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The Quilt Show

Sep 29th, 2012 Leave a comment

Earlier today I went and visited a quit show at Alresford Village hall run by the Essex and Suffolk Quilters group.  Oh how I wish I had the skill, time and patience to create beautiful quilts like these.

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Brickworks – Mary MacIntosh

It always surprises me how much I’m attracted to the colours in quilts.  This one is actually three quilts designed to hang together.

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Jungle Fever by Sheila Frankland

This one caught my eye in part because of the beautiful batik fabrics.  I have a pile of similar fabrics waiting to be cut up and pieced together.  I doubt I’ll make such a good job of it but I’ll try.

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Ben’s Puppy Quilt – Jan Moore

As soon as I saw this quilt I started to smile.  I recognised it from Lynette Andersons ‘It’s Quilting Cats and Dogs’ book.  I’m now even more convinced I should have a go at this quilt after seeing this beauty.

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Asian Charms – Jean Wife

One of the reasons for visiting the show was for inspiration on patterns to use with some of the fabrics in my stash.  I really love the tiny black borders round the individual pieces of fabric .  I did have a good look and it was beautifully done.

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My Family – A Wall Hanging by Kim Williams

I loved this one as well.  The imagery is right up my street and the colours beautiful.  Oh how I wish I could create something like this for my wall.  Not that I have any room on my walls given how many images I already have up there, but I can dream.

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I’ll leave you now with some detailing from the ‘My Family’ quilt which I kept going back to.  A quilted dragon.  What could be more perfect for me.

Sewing a new lens pouch

Jul 11th, 2012 Leave a comment

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Earlier this year I bought myself a ‘nifty fifty’ lens for my camera.  This is a 50mm prime lens, meaning there is no zoom on it.  That’s it in the photo at the top.  As my lenses go this is by far the cheapest, (despite being a Canon), but it didn’t come with a nice padded pouch for storage or transport. 

So of course this means I need to make one.  Last night I simply ‘had’ to start on this pouch.  You know the sort of ‘had’ I’m talking about.  All the stuff from the study makeover was complete (or as complete as it’s going to be) and my sewing machine is now in position on it’s table behind the sofa.  This means I can sew and also have the TV on in the background which I quite like.

So I dug out some batik, wadding and a cream fabric to form the lining.  It was getting a bit late in the evening by this point when I remembered I needed some shots if I was going to blog about it.  So out came the mobile for a quick snap – but that was long enough for Salem the cat to get his bum in shot.

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So far I’ve quilted the batik and cream fabric together ready to be sewn into the pouch.  Unfortunately if I run my sewing machine at anything other than the slowest speed bad things happen which end with unpicking and swearing.  As a result this part took quite a long time.  I’m not bothered though as I’m saving up for a sparkly new machine later this year and I was simply enjoying sewing again.

With luck I’ll get some more done on it tonight Smile

The Project is about to begin.

Jun 29th, 2012 Leave a comment

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Last year I bought a touring caravan. She’s old (I believe built in 1989) but I love her. She’s got character and it was love at first sight. I named her Maree and, along with the dogs, started exploring this beautiful country in her. But as I’m sure you can imagine being designed and built in that time frame her soft furnishings aren’t, ahem, exactly to my tastes. However they were in excellent condition so I decided to wait. I wanted to spend time considering exactly what to do so that I could try and get it right.

I planned on making the new furnishings during the winter ready for this year but that didn’t happen because of family commitments. In fact I only just got out again in Maree this last week end. It felt good to be away from it all and as I sat there on Saturday evening listening to the radio, knitting a sock, I was surprised how much my ideas on what to do to had solidified without me realising.

So now the project can begin in earnest. I’ve decided not to recover the sofa seats, they’ve survived this long I’m sure they will cope longer. Instead I’m going to make a couple of matching quilts to be draped over, they can then be used to snuggle under on a evening. I definitely want some matching cushions in addition to the ones already in there. These can double up as pillows.

I also passionately hated the curtains that fit into the awning. Mankey, revolting, hate, hate, hate…. I did consider making new curtains last year but discovered that dying them a dark green removed a lot of the revulsion. Enough that I didn’t want to burn them every time I saw them at any rate. But they definitely need to go this year.

There are a few other things but these are the biggies for this year. Colour scheme wise I wasn’t sure what to do. At present she’s themed around green with complimentary colours. I’m happy enough with this and have decided to stay with it. It also means everything should work well together while it’s a work in progress. Last year at the Ally Pally Knitting and Stitching show I found some fabulous green fabrics I thought would be perfect. I think the man on the stand thought I was a little bonkers but was happy to sell me plenty. It’s been quietly waiting in a box while things have been moved about in the cottage (I’ll tell you more about all that in another post) and now it’s time to get started. Some cream fabric is now on order to compliment it and once it arrives I’ll be getting stuck in.

It feels good to have a sewing project again. I just hope my old sewing machine survives through it.

Nostalgia…

May 13th, 2012 Leave a comment

I’ll do a longer post about these later (when I’ve finished going through the photos) but I just had to share with you……

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A Busy Weekend–Part 1

Dec 5th, 2011 Leave a comment

This last weekend was a busy one for me.  On Saturday I was at Quilters Haven taking a course with Pippa Moss on Hand Embellishments and Appliqué.  I booked the course in the summer not long after buying Lynette Andersons ‘It’s Quilting Cats & Dogs’.  I really want to do some of the projects but I’m still not convinced my skills are up to it.  Unfortunately many of the courses at Quilters Haven run through the week and I’m simply not able to go… so it was wonderful to spot one that I not only wanted to do but was also on a Saturday.

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To my delight it was also the Wickham Market Christmas Fayre in the square and so I was able to have a quick mooch before the course began.  There were lots of pretty things but nothing caught my eye enough to get me to put my hand in my pocket so to speak.

Pippa was very knowledgeable about all things quilty – which you’d expect from someone with her reputation – and also very patient with everyone’s questions.  We tried a few techniques, one of which I’d never have thought of and is definitely on my ‘do more’ list, then got down to the appliqué.

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This is mine just before I started snipping and stitching.  Now I suspect that it will be difficult to explain to anyone who has not tried this technique the incredible restraint needed not to swear.  I’m sure I managed to annoy the others with my mumbling and growling at the fabric which just didn’t want to do what I wanted.  I might have even invented a few new curses under my breath!

As part of the course Pippa talked about was the way people used quilts in the past, how there were quilts to use and quilts just to look at occasionally.  She brought in some of her own handmade quilts which she used to illustrate the point.  The general gist is you would have special quilts only to be brought out for visitors, generally to impress.  This was something my mind kept coming back to throughout the day.  I understand intellectually why you might do this, but it just seems wrong to me.  The thought of putting that amount of work into something which wouldn’t be used fills me with horror.  Of course I suppose it depends on what you believe the purpose of the quilt is.  For me the point of a quilt is to be used.  Now this could be by snuggling under it, or as a wall hanging to keep out drafts, I can even buy into the idea of a wall hanging to brighten a room.  After thinking about it most of the drive home I decided this is another example of how idea change given the time and place in which we live.  Changing values in society, all that sort of thing.

Anyway I really enjoyed the course and I dare say you’ll be seeing more photos of my attempts at appliqué.  I suspect it’s going to take me quite a while to become proficient at this new technique and I don’t think I’ll ever be doing one of the large quilts like Pippa any time soon.  Something small like a cushion or the odd block might be a different matter though…

Cushions and SAD

Nov 7th, 2011 2 Comments

Do you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD?  We were talking about it at work today and most of us believe we suffered to a greater or lesser extent.  I find it’s worst for me at this exact time of year…  It’s a week after the clocks change, it’s just dawning on my body that it will be dark when I go to work and dark when I get home, so everything comes crashing down.  I get the ‘why bother’s’ in a big way.

This year in an attempt to stop this from happening I decided to keep myself busy and make sure there is plenty of colour around the cottage.  No idea if it’ll work but it’ll certainly help me get through the fabric and yarn stash’s!

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First up was a pair of cushions for the lounge sofa.  I spotted some lovely red rose fabric during a visit to Quilter Haven this summer.  I loved it and immediately thought of new cushion covers for the sofa in the lounge.  There is nothing wrong with the ones I have, except they were made for my bedroom and just don’t fit in with the colour scheme.

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The fabric came in two versions, the difference being the size of the print.  I was struggling to come up with exactly how to piece the fronts together and then I saw this lovely quilt.  Brilliant I thought, I can use that idea…

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Coming back to the SAD theme I think one of the reasons I don’t like having all my daylight hours taken up by work is because I can’t figure out when I’m supposed to photograph the things I make.  I gave up trying to get a shot of them on the sofa, poor light and dogs getting in the way didn’t help.  So here they are upstairs on my reading chair.  Next up are more socks and a lap quilt.  At least that’s the plan, but knowing me I’ll decide to knock a wall down or something…

A small quilt for my mother…

Oct 30th, 2011 1 Comment

My mother has a beloved Siamese cat called Tia, a beautiful old Blue Point girl who loves to climb up for a snuggle.  Unfortunately she’s also the type of cat who just can’t help ‘making bread’ while she purrs away.  This upsets my mam, she loves the cuddling and snuggling but because of her age and medication her skin tears easily.  As a result she bleeds and bleeds and bleeds….

So I came up with the idea of making her some quilts which she can snuggle under, Tia can snuggle on top, and hopefully the quilt will provide enough protection for them to both be happy.

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I picked up a lovely little charm pack at the Ally Pally show and decided to run it up into a basic lap quilt.  Mam was due for a visit and I wanted to be able to give it to her to take home.  All in all I’m rather pleased with how it worked out.  The fabric is Maison de Garance by French General for Moda.  I’m afraid I can’t remember which stall I bought it off.  The back is a plain cream and I used a black satin edging.

I gave it to her when she arrived for her recent visit and she loved it.  In fact she was quickly sitting under it on my sofa and encouraging my little beasties up to try it out!  Then I was surprised to see it being placed in her hand luggage for the coach journey home, as opposed to her case, but was informed that was in case she felt a little cold while traveling.  Once I knew she was home safe and sound I tried to patiently wait a few day before asking what reception it had received from Tia the cat.  I say ‘tried’ as I was rather impatient about it!  Anyway I’ve now been informed that Tia loves it as much as my mam does, she’s even insisting on sleeping on it when my mam isn’t underneath.  It’s so wonderful to hear……

Why would you slam on the breaks?

Aug 8th, 2011 1 Comment

I mean why?  The close to, but not quite, an emergency stop type of slamming on….  The type that scares the dogs in the back.  Any ideas?  How about this….

You’re driving down off Exmoor heading back towards your base for the last few days of your holidays.  The weather is mankey (no other description fits) and there’s simply been no point getting your camera out to photograph this wonderful landscape.  Your mother is dozing in the passenger seat and snoring sounds are coming from the dogs in the back.  You can’t listen to the radio (long story) and truth be told you’re a little disappointed in the day.

Then…

Something subconscious in your brain registers a familiar pattern of letters on a sign you just passed.  It takes you a few seconds to come to terms with what you’ve just seen.  Could it be…. No, not out here in the middle of nowhere… But what’s that on the sign approaching you at 40 miles an hour….

Fabric Shop!

Go on admit it – you’d slam on the breaks as well.

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From the outside the building looks like an old garage but believe me it’s worth investigating.  I was like a kiddy in a sweety shop.

There was a lovely room filled with yummy fabrics…

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Even my mam was enjoying a mooch about.

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Soon we discovered another room filled with ribbons and thread.  Then there was another HUGE room out the back where they hold classes.

Around the walls were a variety of beautiful quilts for inspiration, many with an oriental theme.  I’ve since discovered that this is something of a specialist area for these ladies.  They’ve even published a book which you can find details of on their website.  (This may be going on my Christmas wish list)

My own little squee moment (beyond finding the place to start with) was when I found a particular fabric I’ve been searching for.  Mam then kindly offered to buy some of it for me.  Well really, how could I say no?  I’ve been happily planning exactly what I’m going to make with it all the way home.  No, I’m not going to tell you what it is in case you all phone them up and buy what they have left.  I’m kind of hoping I’ll have some pennies (or pounds even) left after payday to phone them up and try and buy some more.

If you’re in the area then I strongly recommend a visit, the fabric selection was lovely (different enough to where I normally shop) and the staff very friendly and helpful.  Sometimes I feel rushed in fabric shops but they gave me plenty of time to work out sizing’s etc in my head.  Believe me, I don’t care how experienced the sales people are I really do need to work it all through myself to be truly happy with the purchase.

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I’ll leave you with one final image taken just outside the front window….  Kinda sad but beautiful in it’s own way, the remains of an old sewing machine.

Where I Sew…..

Jul 27th, 2011 Leave a comment

Recently while surfing the blog-o-sphere late at night I came across the Pink Chalk Studio blog and something caught my eye.  Someone (I assume Kathy Mack who runs it and was very nice when I spoke to her by email about all this) had come up with the idea of a month long feature on the blog called ‘Where I Sew’.  This is a series of posts on various people from the fabric world and photos of their sewing area.  What an outstanding idea!

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Included are designers, shop owners, quilters, dressmakers….. the list goes on….. and all with beautiful photos of where they doing their sewing. 

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Now at this point I thought about including a photo of my own little spot – but then I realised how untidy it is.  Very unlikely to inspire anyone.  Anyway pop over and have a look, although I’ll warn you now, it may lead to the desire to tidy and get your sewing machine out Winking smile

A Work In Progress

Jul 10th, 2011 Leave a comment

This last week has been busy and unfortunately sewing machine-less.  So I decided to spend my little sewing time working on my version of the Forever Friends Bag by Lynette Anderson.

I decided to do the motif as simple stitchery instead of appliqué.  In part because I really need the hand stitching practice and partly because I can do it sitting on the sofa watching tv.

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It also gave me a wonderful excuse to buy more of the variegated threads that are available.  Yeah, yeah I know… any excuse hehe…

I’m not quite finished as I’m super slow with hand stitching but I’m having fun.  Ooooo and my sewing machine is now back home safely much to my relief.  Thanks to everyone who sent their prayers and good vibes for his return.

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