on to new things!

I'm not sure if you noticed, but there was a bit of a post '52 weeks 52 crafts' lull here at Lazy Crafternoons. I have been quite busy behind the scenes, but my 2012 challenge must have really knackered my blogging skills because 2013 was consequentially quite a quiet one in my little corner of the world wide weberverse.

2014 will be all about balance for me. Trying to find a way to juggle my craft life and work life (a new full time job at the end of 2012 may or may not have also been keeping me quite busy). 

Total blog posts in 2012: 79

Total blog posts in 2013: 1

I'll aim for something in the middle this year. Hoping to post more patterns, updates, and pieces on what inspires me to get crafting. I think 40 posts is reasonable, don't you?

In the mean time I'll post a few pictures of the projects I have been working on quietly this past year. A few major projects including two quilts: one for my friend's wonderful summer wedding (which I had the joy and privilege of officiating!) and another for my beautiful newborn niece in Canada.

Wedding Quilt.

I made this using some very bold fabrics from Tula Pink (Birds and the Bees collection). If you look closely, it starts with 1 inch half-square triangles in the middle and then the squares gradually increase, doubling in size towards the edges of the quilt until pieces make up 8 inch squares.  I like the way the fabrics draw inspiration from nature, with bold coloured fabrics which subtly work birds and bees in the patterns - both classic and modern, ordered and chaotic! Sort of the perfect fabric for my good friends who are getting married: bright and cheerful, outrageous and also structured - I knew it was the right choice for the project.  I didn't want to dilute the bright fabrics with other collections or solids and pale fabrics, so I chose a pattern that matched what I liked about the fabric. A patchwork that is seemingly unstructured, but when you look closely is actually quite orderly.

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Canadian Wild quilt.

I made this quilt using a mix of jewel and autumnal toned fabrics... and it represents my first foray into paper piecing. The quilt features Canadian animals, starting with a stag pattern in the middle which I bought and downloaded on Etsy and then using my experience piecing that together, I gradually drew my own paper piecing patterns to create the goose, beaver, racoon, fox, moose and bear.

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I've also had some smaller projects on the go and have started selling some small quilts and projects in my own Etsy shop, so go ahead and check those out.  

I'll be posting some new tutorials, tips and ideas soon! Happy (belated) New Year!

a little update and a sneak peek...

You may have noticed that it's all gone a bit quiet here at Lazy Crafternoons... Sorry about the lack of updates, I am still working towards the completion of my 52 week challenge but have had to delay the final updates due to a few life issues that unexpectedly got in the way over December and January.

Never fear, the last 5 projects are one their way and they are going to be really fun to show off!

I've decided to jump on board the patchwork solids trend and have been working on a few projects that I finished before Christmas, but haven't had time to post!

Here's a little sneak peak at my patchwork solid success...

Any thoughts or comments?

Week #47 awash with washi

Just doing a little bit of catching up as Christmas approaches, and wanted to show off these cute little cards I've been making.

As a true crafty hoarder I have been stockpiling washi tape while telling myself "someday I'll know what to do with this!" Well, Christmas comes around and I did notice that I happened to have lots of lovely red, greens, golds and silvers and so, who could resist using them for a few cards and pressies?

Aren't they sweet? These little gems are so sweet and simple, which I love because making them is easy and doesn't over complicate the awesome simplicity of the washi tape itself!

These little gems are on sale in the Making Things Club pop up shop I've been organising, and I'm going to donate all the money from their sales to my 52 weeks : 52 crafts running total!

What have you been doing with your washi? please comment and share your ideas!

Keep Calm and Carry on... working, crafting, selling, etc...

Well, if you have noticed its all gone a bit quiet here its because I'm in "keep my head down and plow through" mode until Christmas! December has dropped a bunch of new things on my plate including opening a pop-up shop, starting a new full-time job, as well as my other commitments and its just been a tad busy, that's all!

Never fear, I have re-listed a few items in a 'last chance before Christmas' to help bring the 52 weeks : 52 crafts challenge total higher, and I have some fantastic plans to complete my six (six?) (SIX!) final projects of the year to bring my total to 52 items.

What will they be? We'll you'll just have to wait a bit to see. I will be crafting through the holidays and posting as I craft.

In the meantime you can check out some of the items which have yet to find homes and check them against your Christmas list to see if they suit anyone you have yet to buy for~!

You have until Sunday to bid for them, and I will guarantee posting by Christmas if it is bought from someone in the U.K. and do my absolute best to get it anywhere else in the world by January 1st!

More soon!!!!