A little ‘May’ update…

Welcome, here in the UK we have been enjoying some lovely Spring days, which has got me out in the garden, planting new flowers, and pulling up the weeds – why do the weeds always grow sooooo much faster then the flowers?

I wanted share an update of my progress of quilt-a-longs I’m taking part in this year,

Here are blocks 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 out of 20, of The Flower Bouquet quilt along hosted by Pat @quilterpatsloan,

Phew… I had a few to catch up on, where do the weeks go…

I’m using fabrics by Gutermann from the Portifino collection

 

May blocks for the Sewing Bee 4 group, this month block has been chosen by Dawn @sewnbysunrise for the charity @siblingstogetherquiltgroup

I used some Island batik scraps, and some pieces from Craft Cotton

 

 

The Daisy Chain Mystery Quilt-along – hosted by Amanda @honeybunnyanddoll.

I’m so excited to see how these blocks are going to come together, and now there’s not long to wait…

 

I couldn’t resist having a play with possible lay outs

 

This months colour challenge is lime green, this quilt along is being hosted by Jen @patternsbyjen.

I’ve been using Batik scraps throughout this challenge, with Gutermann threads…

Looking for a Spring project?

Grab this months copy of ‘Love Sewing’ for my Springtime Table Runner pattern

OUT NOW

 

Looking for a new quilt along to get involved in?

Jacquelynne has just released the sign up for the ‘Happy Little Things’ FREE block of the month – click the link below

jacquelynnesteves.com/happy-little-things-block-of-the-month

I finished off last week with a cute Foundation Paper Piecing, designed by Jo @unicornharts, it came in a booklet free with Issue 61 of Quilt Now magazine

 

Thanks for stopping by

You can follow me here on my blog, and you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle @creativeblonde66

 

Keeping out of trouble…

Hello, thanks for stopping by.

I wanted to do a quick post to keep you updated with the many quilt-a-longs I’m taking part in this year, and to announce the winner of the Lap Size Piece of Vlieseline Wool Batting competition from last weekend…

Here are blocks 12 and 13 out of 20, of The Flower Bouquet quilt along hosted by Pat @quilterpatsloan,

Im using fabrics by Gutermann from the Portifino collection

I got in nice an early with April blocks for the Sewing Bee 4 group, this month block has been chosen by Jayne @plaincreations for the charity @siblingstogetherquiltgroup

I used some Island batik scraps, I love the swirls in the purple

This week brought with it Unit C of the Daisy Chain Mystery Quilt-along – hosted by Amanda @honeybunnyanddoll.

I’m so excited to see how these blocks are going to come together…

This months colour challenge is Blue, this quilt along is being hosted by Jen @patternsbyjen.

I’ve been using Batik scraps throughout this challenge…

and the last in the quilt alongs this month, is the Modern HST BOM hosted by Steph @stephjacobsondesigns.

I’ve used Ditty Batiks and Black Batiks to complete this block

The Winner of the beautifully soft Vlieseline Wool batting is… 

nwpaintedlady

Huge congratulations, please get in touch with your address, so I can this sent out to you – happy sewing

You can follow me here on my blog, and you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle @creativeblonde66

 

Sunday and still going strong…

Hello, thanks for stopping by to read what I’ve been up to this week…

I’m feeling just a little bit pleased with myself ,as I’m keeping on top of the quilt-a-longs I’ve signed up to, so here is where I’m at so far…

First up – Daisy chain QAL hosted by Amanda @honeybunnyanddoll this week was all about sewing together Unit A, I’m itching to find out what this will look like when its finished, so is my cat 🙂

As I’m making the Throw size, I had 39 of these traditional 4 square blocks to make

The start of March brings with it, the next in the colour challenge block, hosted by Jen @patternsbyjen,  this month is BLUE… I’ve used an array of Beautiful Blue Batiks from @island_batik, and Gutermann threads.

I’m still busy sewing along with the weekly flower bouquet hosted by Pat @quilterpatsloan, can you believe we have reached block 10 of 20 already? I’m using Gutermann fabrics from the Portofino collection for all my blocks, along with Gutermann threads

The next block in the Modern HST BOM hosted by Steph @stephjacobsondesigns, is now available, I was keeping to a bit of a blue theme this week. I’m using Island Batiks and Guterman threads

The last sew along I need to update you with, is the Mystery QAL, hosted by Tracy @itsatsweetsday, this is where we are given one particular fabric which we need to include in our final make, along with whichever fabrics we like. this quarter the fabric is an adorable mouse fabric @lewisandirenefabrics, I’ve decided to make a paper piecing project, adding some fabrics from Moda and Stoffabrics

This week I was asked to play around with some accessories from Groves, so I decided to make a few simple Mothers Day gifts, my tutorials are suitable for beginners. You can download my patterns below 🙂

 

Mothers Day Gift ideas – key fobs

 

Mothers Day Gift ideas – keyrings

 

Mothers Day Gift ideas

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Check out my Instagram and Facebook page @creativeblonde66

~Michelle~

x creativeblonde x

Its a Happy Monday…

Hey, thanks for popping by 🙂

I usually dread Mondays, and this Monday was going to be especially sad, as my boys were heading back to school after half term, and I always miss their company, but this Monday i had some exciting news…

My name was mentioned in the latest Gutermann meeting – they loved my wash bags using the Gutermann Marrakesch fabric collection – Grab issue 59 of Quilt Now magazine to make yours. And they’ve asked me to make some more home projects things for them – i’m thrilled and my heading is buzzing with ideas 🙂

Then came along some more exciting news… I won the beautiful Pincushion Competition that I entered on Instagram. These gorgeous pincushions are made by Rosie Marshall www.instagram.com/rosiescraftcorner, I chose a blue and white one 🙂

—

Last Friday, Quilt Now issue 60 hit the shops, I’m thrilled to have two of my quilts featured in this months issue.

My ‘spring fling’ quilt, uses the beautiful new collection from @vickyyorkedesigns for @camelot_fabrics called ‘Village Life’.

The other quilt is featuring the new Island Batik fabrics from the gorgeous new collection ‘All a Flutter’ by @kathybrettengle

(photos curtesy of Quilt Now Magazine)

I’ve just about kept up with the ‘Flower Bouquet’ sew-along, hosted by Pat @quilterpatsloan, here are blocks 6,7 and 8

Last week brought with it the start of ‘Daisy Chain’ mystery quilt along, with my fabrics chosen, it was time to begin cutting…

I’m so excited to see what this mystery quilt will look like, head over to Amanda’ Instagram page to find all the details www.instagram.com/honeybunnyanddoll

One big finish this week, was the my Cosy Burgundy Quilt, using a new collection from  Stoffabrics – ‘autumn leaves’.

***I quilted it using Vlieseline Cotton mix 80/20 and I’m IN LOVE!!***

Has anyone else used this? I would thoroughly recommend it – so cosy!

—

Lastly… its almost time for the final reveal of the #sweetestthingssampler, hosted by Dawn at Honeybee Cloths and Myself at CreativeBlonde.

Are you nearly finished?

I went with the QAYG method, and Sunday was spent quilting all my Irish chain blocks.  All the blocks in this quilt are available to download over on

‘Honeybee Cloths’ Blog

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Check out my Instagram and Facebook page @creativeblonde66

~Michelle~

x creativeblonde x

Have I bitten off more then I can chew…

Wow, another week has gone by already…  although I’m very happy to say goodbye to today, as we in the UK have been hit by storm Eric, its not so bad, compared to other weather issues in the world, but I honestly felt like I’d been pushed through one of those automatic car wash places with the giant rotating scrubbing brushes after returning home from the school run.

I’ve so much to tell you about, and as the title reads ‘I may have been off more then I can chew’..

Join this QAL?,

What about this one?

Ooo this QAL looks good!

Oh wow I have to join this QAL…

Yes I spent January doing too much of this, and now I’m involved in so many, but secretly I do love a QAL, I love to see what others create and I love the sewing circle of chatter.

So here is this week progress…

I couldn’t resist playing with these adorable buttons by Trimit, available from Groves. they would make a super cute addition to any make.

After getting distracted, I pulled myself back on track, and completed month two of the colour challenge hosted by Jen @patternsbyjen , this month the colour is PINK! I used Primrose and carnation fabrics from Island Batik, teamed with some pretty variegated threads from Gutermann

Next up is the weekly ‘Flower Bouquet’ QAL hosted by Pat @quilterPatsloan, we are on week 6 already…  this month was a double block (I know, I’m a week behind, I didn’t think you would notice). I’ve created these blocks using the Gutermann Portofino fabric collection and threads

Keeping on track, I thought I’d get this months Charity quilt blocks made, Elaine @greenandscratchy has gone for bright blocks, so I knew some Batik fabrics would be perfect. I wanted to be organised, as next month I’m the sewing bee mama, so that mean I have to come up with a design, sew everyone’s blocks together to create a gorgeous quilt for the siblings together charity @siblingstogetherquiltgroup

Moda are hosting a ‘Moda Love Quilt’, its a free pattern, and come is various sizes. I decided to make the Charm size. I’ve used ‘dreamer’ by Carrie Bloomston available from @windhamfabrics together with the ‘love you’ by Sandy Gervais available from Moda, teamed with a red batik fabric. This QAL is open til February 14th, so you still have time to whip up this beautiful pattern over the weekend @modafabrics

The last QAL which I’m all up to date with, is the Modern HST Block of the month, hosted by Steph @stephjacobsondesigns , I’ve decided to stick with bright Batiks and Black, this month I’ve gone purple, I absolutely love this mauve thread from Gutermann…

Some exciting new to end on, I’ve chosen my fabrics for the Daisy Chain mystery QAL hosted by Amanda and Alison @honeybunnyanddoll and @littlebunnyalison, so it definitely not to late to join in, as its only just started…

I’ve chosen’ Panorama’ fabrics and ‘supreme solids’ from Cotton and Steel @cottonandsteel

Thanks for sticking around and reading till the end, I hope this post brings you some lovely inspiration for the weekend ahead – enjoy!

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Check out my Instagram and Facebook page @creativeblonde66

~Michelle~

x creativeblonde x

 

almost there…

We’ve almost made it, January is coming to an end, we can leave those dull, dark, wet and cold January days behind us, and we can finally begin to enjoy the dull, dark, wet and even colder days of  February 😉  Don’t get me wrong I do love the winter months, there is something quite cosy about binding a quilt on the sofa with the fire on and my cat sleeping next to me, but I do miss the longer days, in the UK its dark at 4 pm and I long for the evenings that remain light till 9-10 pm.

So until then, here is a rainbow to bring some sunshine vibes your way

If you happened to read my blog a few weeks ago, you’ll know I was signing up for lots of sewalongs, I really enjoy getting involved in these, I love to see what others come up with, and I love the social side – meeting new sewing friends

Pat Sloan in hosting a weekly sewalong, so i have four blocks to show you. I making all my blocks using Gutermann threads and Gutermann fabrics from the Portofino fabric collection… You can download all Pats blocks so far, from her website.

https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/2019/01/pats-free-a-flower-bouquet-block-1.html

 

I has so much fun making tiny dresden plates for the #tinydresdenparty2019 hosted by Deidra at linktr.ee/quiltyobsession. I used fabrics from Stof fabrics, and have created a table topper (free tutorial coming real soon) – check out Stof’s website, its full of gorgeous fabrics www.stoffabrics.com/collection. I used Bosal double sided fusible foam, and it was really lovely to quilt on, I love the texture that the table topper now has.

 

Next up is a monthly challenge hosted by Jen patternsbyjen.blogspot.com.  Its a colour challenge, and this month its green. I teamed up some Island batik green pieces with some fabric I has left over from Northcott fabrics, they have the most amazing fabrics, check out their website by clicking the link below

www.northcott.net

and the last one i wanted to show you was #modernhstbom. 

You can find out more about this Block of the month by visiting Steph’s blog  www.stephjacobsondesigns.com.

I had great fun making this block, as it meant I got to use my new AccuQuilt cutting machine, it was such a beautiful moment, making HST and having no dog ears to trim away. I decided to use up more of my Island Batik scraps, and teamed them with some Island Batik black, and Gutermann threads.

I have loads more to share with you, but i appreciate you have things to do, and your cup of tea is finished, so until next time

I hope this post bring you loads of inspiration and ideas for what you could get involved in – happy sewing, i would love to sew along with you

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Check out my Instagram and Facebook page @creativeblonde66

~Michelle~

x creativeblonde x

Get involved this January…

The best thing I’ve found for getting over the January blues, is to join in with as many sew-alongs, quilt-alongs and sewing parties as you can 🙂

Here’s what I’m up too, and the best thing is, its not too late to join in too…

 

 

1: quilterpatsloan

Let the fun Begin!!… Block #1 of Pats FREE Weekly Sew Along is ‘A Flower Bouquet’. This week she celebrates the dreams of Gardeners everywhere with the Seed Catalog. .
1- Download Pats first and second block now at https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/2019/01/pats-free-a-flower-bouquet-block-1.html

2: quiltyobsession

It’s baaaack! Last year’s #tinydresdenparty was so much fun, Deidra couldn’t resist throwing another. So, the #tinydresdenparty2019 starts 16th january. Check out her blog today with all the details, plus links to tips and tutorials linktr.ee/quiltyobsession

3: patternsbyjen

The 2019 Monthly Color Challenge has started! The first color is inspired by the “Bells of Ireland” flower. Find out about Jen’s Irish roots came to America on her blog today and get your free block. patternsbyjen.blogspot.com

4: michaelannn

Heres what Michael says about it… Everything’s more fun with friends, so let’s have a sew along! 👯‍♀️ I’ve got those January “organize all the things” feels, and my to-sew list is full of all the pouches, zippies, and organizers – How about you?! Want to sewalong with me?
.
Here’s what I’m thinking – let’s spend the month of January sewing as many “things to put other things in” as we want/can. Use whatever patterns/ideas/tutorials you’d like! Share your in progress and finished projects to the hashtag #stashmystuffsal. Search the hashtag to discover fun new patterns and inspiring new friends! Then, you know, use all the things you just made to actually organize your stuff 😉😆 linktr.ee/michaelannn

5: poweredbyquilting

The hidden stars sew along has officially started!! Check out Sherry’s blog post today for  all the details poweredbyquilting.com/ig
#PBQHiddenStarsSAL

6: justletmequilt

This blog hop, has me buzzing with ideas, my day is February 18th, be sure to join me here to see what i make, plus there will be sneek peeks along the way. To see what else Carol has been up to, head over to her blog https://www.justletmequilt.com/

7: stephjacobsondesigns

This will be my first project made using my new Accuquilt cutting machine, i just need to learn how to use it 😉 Steph’s modern HST block of the month starts on January 1, 2019, with a new HST block posted the first of each month #modernhstbom. 

Check out Steph’s blog for all the details www.stephjacobsondesigns.com

8: island_batik

The 7th January brought with it, the start of the Island Batik Getaway Blog Hop! The Island Batik Ambassadors will be your tour guides for a full month of adventure and souvenirs ( also know as giveaways 😉). My day was the 8th January, see my previous post to photos of my Kaleidoscope quilt using the new ‘Ditty’ collection

Start your adventure today by visiting their link www.islandbatik.com/news

I hope this post bring you loads of inspiration and ideas for what you could get involved in – happy sewing, i would love to sew along with you

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Check out my Instagram and Facebook page @creativeblonde66

~Michelle~

x creativeblonde x