Books!!!

I have bought myself 2 books this week! I have ordered The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt and have just received Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop for Quilters. I had to order the Farmers book after reading the blogs from a quilting life!!   http://www.aquiltinglife.com/
The Shape Workshop book has amazing quilts and blocks and my head is spinning with opportunities. I managed to get a fat quarter bundle of sherbit pips so that is also in the mail.  But as per usual I am jumping ahead and have to finish my quilt and 2 QAL's before i start the next one or 2. I have ideas that will need hexagons.... Fingers crossed that I will have my current projects ALL finished by the end of August and I really must get my machine serviced at some point!!! I have been using it for 6 months but i was talking with another person who has hers serviced after every quilt!

Strips

Well I have spent an hour trimming my blocks to start the quilt top of my "sugar crosses" (title still being considered). This has led my to the question of what to do with the off cuts that are to small for anything. I read a blog that suggested putting them outside for birds to use in their nests. It's a great idea but I think the neighbors will consider me bonkers!!? So I have no idea what to do. I need suggestions....

Xmas QAL still going.

I did block 10 and 11 and really enjoyed them. I am starting to struggle working colors from my stockpile as I didn't get a bundle so I am worried in the back of mind mind it will be too many differences. Only time will tell. When I get the chance I will take a proper photo rather than a phone one as the colours aren't quite true. I am hoping more people will start putting their photos on the Flickr group again as I love seeing all the different blocks that come from I pattern!!

working in the blog

I am still learning and formatting how I want my blog to look. I have added a finished quilt button in the nav bar so I am stoked. It took a little confusion, a little requesting not to be pestered for cups of chocolate milk and a little research online!! I still have 1 more quilt to post which I finished late May. I cant wait to finish the 3 projects I currently have on the go so I have more to add to my menu bar option! :)

block 9 xmas QAL

Wow. This is a lovely block. It took me quite awhile as it was the first time I have done kite shapes. The tutorial was great and really easy to follow. Overall I am super happy with this. The yellow is a branch out but I figured the star needed to 'shine'. The more blocks I have completed of this QAL the more I really want to see what the quilt will look like:) I am hoping that at the end all the colours I have chosen will blend ok.

Block 8 Xmas QAL

WooHoo!!! When I first looked as this tutorial I liked the block but was a little confused on what material to cut out. As the tutorial listed requirements by present and ribbon it took me a few minutes to get my head around it. Once I started though it was easy to get it. I am really happy with the way this turned out as I put a lot more effort into getting my seams the same width and lining up everything. loved making this block!!!

Still Alive

This week was the first week of school for Son 2. He is handling it really well. It is a bit of a stretch to do nightly readers but we are getting there. Son 1 comes home tonight after 3 days at camp. I have been missing him!!! I have not done much sewing this week but am now up to block 8 on my Beginner Quilt-along and am looking forward to my other QAL block being done tonight (Fingers crossed) I am also hoping to spend half of tomorrow working on my sugar cross quilt which means I will be close to finishing the top. Cheerio for now :)