Getting back to routine.

I'm back and it has been far too long.
Any of you out there still, I feel really awful that I haven't read any blogs for a long long time and it seems that flicking through a few today I have missed out on many new starts.

Over the silly season I had some family over visiting from Australia.  I really just wanted to focus on them as it may be a long time till some of the brothers or sisters will come a visit again and I wanted to spend all my time with them. 
That also included packing up my sewing machine and cleaning all the threads off the carpet for my mum to sleep in the spare room.  Sewing Machine was reinstated on Monday.

Although I had on hand my lovely Japanese charm pack and my two packs of Low Volume packed when we went off around Ireland after Christmas, they didn't come out of the bag for the whole trip.
That didn't mean that I wasn't thinking at two in the morning about what my wish list would look like for the coming year and my list of finishes that need to be put to bed!

One of our days we headed off to Newgrange in Co Meath.  It is one of my favourite places to show when I have visitors over here as it fascinates me.  It's an old Neolithic site (that is older than the Pyramids in Egypt) and on the day of the winter solstice the sun shines the tomb inside lights up at dawn by the rays of the sun.  I haven't been for about two years and although I know what is coming in the guided tour, this time I got something else out of it!

FMQ.

I'm sure the artists were not thinking of me 5000 odd years ago when they were carving out these stones, but I certainly was when I was walking around the site.
  

Stone carving at Newgrange Co Meath Ireland

Stone carving Newgrange Co Meath Ireland



Front entrance stone.

I was loving all the shapes.

 

 

And come on....I just couldn't resist taking a photo of these two new little lambs with ma.

 

 



Which brings me to one of my new adventures for the year....knitting. 

I had remembered some of my knitting skills but needed the reassurance of my mum to remind me how to do the essentials.. casting on and off.

 

Only a few rows done and I wouldn't say it is the most exciting photos to show yet so I will leave it for a few more weeks and see how the progress is.

 



Oh my hubby bought me a new ultra book for Christmas so I am very happy as the frustration was taking it's toll on me on the last laptop.

 

I do know I have a lot of bee's to look up and start so I better get off the blog and start looking at what needs to be done.

 

 

Erin

SMS Giveaway Winner.

Thank you all very much to all that joined in the fun of the SMS giveaway.

 It really was a great success and was delighted to read all your messages.    

It made me smile to here that it is still the little things that happen in day to day life that makes us all smile during the day.   

I'm glad to see it isn't all doom and gloom out there.  ( It was Budget day in Ireland on Wed so it has been doom and gloom on the telly and news.)
 

I do see that the old Random Number Generator has been hard at work over the past 24 hours...Only one other man in a red coat knows how that feels....

So with out further to do I would like to let you all know that my winner of the Stof Pure FQ bundle is .

Susan at Canadian Abroad

Congratulations Susan.  

I am sure you will find something to make out if it.  

I love the line and although it came out in the UK shops quite a while ago, I still have my stash in the cupboard waiting for the day that I will make them into a quilt.

I had a great but exhausting time looking through all the blogs and entering the giveaways. 

But for now it will be back to some sewing.

Erin

Sew Mama Sew giveaway

 

 GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

You know I had full intentions to make something to give away for the Sew Mama Sew giveaway blog hop but I thought I had at least another week before I had to get it ready....

So then I thought....What do I have ample of?

Fabric.

 I don't think anyone will say no to a bit of fabric.

So here is my giveaway

Some fat quarters of  Stof, Pure.

(I do love this line)

HERE ARE THE GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

1. Simply become a follower of my blog and leave a comment to say you have done so. And let me know what has made you smile today. (One entry per person)

2. A BONUS ENTRY TO MY CURRENT  FOLLOWERS ....

But....If you are a follower already, ( and I know who you all are) you have a second chance to win the bundle by leaving a message Bonus Entry.

Please 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 Thursday 6th December   
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

 winner will be selected soon after by the Random Number Generator.

International contests are welcome.

 

  GOOD LUCK EVERYONE AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY MY LUCK OVER AT 

SEW MAM SEW THIS WEEK.

Erin

Recycle

It's really sad when you get a hamper from your hubby's work isn't it! 

Lots of goodies in it.....wine, plum pudding, hot chocolate and the list goes on.....

But I am looking at the whole package here....

As he walked through the front door this week, I was punched the air with my fist.  YES....Another one.  

As I was taking it off hubby, my smile was ear to ear.   He began to laugh...'I know why your happy!'

Because this is the state of my scrap box......

Last years hamper box was snatched up straight away and put to good use.

So this means I will have 2 scrap boxes.

I'm one happy camper.

Erin

BP....Quiet achiever!

  I have been slowly ticking away at a few things over the  last week.

Some little mug rugs finally finished.

I think though I need to bind a different way as I really don't like the fussiness of  trying to sew the side up...tried a different edge and still I'm not happy with it.  A bit to bulky.

And look ....Finally there is a bit of sun to take a photo of the quilt top.... pity it was a bit windy...

I have another project but all will be revealed in a few days.....I need to write a tutorial!   eek!

Oh and the Christmas tree got the chop too.

Going to link up today For WIP Wednesday.... don't get time to do it that often.  

My last day off today so will get some binding done, and now I have no excuse to get this quilt top basted.....but the Swoon blocks came out last night....I'm finally ready to trim then and get the quilt top put together.

Erin.

Can you see where I'm going with this?

Not the best of days to take a photo here in Ireland...very dull indeed.

I may have to take the yellow out and get a brighter shade.

Some of you may have seen some progress photos on Instagram for the rest...here it is!

Just to let you know it has been handy having the Sopranos box set to watch while this has been sewn together.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Block time again

Wow it seems to come around so quickly but once again the Blogger's Block of the month is here again.

 Dhia at Peach Patch Quilts has all the bits and bobs about the block of the month here.  

I'm having lots of fun with this and am looking forward to the next installment.

This months block is by 

Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts

 Her quick and easy blocks  (just what I like) tutorial can be found on her blog.

I whipped this up in no time, but I wish when I did the fussy cut I cut the little hat out and just kept the coat.

block three

As you can see I am making all the blocks... Little Apples is a favourite fabric line and now that I have started with it, cannot get away from it.

Our flickr group can be found here....anyone that wants to put up their finished blocks are more than welcome.