Medallion Quilt Along!

I've been getting the emails about the Medallion Quilt Along from the Modern Quilt Guild of Ireland and  I reallllllllly wanted to join in but couldn't decide on a center block to get me going.  I should have done what was suggested, which was to create a mosaic of central blocks which would probably have inspired me and got the creative juices going..........but no, instead I chose to just let ideas float around in my head, allow them to get all muddled up and talk myself out of joining a few dozen times.  However, I bit the bullet last night and just decided to buy the "Liberty Love" book for the kindle (oh yes, instant gratification...... pay for it and receive it in less than 3 mins, now that's service)!  My plan was just to follow the Marcelle Medallion pattern - I have been drooling over it on Instagram and other blogs for about 18months after all..........but as soon as I flicked through the book, I decided on another design altogether for my centre block and got to work!

First a fabric pull............. 

I chose a paper-piecing block for the centre because I love the patterns that can be achieved with this method and it gives such accurate results.  I hated paper-piecing when I first tried it, so much so that I dumped my first couple of efforts out of sheer frustration but then I took on a twin-sized seaside quilt done completely with paper-piecing and I fell in love with the process.  It's perfect for those days when you just want to sew and don't want to think about what you're doing too much!  Effectively sewing by numbers!! 

I don't have the exact recommended measurements so I'm hoping it'll work out as it grows but I'm rather pleased with my first block & border!  I LOVE that text fabric from The Quilt Shop.  I'm hoping I haven't added too much pink/purple.  I don't want it to end up completely pink themed so I need to try and add new colours as I go.

Now to add some more borders....... so many choices but I won't take so long this time, watch this space!

Friends, Fun & FABRIC!

Wahooooooooo, my buddy made it over from America and was in our area for one night only (yes, I sang the song in my head far too much.......... "for one night only, one night only....." Drove myself mad) and we had fun, fun, fun......... how much chat, food/drink and shopping can you fit in less than 24 hours......well, ALOT!!!!

So, her lovely visit is over already but she left her mark by bringing over my shopping from America.  Since October/November she'd been sending me links to websites that I should check for fabric, notions, and more....... being the dutiful friend, of course I checked them out and then I was compelled to buy a little here and there!  Well, let's just say I've fairly added to my stash overnight and I love it!  So here's a sneaky peek at some of what she brought...........

The top three photos are from Craftsy.com, who have an advert on my page right now! (coincidence? hmmm :) ) and the bottom pictures are some of the scrap packs from Hawthorne Threads.  I love these, they sent completely different ones to the ones I got last year and the "scraps" are a very generous size!

 
You might not see me now for a little while, not because I'm going to be in a big feverish sewing frenzy or anything.  More than likely, I'll be sitting with my fabric, stroking it and colour co-ordinating my little piles and imagining what I can make......... aaaaaaaaah bliss! 

Finishing up!

You remember I mentioned I had a finger in a lot of pies and was trying to stop starting new projects before I had a few "finishes", well I've been working on that over the past few days.  I may have digressed a little by making a cover for my sewing machine.....  but that was a necessary as my machine now sits in the window and I don't want it to turn yellow on me!! 

So this is what I've been doing........

First up, I finally found a piece of embroidery that I started ages ago.  I'm terrible for putting things in very "safe" places and then not finding them for months on end!!  So here are my two little boys........ I had done one similar a while back but when I saw this pic with two little boys, I had to do it too.  My little men, Sam and Levi, each picked themselves out of the finished piece so I think that'll show you why I wanted to do it!
 

Next up I've been doing some more on my #economyblockalong - these blocks are very easy but quite labour intensive.  There is so much ironing and trimming throughout each block for something that is very simple looking at the end of it.  However, they are so very cute and I'm delighted with how they're turning out.....they're just turning out rather slowly!

 

Oh before I forget, this is my little machine cover.  I used a charm pack that I bought during the #greatukfabricdestash from Fairyface Designs so it went together very fast.  It could possible have been an inch longer but it covers all the necessaries so I'm happy enough with that!

 And lastly, I finished up my Summer in the park Quilt.  I did the binding over a week ago but left the last 3 inches (ever the procrastinator, why would I not just do those three inches and be done with it???) until this morning!  So finally , it is done!  I hope you like it!

Front and back

Hand quilted with perle cotton

I do love a bit of funky binding!

So that's what I've been up to the past couple of weeks.  I can start (guilt-free) to plan a few more projects now!!