AJ' (Angela that's not me) finished quilting her project... she trimmed it, cut binding strips, joined them and machine stitched them to the quilt. The hand stitching will be done at home, cosily, in front of the TV. AJ needed to make another Mat & Ruler bag.... unfortunately she bought a new mat and it's quite a bit bigger than her old one... doesn't fit in the original bag... good job they are fun to make eh!
Messy Maureen's Scrappy quilt is finished. She had hand stitched her binding down at home, she is very proud of her quilt... and rightly so! She made a label and strategically placed it to cover a small repaired tear in the backing, we quilters are so cunning aren't we?
.... this is the back if it (see the clever label placement?), what great fabric for backing. Each picture is different and, after studying the pictures, Dotty Maureen noticed that each one was a proverb... like, "you can lead a quilter to fabric and for sure she will sew"??? ha ha ha..... no that's not right... it was "leading a horse to water but he doesn't want a drink... you know what I mean, oh, please forgive me for amusing myself...!! ha ha ha
Jenni finished hand quilting on the Saw Tooth border triangles, she is adding a bit more machine quilting to the main blocks now (with her fabulous Bernina Aurora sewing computer) ... she's on the home straight!
I do declare that I heard Jenni say that this quilt will be finished next week, woooo hoooo.
I work really hard to try to make, and keep my blog interesting... I can't tell you how big my happy smile was when Lizzie pulled out her pattern to make a new bag!!! it was printed off from my bag tutorial... very proud!! I have to go somewhere to learn how to make printer friendly pages though, poor Lizzie has all the side bar bits on the pattern too, he he he... sorry Lizzie.
.. anyway, she didn't seem too bothered. This bag is going to be a gift for a friend so there is a bit of a hurry for it, once all the cutting was done, the sandwiches made and the handles were stitched, Lizzie took the rest home to quilt and finish... great colours for a bag me thinks.
Lizzie's husband/chauffeur/house boy... came to collect her and was very happy to have this picture taken with proud Lizzie and her Pineapple Blossom quilt sandwich... I bet he didn't think about how he will be neglected while she quilts it! he he he.
Sadly.... We don't meet again now until June.... which is NEXT WEEK!!!!
Tuesday 1st June, 10am - 3pm.
Right, that's the centre done. Looking good eh?As you can see I found a perfect fabric for my first border, it has lots of different shades of blue flecks on it.... but then production stopped, for hours, and a few more hours. After pulling out loads different fabric for audition and mulling over way too many ideas, I made my decision.... I didn't like any one fabric as a border, so it has to be pieced. All the pieced borders I considered were just looking too regimental... so, out came my favourite Marsha Block Party book of 9" blocks and I will be working on making loads of different ones (about 22) over the next few days, traditional piecing..... even the triangles! I'm going to make them "by the book"... no shortcutting... back to basics. Look out blue pile... I'm coming back in!!! ha ha ha
Dotty Maureen told me that she has many wonderful neighbours. Some are very special... one lucky lady will be gifted this lovely, double sided quilt made especially for her... because she is special.. 
Dotty has been happily working on it for ages . The four little squares in the middle of this side have the names of Vicky's children embroidered on them. I don't think you will be able to see them from this picture though, what I nice idea eh....
Liz making a sandwich with her very phoofy batting/wadding.... "it was such a bargain find" she says, I did tell her that it might cause her a few problems but this lady knows what she wants so.... we sandwiched it. It is very soft so lets wait and see how she gets on with the quilting....
Ian made his sandwich with 80/20 batting/wadding.... playing safe? No, they didn't have enough for him to use the phoofy bargain stuff... I think he should consider himself very lucky, he he he, for sure he will find it much, much easier to work with!
It was a very, very hot day, the room stayed cool all morning and as the sun came round in the afternoon it warmed up a treat, so much so that Ian ran out to buy ice-cream for all of us... very refreshing! Giggly Gillian joined us for a while too, she needed to play on her new Bernina!!We will meet again next Sunday, 30th May 10am - 3pm, would you like to join us? I can't promise ice-cream though! ha ha ha
This time last year I was preparing to leave Portugal. At my farewell doo my favourite quilty ladies gifted me with these blocks, something to remember them by.... like I would forget them?? They were happy times..... They're blue and white with bits of yellow to represent the famous Portuguese tiles, which you can't miss if ever you go there.I've decided to make the quilt, for goodness sakes.... almost a whole year has flown by and I haven't done anything with them! They were all different sizes so it was a little tricky. I made an extra block to complete the 10" block row, I've decided to make 2 x 5" blocks for the space that remains... then I will get out my stash of blues and invent a border, which I will start later today...It's Quilt Class at Uttoxeter today 10am - 3pm, so.... as the song goes, Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go.
Twas a bit hot in our meeting room at Forsbrook! phew, it's a converted roof space so, no wonder eh! All the roof windows were open so we could hear tweety birds singing for us.Anyway, lots of progress from my Ladies. No pictures because I forgot my camera... duh!I would like to draw your attention to next Friday's meeting, the 28th May, because there is a venue change... we will meet at Caverswall Village Hall, 10am - 3pm as usual. You will need to bring a packed lunch, sorry to those who love their Paninis from Heath House Farm where we usually meet.... but tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided as usual, maybe even better than usual? but don't hold your breath eh, he he heThis is a huge venue so we will have lots of room if you want to come join us with your own stitching project.angiequilts@gmail.com for more information.
WOW!!!I don't know about you, I only know about me and how I see things.... So... I think hand piecing and hand quilting are extra special..... I have no desire to stitch by hand though, I love playing on sewing machines... but I really appreciate the hand work, the hours that go into the projects. I will stand looking at hand work for a loooooong time.... WOW-ing.
This quilt, it's applique and embellishing, trapunto and quilting is all done by machine... WOW.
This quilt had a queue of people waiting for a closer look, others had people waiting, but this queue was EVERY time I went back.. and I went back a lot of times... WOW.
That's why I mentioned about the hand piecing, because this quilt had me feeling the same way... that it was so special because it was soooooo... ya know.... WOW!!!! and done by machine, unbelieveabubble isn't it. I went to talk to the lady who made it, even the little flowers are done by machine....
The lady is Pauline Ineson, she does classes and I could make a quilt just like (?) this... how cool would that be... one small problem... the course is one workshop per month... over 2 years! So, that's not going to happen is it... I asked whether I could go to learn how to make just one block, or two, I could make posh cushions (that no-one would be allowed to sit on!) but alas... you have to sign up for the full two years and the whole quilt, it is almost 2 hours drive from my house too.... not bad in this lovely weather, but in the winter and darkness... nope... I shall continue WOW-ing about it from a distance me thinks!Click on the pictures if you want to WOW with me, amazing! I would really like to make just one block, the fushias I think. I can buy the book and teach myself... not the same... I like to be shown how to do things... he he he, lazy?
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