No news is good news!

I have been quiet but not idle! Between work and the Bella Isabella I have spend my evenings shut away in my sewing room working on this!

I am sure i don't need to tell you just HOW MUCH work goes into foundation piecing this sort of block..BUT i did it, it is not perfect BUT I LOVE IT!!!! it is bright and cheerful  and perfect for what I have in mind for it...ahhh forgot to say that it is one of twins, so there is another almost exactly the same!!!! now you know how I spend my evenings! sad but true ;-)

For a bit of light relief I decided to cut into this line of fabrics the other night (no, I have not finished the other 15 projects waiting to be completed! but I needed a change and this did the trick!) All 20 blocks are now ready and I will show you what it looks like in my next blog when I have sewn everything together. It is funny and yummy!

And this month's Bee blocks finally all completed!:

Fat Stash Bee: I loved making this block and learning how to do two stars in the same 12.5" block. All the fabrics were sent to me except for the points of the small star...great block.

Bee Europa 2012/13: a wonderful block beautifully matched by the retro fabrics..loved making it and cannot wait to see it completed.

Modern Minx Beginner Bee: The Three Wishes Block by Jamie Moilanen. A gorgeous block and the request was for a light soft block. I thought Anna Maria Horner's fabrics fitted the description! It looks wonderful.

We Bee Modern Too: Day and Night block from the Modern Blocks book, by Kimberly Walus - fabrics were received. Great looking block.

Stash Bee, Hive 2: ahhh, this month's great challenge! The instructions were to make crystals with fabric and to try to make them a little magical!..not sure I did a great job here especially as I tried to avoid Y seams (my nemesis)...but I used lovely shot cottons and they look gorgeous on the black fabric. this is a 15.5" block and I hope you like it Laurel!

Phew!!!! am off out now to enjoy a little bit of sunshine just for today I am being told...back to rain tomorrow... :-(

oh well...

Amelie x

All go...

I have been meaning to write this post for sometime now...and it is not that we have had a honeymoon yet because we have not (I am still trying to convince Mr Whirlygiggles that the best honeymoon would be in Texas during the Houston Quilt Festival...how can he possibly not see that?????) or that work has been quiet because it has not (trust me!!!)...but it has all been go go go as it is in everyone's life i am sure...

Before I start with my May Bee Blocks I would like to show you a couple of blocks i made to enter teh London Modern Quilt Guild competition where the winners would be exhibited at John Lewis on the 06th June. I know that those of you who know me will know that from the moment I decided to 'play' I sweated blood and tears about this and I thought of very little else when it came to quilting but this...
Despite the fact that the wedding took up a lot of my spare time I finally decided to go with two ideas:

This block is my final choice and I called it: "Covering up my tracks"... They are meant to be little trains running through the same station carrying 'foxy' people..inspired of course by my many train travels since returning to work last month...I love the little fox in the middle...so cute..The little train wheels are stamped on and the whole block was made using caveman quilting techniques (Ricky Tims) and I have quilted it in a little tracks way that makes the train pop up a bit more...It is modern, original and MINE!!!!!

This block is called 'Love letters straight from the heart' and was my close second..a traditional block made with modern fabrics...I love it but when it came to having to make a choice, I preferred the trains...

And this: was my original idea..a vintage girl who is made modern every time fashion changes and retro comes round again....she also reminds me of my mother when she was young and I just loved how all the colours came together...I have kept this block and will turn it into a cushion I think!!!

Anyway, there are some great blocks in the competition that will be exhibited at John Lewis and you can find out more here: http://londonmqg.wordpress.com/

If you go, please let me know what you make of the blocks!

Bee Blocks:

This first one is what Cara asked for in my Bee Europa 2012 bee I loved making this even though this is my second time round for this block. It is easy, lovely and her choice of fabrics was excellent! Thsi will make a fabulous quilt.

Helen asked for the wonky block for the Stash Bee - Hive 2 and wanted it bright and bright this is!!! I fussy cut the butterfly to make sure Helen get enough 'girly' value for her block!!!

This is also Helen's block for the Modern Minx Beginner Bee...she wanted it really sugary and girly and I would have thrown up if I did not pick a cheeky little flower to go in the middle of it...Helen I hope you like the cheeky flower...sorry about the photography... the blocks are lovely in real life I promise!!! I could not bring myself to do birds and butterflies...!

This is a block for the We Bee Modern Too bee: now this is a block I loved making...it is so beautiful and the colours were so exhilarating..I loved watching it come together...

and last but not least: my Fat Stash Bee: all fabrics were received and I just added the outer purple with the leaves...I would have loved making this Granny Squares block more if it was not for the challenge of the bias cut corner triangles...It is slightly shorter than 12.5 but I hope that another good press will suffice..

For those of you that want to carry on reading this blog, here is the star of the wedding day. Isabella was one year and 1 day old on our wedding day and we celebrated her birthday on the same day...

and mummy being told that the entire wedding gift list money can be spend on fabric (DREAM ON)

and Isabella's birthday cake!!!

Phew!!! only one day without patchwork!!!! and it was a beautiful day...and we are very lucky and blessed to spend it with those who love us and we those we love too!

                                                                     Amelie x

April's Bees, April Showers and an April Wedding!

It has not stopped raining in London for days...or has it been for weeks and weeks?

It is quite depressing especially considering that this weather is forecasted to carry on into the weekend when Mr Whirlygiggles and I will finally tie the knot!!!!

Finally, finally, finally! not that we have issues about being committed to the marriage institution or anything like that!!!! Well, despite the bad hair and make up trial that made me look like a 60 year old Bo Beep (about to scare her sheep to death!), and the fact that our wedding bands are far too tight (don't ask) and the wedding dress having to be tracked down and shipped from Glasgow, everything else is working like clockwork and we should be set for the day!!!!

Hopefully I will not look like Jemima Pauddleduck on the day and break my ankle whilst trying to walk gracefully along a long corridor!

The worse thing about it all is feeling like the wedding is interfering with my quilting and I was determined to go to my class Thursday night even though I had not done everything that I still need to do like buy shoes, flowers etc...so glad I am ONLY a quilting primadonna and not behaving like one for the wedding!

Still, I have managed to complete almost all of my Bee blocks with the exception of one that I will have to redo because of a basic misunderstanding!

So without further ado:

Caroline from We Bee Modern Too asked for this lovely block and send these fabrics: I decided to keep the colours separate:

Princessmax send the central piece and the yellow fabric and asked for a block to be made for a special couple:

 and this is my signature block for their quilt...love it love it love it....

 I love it! as my handwriting is not very clear and I find writing on fabric almost impossible, stamping is the new and exciting way forward with signature blocks.

Celine from my Bee Europa send us these fabrics to make a Maisy counting quilt for her daughter. I love the idea behind this quilt and I am looking forward to finishing off the other block too...

For my Stash Bee we were asked for a house and here is my crazy animal house...love how the owl is staring at the little dog outside the window!

The NewMrs2011 from my Modern Minx Beginner Bee asked for this block:

This is my work on my spiderweb quilt which was my March month of Bee Europa 2011-2012. I got back loads of fantastic bits of blocks and I need ti put this together soon...I know it will look utterly fantastic when it is finished

And just in case you thought I was slacking (ha ha) I also finished our kitchen curtains and I ADORE these!!! they make me feel all warm and cosy when I come downstairs in the morning to make our coffees and Isabella's milk...all homely, finally...

Talking of which, Isabella will be 1 years of age this weekend..We wanted to get married on her birthday but the wedding venue could only do it the day after...still, close enough...

She is still, by far, the best I have ever made!!!!!

Amelie x

Retro Days

I have wanted to write this post for a good 4 months now but the weather here has been appaling and the photos not very good...still struggling with the photography however the time has come to reveal the best quilt I have made so far!!!!

This is my Retro Days made with my beloved American Jane fabrics and it is based on the pattern called Playground Days by Kathy Doughty in the Material Obsession 2 Book. Man, I LOOOOVE these two books and I cannot wait for Kathy's book to come out and also Sarah's new book too.

Anyway, without further ado...TA DAHhhhhhhhh

The quilting is another amazing job by Ferret...what can i say except it made the quilt even more beautiful...

I think i will keep this as Isabella's university quilt!!!

                                                                   Amelie x

Hot off the iron!

my final three March bee blocks!

Firstly up Lisbeth's block from my Modern Minx Beginner Bee group. She asked for us to make The Pinball Machine block which is a lovely an easy block to make IF you read the instructions properly and don't confuse where the white and where the pattern go!!! Lisbeth, I hope you like your 2 blocks!!! (I did not read your instructions properly the first time round). It is made with Kona white and Rosalie Quinlan fabric.

and both of them together!

From my We Bee Modern Too bee, Heather asked for the Boxed in block and she picked a black, white, grey and red colour scheme. I love this block and I adore how it turned out..very japanesey!, love it!
I hope you like it Heather and good on you for asking us to make it as a charity quilt.

and last but not least, this one just flew away from my machine...for my Stash Bee Hive 2, Tara asked for a tree...I think you were hoping for an applique tree and hopefully a pieced one will not disappoint you...I am not into applique at all and was worried that I would make a mess of the Kona Azure FQ of which I only had the one...so I decided on a pieced tree with a little Owl and birds and flowers...
I love how this turned out except it is larger than 12.5" and I did not have the heart to chop it down! I will leave the chopping to you if that is ok!

ouffffaaaa am all done for March and this means I can now go on my week's holiday to Greece without worrying about my Bee commitments!!!

                                                              Amelie x

Mad mad mad!

and that is the best way I describe life around here at the moment! Maybe the following photo gives you a clue? if not my big news will follow soon! ;-)

Struggling to keep up with my patchwork commitments but i should tell you that I created this blog entry last week (just the photos) and I have not had the time to put the words to it!

Progress made:

I have finished ALL my Geese in a Ring blocks. I now have to take the foundation paper off and to be honest that seems more onerous that making the blocks!

anyway, here are my beauties (again, apologies for the naff photography):

This first one is for Oneygirl, a rainbow with pattern fabrics:

and the same style block for Sue from Australia:

Whimbrella Fun asked for rainbow geese to be made with blender fabrics that read as solids - this challenged me quite a bit as I had NO such fabrics in my stash at all! anyway, I now do!!!

Goingsewcrazy asked for the following four colour geese block...I love it!

 and last but not least...a star for Joelle from my Fat Stash Bee. This is a block from the Summer Sampler Series from the amazing Faith from Fresh Lemons Quilts (http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/)
It is called the Rocky road to Kansas and it is paper pieced...I seem to be doing a LOT of that lately!!!!

I absolutely love it...I hope you like it Joelle!

ok, a bit of quilt time before bed now...

Amelie x

The Year of the Bee!

I spend most of my afternoon breaks absorbed in my Bee commitments...and although I seem to be on top of each one of them, I feel a bit scared that at this rate I will miss a month, overlook an envelope and basically forget someone's block...so I now keep a proper list of all my bees and their requirements and I tick off all my boxes when ready! I also keep a 'to do' list with all my other quilts. It is the only way to keep a bit of order in my chaotic mind/sewing room!!
So, here is progress made since my last blog:

Geese in a Ring Swap: block for Fordcowgirl who asked for orange and aqua geese flying in succession! besides the bad photography, this is a really lovely block in terms of the colours and I was very happy with it!

 
Next one up is the We Bee Modern Too and Kersten who asked for the 'Missing Your Kiss' block. Once I was happy with the colours it was a great block to make. There is one or two little giraffes hiding in one of the kisses! I could not help myself!
I am going through a bit of a grey time with my fabric choices but I think the kona charcoal compliments this block well in terms of borders! Another gorgeous quilt in the making here! Enjoy Kersten!

Then I made some wonky stars for my Happy Scrap Quilt Block Swap. One is truly scrappy and two are wonky but less scrappy! I love this first one...so sweet with the dotty fabric!

And finally!!!!! it has been about 12 months in the making!!!! a Cluck Cluck Sew pattern for a baby quilt...all fabrics used from my stash (no dent though so am not worried!!!!)
Mr Whirlygiggles is holding it in our garden! Photography is a big issue for me at the moment ranging from lighting to who will hold my larger quilts that need to be photographed? arghhhhh

 and the back with some spare pinwheels!:

PHEW!!!!!! off to finish basting another small quilt before the princess wakes up!
Talking of which (I know she is mine and I think of her as beautiful even when I change smelly nappies, but isn't she cute?) where does time go?
In the first one she is modelling her 2 bottom teeth which are not fully out yet but they are there and as sharp as a rotary cutter I assure you!!!!

                                                                        Amelie x