October finishes

It's been a busy few weeks and this post is going to be photo heavy. Now some of these makes were September but I couldn't post until the receiver received so here we go.
First up is 2 heart quilts.

There are shamrocks in the quilting detail

Next up is a boy quilt, in a diamond design

Next up are 2 farm quilts. I got two separate requests for cows and tractors within a week of each other! Luckily I always add more than I need with my fabric orders.

First up is a farm chevron quilt.

Second farm quilt and matching bumper

 

And here are some photos of the bumper in the making, 4.5 meters of binding and 16 1 meter ties too!

Next up is a quilt for a baby called Annabelle

Okay I think that's it! there have been more makes but seriously I don't want to make this post even more photo heavy than it is. If any of you guys have stuck it this far, thank you! and I'll be in touch again soon x

Modern Baby

Okay so it appears that I've somewhat lost my blogging mojo, that is of course if I ever had it to begin with. Since returning to the land of the upright I have been very busy indeed. I'm not sure if there is a baby boom going on but the quilts are flying out of here at a rate of knots. But more of that later. Firstly I've been very remiss in giving a review of the 'Modern Baby' Quilting book.

My friend Sarah has a quilt in here and I was very eager to get my grubby mitts on this book. I have a thing with quilt patterns. I love original and innovative patterns, something that hasn't been made before. I do wonder though over patterns that have been around for an age and creating a pattern for them and labeling them 'not for commercial use'.

In fact this is the first Quilting book that I own. I love a good few patterns in here, and the presentation and photos are wonderful. For a slim volume it really is jam packed full of patterns, which is great. Here are my 3 favourites although there are more that I love too, they just didn't make it into my top 3. I'm a harsh critic I know.

This is Sarah's quilt from FairyFace Designs.
 I love the fact that she takes all these quilting shapes and incorporated that
 into a popular and worldwide known children's toy. Very clever.

'Bubbles' Love this guy, can imagine this for a boy.

'Bird House' Love that they included an applique design in here.
This is very cute and whimsical.

The 'Bubbles' & 'Birdhouse Quilt' are two other favourites. The quilts featured will suit a beginner as well as a proficient quilter. All of the instructions are clear and precise throughout, so there really is something for everybody in this book.

I'm back!

Well, that's  been quite a break since my last post. I'm very happy to report that I'm back on my feet and have dived straight back into sewing in the last couple of weeks.

I've made 2 quilts and have another 3 on order so it's very busy. As well as the quilts there have been other orders of cushions, bunting and one of my knitted bunnies. More than enough to keep me going. I am taking it easy though too and am giving myself plenty of time for the makes and everyone has been most kind saying they are in no rush. There are frequent afternoon naps needed too!

It's my turn to host the Modern Irish sewing Bee and everyone in the bee has been very patient with my lateness! I'm choosing a HST block, I haven't figured out yet what configuration I'll use in the end. It's all part of the fun.

I received 2 care packages while I was in hospital from 2 of my quilting buddies. They were so thoughtful and were gratefully received. Sarah from FairyFace Designs sent me up the cutest pouch full of hexies, paper templates, thread and needles. It was a fantastic diversion for me as the weeks go pretty slowly when you are confined to bed. Kirstie from Miranda and Lu also sent me up the most beautiful box full of quilty goodness, mini quilting book, fabric squares, a little notebook and more. I was very appreciative of these gifts and will treasure them.

My fab gift from Kirstie 

My fab gift from Sarah

 Below is quilt that I made 2 weeks ago for my beautiful nephew Oscar, I am also going to make a matching bumper in the next few weeks.

Watch this space as I am planning a giveaway when I get myself organised and I also want to share with you my thoughts on my first ever quilting book.

Take care x

8th day in bed

My usual position

Do you know when you are up to your eyes with kids, jobs, sewing, etc; you dream of a few days in bed where you can read and relax, catch up on TV and so on . Yeah well by day 8 it's a pain in the ass. What has to happen so that you are in bed means being really sick so that sucks too.

My back has been giving me trouble for some time now and last Thursday it went completely, it was excruciating and luckily I had my Mum and my sister with me and I called my hubby to come home asap. I ended up getting an ambulance into A&E and spent the night on a trolley they gave me strong drugs and sent me home. I was so glad to get home again, I hate hospitals and am always afraid that i'll pick up a bug as I'm that way inclined.

I know it's a bit of a mess but the light is fab and it will
make a great new sewing room when I'm up and about

So total bed rest was the only thing, luckily we have a pull out bed in what will soon be my new sewing room and it's incredibly comfy. I can't manage the stairs so it's great to have a bed on the ground floor, it's also great because the kids pop in and out and I hear all the goings on so I don't feel too isolated.

My Mum was up with me when all this happened and we were making Sophie's Communion dress while my back went and now it's half done. Her Communion is 2 weeks today. I'm refusing to panic. I have other orders in and sewing bee blocks, but everyone has been so kind and are willing to wait until I'm on my feet.

Now I know that my hubby is very capable, but he's been absolutely fantastic. He's remembering all of my meds, they have to be written down as there are so many and when my pain patches come off and on. He's managing the kids and their various appointments really well and Sophie who has just gone to school is sporting a very neat hairstyle! It was a bit rough on Monday but by the end of the week he has it mastered. Feck romance, it's when your husband brings you and helps you sit on the loo then that's love for you! ha ha ha

Reading everyone's blogs is great, I love to hear what you are all up to and what projects you are all working on. I'm missing sewing so much it's like an ache in my tummy. There are so many things I want to get working on but can't. I know I'm in love with sewing but didn't quite know the extent of that love until this week.

So, keep blogging, I'm enjoying every single one.

Geraldine x

I would be totally lost without this stick that my brother in law had

School time once more

It's great that school is finally back, boredom was beginning to set in and I'm not feeling very well as my back has gone again. So no mad rush to the sewing machine for me today. I did however just manage to finish off two blocks that are long overdue for the Modern Irish Bee.

Erin asked us each to pick a colour and I kinda joined the discussion a little late but was lucky that the low volume one was still left as I could have made 20 of these guys using these colours from my own stash! I hope she is happy with them and I know that mine are probably the last ones she is waiting on. 

I really need to get my butt in gear as May is my month and I need to get myself organised sooner rather than later. 

Hope everyone has a good week.

What tips do you use????

First things first, it's school holiday time so the chance to do some sewing is greatly diminished. But I'm pretty much okay with that because it was so busy coming up to Easter I'm glad to have a break too. So I've been attacking housework since the weekend. Every scrap of clothes in the house has been sorted, ironed and put away. There are 15 work shirts hanging merrily in the wardrobe. It's a great feeling to be finally on top of things.

Now just because I'm not sewing doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it! I decided to gather and photograph little bits and pieces that I use all the time for sewing but aren't necessarily sewing items. I wonder do you guys have similar things you use and are you willing to share your tips and tricks?

I use the lint roller all the time, I usually have a bunch of them in case I run out. I get these guys in IKEA. They are €1 each which is the cheapest I've seen yet. But not only are they cheap they are much better than others I have bought. The peel off on the diagonal and for some reason they are much easier to use than others.

I use my thin roll of masking tape all the time. If you want to use masking tape but are afraid that it is too sticky then just unroll what you need, and tape it onto your jeans or desk or whatever. Take it off and do it again and presto you now have low tac masking tape. This tip is used all the time in art too so that's where I got that one from.

Tweezers are so handy for many things. The only thing I don't seem to use them for is actually plucking my eyebrows!!! ha -- I must address that soon!

Tiny little bull-clips are brilliant for holding many layers of fabric and batting together. They are secure and they don't wobble about so that the seams match up really well.

The little metal ruler is sewing related but I only bought it recently. I find it very handy for small spaces that you need to measure.

The little tube on the right is for cleaning your iron. It is absolutely brilliant. My iron no matter how much care I take will eventually get brown marks on it. You know the feeling when you're absolutely sure that you put the interface on the right way round?? Yep, that's sure to make a mess of your iron, so this little beauty will make it look like new again.

On a different note, I bought the material for Sophie's Communion dress last weekend. It's just beautiful, it's pure silk, but a matt one. I love the sheen off it. I also got some netting and lining. I'm looking forward to making this up with my Mum in the coming weeks.

My Mother's Day present just arrived :)

I suggested this Mother's Day that instead of a present that I would treat myself to some fabric. Here it is, a nice way to brighten up another shocking day of bad weather.

Long weekend of relaxation

Not too much to report from this week. Have not been feeling the best these last two days. I've made lots and lots of Easter Baskets and have 5 more orders to get through. Just as well I love making them. We will be spending Easter in Sligo again this year so I hope the day is nice for egg hiding and then of course for the hunting part.

I knitted this little guy for a friend who had a baby girl a couple of months ago. I did indeed knit it the week after the little girls safe arrival but then as usual it went missing and didn't show up again until I did my sewing room clear out last week.

Now I'm going to knit another one with a blue nappy for my sister who had a beautiful baby boy a few weeks ago. I can't wait to see him again at Easter. 

I'm nearly there with my sewing bee blocks for this month. Erin from Billy Button Designs is the Queen Bee this month. I really love the colours in my block and have everything sewn and trimmed so it's just the piecing left.

Happy sewing x

A Tour of my Sewing Room

I've been spending a lot of time trawling the internet for photos of people's sewing and crafting rooms. I've created a board on Pinterest for inspiration as I will be moving my room downstairs into a larger room. 

At the moment my cutting mat and rulers are in my son's room, which isn't ideal. Also the ironing board is very close to where I sit so I'm somewhat hemmed in. The one thing I do have in my little room is good storage so that's something I will definitely have in place before I move. I want to get a dresser and paint it and have it to store a lot of my larger items.

So anyway here is a tour of my sewing space as it stands. I do love this room and I spend a lot of time here but the busier I get the greater the need for more space.