Liebster Blog Award :)

Thank you to Pauline at The Little House on the Hill for this nomination.

The Liebster Blog Award is an award given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers, most of whom have less than 200 followers (or have been blogging for less than 6 months). It is to show newer bloggers that they are appreciated and to help spread the word about new blogs. It was created to promote appreciation and recognition among the blog world.

Along with this award come a few rules:

1) You must post 11 random things about yourself

2) Answer the 11 questions given by the nominated

3) Create 11 new questions for those you nominate

4) Choose 11 new blogs (less than 200 followers or blogging for less than 6 months) and link them to your post

Firstly, 11 random things about me:

1) I'm half Welsh/half German 

2) At the grand old of 44, I still hate getting told off, especially if I think I'm in the right!

3) I love watching chick flicks and have lost count of how many times I've seen Pretty Woman/The Bodyguard/Somewhere in Time ...

4) Sometimes I drink Bubbles (Champagne, Cava, Prosecco) just because I can 

5) I still blush :(

6) When I'm tired or nervous, I play with the top of my ear - I can actually fold it in on itself when it's warmed up ... DH just said, 'TMI!'

7) I play the flute

8) I lived with my Nen (grandmother) for about 5 years when I was growing up ... she died when I was 21 and I still think about her every day

9) I still eat children's sweets e.g. pink shrimps, white mice, Curly Wurlies ... yummeeeeeeee!

10) Rude and mean people make me angry

11) I am a big softy and will do anything for anybody (as long as they're not rude and mean!)

Secondly, the answers to Pauline's questions:

1) How many UFOs do you have?
None!

2) Which colour do you use most in your quilts?
Pink - I love pink, green comes a close second, I think

3) What was your first patchwork project?
A 20" x 20" 'garden window'' square creation - looking back, I didn't have a clue but it's pinned up on my sewing room wall to remind me how far I've come in 3 years!

4) Do you do other crafts?
Nope, I have absolutely no craft experience, didn't do anything crafty at school so patchwork and quilting is it for me

5) Do you like floral, plain or geometric fabrics?
Floral

6) How many blogs do you follow?
About 50 - but I read 100s!

7) What do you like most about blogging?
It's inclusivity - it doesn't matter who you are, where you do it or how you do it - we're all welcome and quilters really are the nicest people :)

8) Do you like gardening?
No, I really don't like dirt or bugs! I like watching my husband doing the gardening whilst I drink a G&T!

9) What is your favourite time of year?
April - lots of family birthdays and warm, but not hot, weather with lots of new life and colour

10) What is your favourite flower/plant?
Freesias - for their colour and fragrance

11) Do you have a pet?
Yes, a little rescue black and white cat called Nell. She's a madam but I love her :)

Thirdly, my 11 questions for you to answer:

1) How did you start patchwork and quilting?
2) What do you wish you were good at?
3) Is your glass half empty or half full?
4) Do you speak another language? If not, which one would you like to speak?
5) Do you feed the birds?
6) What's your favourite movie?
7) Do you prefer hot or cold puddings?
8) If you could time travel, where would you go?
9) Do you like singing and if so, what's your favourite song?
10) What's your favourite time of day and why?
11) If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?

And finally, (phew, I warn you this post takes some time to construct!!) I nominate the following talented ladies for the Liebster Blog Award:

1) Ailsa at Not Enough Time to Craft
2) Liz at Shush I'm Quilting
3) Elaine at Dashasel Sews
4) Hannah at Hanny Bobbins
5) Lisa at Calicos in Bloom
6) Kathleen at Crabbit Quilter
7) Jennie at Porch Swing Quilts
8) Karen at Small Town Quilter
9) Carla at Creatin in the Sticks
10) Kathy at Kayak Quilting
11) Allison at Dreaming in Patchwork

This has been fun - I look forward to seeing everyone else's posts :D

This week's little finishes ...

Just a few little finishes to share - all Pants Bags to be gifted, blogged about here and here. When it's been a busy and long work week, it's good to look back and know that there was some time for creativity too:

For Karen at Small Town Quilter:

For cousin June:

For Amanda: 

and little Nell joined me too ... though, I suspect that was more to do with her love for her treats than for her Mummy!

  

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts - Finish it up Friday

Using up the old ...

Just hopping around to see what my favourite bloggers are up to and Beth over at Love Laugh Quilt made me smile. Not only does she make the cutest stuff, she writes some great lines too. For example, in today's post, she wrote about her latest very cute baby quilt:

'I love all that pretty fabric, I love that I didn't have to shop for any of it. My goal this year... use ONLY what I own!!! We'll see how THAT goes. ;)

That sentiment really resonates with so many of us, hey? And, as I said to Beth, I can't promise not to make any new purchases ths year but I will definitely use up more of my old. 

My friend's dad (70+) is getting married on Valentine's Day so I found all this cute fabric in my stash last night and made his new wife-to-be a Pants Bag to take on their cruise:

What about you? Are you buying new fabric ... using up the old or a bit of both?

From zero to three :)

Ok, I wasn't quite this bad on Saturday but I did feel a little anxious that I didn't have a new project to start on! Apart from my Farmers Wife Quilt, I have no UFOs and no WIPs and I wrote a little post here about needing some inspiration.

Bless you, Karen (@ Small Town Quilter) who quickly commented: 'Enjoy your day - I'm sure you'll think of something to make in no time! No UFO's? I could send you some of mine!'

That made me smile and, of course, she is so right. I did think of something to make almost immediately. Karen, had you won my Giveaway, I would have made you a pink Pants Bag - I know you really wanted one - so here is one hot off the sewing machine made in pink just for you and on its way to Iowa (as soon as you email me your address!):

I hope you like it! I have been drooling looking at all the Scrappy Quilts on blogs and Flickr for a while so these were my inspiration for the design and big thanks to Bonnie @ Quilt Ville  for her great tutorial which made it so easy :)

And I remembered thinking when I made my USA cousins their lapquilts that when I had the time (I have soooooo much fabric still leftover!) I would make them each a matching Pants Bag. As cousin June got her quilt last, she can have her Pants Bag first:

And my friend at church is having a bunny cuddling day and asked me if I would donate a raffle prize. Well, how could I refuse? So a little purchase today:

I will turn this either into a cushion or bag ... or maybe both!

So from zero ideas to three projects - two down one to go ... and it's only Tuesday!

What next??

I've tidied up my sewing room.

I've put all my scraps away.

I've sorted through some magazines.

I've tidied up my blog (top pages).

I've visited some blogs and left some nice comments.

I'm stuck - I've no idea what to make next - have I run out of people? I seriously hope not ... I'll just not stress about it ... maybe inspiration will find me tomorrow :)

My biggest finish ... with love from UK to USA xx

It's just like me "last minute Jen" to finish this quilt by the end of January with only hours to go! But I have done it :)

I have blogged about making this quilt here, here, here, here and here ... but you probably just want a little précis (I don't blame you) so, to recap: the lovely Tonya of Crazy Mimi Quilts for no other reason but that she wanted to, sent me a bag full of Moda charm packs last year and I immediately knew I had to pay it forward. 

I know there are many genuine causes that would be very grateful for a quilt but I was really moved by the stories around Hurricane Sandy and so I decided to make a twin size quilt for a child who had been affected. I used two of the charm packs (Cape Ann - ideal for a little girl) and added some pink Benartex fabric in the front and bought the same fabric but in a soft brown for the backing.

Did my usual 'make it up as I go along pattern' so it's finished at 82" x 58" which I don't think is a standard size twin but is definitely big enough for a little girl to keep warm and snuggle under. It's the biggest quilt I've made so far and my little Juki really did a good job. 

I wanted to try straight line quilting but I'm still really not very good at it so I did a little bit around the centre panel, then reverted to my stippling FMQ around the pink fabric and side borders. I used a raspberry pink cotton to quilt it which, being darker than the fabric, didn't forgive any of my 'mistakes' but quilting needn't be perfect to be beautiful ... a bit like life, hey?

I had enough of the backing material for the binding - 310" of folded 2 1/4 " - machine sewn on the front and hand sewn on the back - 4 hours! I'm not an experienced hand sewer so I'm sure others could do it quicker but I think this is my favourite part so I don't rush it. I also love burying all my threads during this phase - sat in front of the TV ... it's so relaxing :)

So, I will wrap and post this lovely quilt and say goodbye to it and hope that whomever it says hello to has a brighter future and knows that someone 4 thousand miles away cares about them and hopes they stay warm and safe. God bless you.

Sharing my finish over at:

and at Crazy Mom Quilts - Finish it up Friday

Thanks for the thanks :)

When I left the house at 0625 this morning for a long day at work, I did not know that the lovely Carla from Creatin' in the Sticks had sent me such a sweet message of thanks. Reading it on the train really brightened my morning of dreary travel and lifted my mood, I can tell you. You'll remember Carla won my Giveaway. Here's an extract of what she wrote:

"I received your package today and wow, what a great package it is.  I love the pants bag.  It's beautiful and perfect!  You do fabulous work and I love the label inside.  I will cherish it always."

Now that I know the Pants Bag has arrived safely, I can share some photos:

I am soooooooooo glad you love it Carla!

And here's me, just home, quick dinner and binding my Hurricane Sandy Quilt ... I WILL finish this by Thursday :)

Hope you're all  having a good week.