The Sewing Dilettante

I've spent the last couple of weekends scouring the local charity shops in search of more vintage sheets for round 2 of the UK and Ireland Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Swap, and I'm delighted with my finds! Every shop I've popped into has yielded at least a pillow case or two, so I've got quite a selection for my stash and a few for the swap as well. ;) I've decided to send in fifteen fat quarters, which means that I'll get a different set of fifteen back, at which point I think I'll have enough to embark on a large scale patchwork project like Judith's great charm squares quilt . Yay! The night-time photo doesn't do justice to these sheets, especially that pink 70s retro floral number in the top row, but I think these will find good homes with other vintage-sheet lovers. Speaking of photos - does anyone have tips on taking photos for blogs? My photos always seem a bit dark, wonky, and out of focus! Part of that, I know, is because I usually take...

Here's that promised roundup of highlights from Christmas (which now seems about a millenia ago!) Clockwise from left:  1. A special tied birthday quilt made for baby G by my patchwork pal, Mrs. L . Amazing, right? It's completely hand sewn except for the binding and features the cutest little fussy cut sock monkey fabric. The picture doesn't do justice to it all, because the weather here seems to have just one setting at the moment: grey, overcast, and wet. Trust me, though, it's a gorgeous, cuddly quilt with lots of visual and tactile interest for a 1-year old!  2. Two 'scrumptious' Moda charm packs I picked up on my travels in NH for next to nothing (or so it seemed when compared to the prices I pay here in Ireland and Northern Ireland). At least one of these is destined for a baby quilt for friends who have just announced they're expecting their first. Fun! 3. Baby G's first birthday cake! I made red velvet , and, inspired by Pin...

I've been MIA for the last little while as we enjoyed Christmas and the New Year in the States. It was a great trip and that little bit more exciting than usual because it was a year of firsts for my baby girl - her first Christmas, her first birthday, and her first snow fall! We had so much fun opening gifts, playing in the snow, and stuffing ourselves silly with birthday cake and holiday foods (though not, sadly, that Christmas pudding I made a while back, but that's a story for another day!)   We've been back to reality since early Monday morning and are all  suffering from some pretty severe and prolonged jet lag. Factor in some truly atrocious weather and the usual January blues, and it's proving pretty difficult to settle back into the normal workaday routine. One bright spot? Getting to send off  this  first birthday gift...  I waited as long as I could to take these photos, hoping the rain and clouds would lift for a while, but they never reall...

We've just arrived in New Hampshire for the holidays. There's snow on the ground, Christmas carols on the radio, one happy little baby in a candy cane dress, and lots of family, friends, and food on the schedule!  From Wikimedia Commons Have a wonderful holiday! xx Tina

About a decade ago... ok, I'm exaggerating, less than a year ago... I started a cute little baby blanket for friends whose first son was born shortly after baby G. With one thing and another, though, the quilt ended up in my WIP pile until a couple of weeks ago, when I realised that if I didn't get my act together, this baby boy was going to turn one before receiving the quilt meant to welcome him into the world. I actually had all of the squares done and really just needed a few hours to get them sewn into rows and add a border or two. Easy peasy, especially with Wednesday sewing nights! That thin inner border actually has light green polka dots, but you can't see them in this light. Ta-da! It's a version of this other quilt I'd made, using this pattern from the Moda Bake Shop . And, the wind cooperated to show both front and back at the same time! Now, I've just to add binding and a label, and this pretty little thing will be ready to go, just in time ...

A Thanksgiving Day postcard from 1913, from Wikimedia Commons.  xx Tina

Since my last post, I've managed to make this: This picture doesn't capture the colours, but I was having fun messing around on picmonkey! One measly little lavendar sachet, featuring another log cabin, this one inspired by last month's scrap buster quarter log cabin block for Bee Blessed. (I say inspired because, of course, I didn't have a chance to make any of those said Bee Blessed blocks). When did I have the opportunity to get this little project finished, I hear you ask? Well, I got myself a babysitter last week and headed out to a weekly sewing night hosted by  the Mid-Western Branch of the Irish Patchwork Society . You see, one of the first people I met when I moved here is the new branch chairperson.  Naturally, she invited me along to the next branch meeting, which happened to be the following week. I was a little bit hesitant at first, not knowing what to expect, but, keen to meet some like-minded folk and get a night out of the house, I went along. I...