Best blue and white...

Tilda Fabrics have a wonderful treat lined up for us this summer: some of their best-known prints have been recoloured in a fresh blue and white colour palette - with a dainty dash of pink and green - and bundled up for our delectation. Called Something Blue, they’ll be on the shelves of your favourite fabric shop in June. Designer Tone Finnanger's inspiration was her collection of blue and white pottery and she's also designed a range of quilts adorned with appliqued plates, bowls and vases.

I was lucky enough to inherit my Granny's blue & white Willow Pattern china - I remember it gracing the table on Christmas day or seeing it stacked neatly in her beloved china cabinet - so I also have a soft spot for anything blue and white and have added to my collection with Burleigh and Bridgewater pieces. But I've always been drawn to machine piecing, rather than applique, so have dipped into my collection of PDF block patterns to inspire your summer sewing.

First up is the Bowl of Strawberries block from the Midsummer Sampler. There's also a lovely Teapot, a Cakestand and a Jug of Roses if you have plans for a larger project.

One of my new Spring Cottage Sampler blocks is called Dippy Eggs and features some dainty egg cups, but you might also choose the Forget-me-not Teacup or the Crocus Teacup.

Last year I shared a free block to celebrate CakeStand Quilts turning ten and you can find Quilting is my Cup of Tea here. Doesn't it look delectable in blue and white?

And finally, I simply had to include a Dresden Plate block. This, believe it or not is my Cobweb block from the Spellbound Sampler. I've enlarged the centre circle from 3" to 4" and turned my spider into a 2" macaron. If only we could do that in real life!

If you’re looking for a smaller project between trips to the seaside and time in the garden, then some Piece of Cake Placemats might be just the thing to tuck into your picnic basket.

Or my Afternoon Tea table runner, which uses just one charm pack...

And I hope you'll be sustaining yourself with lashings of tea and cake, served on your best blue and white china of course.

with love from the studio,