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!

Grandma's proud day

Eldest granddaughter, Abigail age 6 years, performed a tap dance at the award ceremony for her ballet and tap dancing class.

She is nearest on the left picture and the one grinning on the right!

Having received a medal for passing this years examination, she also received a rosette for passing with distinction. Well done Abigail.

Lavender Blue Dilly Dilly

My latest machine embroidery project is a Lavender Cushion front, made from 25 4x4inch blocks. All the blocks are now complete and just need tidying up, tear-away removing and then sewing together.. a job I will keep for next week.

Pat Archibald Workshop at Hamtune Quilters

Tuesday 13th July Pat Archibald thrilled us with a slide show of her inspirational work. With a trip around the world we were
shown the inspiration to many of her designs, from Africa to Australia via America and Scotland.

This was followed on Wednesday with a day long workshop.

I was thrilled to be able to make the design in red and black, based on the Harris Tweed production in Scotland complete with a Celtic cross we learnt how to use gold foils, bias tapes, and metallic threads. Pat is shown in the first photo complete with our esteemed leader Cathy.

ps. the cake was delicious!

The Quilt Faerie arrived

The postman has just delivered a wonderful suprise.
One of the groups I belong to [the scratchingpost]
have a Quilt Faerie plan, and if you want to take part
you choose a name at random and send them a little gift.

My quilt faerie gift arrived with a big clue as to who had sent it!

The purple feather means a BIG thank you Marcia.

I have already posted a faerie gift to someone in the USA.

Cowboy from Wyoming

Having returned from Wyoming, where I bought this kit called the American Icon, I have made a start and managed to fuse all the applique pieces into place, now to sew them all down. He measures 36 x 50 inches.

Fran & Tilly Pitsford workshop

Yesterday I attended a workshop at Pitsford Northamptonshire, with Fran and Tilly. It was a lovely day and I managed to make two purses using my new cutter template [see previous post]. A nice lunch was provided and a good time was had by all.

Machine embroidery.. sweet pea

Having attended another course at BSK Bedford I am completely hooked on machine embroidery! Only "fly in the ointment" was the fact my Bernina machine would only read .art files and the sweet pea design was not in that format. However today Bernina have changed their Artlink 6 and now yippee I can use any format and change it to .ART.
I just love this sweetpea cushion, made in 25 x 4 inch pieces.