At last the blocks are done

I started a sampler quilt with Cumbria Patchworkers some time in 2014 as they wanted to do a block a month.  This was challenging and not my usual way of working on a quilt which I prefer to start and finish.... However, I did persevere and now might be able to work it to a finish.  This has been a long haul for me as I prefer to work much faster and by machine not including a lot of hand piecing and foundation piecing too.  I am not complaining as I have learnt a lot but I also know some areas of quilting are not interesting enough to grab my attention for long.  So making a pineapple with fp looked like a no no way back in the autumn of 2014, however I did it.

The first block which sat around for months before it had the border added and the papers removed.

A busy week

It has been a week for concentrating on the many jobs I needed to do, sorting out the Banks, doing a bit in the garden and helping DH as we have finally been able to contemplate retirement from our business. So lots happening.  My desk shot was an attempt to convey calm at the beginning of the week and this little lad is called Bailey and he is made of mohair, and is so cute.  Not as cute as Bella our real Border Terrier but she can't sit on my desk ... I love my mug too but I had two, one had a wee field mouse on it and I broke it a couple of months ago, dropped it in the greenhouse and that floor is paving slabs, you can guess the rest.

Now this is something I am really proud of. I Grew this little beauty from a cutting last summer and this bloom is simply huge.  Those petals at the bottom are about as big as they can get.  I think I will need to reach for the tape measure tomorrow and just see how big they really are. I know this one is a Niger variety because the stems (which you can't see in the photo are black).  I looked it up on Google and was not sure how it would turn out, blue or pink or in between?  But as you see it is stunningly pink and I am so pleased because that is what I wanted.


The book I ordered (Diane Gaudynski's classic 'Guide to Machine Quilting') arrived sooner than I expected and it was in mint condition which surprised me because it came from ABE books.  I only paid £13.13p for the book and delivery so I was very pleased.  Also it is not dated at all despite being in it's 9th reprint.  It explains everything I have needed to know and not had answers to for the last ten years.  Why I did not buy it before I cannot imagine because I have had so many light bulbs moments since it arrived on Saturday.  Anyway, I thought best start immediately and put these tips and ideas into motion so I prepared some samples to quilt and away I went.  Below you see the results, this may not look much, but believe me I am improving.  The second photo gives you a better idea of the scale, and yes the fabric is custard yellow, and not a trick of the electric lights.  I am only about half way through the book so I must keep reading and practising.

Festival of Quilts 2015 - In The Spotlight

I have a quilt in the exhibition called 'In The Spotlight' which is a small gallery showing up and coming quilters at the show and it is not part of the competitions so it is not judged at all.  Trouble is that not all the quilters are up and coming, some are well known and it is stretching the term a bit.... I will say no more.

Anyway, this is the first time I have ever had a quilt put up at a major show and so I thought I would post a photo of it.  This is the one I took at home because the show organisers have put a spotlight shining onto the middle of the quilt and I think it is too bright so the photo of it I took at the show is not as good as this one I took in my spare bedroom at home.  The theme we were given was "Adventures in Wonderland" to celebrate 150 years of the Alice in Wonderland book by Lewis Carroll.  I liked the rabbit because of its heart heraldry.  I think if you look closely you will see I have tried to inject some humour into the theme.  I am pleased with the quilt but think I should have quilted the background, so I ordered Diane Gaudynski's book called 'Guide to Machine Quilting' just now because I think it will inspire me.  When I receive the quilt back I may have another fiddle with it.  After all, I am an up and coming quilter and I am still learning.

Happy New Year

I have had no inclination to blog since early summer for various reasons but want to get back into the swing again now with a new start. So I will be posting very soon but meanwhile here is a curiosity on my bookcase in my sewing room which has moved since we extended the house, so I now have the front room with much better light for my sewing machine in a bay window.

A gift of ceramic thimbles from a friend and a curious reel of thread