Blue and Green World

Well… I did lots of things actually…. I had a really good week in Northumberland, and managed to see a fair bit of the coastline, a trip to Lindisfarne, a trip to a Honey Farm and more. But this is what I got up to quilting-wise.

I took my remaining block of the month bits with me to do as they were small and easily portable and easy sewing. I managed alot more than I expected to! On an evening I curled up in front of the real fire (so soothing and relaxing, I love real fires!) and I sewed. I finished the remaining blocks for the year and also the borders. On the last evening I sewed the quilt front together.

I am now enjoying quilting this quilt as it’s now ‘backed and wadded’ so to speak. Apologies for the unclear photo of it put together I will take more when I’ve finished the quilting. It’s so big to photograph, I need to get some people to hold it up I think!

Also on holiday, while looking around Lindisfarne, I bought these cards by Mary Fleeson. I really admire her artwork. I am now wondering if it’s possible to convert the designs in to quilts/wallhangings…. so watch this space!

There’s a bit of a sense of deja vu here… but here’s the block of the month for August. I was a bit worried about doing the same design twice in one month and considered doing the September block this month and leaving this one until next month. But a few days after giving the other quilt to my friend I wanted to make another one for myself! So here it is. I loved doing this one. Poppies are probably my favourite flower and it is such a bright cheery design and nice big simple pieces to applique!

Oooops I nearly forgot to blog this! I finished this block back at the beginning of the month and it feels like ages since now! It’s a pretty one again I think, although I am now looking forward to the August block which I really like the look of…..

I’m halfway there now

Here’s the finished block of the month for June. I really like this one in the calming shades of blue and green. The curvy stems were a bit of a nightmare to cut and sew but generally it was a very straightforward block. I got very tempted when I finished this block to carry on and finish the whole quilt. I’m getting excited and impatient to have it all put together and done.

But then a friend mentioned that she fancied doing a lone star quilt and that spurred me on to get on with mine and finish that instead! I am currently putting the last diamond together so it should be assembled soon. Then I need to decide what I’m doing about borders. I’m fancying doing some embroidery as well as appliqued flowers on them but I’m not sure as yet.

I’ve just finished the block for this month. I think it’s pretty although I am not really a big fan of basket designs on quilts!

And here are all the blocks so far laid out in position. I’m nearly half way there as there are only 11 designs for the year. I don’t know where I am going to have room to hang it when it’s finished - but I still really like it and am still loving doing a quilt by the ‘block of the month’ method!

Here’s the finished block for April. I really didn’t like the look of this one at first - a bit too orange and red for my tastes - but I figured that it would look fine in and among all the other blocks when the quilt is assembled. But at some point when I was sewing it I changed my mind and now I really like it. I am debating whether to add a bee or bees to the design but for now at least it’s finished.

Here is the finished block for March. I was really impatient with this one and couldn’t put it down as I really enjoyed doing it. It’s such a cute and quirky block and being so colourful spurred me on somehow as well. I’m really enjoying seeing how the blocks come together and am looking forward to seeing the finished quilt (only 9 months to go!).

I’ve just finished this month’s block of the month. It seemed much harder this month, but I think that was more to do with me being so worn out rather than the block being hard. I really like this one, I love big bold flowers. It just seems amazing that I have already got 2 done, how fast this year is going by!

Here’s my first block of the month. It’s pretty much finished, I just need to sort out some ribbon or braid to go between the hearts and chimney. It was a bit too quick to do but fun! Theoretically I could start the february one tomorrow but I am going to wait and try and get some more fabrics, as I’m quite short of some of the colours and I need some more background fabric.