Tote bag

I do love a good tote bag. Its seems I carry a lot of stuff around, particularly books and papers, so for me, a good tote bag needs to be sturdy and have handles that are a comfortable length. I have been wanting to try Adrianne's tutorial for a while now, and finally got around to it this weekend.

I used some of my very favourite fabric for this bag (Lizzie House Catnap) and the Soft and Stable that Adrianne recommended (from Stitchbird for any curious kiwis). 

I also found some great fabric for the lining which I had tucked away in my stash. I love it when I can shop from my stash - I think it is a Denyse Schmidt fabric that I got from Spotlight.

Monday modern {block lotto}

Our Monday Modern group has been playing block lotto this year. As I set to work on the last block for for the year, I felt a twinge of guilt that I had not yet sewn the blocks together that I won months ago. So this morning I got to work - job done!

This will make such a fun baby/toddler quilt finishing at 36"x 48". The fussy cut centers are really cute and I love the bright colours.

'Migration' is the last block for block lotto this year - a wee bit fiddly (lots of hsts) but it is a pretty block.

I also wanted to try out a pattern that I have had for ages called Russian Rubix by April Rosenthal. I thought it would make quite a nice Liberty quilt. The pattern calls for a bit of precision and quite a lot of trimming. I don't mind trimming as long as it all works out in the end.

Happily I can report that it is a well-written pattern so everything does work out it the end. Phew.

Pussy cat pussy cat where have you been?

Pussy cat pussy cat where have you been?
I've been to London to visit the Queen!

Well, actually Queenie didn't invite me up to the palace for a cuppa and a catch-up, maybe next time?
Although I went to London for work, I did manage to fit in some sewing-related shopping. Who'd have thought??

First stop, the gorgeous Liberty shop. The old part of the building is made from timber from an old ship so in keeping with its origins a mast and sails occupies the centre space. Beautiful!

Liberty is not a shop where it is easy buy smaller fabric cuts, on the whole you could mostly only buy half metre cuts off the bolt. A little rich for my diet (great self-control Megan) but I did find a WOF that made its way into my shopping bag.

I spent a weekend with a friend I used to flat and craft with. She had bought me a bundle of fabric from the V&A museum to celebrate my arrival. The fabric is a little unusual but I'm thinking it might look good made up using Adrienne's High Tea pattern.

For a book lover like me, the huge Waterstones near Picadilly Circus had me in seventh heaven. Floors and floors of books *sigh*. Resisting the urge to fill my suitcase with books, I settled on a couple of poetry collections and just one quilting book.

The instructions inside are so clear and there are lots of fun looking projects to try - I've not seen this book before, so it was a very happy find.

I had a lovely time away but as always, am very happy to be home and I'm looking forward to dusting off my sewing machine :-)