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May Day

rI've just stepped on a plug. My God it hurts! Anyhoos
Nothing says 1st May like Morris Dancers!

1st of May is the start of the dancing season. I have a calendar on my desk at work full of photographs - Michael gave it to me for Christmas, and this weeks picture is morris dancers. My colleagues wanted to know why, so I explained it's in the family (you can't quite see my Dad in this photo) - the same colleague bought a spinning wheel from us two weeks ago so he then announced that my family was "cool". Funny - my family has never been called "cool" before! Eccentric - yes, cool - not really. :)

Back to the sewing....



My April completions
April feels like a fairly unproductive month. I haven't really finished a lot! Or that's how it feels.

Farmer's Wife: I bought some more batiks, including the gorgeous turquoise in the Spider Web Block. I have 81 blocks complete now, and I really want to push on with this project. I've seen some finished ones popping up and some gorgeous quilting, like this one.

Stained QAL: I signed up for this QAL months ago, and finally at Easter had the time to do all the cutting. It went together really quickly after that and I love how bright it is. In May I need to add a chunky black border and quilt it - I'm going for organic straight lines (read "wavy").

Cushions: I've completed three cushion covers this month: A nice red one with half square triangles using up the leftovers from my Swoon and some dense straight-line quilting; a rainbow Swoon variation for my first ever Swap; and an Owl applique. And with the leftovers from my mini Swoons I made alittle mug rug in blues and browns.

And I stitched a lot of blocks: for my first ever month in a Bee, for the Siblings Together charity, and for my Amelia quilt.

Yesterday I got a parcel in the mail from America. It was my swap goodies. Look what I got:


Swap Goodies
A pincushion ( love the ladybird), a small pouch, a pen holder, applique needles, beautifully fine pins, and my favourite colour sewing thread. So, Dara, I don't have any contact details for you, but thank you so much - I love love love my goodies! If you read this, please get in touch so I can thank you personally.

And I won $25 voucher for the Fat Quarter Shop for my Chevron cushion which I entered in the Festival of Half Square Triangles over at Canoe Rudge Creations. Hmm.... what to buy!

For May I want to finish the Amelia quilt, and quilt some of the quilt tops that I've finished piecing, so hopefully I'll have lots more to share in the next few weeks.

Today I'm linking up to Lily' Quilts Fresh Sewing Day and Small Blog Meet
Lily's Quilts
Lily's Quilts
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Comments

Jenelle said…
I love your little owl cushion! The applique looks amazing. I also made an owl cushion last month, but mine is embroidered. :)
2 May 2012 at 21:15
Cherie said…
That looks like a lot finished to me! Blocks count as finishes. What great swap goodies =D
2 May 2012 at 23:06
Celtic Thistle said…
Congratulations on a productive April, the batik in the Spider's Web block is lovely. If you are anything like me the FQ Shop will be so tempting, the gift voucher will just about cover the postage!
3 May 2012 at 09:50
The English Ladies! said…
Jennie,

I wasn't sure what colors you like. But I hope you enjoy a little of everything. This was my first swap. I wasn't sure what to send. My email address is dara.l.english@nasa.gov

Swap Friends Always
Dara
3 May 2012 at 18:28
Amanda said…
I think you managed to accomplish a lot in April too! Good luck with May!
3 May 2012 at 22:28
Liz DandeliondD said…
Hi I am your newest Follower just here from Lily's Quilts.
Its such a lovely way to get to see lots of other quilty small blogs.
Hoping that you'll visit my blog too at http://lizofdandeliondaydreams.blogspot.com/
Lovely swap goodies.
xxxx
5 May 2012 at 19:12
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