Good things come to those who wait........

One or two of you know I have been a bit anxious about an expected delivery of fabric from the US. I usually find it only takes about 5 or 6 days to get here. I have waited 2 weeks now and as I came thro the front door a little while ago I was holding my breath - and there it was on the mat - woo hoo!!

4 lovely yards of 1001 Peeps by Lizzy House. I had bought a fat 1/4 bundle a few weeks back from Sew Fresh Fabrics and had a mix of the purple and dusk colourways. Originally I saw some of it destined to appear in my hexie quilt but then I moved mentally into grandma/baby quilt mode and showed my new fabrics to the mother- to- be. I kinda knew she'd like them as purple is her fave colour and she adored Aladdin as a child.........however she thinkis it might be a bit girly. I surfed a bit more and found yardage on Hawthorne Fabrics and even better, on sale!! I scooped up the last 4 yds of this particular print. My intention is to make one or two baby quilts and Jenny can choose after baby arrives. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!! - there were TWO packages on the mat and in the other was a surprise gift from an old friend.

This is what friend Carol had written in an email - I have (also at long last) visited The Manor at Hemingford Grey (little village on the other side of St Ives (Cambs) - about 5 miles from here). This made me think of you because of Lucy Boston who is famous for having restored the Manor; for giving gramophone music recitals to the airmen at RAF Wyton during the war; for writing the Green Knowe series of children's classics (no, I'd never heard of them either); for converting the fields around the house into a stunning 4-acre garden, and for her amazing output of patchwork quilts which she continued to make until well into her 90s. This was supposed to be a visit to study the Norman architecture - the house was built in the 1130s and is reckoned to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in England - but I was 'blown away' by the quilts, particularly one made during the war which features duster and tea-towel fabric since these were apparently the only fabrics that were not rationed. Anyway, I thought of you and am sending you a little something for your history of quilting collection. I have only had a quick glance through the book, it can be savoured at a later date, but look at this close up of her Keyboard patchwork, made up of octagons and squares ( 3/4") and stitched with, I quote, 20 stitches to the inch!!

Lucy Boston started this in 1967 when she was 75, doesn't it look contemporary? If you happen to be reading this Carol, thank you again.

Busy Bee

I heard someone on the radio this morning saying that the wind energised them. I really don't like strong winds and was lucky to able to stay at home today but I did sort of feel quite energetic (for me!)........I spent the morning behaving like a proper housewife and even turned out two cupboards - phew. When I finally went to my sewing room I was able to work in a guilt free fashion - about 4pm, my sewing machine flickered and died and I momentarily panicked, until I realised it was a power cut, and nothing personal. Luckily it only lasted about 10 minutes and even more lucky, my breadmaker resumed its cycle and managed to produce a lovely loaf - what clever machine.
My last post was written in the wee sma' hours of Saturday night, trying to keep awake for the tennis (nuff said)...........
 .......and as well as posting nice pics of colour palettes, I also joined Pinterest - at first I didn't really know what it was all about and really didn't want another site that could keep me stuck to my laptop - but, I think it is a great idea as a sort of multi purpose memory...........pressie ideas, holiday ideas........recipes, and of course quilts and other crafty stuff.
So, following on from my colour palette play, I had a little "sort" thro my scraps yesterday.........

Source: photocardboutique.com via Sheila on Pinterest

and came up with these.........

Then I felt like I wanted to make something quick - so made another mugrug - this time a wee pressie for my sis-in-law, this is made from leftover scraps from a quilt I made for her a few years back, the gift that keeps on giving........

Today I worked on another project that has been fun but more of that later.

Before I go - I must mention a super giveaway over at Happy Quilting 

A jelly roll and yardage of Hometown by Sweetwater, I know a few of you like this range almost as much as I do.

Settling my nerves

Have sat through the Federer v Djokovic semi (US Open) which was nail-biting, but in a fun way. Now sitting up very late to cheer on Andy Murray v Nadal.................so with my pal, the laptop, have strayed via Lily's Quilts to Photo Card Boutique and from there ended up looking at Angie's Pinboard and her selection of inspirational colour palettes.

Now I don't think it's committing to anything just choosing a couple of favourites, is it?

 

 Go have a look, they are all so yummy.

PS. tennis looking grim........................

One or two different things.........

Lynne over at Lily's Quilts is planning a new Quilt a long - Dead Simple Quilt -

not sure of the nitty gritty but it would seem to be more about the colours than the block design. I haven't jumped in yet but am sorely tempted as I think there is so much to learn about colour and sometimes in the process we learn new things about ourselves.
 I was thinking about it the other day there and came across this tool in my drawer, that I bought some time ago for a course I was on - some of you might find it useful for the QAL.

I have been working away on my Mug Rugs and Goodies for the swap being hosted by Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting

I have made my two mug rugs - first ever and a lot of fun plus a few goodies.......

My picture quality is duff today - these are on a white background!!

Do you remember the Pay it Forward initiative that was flying about a few months back? I first spotted it on Janice Elaine Sews and signed up. You had to make three little goodies and post them off to the first three folks who signed up with you - I did that some weeks ago, altho you had 365 days to complete the assignment (I'd be scared I forgot!) Well, yesterday, my little gift hit the doormat - and here it is -

Jan has made me a scarf - it's hard to tell from the pic, but the fabric is so fine, like a Tana lawn and has been beautifully crafted, thanks Jan.
My last snippet is sort of back at the start, with the influential Lynne!
 I think I mentioned already that this year in class, my non- beginners were given carte blanche to choose their own project - this was very hard for me as an Arien control freak but I am delighted with the variety of projects that are being tackled.
Now I do go on in class about blogging and some of my ladies tune in here now and again - so one of them has found her inspiration on Lily's Quilts, and who could blame her!!

 

Lastly, lastly, just in case you thought I was wearying of hexies (never, she roared)........I sewed up some of my UFO hexies and got them on to a background........

Mystery Mariner

 

Hard to believe it is four weeks since I posted the last instalment of the Mystery Quilt - we really are on the home straits now and links to this week's instructions can be found HERE

You will also find  the links to all the instructions so never too late to make a start.

River Fabrics

If you pop over to Rags to Bags, my blog pal Judith is hosting rather a nice giveaway....

August

For me, August was all about hexagons - I have been quilting for about 13yrs now and have loudly proclaimed that life was too short for piecing over papers. I did have to do a small sample for my C & G, back in 2004 but vowed - never again.

Huh! never say never.......I had not accounted for the influence of Lynne and Gayle who started a Hexalong a few weeks ago - you would also have to be on another planet not to notice the hexie craze that abounds thro blogland.
Well, I am hooked, totally........I love that we opted for biggish hexies, I love that there are SO many variations within the hexie shape - OMG, I even watched a tv programme called The Code, presented by a math prof, all about hexagons! (I used to draw flowers instead of equations in my maths jotters, scraped my O level)
So here are my hexies to date, I think pretty much all created in August - I even rigged up a "design wall" to help me with my plan.

and some close ups.........

In August, I also had to post off my first Doll Quilt Swap offering - my brief was to make a doll quilt for my partner's 7yr old son who loves playing with his toy snakes........

Although I am still working on a couple of other projects I have one finished quilt - this was my "Sheila Goes Modern", my version of a wonky 9 patch from a free pattern on Oh Fransson.

In August, my classes started back and are now underway. I have one class of lovely, eager beginners all cutting tentatively into their fabric. I have four other classes and all the students have chosen their own quilt project. Many of the ladies who attend my classes have been with me for several years, others not so long. I am a self confessed control freak and usually have everyone singing to my quilty tune (all carefully planned)........this year however, their challenge is to challenge themselves and I have a huge variety of designs being started. Open Night next year is going to be a blockbuster!!
Lastly, August is the month that I was able to tell the world that our daughter is expecting her first baby, our first grandchild - so, more quilty plans and guilt free fabric shopping...it has already started!
As always, linking to Lynne's Fresh Sewing Day.