His and Her CAR weekend!

Her weekend, involved us driving a 200 mile round trip to collect my new hard-top for Lucy... she looks so smart now.
His weekend, was spent at a Land Rover show near Coventry and having fun on the Off Road Course!

The Sea Side through the window

One project finished.. my friend Penny gave me a FQ of a seaside scene, and with a little selective cutting to make it fit I managed to make this picture.

The window was made using heat - n - bond on black material then ironed to the picture and using a small zig-zag stitch I sewed around all the edges. Finally I added a small floating yellow border and black binding.

Lucy is getting a treat

Lucy my 1990 Mazda MX5 is getting a new roof for her 20th birthday!

I just won this bidding on EBay and cannot wait to collect it on Saturday.

Lucy in trouble

We have had a lot of rain in the past week, and Lucy is in trouble!

Thank goodness for Grandad Fix It [ as the grandchildren call him!] Out came the seats and wet carpets. Blocked holes, that let the water drain away were the cause of the problem, guess this is the joy of owning an old soft-top. Lucy my Mazda MX5 will be 20 years old on October 1st.

Workroom changes / design wall

Looks like I am having a jumble sale!!

All the neatly stacked boxes, full of things I no longer remember

had to be moved for a new electrical system through the wall into the adjoining en-suite.

At the same time Chris said he would put up my long awaited design wall. First to clear a space, then a baton was attached to the wall about 54 x 54 inches square. Wadding was then fixed to the baton and finally a sheet of fabric covered the whole thing.

Now I just need to sort out the "jumble sale" ! and only put back in storage boxes things I will use one day, the rest can go to the next guild sales table, EBay or a Charity shop.

design wall [ floor] Monday 16th

My design wall, which is actually the floor! consists of a
sea scene FQ that a good friend gave me and I decided
it would be nice to see it through a window. I have
drawn out and cut out heat-n-bond to a window shape,
and now I just need to put it all together..

Fun with the grandchildren

........................................................................An over night stay with Grandma and Grandad means lots of fun for Abigail and Eleanor.

TWO UFO's come out of the cupboard

In a frantic clear up / sort out in my workroom before 7 of us needed to use it for a craft meeting, I found two patchwork tops waiting for batting and backing... and then of course quilting!

Goodness knows how long they have been hiding themselves away! These photos show the Bears in the Farmhouse quilt [72"x 86"] made with instructions from Judy Laquidara.
The other is a [56" x 56"] Bento box quilt top [forgot to take picture while it was laid out].
BOTH are now attached to batting and backing using my "gun" and ready for machine or hand quilting.. I have yet to decide. When I use my "gun" I find the best results by going in and out on the top to make a fixed hold.. click on photo to see a close up.

Hamtune Challenge fabric

Last week at a meeting of the Hamtune [Northampton Patchwork and Quilting] group we were given a FQ challenge fabric in either blue or pink.

I choose pink and using it with a lilac piece of fabric have made it into a cushion for their October 30th fayre.

There will be a cushion raffle along with other stalls and a show of quilts made by members. The money raised will be for the Motor Neurone Charity.

Show info: Hamtune Quilters, Parklands Community Centre, Devon Way, Northampton NN3 6DX

Pfaff Sewing Machine Cover

With today as a catch up day on the boring jobs around the house.. like ironing etc.. I have managed to fit in time to finish my Pfaff sewing machine cover, and it is reversible! I guess I should now make my Bernina a cozy home?

Monday morning design wall

I have been busy in the little spare time I have had this week, machine embroidering a sweet pea top for a cushion to give as a gift. Plus something I have promised myself for the past 10 years [ since I bought my Pfaff ] a sewing machine cover. I decided to machine embroider one side with animals and that is as far as I have got !

Eleanor joins Abigail for the day

Little sister Eleanor [2yrs] joins us for the day, and we have fun in the park.

More of the Lion Hunt

This knitted and crochet lion was our favorite.

The Lion Hunt

One day of Abigail's holiday we spent on a Lion Hunt. 40 painted lions are dotted around Northampton and armed with a map we managed to find most of them. They will be sold to raise funds to a local hospice and the Born Free foundation. They are really wonderful.

A week with the grandchildren

Craft days at Grandmas! Abigail age 6yrs and 3/4 ! managed to use my featherweight sewing machine to sew up the sides of a bag I cut out and machine embroidered for her.

Another day a friend, Olivia with her Grandma Jenny came and spent the day with us, and Olivia also managed to make a bag. Abigail finished her first bobbin lace project, a multi coloured snake, and did some bead work.

Geisha ladies

On a BSK workshop earlier this week I made the red bag with the beaded Geisha on.. I just love this bag. As a bit of an experiment I then repeated the pattern in colours on a cream fabric.. equally nice and I will make her into a bag.

Lavender cushion

Here is a finished picture of the lavender cushion, after a couple of mistakes [ like sewing the same block twice!] it is finally put together.

Stash report for July

Machine quilting seems to have taken over this month, and not a great deal of "stash" fabric has been used.
+ 6yds fabric for machine quilting
- 5 yds used machine quilting
- 1yd for Abigails project
- 8 yds cut out for my Quilts for Heros
- 3 yds used making bags
Total for July + 6 - 17 = -11yds
Total for year + 103 - 75 = +28 yds [could do better!]

A new Blogger

Spent yesterday morning helping a friend start a new blog.

After much laughter and a cuppa [made by her husband as we didn't have time to move from the computer!] Pauline is up and running.

www.quiltergirl424.blogspot.com

Her blog is very much in the learning stage, but lets welcome her to Blog-land!

Under the Sea Competition

I have entered an on-line competition with my wall hanging "Under the Sea". If you feel able perhaps you could give me a vote, voting ends this Sunday, 25th July.

The button under my profile on the left will take you to the web site, and follow the links to the virtual quilt contest... thank you. Diana

Thank you to everyone that voted for me, I came second.. may try again later in the year!