Monday, 7 June 2010

Summer Garden

This is not what I had in mind at all when I started to play with this fabric. I'm not sure what I was thinking actually, but I know it wasn't this.
I didn't have enough of it to get the pattern repeats I needed. This very floral, summery fabric, is not my 'normal cup of tea'. I spent way too much time auditioning border fabrics, nothing was right. At the last minute I spotted a 'good' green, me thinks 'tis a Moda.... then I had a "moment"... years ago, when I was living in Brazil actually, I acquired a pattern.... because I liked the border... the very border you see here, Picket Fence. Of course I had to root through too many papers before I found it, but I'm quite pleased that I did. Just the two long sides to go, they are very time consuming. oh, yes I do know they are not all perfectly level... I did that on purpose, it's rustic!!!

Sunday, 6 June 2010

Quilty Open Day

There where were loads of quilts to see, all colours, shapes and sizes. Lots of lovely ladies to chat to, my favourite thing!.
The quilts had mostly been started at classes given by Chris and Barbara, they do loads of workshops!
There were refreshments.... tea and coffee with biscuits galore (more than one if you wanted to!) Sunshine and smiles all round actually.
It was all very relaxed, quilt touching was allowed!!! woooohooo. I didn't know that though, until it was too late, never mind, it was fun!
.... and quite inspiring. Barbara was showing the ladies how easy it is to design your own quilt using left over fabrics, ooooooh she was using lovely fabrics... you know how we quilters are, oooo-ing and ahhhhh-ing over the lovely combinations "thrown" together, he he he.
I could quite happily have stayed for the whole day, I love talking you know! ha ha ha.
The decision was made to grab a bite to eat then pop over to Pollyanna patchwork shop in Eccleshall, well it's only a few minutes drive from Stone Station.....
Surprise!!!!! Seems other groups of fun ladies had had the same brilliant idea.... I met all these ladies earlier at the Open day! ha ha ha
Oh how quilters love to laugh eh!

Saturday, 5 June 2010

My Mat & Ruler Bag!!!

My Mat & Ruler bag is now on the map! The lady who runs this site
www.weallsew.com/free-stuff/ asked for my permission to tell the crafty world about my tutorial so I'm thinking wooohoooohoooo!


I'm just leaving to go to a Quilty open day by Barbara and Chris at Stone Station. Its on from 10am - 4pm, you can get more information here.

Shhhhhh.....


Add one cute little girl to a fabulous Peppa Pig quilt, made by her grandma, and what do you get?
Arrrrrrrrrr, peace and quiet!
Joan The Shop sent this picture, it's not the best quality as it was snapped with a mobile phone... does it really matter? We can see that the quilt is loved!

Joan is in the process of making a second Peppa Pig quilt, for another little angel to snuggle under.... that and several others, Joan's developed a serious addiction to patchwork and quilting!! ha ha ha

Friday, 4 June 2010

Caverswall Quilt Cave

I know it's nothing like a 'cave' but I miss my quilt cave in Portugal, so I will have one here!! anyway, I like the way it sounds... "Caverswall Quilt Cave" don't you?
It was lovely, warm and sunny so we had the doors open ... we could hear tweety birds all day long, though some of them seem to have forgotten the tune!! either that or they stuck on the bit they liked, ha ha ha.
We had two new ladies today, Rachel and Barbie (real name Barbara but we would confuse that with our Brenda Barbara so we changed it, he he he)
Shirley Lerly had finished quilting the inner part of her quilt at home so we tackled the borders, decided on a design and Shirley spent her time marking out the design very accurately, that's the way she wanted to do it, it's her quilt!
Once Joan The Shop finished procrastinating she cracked on and made lots and lots of half square triangles ready for her Saw Tooth border, see the lovely pile on the left, perfect in every way..... the pile on the right however.... all for un-picking as one fabric was upside down, grrrrrrr! Joan always trims with pinking shears, it would drive me nuts having all those wavy edges! not my project though!
This is Barbie's Rail Fence quilt, made with strips of 2 1/2" instead of 2", it will be a baby quilt so much better a bit wider... That's not a telephone at the top of the picture, it's a gadget for holding the ruler secure, recommended for arthritis sufferers, 'twas soon abandoned though.
Rachel only came to visit really... she thought she might as well have a go... she borrowed a Bernina Aurora Baby, cutting equipment and some thread, bought fabric from our sale table and joined in... She decided that she liked it... bought all the equipment from the sale table and she's coming again next week!
I snooked (!) a photo of Barbie's skirt, obviously I have tipped the photo, she wasn't lying down! What fabulous fabric for a quilt!!! in fact... the patchwork's already done... a whole cloth springs to mind!.. he he he

We meet again in the Caverswall Quilt Cave next Friday, 10am - 3pm (but usually a bit more) on 11th June. You want to come? We have lots of room you know.

Therese's Me, Me, Me, Quilt

Therese is a quilty friend of mine in Portugal. She's one of my converts, never sewn a stitch 'till she came to my quilting class. She is actually from Jordan, (an excellent cook and makes the best hummous in the world!) an air hostess in her time..... married a Portuguese pilot!.... how romantic is that? So, she's lived the wonderful Portuguese life for a very long time. She's made lots of quilts in her 4+ years as a quilt addict but every one has been gifted to members of her family.... that's why this quilt is so special, it's for Therese, all for her very own self!!!
If you want to see what the quilty ladies are up to these days in Portugal click here

*It's absolutely fabulous Therese, well done you!... Didn't I promise you that you would love your Bernina Baby?*

Thursday, 3 June 2010

Staffordshire Patchwork & Quilters

Tonight, 3rd June, Sandy Lush will be guest speaker at the monthly SPQ meeting. She's a hand quilter and I do believe she is bringing some fabulous, hand quilted, whole cloth quilts to show us. You can click on her name to go directly to her web pages.
Doors open for tea/coffee, biscuit (just the one!! he he he) and chatter at 7pm and the programme starts promptly at 7:30... it's usually finished around 9pm.
Everyone is welcome!!!

You just pay £4, sign your name in a book at the door, get your drink and biscuit (just the one!! he he he) chatter to crafty people, (if you want to) then sit down and enjoy!
Oh ... there is a raffle too, it's £1 for 5 tickets and they have some pretty cool prizes
Location?
The Christchurch Centre, Christchurch Way, Stone, ST15 8ZB .
There is ample free parking next to the centre and it has disabled access...
Hope to see you there, it's my turn to make the tea and coffee (and to monitor the biscuits) along with a lady name Jenny, so... come say helloooooooo!

Wednesday, 2 June 2010

Hot Air Balloon

Linda, my friend in Mexico, sent these photos, I thought you might like to enjoy them too....
It's a small quilt she made for a fund-raising raffle last September. The world's largest balloon festival is held in New Mexico every fall (that's Autumn in English, he he he) and so the hot air balloon is sort of a symbol for the state.
Linda also says that her favourite thing about this little quilt is the label.... The writing was done on her Bernina Aurora 440... what a great and different idea for a label!!! we don't have to stick to rectangles of beige do we!
Thanks Linda.