flora top finished whoop whooop

I have eventually finished the top layer of my piece for the Flora exhibition.

I still have to layer it with some wadding and backing fabric and then quilt it in some way (which I haven't finally decided).

Here it is pinned to the back of my bathroom door, which I have come to the conclusion is the brightest area for taking photos unless I venture outside.

This also allows you to see the scale of it.

Some details..

xx

Now it's 12 out of 16, not bad.

I seem to be making progress with my 'flora' wallhanging.

I had intended to have 20 floral pieces 5 along and 4 down. 

However, I think that the dimensions of the final piece will work better with 4 across and 4 down.

So I have 4 more to make.

I am quite pleased with how it's looking so far. I love the colours.

There is still a lot of work to be done.

But i will let you know how I'm getting on.

The sewing room is a disaster. Fabric and thread everywhere. But heyho. 

Just keeping the door closed.

xx

Oh I nearly forgot....

front

back.

Pamela, one of my friends from the Merville sewing group, made this absolutely gorgeous cushion.

I love it, and I want one.

xx

Jayne's Quilt

After a frenzy of stipple quilting that I think gave me motion sickness for a while... the quilt got finished last night.

I washed it at 30 degrees and hung it on the line. Then popped it in the tumble dryer for half an hour.

It came out lovely,  just ready for folding and wrapping.

I used different strips of the Amy Butler jelly roll to bind the quilt. Love a scrappy binding!

The reverse is a pale blue with red spot Cath Kidston print from Ikea.

Ok, you get the picture.

I got a bit carried away taking photos.

Even this rook was fair game.

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.