Lancaster Quilt

It has been a long time since I worked on this one.

"Lancaster Quilt"

I cleaned out my sewing space a couple of days ago and found myself drawn back to it 

so I left the box on my cutting table. Then late yesterday, when like many others I am sure, I found myself laying under the Air Conditioner doing nothing. Well I don't do the "doing nothing " to well. It makes my grumpy!

So I went and grabbed the box.  

Playing with small bits of fabric aren't going to make me any hotter are they :o)

I have a weather App on my Ipad so snapped this pic with it and posted to Instagram.

Hot ...... damm hot!

By 11pm, I was on the floor (still under the Air conditioner vent) laying out my clam shells.

Tennis is good for keeping me company this time of year as everyone else was in bed.

They are still all over the floor this morning so with the Tennis on again and another hot day predicted, you know when you will find me :o)

Also ........  I have been getting things ready for Miss Lily to start school.

So yesterday morning I turned her boring black reader bag and Art smock from this  ..... to this.

No mistaking who they belong to now.

Oh and my new toy.

Never thought an Iron could make me so happy but this one does.

Hope you find time today to do something that makes you happy.

hugs Sharon.

You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here

Paper Piecing Addiction

I feel like that is what I have at the moment.

"Lancaster Quilt"

I sat down on the floor Monday and worked out how
many clam shells I needed for the top/outer edge of this border.



I felt like I made good progress.
I went back to it yesterday and I only had a few left to
do on the second row.

but then I had to do some more prep work for the third row.
This was when I realised that I need more of some of the fabrics to get a
nice even spread of print and colour so away it went until
I can get to my LQS and pick up the next pack of fabrics.

And out came a Mother's Day pressie
Hex on the Beach

It is a little addictive. I burnt tea and we ended up with pizza, whoops!

I have also been playing with a new app on the Ipad.
It's called "A Beautiful Mess" if your interested.

have a "Fancy" day,

hugs Sharon

You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here

Sunday Snippet - Lancaster

Sunday morning in our house mean early rises and off to

watch Declyn play football.  I must say at this time of year the 

weather can be lovely and mild at 8.30am but by 10am it can be very bitter.

So yesterday morning I packed up some clam shells to prepare whilst

watching the game.

  

Later in the day I dug out my Lancaster top and decided to finish off the

border before the clam shells.  

Next time I decide to work on a project that has

mitered corners can someone please kick me.

Arguing with the wind so not a bad photo.

Each side now has nearly 200 clam shells to be hand pieced into place and knowing

the love / hate relationship I have had with this pattern I just know I am going to

experience some frustrations :(  

So here I go, nearly 200 clam shells to be pieced to that thin strip of fabric!

It wont be finished any time soon but they will be sitting on my little label

 in the lounge for when the inspiration does hit :o)

Hope you have a great week.

hugs, Sharon

You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here

Lancaster Quilt - Progress

Last night I chose to work on my

Lancaster Quilt

as part of FNWF and I shared my

journey in Instagram as I went.

 

Here are the "progress pictures" as posted to Instagram :o)

 

 

First up I added the 1.5" brown border all around then

set about cutting triangles.
 

Then the diamonds
 

It took me a few "go's" to get points right but they were achieved after
a few errors and assistance from my quick unpick.

Then the first diamond border went on .... yay :o)

Then there were two :o)



Fussy Cut corners for the next two
(still loving having my machine set into the table)



Then there was three.



Ta Da! 
All four borders on.
I have achieved what I set out to do for the night.



I started working on this at about 4pm yesterday and finished
about 11.30 last night.

Next up for this Quilt is another border strip and then some clam shells.
About 150 per side so think they might just wait for another time.
They are all hand pieced :o)

Have a great day,
hugs, Sharon

 

You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here

Woops missed these!

I was going through my Instagram feed this morning and saw something

exciting (more on that soon) and then realised that I hadn't shared

some things with you. Woops, lets correct that right now.

 

This one arrived Christmas Eve so I've made two blocks again

(I have been back and repressed that edge seam open so it sits flat now)

I have also done a little more work on my Lancaster Quilt.
I have played with the placement of the flowers to try and get some balance.

Then pinned them near where I want them and have started to applique them on.
I think I am half way around with the large centre of the flower and only 1 flower
completed. If this quilt doesn't get me any better at Needle Turn applique nothing will.

 

 

Yesterday I started on my first project for the 2013 Stitch-along and

being that my TTS and Red Home books are still in transit I decided

to make the Shoe Bag from Some Kind of Wonderful.  Here it is, all finished.

 

 

 

Now, what was it on Instagram that I saw.

Let me share :o)

 

The Fat Quarter Shop have just released their 6th Designer Mystery BOM

 

 

It is featuring the Avalon Collection by Fig Tree Quilts

 

You all know that I love Bonnie and Camille Fabric ranges but next in line

 seems to be almost anything by Fig Tree Quilts. So feminine.

If you are interested the link is above. Reserve your spot now, I did! :o)

 

Have a great day, stay cool,

it's going to be a +40deg day here

 and the air conditioner is already on.

 

hugs, Sharon

You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here

Busy Little Elf :o)

We all know it's the silly season and this year I feel very relaxed about it all,

fingers crossed I've not forgotten something or someone.

 

Here is a round up of what has been happening here over the last little bit.

 

 

I have finished the needle turn applique of the Vines on my Lancaster Quilt.

Now to think about the Flowers

 

Hope your sitting for this one :)

 

 

I have finished the needle turn of the centre hears on my Vignette Quilt.

I am not going to add the centre circle as I felt it was getting a bit crowded and

my centre seams meet nicely :)

Advent Swap

 

Here are some more gifts that I have received from Carol in Fee's Advent Swap.

I am being totally spoilt, thank you Carol and I do apologise for getting the order

a little mixed up. My helper (aka Miss Lily) and I got a little excited :o)

 



 

LOVE the Anni Downs book mark and check out the wine glass, the base lights up

and changes colour. I took it for a "test drive" last night :o)

 

Carol, you may also notice that we got stuck into the Toffee's and the Liquorice

 before I took the photos.  They were yummy, thank you.

 

And here are some more of the gifts that I sent to Carol.

I also got a little bit busy yesterday and made some treats for the kids at a

Christmas Party we were going to.
 

 

Melting Snowmen are fun and easy to make

Some of theme took their job title just a little to seriously though.

None came home so it is safe to say that they were a hit.

OK, I had better go. Have to lock myself in the bedroom and be a Busy Elf and
finish wrapping some pressies.  Have a great weekend.

hugs, Sharon

You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here

Lancaster progress

Kids are still at school so whilst I have the chance I thought it would be a
good time to do some prep work on the next stage of my

Lancaster Quilt.
First to add the next border.

A quick trip to Spotlight this morning for a bias thingy.

I have never used one of these before.
I'm sure they would be a lot of fun in the bigger sizes
But not so (for me) in the 1/4" size.

The vines are all attached, I just need to hand sew them down then
think about the flowers.

P.S. I am doing really good at avoiding my "White Elephant" :o)
My other projects are benefiting greatly :o)

Have a great day,
hugs, Sharon

You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here

Lancaster Part 4

Lancaster BOM - Part 4

I just had to "nut this one out" as I knew not much else would be done until I had!

OK, last time I blogged about this I was working on a very strong hunch that the

 diamond borders would not be long enough and yes that was the case. 

So off to my LQS for the next months package 

(how lucky am I that I can get them when I need them :) thank you Nicki)

After fussy cutting and adding the first border it was very clear 

that another diamond was needed on all sides.

so a little reverse stitching and things were back on track,

mitered corners and all!

This picture clearly shows the different lengths :(

All is good now and installment 4 is complete with the 

addition of the two borders

Sorry for the dark and slightly out of focus picture :(
It's cold, wet and dark and I just can not get a good photo.

Block 5 is the appliqued borders. 

The pattern calls for Needle Turn applique but I think I might just be reverting

 to my favorite form of applique, button hole.... unless I can find someone who has
this Applique Essentials Pack in stock (Thanks Deb for the info)

Off now as I feel much better about working on something else.
Maybe finishing off some Xmas Table runners.

You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here

Lancaster Part 3

Lancaster BOM / Part 3

Last time you saw my Lancaster Quit it looked like this.

The next part involves cutting some Diamonds and triangles.

a lot of diamonds and triangles.

Then to make some borders and attach some fussy cut squares for the corners.

At the end of Part 3 it looks like this, but I am seeing a problem :(

There is a thin border to go in between the centre square and the

outer diamond borders I have just made,

 but I don't see it fitting as things are.

I am not going to do anything at the moment. 

I will just wait until I have the border fabric but here is what I think is happening.

The photo on the front of the pattern (see above) has the 9 full diamonds and 2 half diamonds on each end and the instructions tell you to cut the 36 full diamonds and the 8 half diamonds but the shaded picture actually inside the pattern shows, 11 full diamonds and I am actually thinking that I might be meeting somewhere in between, at 10 full diamonds and the 2 half diamonds (one each end).  I will let you know how I go!

Have a great evening.

You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here