I haven't been sewing much lately. Unless you count sewing labels back onto Other Half's work T-shirts. And I don't. I have been making cards, but nothing too exciting. A few days ago I ordered a Loom for making those band bracelet things. This trend has completely passed me by, by the way. I was only vaguely aware of their existence until last weekend when the nieces were showing me them. I looked on the internet afterwards to see what it was all about. I found some fab tutorials on making Disney princesses with them and thought it would be a good way to bribe (sorry, encourage) the girls for their Maths (long story, don't ask!). So, loom is ordered and I'm stupidly excited about it coming. I know, I'm a grown woman. I'm aware how sad and pathetic it sounds. But I just want to play. NOW! Why do parcels take ages when you're waiting for them?
While waiting for new toy, I thought about a project I started ages ago. Embarrassingly, I think it must be about 2 years ago. A shop I go to for quilting fabric (The Fat Quarters at Blackhall Mill, if you're interested) held an open day and were giving out flyers about Tiny Lives. This is a charity that supports premature and sick newborn babies and their families at Newcastle RVI hospital. The charity gives help and support to every family that passes through the special care baby unit. They also give a quilt to each family. Which is where The Fat Quarters comes in. Niece number 1 (Charlotte) was very premature. She was only 1lb 9ozs when born. You could have held in the palm of one hand. If she hadn't been in an incubator. Although she wasn't born in the RVI, she was operated on there while still tiny. So this was a cause that resonated with me. I picked up a flyer with details of the size of quilts (to fit in the bottom of an incubator) and bought fabric ready to make quilts. I made part of a quilt top.
Fast forward to today. While between projects (and more importantly awaiting parcel) I thought I'd actually do something with the fabric bought. I thought it would be a good way to ease myself back into quilt making. I haven't made one for ages. Probably since I made that partial quilt top. Added to the fact that I'll be going back up to The Fat Quarters over the next couple of months to buy more fabric and I'll be able to (finally) hand them over. I'm also hoping by typing this I get my butt into gear to finish them.
So here's today's sewing.
Two completely opposing designs and colourways. The second one is much more the type of thing I normally do. I do gravitate towards the bright end of the spectrum for baby quilts!
I have a photo I need to share of youngest niece. While in the Lake District over half term, Katie needed to go on a train. Everyone's been on a train apart from Katie. She was so excited when we found a steam train to have a ride on. She was slightly nervous as well. I mean, who knows what could happen?
Then the train started...
She was not impressed!
