Long time no blog

Lots of gifts made for friends and family these are the back followed by the front of vinyl pouches from a tutorial by Amanda Jean I don't know how to put in a link but her blog is fab called crazy mom quilts. I filled these with all sorts of goodies, the horses were for a friends daughter who likes horses, the sweetie hearts for another friends daughter, the planes for my husband who has his private pilots licience, camping for my scouting son and the golf for my other son who has a part time job at a cyber golf cafe in Nottingham where he is at uni.

I made four of these gift bags after a demonstration at one of the quilt groups I attend I think it was Rocheberie. I put chocolate boxes in them for friends
These were covered note books for children of friends who invited us to spend New Years Eve with them, we had a lovely time so thank you Robert and Louise. I also made a bag for my Dad and one for his friend Sue. They both belong to a local music group and thought a bag with a musical theme would be good for them but I havent got a photo of them.

Craft and cake

My sister can't bake a cake at home, my 4 year old nephew talks about mummy's flat cake. I can't work out where she goes wrong so she came round and we baked together. I had come to the conclusion that maybe over beating was the problem but this looks good and tasted good too. She is off home to try another in her oven.



She then moved upstairs to make a case for some of her music (she plays flute and sings) and needed a small folder for one of the groups. I had made a few of these from a tutorial by crazy mom quilts and she wanted to have a go. The fabric on the other side is pink on pink sheet music, a remnant from the Bramble Patch and the inside is a coordinating glittery pink. I think she has done a fab job especially as vinyl is not the easiest to use.

I think craft and cake is a combination that will become a regular feature in our calendar.
I have made a start on Noah's penguins nothing to show yet though.

Happy quilting Liz

The first quilt

This quilt was the start I think, not the first to be completed, but I saw this at The Bramble Patch in Weedon and wanted to do it.

This quilt was the next I think. I bought a bunch of 2.5 inch strips from a show from an irish company something seed or something shed I cant remember but I cut them all in half widthways and made this. I thought at the time it was log cabin but have been told it isn't quite right, but hey you live and learn and I like it. This photo does not do it justice the colour is much better than the photo suggests.

A rotten cold woke me up, I didn't really want to get up at 5.30 to blow my nose but once up can't go back to sleep so I have done the ironing, yey! but didn't think doing the hoovering would go down too well with Mr Chaos even though it is swarf that he has trodden in from the workshop that I am looking at. I have been able to blog guilt free. Just time for one more cup of tea before the circus that is getting my family up and out in the morning starts.

Happy quilting Liz

Star quilt

For some time I have been working on this star quilt along that Amanda Jean at crazymomquilts has had on her blog. I had not done stars before and I really enjoyed it, so thank you very much Amanda Jean. It is quite big, so big infact, that I could not get far enough away with my camera to take a photo of all of it. My camera was on the cealing where I could not see the screen. This was the best of the three photos I took. Can you imagine the ones I discarded? When I go to group on Tuesday I will see if I can get a better picture.

I have now got it layered and pin basted and can't decide how to quilt it. The question is not machine or hand, the answer to that is most definately machine, but what design? I am just not sure.

I had called this my christmas quilt as it is all in a variety reds and cream fabric many of which have gold in them although none of them are actually christmas fabric. Last week I thought of giving it to my dad for his forthcomming birthday but by the look on the face of Mr Chaos I think I had better think again for a birthday gift.

When I made my first quilt I didn't think my family would be in the least bit interested, infact my elder son said "Don't bother making one of those for me!" Quite clear I thought, that I was wasting my time but within a year when the same son was to celebrate his 21st birthday he told me I could make one for him. That was nice of him wasnt it.

We have three quilts of mine in the house and every day without fail, I have to fold at least one of them and put it away. I like the fact that they are used and I think they are apprecaited.

Will they become for my children part of an abiding memory of home and of me?

It is 8 years today since my Mother passed away and I make no excuse for being reflective especially as it also coincides with rememberance day but I will go before becoming too sad. I am going to start the next Noah block, Lynette has given us penguins this month thank you Lynette

Happy quilting

Liz

Noah's Ark Dove

This is the dove from month 1 of the Noah's Ark BOM. I had to wait till I had daylight before I could photograph it and not have just flash obliterating the image. I really like this and might do a few for christmas cards.

These are to be a pair of cushion covers when I get round to finnishing them. The pattern was origionally from a magazine but was a wall hanging. I used silk on silk but used clover bias tape which I think has shrunk a little, perhaps my iron was a little hot. They will look lovely (I hope )on the chocolate coloured sofa, one day!

Hoping that the sleety rain will soon pass over Rugby, Regards Liz

Lynette Anderson Noah's Ark

This is the one I completed this morning. I have also done the first one which was a dove but it would not photograph well. I have found these completely addictive, they should have been block of the month but have only recently found them. I think I have done them all in about two weeks (very little housework done do I have my priorities right?)
I am now going to have to wait for next month for the next block number 9 which means it wont be complete till February. I have yet to decide on fabrics to join them.

Mr Noah but no Mrs Noah and a cat.

This was fun too.

I love these elephants.

Kangaroo a really quick to do stitchery for month 4.

Are these cows cute? I love them.

I shall be pleased if this post is sucessful with a photo and text visible.

This is a quilt for my niece, 9 patch blocks alternated with applique hearts.It is a rare opportunity to use some girly colours however, I am dissapointed with the lack of colour contrast, I wish it was only my poor photography but even in real life it looks a bit wishywashy. I am not sure now how to quilt this. I used varigated thread to applique but it blends better than I had predicted. Still it is what was asked for so hopefully she will be happy with it.

I have been a reader of other peoples blogs for a while now but never thought I would have anything to blog about (and this may yet be proven to be correct) but recently I have enjoyed doing a star block of the month at Crazy Mom Quilts and now Noah's Ark block of the month with Lynette Anderson and have enjoyed looking at the work of other people and now feel I should learn how to join in the fun.

I have yet to learn how to upload pictures of my work or provide links to these lovely blogs but I know someone will show me how.

Thankyou for visiting, Liz