Twin quilts, Doll quilts, Aprons & More...

It's been a busy week here with both sewing and school starts and about to starts. As my friend received her gift of two twin boy quilts I can now post a photo of them here. I was really happy with how they turned out and I hope the beautiful boys enjoy them for many years.

I had to make quite a few aprons and iPad and iPhone covers this week as my stock was running low in the gift shop who stock some of my items http://jamartfactory.com/. I also had an order in for a custom and personalised apron. I really enjoyed making this one and the recipient loved it too!

I took part in a mini private swap and I made a doll's quilt. I didn't know there was such a thing but boy did I enjoy making it! When you are making a lot of the same thing it's lovely to have a diverse small project to sink your teeth into.

I love this quilt so much that I'm going to make it into a larger quilt for my daughter Sophie. She took a real shine to it, kept pointing to her t-shirt and said 'pink'. She insisted that I photograph her holding it. Look how delicately she is holding it at the corners. So so sweet. She starts back in school on Monday and that will be a happy day, she can't wait to get back into her routine. It's a common complaint from parents of special needs kids about how most hate any change to routine and it can affect them terribly.

Next on my list was to make a range of iPhone covers from the 'Metro Living Circles' line from Robert Kaufman. I purchased these fabrics a little while ago from Cindy at http://www.fluffysheepquilting.com/. I love the bold colours and they really suit being used as covers. I didn't think it could have been possible but I am beginning to run low on buttons so an order has gone through for more. I like to get mine from http://stores.ebay.ie/holliecraft.

I also for the first time used my rotary blade sharpener that I purchased on ebay.

I bought the 'Twist n' Sharp' one pictured below, and followed the Pepper Cory tutorial on Youtube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdd3JiWnmtE . I was glad to report that it worked like a dream and sharpened my two blades like new. Which to be honest is brilliant as they cost €10 each and I got this for around €14. So does anyone else sharpen their rotary blades this way or what do you do to keep them going? I'd be interested to know.

As I write all this down I realise just what a great week it was for sewing and getting things done. Easy know my husband was at home since Tuesday! I've a busy weekend planned and now that both kids are in school from next week my output should be increased, that's the plan anyway.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Chat soon x

Giveaway result

Hi guys just  a quick check in to give the results of my giveaway, the winner is Jenny Larking. Well done Jenny the covers will be making their way to you.

 Chat soon

Random Things...

1. I hate slugs, I hate them so so much. I hate snails too but as my sister says, at least they have the decency to hide half of themselves in a shell. This weather is just the bees knees for them and I can't move outside without freaking out. Seriously my worst nightmare.
2. I've just ordered some more material that I really shouldn't have. Feeling a bit guilty.
3. Why do I watch the X Factor when it's really more time efficient to watch the best bits on You Tube.
4. Why does Jon Hamm only look amazing in Mad Men????
   
   
   Okay so there are the things that are on my mind at the moment.

I've been really busy today, making aprons. Going back to my what I started out doing. I was slightly dreading it today as I had a lot to get through. But I really enjoyed it, which is just as well becuase I have a whole day of them tomorrow too.

I've just posted my two baby quilts to my friend who had two beautiful twin boys recently. They are so so beautiful and I hope that they like their special quilts. I'll post photos just as soon as my friend gets them.

As soon as the aprons are finished I have a little swap to get into which I'm really looking forward to. 

My boy is starting Secondary School on Monday, I can't believe it!!!! 

My girl isn't starting until Monday week. Oh the joy. It's been the longest summer ever. Never again am I going through a crappy Irish summer without a holiday. I don't care if we live on 3 eggs, and 1 loaf of bread a week.

Hey ho, chat later.

August Giveaway

Well it's been a busy couple of weeks with the school holidays still in full flow. I did however manage to collaborate with Cindy from Fluffy Sheep Quilting by writing a tutorial for making one of my iPad covers. It was my first time writing one and I'm pretty happy with the result. The tutorial can be found on Cindy's Newsletter which is out today. There are details on how to sign up to Cindy's newsletter further down in this post.

Cindy provided me with two beautiful fat quarters from her fabulous new shop Fluffy Sheep Quilting Shop. Both were designed by Monaluna for Birch Fabrics, they are 'Cars in Cream' and 'Pebbles in Pumpkin'.  Since then I have bought some bits and pieces from Cindy's shop (you can see my purchases below in older posts) and the quality and service is really second to none.


So Cindy and I thought of giving the iPad cover featured in the tutorial as a giveaway. I then made an iPhone cover too, so both items are up for grabs.

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is to 'Like' my facebook page here, follow my blog here, 'like' Fluffy Sheep Quilting Facebook page here, sign up to Cindy's newsletter which you will find at the bottom right hand corner of http://www.fluffysheepquilting.com/. 

Leave a separate comment on this blog post for each one of the above that you have done and each comment will count as an entry. If you already 'like' or have already signed up to Cindy's newsletter then just say that in separate posts to be in the draw. I'll randomly pick a winner and post it here on my blog on next Monday the 28th of August. 

Remember if you are a noreply-comment@blogger.com I can't message you and so you won't be able to win.

You never know there may be a surprise gift included in this giveaway !

Sewing bee and baby quilts

I haven't been able to do as much sewing since the school holidays as my sewing room is upstairs and my little girl doesn't like to be up there for too long so yesterday I moved everything down to the kitchen table. This has allowed me to potter away do my bits and pieces . 

This week a little package arrived with a bunch of scraps from Agnes in our Modern Irish Bee and the goal was to create two 'wonky house' blocks. It was a really nice thing to do as the materials were really bright and cheery so that helped with the grey skies we've had for most of the week .

I could see myself doing these again as they are a superb way of using up scraps and boy do I have a lot of those .

I've also started working on a baby boy quilt and I'll have photos of them soon. Now that I've decamped downstairs it will be easier for me to sew in the evenings too. In fact I'm thinking of swapping my small sewing room upstairs to a larger room downstairs. It used to be 'my' office but has over this last year become a teenage boy den so I don't know if I have the heart to kick them out !!!

I'll be back over the next day or so with photos and progress on my baby quilts  .

Geraldine