Log Cabin Cushion

Log Cabin Cushion
Kaffe Fassett Fabrics - Awesome!

Monday 21 January 2013

My New Year Resolution

I have promised myself that I will try and post regularly. I have not been idle since the last post but have struggled with the pain in my leg. I hope that is all over now as I have had the metalwork taken out last week. I am now planning all the interesting pieces I am going to make for Derbyshire Open Arts. Here are samples of what is coming up. 

Child's Quilt backed with fleece
A matching cushion which could have a name embroidered on it

The beginnings of a picture quilt. (doesn't look like much yet!)


Saturday 11 February 2012

Mango Margarita

Well here it is. Finished at last. I have waited all week to be able to get outside and photograph it. The only thing I've not done yet is put a quilt label on it. I have run out of my embroidered labels and will have to try and produce some more fairly soon. This quilt is made from Hoffmann Indonesian Batiks and although you can't see it the inset border is embroidered with the recipe for a Margarita Cocktail. ( My favourite)
The next quilt is going to be a hanging based on our visit to Thailand, I think. Or I might succumb to making the African Quilt I had planned before Christmas. So much to do.

Monday 23 January 2012

January 2012

It is so long since I last posted. I have worked so hard to get myself back on my feet. My leg is still not right. I have spent 6 months in physio and sports therapy trying to get this leg straight and it's not quite there yet. I am determined to ski this year though.
However I am back on my sewing machine and have registered for Derbyshire Open Arts this year. This is the first weekend in June and there is an extra day for the Queen's Jubilee. I have joined with some friends to create the Textile House ( see us on Facebook) I am now madly sewing and creating quilts and cushions. 
This is a photo of the beginnings of my first quilt this year. It's called Mango Marguerita after the Bali Pops pack of pre cut batik strips. My friend Joy thinks I should produce a whole range of quilts named after my favourite cocktails. Now there's an idea. I wonder if I could produce a Brandy Alexander?

Sunday 15 May 2011

How I'm getting on with a broken leg

 It has been so long since I posted my last comment. I was in Canada then. Now I am home and trying to get my life back on track. I was stuck with hand stitching for a while and thanks to Debbie Wotton from the gallery I have learnt to foundation piece little log cabins and make them into cards. I have returned to teaching my patchwork class and have been torturing them with Drunkard's Path. I made two contrasting cushions just to practice.


The block for the sampler quilt in the class is much smaller than the patches I have done for these cushions so I was a bit of a cheat making the curves bigger. 


It's nearly time for Derbyshire Open Arts Weekend but I am not exhibiting this year. Sam's baby is due that weekend. I might just get to see it before we go to Provence. We're going to Roussillon so I will be in the footsteps of Kaffe Fassett.


I did get on with some Japanese embroidered balls but they are not refined yet so no photos. I am packing up all the makings so that I can sit on the campsite and sew. Charlie will be going out on his bike everyday. I will be hobbling to the nearest cafe!!!!!

Monday 21 March 2011

How I love cushions

When I made my Japanese quilt before Christmas I had some of the block centres left so ... here I am again making cushions. I really love the detailed japanese prints. They might take over from my love of batiks!
I am going to be very frustrated with my quilt making for a while because the most feared has happened. I have broken my leg while on holiday. I wasn't even skiing. I just fell on a patch of ice in the street.
I brought my latest quilt to Canada and gave it to Sharon, our wonderful ski instructor. I think she liked it. If you are ever in Banff, Alberta and you are skiing at Sunshine, have a lesson with Sharon Fox. She is the most amazing instructor and we love her to bits. She is the reason I will be back to ski next year. I was going to give up and look after the grandchildren while Sam and J skied instead but they might have to give me a few days on the slopes.
So - when I finally get home I will be concentrating on some hand stitching. I fancy having a go at Temari Embroidered Balls. See! Japanese again. And I will be continuing to knit socks. Oh how I love those socks.

Sunday 6 March 2011

The one that got away

The family have saved me with this photo. This is a quilt I made before Christmas 2010 and I photographed it on my phone. I forgot to download all my photos from my phone for ages and then.......... my phone crashed. Everything has gone! This just goes to prove that a) you should always save your photos from your phone and b) you should always send boasting photos to your family! What lovely people!

Thursday 24 February 2011

Sharon's Frosted Window


Here is the new quilt. I am very pleased with the finished result. I have used my new machine to construct it. The vermicelli quilting on the border was done with the stitch regulator on the new Bernina and it has come out brilliantly. The finish is so professional because the stitches are all the same. This is a present and I hope Sh!!!!!! will enjoy it. It doesn't weigh much so it won't take up a lot of luggage allowance on the flight to Canada.
The back is a beautiful batik fabric I got from Lady Sew and Sew. It's all swirls and dots.
I am going to wash the quilt now as that first wash makes quilts looked used and wrinkled. Such a lovely effect. I am actually looking forward to my first ski lesson now. Isn't that a funny thing. Quilts and skiing. More about this when I return from holiday!