ was missed last week as Hubby and I had a weekend away in Galway for our Wedding Anniversary and to see the many delights of Halloween.   Galway put on the rain and wind for us so we were really indoors for the weekend...but maybe that is why there are so many good pubs in the city.

So between rain falling and the sun trying to peer through the clouds, I got some shopping in, and dropped into Pippa Blue and met up with Eva for a quick chat and one or two purchases.  Eva is my first Flickr contact that I have meet from the cyber world, and it was really nice to meet a fellow sewer.

And Cindy I did see  that cake shop.....but I kept walking...I was not aloud to be tempted.

I have finished my two weeks FMQ for Cindy's link. 

My Star...

Next time I will sew a cross first.  It was easier to see where the middle was but that didn't stop the wonky straight sewing....Maybe I should use a smaller piece of fabric.

Stomach Lining was a lot more fun,

Although half way through my hubby came over to ask if there were enough peas in the dinner for me.  So I had to try and look up and keep sewing at the same time, while turning the piece around.

I have also purchased some thread from Fiona's new store on etsy Threads 2000.

I wish I bought the green as well.

So not much else to show. 

I still have to blog about my two quilts but when ever the sun is shinning, I have been stuck in work.  The short days aren't helping either so hopefully I can get out today.

I have also two weeks of blogging to catch up with, oh a busy day ahead.    

 Across the Sea Quilt Finished.  Yea!

 

And Sherbet Pips Quilt quilted and binded today also.  Yea!

 

And....all of my 12 placemats are ready for quilting.

(Sorry no photos of this yet)
And I even got a nana nap in this afternoon on the couch!

As you can imagine, I am quite happy that my weekend was so productive.

Sorry for the pics...it was not a very bright day at all.  Not a day for photos.
So you might get another blog on this during the week when the sun starts to shine again.

Signing off as one very happy camper.  Erin.

My Free Motion Quilting- Chipped Square Tiles.

I was looking forward to trying out this weeks FMQ task.  I can see myself using these tiles on a quilt in the future...but as you can see a bit more practise will be needed.

I turned down my speed and put my length of stitch on 0 and off I went. The top row was started in the middle of the piece but by the third row, I found it easier to sew the squares vertically rather than horizontally.
Again I did find if I lost concentration, or over concentrated on a tile, I would loose it and a chipped tile would be the end result...Ops!
My 5th and 6th row was trying out my creative impression of slate tiles...ordered and inspired to think outside of the box/tile by Rebecca at Making Rebecca Lynne.

Some are showing what gloves they use for FMQ this week.  I don't usually use any but tried the tiles out this week with my cotton gloves (no rubber tips) and found them ok to use.  I usually use these so I don't dirty my quilts while quilting, not for grip.

Sorry no socks today.
Am trying to finish up a few projects at the moment before I start any new quilts, so no other photos to show.
Anyone interested in linking up and trying out some FMQ, Check out Cindy's blog every Friday at Fluffy Sheep Quilting.

(Now in between starting to write this blog and getting photos uploaded, I have finished my Across the Sea Quilt...only a few weeks behind, so fingers crossed the sun comes out tomorrow for some photos.)

Thanks for dropping by.  Erin

My winter sewing projects.

I don't know if I am biting off more than I can chew here, but I have decided to join Sarah from Fairy Face Designs- Winter Stitching because we all know that there will be many days of staying in out of the hail, sleet and snow that we have all come accustomed to here in Ireland.
So here is my list....I'm sure there will be some of you will chuckle at me and think "Very ambitious isn't she",.... but here it goes.

• A Hexagon Quilt (from Fresh Quilting by Malka Dubrawsky)
• A Simple Log Cabin Quilt.
• A Wonky Log Cabin Quilt. (from The Modern Quilting Bee Block Party by Alissa Haight Carlton and Kirsten Lejnieks)
• A Swoon Quilt 
• A Windmills quilt (by Moda)
• A Modern baby quilt  (from Fresh Quilting by Malka Dubrawsky) 
• A Uneven Coin Block Quilt. (from The Modern Quilting Bee Block Party by Alissa Haight Carlton and Kirsten Lejnieks)
• Finish place mats...all 12 of them.
• 3 x A line skirts for myself, (two for winter and one summer skirt when I hit the land of OZ for Christmas)
• A few mug rugs for practice.
• Some little dresses for my niece.

So can you believe I actually have all the fabric for all these projects already.  ( I need to stop buying fabric)....so it should be full steam ahead, until I realised there are 7 quilts on my list and only 4 months to do these in....Yes I had a good chuckle to myself...Really Erin, where are you going to get all this time?  Should this be my list for the next year?

So Sarah, you may get back to me at the end of Autumn next year!

Free Motion Friday (Ahh Sunday) Week 2: Drop Art

Cindy I am so sorry but I really am very behind this weekend. And Nicky I am just wishing that tonight was Friday night...but no such luck.

I'm back this week and  joined in the fun again with Fluffy Sheep Quilting .  This week our next task was Drop Art. 
I don't really want to show you what my drops are meant to look like as it is a lot harder than you think to do. So if I only show what my drops look like, then they won't look so bad.

I would have to say that if you loose concentration, your stuffed...can I say that?  While I was thinking of the shape of each droplet, I was not thinking of how fast my stitching was and then when I was thinking of my stitching pace, I forgot about the shape.  Oh well.
So here it is.......

And yes the socks are back.
See the top...loosing concentration with my straight stitching at the top. And look at those bubbles in the fabric.  I still have a lot to learn.

Now I did try my waves again this week and maybe a bit better but again, I lost it at the end and it became very messy.

Next week, squares, which I hope to master as I think I will use it on a quilt.

I did get a lot of little bits and  pieces done today,  basted a quilt, binding made for two other quilts, and only one more row left on my Across the Sea Quilt....just a few weeks late.

A few weeks back, I had trouble leaving messages on other blogs.  I had swapped over to the new  updated blogger interface.  This is what was giving me trouble and as soon as I went back to the old blogger interface, everything was back to normal, 

Thanks again for dropping by, and will hope to get some photos of my new projects up soon. 

My First Winner.

Thank you to all that dropped a line and went into my first giveaway. 
Of course there is only one winner, and that is.............

Laura of Quokka Quilts ...you are the winner. 
Once again thank you all that entered and it looks like soon we will have to have another giveaway when another milestone is hit!

Now back to the sewing, I have some waves and droplets to do.....

I have Sand Worms not Waves.

I decided this week I would join in the fun and try my hand at Free Motion Friday with Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting.
This weeks task was to try and free motion waves, It sounds easy but when you see my first attempt you will see that they look more like sand worms than waves.
So here it is.....

Sorry but my feet were keeping the worms from blowing away in todays wind.
Next week's task is drop art, but I may have to have another go at the waves first.

Don't forget my giveaway is still on till Friday.

I'm past my fifty followers Giveaway....

I think it's time for a Giveaway on this blog of mine. So here it goes.

I have a great little bundle of the Across the Pond to giveaway.

9 Fat quarters of very soft lovely organic fabric. A gem to work with. (I'm currently making a skirt out this range)

It is open to all that are out there reading my blog...(A big thank you to you all) So if you want to enter, here is the criteria.

1. Simply become a follower of my blog and leave a comment to say you have done so. (One entry per person)

A BONUS ENTRY TO MY CURRENT 59 FOLLOWERS ....
But....If you are a follower already you have a second chance to win the bundle by leaving a message Bonus Entry. (Because you are the wonderful reason why we are having this giveaway) Great idea Helen and Rebecca

Make sure your email address is available to me to contact you if you are the lucky winner.


Giveaway closes 12.00 midnight (GMT) on Friday 14th October, winner will be selected on Saturday 15th October by the Random Number Generator.


Good luck everyone!

Giveaway is now closed.  Winner will be anounced Saturday. 

Fresh Sewing Day. September fly by.

Ok. Are you ready Lynne?

This is it guys....this is all I got done for September...I think.

Hopefully October is a better month for sewing or should I say finishing off projects that I have started.

Mug Rug and Goodies part 2.....

It was a real treat to come home to a second parcel this week.

My second Mug Rug and goodies arrived from the UK,

How great are these! And even my little bird that I had on my mosaic that I thought was very cute. I was thrilled Nicky.
Then when I turned the purse over, look what I found.....

I was really touched, How special is this!

Nicky as you can see I love my gifts. It seems to take a week for parcels to arrive from the UK to Ireland, so you had nothing to worry about.

And Cindy, thanks so much for organizing the Swap. I really enjoyed being part of it.

Ok, now to all my bloggers who I follow out there. I don't know what has happened this week or what I have done but I cannot comment on anyones blog but mine. I am trying to rectify the problem but no such luck at them moment. It is very frustrating as I have tried and tried to leave many messages on peoples blogs. So any advice out there would be greatly appreciated.

Look what came in the mail today.

Oh I got a lovely surprise this evening when I arrived home.

Linda Lawson was my secret partner and has made me these wonderful gifts. A fantastic Mug Rug, (how did you know I love Cloud 9 fabric?) and a zippy bag (which when I made mine for my partners was thinking, I could use one of these...) And some key rings. Fabulous!

Like me it was Linda's first Swap and she had let me know how much she had enjoyed it.
Well Linda I hope you do more because these are such wonderful goodies and they are so well made.
And the Mug Rug was used straight away.
Thanks again Linda.

Just Keep Sewing.

Anyone watching the Solheim Cup will see it was rain, rain, rain here today in Ireland!
A good excuse to not go out and polish my pink car...(it was red once.)
Another good excuse to not do the gardening.
And a great excuse to stay close to the sewing machine.

Yesterday when I took a a photo outside on the decking of my Across the Sea QAL I was a bit disappointed with the back of the quilt. My crosses seem to be lost in the Kona Ash. That and I have realised in the sun that the Ash fabric is a wee shade lighter in places. So the back is now a bit blotchy.
Then when I was taking the front back into the house, I accidently stepped on it and now look......

AHHHHHHHH! What am I going to do now? Any secret tricks out there in cyberspace?

As for the Cloud 9 fabric, I have decided to make some placemats. The pattern is from HandmadebyAlissa
I have a little fabric left so I may make some glass mats to go with them. But unfortunetly the weekend is almost over and I was interupted by the excitement (for us) of the Solheim Cup and I need to now order fabric for the backing and binding of 12 - yes, 12 placemats.

Thanks for dropping by and hope you all have a great week of sewing. Erin

Busy, Busy, Busy.

QAL back finished.

Binding made.

Mug Rug and Goodies parcels sent.

Time for a cuppa and to decide what I am going to do with these.