A BIG Finish!!!!

 There has been as much sewing as I could fit in over the past couple of weeks
 Of course none done over the family visiting at Easter but luckily Mr T had a couple of days on the golf course so, sew I did,  until lots of pretty fabrics were joined to make up the backing for my new quilt.

And the a bit of surgery to replace to replace one of the sashings that was the same as the next one - only spotted when I posted the photo in my last post 😧

Yards of leftover bits were sewn to make up the binding

And off the quilt went to my friend who had offered to quilt the beastie on her long arm machine
After much angst choosing the design - I chose Tahitian Pearl by Urban Elementz
In a trice it was done!  (though I know it took hours to sew. Half and hour for each row!)

 After several more hours sewing down the binding - it's on my bed!!!

repeated spotty strip replaced😌

 I L.O.V.E it!!!😍😍😍

 It looks so nice that I fear we may have to sleep in the spare room so as not to spoil the effect 😜

I also vastly overestimated the amount of binding that I would need when sewing those scraps together so now I have more than enough left to bind another quilt in the same fabrics. But that must wait for a while.

how big did I think the quilt was???

At the same time as getting the quilt finished, I have been madly trying to get the crochet border done on these pretty squares....

only 4 to go

I need this crochet project done, as I have seen another item that I am dying to have a try at (my crochet is not my best feature 😉)



AND .... I have pieced lots of little squares that will make up a Puff Quilt backing for a quilt top for Little Miss to put in her Wigwam

all ready for the stuffing.

And....... I have finished my Mini Mania Challenge for April ( this month was Triangles)
and the reveal for that will be on Sunday with our new Challenge given on Monday.

 At my local quilt group this week we had a visiting speaker, who told us all about her involment with the Dress a child Charity. She showed us lots of pretty Pillowcase dresses that she had made, and several photos of the children in Uganda that were wearing her dresses.

 Each of the dresses has an embroidered label form the organisation. It is a horrifying fact that these little girls feel safe when wearing a labeled dress as the men avoid hurting them. They think the label means someone is protecting them 

She also had some photos of little boys wearing shorts that are sent too.

 And then I spotted some of the shorts that I had made !!!

lets face it - my choice of fabric mix!

at the moment I am finishing of 48 more pairs , though they are not so colourful as these.



I am hoping to take some had sewing with me when we head off to sunnier climes in a couple of weeks.  ( its a good job I set the Challenge each month 😉)

With the family.

 All of them. 

Do I really think that any sewing will get done?? 

We shall see 🙄🙄

So Much To Do !

 At this time of the year!

I did finish my March Mini Mania in plenty of time. This month it was Tessellations. 

 I failed miserably when working out how many pieces of each fabric was needed.....
So I used all the extras and pieced the back too!

 Lots going on in the garden. Repairing our garden shed was top of the list when Mr T out his foot through the floor!
We had a spot where water had been getting in, and as the floor was covered in carpet tiles ( who doesn't carpet their shed floor?😜) the little drip drip drip didn't dry up 😱
Anyway, a big clear out was long overdue and then onto replacing the floor. Just as the last panel went in we realised that water was getting between the roofing felt so ......... new roof covering followed. Our shed is at the very bottom of the garden, and backs onto another garden, so we never actually get to see the back of the shed.
When Mr T was re roofing he spotted a couple of panels of wood had somewhat warped and was worried that water may get in there too, so more wood ordered and re-cladding the back of the shed continued.

Its a bit like Triggers broom the shed has been there for 35 years but I'm not sure exactly how much of the original is there🤣🤣🤣

But it is done.

And then comes the replacing the garden fence (not ALL of it thank goodness).
But the new fence looks good and we have added another compost bin (a very good friend kindly swapped this for a wormery) and that part of the garden is now sorted.

already starting to fill too!

The new bed has been planted up with strawberries

 I think I will have enough tomatoes to supply Tesco

 Splitting some of the Hosta's ready to go to DD's new garden

 I like to keep some of the named varieties in pots in case the labels in the garden go missing

And despite our Bramley Apple tree having a VERY severe pruning, it has graciously produces many blossoms, so I am hopeful of a good crop this year.

 Some of last years apples have gone into a pie baking session.

this one is for an old friend

 The baking and food prep session is ready for another visit from the family.

They were here for a few days last week and a trip to Stanwick lakes without her wellies did not stop Little Miss O from having a great time in the (FREEEZING) water.

 We did manage to persuade her to keep her cardi on. She was soaked through but very happy when we eventually pulled her out on the promise of an ice cream!

It was also reveal week for Higham Piecemakers Christmas Challenge  

I had made my block into a bag . I used the Ethel Bag Pattern (free)  and used the same Cotton Duck to make it a bit more sturdy.   I think this will go to a friend who is having a Quilt Exhibition and sales table for her church in June

Four of us got together to have a beady day and I made this pretty bauble to go with the collection

 More progress has been made on the crochet blanket and I spent a while in the sun in the garden sewing the ends in.  I think I am about halfway with this blanket, and I do like to sew the ends as I go.

And then there is the quilt.

The pieces are getting bigger.

And the quilt top is now finished!  Yay!! 

Oh No!! two strips next to each other - Surgery required!!!

I am hoping to have this one quilted on a Long Arm machine because I think it is too big for me to handle.  there are 90 of the 6"  9 patch blocks and they are all different.
I have used fabrics from 3 or 4 ranges of Bonnie and Camille fabrics in this but there is still quite a bit left over so after the family visit I have a quest to use all of the leftovers, plus some of the white that I have used on the front, to piece that backing. 😳 As you do.