Saturday, 31 January 2009

Young Quilters and a finish

Today the Quilter's Guild had the first Area Day of 2009 near Newport. The speaker was Jenni Dobson, with an interesting talk on quilt judging, and there were several traders for us to peruse ( I came away with a couple of scrap bags and a couple of FQs). As usual, I took a Young Quilter's class, although this time I only had 2 of them.
In honour of Valentine's Day soon, we made these little heart hangings. The hearts on the left are my samples and those on the right DD made. I think she made a pretty good job.



I have managed a small finish myself this week ( as well as all that cutting out!). BQL are having a monthly calendar quilt challenge. I usually fall down at the first hurdle on these monthly challenges, but I really a going to try to keep up with this one.
I've managed January!

Monday, 26 January 2009

The start of a new week.

No photos today I'm afraid, but I have made progress on the challenge quilt this evening. I have pieced all of the coins into 3 strips of 20 inches length. I should be able to add the sashing strips tomorrow after work. I'd like to have the top pieced by the Area Day on Saturday.

As I have quite a few things to do this week, I think a list may be in order.
My priorities are:
1. Make the sample for the Young Quilters workshop I am doing on Saturday
2. Complete Challenge top
3. BQL calendar challenge - I'd really like to participate in this one, last year I fell by the wayside in month 1!
4. Make items to be sold at the Guild AGM in March from the Daffodil fabric we were given - this one may prove difficult as I have no idea of what to make from my piece.

Hopefully my good start will provide the impetus I need to get these tasks finished. I have a big day at work tomorrow, but then the rest of the week should be a little quieter.

Sunday, 25 January 2009

Quilter's Guild Challenge

Life is still kind of busy just now, work has been crazy building up to a demo next week, and DS has taken on the looking after of his horse which has meant a lot of running about. Hopefully this will settle once we get into a routine.

I haven't had my machine out this week, but I have been doing lots and lots of cutting.

I treated myself to a new book, Quilts From the Selvage Edge, after finding this inspiring blog. There are some interesting ideas both in the book and on the blog, and I have been inspired to try to use up some strips that would otherwise have gone in the bin. I haven't started stitching yet, nor gone through my scraps bin, but in no time I had quite a box full of selvages ready to use.



My other cutting out has been for a challenge quilt. We were given the following fabric and the remit to make a quilt no longer than 30 inches on any one side.



As usual, it has taken me ages to decide what to do. The fabric didn't really inspire me, and so I mooched about on the Internet looking for inspiration. The Chinese Coins style quilt here gave me the idea to go for a very scrappy design.
I haven't started sewing yet, but the coins are all cut out and ready to go. I should get them all done this week




I know that I have neglected this blog lately, but hopefully now I've started stitching again, I should have something to show here very soon.

Tuesday, 13 January 2009

Lovely mail day

Look at what the postman delivered this morning!
I havent received my ALQS2 quilt yet, I think my partner has been having some issues and is running a bit behind, so Kate has made this little beauty for me as a stand-in. The photo doesnt show the machine quilting, which is great. I've tried a few times to free motion quilt, and I know that you need to practise, practise, practise, but mine still always looks like a dog's dinner!
Thank you very much Kate this looks very nice on my dining room wall.



I haven't made a good start to 2009, espite having soem conmmitemnts that I really need to get moving on, and ufos that only need binding. 'm not sure why this is the case, but I'm sure that my mojo will re-.appear soon

One of the distractions is a new man in my life. This is DS and Will. We are having him on a shared loan from next week, although we have been spending time getting to know him. He has a very sweet nature, and I'm certain that we will all get along fabulously.



Thank you to those who asked, DJ is getting along very well with his broken paw. He really wants to get out and chase mice and stuff, and is putting on weight at an alarming rate. It wont be long before his cast is off, we're halfway there now.

Thursday, 1 January 2009

Happy New Year

Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year for 2009!

As you can see, ours is having a slightly rocky start. We don't know what happened, but DJ has broken bones in his paw and a broken fang. It doesn't seem to be bothering him too much, and he stomps about the place quite quickly now, although he is desperate to get outside.
He'll be fine soon though, thank goodness.