Mint mini quilt

In January I signed up for a mini quilt club for 6 months. One pattern emailed each month for 6 months.  

February's pattern was a Sapphire Mini Quilt. 

I have lots of cushion fabric let over so I used those fabrics for the block with Kona ash for the grey.

I hand quilted it in teal, mint and grey

So fun to make! Its now on it way to a friend for her birthday. I hope she enjoys her new mini quilt.

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I've got a stack of old albums

Ive got a stack of family photo albums with many photos from my childhood. They have been sitting in storage container in the garage with my name on it for a few years now.

Many of the albums are looking a little worse for wear....but I guess that's what you get for an album more than 20 years old.

I do love looking at old photos and reminiscing about all the old memories.

I came across a marching album- does anyone remember those albums where you peel back the plastic and sort of stick the photos down and press the plastic back down....well I have an album from 1994 containing all my marching photos.....the album is only 21 years old! 

 I did a big order from Craft house when they were having a sale the other week. New albums and page inserts. 

Most the the photos are 6x4 but there are many large photos so I had to get crafty with the pages I brought.

I need to figure out the best way for a few hundred + photos to me to transfer the information written on the back of frames and put all the photos in some sort of order.

I'm off to get started all the albums upon albums that await me. 

And I'm still chugging along with my weekly Project Life pages- I just love how much the boys love to see photos and reminisce over the years.

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I've made a few quilts

I've been bogging now for 4 years. 4 years is a relatively small time to be blogging but for me blogging has been a great way to keep track of our family and all the projects I've embarked on and things I've created and made with love.

I just love seeing all these quilts. Some are mini quilts and some are queen sized quilts.

They all start off as a drawing- a few pencil lines on paper- ideas and a vision of colours and importantly keeping in mind the purpose and who it's being made for.

Of these quilts I've made I have a few that I've made for us and they keeping us warm and are very loved- and they make great tents for the boys. 

There are quilts made as custom orders, baby shower gifts, quilts made for family and friends, mini quilts for swaps.

There is something special about a quilt. Purposeful and practical. 

I know that hand made items item can be seen as cheap but trust me the hours spent choosing fabric, ironing, cutting, sewing, basting, hand quilting, binding making, hand sewing is a labour of love and care. 

It's so worth every minute to see the smile and know the recipient appreciates the gift made just for them.

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Nerdy Mug Rug Swap

I signed up for #nerdymugrugswap on Instagram. My swap partner had a list of likes - All kinds of geeky TV and films! Doctor Who, Torchwood, Firefly, X Files, Batman, X Men, Lord of the Rings/Hobbit are just a few of my favourites.

I found this Tardis pattern online and made my first attempt at paper piecing

This was a slow and satisfying process- lots of ironing and sewing

Its always nice to see that what you sew looks like the pattern (mostly does)

I have now posted the swap parcel to my swap partner...it was received with many many thank you's, I'm so glad the recipient loves it!

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80 squares and many many triangles

A lovely friend from craft group had a baby last October (this quilt has been a long time coming). I really wanted to make her a quilt for her boy. I knew exactly what I wanted to make (and this amazingly looks exactly like my original drawing)

The fabrics I choose are very modern and not too babyish or all from the same range- just modern bright fabrics. The plan homespun colours break up the prints. The Kona Ash grey is just a beautiful. 

I hand quilted using co-ordinating DMC colours to the fabrics I choose- just enough to hold the layers together and add some visual interest.

I just love how it came together and it's now got a new home 

with little boy who it was made for. A quilt just for him. xx

Last year I made this scrap quilt for another craft group baby.

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quietly working away

There have been a few hard frosts to start our days and I have been soaking up every second of sunshine I can find and wrapping up warm to head out into the cold and grey days.

There have been many days and evenings spent in front of the fire.

I always find winter doesn't seem to feel very productive, but I've been slowly crossing projects off my list of things to do.

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