Thank Peeps you are the best!

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the supportive messages and advice we have had.  Yesterday we cried, we hugged, we sighed, we remembered and we laughed.  Hopefully we can go on remembering Emily as she was - a lovely cat and friend to Clarissa most of all!


Helen from Archie the wonder dog has come up with a very useful suggestion - a posting box or book so that any worries your child has can be posted or written down to be looked at with mum (or dad) at the end of an agreed period of time to review the situation - is this still a worry, has it already resolved itself, what can we do about it now?  Maybe useful to some of you out there.....!  


Clarissa is also starting a new school  next week - so it's an anxious time for her anyway!  Thanks very much Helen I will suggest it to Clarissa and see how she feels about it!


As to what else I have done - I have cut out some material according to the instructions for the Across the Sea QAL - and more than that I have started putting the blocks together. 


Now I was doing a baby quilt using this fabric

But now I'm doing a lap quilt using this

Why the change?  Well I don't have enough of that gorgeous background fabric to make all the blocks and having pondered about a multi coloured background I decided I wanted to stick with the original plan - so I will be waiting for more fabric and am not sure when it will be coming.  For the back of the quilt I have decided to go with white as the background so will join in then as I have quite a bit of white! And have more on order...




So rather than wait and perhaps miss out on the fun I decided to do a Fright Nite lap quilt to put over your head when scary movies come on!  I am sure it will get plenty of use watching the new series of Doctor Who alone,  but being the tinkerer I am, I am tweaking the blocks and the layout and the border!  I am sorry Jennifer and Sarah I just cannot stop meddling!

Was thinking of going with the second layout on this side of the lap quilt as I can pack more of those greek crosses and scary fabrics in but now I look at the photos I am not so sure actually!   But I do adore the blood curdling Kona Ruby Red solid - isn't it yummy!  Great for those knife wielding scenes in the shower or the birthing of a little alien or two!  


Honestly I am far too much of a wimp to watch horror films and Dr Who is about as scary as I will watch! 






I will go back to the original design for the baby quilt with cute whales on it....I promise the Fright Nite Quilt is NOT for the baby!   Any views on the layout anyone?


Thanks again for the comments - they were especially appreciated at this time.

My new pincushion!

Haven't done much sewing of late so just to get me back to it I decided to make a little pincushion of star quality designed by the lovely Kimber of Heirlooms by Ashton House.


She designed it and it is on at Moda Bakeshop - her first project!  What a simple to follow tutorial and I made mine in next to no time so a great idea for presents!  


I was thinking they would also make great Christmas decorations in satins or velvets!


So here it is - my version of the Simple Star Pincushion

Had neither pompom trim nor a self covered button so I used vintage buttons instead - another thing I collect....!


So what are you waiting for....go make star pincushions and show Kimber she wants to see them!




Nicky

A gift for Canadian Abroad and the FoQ!

I made a little present for Susan as we were both going to the Festival of Quilts on the same day.  A souvenir if you like!


What do I know about Susan well she is a Canadian Abroad, she likes bright colours when tempered by white or grey and she likes cotton perle quilting.


So this very kitschy item is what I came up with....hope it makes her laugh!

It even has a bit of tartan to represent my Scottish roots!

And here is the face behind Canadian Abroad (and me)

and the personality behind the face is all that she seems to be on her blog and more - so friendly, so enthusiastic and so happy to be getting the Baby Go!   I felt I'd known her for years...

 I had such a great but exhausting day at the FoQ and am going to take it easy today - feet up, cup of tea and gloat over my buys....

First up the hexagon book from Marti Michell - she was there with husband Richard! - plus a small hexagon set of templates which will give me inspiration I hope for my hexie projects.  Also the sashing stars set so you can expect more exciting sashing from now on...

Some of the much blogged about Aurofil thread - variegated 40weight for some  hand quilting - thought I'd give it a try!

Some lovely fabric for my hexie quilt - the latest one!  Mainly bought from Doughty's and Quilt Essentials - must look those up on-line!

Yellows for my plaid string sashing - ok might have got that wrong a bit but what doesn't fit here will go in the hexie quilt I'm sure!

And I tested out the really lovely Mandy from Simply Solids on her knowledge of her products and she passed A*!  Here are Azure, Bubblegum, Bright Pink, Pomegranate and Tomato.  More little houses in the making - see the pink Shirley??? 

Some fabrics for baby quilts....! No not for me but for friends....!  The cars are from father/daughter team Il etait une fois..! who do digital printing of fabric similar to Spoonflower and will also print up your own designs!

This one from Chichester based The Eternal Maker was totally off-plan but hey one day I may get lost in Paris and how useful will this fabric be then???

How did I stay so focused? (believe me this is good for me!) Because of this little card reminding me what I needed not what I wanted .....all my fabrics from my projects stapled on so I could match them up!   It was useful - I will do this again...

So back to feet up, cup of tea and two important jobs - editing the other photos from the show!  You'll get to see them ...worry ye not! And some serious stroking of fabric, looking at the fabric, loving the fabric....maybe even some sewing!

A little present!

Here is a little present I made as a going away present.


A family we got to know through my son is leaving our shores after three years in this country and they are moving to Frankfurt in Germany.  


I know Debbie misses her home so I made this to remind her that her home is wherever they are together.  I just hope she likes it.




This is my first little house block using Marti Michell's template Set J- so easy!

and here is my label on the back - can you guess where they are from originally?  Not a very tricky one - the stars are a nod to the Australian flag too!

I also used Insul-Bright wadding so it can be used as a mug rug, placemat or some other insulating purpose.  My first time using this wadding too but not my last....




Nicky




measurements
mat size 15" x 13"
finished block size 7.5" x 5.5" 


materials
variety from stash and navy star fabric
Insul-Bright wadding
ribbon to finish edge of label

The orphans have found their home!

My little orphans from yesterday hung for a brief time on my design board before they (and a few other good hearted and clever people) suggested what next!  Thanks for your suggestions people - you help me out so much!

The answer that vexed me so was ....do nothing! I'd run out of ideas because it was finished already!  

Well I did layer, quilt and bind it but essentially it had been complete and as several of you have suggested it is my new table topper.

The big picture

 The detail

I got the opportunity to use some of those gorgeous new threads in pink, peach and green in that centre square.  And the pink and green are stitched around the baskets and the accent sashing.  The binding is a pinky stripe cut on the bias.  I am posting a bit later this morning as I wanted to stitch it all down at the back and then had to get my photos.

Hope you like these shots of my topper in action - ok not so much action as just being there!

The style of these baskets goes so well with my Art Deco teacups - which I adore and only get out for special friends.   The teapot is a silver plated one that belonged to my grandma or possibly my great grandma.

Tea anyone?

Nicky

I'm linking up with Quiltstory's  Fabric Tuesday, see my sidebar for their button.

Little orphan baskets!

Yesterday I picked up these orphan blocks I made when putting my basket quilt together and put them into a medallion with a bit of gingham, an accent border of pink and some leftover triangles.  This is now about 27" can't say square but almost....

Now I'm wondering what next?

Don't know if this is a wall hanging, a lap quilt or something else?

Do I square off the corners, keep with the octagonal shape?

Add more of the pink, go scrappy or what?

Complete brain disfunction!

Is this mini to languish in the UFO pile or am I to find inspiration somewhere?

I was quite happy when I started but have hit a wall...pondering is my next option but can you ignore a desperate woman in need..?

I think it will need to hang on my design board until inspiration comes....

Unless you ladies can help?

Nicky

Fred the Dog!

I loved making Cyril so much that I had to get started on Fred...


Here he is almost finished - didn't quite make the deadline....but my concentration goes after about midnight...and my hubby gets grumpy!

 Kept with the same shirting background and added plaids, checks and stripes, bigger buttons and a bit of burgundy stitchery for a bit more butchness!

Not enough embellishment yet and no binding but these will hopefully get finished off today.

Do you like him?  Or am I barking mad?


Here are Fred and Cyril - they are good friends already

There is a cat to come...but I think I will leave that till later.  And I thought I should devise my own pattern - a pig perhaps or a red squirrel???


Well I'll give it a go anyway and if you don't see it you will know my efforts have been disastrous....


I have been enjoying this country style with plaids and am launching myself into yet another country project - a string plaid quilt along with Juliekquilts...oh dear when will my poor UFOs get finished...?


But hey plaids rule!


Nicky

Cyril the Sailor Duck!

Here is Cyril the Sailor Duck all finished and ready to play with his friends

In the end I went round my applique with machine zigzag, then in big stitches in cotton perle.

I did some more big stitcherie round the rectangle and in the borders I did hearts, circles, straight lines and a flower!  I also stitched the name of the quilt in the border - just need to add my name and date to the back and the label is done - yeah! 

Buttons from my collection, both old and new, adorn Cyril's trousers and shirt, the small border patches, dot the 'i's and set everything off to a tee!  

I have used several techniques from Carolyn Forster's utility stitch workshop in this little quilt - it just seemed appropriate.  


I think he looks every bit a Cyril but now I need to make his mate the little dog in the series as this was both quick and fun!  Now you all think I'm quackers, don't you??


The trouble is you are probably right!


Nicky

Sorry - posted late due to problems with getting onto blogger and uploading photos!

Utility Stitching - progress but not quite finished..

I have posted about this little quilt here but now I have a bit more progress to share with you.

Last time it looked like this:

Now it looks like this:

I have not completely finished my quilting as yet but I have finished the Amish Wave/Baptist Fan quilting in the border and so have been able to bind this one.  I picked out a different plaid fabric, in similar colours and made my binding on the bias - love checks on the bias, don't you?

I will finish off the quilting in the strips as and when I feel the urge. 

I can tell you that I love big stitch quilting in cotton perle and that I am a big fan of fan quilting!   So thank you Carolyn Forster for another fun workshop!  And I'm looking forward to seeing your new book on Utility Stitching!

Nicky

Little Heart Runner!

I found the pattern for this little heart runner on the Be Mine Blog Tour at Sherri's blog A Quilting Life.  She has made a great tutorial.  Thank you Sherri!

I used this little runner to again practice my machine quilting - don't think I was ready for the curves lesson so that's why I started out with straight lines on the monochrome project!

But you have to start somewhere, I never said I was good at it but I do hope to improve.  At least I am up for the challenge....it may be a waste of time, only time will tell..

It was meant to be ready for Valentine's Day - and it is for 2012!  But love is good all year round anyway - don't you think?  Especially after the Wedding, I guess!

I still think it is cute in a wonky sort of way - maybe the rough edges of my heart reflect my more prickly moments??  Hehe!  I like the fabrics anyway and if you are a perfectionist - just close your eyes! 

At the very least I must make you feel great as you are bound to be better than this - but watch out I'm practising...Lol!  I will keep it to mark my progress (if I make any???)  What I couldn't work out was whether it was better to have the feed dogs up or down.  I think I tried both on this piece but my best effort was when they were up.  I probably need to do a bit more research and lots more practice!! Oh yes plenty of practice....


What are you practising?


Nicky