So a few things have happened since my last blog back in Oct of last year.......My goodness I have neglected my blog, haven't I.

I will admit that life has got very busy and the sewing machine has been put away since January and I don't know when it will be brought out again.  Hopefully soon but I am not putting any pressure on  myself to get anything done.

You see this little bundle of joy came into our lives arrived in February ( just a little early) and with Cora, life has got very busy.

As you can see he is not wasting away....

There has been a few makes before Padraig arrived  ( that knitted blanket in the background is one) but they can be for another day.  

So what I am doing when I get an hour in the evenings (not every evening) is a bit of hexagon making.  I thought this time around that I would be a little prepared for a good few months of not sewing on the machine, so this was organised and put in a bag with all the bits needed to hand sew.

Some of you have seen one or two photos on Instagram @erinbillybuttondesign

I have so much fabric that I could easily not buy anything for two years and still have enough wadding, batting and thread.

So my plan for the rest of the year is just to get a quilt or two finished, get a set of blocks done, but no pressure to finish anything.

I know it's very early...but

Well yes I know that it very early but seeing that I am so slow at sewing and getting anything finished these days, I decided to get some stockings for Christmas done as soon as possible.

And yes it was nice to do a little project rather than thinking and planning time for a quilt to be made.

I'm not a big fan of Christmas fabric but when Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting got this fabric in, I knew what I would use the fabric for and grabbed it with delight.

I did look around for some free tutorials for stockings but I ended up buying a pattern from Etsy.

although it was only pittance, it wasn't a great pattern and I did get frustrated with it and thought it  really wasn't written well at all.  (it didn't even have a list of fabric and supplies that are needed for that project.) but what attracted me to the pattern was the curly feet in the stocking so I kept with it and finished them over the week. 

There was only a few photos on IG of my progress, I find it difficult these days to be organised to have the camera out ready to show progress.

And yes you may be asking why there are two stockings made...well this little one will have first choice.... 

The other is for our next arrival...

 I am getting my hand sewing projects organised already.

Happy Sewing

Erin

Log cabins

I got a Jelly Roll in the mail one day after an  order went missing in the mail....I don't really buy jelly rolls but I thought it was probably the best time to try a basic Log cabin block.

Now again, I know some of you are saying 'um Erin we have seen these before,, didn't we?'  and 'Gosh do you not have anything new to show us?'  Well I'm sorry I don't but there were a good few quilts tops that needed to be finished as they are taking up too much precious room.  (Cora is really making her mark in the house)  I even had the binding done, why did it take me so long, I do not know.

So last week,  I pulled the backing out (after a trip to Ikea that day) and before I know it I had it on the machine and began to quilt it.  So each night when Cora went down to sleep I turned on the machine and got a bit more done, and with a little bit of handsewing the following nights, bit by bit I had it finished.

No real love for this quilt, and  think next time I will use log cabins I will try the wobbly look.

Its such a good feeling to get something crossed off the list.

But no rest, I have another ready to be tackled next week.

Another Swap

I signed up for The Big Stitch Swap that Sarah at Fairyface Designs and Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting had organised.

As usual time has flown by and I haven't even written a post that I had joined.  (Sorry mystery partner) but I did get my mosaic up as soon as I could.

Now really I do not know why I joined up.  I don't like hand stitching at all. I don't even have time to get my bee blocks done let alone a swap, but I always find that I am thinking that I am going to miss out on something.  Sucker!

I had spotted something on my secret partners mosaic that I really liked and thought that I would try, so I bought the pattern and I stalled even starting it.  Maybe I stalled for a reason but I then saw another two doing the same pattern so I went back to the drawing board.

I had decided to make a tote for my partner but I needed to practise so out came some cardboard and I played around with a few ideas.  French knots are not my forte and I did try but I had to go back to just simple stitching.

Yes she doesn't like being left out of a photo.

In return my secret sender packed this little parcel up and it landed at my doorstep about a week ago.

I lovely canvas bag of her own pattern (which is what I like to see) and as my other bag from a swap has outgrown my bundles of wool and all the knitting needles I have accumulated in the past year.

And a little treat.  Thanks again Kirsti.  The bag has been filled already with my little knitting projects that I have to do are in the bag and awaiting my return.

Catching up on Bee blocks

Over the past month I have started some new projects (before others have been finished.) but have been very conscious that I needed to get back on track on making the bee blocks for the Irish Modern Bee.

Myself, I really do not mind when my blocks come in...I still have last years blocks sitting in my sewing room wondering when I will get to them. but I don't have the same relaxed attitude as my other bee ladies and know that they may be waiting with hesitation to start their own quilt top, so I got cracking on them.

May, June,  July, August, September.

One block to finish for Anna.

May off the list

Two blocks for Irina

June off the list.

Eight blocks for Fiona R

Yes there were 8 in the envelope

July off the list

Two blocks for Fiona L

August off the list

And four blocks for Helen

September off the list

Great now I am back on track.

Chevron rainbow quilt

Many moons ago I bought a charm pack from Karen at Blueberry Park.

I fell in love with the bright contrasting colours and that splash of grey that Karen has used with her fabulous designs.

I did  know that I would use the charm pack (and not just sit in my stash to make it look pretty) but I would have to admit that it took me a little while to decide what I was going to make from the pack. 

I do think it was in the wee early hours of the morning that I made my decision...a chevron quilt.

I used Kona Ash and Kona white with the charm pack to make up the top, 

HST's seem to be my thing...I can't seem to get past them when I think of making a quilt top.

The quilt top didn't really take long to make but then it sat for a long long time...as a little girl arrived and took up a lot of my time.

This is where I stalled again.  I sometimes know exactly how to quilt the top before I even start a quilt and other times I ponder.  This was one of those times...I just couldn't decide if I would FMQ or just do some straight lines.  

But a few months ago somehow there seemed to be a bit of time in the day to get the machine out again and it just came to me.  I sat down at the machine and I began to to quilt.

I know it would not be to every one's taste but as it was a little quilt..( 24 "x 32") I thought I would try something different.

Again it sat on my sewing table for another few months as now I couldn't decide on the binding colour.  I knew I wanted a solid but what colour....in the end I went for Kona Navy, and I was glad I did.

Ikea print on the back...nicely priced for backing fabric.

And there you are, finally a quilt finished.  What to do with it, I do not know but happy there is another WIP finished and off my sewing table.

Thanks Karen for such a lovely inspiring charm pack, I will be retuning for another soon.

Happy Sewing,

Erin

Getting my bee hive to work.

May already.....did I really put my name down to be Queen Bee for The Modern Irish Bee for May thinking that I would be organised enough to be ready at the start of the month?

Last year I made some  Road to Tennessee blocks for Jan at Isisjem for the Bee a Brit Stingy group.

I fell in love with Jan's quilt and told myself that I need to put this down as a great quilt that would use up all my scraps, (or everyone elses)

So this is it.  I want a quilt just like that.  Jan used a Tutorial that Sarah @ Sew Me.  has written.  I found it easy to follow then and want to return to it again for my quilt.

For each 12 1/2 " finished block you will need......

 32  x  2" squared blocks of Kona White
I have also put in a few Kona Ash to replace some of the white blocks.  If you want to do this you are more than welcome, but I would only like a splash of the ash.  I am not bothered where the ash is when you sew your little blocks up.

16 x 3 1/2"  of lovely bright colours using modern fabric. As Jan said to us, think of summer,  Aqua, yellows, oranges, reds, pinks. You can put in dark purple, navy blue but not too much please.  I am not keen on fabrics for this quilt that have lots of black and brown or dark green.  Batiks are not a favourite of mine, and I don't want obvious children's prints in it either.  (sorry for being so fussy)

I am looking for two 12 1/2 " blocks please.

Like Sarah has mentioned in her tutorial you will need to draw a line down the 2" blocks, it makes life a lot easier and the blocks will come together better.

What is great about this block is the chain sewing.  It really does come together really quickly once you have dome all the cutting.

You can find the thread that I use at a great price at Threads and sew more (did you like that Fiona)

Once you have made your little blocks it is time to put them together. 

Follow Sarah's tutorial and please, please, please use a SCANT seam.

My blocks came out just over 12 1/2" 

Don't worry if yours do too.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with and getting all these little parcels in the mail.

Happy Sewing

Erin