Dear Jane and new book

I took a break from my other job and sewed a bit. I've also been watching Downton Abbey and loving it - but I digress.
I finished F3 and H3. H3 was a pain - for some reason when I paper piece my finished product is a bit too small - I wonder if it's all the seams that tend to come in a paper pieced block?

F3

H3

I finished reading The First Stone and quite liked it. My next read is Sarah's Key.

Dear Jane

I got two more Dear Jane blocks done. A3 was more challenging than it looked - this is try #2. The first time my outer circle was all wonky - this time I traced around the outer circle onto the background fabric, then appliqued the melons on - they all make a nice outer circle now. 432 pieces to date.

A3

C3

My day job is going to get busy over the next little while so I think I'm going to lose some of my weekday sewing time. This is disappointing, but a necessary evil so I can continue to fund my fabric and sewing habit.

Mug Rug

One of my friends picked up this cute fabric at a recent sewing show for me - the day we went together I saw it, loved it, and neglected to pick it up. She was back the next day and got it for me. Here are her thanks.

front

back

close up

This fabric will eventually find a permanent home in a baby quilt sometime.
I've learned that sewing binding on something this small is not easy - I'll take a bigger quilt any time.

Mug Rug and new project

I finished up this little mug rug for my friend - the recipient of the bubbly baby quilt. I decided she needs some things for herself right about now. Red is her favourite colour. It's the same pattern I used for myself, just a different overall shape.

front

back

I cut out these cute little guys for my next project. My friend picked this up at a recent sewing show for me - the overall fabric is cute as can be. This next little project will be a thank you for picking the fabric up for me.

I'm living with my parents right now because I sold my house and haven't found another one I like - I am diligently looking. While it's trying at times, it's really working out well. My mom wants someone to look after - I'm happy to be looked after; my dad's happy he's being left alone; I have minimal domestic responsibilities which gives me lots of time to sew and create. I think I'm equally grateful for the time as the roof over my head.

Baby Quilt

The mommy loved it!

Baby Quilt Finished

I finished off the bubbly baby quilt I showed last week. It's quilted quite heavily around the dots so that they pop. I haven't quilted like this before. I'm visually happy with the results - the heavy quilting is a bit stiff, but I expect it to loosen up with washing. I also put my first official label on this quilt - a dot on the back with my name and date embroidered on it. The back is a swirly pink/purple batik type fabric.

front

back

Baby Quilt

Here is the project I'm working on right now. It's a baby quilt for a friend at school - she's having a girl and pretty soon too!
The dots are attached with steam a seam and then raw edge appliqued down with a freehand straight stitch. I'm working on the quilting now (free hand swirly circles upper left) but my sewing machine is making an awful noise so took it in for service today. Hopefully I'll have it back by Wed.

Baby Quilt