Duxford Divas!

Ok, this time I spent some money!

First ever visit to the Quilt show at Duxford yesterday, with pal Susan. I’m not even going to attempt to justify buying fabric – I just deserve it!

Blue, white and Silver for NEXT Christmas and ‘Blue Barn’ prints – just because!

Then again, it has been a very productive week and I’m well ahead of my self-imposed schedule. The ‘Four in One’ quilt (five if you count the applique strips) is finished. Thanks to Lynne for her inspiration and advice on how to join two quilts together from the inside out.

 It took me a whole day hand sewing and made my fingers sore, but I did it! 

The front is a combination of Edyta Sitar’s Flower Box blocks and Shooting Stars (using her templates with folded inserts). I mainly used fabric from Edyta’s Sticks and Stones Collection mixed with some lovely charm squares from French General’s Josephine collection and fat quarters from Alice’s Scrap Bag by Barbara Brackman and other selected prints. Added to these were some carefully chosen scraps with a deliberate accent of blue to add a flash. 

The back (centre strip) is my attempt at eight pointed stars with inset 2 inch ‘broken dishes blocks’ with very tricky ‘Y’ seams, inspired by Edyta’s ‘Common Bride’ quilt.

The outer strips came from my ‘leaders and enders ‘ stash of little four patches, set in squares on point – love how they look! 

After all that was done, I cracked on with the Christmas fabric blocks from Anne’s Connecting Threads workshop. I quilted both table runners side by side on the frame together with one of the cushion panels in between, but couldn’t quite fit the second one in at the bottom so had to do that one separately. I’m pleased to have used up some odds and ends of re-cycled Christmas fabrics and they will hopefully make some cash for the NSPCC. Just a few more sore fingers hand finishing all the bindings and they will be done.

Then I can move on to the next project – Hmm! I have a couple of ideas!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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Surprise!!

The Best Kept Secret! 

The ladies of the Studio Quilters were sworn to secrecy over the surprise party for our lovely Val last night. We did our bit and kept her out of the way at our monthly meeting. Then we all shared in her surprise moment as she walked in to see her family and friends who came to wish her a Happy Birthday.

Now I can show a picture of the little gift I made for her – a scissor keeper, inspired by a picture I saw on Pinterest.

Yesterday I made more progress with the Christmas table runners and added the side borders, having spent a most unproductive evening ('til 2am) last Wednesday adding and unpicking the pointed sections at each end. (Measure twice, cut once!) Next to quilt and bind them, then make up one or two cushions in time for the Craft Fair.

Today I handed over the Liberty quilt and think that it was appreciated.

Now I am well into side 2 of my ‘Four in One’ quilt which I plan to prioritise this week. I’ll keep you posted!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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Pin Free Piecing

 

Lovely day with the ladies at Elstree.

We don’t do red, green and gold Christmas in our house – if anything it is blue, white and silver – and I always leave it too late in the year to think about making something for the festive season. So when Connecting Threads quilting group (in Elstree) scheduled a workshop to make a Christmas quilt this month, I thought I might get one done this year! But when I dug down into ‘deep stash’ I came across a red and green bundle of fat quarters from Hobbycraft and I thought I should use them after all and make something for the NSPCC sale at Allum Hall (Borehamwood) on 20^th November.

We ladies spent a relaxing but productive day, under the able guidance of our own Anne Sykes, piecing a very attractive block of red and green triangles with a cream strip in the centre – no pins – they just came together beautifully. 

Some girls even got as far as layering, quilting and binding on the day! But we all had a lovely display by the end of the workshop. 

I carried on when I got home and completed all the blocks. Now I’ve decided to make them into two table runners and at least one cushion – so I’d better get cracking.

Since then I’ve quilted one side of my ‘Four in One’ quilt. I'm having another go at a lovely swirl and feather design that the amazing Judi Madsen demonstrates on Youtube and I think I'm getting better at it! Check back for a progress report soon.

Tomorrow I have another session with the ladies from U3A in Mill Hill and hope I won’t baffle them so much this time. Then I get to help Karen with her new machine  - Yay!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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Oh What A Good Girl Am I!

Ally Pally Debut!

My first visit to the Knitting and Stitching show at Ally Pally with newbie patchworker friend, Karen. She was totally blown away with all the goodies on offer and I was REMARKABLY restrained! Can you believe I spent less than £10?! – Two little wire hangers for mini quilts and NO FABRIC!

Karen, on the other hand, was a girl on a mission. There was no way she was leaving without ordering a brand new machine. She struck a shrewd deal on a brand new model Brother machine (with even more stitches than mine – sorry Viv!) and the quilting kit and a creative sewing kit thrown in for free! Unfortunately, she will have to wait until midweek for it to be delivered. I’m just as excited as she is and can’t wait to help her get to grips with it.

This week I have finished the Liberty Lawn quilt. You know how you just can’t stop until it’s done sometimes? I spent about 20 hours or more on it and did go for flower motifs in the plain areas.

I’ve had the cutest little furry friend for company this week.    Phoebe!

I felt guilty leaving her today, but she made a little nest on my big quilty bag, so she was quite comfy!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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On a Roll!

Making good progress!

So, I decided to finish a few things before putting the Liberty Quilt on the frame, as it is going to tie me up for a while. 

Here is the hexagon quilt all done and ready for binding. This was a joint project made by the lovely ladies of Studio Quilters. The quilting just flowed over it – so much fun to do!

As I was on a roll, I quickly quilted the two ‘Convergence’ panels and made them in to this double-sided cushion (sealed all round because I’m still scared of zips!)

Yesterday I made a start on the lovely Liberty quilt. It was bigger than I thought and took a while to prepare and load up. I’ve spent about 9 hours stabilising it before starting on the intricate detail. When I reached the bottom I noticed that one of the applique panels is pieced in a different direction to the others. I wondered what to do and then decided that this was an interesting ‘design choice’ and adds to the charm of the quilt! 

I’m now working on a small curly leaf filler around the raw edge appliquéd leaves, while I decide what pattern will work best in the other open spaces.

I’m thinking flowers – not feathers – to compliment the pretty Liberty florals.

Earlier this week, I helped (or rather baffled) some beginner patch-workers from Mill Hill U3A with an introduction to Half Square Triangles ! And I’ve even dabbled with some decoupage to 'pretty up' my sewing room.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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