... blockcrazy

Ok, a little sneak peek at a few more of my scrappy log cabin blocks as first mentioned on this blogpost. Am sewing these constantly despite having pledged to finish the other quilts. OOops.

I am planning to try the Quilt-as-you-go method on these using the same block design on front and back. No idea what I'm doing but I'll figure it out somehow.and will keep you posted once I do.

Nadine

Mini Geisha Quilt

I have been Quilting like a mad woman lately to work on presents (working on my Pay it Forward gifts and Justine's little wedding pressie) but am also trying to finish things and then hopefully set up an Etsy shop SOONish.

But here is one thing I meant to show you a while ago and I just finished the hand quilting this weekend amidst all the other stuff. It is a mini Geisha Quilt made up of beautiful Asian fabrics.

Am actually quite happy with it, the quilting turned out very well, very even for a change. I used gold thread which is a pain in the backside for handquilting, it keeps breaking or twirling up into loops, argh. But it worked out well in the end.

Close up:



The only thing I don't like is the binding. It looks shabby and wobbly and uneven and I might just take it off and replace it.

Hope you like it.

Love, Nadine

the back:

Wedding present challenge!

OK, everyone, something unusual today. My blogland friend Justine is getting married soon and has challenged her crafty online friends to make a wedding present for her lovely future hubby.


Here is a quote from her blogpost:

Sew Justine Sew:

Wedding Love........

Now I had a little thought today whilst I was brainstorming ideas for wedding presents for the lovely Mr. G.......



We've not talked about getting each other gifts but I really do want to give him something on this momentous occasion, he's such a doll and honestly he deserves a medal (if only for putting up with me!). He picks up the pieces of my wildly busy life - whilst I try being a special care nurse, mummy to two young children (one with special needs and all that that entails) and on top of that now I've found a huge passion for sewing and blogging - the poor man often doesn't get a look in!

He never grumbles though (sometimes he hides the laptop and blames the kids) and he pays genuine interest when I make him read some of my favourite blogs, he listens to me waffle insanely about fabric design and never goes mad when he reads the bank statement and realises how much I spent this month on fabric (he says he feels like Courtney aka Seamstar is part of the family) and he takes great pleasure in seeing my face when I make something I love (his words not mine!). He's a great dad and the kids adore him (as do I I've just realised), so anyway my idea.....

How cool would it be to give him some handmade wedding themed goodies from my lovely online blog friends???? I'm open to ideas and really I'm not expecting freebies, I'd be happy to pay for your services if you think you can help!

So if you're up for a little challenge to help me make our wedding day extra special for the fab 'Mr. G' then please leave me a comment. I don't want big ideas just a few little handmade items that will put a smile on his face that we can display in our home afterwards would be immense.

I really do hope some of you will be able to help me, it would mean a great deal to me....


Wonderful Idea, I say. The man deserves so much more than a medal for putting up with a crafter, without moaning about the money spent on fabric or being neglected while Justine quilts and crafts away. What a catch, Justine!

So I was thinking I could spread the word a bit and invite all of you to go to Justine's blog and help her out. We all love making things, why hoard them, why not make someone's day by giving them something we've made. And if we give it to someone so deserving as Justine and her lovely family it is even better.

Now get thinking and GO MAKE SOMETHING!

Light and Dark - Finished!

Finally, I have finished a quilt completely. I am absolutely determined to finish things before embarking on big new projects. And there are a few quilts which still need quilting (does that mean they can't actually be called 'QUILTS' yet? hmm?)

OK, I have to admit I haven't been keeping my word. And I keep cutting fabric for new quilts. Or I am piecing blocks and keep getting sidetracked. But I do try to go back to the unfinished ones and try to work on them too.

So here is one of those.



I made this last year but never actually quilted it. I am always a bit apprehensive about the quilting. I feel like they look better without the wobbly quality of the hand quilting. Maybe, just maybe, that means I do need to take the plunge and get a machine? But which one? It would have to be a super simple beginners machine. If it is too technical and the threading is too fiddly I'll break it and won't be able to fix it.

Anyway, this is my 'Light and Dark' quilt. Quilted and ready to find a new home maybe on Etsy one day?!

Details:





Hope you like it.

Nadine






the back

What is it?

My latest creation. So what is it?

Is is a coaster?

Or is it a placemat?



Is it maybe a wallhanging?



No, it is in fact my first potholder.



And I made 4 just in case.



Will test drive them on the weekend. Hurrah.

Love, Nadine

My prize

Yay. Take a look at the beautiful Marimekko fabrics from Nido which I won in a giveaway on Film in the Fridge.

Now I need to decide what I am going to make with these. So many possibilities. Any suggestions? They are mostly home dec weight.







- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

New UK Fabric shop opening with a giveaway!

Today's big huge news is the opening of the new UK online shop - Simply Solids - selling the must have solid - Kona cotton. The opening is being celebrated with a HUGE giveaway of 22 Kona solid fat quarters - you can see the colours in the picture below. The colours in this picture are all in stock for immediate dispatch. Mandy can also get in any Kona solid colour you request.* P+P in the UK is free for all orders over £15. Check out Lily's Quilts for details about the giveaway.

Good luck to you all. (or maybe I shouldn't say that.)

Nadine