I don't know what's goin on!!

but my internet connection has been going in and out as if it's life depends on it. On Saturday I posted very briefly to celebrate National Quilting day and somehow it got dated for Sunday, so goodness knows when or even if you'll get to see this post. I am actually in danger of finishing the alphabet panel I started for Little H. At Clock Tower Quilter's on Saturday and I managed to sew all day (in between frequent cups of tea and biscuits - well a gal's gotta keep her energy levels up eh?) I got the centre panel and bottom 2 rows put together, (I have already sewn the top 2 rows see post on 16th March) the next 2 panels look like this

 This centre panel will have her name on it, that's if I ever get the size of the letters right, I want to use the same style letters that are used in the Alphabet but just how to resize them I am not sure. They need to be around 4" high for the upper case letter and slightly smaller for the lower case. I am a bit of a technophobe when it comes to doing 'clever things' on the computer, I have tried scanning them in but can't figure out how to enlarge it. I guess I will have to make a trip to the copy shop and get it done there.

But all in all I am quite proud of how it is turning out.

Last Friday (21st) I spent the afternoon in the conservatory where it was actually almost too HOT! The sun  shone all day (tho sadly the Eclipse was a bit of a damp squib here, it just went overcast and misty for about 10 minutes around 9.30am and that was it!!) I did a bit more to the Jackalope embroidery,

I marked the lines using a fabric chalk marker set bought about 5/6 years ago, which work quite well. It's a nice chunky propelling pencil with  a selection of different coloured chalks and tho these are a little on the thick side they work very well if you keep the tip sharpened with the sharpener supplied.

 Also on the equipment front I used a much loved embroidery/quilting frame that I bought about 6 or 7 years ago from a friend Laura who designed them (her husband then made them for her to sell.) It's been well worth the £10 I paid for it.

It can be fitted with one of 2 sizes of hoop (supplied) and initially I used it for 'Candlewicking' projects after doing a workshop with Laura (which she designed them for) but I find it really comfortable for embroidery or small quilting projects. For embroidery it means I can work with both hands which is much quicker. The hoops  are easily changed by undoing a few screws. you can use it either on your lap (very comfortable!) or a low table top (very handy when we used to go caravaning  as it comes apart and travels flat!).
Well it's time I paid my Mum a visit so I'm off round there.
Bye for now
Lxx