Hello 2017!

I have just returned home after celebrating New Year with family and, after putting away the Christmas decorations, it is time to try and return to some kind of 'normal' routine!!  It has been a busy but fun couple of weeks here since my last post and I hope you have all had some fun too!

My children were kind enough to buy me some great new quilt books as gifts for Christmas, which I am sure I will be able to put to good use!  I also had a lovely set of nesting fabric baskets from my lovely blogger friend Leanne at 'Lizzie the Quilter'.  They are made with delightful Tilda fabrics and are so pretty.... thank you Leanne... I am going to love finding things in my sewing room to fill them with.

I made Leanne a 'hoop art' embroidery which I gave you a little glimpse of before Christmas but, now that I know Leanne has received it I can show you it in full. The embroidery design is from the book 'Stitches from the Garden' by Kathy Schmitz.

2016 was a productive year for me stitching-wise and, if you would like to see all the items I made you can find them all on my 2016 Projects Page. I have some plans for 2017 too..... I want to make quilts with all the various blocks that I have in different boxes around my sewing room even if I didn't make all the blocks that should have been made to complete the project for one reason or another (mainly moving house!)  These will include....

Hasenbach Challenge blocks.... 

 EPP Craftsy blocks.....

Farm Girl Vintage blocks...

United Stitches blocks.....

Birthday swap blocks.....

Splendid Sampler blocks.....

My idea is to use up all these blocks... not necessarily all the blocks from each set in one quilt, maybe making one or more quilts out of each set by using just one block as a central panel and adding lots of borders or maybe making more blocks to go with those I already have.... I have lots of ideas and I can't wait to get started..... there are plenty of blocks to get to work on!!

There are some projects from 2016 which will need finishing off too.... like the cross stitch I started (above) and my TAST sampler to make into a picture to go with the first one I made.

Of course there may well be the odd new project or two as the fancy takes me! There are lots of books, patterns and fabrics all vying for my attention in my sewing room!  My main objective in 2017 is to have plenty of creative fun!  While we are on the topic of fun what nicer way is there to start the year than with a little giveaway.....  just leave me a nice, friendly comment below and you will be in with a chance to win this little bundle of goodies.....

The closing date will be on Tuesday, 10th January and I will announce the winner on Wednesday..... Good luck!!