Making amends

Months ago I finished this quilt, I enjoyed playing with the design in my head first, and then on paper. My heart skipped a little beat when I found the perfect fabric to work with. When insecurity set in I threw myself out there and asked for your help and received such great advice and encouragement - thank you!
My heart sang as I sewed out a horrible period in my life into these pieces of fabric. And when it was finished I was in such a hurry to share that I tripped over myself, taking pictures in bad lighting,editing without knowing how to, wich resulted in me cringing each time I look at them.

So today I'm making amends, I love this quilt for all it means to me personally, for how my friends both on and off line have responded to it so dearly.  It deserves a better photo...or two ...oh go on then three ;-)

Birds and Empty Cages.

my tall brother holding the quilt up for me :-)

Phew that feels much better!

I've been happily sewing more +&x blocks {love them!} and will be back soon with some progress shots.

x Leila

Happy Easter!

 

We're spoilt with great weather, delicious food and lovely company. Hope you are all having a wonderful Easter too!

x Leila


p.s did you spot my Easter coaster on the table?

+ & x blocks

+ & x blocks, originally uploaded by Where the Orchids Grow.

Yesterday Amy Badskirt posted a tutorial for these blocks. I just had to drop everything and start sewing them up. I love them!

Have a very happy Easter weekend

x Leila

Monday

How was your weekend?
Mine was nice and slow I spent it watching a couple of dvd's, strolling out in the sun and sewing two new tops. It was hard enough taking pictures of me wearing just the one so you'll only get to see me in the grey top. The other is identical but in blue, you're not missing anything trust me ;-)

In case you wondered...I have a head just not one that's fit to be in this particular picture!

I have this sudden urge to improve my dressmaking skills and fill up my tired old wardrobe with fabulous handmade creations. It's not exactly working out that way yet, remember the dress I started on? Well it's half finished and not working for me at all! Chucked on the 'I'll get to this later" pile looking all sad and sorry making me feel guilty.

Anyway, despite perusing my patterns on hand frantically I could not find what I wanted to sew so I reverted to the full proof method {ahum!} of drafting my own pattern from a top I already had. This worked out brilliantly as you can imagine and resulted in a very baggy unflattering top destined to end up on the same pile as the dress - poo!
We can't have that now can we, if that wardrobe of mine is to be updated anytime soon. So I decided to improvise. Trust me normally this never works out to my advantage, but this particular time the sewing gods were on my side and I actually managed to produce not one but two tops that I am not ashamed of wearing in public- yay!

I particularly like this low cut back, but what is up with my elbows?! I need some anti-wrinkle elbow cream asap!! {is there such a thing and if so where can I get it?}
What do you think should I enter this in the Spring Top Sew Along 2011, or should I keep on practicing?

x Leila

~Bee Blocks Parade~

How are you all doing?, it's been a while since we've last talked!
I had an unfortunate flu outbreak in the house and have been couch bound for the last week. But I'm up and about again. The sun is shining and I'm hopeful that was the last of the winter's cold creeping it's way out of our system.

 April happens to be my month in the Fresh Modern Bee 2. I have sent out fabrics from my Anna Maria Horner stash asking for 'simple' blocks using squares and rectangles only. At first I was worried this wasn't going to be enough of a challenge. But I do love a simple block and find that there's lots of possibilities to be creative using simple square shapes.

Lynne's block.

We're only a couple of weeks into April and not all blocks have been made yet but there are some pretty ones popping up in the group already that I'd love to show off to you all.

First up is the incredible Lynne. It's hard to imagine her making a mistake, anything she touches turns into gold. I love how these two outer borders give your eye a place to rest and really help to sort of calm down all these little bursts of colour.

Chickenfoot's block.

Next is Chickenfoot's block, nice clean and simple squares and rectangles, it lets the pretty fabrics shine. I can't wait to finish this quilt and stroke all the beautiful soft voiles.

And there's Flightin's block wich is a stunner, look at this!

Flightin's block.

I love everything about it, the combination of fabrics is perfect, the fussy cut center.. notice that teeny  dobby voile border around it? Love!

I never knew just how exciting it is to see the blocks for your month appear on the group pages, now I do I think I am hooked! Can't wait to get these babies back home and look at them up close and personal {do I sound like a quilting perv now? lol!}


I'm really enjoying my month, and looking forward to seeing the rest of the blocks being made :-)

x Leila