A whole lot of heart

I had a lovely time at Sheila's workshop yesterday where I made this...

I'm pleased with how it's gone so far, but I still have some decisions to make.  First of all about the border - I'm thinking of continuing the green sashing round the outside, with the pale green material shown for the wider border, and then perhaps a dark pink binding to match the hearts.  I also still have two empty squares where I was thinking of doing something different to all the hearts - perhaps some bird silhouettes?  or letters?

Class quilt in progress

In anticipation of my first class of the new year on Wednesday night I'm blogging about my work in progress. 
 

Each of the 13 blocks is still in 9 pieces.  Laying it out like this helped me choose which 9 patches to put with which flying geese combinations.  I also have a variety of white triangles cut ready to complete the quilt with which I didn't lay out.  

Once each of the 13 blocks is sewn together I expect I will have a session which will take a very long time where I arrange them and rearrange them until I've got the balance I want.  My wadding and backing material is ready and waiting...although I still have to decide if I will incorporate some extra little blocks from my left over material into the backing material.  Then big decision time about how to quilt it!  Only 6 more classes to go, so hopefully I'll get to that stage quite soon.  Writing all this down makes me realise what a lot I still have to do!

A New Year!

The first post of the New Year!  I was lucky enough to bring in the New Year in Kintyre, staying at the wonderful Dunvalanree Hotel with my family.  Plenty of great food, walks on the beach and fireworks over the bay to welcome in the New Year.

Since then, however, not much has happened in 2012 for me as I've been under the weather this week.  That said I'm hoping for lots of nice quilting and sewing to come.  I'll be watching these tutorials for some help and inspiration....

Since Christmas all I've managed to do is a bit of cross stitching of a map of Scotland, which I've been working on for many many years now, tiny bit at a time.  After some more regular attention recently perhaps 2012 will see it finished! 

I'm also very much looking forward to finishing my class quilt that I've been doing every second Wednesday over the winter with Sheila.  The flying geese, four and nine patches are all finished now and waiting to get into formation and meet with some wadding and backing!

Christmas makes

Here are a few other things that I have been making recently for Christmas...

Stockings front...

...and back, after emptying...

...some owls...

...a wee bag for my Mum...

some coasters for my brother....

I also made my husband an apron too, as he was making the Christmas dinner.  All seemed to go down fairly well.

That's nature

My husband and I went for a walk today and took some pictures of the amazing ethereal view across the bay to Arran.

Some weekend sewing...

I was really pleased to get a bit of sewing done this weekend.  First of all I made LOTS of flying geese for my class quilt.

I also made a couple of little neckerchief bibs for my little twin niece and nephew, Mia and George. 

They are finished with velcro dots and are effectively reversible. I'm quite pleased with them.

Santa swap

Sheila has arranged a little santa swap for members of her classes.  As I go along to the Wednesday night class every fortnight I was able to join in.  I have never done a swap before, so it was all totally new to me.  I got some details of what colour and style my partner would like and decided to make this mug rug.

I am quite pleased with how it has turned out, although if I were to do it again I would do the binding very different - it's a bit wonky, but I think still passable.  I would be happy to have it out at home, so hopefully my swap parter will like it too.