Dear Jane

I have recently added this Dear Jane blog to my list of blogs that I like to follow. Anina has some great mini tutorials on each of the blocks that they are making. I haven't yet followed her reverse applique instructions yet (I'm not great at the 'A' stuff) but I will.

I started making blocks from the Dear Jane book years ago, and then got sidetracked and put them away - as we all do. However, thanks to the Dear Baby Jane group and a lady from Swansea Quilters, I have been inspired to look them out and try again. So just for Judith, here are the Liberty blocks I made back then. I thought I had more of them, but this seems to be the lot, and I don't have lots of the white background fabric, but I think I'll make a few more and then put them together into a completed project. Some of them look a bit big as I haven't trimmed them down yet, and one or two are a bit wonky, but here they are...




I'm pretty certain that I have some swap blocks kicking around too, so I'll find those next. Otherwise, I will be getting to grips with the software and making scrappy blocks to continue with my stash-using-up.

Quilts UK

I had a lovely day off work on Friday, and drove up to Malvern to the Quilts UK show. I went up on my own, but as is always the thing with quilt shows, I met lots of quilters that I knew. I did look out for Tonya, but I didn't see her.
There were some stunning quilts there, I especially liked the scrappy double wedding ring with beautiful hand quilting. I don't see one of those in my future though - much as I would like it!
I don't know if it's the case, but there seemed to be less quilts this year, which is a shame. Maybe the Festival of Quilts is having an effect. Perhaps i will put a quilt in again next year. I've only done this once before, and if people don't enter their quilts there will be nothing for us all to go and look at.

As, I managed some shopping at the traders - Dear Jane software, some reproduction fat quarters, hand painted sock wool( I know that's not quilty, but it is lovely!), magazines and bits and pieces. All in all, a good day.

Bad Blogger!

I don't know what it is, but I just cant seem to settle to much at the moment.
I was at a quilt exhibition last week, demonstrating making quilt label using rubber stamps, but that has been about it. Sadly, I had a bit of a day that day, couldn't find the box with my supplies in and forgot the camera, so didn't get any pictures of the fabulous antique quilts there.
Thanks to my futile search for the stamping box, my little sewing space is in a right state now! I've tried going in there a few times over the last week to impose some sort of order, but I just don't know where to start! My poor mojo is trapped in there under all the piles of stuff!
Thanks to Gina I have managed to find a bit of inspiration today. Gina had made some very nice scrappy square in a square blocks. For some reason they have stuck in my mind over the last few days, they really seem to sparkle. So I've decide to make some. I don't know if I will make a whole quilt yet, but I have done these, and got another 8 in various stages of completion. Perhaps I'll try an orphan quilt, I do have a pile of scrappy stars and flying geese that I could also use.
For now I'm happy just to stitch.



Onto non-quilty things now. Icicle never did come home, she's microchipped, so I worry that something happened to her, it has been over 7 weeks now.
However, this little chap was in desperate need of a loving home. He's quite young, and has been out on his own for some time, so all he wants is somewhere secure to live,and lots of petting.
We have called him DJ. Icicle may still be found, and we'll have to deal with that if it happens, but DJ is a friendly little soul and has made friends with the other cats around here.

Spring Quilt

Here is the Spring quilt I have made for the latest round of the Four Seasons quilt swap. It is making it's merry way to....

I hope the recipient likes it