In the middle of the night.....

I had an idea! On Saturday I had spent the day at the Regional Day for Region 2 of the Quilters Guild, after starting with a nice cuppa we enjoyed a lovely morning learning all about threads from the lady from Empress Mills (sorry I can't remember her name) then it was lunch and time to peruse the goodies on show from Abigail's Crafts, The Patchwork House from Llantrisant (sorry can't find a link except for Facebook - which doesn't work!!) and of course Empress Mills before it was time to settle down for a workshop, there were a variety of kits available to make an item for the Love Hearts Tombola at the NEC this year hosted by Region 2. I chose to make a felt needle case which I managed to complete before coming home. On the drive back  I was thinking that I could make a couple more items for this and send them off to Region 2. Then in the middle of the night I had my Eureka moment and hot footed it here straight after breakfast to try it out. Some time ago while watching a well known Craft Channel on TV I succumbed to buying some a LOT of wool felting materials and tools, then in the way of things they got put aside till now. So this is what I did...

 I grabbed this old felted sweater from under the table and my box of Felting equipment

After cutting the sleeve off and cutting a piece about 6"x 4"  I drew the outline of a heart which I used as a guide to start adding some tapestry wool 

I kept filling in the shape till I was satisfied and felted it evenly all over, before trimming it to a 5" x 4" rectangle I then added a piece of white felt in the centre attaching it with a decorative stitch on the machine

Voila! I had a completed needle case in less than 1/2 Hour! I will do some blanket stitch around the egdes to neaten them but will do that in an evening

 I must be on a roll today because I have also finished stitching the 2nd of 2 charity quilts for the Woodside Centre (see previous posts) At Westbury Park Quilters in January there was a sales table where I bought this for the princely sum of £1.00

I've already cut it in half here to get it in the picture!

it was 88" long and around 45" wide pre printed stripes with a pretty rose print backing and quilted along the lines. I snapped it up thinking if I cut it in half it would make 2 quilts. I wanted to make them look different, and made a quick search through the bits and pieces box. Discovering some Applique shapes I've had for some years and never found a use for I came up with this idea..

'Send in the Clowns'

I sewed them on in the centre and have added a navy binding which just needs the hand stitching which I will do in front of the telly, as for the other one I was a bit stumped for ideas, I did not have any more applique shapes until I remembered all those Random Log Cabin Blocks I made sometime ago.

selecting a few bright ones I cut out some Hearts shapes trying to keep the red 'log' centres in the middle of them I then appliqued them using a decorative blanket stitch onto the reverse side of the quilt top, I also sewed some outline heart shapes in the spaces, I just need to add the binding now before handing them over to my contact at the centre.

'Sweet Cabin Hearts'

I'm off to Westbury Park tonight so I will have some Show & tell quilts to share as well as these tea pot cosies, here ably modeled by 'Little Brown' the T pot' and which will be sold for the local Youth Club (not Little Brown of course - he's far to useful here!).

Well it's time for tea so I'll be going!

Byeee

Lxxx

More from the show!

Just thought as I had a minute or two before the Girls & boys arrive (DD & Little H plus Monty & Ted)

That I would share a few more pictures from the show so without further ado....

Little & large - Sheila Butler

Doll - Joan Bowie

Indian elephant- patchwork & applique cushion - Ellie Kenny - hopefully a quilter in waiting

Ellie was the winner of the 11 - 13 category at Alveston Flower Show where we sponsor 2 trophies for young stitchers.

Sashiko Koi Carp - Lorna Henshaw

Textured Cushion  - Pat Owen

Macintosh Rose -  Gaynor Garnish

Christmas Table Runner - Pat Owen

While 'babysitting' the quilts overnight I did some stitching on my Kantha Piece it's slow progress and I'm not sure my stitching is up to it and not sure if it's a labour of love now (or an obsession to finish it eventually:-))

Filling in the butterflies

I put in some Woven wheels.

That's all for today I think I can hear the dulcet tones of little our one!

Byeee

Lx

Busy Monday!

Now Mondays are usually a quiet day for me in that I don't usually achieve anything much, I just sorta d...r... i... f... t through the day, we have a snack lunch then I drift some more - you get the drift! (Sorry couldn't resist the pun!) But today was different I felt like sewing so off to the workroom I went - well to put it mildly it was a mess! I dumped loads of stuff in there on my return from the quilt show and had simply not got round to sorting it all out as I have been decidedly 'off colour' for over 2 weeks! Now I'm not asking for sympathy but I was proper poorly! Then on Saturday after some strong antibiotics (which gave side effects almost worse than being ill!!) I felt BETTER!! Yay!! So today I set out with a purpose and have cleared the mess. I resolved while tidying to try to clear some UFO's and PHD's and decided to start with the first bag that came out of the pile, in which I found a stained Glass project. I bought this greeting card at Malvern and I thought at the time it would make a lovely Stained Glass project, but that was as far as I got.

Card design - a photo of a Pilkingtom Tile from the early 20th Century (original size of card 6.5"square)

Then in early 2009 I was asked to run a workshop on Stained Glass so a sample was needed and remembering the card I set to. To make a pattern I photocopied the card to get a black & white image which I used to trace the design. This tracing was enlarged on a photocopier and I eventually I got it to around 11.5" x 13" which I decided would be a suitable size for a wall hanging. This piece then became the workshop sample and following  the workshop I put it away till now. I have previously tried to hand quilt it but was not having much success so today I set to on the machine and got this far..

I outlined all the bias strips inside and out and if I say so I am quite pleased with it...

I shall find something to bind it with -not sure what colour yet though and then I will be able to put it up somewhere.

Next time I shall tell you about our workshop at Severn Valley last Wednesday when we made felted beads with Sue Wakefield.

Byee for now

Lx

A visit to the Museum

Following an invitation earlier this week, I set off yesterday for Thornbury Museum to meet up with some friends and view the 'Chambers Quilt' which is currently on loan to the museum and which is part of their 'Stitches in Time' Exhibition running till April, There is an interesting display of antique sewing/knitting related items from the Museum's store rooms which do not see light of day very often due to their age and delicate nature and the quilt is the stunning centre piece of the exhibition. To my surprise it was a formal but relaxed afternoon, the Mayor of Thornbury and her consort were there as were several members of the Family who own the quilt, and there was Tea & Cake, so the afternoon was all the more enjoyable! The Chambers Quilt (actually it's a coverlet but...) is believed to have been made to raise funds to help build a new Vicarage some time in the late 19th century. This beautiful hand embroidered, hand made quilt has lain undiscovered for around 100 years. The Family of the original owner were clearing some out buildings on a Family property when they came across a box full of 'rags', luckily before throwing it into a skip they looked through the top layers and saw some red & white fabrics, on further inspection they discovered this stunning quilt.  If you live near enough and have some time for a visit do come along it's well worth the effort, there are plenty of places to eat, some nice shops and plenty  interesting places to see on the Heritage Trail in our lovely town and all with free parking.
Last time I promised a pictures of my Gloves so here they are

along with 3 'Hats for the Homeless' I've made as part of the latest Charity project at The Wool Stop

This is the last of a batch of 12 knitted over the last few weeks and hopefully they will keep someone warm.

I thought as I was here I would show you a few more quilts from 'the show' last weekend. In the 'Best in Show/ Visitors Choice' the votes are in and counted and the winner notified ... it was the stunning William Morris in La Belle Jardin by Anne Boyce, and I'm sure you don't mind another look....

and here are a few more for your delight

Autumn Glory - Joyce Prothero

French Braid - Hilary Walsh

 Dancing in Dreamtime - Arlene Lane

Basketball Crazy - Gaynor Garnish

Gracie's Quilt - Carole Leat

This is the lovely Louise Boyce (Daughter of Anne ) demonstrating her work using a felting/embellishing machine.

Some of her items for sale

and finally - today has been a beautiful day and I hope that Spring is finally on its way, looking at the Rockery this morning I certainly hope so the snowdrops and Crocus are out and there are even some daffs well on the way to bursting into flower.(This was taken around 7.30am just before the sun came out, (and Yes! I was out there in my Jammies!!!)

See you all again soon....

Lx