New Year, new projects

In 318 Patchwork Bee, Tamiko asked for Gardening blocks, a nice theme for this dark time of year, it made me think of spring this made.  This block is from the out of print book, 318 Patchwork by Kumiko Fujita.

The background print was such a good match from my vintage stash, I had to use it!  The greys are Sweetwater, the wood print is Joel Dewberry's  Aviary range and the green is a Kumiko print that I've had a while.

Maybe the gardening theme influenced me into making this little fabric pull for a private swap between Amy and myself.  The top and bottom prints are soft, washed Japanese linens and the middle two are Japanese cottons.  I am not bound to this stack although they do look rather inviting with their soft colours, I'll see what Amy's reaction is like, I am quite prepared to pull something else.  I have an interesting piecing idea for whatever I end up using, sneaky peeks coming soon...

I twisted Lula's arm just a little to spend approx £7/$10 for membership to The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's Dessert of the Month club.  That single payment delivers 12 cross stitch PDFs to your email account and features Kawaii cute desserts that make a sampler like this lovely January truffle by Smoochee

The low price is a limited offer, ending 10th January.  I dusted off my old DMC threads, tea dyed some 14 count aida canvas and stitched a grid to get her going.

And I couldn't resist Katy's Swoon quilt a long on Flickr.   I don't need more projects, no siree but my long awaiting voile collection has finally found a pattern big enough to show its print and not needing to much cutting and stitching.  The Camille Roskelley's pattern is available as a PDF, and is a clever and economical use of fabric.  Playing with dark and light fabrics makes this pattern twist and turn. 

What really appealed is that the block looks straightforward, I can just cut the fabric needed for one block at a time and the pattern is perfect for quilt as you go as there is sashing between blocks.  I will be going slow, but there are only 9 blocks and it makes a whopping 8o inch square quilt.  I'll share my quilt as you go methods here if any of you want to do the same.  Meanwhile I am cutting my voiles and Kona snow ready for the first block.