Archie The Wonder Dog

It's time to declare my finishes for quarter two of the Finish-A-Long - I feel a bit of a fraud writing a new blog post when I haven't replied to the comments from the previous one but instead of spending time on the computer (I'm also way behind with other emails and reading/commenting on blog posts) I've been spending a lot of time crawling around my front room floor, listening to/watching six episodes of ' Broadchurch' and a fair few of 'Party of Five'  and tackling this: Hexy quilt top, wadding and backing, ready to tack and I'm pleased to say that late last night (with blisters on both index fingers!) I finished tacking my quilt and can now start to experiment with threads and choose which I want to use.  Oh, and I suppose I'd better give some thought to exactly how I'm going to quilt it - that very much depends on the threads I choose, though... I'll reply to comments soon (honest!) but I need to post my FAL Q2 finishes s...

I'm not entirely sure what I've done since I last blogged so let's see what I can find in my 'June' folder, shall we?! I got the backing sorted for my hexy quilt .  There was a bit of a problem when I discovered a small hole  (which I knew I hadn't caused) in my first order (after I'd washed and ironed it) but the wonderful staff at The Cotton Patch sorted it out in a jiffy and sent me a new piece of fabric (and kindly allowed me to keep the original piece, I suspect because I'd already washed it - their customer service is wonderful, I've shopped there before this and will definitely be going back!)  This is how it's been for about four weeks: (A big piece of fabric folded in quarters and laid over the back of a settee!) Isn't it pretty, though?!  It'll be even better when I get it layered and tacked - I've got as far as finding the masking tape and tacking thread/needle tin but not much further, I just haven't had the...

Yes, you read that right - my hexy quilt top is finished!  I actually finished it a week ago but haven't managed to blog about it until now!  I've had trouble getting photos of it because I can't find anywhere outside where I can hang it and take a photo.  Here's a photo of it outside, before the borders were added: Hexies on the fence but it's now too big and trails on the ground!  Once it's been layered and tacked (and so has a bit of weight to it and somewhere to put stones without hiding the hexies) I might try laying it on the front grass and leaning out of my sewing room window but it's a bit breezy today to try that with just a quilt top - it'd be off down the road before I got upstairs!  Right, that's enough chat, let's show you more photos!  (I copied Hadley and hung it in the conservatory - it's a good place to take photos and you don't risk dangling your pale quilt top in mud.)  It took 21 months and 12 days...

I'm about to start a new hand piecing project and realised that I didn't have a spare pin cushion or thread catcher to put in my project tin so, of course, I had to rectify that situation!  I spent longer than is probably sensible making this cute pin cushion who was going to be given a name (possibly Ethel) until I realised that naming her may prevent me from sticking pins in her. I adapted this pattern and made her from Liberty lawn.  As you can see, she's got a little gingham tail and lilac eyes (she tested several and liked these best), nose and whiskers - I'm really quite fond of her! The question is, can I bring myself to stick pins in her... Of course I can!!    (sorry,  Nicky !) The other thing I needed was a thread catcher and I can't tell you how much trouble this gave me, especially considering how many I've made and how very, very simple they are to make.  (Skip to the photo if you don't want to read about some really stu...

I suppose I should have predicted that three posts in six days would result in a blogging blackout but I didn't.  I bet some of you did though, didn't you?! Here's what I've been up to: I'm going to intending to finish off the lovely cushion from Katy (I think this project is a veteran of the FAL list!), make my first ever foundation pieced block into a block keeper/stitching book (using Cathi's examples  as inspiration) and, just for laughs, see how far I can get with a double bed-sized blue and white nine patch and snowball quilt.  (Not as far as a finish, I don't think, but miracles do happen!) I've already got a finish! (No, not the quilt!) The front. You can see a photo of the back here . Inside Rolled and tied. I'm about to start a new hand piecing project (no, I haven't finished joining my hexies together yet!) and I'm going to need somewhere to keep all the pieces because there's no way I'm...