Happy New Year

Happy Holidays

Last Minute Presents

I've been making last minute presents for friends.  Mug mats are so easy to make and each one is unique.

I absolute love appliqué and these mug mats where made from a left over piece of quilt.  With wrong sides together I sewed around the sides leaving a 2 inch gap to turn the whole piece through.  I closed up the gap by stitching close to the edge.  The hearts where bond-a-webbed on and free motioned stitched with gold metallic thread.  I used my sewing machine to  top stitched around the edge of the mat with a decorative stitch.

.....'til the next time, keep quilting

White Christmas ATC

I'm racing to complete presents for special friends and I'm nearly there.  In the meantime I've made an ATC for Carol on the Popular Patchwork Forum, and here it...

.......White Christmas

........'til the next time, keep quilting

My Furry Helper

I have a wonderful companion and helper when I'm sewing.  His name is Georgi and he came to us as a rescue cat and has lived with us for about 7 years.  

He is so gorgeous!  I have a new sewing room now, and he is still not very far away from me when I'm sewing.

..................'til the next time, keep quilting xx

Autumn Fabric Postcard and Weather ATC

Well the Popular Patchwork November fabric postcard theme was either Autumn or Fireworks.  I went for Autumn and chose the harvesting of grapes and made this for Jackie

...............and the Popular Patchwork ATC theme was Weather and I made this for Fiona

...........'til the next time, keep quilting

Sandy Quilt Block Drive

I made four blocks for the Sandy Quilt Block Drive.  I've sent them off and I know that they have arrived in Canada.

Here they are

More blocks are needed so head on over to the Quilt Gallery  and register.

.....til the next time, keep quilting

Sandy Quilt Block Drive

Head on over to the Quilting Gallery where Michele is organising Quilt Blocks for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.  She is wanting block makers and team leaders and you can sign up for either.  I've signed up to make four wonky log cabin blocks from her tutorial.

...............til the next time, keep quilting 

Comfort Quilts

I've been making blocks for Jennifer at Knotted Thread for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
She has had an amazing response.

These are the one's I made with the colours and pattern that she wanted.  It's going to Hawaii so the four blocks had to be made super quick and posted as they were to get to her by the end of November.

..............til the next time, happy sewing and quilting 

Remembering Stephen

Remembering our dear son, Stephen

12 October 1970 - 8 November 1990

Flowers for Stephen

May your light always shine

ACT, Fabric Postcard and Quilty

Hi, I'm back after such a long time away from here.  I've had major refurbishment to my house which meant packing everything away.  Things are just beginning to come out of boxes and put into the right place.  We're not quite finished as there are still some things to finish......but the result is lovely.  I have a new sewing room.....a bit small but hey, I've come to realise that I have too much fabric and must use it up before I get any more!!

Here's my sewing room which is in the small bedroom.  There are still some shelves to put up for all my books and nick nacks.

The builders hid my sewing stuff so very well that it was hard for me to find the bits I needed to make postcards and ACT's.  I had to go out and buy some!!

Here's the fabric postcard I made for Tessa on the Popular Patchwork Forum.  The theme was two syllables so I chose Pumpkin.

At the same time on the Popular Patchwork Forum there is an ACT swap and the theme is Wings.....and this is what I did for Sandy....an Art Nouveau bird 

The Quilty is another swap on the Forum and the theme is a poem that you liked.  I chose the Owl and the Pussycat to send to Karen.  The Quilty was 8" square

That's all folks...........til the next time happy quilting

Summer Holiday Fabric Postcard

Here's the fabric postcard I made for Tessa on the Popular Patchwork Forum.  I chose the theme for August which was Summer Holiday.  I take loads of photos when I'm on holiday so that I have inspiration at my fingertips.  We had a lovely time in Venice last year and I snapped away at all sorts of inspirational subjects.

This postcard was inspired from a photo I had taken of a gondola

.......til the next time

Afternoon In a Garden

This afternoon we took an elderly lady and her carer son to Broadview Gardens Hadlow, a horticultural training college.  It was her birthday and she had a lovely time having tea and cake and then a look around the lovely gardens

Shredding didn't get a look in today!!!!!

Eeeek!! My Sewing Table

I was just a few days into clearing out my old office to make way for my new sewing room when I had a message from Horns to say they could deliver my sewing table this Wednesday. Yikes!! Well, I panicked to say the least!  The room is nowhere near ready.

The sewing room looks so messy at the moment with all the removal of unwanted stuff!! So far I filled 4 sacks with shredding, 2 of paper and card, 2 to the charity shop plus loads of books and 3 to the tip!!! And I'm still going strong - loads more to get rid of!  I phoned Horns to delay delivery for another 3/4 weeks.

This is my sewing corner in my dining room.  Everything has to be moved on to the dining table when I want to sew and cut and then all put back when we want to eat - can't wait to get it all into my sewing room

............til the next time

I Bought This at the Festival of Quilts

I had a good time looking round all the traders' stands.  I didn't need any more fabric as I have loads at home.  I did buy some lovely bits from Oliver Twist tho'.  My main buy was this for my sewing room

It's a Horn Quilters' Dream Mark 2 sewing table.  It will take 28 days to arrive, so in the meantime I'm clearing a room to turn into my sewing room.  I'm so excited and motivated to get this room sorted.  There is so much paperwork to shred!!!! And old office manuals and files to get rid of.  I'm exhausted already!

...........til the next time

Festival of Quilts & the German/Anglo Stash Challenge

I had a great time at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.  I was able to see the results of the German/Anglo Stash Challenge that I took part in last year.  The quilts have already been exhibited in Germany and now they are here.  I can now reveal mine

These are fabrics used.  The top two rows of fabric were the stash sent to me by my German partner. The third row are the fabrics I used from my stash.

............ and this is what I made

There were some amazing quilts and I was so pleased to have had mine selected.



Here are some more amazing stash quilts made by other participants.  The quality of photo is not so good as I was taking the photo quickly before heads got in the way!!

............tell you tomorrow what I bought!

Coming Thru Crew

I'm off to the Festival of Quilts in the morning.  So looking forward to seeing my friends, aka The Coming Thru Crew.  Also I shall see my skinny wall hanging that I made for the German/Anglo Stash Challenge.  I'll be able to reveal it soon.

Another gorgeous flower in my garden - Agapanthus I just love these flowers.

....til the next time