BUSY WITH A BIT OF BUNTING & BALLROOM ..

Gosh ... where did the last 3 weeks go to! Well for starters it's been all the boring stuff like work, work and more work ... then there's been only a wee bit of time for sewing and ... wait for it ... a bit of ballroom. Yes ... you read it ... I, along with my fabulous "Hey Girl Guy" decided to join a beginners ballroom course! Well considering I have two left feet, I arrived at the first class with a wee bit of trepidation! Firstly just having an hour of grown up time doing something fun together was already enough. Anything after that I considered would be a bonus. Two classes down and I am pleased to announce that besides been so much fun, I have surprised myself and am actually doing okay. We have been salsa-ing, chachacha-ing, jiving and foxtrotting around! Considering we have an upcoming wedding to attend ... this may just come in handy!

Back onto the bunting though. Erin at the almost age of eight has decided that her girly pink room is not quite the thing. Now that she is a big girl, she wanted a more grown up room and as her eighth birthday is around the corner I decided that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all. I chose a vintagey print for her linen, in predominately reds & blues but the touches of pinks & pretty florals kept it feminine.

Next, what better than some bunting to add a cheerful touch to her room. I went through my stash and chose fabrics to match. Using a cardboard template, I quickly cut out the triangles and soon had a pile ready to be sewn.

I always find it so satisfying sitting behind my trusty Bernina and disappearing into my sewing world where although things don't always go as planned I always enjoy it! So, triangles in hand I started happily sewing. Very soon the fun was over and after a bit of ironing I attached the triangles to the bias binding with my super quick method. 

Yep ... I use clips! No pinning, no fussing, just clip it on! Of course I wouldn't use or recommend it for everything but it certainly saves time on projects like these. Sewing is a breeze as I just slide the clips down as I sew and it keeps the fabric together perfectly all the way ... almost like an extra helping hand. When one clip eventually touches the next, I simply unclip it. Maybe a bit unorthodox ... but certainly quick and does the job perfectly! 

The bunting looked so pretty and cheerful once up in her room and by the look on her face, I had one happy little girl. Shhh ... just don't let her hear me say "little" girl! 

JUST QUILTING AROUND ...

We spent a week with my sister over Easter and of course when the car was packed my sewing machine took pride of place. In all my enthusiasm I even made lists for what was planned for each day envisioning myself sitting sewing whisking out project after project. HAHAHAHA ... one can but dream. Of course family days, beach days and Easter just happened to shatter that little daydream. 

The crazy cousins together and Erin having the bestest of times!

BUT ... I did manage some sewing ... a ballet bag ... two little girls totes and a little quilting around ...

Packed in was a layer cake that I just could not resist purchasing a few weeks ago. Basic Grey's "little BLACK DRESS" ... what a divine combination of shades of black and cream. Where else to get some inspiration than MODA BAKESHOP. I knew I wanted to do HSTs and had pinwheels in the back of my mind but after a quick search I came upon Kari Ramsay's (Fresh Cut Quilts Pattern Co.) tutorial for a lap quilt using HSTs and changed my mind. It was the first time I had used a layer cake and oh what joy not having to cut out before being able to sew!

I divided the pack into lights and darks ... oohing and aahing at the stunning prints! Taking a light and a dark, I pinned them right sides together and sewed all the way round the edge. So simple! Then cut them on both diagonals to form half square triangles.

Pretty soon I had a pack of HSTs. Having by this stage just about taken over my sisters craft studio I played around with the layout on her table and started sewing guiltily at each spare moment I could spare. Trying to be there for everyone it's kinda hard dividing your attention between everyone and still trying to spare a little time for yourself doing what you love. I feel so guilty and perhaps that's why I end up doing most of my sewing when everyone is asleep. Do you also feel guilty sewing when there is always so much else vying for your time ... things to be done and people to be with? I wonder why we feel guilty taking some time out for ourselves or is it just me? Mmmm ... back to sewing ... far cheaper than a therapist!

By the end of the visit I had managed to sew all the HSTs together into 12½" blocks.

Easter break over and back home, hopefully there will be some time soon to complete my quilt top. We had a stunning visit with lots of fun with family and great Easter memories ...  and the cherry on top ... me time for some quilting around!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter as well!

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