Stash does up and down!

Saturday 27th was another great day with Fran and Tilly at Pitsford Northampton, not forgetting Jane in the kitchen! The workshop was to make a wavy cut Christmas Tree with lots of fancy stitch embroidery OR a Santa hanging OR a coaster by hand. I chose to make the wavy Tree. Not having many greens in my stash I was forced [ ha ha] to buy a selection of green 1/2 metre fabrics which has pushed my stash busting up AGAIN! [see side bar]

The day was wonderful with home made biscuits in the morning a lovely cooked lunch, complete with little gifts and tree decorations, followed in the afternoon by Christmas cake. Looking forward to the January workshop where we will be making a sewing machine mat and tool holder, similar to the one Tilly is holding up.

Denis arrives!!

I have been looking for some time for a sewing machine to take to workshops and quilt days, I seem to average 2 a week and some are upstairs. My good old Pfaff weighs 12 kg and is just getting too much for me to carry.

Having done as much research as I could I decided on a BSK Creative 9000, and yes you've guest it, the person that sold me it was called Denis.. so that is now the name of the machine!

Yesterday I took it to a quilt day [upstairs] and the 6 kg weight was much better to handle and the sewing machine does so many things I am really impressed.

Fairy Favours

One of the Yahoo groups [Scratchingpost] I belong to have a data base set up for all those who would like to take part in sending a little gift to one of the members.

At this time of year with everyone so busy and the weather so awful it is so nice when a little mystery gift arrives through the door from someone you do not even know. This has happened to me a couple of times, so I thought I would pick 6 names at random and send a little cheer. My chosen 6 were all in the USA this time.

Ribbon crazy

On a recent workshop I made the two ribbon creations at the back of the picture then came home with a kit and made the front "pineapple". This let me to thinking "I have a bag full of wired ribbon" I could make some more.. THREE days later I have turned my workroom upside down and still not found it ! BUT I have had a huge sort out, throw out, give to Charity shops session. So a big thank you to the person that taught the original workshop.

Using my new 4000D

This is my first effort on my new sewing machine. 88,000 stitches.. WOW! Hopefully one day it will be the front of a cover for my new machine.. but I have too many Christmas projects to make one yet.

Lucy takes a trip!

Yesterday 3rd November I drove a 230 miles round trip in Lucy my MX5 to buy a Brother Innovis 4000D sewing machine and embroidery unit, the only problem was I had no idea how big the box of hoops and all the extra items the person selling it had. What a problem getting it in the car ! I couldn't even put the sewing machine, in its case, in the tiny boot and the front seat [ it's only a 2 seater and I had to sit somewhere!! ] was crammed full, but I managed it, and now I cannot wait to use it. This machine has hardly seen a thread and many of the things with it are still in their original wrappers.

High on my "to do" list is to make a fabric cover for her [ yes her name is Brenda!]... watch this space!

Design table 25th October

My design wall this week, is actually my table, as my design wall is still the same as last week, but I have started another project.

juliasneedledesigns.com offered a deal on SunBonnet Sue machine embroidery patterns that I just could not resist, so spend the day sewing them out. I have no idea what size this quilt will end up or who it will be for, one of the granddaughters no doubt! I just enjoyed the patterns. They are all 9 1/2" blocks with matching floral fabric blocks in between... well thats the plan this morning!

Design Wall October 17th

My design wall this week, has a completed front of a cushion and another [poppies] in the making, plus a Christmas hanging that just needs a little finishing.

A Starfish starts to take shape

Abigail will be performing in a ballet in November and I was asked to do the "Grandma bit?" and make her an outfit... this is the start, made of foam and sewn together I intend to glue of lots of sequins and sparkles. Needless to say she wanted to wear it, and had fun getting through doorways!

Birthdays

We are in the "birthday season" Mum celebrated her 96th birthday on the 15th with a lunch for 6 friends, while granddaughter Eleanor was 3yrs old today and had a Peppa Pig day!

A few Christmas Ideas

Do you have any Christmas gift ideas? The tree heart ornament is made by cutting 3 heart shape pieces of card, then cut out 3 shapes [1/4 inch bigger than card] in fabric, glue them on [or tack] and sew them together to make the shape in the picture, adding a hanging ribbon and bead or bell decoration to the base.

Design wall beginning October

January, February and March 12 1/2" blocks are made, ready for joining together at the next BOM BSK [Bedford] meeting.

I am really enjoying this project, each month we make a new Sun Bonnet Sue [ never my favorite before] block, using applique, fancy stitches on the sewing machines and machine embroidery.

It is nice to see different sewing techniques being combined, I cannot wait to finish all twelve.

IAM meeting 7th October

What a fun day was had yesterday at our IAM meeting in my workroom. We had a bag workshop.

Top row Penny, Dorn and Clare

Bottom row Jenny, Ann and mine.

It's amazing how different these bags look in the array of colours and fabrics.

Having finished the bags after lunch a quick session of making a heart shape Christmas decoration was underway... only problem no one had brought anything to do this, so my fabric stash, card, ribbon and beads were sorted through to make them... wonder how much fabric this will take off my "stash busting"??

Textile Centre Newbury Berks

Having been told about this museum, Chris and I went for a day out and made a visit.

The museum was set up to Document the Nation's Needlework Heritage.

The Country Wife, a mural 5m wide by 4.5m high [6yds x 5yds] is being restored. The mural in 3D was designed and made for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and shows the lives and hobbies of women at that time. A lot of work and money is needed to restore this wonderful project. Also on show when we were there was a collection of Church kneelers, and many of items of interest. www.nationalneedleworkarchive.org.uk

Swaps and Fairy favours

One of the yahoo groups I belong to run a monthly swap, and I put my name down for the first time in September, what a treat I received from Ginger in Oklahoma USA. A box full of goodies and lots of her machine embroidery.

Another group I belong to run a fairy favour list. If you want to take part by adding your name to the list out of the blue you receive a little suprise gift from someone. The beautiful angel was sent to me by Donia [GA USA], a real treat. I also received a FQ from Marcia, but having used it I do not have a photo.. the purple feather that came with it is on my notice board, thanks Marcia. I have sent a couple of fairy favours myself, it is nice to send a little cheer.

I'm back...

I'm back, the new hard drive is in the computer and although I have lost a lot of information I am gradually getting back to normal [ whatever that is!]

Chris celebrated his 60th birthday firstly with the family, granddaughters buying him a Handy Andy cake and helping to blow out the candles! Next came a trip to Norfolk for a weeks holiday in a lovely secluded barn conversion near Holt. Log fires in the evenings and only sheep and partridges for company. This was all followed by his suprize gift a day "walking with wolves", which was a big talking point and much enjoyed by Chris.

Out of action

My worse nightmare happened 2 days ago... my hard drive died and as it is only a few weeks old it has gone back for replacement! This means I have lost everything since my last back up about 4 weeks ago, plus I do not have access to photo programmes etc.. Until I get back on line [probably be a week] I must use my laptop, which I do not like, and it does not like me!

News and photos of my new sewing machine, meeting a yahoo group member from Las Vegas USA, swap with another person etc etc will all have to wait...

Design wall for 20th September

My design wall consists of a machine embroidered wolf waiting to be framed for my husbands birthday on Wednesday, he is getting this and a day "walking with Wolves".. he is wolf mad! The other item is a machine embroidered cushion waiting for three pieces so I can then sew all the 25 4inch squares together.

Sew and Social Workshop

A wonderful day with Fran and Tilly on their Sew & Social workshop. Half the group were making a landscape wall hangings, [Tilly's in photo] the rest making a Mola panel, mine is the middle of the bottom row. This takes me out of my comfort zone, as I do not do very much hand sewing, but I really enjoyed the day. Of course the fact we are treated to home cooked lunch makes the day even more special.

Mud glorious Mud !!

Peterborough Land Rover Show meant another off road course with a wonderful splash through the mud!!

Even the headlights were full of water when we surfaced !

Making Tray cloths at BSK

Monday 13th 7 of us enjoyed a day at BSK Bedford, machine embroidering Napkins and Place mats. It was a fun day with much laughter. Val our tutor is very patient with us. We are all using different models of Brother machines, which were all set up with the pattern ready to start as soon as we walked in the door. Not sure what Val is doing in the first photo... look like she is eating it!

USA star project

Some time ago [ actually probably years ago!] I started working on a USA stars project. I have travelled extensively in the USA and using Carol Doak's book of stars decided to make a star of each State I had visited. A recent tidy-up and I found the stars in a UFO box and this week thought I would try and get them all made. West Virginia and New Jersey have now joined the others. So far I have made 22, have 3 cut out ready to sew and 7 more waiting to be cut out ! No more USA travel until I finish this project! I plan to quilt as you go these stars together and somehow [suggestions welcome] put lables on them showing the names of the States.

Birthday Cards

Everyone seems to have a birthday around here at the momment, so I have been busy machine embroidering cards. Here are the cards made for my two granddaughters.

Design wall Monday 6th September

On my design wall I have the "ingredients" for a Sassy Bag, I just love this pattern and have already made 3 of these bags. I want to show my little group how to make one, so hence the display. Also I found on lazygirldesigns.com web site a "recipe" for making it larger, adding a zip etc..
I decided this one should be red and grey and have machine embroidered my initial on what will be the bag flap.

IAM group TENTH anniversary

Let me introduce you to our IAM group. 10 years ago a few of us met to make bobbin lace and knit and sew, this expanded to the eight members we now have.. a full house in my workroom!

Ann, Clare, Dorn, Jenny, Maureen, Penny, Shirley and myself. [ notice I have listed them alphabetically.. there is great rivalry as to who started when and how they came to join ;-) ].

Yesterday we celebrated our ten years of crafting, with wonderful deserts made by Jenny and her husband Ray [ they were eaten too quickly for me to take a photo!]

We played a open or steal gift game in the morning, made origami bags and had much laughter. After lunch we had show and tell, which is always a highlight as we make so many different things between us. Then followed the mad Right / Left game, where holding a FQ a story is read out and every time right is mentioned you pass your FQ to the right, and when left is mentioned pass to the left.. the tears of laughter fell !

I was given a lovely bunch of flowers and card, for which I thank my group and look forward to the next 10 years, when it was decided we would all arrive in an Age Concern bus with our walkers.. what a fun group.