Hi, it's me again

I know it's been a while.  But I've been doing things and I don't do much fast, at least not standing up I don't.  I takes me ages because I can stand for a bit and then I have to sit again for twice as long.  Anyway enough about that.  I have some things to share with you.  Did you say finally???  Umm well yes.

First I won a competition that Micki was running.  Boy was I ever happy.  And this is what she sent and boy did she send a lot.  THANK YOU SO MUCH Micki because I love it alll.

 First is an Irish Quilting Magazine which believe it or not

I have NEVER seen in England and it is truly wonderful

 A Tablemat for Christmas which is just lovely

And I think I will make a Mug Mag for my son-in-law just

like this because I love it so much

 A pot holder which is EXACTLY the right colors

for my kitchen

Anyone would think that Micki had been in my house spying 

because all the colors are completely right.  These are Coasters

which match my living room exactly.

Then she sent me a hat with Ireland on it (yes I know you can see it)

A bar of chocolate which I have still managed to resist - okay only because

it is on the window cill and I had forgotten about it but still I think

it's good.  And finally an Irish Calendar which I shall treasure forever.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING Micki xxx

Now when I started Cross Stitching about 14 years ago I bought loads of things.  I mean every hoop and stretching implement known to man.  I bought, and sold, at least 4 lamps and loads of silk threads on a whim when nothing called for them.  I also bought so much stash you would have thought I would live to be at least 125.  Anyway now with quilting so far I have not wasted one single penny.  Ok I know I have loads of time to do that.  Anyway I bought this, after seeing it on eBay, and then looking for it on the web and seeing that there was a Plus version of it for the same money the one non-Plus version was going for on eBay.  

What is it you ask?  Well it's the June Tailor Shape Cut Plus ruler and it is THE BEST thing I have ever bought.  It is so easy to use (says she before she has put the blocks together and seen how accurate it is) it just made my life much simpler but I did have 16 strip sets to cut into loads.  Out of most strips (apart from the ones I messed up) I cut 17 2 and a half inch strips so that's a load of strips ready to be made into blocks on my beloved sewing machine.  So here goes and have a look at it

You have a Zero line at the bottom and a cutting

line where it says Zero and your (I wanna say angle grinder) but
I have finally remembered it is my Rotary Cutter!

I joined in The Postage Stamp Quilt Along that Natalie is running and here are some photos and thank you Natalie so much for running this as I am really enjoying it.  Well up until now anyway when I have to make the blocks up.  Yes I know I should have done that last week but it has taken me a while to cut up the 2 1/2 inch segments.  I didn't use the fabric that Rachel used because I had bought jelly roll ages ago to make something else and never did so I used that and it is from Moda (of course) and it is by Basic Grey and called Blush.  So here are some photos:

Here are the raw materials.  One Jelly Roll in Blush and one in White

Here are two photos of them cut but not stitched together

into strip sets

(and I forgot to take a photo of them stitched into strip sets - sorry)

Here is where I have cut the 44" x 9 1/2" strips sets

there are loads of them trust me and I have

them together in groups of 

The top group is print/white/print/white/print

The bottom group is white/print/white/print/white 

And now I'm going to be putting them together

again in blocks so

Please wish me luck that I haven't mucked up all this fabric.  If I have no problem because I have another two waiting in reserve in case I have.  But I really hope I haven't.

I am also going to be doing the Bloggers Block-A-Palooza that Quilt Dad is running and today I have ordered most of the fabric for it.  But I need to get some more so hopefully somebody has it in stock.

Until next time

Lots of Love

Patti the displaced Yank xxx