Must try harder ...

Life is getting in the way of my quilting and blogging. Am not complaining - work is busy but fulfilling, am spending time with friends and family, we're sorting out all our house things and doing some major decluttering but I need more time:

The 3 things I am working on, I'm making some progress - just not at my usual pace. I have finally been shopping for gifts to send with this Pants Bag to America (I may have overdone it with the 'Hello Kitty' theme and colour pink but I hope she loves it all):

I have quilted and bound baby Saffron's birthday quilt. Just need to hand sew the binding and make a label:

 

And have started a new Pants Bag for one of my Strip Quilting Bees (so that she can transport her 'pants' safely when she comes to stay at the end of March.)   Her choice was pinks and blues:

My list of things to do is growing:

1) Make the back of my soldier's quilt

2) Make Pants Bags for Marie, Amy, Sarah, Jennie and Maja

3) Start a new butterfly quilt 

4) Make an iPad mini case for dear niece
5) Make a carrier bag dispenser

Linking up and promising to find the time to visit your blogs too :)

Lorna
 

Heather & Megan
 

Lee  

Giving and receiving :)

This week I'm spending time with my oldest schoolfriend (35 years ... where does the time go?!), her 11 year old son and Mum who are visiting us for half-term ... so very little sewing to share!

It has been a time of giving and receiving so, with your indulgence, I will share some of that today. First up, the talented Fran, who's been my blogging friend for nearly a year now sent me these delightful gifts as a thank you for making her daughter a Pants Bag. 

I love her zippy pouches ... she's such a tidy sewer:

I've finished another Pants Bag which is going to Kentucky as soon as I can get to the shops to fill it with gifts for the little girl I'm sending it to:

And Lorna wrote a lovely post about the Pants Bag I made her just because I could:

My WIPs - soldier's quilt and baby quilt - have finished the tops and just need the backs making which I'm hoping to start at the weekend:

In the meantime, I've been vicariously quilting through the lead character in this wonderful book dear SIL bought me for Christmas:

I can't put it down! It's fascinating to read of her life in 1850s Ohio, her comparisons between English and American life and quilting:

Linking up with Lee:

and Heather and Megan:

and Lorna:

We interrupt these WIPs ...

It's been one of those weeks ... I might get a little bit more done on these:

If my ironing table wasn't next to this:

Am loving the Winter Olympics but they're a heck of a distraction!

Check out the Missouri Quilt Company tutorial for a charm square tote bag - it's one of the best :) This is my progress so far, thinking I might keep this one for myself - made from some scrap charm squares:

It's coming together really quickly:

I am also working on a Pants Bag for a little girl:

Wave your wand, Glinda, make the evening sewing hours last twice as long as the working day ones!

Linking up with my favourites:

Oh oh ... I have been bad ... very very bad :)

Well, let's just lay down some perspective - I haven't committed any crime ... but I have been making purchases this week (online and in real life!) But, in my defence, your honour I neeeeeeeeeeeeded them ... ALL of them :)

Some Makower spots:

More Makower (Hearts) and a pink blender and the 'hot' pink at the back is Camile's Vintage by David Textiles Inc:

An anonymous (nothing on the selvage) 'caught my eye as I was leaving the shop' fat quarter:

Am thinking I may use this 1 metre purchase in the backing or binding of my 'soldier's quilt' - it's 'detour' by BoBunny for Riley Blake:

Loving this Field Day Floral, grey by Josephine Kimberling. Honestly? This was just a 'like it and I want it' acquisition:

I also bought some Kona Ash, Charcoal and Candy Pink for my strip bee and I have some butterfly fabric on order! All receipts are in the tin:

Sharing my crime and doing my time in great company over at Kate Quilts this week as Ms Molli is gallavanting the globe!

Pants Bag #2 ... just a little finish :)

I haven't had enough spare time to finish any quilt tops after work this week, though am optimistic I shall complete the top of my 'soldier's quilt' over the weekend. Here's a reminder of one of the blocks (6 made, 3 to go):

I also want to make a start putting together the top of a new baby quilt:

But I did make another Pants Bag this week, which I popped in the post to a special lady yesterday. It's a surprise gift for her; can't wait until it arrives. I love giving presents ... don't you?

Linking up with Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts and Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict:

Cutting for a new quilt :)

We were away this weekend so I missed out on my bumper Saturday-Sunday sewing sessions! I have started cutting for a new baby quilt / playmat I'm going to make for dear niece's fiance's niece (Saffron, who has her first birthday in April), I'm going for two bold patterned pinks for the letter 'S' and a mixture of co-ordinating Makower Spraytimes as the background:

I had to use all my fat quarters and then raid my scraps to make 50 x 7" Makower squares:

I can't lay them out, check my design and start sewing though until I clear my design / basting / sewing table - think I'll have to do a tidy-up this weekend:

Oh and I've nearly finished another Pants Bag which I'm making for an overseas blogging friend (I've bought her a Hera Marker too as she doesn't have one):

Linking up with these fabulous ladies:

http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/lets-bee-social-6.html

http://quiltstory.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/faric-tuesday-171.html

http://www.freshlypieced.com/2014/02/wip-wednesday-with-guest-host-leigh.html