Abigail's butterfly quilt

Husbands arms were not wide enough for the quilt photo! but I have managed to get all the borders on and if I can find someone to long arm quilt it, and it's not too expensive I will get the top put together and add a binding. Then the 3D butterflies will be added randomly [ I have 7 of them made so far].

If longarm quilting is too expensive it will take me some time to get it quilted, as it is not one of my favorite things with large quilts. This one measure 66 x 83 inches.

BBQ sauce

Tonight I am off to a recipe swap at Church, where everyone brings their favorite recipe and we can all try a sample of the made up item. I am definitely not known for my cooking, too many other crafts I would sooner be doing! BUT one of the family favorites is my BBQ sauce, so thought I'd share the recipe with you all.

BBQ sauce

Mix together in a large pan over medium heat:
1 bottle Soy Sauce
1 bottle Worcester Sauce [ keep back a couple of tablespoons ]
1 jar Honey
2 jars Red seedless jam
2 bottles tomato ketchup
Juice of a lemon

Next mix with the remaining Worcester sauce:
2 tbs of dry mustard and 2tbs cornflour into a smooth paste
Add this slowly to the pan and bring to the boil
Leave to cool, then freeze or use.
Wonderful with spare ribs, beefburgers or hot dogs!

A new piece of Bobbin Lace

Having attended a lace day at Bozeat on Saturday, where I spent my time winding about 40 pairs of bobbins, I have now started a new piece of lace, just a small picture of a pansy.

Cat woman junior

Abigail is staying with us for a couple of days during her Easter holiday.

For a ballet exam she needs a cat costume, so arrived with the main part and we have made ears and paws for her.

Dosn't she look cute.

Bag Day at Bedford

Spent today with a very nice group of ladies at Bedford on a workshop. Some were making a quilt-as-you-go quilt, one was working on her very first quilt, and what a wonderful job she did too.

Four or five of us had a lesson from Tiny in making a bag with fancy insets. My bag front and back are pictured.

Thanks Sue for a lovely day.

Sun Bonnet Sue

My Sun Bonnet Sue BOM blocks are all finished and joined together, using the quilt as you go method.

The next border will be red to match the sashing but then I cannot decide what to do !! There are meant to be further borders with applique on but as I have used red and black I just do not think it will work.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Final idea is just to put on one red border and edge it with the black and use it as a wall hanging.

IAM Thursday 7th April

As usual a group of eight of us met at my house for a meeting. Usually these meetings are just informal, but it was decided to hold a workshop, and we made purses and notebook covers.. lots of them !

Handy tool holder

For just over £5 I managed to buy this really handy tool holder for my workroom from Ikea. I like it so much I'm hoping to go back for another. The buckets were 50p each and the hooks £1 for 6 !

I think the rod that holds them was about £2.

LDS Temple

On a nice sunny day last month Chris and I visited the grounds of the LDS Temple south of London.

It is a wonderful building and the large grounds were so peaceful and nice to walk around.

At the visitors centre we were told the story of the building and the grounds. A nice day out.

Design Wall April 4th

My design wall this week has a number of 3D machine embroidered butterflies on it. Plus it still has the Easter bunnies.. that I need to make into bags for the Easter eggs!

UFO #1 March 2011

Having failed with the February UFO challenge, the wholecloth quilt.. which I never thought I would complete, but at least I got it started, I have worked on and completed three other UFO's from my challenge list.

Judy Laquidara from Patchwork Times put out the challenge at the start of the year, and March was #1 which is the green and peach quilt on the left. I machine embroidered the little girls and then quilted the whole thing with my embroidery machine. The Farmhouse quilt and red, white and blue quilt have yet to be chosen, so I will be a little ahead those months.

April challenge is #4, my stars of the USA quilt.. I have quite a lot of work to do on that but hope to get at least the blocks completed and the top put together.

Norfolk holiday

We are just back from a weeks holiday in Norfolk, where Chris managed two long walks along the Coastal Path. These are pictures from our little cottage we rented.

A visit to Sandringham park was nice, but we were too early for the house and main gardens to be open.

A new quilt for Abigail

My granddaughter has just had her bedroom re-decorated so the request went out for a new quilt. Based on a design by Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times, I have started a quilt, I still have the borders to put on it. When quilted I intend to attach a number of 3D butterflies I've made on my embroidery machine.

Spring has arrived

The first frog spawn has arrived in my pond, a sure sign Spring is almost here.. yippee

Maybee Patchwork and craft show

On Saturday 19th March A small group of quilters and craft people put on a really nice show of their work at Turvey Village Hall. These are a few of the photo's I took.

Vote for Judy

Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times has been nominated for Best Author, she is working on her third book, which should be just as great as the first two. So lets vote for her at:
http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/

Machine Embroidery day

Yesterday was a great day at BSK Bedford.

The workshop was making things for Easter and I managed to make two 3D butterflies and 4 rabbits with eggs patches, which I intend to make into either a bag or use for my Easter cards.

In the evening I attended a talk by Paula Doyle on Colour Selection, wow was this an eye opener, she is an excellent speaker and by the end of the evening the tables were piled high with her wonderful quilts. Paula is writing a book on miniature quilts, which should be out later this year.. I cannot wait.

Work Box

One of the quilt groups I belong to had a box making workshop, and this is the result.

To add interest to the top I made a 3D butterfly on my embroidery machine. The fabric is Dimples, which I love.

The bobbin lace the box is sitting on was made by me some years ago.

Mug Rug swap

Through the Quilting Gallery a mug rug swap was arranged.

My mug rugs went to Germany, and last week a brilliant package arrived from Texas USA. Nancy Fowler had made me two mug rugs on the Texas lone star and included in the package a Fat Quarter of Texas State wild flowers. The fabric is so pretty I will have to think of something very special to make with it.

I really enjoyed this swap with the

Mini IAM helps stash report

On Thursday 24th February I arranged with a friend for my granddaughter Abigail 7yrs and her granddaughter Olivia 14yrs to spend the day in my workroom.

I needed to come up with some ideas for them to make, and with a big age difference their capabilities.

I also have not used a lot of fabric from my stash this month so decided to give them free reign in my fabric cupboards!

It was a wonderful day and we all made purses, notebook covers and pillowcases. Well done girls.

Plus 5 yds of fabric helped my stash busting for February.

Wholecloth quilt progress

I have moved my wholecloth quilt next to the patio windows leading to the back garden.. and it is gradually progressing. At least I can watch the birds, fish and flowers as the needle goes in and out!

Hamtune Quilt Group

Last night 15th February, the group I belong to, Hamtune Quilters, had a special Valentine evening.

In 2010 over £1460 was raised for our nominated charity Motor Neurone Disease, this was presented to June Lewis from MND.

Our Christmas meeting had to be cancelled because of the snow, so it was decided to make Valentine day special.

We had a wonderful display of food, and the theme of Silk and Hearts gave us a nice display of items to look at. Every member was given a FQ of silk as a gift.

Hamtune Quilters meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm. Venue Parklands Community Centre, Northampton.

Goodbye Lucy - Hello Paula

After much thought, my dream car Lucy the Mazda MX5 has been exchanged for a Fiat Punto, now called Paula!

Creaky knees and the need for four seats as opposed to two are the reasons for the change.

Design Wall 7th February

My design wall this week, is the first 8 blocks of Sun Bonnet Sue that I have made.. the Christmas one still needs a pair of curtains for the window! I am hoping this will inspire me to complete the set of 12. BUT my UFO project for the month of February is my wholecloth quilt, and although I know I will not finnish it I am trying to work on it every day.

Father in Laws 98th birthday

On the 3rd February Chris's dad John Robert Glasspool reached the wonderful age of 98 years. He manages to look after himself and goes out and about on his mobility scooter.

Sunday saw the family joining him for a meal, pictured with Jack are grandson Richard, and Great Granddaughters Abigail and Eleanor.

The teddy is called Gilbert and belongs to the nursery Eleanor attends, each weekend one child takes him home and then has to talk about where the teddy went over the weekend.. I doubt it goes to many 98th birthday parties!

Friday 4th February

Visitors from around the world called on Friday, Sister and Elder Mills from the USA, Elder Morrison from Canada and Elder Lawance from Yorkshire.
This photo shows them enjoying my "Happy Room".