Sneaky Peak no. 1

After a marathon of cutting and sewing (and a little bit of swearing - the silk is NOT easy to piece) I now have 128 four-patch blocks and 128 triangle in square blocks.

I absolutely love the bright jewel colours of the silk and the crisp line you get when you press them but it is such a pain trying to cut with the pinking blade on the rotary cutter.  Trying to take a measurement from a wavy line is not ideal but it does leave you with adorable off-cuts:

It seems a shame to throw them away.

The amazing Atomium hat!

Just a quicky in case anybody was wondering if I managed to make myself into a big shiny ball building - Ta da!!!

Yes, that is a very random collection of fancy dress but that's what you get when you give the theme of "Belgium".  It's not the most inspirational theme ever.

What you can't see is the silver PVC fifties style skirt that I'm wearing underneath.  Very handy in a messy drink spillage situation

A tearful goodbye

I finished the quilt I've been making for a friend at work and I really don't want to say goodbye to it.  I absolutely love it but, since she's already paid me for it, it would be a little rude to run off with it.  Here's the completed quilt.  The pictures aren't the best but the good camera was elsewhere and I don't actually get to see daylight outside of work at the moment so they're the best I can get.

The fabric is all from the Rouenneries range by French General for Moda and I love the subtle colours and patterns.  I kept the quilting simple and echo quilted around the piecing to really bring out the pattern.  It's got a few puckers on the back but I think I'm getting a little better at layering so hopefully they'll be some of my last.

Think before you speak

Have you ever said something and then immediately wished you could stuff the words back into your mouth? 

It's one of my best friend's 21st birthdays this weekend and, since he's spent the last 6 months in Belgium, we all have to dress up as something from Belgian culture (not the easiest subject in the world).  I made an off-hand comment that I was thinking of coming as the Atomium and he got so excited that to now NOT come as the atomium would be like kicking a puppy.

Have you ever seen the Atomium????

How on earth am I supposed to dress up like that?!?  Unfortunately the quilting has had to be put to one side until I can turn myself into some giant silver balls. 

Love it, love it, love it!

I absolutely love the new Rouenneries range from Moda.  Mum bought a layer cake and I took it into work to show a friend.  She fell in love with it too and picked out her favourite five for me to make her a quilt.  These are the five she picked.  Gorgeous, right?

I started cutting it out and it was so lovely that I couldn't stop.  5 hours later, at 3.30 in the morning, I had 6 blocks done and now I love it so much I don't want to give it away.  Sigh...

Excuse the toes.  I had to climb up on the table to get a decent picture.  For future reference, not a good idea at 3.30 in the morning when you are quite exhausted.

First quilt for sale

I am proud to announce ..... Drum roll please ...... my first quilt is now for sale on etsy.

I am so excited, I hope somebody likes it enough to buy it.  I made a pact with the boyfriend that I wouldn't buy anymore fabric until I had sold a quilt to cover the costs.  I've already broken the pact, though, but it was an absolute necessity.  I was in Oman and saw some beautiful silks for only £6/m for 54" wide fabric so I snapped it up to make a quilt for a wedding present.  I'll show you how I'm getting on soon.