Lots of stuff ... :)

I really am a happy little quilter at present. I'm feeling so creative and productive ... if I didn't have to stop for work, I would quilt the world, I'm sure! 

Last weekend, I finally started quilting my 'soldier's quilt':

And I made another scrappy zipper pouch for my friend at work:

And put borders on my Strip Bee Quilt:

And I'm turning these 4 gorgeous fat quarters gifted ages ago to me by my dear friend Carla @ creatin in the sticks:

into a sewing mat, sewing machine cover and 'enders' bag! There's nothing wrong with the old set I made:

But I'm thrilled to be making fresh stuff for the new sewing room. There's lots of tutorials out there but I just made it up as I went along this time! In essence, you're making a mini quilt with a pocket in it. You can spend as much or as little time on it as you want. 

Here's some photos I took along the way:

I have learnt to leave a good 10" when joining the binding ends in this way:

And check before you cut:

Add your pockets where you want them:

Just need to hand sew the binding down:

Do you have a sewing mat? Would you like one? It's my birthday tomorrow so I think it's only right to do a giveaway post :)

Linking up with the lovely Lorna and Lee:

What's on my table?

Lots of house viewings since last week and a good offer but no sale yet ... it has only been a week so we're not worried. I got a bit of sewing done over the weekend but certainly I'm feeling unproductive compared to my usual outputs :(

I have finally added a border to my soldier's quilt and made the back, so if DH and I can baste this this weekend, I may even get it quilted:

Next weekend I'm hosting a 'quilt retreat' for our Strip Bee quilters  - I have previously made Fran and Julie a Pants Bag so felt it was only right that the other three ladies had a Pants Bag too to transport their 'pants' in when they come to stay! Here's all three together:

For Maria (pinks and blues):

For Amy: (aqua and pale blue):

For Sarah: (pinks and purples):

They'll be in the post tomorrow, ladies! Very excited to host the weekend, promise to take lots of pictures of our weekend and the finished strip quilts.

And one more thing on my table - I participated in a low volume charm swap around Christmas. Here are the 56 x 5" squares I received:

But I just haven't been hit by the inspiration fairy to know what to do with them. So, yesterday, I laid them out with different fabric choices from my stash:

My thinking is to keep it simple, maybe  a 10 x 10 lap quilt using one extra colour ... or more than one? What would you do? All ideas gratefully received :)

Linking up with Lorna, Lee and Heather & Megan:

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: