Friday night sewing.

 Its been a very big week for us and Friday night sewing was just the perfect way to finish it off. I have started 2 new quilts so far this year, last night I was working on my new Kansas troubles scrappy quilt, every year I like to make one quilt from my scraps, I had a shelf full of KT fabric pieces big and small so I thought it was time to use them up.

 Its going to be my winter quilt, last night I made 4 blocks, having everything cut out makes for faster sewing. I'm really loving this new project.  Its just a simple star block and I'm trying to use all different prints for each block.

 Yesterday our son Daniel turned  '18'  I'm so proud of him and the man he has become, when did he get so tall though.

 I also received a belated christmas gift from my dear friend Steph all the way from Belgium.  Look at these cute little owls,

Lots of other goodies to, thankyou Steph.

I would also like to tell you I have started  a new job, its working in an office and unlike anything I have ever done  before. After 6 years in the quilt shop it was time to move on and I have to say I'm loving it. Still lots to learn but its good fun and the lady I work with is so much fun.

I hope you all enjoy  a long weekend, of fun, family and plenty of sewing. I know I will.

A few of my favourite things.....

 Lots of pretty things to share with you today, firstly I'm excited to tell you my latest design has been published in Patchwork and Stitching magazine Vol 15 No 1.  They are pretty pin cushions, or as the magazine call them..... Pin Pillows. They were such fun to make and the little saw tooth block is so cute and easy to make.

 I love how the magazine photograph my projects, they look so good.

 As a little added touch I embroidered flowers on the cotton tape, I think this gives it a nice look.

 Now I have almost finished my next design so I will be excited to share that with you later on.  I always worry that people won't like my designs but some very lovely ladies have kindly emailed me photos of the projects they made and I was thrilled.

 I am up to date with my fat quarter shop block of the month, this months block was quick and easy. I do love Fig tree fabrics.

 I made a little mat for my kitchen, just to have on the bench with a vase of flowers on it. I really must get that binding sewn down today then I can use it.

 My garden is looking beautiful with all the summer flowers in full bloom, I grew Alliums for the first time and I love them, they are about as big as a golf ball and very pretty.

Ok time to say goodbye and get back to my latest project, have a wonderful day. Hope you find some sewing time.

Friday night sewing results

 Friday night sewing was a successful one for me, I always look foreward to spending time in my sewing room. I worked on another block of Tone it down which is a quilt all over instagram right now and its featured in the latest issue of American Patchwork and quilting.

 I have made 9 blocks so far, here are a few of them, they are really fun to make but take me about 90 minutes to make each one. So many little pieces of fabric.

 Of course I always wind down with a little stitching before bed. I love working on this project, its a Bronwyn Hayes pattern and my friend Cathy got this bag for Christmas and its so beautiful I dragged mine out of the cupboard to finish, with a little help from a lovely friend.  Isn't it funny how you lose interest in a project but when you see it made up you are all inspired to work on it again and make one of your very own.

I'm going to see what everyone got up to last night, if you would like to look to go here and you find many wonderful blogs full of inspiration.
Its finally warmed up here so I'm looking foreward to some sunshine.
Enjoy your weekend.

Gifts

 Its taking me ages to share with you all the beautiful gifts I received for Christmas, here are a few more. So beautiful and so me, my friends know me so well. I got the gorgeous mini spools quilt from my lovely friend Nicky. We love Bonnie and Camille fabrics so I was thrilled to receive this quilt.

 Nicky also made me this great journal cover.

 I made Nicky a Christmas wall hanging, its a Red Brolly design and was so fun to stitch.

 My other lovely friend Tracee made me this beautiful Anni Downs wall hanging, it fits beautifully in my mini quilt frame.

 And a cute little ornament.

 I made Nicky this Scrumptious pin cushion, out of the left overs from her wall hanging.

 This wall hanging I made for Anthea, another good friend who made me a cute bag.

And lastly I made this tag to represent antlers for my on line christmas swap.

Off to work today for 2 days which will be nice. What are your plans? Hope you get some sewing done.

A little bit more of Christmas.

 I am such a lucky girl. I have so many wonderful talented friends, the gifts they gave me for Christmas are just so beautiful and so me. I received this pretty doll in our on line stitching group from Sandi. Isn't she just the sweetest girl, I love her face.

 My friend Marina gave me this lovely tin filled with pretty fabrics and a diary. Thankyou marina, we must have a sewing day soon.

 My dear friend Josie made me the most beautiful bag from Tilda fabric. Oh she knows me so well. Its perfectly made and just gorgeous.

 Josie also gave me this very dainty and sweet needle case, I love the fabrics she has used, so soft and pretty.

Thankyou so much Josie, you spoilt me again. I must start sharing some of the gifts I made my friends, Just before Christmas my old lap top died and I lost all my photos so I don't have many photos of the gifts I made. I just may have to go to my friends blogs and borrow their photos.

I am still on holidays and having a lovely time in my sewing room, my partner in crime and quilting  Cathy and I had a sewing day on Saturday, we got some great blocks sewn from a new project thats just come out. Stay tuned for more on that.

Have a great day.

Christmas gifts.

 I was so spoilt this Christmas. I received some amazing gifts, here are two I'd like to share with you. My very talented friend Anthea made me a beautiful bag. I just love it. Its a Nat Bird design and Anthea and I both love her designs.

 Anthea also made me a beautiful ornament for our tree, I like it so much I decided to hang it in my sewing room for the year, and a lovely table runner. Thankyou so much my friend.

 My overseas friend Melanie made me a beautiful table runner, its so pretty. Her stitching is perfect.

She also included some chocolate which of course is not pictured as we ate it earlier on., but I did get the cutest key ring and a little reindeer bag, so sweet. Thankyou Melanie. I look foreward to our next swap.

A  new year is here and I have started some  new projects, I can't wait to show you. This morning I sent my latest desgin off to the magazine to be published later in the year. Its all very exciting.

Have a wonderful day. I have more things to share and show you my other christmas gifts so I'll see you again on the weekend. I'm off to do some sewing.