first tick (not the wee beastie kind)

Yay!  A proper tick on my list!  I've been trying to do a little every day, what's more, I've been stopping the second I make a mess of things and putting whatever I've messed up away, then doing a different project for the rest of that day.  Goodness knows I have enough projects on the go, which is saying something when you take into account how often I mess up...  But I think its been working though.  There are a few things I feel have moved forward a fraction, and I have my first list finish.  I'm coming out of the slump...

So, what am I gibbering about?  I've done the bag I promised for my sister-in-law.  Its a Lisa Lam pattern.

Bucket bag in a reproduction Tamis Keefe design print "out to lunch"

interior is a kind of petrol blue with natural stars

I love the print she chose, it's called "out to lunch" and is a reproduction Tamis Keefe print on a linen blend from Michael Miller.   I had a wee bit of help from the ladies at Brit Quilt to tell me the size of an i-phone so I could do a pocket inside to fit!  Not a big fan of the i-stuff here...  my old bog standard mobile still wont go on-line or send photos up here so I don't see the point in getting a fancy new one!  Anyway.  Its all wrapped up and in the envelope and taped up, and ready to post first thing tomorrow, and I've just remembered that when I was photographing it I found a couple of threads I'd forgotten to sew in.  

And promptly forgot to sew them in then too.  

Bugger.  

Wonder if my brother can be cajoled into wielding a needle?

the chosen...

Newsflash one...

I got the stars done!  Yay!  First item I can tick off the list...  

The Star Sign block

The Pointless block (as in it no longer has any points...)

Newsflash two...  Giveaway winners have been selected!

What's that?  Is it worth waking me up for?  Lets see.  NO.

Yes, unfortunately Elliecat does not make such a wonderful winner picker as Archie did.  I did think it could work, as she loves using her paw to fish things out of bowls.  Biscuits, cereal...  But clearly she had had enough of paper after yesterdays newspaper looper...   remind me to tell you about that on a more quiet day :-)  Anyway.  Sometimes you have to just use whats available... so my man kindly did the picking!

Winner number 1 is none other than Susan of Canadian abroad!  

Winners 2-5 are Tanya of Second Chance

                           Giles of Touch and Sew

                           Helen (not Archie) of Archie the Wonderdog

            and         Laura of Needles Pins and Baking Tins

Congratulations to the winners -  to the rest of you, I wish I could send you all a wee something.  Thank you!

The first come first served recipients of the fabric are as follows 

                         Bauhaus goes to Leanne of She can quilt

                         Green Check goes to Lynz of Domestic Light and Magic

        and Brown Green Swirly bit goes to  Liz of Lizard Bites

So, to all the winners and fabric recipients, if you havent already, please can you email me with an address and I'll be able to send your goodies out!  The fabric will go next week, the giveaway winners might be week after (I do have a monster big list looming over me remember!).

back so soon?

Oh yes, I cant write that many posts, that regularly....  which is why I'm posting already?   Fickle ain't I?
Well I had to post.  I *had* to.  Look what the postie delivered to me!

Someone enjoyed my Blogtoberfest!  Isn't it fabulous?  There's a wee owl in the tree too...   And the wee burds in the snow...  I absolutely love it!  (Thank you x)

I've been trying to do a bit of fabric sorting, so, in the spirit of this wonderful post (click here to see it),  I think I can take it up a notch!   I was wondering if anyone wanted any of these?

Alexander Henry "Bauhaus" 

dunno...  it is 100% cotton quilting weight tho.

No idea what it is!

The top two are half yards, the bottom one is, hmm cant remember.  Bigger than an FQ anyway.  If you want, just let me know.  I'll be expecting hundreds of requests now...

Would it be too cruel to tell you that I'm creating space for this?

Hope Valley FQ's

I had to get some.  No, really, I had to, I mean, I didn't want to ask Laura to send more fabric a second time and messing up the final quarter of  Star Sign block with the last bits of the prints used meant I needed to get a wee bit more or re do the entire thing.  So really, it was a necessary purchase.  Completely...  That's my story and I'm sticking to it...  As if the fabric wasn't joyous enough, at the bottom of the Saints and Pinners invoice was a wee note saying they liked my blog!  I know, I'm cheesy.. but that's so cool!

I'll be randomly selecting (or Ells might be) the "crappiest giveaway in quiltyblogland" winners on Saturday. Actually, I think it should be renamed cos I don't think I'll be giving crappy winnings, its more that I'm being really mean and selfish and I don't really want you to tell anyone about it, this isn't free stuff for complete strangers.  Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with that at all.  If it was a sponsored giveaway you bet your ass I'd want more followers cos I'm deeply insecure and love seeing an increasing number in the "followers" box...  However, that is not the case here.  This is from me to you, this is cos I'd love to send you all a card and a wee thank you - for reading, for laughing at me, for bossing me about, for taking the piss, and for genuinely being a fantastic bunch of people.....  So, first and last reminder, see the original post and... if your names not dahn you're not gettin in.

October's Over.

Its November already?

Blogtoberfest is over...  

Thank goodness!  

Its been great.  I've read loads of different blogs I might not have seen otherwise, I've really had to push myself with the regular blogging, and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading more regular posts from some of my favourite bloggers too!  But its over now.  Phew!  

Yes, I did find it hard to post every other day.  Really hard.  I might have managed if my man was at sea, and I didn't want to sew, and if I didn't answer any comments... then I might have managed every other day all right.  But then I'd really have had bugger all to talk about!  And I think if there weren't the odd comment to reply to and reader to chat with I'd soon tire of blogging all together.  So, lets just learn from blogtoberfest that I cant do blog posts quite that often!  Although, I must say it was nice to do the odd one that wasn't just sewing, and even nicer that folk still read it...  I might see if I can blog a wee bitty more often than once every 7-14 days in future though, if that's okay with you ;-)

Octobers sewing

Due to the excuses reasons listed above, this has not been a very productive month for me sewing wise, and I do find that a bit depressing really.  However, I cant tell you how much I enjoyed being part of the Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge (there's still 24hrs left if you haven't voted yet!), so a MASSIVE thank you to Sarah for organising such a fun challenge for us.

I have been sewing the past couple of days, but nothing to show for it yet.  I'm still trying to get this right..

my star block design

I'm now on attempt number 3...  Meanwhile I have almost got this one done, just a couple more sections to do before I show you the REAL thing...

my other star block design...

I haven't started the four strip pieced sections yet, so if you hate them and have a better suggestion, tell me now, quickly!

I'm linking up with Lynne for her fabulous Fresh Sewing Day so please pop over to her and have a look at what real quilters call a months work!  There are some simply stunning mosaics there.

And once again, thank you so much for sticking with me through the Blogtoberfest Challenge!

 xxx