Easter holidays with grandchildren

An exhausting but very enjoyable week has just passed with my granddaughters Abigail 6 & 3/4 [ very important 3/4 !] and Eleanor age 2 years with chicken pox! On the last day of the visit Abigail made a cushion using the photo from earlier in the week on the brige over our pond.

Jackets from Sweatshirts

Jackets made by friends on a workshop I gave a few weeks ago.

Me in the garden, Maureen, Dorn, Elizabeth & Jenni.

All I want for Easter .....

All I want for Easter is my two front teeth.

The tooth fairy has called twice at £1 a time to visit Abigail, who is delighted with showing her gap!!

The Bedroom makeover

The new quilt is progressing. Using a Tach-it gun I have joined the top, wadding and backing together. Next I have used a creative grids wavy ruler to draw lines in pencil and machine quilted on the lines. This was easy to do, as it was a manageable size, on my Pfaff 7570 sewing machine. Next using the quilt-as-you-go method I have joined this to the middle section on my quilt. I hope to complete the bottom section later this week.
Having tried to buy curtains for my bedroom makeover and not finding any I like I had to stop work on the quilt and make new curtains, they are green and the walls the palest pink.

Back of quilt-as-you-go quilt

This is the back of the quilt-as-you-go, showing how I used a wavy creative grids ruler as a template for the easy quilting, and the finish of the joining. My sewing machines do not have large throats so I find manovering a large quilt very difficult. Having made small blocks in the quilt-as-you-go method I thought if I made my large quilt in panels I could cope and then joined them... BINGO... it was so much easier.
Quilt-as-you-go there are lots of www site and U-tube advice on this method, but I joined a 1 1/8" strip to the front and a folded in half 1 3/4" strip to the back of one panel. Next I joined the 1 1/8" strip to the next panel, making sure the batting met in the middle. Finally I sewed the folded strip across the backs and joined by hand. Does this make sense?

Half way made bed quilt-as-you-go quilt

As this is too large for my design wall, I have two friends holding up my latest quilt. I have so far made it in five panels and quilted it using my wavy ruler for the design. Then joined the panels together using the quilt-as-you-go method. I now need to make it into a square by adding a large piece to the top and bottom. This is to go on our bed, which means the whole room needs redecorating to match it.. so that takes care of the Easter holiday!

How things change

25th March 1940 was the day my parents got married, and if Dad had still been alive would have been their 70th Wedding Anniversary this week.

25th March 1972 was mine and Chris's wedding day, and we celebrated 38 years, by spending a day in London seeing the wonderful quilt exhibition at the V & A Museum followed by a performance of Oliver at Drury Lane Theatre.

Tilly & Fran Pitsford Workshop

Saturday 27th March, was another great workshop with Fran and Tilly. I chose to make the woven cushion front, using scraps left over from another quilt. The photo on the left is Christine, Pauline, Penny and myself all acting like laundry women busily ironing our strips of fabric ready for the weaving. This is one of my favorite workshops as drinks are served with home make biscuits and cakes, plus a delicious lunch [I had vegetable lasagne ] with dessert.. what could be better. Just need to add the backing for the cushion and binding and it will be finished. www.sew-n-social.blogspot.com

The ASHBY family

As we near Mothering Sunday on the 14th, I made a visit to my grandparents grave in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire Cemetery .


Annie Georgina [nee PERCIVAL] 13 April 1877 - 7 April 1939 and
John Thomas ASHBY June 1875 - 6 September 1955

Stash and design wall report

My design wall has 10 of the 12 fairy blocks I am making. These blocks have been "on the go" for quite a while and I would like to get them finished, so I am trying to motivate myself.

Designed by Margaret Upston I have enjoyed making these Candlewick designs. I managed to buy on Ebay a range of Perle threads in light colours, so each fairy is a different colour.

Feb 14th

Another bargain buy I could not resist, 3meters of backing fabric to add to my stash !

Plus I have not used any fabric from my stash. Too many other projects started that I want to finish!!

Total used to date 22 1/2 yds, purchased 6 yds.

March is nearly over and I have been very lax in keeping my stash report up to date, since I last wrote I have bought 6 yds and used 9 1/2 yds

Total used to date 32 yds bought 12 yds. and the fairies are still on the design wall!

Truly Antique Angels Charity quilt

One of the groups I belong to had a group charity quilt day, where we were all given a small square of fabric, to be placed somewhere on a 12" square of batting. Then using a large pile of scraps we all built the blocks up randomly. These were then backed and joined together in the "quilt as you go " style.

Pat pictured holding the quilt was the leader of our group and did a fine job of getting us all motivated.

Josephine the Jellyfish & Frances the Fish

Under the sea by Cheryl Goss is a free BOM download on her blog Willowberry Designs.

I just could not resist joining, and have downloaded the first two patterns and purchased a set of Derwent watercolour pencils. This is all a new adventure for me, I cannot wait to get started. Check out Cheryl's site.

Design wall Monday 1st February

These are the four blocks joined to make a cushion, that were left over from the leaf quilt I am making. Design wall a bit of a rush today as I went to my quilt group all day and we had a sewing machine service engineer call and service our machines.

I took my Bernina and Pfaff, so they are both ready to go go go.. all I need is some time!

Visit home of birth!

As I am very keen on researching my family tree, I have always wanted to go back to see the house I first lived in and where I was born. The 2nd house on the left is where my mother lived when I was about to be born, as my father was away in Ireland during the war.

My mother's sister and family lived there. 83 Doncaster Rd, Leicester. This area is now completely taken over by Indians with their beautiful sari shops and corner shops selling strange [ to me] food.

The right hand picture is the Westcote Maternity Home Leicester where I was actually born in 1944, Mum remembers the sand bags up against all the windows.

Stash report 31 Jan 2010

Managed to use another 2 1/2 yds of fabric this week. Still have not bought any fabric, although did purchase Judy Laquidara's new book.. cannot wait for it to arrive.

Yesterday attended a new workshop venue for me. Sew n' Social with Tilly and Fran at Pitsford. We were treated to home made biscuits in the monring, a two course lunch and cake in the afternoon.. such luxury. Normally it is take your own sandwich!

I made the organizer pictured. www.sew-n-social.blogspot.com

25th Jan Design wall and family tree

Not a lot happening on my design wall this week.
Just a rearrangement of the leaf blocks. I like this
arrangement, but not too sure it will work with
quilt-as-you-go which is how I would like to finish it.

My big excitement this week was to have my family
tree printed on an A1 roller printer, it is 12 metres long, thats 39 feet and will almost wall paper my workroom!!

IAM workshop 21st January 2010

Eight of us, called the IAM group had a wonderful day making memory pictures in my workroom. My picture is of my parents wedding, where the guard of honour was performed by St John Ambulance Brigade Nurses holding splints. The small piece of white fabric is actually part of Mum's wedding dress. The bobbin lace in the bottom right hand corner was made by me.

Leaves on the design wall

Blocks were made by cutting out a leaf shape with Heat n Bond ironing it onto a piece of fabric, cutting this out and ironing it onto a 9" square. Cut this in half diagonally. Make another pair the same and join back together. When the blocks are completed I will blanket stitch on my sewing machine around the leaves. Really easy! I managed to draw out 21 more leaves yesterday, ready to iron onto fabric.

Design Wall 18th January 2010

I had hoped to join in with Judy Laquidara's weekend Quiltathon, and thought the fact I was on a workshop on Saturday would be a big boost to production! But Sunday was spent chasing around for a new fridge / freezer as my fridge packed up. I now have to wait until Friday for delivery, good job it's cold outside, the milk is on the doorstep! This is my design wall today with the blocks I made on Saturday. I still have 22 more to make.

Stash report 17/24th Jan 2010

17th Jan
Used so far this year 9 yds
Used this week 1 yd pillowcase for Eleanor
Bought this year NIL
Total used this year 12 1/2 yds

24th Jan
No extra fabric used, I have been catching up on my Family tree and lacemaking, plus using fabric already counted!

Bobbin Lace Cowboy Boot

One of my New Year resolutions was to start making bobbin lace again. Since retiring from teaching lace I have done very little, and let quilting take over my life!

This week I put on a Russian Tape design for a Cowboy boot and have just made a start. The bobbins I am using were all made by Tony Archer many years ago, and are some of my favorites.

Design Wall 11th Jan 2010

At long last my design wall is up and running!! Actually it is just clipped to the hanger I have from Ikea for clipping my quilts to, but it works well. The two pieces are for a sweatshirt jacket I am showing as a workshop to my local group.

Made based on mile a minute technique, and a brand new sweatshirt cut up. It has a lovely summer feel while looking out my window at snow and ice!

Stash report Sunday 10th January

Used so far this year 9 yds

Used this week 1 1/2 yds sea horse backing 1 yd pieces for quilts for soldiers

Bought this year NIL [ well I've lasted one week so far!]

Total used this year 11 1/2 yds

Design Wall Monday 4th January 2010

Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times has a design wall weekly feature that I really wanted to join last year, but did not get around to it. Or should I say Hubby did not get around to fixing one up for me!

This picture shows the design wall fabric I was given about 6 years ago, and so far all that has happened it is out of the packet! 2010 will see it up on the wall.

Stash Busting 3rd January 2010

This will be a quick stash report today, the start of a New Year.
Purchased NIL [so far the NY's resolution is working!]
Used: 9 yds cut out ready for up and coming workshops I will attend.
3yds Pink Sweatshirt jacket
1yd Calico pictures
5yds 78 Squares for scrappy quilt with Jenny Almond

Quilted jacket from a sweatshirt

Preparing for up and coming workshops, I have cut out 10 FQ's into strips and cut up a brand new sweatshirt.

Next step is to sew the strips together, join them to the sweatshirt and quilt a design, then sew it all back together again... what a strange occupation quilters have!

Abigail the ballet dancer

Granddaughter Abigail's first Ballet award ceremony. She gained a distinction for her ballet exam, and was awarded a beautiful trophy for the most improved student in her year. It was definitely a night to celebrate.

During the Christmas holiday Abigail [age 6] managed to make a Christmas hanging for her mantlepiece, using my featherweight to sew some of the points and sewing on the bells by hand.

All aboard for a Cruise

Anyone that knows me, will know this is the nearest I will ever get to cruising.. I cannot stand anything on water, but the SS Gt Britain is a restored ship in dry docked at Bristol. Chris seems to think he's a First class passenger, and I'm ready for lunch!

Stash Busting 2010

Stash busting in 2009 seemed to go to pot half way through the year, I was doing well until a local trader decided to sell up her fabric and I bought far too much!

I will again join Judy Laquidara's stash busting group in 2010 and have to try and use only fabrics I already have. Two reasons, One is my cupboards are full to bursting, Secondly I need to save hard for an exciting trip to Wyoming, the Tetons and Yellowstone later in the year.

Does buying fabric in a different country count !! Like eating chocolate when away from home does not have any calories!!

2010 quilt meeting dates and events

Listed here are details of quilting events I have found for 2010

(picture of a quilt-as-you-go quilt made for grandaughter Eleanor)

Busy Quilters and Stitchers 10.00 to 3.30pm
Goldington Middle School, Haylands Way, Bedford MK41 9BX
13 March, 5 June, 4 September, 6 November

Hamtune Quilters 7.30 - 9.30pm
Parklands Community Centre, Devon Way, Northampton NN3 6DX
First and third Tuesday of every month

Patchwork People 9.45 to 3.30pm
Lovat Hall, Silver Street, Newport Pagnell
6 March, 12 June, 11 September, 13 November

Spring quilt festival Chilford 12- 14 March
Quilts UK Malvern 13 - 16 May
National Quilt Championships Sandown 18 - 20 June
Festival of Quilts NEC Birmingham 19 - 22 August

Christmas Count down

This has been a fun project for a Christmas Count down...

Pattern taken from 12 Days of Christmas by Art to Heart.