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Remember - Its not the length of your life that's important - it's the depth.

Monday 25 April 2011

Busy! Busy! Busy!

This weather makes me feel busy, No! not spring cleaning! but stitchin'. I have been sitting in the garden during long hot days (in the conservatory on cooler ones), doing lots of hand sewing. I have decided that 2011 is to be my 'Lets get some UFO's finished' Year. 
Well so far so good, thus far I have completed the stitching on the Rennie Mac silk cushion including the quilting, made a little bag and 2 pincushions with some Cathedral Window units, have started to quilt a Stained Glass Christmas wall hanging that was started in 2009, one of 2 samples for a Stained Glass Workshop I was teaching that year. The other piece (an original of mine) was the one the students were to make is also still waiting to be finished so that's going to be next, then I have some quilt tops that need sorting out (3 at the last count) and THEN I hope to make a start on the large massive collection of hexagons that have been given to me by other people, at the last count I think there is 1 top partially completed, 1 that has the 'flowers ' made and one that is simply 'Hexies' which arrived in 3 x 2 litre ice cream tubs!
I seem to have been dubbed with the title of 'she who collects hexagon quilts', I already have 2 'Antique' ones probably made around the 60's/70's ( I think that's classed as antique?) which I use when I am giving talks to W.I.'s etc. While Judging at the Local Flower Show I was offered one that has just the 'flowers' made  by one of the organizers who explained that she started making it about 30 yrs ago but now can't see to sew and if I didn't want it she was GOING TO THROW IT OUT!!!!  Next one of my friends at S.V.Q. said and I quote.. Oh Lorraine, you collect hexagon quilts don't you, would you take these?' as she was speaking she passed me 3 tubs full of Hexagons, as for the third one which is partially completed I can't actually remember where that came from.! Perhaps I should be labeled 'The Gal who can't say no' when it comes to fabric related items. 
In my post on 31st March I promised to show you the panels I made for the Aldwick Quilt, There were three panels 7" x 7" leaving room for the person constructing the whole piece to trim where required, the finished size was to be 6 1/2" x 18". I wanted to use some traditional techniques as the theme for the piece was 'Stitching Though Time', so I chose Boutis,  Trapunto (Italian corded quilting) and Shadow patchwork which were used as 'focus' panels surrounded by Crazy Log Cabin in a variety of fabrics from my scraps. I used Bridal satin, sheers, velvets, cottons, polyester satins, Cotton and a piece from a child's T shirt, a total of 27 different fabrics, which I hand embroidered before adding braid, ribbon bows, beads etc., at the end is a picture of the 3 panels joined together followed by the completed quilt.


Trapunto
Shadow (shown top)
Boutis








Well that's all for now I'm off to my Slimming World Class so more next time.                                                                                                                  





Friday 15 April 2011

My Beautiful Tree!

I am MAD! MAD! MAD! remember the beautiful Silver Birch Tree all covered in hoar frost I posted a picture of back in the winter? Well it has been decimated by a 'Tree cutter' (and I'm being polite here!) who arrived next door (it's their tree!) to 'tidy it up a bit' and this is the result :-(((
Decimated Tree
 He obviously didn't know what he was doing as its just coming into leaf (trees are not supposed to be cut this time of year!!)  The birds love it and I have been told that over 30 different insects live in Sliver Birch Trees, which is why the birdies love it, plus he ripped out the nest of a pair of wood pigeons!  Well I had better get off my high horse as nothing can be done.

Its been a busy old week and the month is set to continue in the same vein. We have DD's dog staying with us for a little holiday so I have been out walking with him around 8am every day, its beautiful in the fields where we walk, we go around the perimeter as its a crop field, but there are woods and a Golf Course near by so the birdsong is fantastic:-)) Ted loves his walks, he comes home covered in mud and plant stuff or twigs/brambles, there is an abundance of a 'sticky plant' that spreads by itself by grabbing hold of anything passing and with his long coat Ted is a 'sticky plant magnet' here he is strolling round the garden. He's a Springer Spaniel with a bit of Corgi in there somewhere (don't ask!!) he is a bouncy, happy dog with all the Spaniel traits, nose to the ground followin' the scent, etc, unfortunately he can also be a bit grumpy which is why I go out early but it's a good start to the day.

Ted Strollin!
Last Saturday I took Harriet to a Young Quilters workshop at Chipping Sodbury, she had a great time making a 'Funky Chicken' then on Sunday morning she spent an hour in the workroom and made another larger one with a pebble inside to make a door stop/paper weight. My friend Helen came along as well and took her daughter Lia who made a pin cushion.This is Lia at the machine, she did very well as she had not used a machine before. H insisted she took a picture for me to put on this post so here it is.
H's Funky chickens

Lia at the machine.











On Wednesday I and a couple of others assembled a display of work by members of Severn Valley Quilters,  it's part of Thornbury Arts Trail held at the Town Hall. This is the 3rd year we have been invited to exhibit along side other artists. When I was a little girl oh! so many years ago, the building was the Police station, complete with a courtroom and living accommodation for the policeman upstairs! The courtroom is now the Council Chamber and is a beautiful room with a wooden ceiling. Our display looks very good, we have a list of members who will do some stewarding, this morning it was my turn and I was pleased to hear some nice comments about the work as I sat and sewed. I took some pictures to share with you.


This quilt has 72 blocks!

A view of the table

Ive been making a 'Bell' Block after an appeal on a blog I read. Pippa of Welsh Quilts is making a central panel of the fallen Cathedral Tower in Christchurch, New Zealand. See her post on 27th March, the idea is that the bell blocks made and sent to her by quilters will surround the panel to make a quilt. Hopefully the quilt will be on show during the Festival of Quilts at the N.E.C in August, I will be looking out for my 'bell' when I visit.
Well better go, Ted needs his dinner and I plan to watch some TV tonight with my feet up.
See ya all next time