Monday 19 May 2014

Rugby Theatre and other shows

If you missed A Midsummer Nights Dream at Rugby Theatre last week and if the reviews are to be believed you missed a WOW of a show.
 I can sometimes be found backstage on a show, wearing the usual uniform black of stage crew and if all goes well I am never seen.
This is a rare photo taken of me, because of a completely open set, in costume and makeup with my fellow fairies Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed and Titania (they are the acting type of fairy, I am only the scene changing type). Thanks guys I had a blast and miss you already.
 

Now on to the things I brought home from the other show in my life last week, Malvern quilt show.
I bought some lovely batik backing fabric for my Jan Hassard quilt, some blue batiks for a planned Storm at sea quilt that has been on my to do list for ever, a purse frame that I thought might hold my glasses, I am always loosing my glasses and it drives me nuts. I bought a replacement for my 6 X 1 inch ruler so the one I have misplaced will now turn up, the threads and batting I ordered online and arrived this weekend, the rosettes and cups were an added bonus.
I now need to catch up on real life, housework, paperwork, laundry, the jungle I used to call garden and most of all sleep.

Till next time
Liz

Friday 16 May 2014

Malvern Quilt Show

Lets do a group quilt for charity suggested  Dorothy.
 We always take a coach trip to Malvern lets enter it into the show |(I heard my mouth say before my brain was engaged). Wouldn't it be fun to see a quilt we had all contributed a block to, hang in a show. When I suggested it I had completely overlooked the fact that Malvern is a judged show.
Here starts hours of discussing, planning, gathering fabric, pressing , starching, cutting, trialing, demonstrating, sewing, trimming, putting together, pressing and finally quilting, blocking and binding, phew.
I am hugely proud of this quilt I have no real interest in what the judges say about it I like it for many reasons.  I am glad everyone in the group was involved and will continue to be so as we print and sell raffle tickets to raise money for Zoe's place, a hospice in Coventry.
I think everyone involved has done their best work on it I know I have.
I like the fact that as I sat in the pub doing the binding people seemed to be very interested in it.
One comment from my friend Mike " when are you selling raffle tickets, I want that quilt!"
 
 
 The second quilt I entered was started years ago when Rocheberie quilters gave a gift of charm pack. Honestly, they were not fabrics I would have chosen for myself but I found a quilt in an old magazine and with an old but unused sheet from one of my grandparents I made a start. I soon ran out of charm squares and asked around if anyone had Rocheberie charm squared they were not using. Soon I had more squares and a name for my quilt, Generosity of quilters. I sewed the applique borders while watching my son take climbing lessons. It was put away in the pile and got buried. Finally I had a reason and a deadline and got it done.
I had a phone call as I was trying to make tea before dashing out to the theatre, from Grosvenor shows to say I had won a rosette. I had to ask the lady to tell me twice, she must have thought I was completely stupid. I put the phone down, screamed, told my family and then thought nahhh she must have made a mistake. but when I got to the show apparently no mistake I have two ribbons. One for the best charity quilt and one for best hand applique. Sadly the people who gave me these skills, my mother and both grandmothers are no longer here to share my good news with and I am really struggling and failing to hold back tears.
Generosity will be donated to Myton Hospice in memory of my father who was cared for there in the last few weeks of his life.
Interesting timing as this week is Dying matters week.
Next post will be a more normal post about purchases made at show and next weeks plan is to catch up on sleep.
Liz

Sunday 11 May 2014

Zip purse tutorial



Someone recently asked about my zip purse that I use to carry a small sewing kit and I promised to find the pattern and tutorial I used and post about it so, here you are.

I thought it was called a Doughnut, small wonder I could not find it because it is called a Dumpling. (I was right in it being food related)

http://keyka.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/08/lets-make-dumplings-free-zip-pouch-tutorial.html

The one with the red binding is the one I regularly use, it matches my weekender bag.
The little blue one I heavily quilted despite being so small and then I embellished with beads.
I love it!
The green one is a little bit larger and plain I have not found a use for it yet.

Hope to see a few more around soon.
Liz