A Bright and Breezy Finish

Another finish for you today.  I have been trying to get a photo of this one all week but the weather has not really been playing the game.  Every time I had the opportunity to get the camera out the wind would get up or the rain drops started to fall.  It was nice and bright this morning so this is the result.  I did have three or four attempts as the wind kept catching the corner.  I really enjoyed this one as mentioned in the previous post the fabrics were purchased in Canada and most of the piecing was done there.  The pattern was adapted from Growing Up Modern by Allison Harris. a lovely book with lots of quick, easy patterns suitable for children and adults alike.  Finished size is 43 x 50 ins and is backed with a nice turquoise fleece the same colour as the squares.  This one will be going on sale soon for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Bright and Breezy

So the next project on the table is one for a young lad who has recently, well maybe not so recently now, had his bedroom redecorated with a red white and blue theme.  I made quilts for his little sisters last summer (You can see them on the gallery page.  The ones with the ladybird and butterfly)  so now its his turn.  

Happy Halloween Folks!

Almost But Not Quite

I  thought I might have another finish for you today however I am not quite there yet.  You have seen this one before if you have been following along, this is one of the tops I finished while I was on holiday.  I had a couple of hours quilting the sandwich last night.  This one is more densely stitched than my normal, and I am using the honeycomb stitch on my machine. I'm not too sure about it, but as they say I've started so I'll have to finish.  It's now all quilted just need to trim it up and put on the binding!

I have had a very productive week this week doing all things house related.  Getting some things done which have been put on hold for a while.  The main thing was a huge clearance of all the cardboard boxes which were cluttering up our loft space.  Techie and I spent two days moving things around and clearing out.  Why do we keep boxes for computers, printers, sewing machines, old wallpaper, pieces of carpets etc etc?  Most of the original contents have long gone or been changed.  We did have fun and we did find some treasures we knew we're there but had forgotten about, like the Lego bricks and instructions, old skis and ski boots now too small for any of us.  We also realised there were boxes of school, university and professional course notes - and because I am not an academic I cannot understand why they need to be kept, especially as no one has looked at them in years.  Boxes of household items from student flats were and are still up there - they need to be sorted and removed.  They are not mine so the challenge is out - if they are not removed by the end of the year they will all be removed and recycled!  I mean it this time.

My reward for a busy week was coffee with my quilty friend, we meet each week at class but never really have time to have a chat about all the things we would love to make. We have been talking for ages about modern quilting and the pros and cons.  Do we like the concept of negative space, improv blocks and straight line quilting.  We would love to give it a try but cannot quite make the transition.  Do we need to give up the traditional, would we need to buy yet more fabrics or could we use what we have in our stash, can we do a class for modern quilters, do we have the time!  No real decisions were made other than we might give it a try.  We will need to meet for coffee and cake again soon to discuss the matter further.  Meantime we will continue to browse through blogs and books for ideas.  Maybe we will make a few enquiries.  Perhaps we should 'just do it' if we stopped procrastinating and browsing the internet we might just be a bit more productive.

Have a good stitching week 

A Finish To Share

At Class this week we were given a tutorial on foundation piecing.  Something I have had great difficulty with and had not quite grasped the concept.  The task was a Hunter's Star, no easy task.  As L was explaining the piecing and placing of the fabrics, I suddenly had as they say 'a light bulb moment'  it all just clicked and at last after many years of unfinished  thrown away efforts it finally clicked.  I look forward to completing this project very soon. Yippee! I have learned something new this week.

 

I  am delighted to be able to show you, at last, Harry's Quilt he came to visit me today with his Mum and Dad.  Needless to say he was really not at all interested in it yet and he slept all through the visit and allowed his Mum and Dad time to chat and have a cuppa.

 

I hope Harry enjoys playing with these animals when he gets a bit older

Hedgerow Harvest

You have all been very patient with me and my quilting.  Yes I have been sewing but as I said last time I am not really able to show you what I have been up to.  Three of the baby quilts are finished but not yet delivered. I have been doing lots of preparation for the class. I had been a bit lax last session with ideas, mainly because so much of my time was spent with Mum, but I am sure no one will be complaining about that.  That time was special.  I have just completed trials for two different class projects, one is the on going Block of the Month and the other is a fun and easy gift project which we will attempt at class when we have our Cake and Craft evening at the end of the month.  In actual fact it took me longer to write up the tutorial for the second one than it took me to make it!!  This little item could be completed in under an hour, but with all the chit chat going on at class I'm not sure they will manage it, however there will be the threat - no finish, no cake!

It's been a busy week in the household, autumn is with us and the two male members of this household went off berry gathering last weekend.  Result - Kilner jars full of Sloes topped up with gin.  Soon to be put away to infuse and be ready for next year.

What a lovely colour

They also collected lots of elderberries which have magically turned into lovely jelly ideal for putting on these delicious scones I made this morning.

Look closely the one at the front seems to be smiling.  What fun!

 

Ok enough rambling, down to quilting.  I completed three quilt tops when on holiday and I am now about to sandwich together the first one. Here is a sneak preview and I will hopefully have a bit more to share with you next time.

About to be sandwiched - need to decide on which cosy fleece

On another note, a very BIG thank you for the very generous donations made in Mums memory to Marie Curie Cancer Care.  I have thanked those involved personally on behalf of our family but I feel it is necessary to say thank you here so that everyone is aware of what is going on behind the scenes.

I hope you are all managing to do a bit of stitching this weekend.

A Little Slow - Sewing that is!

I am sorry followers I haven't been keeping up to date here.  Since coming home I have been playing catch up, trying to get my house in order.  There seems to be so much to do and little time to get it done.  I am sure all you quilters out there often say 'if only I had more time'.

I have managed a little sewing but I can't show you any of it just yet, sorry.  As I mentioned before there are baby quilts to be done, so that's what I have been concentrating on this week.  

Our class exhibition is all set up in the library and I have managed to make a basic table runner for the raffle, proceeds of course going to Marie Curie Cancer Care this year.  The display will be on show for a couple of weeks and we will draw the lucky winner of the runner at the end of November as it is made with red green and gold fabrics it will be a nice decoration for someone over the festive period.  If anyone would like to take part in this draw just go to my Just Giving Page using the donate tab above and leave a minimum donation of £2 with your name, then use the contact form on this page to send me your details and I will make sure your name is included twice in the draw.  

Hopefully I will have more photos and news next time.  Happy quilting.

Class Tutorial

Some changes had to be made to our class schedule this month.  Nothing had been arranged for last night so I thought I would show the ladies how I made my cathedral window pincushion.  Good Plan!  Except I had left my new pincushion in Canada for my sewing box there so I didn't have the sample to show, only the picture.  Undeterred another sample was cut out and we all enjoyed (I think?) a fun night and learned something new. I look forward to seeing all the pincushions when they are completed, then we could have a group photo.  What would you call a collection of pincushions? 

This time I did find a sparkly button which I think finishes the whole thing off.  Had I thought about this for a little longer perhaps I should have added a little ribbon before sewing it all up.  Given the colours it could be hung on a tree later in the year. Oops I'm not going to mention that word just yet am I?

Festive?

I also have another finish - remember some of these fabrics, sorry I can't show you the quilt just yet.

Riley Blake - Life in the Jungle is the feature fabric

The first of the baby quilts is finished and will be heading off very soon to the first new arrival, Harry.  I will reveal the complete quilt when he has had the opportunity to try it out! Congratulations to the very proud parents  E and R. 

Back Home

Does anyone have an easy solution for jet lag apart from putting up with it or not going on long haul flights?  I know there seems to be many remedies out there, but I am afraid I haven't found an ideal solution.  Forays to the kitchen for tea and toast at 4 or 5 am can be quite normal for me after a long haul flight and I have been known to be writing class newsletters or doing a bit of reading before breakfast. I thought I wasn't too bad this time around until the sniffles started, which has developed into a head cold.  Ho hum I am feeling sorry for myself.

However feeling sorry for myself is pointless.  Roll up the sleeves and do something.  Well yesterday I rearranged my sewing room - well not exactly rearranged, just moved a table and put a bookcase in place.  Watch this space!  I have a few ideas for my fabric stash.  I don't know how you store your fabric but mine is all in boxes sorted in colours. My stash is growing quicker than I am making quilts at the moment so something needs to be done and soon, the lids won't go on properly they are too full.  I have decided that when you have them stored in boxes you seem to forget what you have, or at least I do.  Note to self: stop  buying fabric for a while.  I think I said that last year too! 

If you have been following along you will know that quite a few metres were bought when I was on holiday.  This morning I've been scanning them and saving them on my PC for when I use EQ7.  I use this software programme to help me see how my fabrics work together when planning a project.

My next task is to decide on the baby quilts I have to make. That will be my goal this month, together with making some headway with fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care.  I hope to start up an online shop to sell some of my finishes for the charity.

Our quilting class schedule needs a bit of tweaking too so I need to find something to inspire the class on Tuesday. Off to find my thinking cap!