One of the amazing things that I love about our online community is the generosity of cyber friends. Friends that we have never met in real life, but have such a mutual interest with that we appreciate what each other is doing and how much something means to us, that we go out of our way to do a kind deed. Kind deeds that real life friends do without thinking, that I guess makes our cyber friends real friends too.

This week I received metres of this gorgeous striped linen from one such generous cyber friend. Louise posted on Twitter that she was off to buy some of this linen and did I want any. My order was placed and within days it was here in my home.

The fact that this linen is gorgeous and works beautifully with my creations is irrelevant. The fact that Louise, who only knows me from my blog, Twitter and other such web based meeting places, knew at once that I would love it, is the reason behind why I love this community.

I really love what I do and I really love that it gives me the opportunity to meet all of you.

Meet Amelie.

She's French, don't you know.

Amelie comes from Paris.

She wears the best in haute couture...

...and can be seen carrying only the most chicest of accessories...

Amelie may be French, but she was designed by the talented Erika of Mikodesign from Holland and you can make your very own Amelie with one of the fantastic new kits we are stocking at Blueberry Park.

Oh and Amelie has a friend, Fleur...you can make her too.

Here's the Metro Cafe fabric from Robert Kaufman I was telling you about that I bought from Fabricrehab the other day.

I love the retro design of it and I also really like the colour combos. I particularly like the red/grey coffee pots.

I bought this with kitchen accessories in mind and set to work on some coaster sets I've been wanting to make.

First up was this set which I paired with my favourite grey Kei dots. I love Kei dots and I love the grey one best of all.

I've created a little coordinating pouch to keep the coasters in and lined it with the same grey Kei dots.

Next up the blue coffee pots. I really like this design, with the coffee beans adding extra detail. It has a Scandi chic vibe. I've teamed this with another fave of the moment - Joel Dewberry's Herringbone in Aqua.

These sets are in my Etsy shop now, with more designs in the queue. In the meantime I'm enjoying a set here. Who'd have thought coffee break could get any better?

I went shopping on Fabricrehab last week. I haven't bought from there for quite a while and was pleased to reacquaint myself with it as they have some fab fabrics at the moment.

I think the reason I haven't bought from there for a while is that the fabrics they have tend to be on the bolder side of life, with more primary based colours and these haven't suited my projects of late.

This time however they had just what I was after. As well as picking up some great pieces from the Metro Cafe Collection (will show you my makes from there tomorrow), I bought some of this great Kokka fabric. It's a gorgeous Scandinavian style design with fun flowers and houses. I love the randomness of the design and is full of so many different images.

I really love the green house and the pink flower in the garden below.

The clouds and raindrops (well, that's what I think they are) work really well as a separate pattern too. The colours and geometric style are a great stand alone design.

The same can be said for these 3 little flowers. The attention to detail is like none I have seen before in a fabric of this type. I just love it. There's so much in there.

It's also rare for me to find a fabric that works as well for larger items as it does for smaller ones. It's great to see a spread of the design in a bigger piece...

...as well as using some of the isolated details in a little item.

The colours work really well for me too...girlie enough without feeling too sugary sweet. All in all, I like this fabric. I like it alot. So I think I had better go back online and order more while they've still got some in...

I started working on some blocks that I was planning to use with the Orla Car patch I began the other day. I began by sewing together long rows of fabric, but I wasn't overly keen on how it was working out so I cut them into these strips.

I'm liking them alot better like this and have a few ideas buzzing around as to how I now want to use them. But, uncharacteristically, I am going to leave them on the side for a few days and be sure of what I want to do with them. I have about 5 ideas all at once for them and have a feeling they may become a theme for new work...watch this space.

In the meantime I had to get back on track with the Car Cushion. I decided to continue on the Log Cabin style that I'd started, with an added sashiko stitching around.

I have backed it in linen with an envelope opening, in a style that I normally use for my cushion covers. I like this style. Is it because I'm too lazy to do zips? Or simply that I like them this way? I like to think it's the latter...

There are going to be a fair few of these, but if you want to grab this first one, it's right here...

I am now the proud owner of this...

I have been after an Orla bag for aeons (What? You didn't know I liked Orla?) but could never justify the price tag and so have been on the lookout for one on Ebay.

There are always plenty on Ebay, but typically the ones I like always go for way over what seems to be a respectable price for a second hand bag. Also, I was pretty sure that once I had possession of one I would be wearing it to death and was consequently on the lookout for one that had one careful lady owner.

When I looked again this weekend, there it was, the style that I was most after and apparently only worn once.

Bid entered and I sat back and waited.

And as if by magic, or maybe everyone else was sunning themselves in St Lucia over half term so weren't around to bid for Orla bags on Ebay, the bid entered and I'd won!

Two days later the bag is in my possession and forever by my side. And the description of worn only once was so true as this bag is as good as new.

For the time being anyway.

And whilst on the subject of Orla (am I boring you now?), having bought some of this gorgeous Car fabric that Manda was selling, I will leave you with a little snippet of a cushion I am in the middle of making.

The house renos have taken somewhat of a halt for the last few months. The initial steam ran out after we had the majority of the work done and we have just been enjoying what we've had done without the hassle of having people in, decisions to be made, worrying about what still needs to be done.

It's time now to get on with Round 2. Round 2 will certainly not be as disruptive as Round 1. No building work. No overly chatty decorators getting in my way. Round 2 is all about finishing touches.

First off it's a couple of wardrobes being fitted next week in our room and Samuel's. This will make for neater, tidier, cleaner rooms...and that's us too...not just Samuel.

So our clothes will have a home, shoes can be out of sight, computer desk taken downstairs - thanks to my lovely new baby, my Macbook. (who incidently has been my easiest baby yet - no sleepless nights, no dirty nappies - just pure pleasure.

With the end in sight in our bedroom, I am now ready to think about the final finishing touch of a throw on our bed.

I haven't been totally sure what kind of style quilt I wanted. The colourways was obvious, the fabric choices are all picked out, but what style? Nothing too fancy (you know me). Something to let the fabrics speak for themselves and something that fits in with the dramatic wallpaper, but is beautiful enough to stand out in its own right too.

I've recently joined a new Flickr Swap Group and found the inspiration I was after, right there...a brick patchwork.

There is so much inspiration to be had on Fickr and these 3 are just a few of the masses of amazing examples of Brick Patchwork.

This first is by a favourite blogger of mine, Red Pepper Quilts. Rita is one of the most prolific quilters I know and is a real inspiration of dedication and skill. I adore this quilt. Rita uses alot of the same fabrics that I am drawn to, so I think that adds to her appeal.

Aren't these pillows amazing? I have just discovered Megan from 100% Philistine Made and love all these pillows. I love the consistency of colour that Megan uses and this is something that I want to take from her for my throw.

This final example from Cinnamon Toast Design jumped right out at me. It's so calming. The colourways and fabric choices gel so well and I can imagine one never tiring of a quilt like this.

So, I know what I like and what I'm after. Here's hoping I can achieve it as, due to the size of it, this is going to be a rather substantial project.