Panic sewing

I am getting on very well with the quilt I'm making for my friend Jayne. 

I have a bit of quilting done already. I decided to stipple, or meander (is there a difference?). 

I like the effect stipple has on a quilt, especially after a wash. It gives the quilt a lovely tactile, aged feel.

There will definitely be a bit of panic sewing before next Friday as work, a wedding today, and Easter Sunday visiting tomorrow mean that I only have two days next week to sew. Two days of sewing. Bliss.

xx

9 out of 20. Not bad.

Just a few images of my flora piece which is gathering momentum.

All these pieces will finish off approximately 8 inches by 5 inches.

I need 20 altogether and at the mo I have 9.

When the 20 pieces are put together then the hand and machine stitching will be added.

There will also be paint and pencil lines added too.

xx

Dorothy Russell at NIPG

I am just sharing a few images with you of the NIPG meeting this morning, where Dorothy Russell gave a talk and showed us some of her wonderful work.

For more info and better photos visit her website www.dotrussell.co.uk/

wholecloth quilt

This piece, inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy, is a work in progress.

It is stunning.

detail

The piece started as a black wholecloth with printing, painting, masking, machine stitching, hand stitching.

Oh it is yummy.

Am so inspired I shouldn't be sitting here typing, I should be upstairs sewing.

I'll go now.

(Andy Goldsworthy: pop his name into google.... lots of images there.)

It's snowing

 Merville House sewing group...

 It is lovely to belong to a sewing group, to share ideas and be wowed at what others are creating.       We eat lovely buns, have a laugh and sometimes Martha sings.

Everyone makes wonderful things..

Ella's applique she has created using an image from a greeting card. This is about A4 size.

Gail and

Doreen's little bag.

Doreen's applique picture.. about A4 size.

Rosie's table runner.

Brenda's (mum's) bits of pretty applique which form part of a cushion design.

Esme's postcard which she whipped up in no time.

Gail's gorgeous cushion.. actually a pin cushion... but too beautiful just to stick pins into.

And this is a very special bag which my mum has made. ( she's in the background).
It's special because she has given it to me.
And I love it.

It fits perfectly in my bicycle basket so when I go cycling to the shops (doesn't happen very often here but it does when we are camping in France) I will be tres chic n'est pas?

We had the most lovely tiny little cutie pie of a bird in the garden yesterday.
A little Goldcrest. Along with the firecrest, this is the UK's smallest bird.
This is the first time I have spotted it in the garden although I did see one in the park a few weeks ago.
The garden is full of birds at the moment. I think they might be eyeing up potential partners or having a good flirt before breeding season.

So a little birdie interlude followed by some more patchwork pics...

I am working on 3 things at once.

my Flora piece

a quilt for my friend Jayne who is getting married in April.

and a quilt for Beth.

xx

it's snowing.

Boneybefore

I had my first hangover in about 10 years yesterday. I think I got drunk on purpose just to remind 

myself why I shouldn't get drunk.

It was a good night though. 

My husband said I was very lucid on the dance floor.

No point in worrying about that now. 

So yesterday didn't happen.

However I feel on top of the world today. The sun is out and it's a beautiful crisp clear day

This morning I took my 2 favourite hairy boys to the beach.

To Boneybefore.

Carrickfergus Castle and St Nicholas Church in the distance.

and in the other direction Kilroot Power Station.

Not such a bad view either in my opinion.

out to sea.

the new quiet trains

 marks on the sand, ours, the bird's, the sea's.

Feeling full of fresh air for the rest of the day.

design emergencies

Just before I fell asleep last night I had an idea for my flora piece. I really wasn't into that painted thing I did.

So down it came.

My new idea, which I'm really into at the moment because I can picture it exactly in my head, goes something like this...

20 little separately made images, which will be pieced together. I think I will have strips of sashing in vintagey feeling fabrics running horizontally across. Or maybe try and incorporate strips of printed paper from a book somewhere.

The first one is done. This is about 8 by 5 inches. 

When the whole is complete there will be machine quilting which will add to the piece.

And maybe a bit of paint.

Or doily print.

And hand stitching.

French Knots?

I am so happy I have eventually got somewhere.

The best ideas always come to me in bed.

I keep a notebook and pen in my bedside drawer for such emergencies.

In case I wake up in the morning and all is forgotten.