Petal Power

Like Falling Off A Log

Last week's big job was finishing off this really pretty top for Margie. I quilted the pieced blocks first, with continuous curves in variegated thread (using my brilliant new Elvira ruler). Then I echoed all around the appliqué to anchor the whole piece. The fun part was filling in the soft creamy calico background with 'petal feathers' and flowers on the edge. The piecing and appliqué was such a charming design and the fabrics so pretty; it really called for a very feminine quilting pattern.  

Once that was done, I resolved to start a scrap quilt. 


 So there I was, fiddling with 1 inch strips of scrap fabric making little half log cabin blocks, when the man from ParcelForce turns up with 40 metres of brand new fabric! 

I am never going to get on top of it at this rate! But seriously I am trying to use up some of my scraps in a creative way, to make quilts for charities like Project Linus, alongside making things for myself. Here is the bright and colourful quilt I made using those new log cabin rulers. They made light work of the cutting. I also managed to incorporate some Flying Geese blocks I made a while back.

I decided to try a different quilting design on this one, so I watched a couple of videos and decided on this double bubble pattern. It was quick and fun.

And here's one of those beautiful new fabrics that arrived; all neutrals from Laundry Basket Quilts' new collection, 'Sonoma' for Andover Fabrics. I've got my eye on this one! 

Next up was making that quilt tote using my large and small Dresden plates and sample blocks. Hand appliquéd no less! 
I really had to think how to assemble it so that I could centre up the plates and get the blocks on the side and bottom sections of the bag. 


Talk about make life difficult for yourself! 







But I worked it out in the end and now I have three big bags to carry quilts in. I love how it turned out. I even found a large button in my box in just the right colour. That's always satisfying.

Coming up next is a seaside themed quilt top to finish for Carole M. I need to study it to decide what to do with it. Then there is the first green quilt to come out of dear Mary Say's stash that I shared with Studio Quilters. 

But I am off to Olympia this weekend for The Knitting and Stitching Show, with a 'minimal' shopping list. It remains to be seen what I will actually come home with !!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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www.englishquilter.co.uk

Brotherly Love!

New Toys and a Surprise Parcel!!

My big brother is officially the best! He never judges me and is happy to indulge me with weird rulers and tools for my birthday and Christmas, as long as I order them from my computer and not his. (It doesn't do his street cred any good to have quilting ads pop up on his screen!) So when the doorbell rang this morning, I thought it was the rulers I had ordered for my Birthday next month. But instead it was this bundle of the prettiest fabrics ('Porcelain' by 3 Sisters for Moda), which I had ordered so long ago I'd almost forgotten about them. I think it's safe to say that not all of these will make it out of my sewing room.

Then the rulers arrived as well - 2 Log Cabin rulers by 'Bloc-Loc'. They were ridiculously expensive, but just what I need to help me tackle my scrap stash. I've tried them already - I know he won't mind me not waiting for my birthday. I need to sort out my scraps again.

Meanwhile, I have finished Jackie's mammoth Log Cabin with feathers flowing all around the 'barn raising' layout.

Now I have moved on to Jackie's friend Margie's pretty appliquéd top, which is almost as big. 

I've made a good start on it today, about 6 hours in the loft so far. It has given me a chance to try out another new toy; a long arm ruler called 'Elvira' by Angela Walters. This one was a Christmas present from my daughter, and it makes continuous curves much easier - I already love it! 

Last weekend the ladies of Studio Quilters met at our cosy new venue and set about making these sweet little rabbits designed by 'Tilda' and kindly cut out for us by Gill Picken (who made sure I got a pink one!)

They were a lot fiddlier than we thought. The thin limbs were a bit tricky to turn out and stuff, but we all got them done for the photo shoot. 

And here is the result of another new toy (which I actually bought myself for Christmas.) More Bloc-Loc rulers, these are called 'Bloomin' Cogwheels'. Basically they are for Dresden Plate or fans made from pieced strips. 

I had already started these clever little blocks with the same fabrics and now I think I will put them all together and make another big quilt bag. 

But the big highlight of the week was the Show and Tell evening at Connecting Threads group in Elstree. Christopher Wilson-Tate of Antique Textiles Company in Hampstead treated us to a fabulous viewing of a selection from his vast private collection.

This incredible example was first displayed in the Great Exhibition of 1851. It is made from hand pieced 1/4 inch hexagons - approximately 45,000 of them!

I don't think I will be trying anything like that soon!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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www.englishquilter.co.uk

Mellow Yellow

And Bruised Like a Peach!

In the second half of January I quilted 3 tops for other ladies, finishing with this stunning piece by Margaret. The pictures don't do justice to the colour, but it was beautiful. The feathers were flying again and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was so pleased with the overall result. Margaret's piecing was really excellent (but I like to take credit for the back!)

But that's not all I have been up to!
I am currently working on samples for my upcoming workshop for Connecting Threads in November and I can't resist showing you this little wall hanging I've just made with some classic Laura Ashley blues I recently acquired. 

You can barely see the hand embroidery in this picture - hand sewing is NOT my forte by any means. 

I must be doing something very wrong - it took about 3 hours and I ended up with a badly bruised thumb!!

Then I moved on to Jackie's LARGE log cabin. 

This one is pushing me to the limit on my frame - it is 88 inches wide. Although I can just get it on the rollers I cannot quilt right up to the edge. So, when I get to the bottom (I'm almost there after three days), I will need to take it off and shift it to one side and then the other to finish it off. 

It is a big job but I am enjoying it. 

And there's another learning curve with this one; as I am quilting the feathers downwards in the direction of the piecing (as opposed to horizontal rows as I usually do) I am having to start and stop when I reach the bottom of the frame. This means I need to continue from the previous section, so that you cannot see the join and I have finally worked out how to do it.

While I was waiting for the snow to melt at the end of last week, I revisited 'Project G' which I started last July. I think it is going in a different direction now. I spent much of the weekend rifling through my stash and picking out rainbow brights - not really my true colours to be honest. I think I have eradicated all the orange now!!!

Also, this week, I was honoured to be asked to speak to Amwell Quilters in Hertford. I told them all about my quilting journey so far and showed them the quilts I actually still have at home, (I have parted with so many of the quilts I have made or worked on  over the years). 

A lovely bunch of ladies - it's such fun to talk to other people who 'get it' !!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Thank you for visiting my blog and for leaving your comments. Please share on Facebook, Pinterest  etc.

www.englishquilter.co.uk