Hi All!

On Thursday last I missed a programe I have been watching for around 5 weeks so I thought Hm mm it's on repeat on Monday so I'll watch it then - or so I thought!!  I have now discovered it's not on till 11pm!! now that's a bit late for Lil ol me but I have watched the whole series so far and I don't want to miss this episode, so how do I stay awake?? I know I'll go and talk my blogger friends.

Having added the Process Pledge Button to my site I thought I would show you some things I'm working on at the moment. Remember I showed you all those little 3/4" 'hexies' I made in August, just before I went off to the States, (I made 45 sets altogether, now there's 7 'hexies' in each flower, so 47 X 7 = ?? a LOT! ). Well! I didn't sew on the flight as planned but worked on them during the 'Retreat' part of the holiday, then a few more at an SVQ sewing afternoon, then they came with me to Devon last week and I sewed a few more so this is what I have so far,

 Having not done a Hexagon project before I was unsure how they would go together, so having found that occasionally there are 'natural gaps' I decided just to add random single hexagons in the spaces. I think I will make them into a Doll's Cot quilt for my darling GD, even if she does not have a doll yet! The wooden drop-side dolls cot my Dad built for me is still in the attic just waiting for another little girl to play with it and I think this quilt may just be the right scale. What do you think don't they look cute?

On October 8th I attended a workshop with Katherine Guerrier  (details here Here) with some of the girls from SVQ, the workshop was entitled 'Scrap Quilts for the Fabric Collector' and was just the thing, I thought, to reduce my scraps even further. We had a great day and this is what I managed to make (despite my Machine playing up long story...)

 The A Block

and another 'A'  Block

The 'B' block

I have yet to make the 'C' block but the fabric is cut ready to sew, (very small pieces).  The starting point is 1/2 square triangles which are made using 4" squares cut down to 3 1/2" after sewing, then the smaller blocks are sewn and added in to the centres and the even smaller ones are added as and where you think fit.  I have cut a load more 4" squares and plan to make more blocks whenever I have the time/inclination to sew something quick.

I am still planning to finish some more UFO's but the next project awaiting my attention has not yet 'jumped' out of the UFO box yet.

Well that's about it for tonight, I'm off to watch that programe and then it's 'beddy byes'  for me

Night night all!

Lorraine

I Am Returned Again!!!

Hi!

Once more I am returned from holiday (is this woman ever home? I hear you exclaim) well I am and I'm here to prove it. I have spent a lovely few days away with my Mum in Glorious Devon, the weather was kind and we got out every day, something Mum does not always achieve at home, and we ate too much but that's what you do on holiday!

I thought it was time to say a little bit more about my trip to the USA last month, I can hardly believe its a month already!!! Now where did I leave off Oh yes....

18th September. Up early and on the bus to Cold Hollow Cider Farm in Waterbury, this was not your usual English cider more a delicious Apple juice, the the farm was not really a farm (no animals & no Apple trees) but was interesting, we saw the machinery being used to make the 'cider' and got a taster plus we bought fresh donuts and cookies, 

This was their truck - I love American trucks!

Next we went to Ben & Jerry's Ice cream factory - again very interesting and yummy, the free taster was Mint Choc Chip, now I don't usually like minty ice cream (something to do with HOT and COLD in the same mouthful) but this was 'mmmmouthwateringly delish' and changed my mind about minty ice cream completely.

Our next stop was Shelburne Museum where the buildings were all historical structures giving a taste of life in  earlier days.

 There was a large collection of old quilts which were stunning, however I'm afraid this was where my camera started playing up so I only have a few good pictures and unfortunately I forgot to write down any dates in the frustration with my camera.

Roman stripe

Crazy Star

Straight Furrow

Crazy quilt

19th September.

On the bus early for a long drive, we travelled through beautiful scenery up through the cloud base, over the Appalachian Mountains and down the other side to visit to another farm ( a real one this time!) called Billings Farm, this farm has a long history of conservation plus a beautiful herd of Jersey Cows, all descendants of a herd brought from Jersey over 100 years ago by a forward looking farm manager, The house has been kept  'in period' to show what the Managers home was like and had many 'mod cons' considered luxury for the time such as hot & cold running water and flush toilets. The farm was hosting a 25th Anniversary quilt show to celebrate the 250th Anniversary (1761 - 2011) of the town of Sharon on the White River, luckily my camera behaved itself and this is a small selection of the quilts. The first picture is some info about the show, if you click on it you should be able to read it.

Information

quilt & one of the cows

9 Patch

Juror's Choice

Bargello

Landscape

'Illusions' class

Curator's Choice

People's Choice

There were many more wonderful exhibits, but too many to put here I think. after leaving the farm we headed off for Lake Morey and a 4 day sewing retreat so I'll post some thoughts about that next time. Well DH has just been in to say Goodnight so it must be that time of night again so I'll sign off for now. I'm off to 'work' tomorrow as its the first lesson of my beginners QAYG course.