Top Of The Hill...

With my favourite brew on hand I am sat in the window seat soaking up the winter sunshine writing to you  about my Splendid Sampler journey.

I have been lucky enough to have known both Jane and Pat (the co-creators of this brilliant event) for several years, we always catch up at quilt market. Pat as you know lives in the US and jane as luck would have it lives about an hour down the road from me!

I love that we are celebrating reaching the 50th block - half way - does it seem possible that we have been on this wonderful journey together for 6 months??

Pat has created a special block to celebrate, its called 'Top of the Mountain'. Follow this link to download the block. 

When I first saw and heard the blocks name it made me think of a fun nursery rhyme that I am sure my Mum sang to me and that I sang to my children. The lyrics sum up where we all are in the progress of our Splendid Sampler blocks!

Oh, The grand old Duke of York (aka Pat and Jane),
He had ten thousand men (this is us, the Splenderettes);
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.

And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only half-way up (where we are now),
They were neither up nor down.

Like many of you I started out with good intentions and sped ahead with my blocks, I find the foundation pieced blocks challenging as my brain does not seem to work upside down....I do of course love the appliquéd and embroidered blocks.

I started to plan what might look nice as sashing....I liked this cream tonal print ....

I liked this soft blue look.....

and then I really liked this stronger blue sashing with light corner posts, so this the print that I will be joining my Splendid Sampler together with. 

I mentioned before that Jane (@quiltjane) lives close to me and so it was with great excitement that we held our first 'Splenderette Gathering' in the store....we had ladies from far and wide join us to show their blocks and to tell their stories. 

I have a sweet little bundle of my new fabric line Festive Fun to give away - please leave me a note and tell me how many Splendid Sampler blocks you have made so far?

 Here I am with some of the other Splendid Sampler block designers at market, we all looked very serious in this picture but I can promise you two moments later we were playing up!

There are a few Splendid Sampler designers who are doing special blog posts this week, telling their stories, giving some hints and tips and that may have giveaways.

Follow this link to find the other Splendid Sampler designers who are blogging.

Don't forget to leave me a message for the chance to win the little bundle of fabrics. I look forward to reading your messages x good luck

Congratulations to Anita Jackson, you have won the Festive Fun bundle giveaway. Be watching your inbox for my email.
Thank you to everyone that left me a message.