Espritpatch

So May is over and while I was writing this post, I thought OK no finish but wow, I have made significant progress, despite having some bugs in the house for over a week! Now there are still a lot to make, if only to get the birthday quilt finished on time! but for now let's have a look at the past month... Hoping for finish 1.  Quilt for M  - needs quilting and binding 2.  Quilt for A  - HK QAL - top finished Bee Blocks  1. Flower hexies for the Inchy Hexie Swap (May )  - done 2. Bee Hive (May ) - done 3. Bubble Bee ( March, April, May ) - March and May done 4.  I love Lucy International (April, May) -  April done, May in progress 5. Scandi Bee (April, May) - April and May done WIP 1. Wanta Fanta - need 2 more blocks - I have decided that I need 8 more to make it larger 2.  Elephant Parade  -  my  Lazy Bums  challenge for October was to make 10 blocks   - no progress 3.   Scrappy X block quilt  - 2 last blocks

Jen of Faith and Fabric has just released a very cute pattern and I have been privileged to test it for her. She had presented several items to use her cute designs in her pattern but I thought I'd try something different so I decided on some bunting. I used a neutral linen that I had in my stash and cut some triangular bunting using this template . I cut the 6' triangle. And then it was a matter of transferring all the little pieces on paper and then on fabric before constructing the puzzles again I made all 15 of Jen's designs and linked all my triangles with a strip of binding. I used the usual 2.5 strip that I normally use for quilts folded in half. I sew it to the back first and then folded it over to the front and machine stitched it. It is not Christmas weather around here (thankfully!) but never mind, I took a picture outside in the clematis which is so lovely at this time of year. Jen's pattern is great and easy to follow and

1296 squares that I cut in January have finally been turned to this cute Hello Kitty quilt top. I used Kona solids for this top and I cut the squares 1.5' instead of 2.5' that Sukie used in her pattern because I didn't want a massive Hello Kitty! The lucky girl who is getting it is very happy that it is nearly there! Only quilting and binding now. And of course that's another 4 blocks for May taking my total to 81 so far. Linking to Needle and Thread Thursday . Celine

Today has been a nice, calm and quiet day where I have tried to just sit down and sew and it has worked quite well! I completed the next installment of the barrel bag quilt-along, which was attaching the circular sides with some piping too. It wasn't the easiest task I must say and it isn't perfect but it is done!  I love how roomy the bag is I also caught up with the Modern HST Sampler quilt-along with block 10 And earlier in the week I had also made 2 more blocks for my #hkqal, only 4 left now. I would love to finish it this long week-end. At the same time I also finished a bubble bee block for Pippa and sent my flowers to Oliva A nice productive day and another 6 blocks for the 350-blocks challenge taking my total to 77 so far! Linking to Whoop Whoop Friday . Celine

A little progress on 2 of my quilt-along this week, little progress but progress anyway and some of it felt like big steps! First I made 2 more blocks for the #hkqal, which means that I have only one row left now! Nearly nearly there! And Miss A has now worked out what it will be and that it will be hers so she is excited. She added her little foot to the picture to make sure we knew it was hers! Last week I received all the bits needed to continue with the Barrel Bag Sew Along and I have now caught up (even sewing the zip on!) I even got my overlocker out on Saturday and rethreaded it after it had been stashed away for over a year so I was so pleased and happy to get it going again! Lovely overlocked sides and now with the zip inserted (OK it is not perfect but it is in!) Ready for this week instalment! 2 additional blocks to take my total to 71 blocks for May for the 350-blocks project. Linking to  Sew Cute Tuesday ,  Let's Bee Social . Celine

Blocks seem to be a common theme weeks after weeks on my blog at the moment. And in a way this week is not very different: blocks, blocks, blocks everywhere! I finished my Bee Hive block for Esther and this is not a catch up as she is Queen Bee for May! How good is that? And I also made a start on my Stems and Stones quilt for my friend. I needed 25 snwoball blocks and I got so carried away in the cutting and sewing that I didn't realised until I lined them up that I completed 28! Never mind, I'll probably run out of little white squares for the next blocks, but that only if I counted right during the cutting phase! With less than 4 weeks to complete this quilt, I better get going! And all these little blocks bring my total for May to 69 blocks so far! Linking to  Building Blocks Tuesday ,  Needle and Thread Thursday . Celine

Along with catching up on my blocks, I have also started 2 (oops!) new projects. I decided to join the  The Stitching Pixie  Barrel bag sew along. I have a rather large stash (I know, what a surprise!) of heavier fabrics that I bought to make bags that have never been made so I went through it and picked this Toile de Jouy piece that I bought years ago to make a quilt that I will never make.  I caught up as much as I could as I hadn't ordered the hardware or gros-grain yet.  It all arrived yesterday so I should be able to catch up and continue with the sew-along,  It's not too late to join and I have thoroughly enjoyed making this bag... well at least so far! And I have already learned new things, for the first time I have cut binding on the bias and made piping. And I have also finished all the cutting for the birthday quilt Now the sewing can start, eventually!  And if you need more temptation, Rosa has left a comment on my previous post to let me know

The last week or so, I have been trying to play catch up on a few projects. First on the Project 48 Quilt , for which I haven't made a block since February and since there are 4 blocks released per month, I was about 10 blocks behind... I have managed to make 5 so I am half way through the catch up! I have made all the April blocks (based on cross) and the first May block (pinwheel). 5 more to do before new blocks get released that is! I have also finished my Patchwork of the Cross block for Karen Hello Kitty has been getting a few more blocks too, only 8 more blocks to go now...  and I have over 2/3 of the quilt pieced now. The Scandi Bee blocks for April are done too all with their lovely curves! and I have made a 12 more blocks for my 365 Quilt Challenge, some from February, some from March, some from April and some from May! Those 26 blocks (wow!) take my May total to 40 blocks for the 350-blocks project. Not bad a week! Linking to  Sew Cute T