Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew - getting closer!

Well you probably don't need me to tell you that that big holiday starting with a C is not too far away, so I shall just say that there are only two more Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew Link Parties before the big day!

This month's Link Party is hosted by Joanne, who blogs at Rose & Dahlia. Joanne is a knitter of the loveliest shawls and is becoming quite the avid swapper with fabulous mini quilts and bags winging their way to very happy swap partners in recent months! Check out her brilliant idea for hanging up your handmade Christmas stockings here


If you need a bit more than inspiration to kickstart your crafting then, of course, there is another wonderful giveaway to tempt you too.

Last month's giveaway of  lovely Liberty fabric generously donated by Sarah at Duck Egg Threads was won by Vicki, who linked up her fabulous snowmen.  This month we have this lovely Christmas fabric, Lost and Found Christmas by Riley Blake designs to help you with those last minute makes, and as usual all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is link up your Christmas and Holiday makes this month to the Link party at Rose & Dahlia.

Whilst I have a couple of Christmas craft projects underway this month, I have only one finish so far, which is the table runner for my son and daughter-in-law that I made whilst testing Leanne's Friendship Galaxy pattern

If you have made any Christmas or Holiday gifts or Home Decorations this month head on over to Rose & Dahlia  to link them up and you might be the lucky winner of that bundle of lovely Christmas fabric, you know it would be a great addition to your stash :)
The Link Party will remain open until the end of the month so you have plenty of time to get crafting!


As ever, these lovely sponsors deserve a big thank you for their generous support of the link party.

http://www.patchworkelephant.com/

My (virtual) neighbourhood

Many moons ago I joined the Star of Africa Bee and found myself being challenged every month to come up with blocks like this

and this

My creative muscles were really stretched! The time limits were too (for everyone) so it was only a couple of months ago that I received what I am assuming will be the last blocks for me from this Bee.

So, they hung about in my sewing room whilst I decided what to do with them. I knew from the outset that the final quilt would end up in France, but whether as a wallhanging or a throw I hadn't decided.

Then I went to the Festival of Quilts and these fabrics leaped off of the shelves and into my basket :)

A plan was formed!

and here is the result. The sashing is Kona Jade Green, the borders are Jolly Farm Trees by Makower and the corners are paper-pieced patterns by Kristy at Quiet Play

My Bee mates did a wonderful job with their blocks, I am delighted with how this quilt top has turned out and I hope that they are too.

The backing fabric for the quilt has been waiting patiently in my stash for the top to be completed, it is the result of another virtual friendship as I bought it from my fellow blogger Karen , who occasionally sells vintage fabric finds. I knew as soon as she listed this fabric that it would be perfect for the back of my SoA quilt so I snapped it all up :)

I am now psyching myself up to the hated task of crawling over the kitchen floor on my hands and knees to get this basted. Ideally I would like to have this finished before my son and daughter-in-law come back for a visit in a couple of weeks so I need to get that basting done sooner rather than later.

As well as being a testament to the creative diversity of Quilting Bees it is also a great reminder of the friendships that can be forged through those same Bees. Although I did not receive all of the Blocks that I was scheduled to from the Bee, those that I did were from ladies that I am delighted to call friends, who have enriched my virtual life in so many ways.

Thanks Benta, Irene, Janine, Jen, May, Nicky, Patti and Veena


Linking up to  Crazy Mom Quilts

 

Once a piecer, always a piecer!

On our recent trips to Wales for the Rugby World Cup games I discovered that even in the middle of a horde of rugby fans there is always something patchwork related to be found :)

Aren't these patchwork tweed caps great?

There were a couple of stalls selling gorgeous Donegal tweeds at the Festival of Quilts show, I was wishing that I had bought some of it when I saw those caps!

Just outside Cardiff Central station I came across this painted building. Naturally I spent a while standing looking at it wondering if it would be possible to piece :)

Clearly I am obsessed!

Linking up to