It's all about the Red, White and Blue

I've had quite a trend going with my crafting just recently, and it's all about red, white and blue!

I think the abundance of patriotic colours in the stores here, and my eagerness to make some stuff that will remind me of my American adventure, has lead me down this path!

My current crafting obsession is quilting. I love the feel of fabric, and I like the idea of making things that have a purpose.

This is the first of 2 Wiggly Whimsy quilts I made, using a pattern from the Moda BakeShop by Rebecca Silbaugh. I used up scraps of Patriotic fabrics from another quilt (still in progress) that I bought at Jo-Anns, and used natural muslin fabric which I purchased at Walmart. Yes, Walmart ;)
I bought a cream coloured fleece and a striped cotton for the binding, also from Jo-Anns. I quilted it simply, with a stitch-in-the-ditch pattern, without batting, as I thought it would be too thick for the Florida climate. I made another quilt, using the same scraps and background fabric, with a red gingham binding. The striped one is Tom's, the gingham is Jemma's. The kids love them, and like nothing better to snuggle under them whilst watching a DVD at night. Even in July.

Armed with the scraps leftover from the backing to my Work in Progress quilt, I searched the web for a Union Jack pattern, and found a great foundation paper piecing pattern here courtesy of Susanne Klemm. Even though I had never done any foundation paper piecing before, I quickly worked it out, and ran up this flag in an evening. I then put a navy border round it, sandwiched and quilted it, and used up the leftover binding from Tom's quilt to finish it off. I was so chuffed with how it turned out, and I am itching to make another one. I may use some patterned fabric in the next one, to make a more Cath Kidston-esque flag. It will even up my USA vs UK projects as well!

The weather has turned positively monsoon like this weekend - whilst the sun is out and shining back in the UK. The remnants of the Tropical weather system Chantal is to blame for the rain, although we haven't had as much rain as we did last summer. The kids are one month away from returning to school, and I must say, these holidays haven't been as tortuous as previous years. Jemma takes herself to the pool most days, and Tom has been at day camp this last week, evening up the days he prefers to sit indoors on his laptop ;)  I have this years school supply list now, so will now start getting the things they need, ready for the start of term :)

It's homemade pizza night tonight, so I'm off to roll out the dough...

Sarah xxx

Work in progress...

I like to dabble in different crafts. I always have. I think I have a bit of ADD when it comes to projects - since being in the US I have scrapbooked, made cards, knit, crocheted, made jewellery and sewn. I think just walking into JoAnn's gave me so many ideas of things I wanted to make. And it's slightly cheaper to get the materials over here, so that is a bonus!!
Anyway, on one of my visits to JoAnn's I spied some American themed fabrics - red, white and blues, stars, stripes etc - and I had a brainwave. I decided to make a quilt. Yep. A quilt. Hmmm. So, I bought a transformer for my UK sewing machine (with winnings from a Super Bowl sweepstake no less) and found a pattern I liked. Actually I found a ton of patterns I liked. I think I am going to be making a few quilts...I digress...  I finished off some other projects, waited patiently for visitors to vacate the guest/craft room, and this past week I finally got the courage to cut the fabrics, and start to sew up the blocks...

 This is how the layout of the quilt will be, and I am pondering whether to add some applique stars to some of the blocks, or to just leave them plain. And it's a bit bigger than I thought it would be...

So, now I had a pile of leftover material. I spent an evening cutting it all into 2.5 x 2.5 inch squares. I went and bought some muslin material for the background, and cut that into squares and rectangles.
This is how that quilt is coming along... I am using the Wiggly Whimsy pattern that I found at the Moda Bakeshop.

I am liking doing all this sewing. Next step is to find a even feed/walking foot for my machine so I can actually quilt them LOL.

In other news... Mark's parents came to visit, and we went to the St Augustine gator farm on Anastasia Island. We saw the gators being fed, and they are really fearsome creatures... I am really hoping one doesn't decide to take up residence in our back pond...

Mark and the kids decided to play about with my camera, and try a spot of Hadouken-ing. In their PJ's. In the front yard. Mind you, not as bad as my other half deciding that the driveway is a great place to do a spot of sunbathing...

 

 

My gardening exploits seem to have taken off spectacularly. I wanted to try and grow some herbs and try some tomatoes and chilli pepper plants... Well, just about every. single. seed has germinated, so I think I will be providing some herbs for my friends and neighbours...

 

 

I think that'll do for now ;) I'm off to get myself some lunch - egg mayonnaise in fresh baked rolls. Yep, I think I am turning into Barbara from the Good Life...

 

 

Sarah x