Life in the slow lane: English paper piecing

Although most of my quilts are pieced and quilted on Naomi the Janome, I have hand pieced and quilted before. The hand quilting was a short lived endeavor - I just don't have the patience - but I enjoy the accuracy of hand sewing. In fact my first (and still unfinished!) quilt was an EPP Le Moyne Star made out of satin, polyester and all sorts of inappropriate fabrics. Which is probably why it's still languishing in a box somewhere.

In order to avoid staring at the computer screen at work during lunch hour I've started an EPP project using 2" shapes - hexagons, squares and triangles. I think the pattern is called "Carousel" but I could be wrong. Out of interest, if I'm in England is this just "Paper Piecing"?

The aim is to make a bed quilt which, give me 10 years or so, I might eventually manage. People keep freaking out about the time it will take but I quite like that. Slow and steady wins the race tortoise.

Whilst I'm working from home I've brought it back with me. Here's the strip so far.

Plus one almost complete circle to add.

Next step is to sew in a row of alternating hexagon-square beneath it and then start another full row beneath that. 

The hexagons are (steel?) Crosshatch Sketch by Timeless Treasures and the squares and triangles are Treelicious by Maud Asbury for Blend Fabrics.

I admit it - I'm a fabric whore

I'm not sure whether that's a politically correct term (probably not!) but I confess to being fairly free and generous with my favours when it comes to fabric.

I went to Missouri Star Quilt Co in November last year and had to buy an extra suitcase to bring all my fabric home. Sorry/not sorry.

I love anything Blend Fabrics have done including the fab Treelicious which I'm making into a Jack's Chain at the moment.

Anything by Kate Spain is ok by me but my favourite is Cuzco. I'm holding some charm packs and a scrap bag for the perfect project. Just look at those teals and violets!

Ditto anything by Alison Glass, whose collections are difficult to get in the UK, at least as a whole bundle. I'm desperate to get hold of a complete FQ bundle of Sunprints but may end up having to order it from the US again. 

Just in case you think I only like bright primary colours, lots of French General and Minick and Simpson also seem to have fallen into my stash...

I'm definitely a fan of simpler palates and don't really like 30s or retro prints. Equally I think Liberty's prints are great but not really my cup of Earl Gray. But I'm always ready to be converted to s new designer or manufacturer - a girls gotta be flexible in this game after all...