Espritpatch

 Another month which has disappeared VERY quickly with very little sewing really! And this partly because of a big trip that was scheduled late October... I had a business trip to Japan so took the opportunity to extend by a couple of days to enjoy Tokyo. So there has been a lot to prepare before and a lot to do... All I managed to achieve this month is to see these 2 thimbles for Happy Sew Lucky QAL And to add the button and sew the hems on my coat. Still no hood though.  I started block F11 for my Dear Jane while travelling but haven't yet finished it.  I cut the pieces for the last 2 Modern City Scape blocks, hoping that I'd have time to sew them up but that didn't materialise.  Linking to October Furtle Céline

Wow I can't believe we're about to start the last quarter of the year. Where does time go? Still a very busy month but I have taken some time to sew this month and I'm happy I did! I finally finished one Dear Jane block: F8 and I made 3 Modern City Scape blocks, 2 more to go for this one... I have also attended a class to make black forest gateau which was great and the result wes really yummy! And I also tried my hand at Ikebana with my first ever floral arrangement.  Finally I decided I needed to replace my trusted neoprene coat and that ideally I needed it before my next business trip that started today... so yes it is wearable, but doesn't have the hood yet, hems for the lining are not done and the button is not attached yet... Linking to September Furtle Céline

  Well, August is over by a few days already, so holidays is over, work holiday is over too and I hardly have anything to report really. I don't think I've turned my sewing machine on in August at all sadly 😢 All I have to show this month is a single Dear Jane block: F8, which I finally finished... not yet sashed or added to the row but at least the block is complete with its 37 pieces. A big part of my (free) time has been spent either tackling the overgorwn and unruly garden in our new house or tearing up wall paper and polystyrene off the walls. Much more to do on that front actually. Linking to August Furtle . Céline

  Another month gone and I can't say I've had much sewing time, far too much happening otherwise. School year finished early July for all 3 children, with exams and exam results for 2 of them. We then had the Main Square festival over 4 days, too much music and partying to find some sewing time! We then FINALLY sign on our new house. It's been quite a long time coming and very eventful until the 11th hour but we signed mid July. Now we have the keys, there is a lot of work to be done before we can move in. And of course, France being France, lots of admin before we can even start the renovation work. We finished repainting the hallway and staircase in our current house which took quite some time too and wasn't the most fun really but it looks so much cleaner now. On the sewing front, I haven't done much this month really, too much in my head, no time and no energy when there were little pockets of time. I only managed to sew the pregnant Barbie outfit that I needed

  Finally a month which hqs been rather productive on the sewing front. And I have also spent another afternoon in a fabulous cake making lesson to learn how to make a delicious kiwi insert and strawberry mousse on a almond base. It was a lot of work but very yummy! Otherwise the month has mainly be dedicated to make the teachers' presents: 10 pouches + 1 pencil case. I finally finished a nightdress too and made 1 block for the Modern Scape quilt-along. I am so behind on all the quilt-along now... Linking to June Furtle Céline

  Well, what can I say? Time has escaped me and my sew-jo has completely disappeared so I've done hardly nothing this month... too much "life" going on to find time for anything else. I started a night dress, but not with my favourite pattern, that I still can't find despite tidying my sewing area.... despite being a very easy and quick sew, it's not yet finished.  I finished Dear Jane block F1 (no sashing yet) and blocks #16 & #17 for Modern City Scape for a total of 3 blocks And a few bits to help out on some art projects for an exhibition but this is it really, nearly nothing... Linking to  May Furtle Céline

  Another busy month here which including a work trip in the UK for 4 days. I have managed some sewing but I've also felt really tired at times and found it difficult to find much energy. Maybe the lack of spring weather has not helped... I've managed to keep up with 2 of my quilt-along: the Modern City Scape and the Birthday blocks making a total of 11 blocks and I also made March blocks for the  Ravenbrook Scrap Quilt Along (still some catch up to do on this one...) I also finished the last block of row E (E13) for my Dear Jane quilt and attached row 5 to the first 4, which I am really happy about! And I made a new blouse out of my stash: the Drop Sleeve Top by Avid Seamstress All in all it has been a productive month considering everything else going on in the background, maybe sewing is what keeps me (relatively) sane! Linking to April Furtle Céline

  The week has been rather busy at work and at home and it doesn't seem that this will quieten down any time soon. I think once more sewing will take a back seat for a little while... 1. M ake block #14 for the Modern City Scape  -  Done 2.  Make Birthday blocks #16  -  no progress 3. Sew the Ravenbrook Scrap Quilt Along blocks for February & April  -  no progress 4.  Work on the Hexie blocks  -  no progress 5.  Complete Dear Jane block E13 and finish row E  -  Done 6. Sew the dropped sleeves blouse -  no progress This week again I have only managed 3 days of sewing,  for   15 minutes to stitch with Kate Not sure how much time I will have for the week ahead... 1. M ake block #15 for the Modern City Scape  2.  Make Birthday blocks #16 & 17 3. Sew the Ravenbrook Scrap Quilt Along blocks for February & April 4.  Work on the Hexie blocks  5. Cut blocks F for Dear Jane 6. Sew the dropped sleeves blouse  Linking to  Carol's To Do Tuesday Linky party Céline

  With a quarter of the year already gone, it is a good time to take stock of my progress (or rather lack of!) on my UFOs... I had prepared a list of the PhD challenge in January and I fear there isn't much to report... 1. Harry Potter (started 2019)   - no progress 2. Farmer's Wife 1920 quilt (started 2011)  -  no progress 3.  Gipsy Wife (started 2017)  -  no progress 4. Mini Series blocks (started 2022)  -  no progress 5. Boho Heart (started 2021)  -  no progress 6. Morgan Jeans (started 2020)  -  no progress 7. Forester coat (started 2022) - finally some progress but I am nowhere near finish... 8. Townline bag (started 2023) -  no progress 9. The Nutcracker Parade (started 2020) - very little progress but I am nowhere near finish... 10. Laundry Basket Quilts Birthday Quilt (2024) - started and almost on track! 11. Mystery Quilt Scraps Galore - t his one was a new project for this year but I have abandonned the idea of joining the sew along 12. Ravenbrook Scrap Quilt Along - 

  March has been quite busy with some holidays, a big birthday, still a lot of stress as we are continuing to try to move house and of course quite a lot of work.  I have tried to steal some sewing time to face the chaos! I have also spent a lovely afternoon learning to make a yummy and beautiful cake with my mum Only one finish this month with the tote bag for my friend's birthday. And quite a few blocks to try and catch up on the sew-along, not all caught up yet but I am getting there!  5 blocks for the Modern Cityscape and the 2 first rows are completed 5 birthday blocks and  1 Dear Jane block And I started a new quilt-along too... maybe I shouldn't have?! Linking to March Furtle Céline

February has been far less productive than January on the sewing front... on the other hand we had 2 birthdays to celebrate (for the girls) with several parties/meals and cakes... and the month has been quite a rollercoaster for our family actually so I guess I have done the best I could? I am still trying to keep up the Tuesday lists to keep the motivation and focus and that definitely helps. Let's have a look at how this month went... I made a few blocks this month for the new quilt-alongs I joined: 2 Birthday blocks and 3 Paper Piecing blocks! I also finally finished off a hand towel with binding I made from my stash. I didn't but the binding on the biais but it seems to have worked well.  AND...I finally made a bag to my daughter, although I gifted it to her after her birthday but the most important part is that she likes it! I must admit I had a love-hate relationship with it as it didn't come out as easily or quickly as I thought it would... Linking to February Furtle

  Wow, what a start for the year! I have finally taken some time to sew, regularly. Not always a massive amount of time but some time. And it has made a difference I am happy to report. I have also started (too?) many quilt alongs, and I know it will be a challenge to keep up with them all but I'll have to try...  I have also managed to blog a lot more than I had for a very long time (maybe simply because I had things to blog about!) Let's have a look at how this month went... I finally managed to finish a few bits that I had cut before Christmas: underwear for my daughter and I and also a personalised key ring. All in use already :-) I picked up my winter coat again and made some progress... finally. Nowhere near finish yet but at least it is moving in that direction! I made quite a few blocks this month for the new quilt-alongs I joined: 4 Birthday blocks, 2 Paper Piecing blocks and 3 brick piles! I also made some reusable kitchen towels that came handy on Sunday when I boile