Dual image

The last meeting at Lutterworth piecemakers took the form of mini workshops and I chose one run by Ruth. It was very popular and she was kept very busy. It is a bondaweb and satin stitch technique but being careful with cutting out means you also get the reverse image which I don't have a photo of at the moment. They made pretty little samples, I thought of binding mine and making costers but my family would not bother to use them and I wanted a little across the body bag for a few bits, keys, phone, tissues and lipsalve when I go out for a brisk walk so that is what I made. I have intended to get back into the habit of brisk walks but it hasn't yet happened, perhaps this purse will help. Thank you Ruth I really enjoyed the session.

This is the other little project I have been working on. It was started so long ago that the magazine where I first saw it is long gone so I am unable to credit the designer but there was a whole series of these floral blocks. I completed mine and posted it just in time for the BQL skinny challenge swap. Hopefully some one will like it but if not I would be quite happy to keep it.

The flowers were made by bonding two red fabrics together and cutting the flower shapes out. They are held in place with french knots. I quilted an repeated image in the blank space to make it look like there were more leaves and flowers and I quilted a swirl in the border which does not show up at all.

This is only about 35 X 45cm ish so not necessary to put it on the big machine, I have something else going on in there but no photo at the moment, perhaps next time. I have bought an extended base and a couple of pantographs from another APQS owner who is upgrading to a computer guided system and will no longer need these things. I am thrilled because she quoted a very reasonable price and I saved the cost and hassle of importing and mucking about with customs. We had a very nice chat in her lovely conservatory and I got to see her thread collection and some of her quilts on her walls. Thanks Angie and I hope you enjoy a great holiday.

Hopefully next post will be about a completed christmas quilt comming off the long arm and a mystery quilt going on, although I have no clue about quilt designs for this one. I wanted to put on feathers but the fabric choice and colours just doesn't seem right so I may have to think on. I may post a picture of the top and see what you think.

Till next time Liz

Someone had fun

Look what I found on the APQS forum this morning I thought you all might like a look.
Someone had fun putting this film clip together


http://www.nfb.ca/film/courtepointe_fr/

Enjoy Liz

A BIG purchase and a lot of thread later

In December I had a very large delivery, actually in seven parts. I tracked them from Des Moines to the edge of American air space then they vanished into thin air till they landed at Heathrow then they vanished again emerging in Nuneaton of all places.

Delivery man "What exactly is a professional quilting system?"

Me "A big sewing machine!"

When I explained about the bulk of a layered quilt and the size of the average sewing machine throat he absolutely got it! Great guy.

It took some time to unpack to boxes, read the inch thick set up manual and 3 hours later ..........Ta da

This is my new machine (before the bars were put on) that has completely taken over my sewing room. My DSM is homeless for the time being untill I get sorted.

I love it. These are the first practice pieces that are fit to be seen.
A floral all over pattern which I might make into a bag.

A bit of meander, Vermachelli whatever you like to call it, I quite like it, my first quilt may be a soldier quilt done with this.
Another design I quite like, mussel shell or 1-2 -3 filler

I am off to load another practice quilt and play some more.

Bye for now.

Liz

Rocheberie schoolhouse quilters - mystery quilt day

I wish I had taken a photograph of the nine patch blocks I started out the day with, before slicing them in quarters as if to do disappearing nine patch but then sewing across diagonally with another square and ending up with triangles. We were asked to make 'butterflies' with them but somehow on the library floor my butterflies flew away and I was left with a snail.

When I got home I made another couple of blocks with the remainder of the patterned fabric and made an arrangement which left me with straight edges and a spiral on the diagonal instead of a spiral on the straight and needing triangles to fill in the gaps.

I am not sure which I prefer?

I think maybe the second, but I would like to find another blue fabric for borders as I have none of this left.

I still find the most tedius part is arranging blocks. I think I have got it laid out so no two colours are together but somehow when your back is turned they have moved!

I really enjoy my days at Rocheberie and would like to thank the members of the committee for all their hard work in arranging things for us.

I am looking forward to the next one to see the variety of completed quilts from this session.

Till next time

Liz

Inspiration - where do you find it?

I have been looking for inspiration, something to set me off with a plan for a challenge.
I thought it would be colour that would be the starting point, or a fabric, a word, a theme, but maybe not.
This caught my eye, I was immediately drawn to the shapes, it is interesting to me, perhaps because some of the shapes could be interpreted into continuous line quilting? I don't yet know but I had to share.
http://www.zentangle.com/about-what-is--1.php

Actually I am chuffed I seem to have managed to post the link.
Enjoy browsing Liz

Happy New Year! is it?

New Years Day we had enjoyed the firework display put on by some of our neighbours and loved the many many chinese lanterns that floated over our house before going to bed.
When I woke up at about 8.30 the following morning I was a bit suprised to find the back door locked, but wide open and it was not untill much later I went in the sitting room to discover the TV was missing that I realised the back door being open was not just a oversight on our part but a bigger problem. I went and woke Mr Chaos and we then discovered the Land Rover had been taken too.
When two lots of police have been and told us no finger prints mean probably a professional job, Landy stolen to order probably for a ram raid job, the TV was just a bonus for them, we also discovered damage to the front door but unsucessful entry, and footprints in the garden where the car was parked was the only thing for identification .
Happy New Year! ........ not so much!
But I have to focus on the fact nobody was hurt, burglars came, took what they wanted and left hopefully never to return so..... moving on to quilty things.
This is what I have done this morning. I have unfortunately been awake since 2am mythering probably, so I have had plenty of time to complete these 40 blocks. I have made them from charm squares that were a gift from Rocheberie quilters last christmas and the plain fabric is a beautiful quality sheet which was from my Dads house, it shows no sign of wear and may even have been a wedding gift.
I just plonked them on the kitchen table to photograph them, they are not arranged at all. I am going to have to ask if there are any more of the charm packs available because I really want to make this quite a bit bigger. It needs a narrow cream border followed by a coloured one and then a wider cream one to finish. I see myself quilting simply in the small triangles and a feather in the larger one.
I have a sewing day at Rocheberie to prepare for and a challenge for BQL to plan so plenty to keep me busy. Till next time Liz

Last Post

This is the last post with pictures from my old camera, father christmas came early with this little beauty, as my husband said I will have some exciting pictures to take soon.

This is my last post as a lady with long hair. My ponytail will be making it's way to a wigmaker in Banbury.

I have been thinking of doing this for some time now obviously prompted by my dad's hair loss after just one dose of chemo, the night before I was having last minute nerves about doing it but when out shopping saw a relatively young woman in a wheelchair totally without hair. Whoever she is I wish her all the best and I admire her strength tremendously. It made my decision to go ahead really easy. I posted on Facebook about what I planned to do and several friends have been prompted to do the same, so well done them.

Just a quick post but quilt related post next time. Liz