Block Lotto Strings

It's been a while since I had the chance to play in the Block Lotto, but having finished up the two tops from Ben's clothes, I am now able to play a bit more (not that I've had a lot of time for sewing in general this year, with one thing and another). So I took the chance to make a few pieced strings for the block lotto, and to use a handful of strings from my scrap baskets. I've got one more thing I have to do in early January, and then I'm going to try to get through my basket of block sets. It would be nice to get that down to just one or two. We'll see if I have the will power (probably not, knowing me...)

Quilt no 2: Ta da!

It's like London Buses - none for ages then loads come along at once!  But finally, there was a juxtaposition between having free time and not being unwell (I had hoped to work on these at October half term, but had a nasty virus). This is the second quilt top sorted.  Next step will be to acquire backing and binding at the Fabric Sale at Farnham Maltings in January. And I've booked space with the longarmer for these, so it won't be long after that they'll be quilted. I'll still have to bind them but we are getting really close now. Hurrah! Who knows, I might find time for other sewing tomorrow or even Monday, my last day of holiday (we have plans for New Year's Day).

Getting Ready for Quilt 2

Here are the blocks I've made so far for the second of this pair of quilts - I may move them around a bit, but I wante to get an idea of how many more I needed to fill the space in (answer: quite a few as you can really see my rug through them!).  That's a project for another day, though hopefully it will be sometime this week.

You better sit down: there's been actual SEWING!

I can't even tell you how long it's been since I stitched anything. I don't want to think about it!  But here we go - the first of these two quilts - long promised and long overdue - is finally together as a top. Woo hoo!  Hopefully the next few days will show a successful second finish as well.

Advent Calendar, Christmas Day: The Baby Jesus

We are not a very religious household, but this is still really the only suitable piece to choose for Christmas Day itself...

Advent Calendar, Day 24: Stockings hung by the chimney (with care)

...Twas the night before Christmas...

Advent Calendar, Day 23: Angel

Nearly there, now - only a few days left. As always, some pictures won't get chosen, but I do like this little angel, so she has to go up!

ATC Friday

With these cards, I was the last person to make an addition to them. This one I found quite hard to decide what I wanted to do, but in the end, I think it worked well.

This was easier to find a direction for!

Wintery decor

Well, despite not doing any sewing or stitching practically this whole month, I did manage to pick up a few frames at IKEA to finish off a couple of previously stitched Christmas pieces. This one, above, is staying in the house, but the two small ones below (the designs are about 10cm wide) will be given as gifts to a few people we are seeing over the holidays.

Advent Calendar, Day 22: Father Christmas!

Advent Calendar, Day 21: Snowman

Trunk Show Tuesday

This one, I have no idea about - I only vaguely remember it, and although there are two photos of it stuck into my book, I didn't label it, so it's a mystery. And it predates my quilting blog, which only started in 2006. Not sure about those years between the book and the blog. Might have some random photos somewhere?

I'm almost at the end of the book now, but I might still reprise a few older things from my blog when I get to that point - I think there are 3 or 4 more finished pieces in the book...

Advent Calendar, Day 20: Heart

Olivia's choice today. I always like the ribbon on this one...

Advent calendar, day 19: Reindeer

Just because!

Advent Calendar, Day 18: Gingerbread Man

Today was our massive Christmas Baking Day, so it's always the Gingerbread Man. Even when we don't make Gingerbread.

Advent Calendar, Day 17: Candles

With only a little over a week to go, the choices are becoming easier. I do love this one, especially the orange batik I used for the flames.

ATC Friday

These are both sets of cards where I was the second person to work on them. So you can see all three stages - the finished card, the card as it arrived to me, and what it looked like when I finished with it.

With thisone, I added a second leafy bit and a flower. 

Again, the finished card is what you see above, 

this is what I got in the post

and here's what I added - Mickey!

Advent Calendar, Day 16: Santa Hat

Advent Calendar, Day 15: Stocking

I chose the Christmas Stocking today because my class were sewing felt stocking ornaments earlier this week. And because I just like it.

Advent Calendar, Day 14: Present

Sarah did the last of her Christmas shopping today, so she decided it was appropriate to put the present up. 

Advent Calendar, Day 13: Candy Cane

Olivia's choice - no particular connection today, just because.

Trunk Show Tuesday

This is another baby quilt - I remember making and giving this one. This was for a friend who was part of a little book group - we met online and used to meet up in London occasionally. It's been a long time since we were able to meet up, and this friend has had two more kids since the one I made this for. I'm still in touch with two of this group on Facebook, but I wonder what happened to the third person (there were only four of us)...

Advent Calendar, Day 12: Sledge

No, we don't have snow (quite the opposite - it's extremely mild at the moment) and no, we aren't going sledging. We are, however - or at least Olivia and Sarah are - going ice skating tonight with the Guides, so it's sort of thematic...

Advent Calendar, Day 11: Christmas Tree

Can you guess what we'll be doing today?