Adventures in Quilting and Sailing

Happy New Year !

2012-01-02T13:48:00.002Z

Happy New Year to all of you friends and readers!

This New Year's morning was grey and miserable. A contrast to last year, when it was foggy but the sun tried to shine through the fog. Nothing like it this year, the sun was not even trying..

It seems to reflect the general mood of people since the economic downturn. 2012 predicted to be again a difficult year financially for most. Many friends in the same boat, difficult times, no outlook to when the sun will again shine..

This New Year is unusual for me, in the sense that I have stood still and reflected in the moment. I am someone who normally does not make resolutions. I always try to be the best person I can and achieve and adjust goals throughout the year, not just because it happens to be a year change on the calendar.

Then I read something that made me stop and think. It was a little piece about taking responsibility for your dreams (as in, just go and do it or you never will). What struck me about that is that to me, taking responsibility, often means the actual opposite of dreams. When you are responsible for something, be it yourself, a partner or dependent children or pets, you owe it to those you take responsibility for to see this through. This means providing, this means being there, this means putting them before chasing your dreams.

I stopped and looked at New Years' past.. the expectations I had each and every year and how some of them never happened.. not through any of my own fault. Sometimes, you can make all the resolutions you like, and dream all the dreams you want, but because you are responsible you set them aside and do what you need to instead.

Many of us hoped 2010 would be a great year, then 2011, surely it would get better? All hope is on 2012 now and what will we be thinking in january 2013? Personally both years have awful for me and like the economy, not a lot of expected sunshine in sight.

I know in 2012 honouring my responsibilites will again override my dreams and 'me' time. So I will tell you in advance I will need to keep my head down and very little sewing will be done if any at all. I want to end on a positive note, as I seem to be in danger of lowering the mood here! In 2012, I will know I can attack the year with my head held high. Knowing I am doing the right thing by being there for those I love and have a responsibility to. I have been waiting for my dreams for a very long time, and I am sure I can wait a little longer. One day they WILL come true!

Merry Christmas !!

2011-12-24T09:28:00.002Z

For all my friends and readers,

I am sorry I haven't had the time to write to you all personally this year, especially those close friends I have on the net (you know who you are!), but I take comfort in the fact that especially these close friends understand the situation and won't take exception. Which I hope extends to all of you

I am thinking of all of you this Christmas and wishing you the happiest of times. My new year's resolution is to manage and set aside some time to catch up. Looking forward to seeing you all then!

For now, the most wonderful Christmas xxx

The tide is turning + Check out Florian!

2011-12-11T12:00:00.005Z

Hi everyone!

From 2011-11-10

After my valiant attempt to get back in touch, I again disappeared into the fog.. so to speak.

Good news is that I have found a job! Really could use a good wage (and don't we all!) so some money coming in on the positive side.

Unfortunately, that also means that through the week, I have no time for sewing at all (what with travelling to and fro etc..). I am fortunate in that there is always someone home for the dog, only it's not me :-( and so my non-working time left to me is in the weekends. Where sewing is competing with admin, shopping, cleaning, washing, etc etc....

So.... I will be quiet yet again for a while but hopefully, once I get used to the different routine, I will have some more time for sewing and internet. I have had to empty my reader yet again without reading all the posts so please be patient with me and if you don't hear or think I don't love you all anymore, just drop me a line to say "hey, where you been? you ok?" and I will answer!! Just impossible to keep up with all the blogs at the moment.

As I had promised to steward at a concert this weekend, I found myself surrounded by the lovely tones of Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. Never having heard much about them, I am now a total convert! Just check out their guitarist Florian Opahle... If you had asked me which was the best guitar virtuoso I had ever heard, I would have come with a predictable answer of someone like Paco de Lucia... well........ hold your breath and check this out.....

What's more, joining Ian, Florian and base guitarist David, were Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden and Justin Hayward - Moody Blues. It was simply incredible! Ian has two more Christmas Charity concerts to come on the 16th in Salisbury Cathedral and the 19th in Manchester, apart from the normal tour.

It was all together a great evening and if there is ever a chance to hear Florian (who is equally amazing in flamenco and classical guitar) I'd certainly do it!!

Here is an encore...

Do you sometimes feel ....

2011-11-08T11:27:00.001Z

you are swimming against the tide?

From Drop Box

(photo courtesy of pinterest)

Ta Daaaah.....

2011-11-06T17:52:00.003Z

And here it is, my 'nifty table-top iron as you sew contraption' in situ !!

Sooo handy if you have to iron every seam you sew. No more getting up and walking to the other end of the room!

From 2011-11-06

Once I twigged how to load the staples into the staple gun, it came together fairly quickly;

Start with the cuttingboard. You can see how it is overhanging the table.

From 2011-11-06

Cut the long strip of ironing board cover in two and join

From 2011-11-06

Cover and staple to the back (no, I am not left handed but I didn't have a hand left to press the button on the camera so I am just pretending here so you get the idea..)

From 2011-11-06

Cut off excess and fold over corners

From 2011-11-06

Same with the glittery heat resistant one and then the cuddly flannely one..

From 2011-11-06

and last but not least, reversed 'hospital bed' corners to tuck it all away neatly.

From 2011-11-06

And voila! I chose flannel because I like the feel of it and it will stay lovely to work on. I chose the colour because it is an even colour, warm, but doesn't get boring and won't interfere with whatever you iron on it.

I auditioned quite a few of my favourite prints for this cover, but I found that it was hard to find little bits back amongst the busier of prints and so decided the plainer the better. This is just a little warmer than calico! (and I also had it in my stash.. for one of these days when you just need it... and that day just came!!)

What am I up to?

2011-11-06T15:34:00.002Z

Rainy, grey afternoon....

I had an idea !

(well, not strictly my idea... I have seen differing version around the net)

From 2011-11-06

I have:

- An IKEA cuttingboard, the one that slightly overhangs the table
- Cushioning felt ironingboard underlay
- Heat resistant wadding (or batting take your pick)
- Some nice flannel in a lovely warm colour

What am I up to?

Fresh and Funky Bee - Some Great Girls !

2011-11-01T10:18:00.002Z

Over a year ago we started the Fresh and Funky Bee. There were around 15 of us to start with (if I remember well...) and it was great to get to know each other and sew together!

This is the last block I have made for the bee and have now completed all the blocks so all my fellow bee members have had their month.

Sometimes in a bee, life takes over and people have to leave. Sad as it is, that is totally understandable and as the average lifetime of a single round is between 12 and 18 months, a lot can change!

This also happened to this bee, but the unusual thing is that quite a few of us experienced life changing events of some type or another during the bee's life. Some dear friends had to leave us. We understand and wish them well. The rest of us, even though it was very hard for quite a few members, continued and made up for those who left with an extra block or so here and there.

I myself tried to do my best and not disappoint but I must say I have been dreadfully late with my blocks!! My apologies to those who have been waiting but I am happy to say that with the above block gone I have fulfilled what I set out to do.

There have been quite a few changes in my life too over the duration of this bee and I am glad I managed to finish it. I have however let the girls know that finding a pattern, fabric, cutting and sending everything out for my own turn, is not possible for me at the moment. There are too many thing demanding my attention so I thought I would have to forfeit my go.

I had not counted on these wonderful ladies in the bee!! Several have offered to send me a block from their own stash if I only would mention a theme. I am very touched by their kindness and generosity and it would be wonderful to end the bee on such a happy note!

I have wished for a multicoloured star quilt (any star at all) on white or cream, any size block. This would leave plenty of scope to ad borders and sashing to make it up in a nice sized quilt! I am really excited about it and would like to say a public THANK YOU !!! to all the ladies in the bee. For thinking of doing this for me but also for being lovely fellow bee members! It has been a great ride and I only wish I had time to continue and do things properly (and on time :-)!!

Thanks everyone, long live the Fresh and Funky Bee because although the bee will be no more (for the time being at least) I know that all of us who have become friends will stay in touch !!

After The Indian Summer

2011-10-28T13:40:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone!

BIG Wave !!!

Checking in to the blog which has been terribly terribly neglected!!

Cut a long story short, lots of personal stuff been going on (which is not for the blog as you all want to read about quilting and travelling and really interesting stuff yes ? !!!), and so have not been able to keep up with the net....

I DID miss you all and thought of you a lot and I know a lot of you have done amazing things whilst I was away!! Well done, (bowing in admiration) !!!

To catch up with here.. we had a bit of an Indian Summer over here with about 4 days of top summer weather in October!! Yes, I couldn't believe it either!! But autumn (or fall, if you like) has now set in well and truly.

The picture is of some members of the public lazily enjoying the hazy warm day high on the cliff above Dover Port, before truly going into autumn!

I am hoping to reconnect with you all little by little now I am (sort of...) back, as I still won't have oodles of time. I really did miss you all and the sewing and quilting and everything so rather than do nothing at all (which has been most of this year), I resolved to do a little. A girl has got to have some fun sometimes yes?

I am happy to say I have managed to finish all the blocks for our bee and I managed not to let anyone down by not sending (even though I was late... sorry folks!!!). I am however busily job hunting and won't have time to send out for my own (I'm the last one as I kept postponing..). Some of the girls have said they are going to send me some blocks anyway. Thank you so much girls!!! You are the best!!!! I so appreciate all the quilty love, I hadn't expected it and am really touched. I will blog about it when I have a few of the blocks together to show.

So very nice to see you again and I promise I will try and post more often from now on!

Bees caught up - Tick !!

2011-07-17T19:27:00.002+01:00

Yay! Caught up with the Fresh and Funky Bee!

Here's Kerry's block who is making a mosaic like quilt.

And here is Jo and Fran's long strip of triangles. Thank goodness there wasn't a lot of brainpower involved, just sewing! Thanks guys, my brain was giving up by the end of the weekend....

3 down, two to go (if I am correct). I better start pulling fabrics for my own one too... I'm the last one. Hope everyone has a little bit of energy left, lol !

Done!!

2011-07-16T18:22:00.002+01:00

Yay! An entire day of sewing but it is finally done!! I do hope Vicky likes it. In the end I could not fit all the names she wanted in a block, so I am going to send them with the block in case she wants to use them in other blocks.

A lovely idea for a bee, but I mustn't think of making this sort of thing by yourself as a whole quilt! I'd definitely be grandma before it finishing it! :-)

Long time no see.... (again)

2011-07-16T12:26:00.002+01:00

Hi you guys,.. I've been taken over by "life" yet again.. It happens but it better not keep happening! I won't fill you in with the why's and wherefores, suffice to say that quilting has not been in the picture!

Still, I have been working on the catch-up with the Fresh and Funky Bee and still doing Vicky's elusive block. She sent me a list with titles, which need to be embroidered, then cut up, and put together with other (lovely!) fabric she sent me to make up the spines of books. Now I am not so good with this creative thing... I am much better with traditional blocks and 'know where you are at' stuff. This is one of the attractions of bee's; you are bound to be dragged out of your comfort zone!

However, just to show you I am indeed working hard at the bee blocks. It's just that this embroidery stuff takes absolutely forever. I thought I was nearly there... missed out one of the titles! (and a long one at that...)

So just to show you I AM really at it and catching up... here is a midflow progress report. Once I have embroidered the missing title, I will cut it all up and stitch it together again with the patterened bits of fabric. Not long now I hope as it has taken me over a month so far..

An unexpected present !

2011-06-21T17:41:00.002+01:00

One of the blogs I am following (ahum... or... at the moment that should be 'not following' :-)- but I will again when life starts normalizing a little)is the lovely blog of Frauke at "Quilthexle".

Frauke does amazing things with innovative art quilts. Go have a look,(here) I just don't know where she gets the inspiration but the results are great!

Well, Frauke (unbeknown to me) held a giveaway for all her followers and even though I am not reading blogs at this very moment, I have read her blog for quite a while now and participated, and Mr Random number selector choose me!

What a nice surprise to get one of Frauke's mini art quilts sent to me. Look, isn't it lovely?

A beautiful card as well and everything delivered by Luftpost.

Thank you Frauke, a lovely present when I least expected it, it brightened my day!

Do you remember this competition?

2011-06-03T16:36:00.003+01:00

Back in January, just before I started my course, I finished a block for a competition. Do you remember it?

This is what I wrote in my post then:

"Last but not least, my 10" block for the competition in Irish Quilting Magazine has been finished and sent off. The brief was to make an unfinished 10 1/2" block with a floral theme. You had to use at least 2 different stitches from your machine.

This is the result. I have been an avid admirer of Susan Brubaker Knapp for a while now and have been wanting to try one of the tutorials on her blog. So I perused the older posts, bought her master stitching DVD and off I went. I am quite pleased with the result, even if it is by no means to the standard Susan reaches, but by having a sort of impressionist style, a lot can be forgiven!"

WELL ...........

You can imagine my sheer delight and surprise when I WON A PRIZE! And what's more, I won the Editor's Choice Award! I am tickled pink and Sherry was so complimentary about my block. Can you imagine.. she was talking about 'tremendous skilled thread play' and wrote on her blog that when she unpacked the block,it whispered to her, 'love me' and she did!

THIS is the link to the Irish Quilting website with all the winners on the front page. The overall winner of the Janome Horizon sewing machine,Cathy Northcutt,also lives in Ramsgate, a talented quilter who has been quilting for many years.

And HERE is the link to the Irish Quilting blog.

None of this would have been possible but for the wonderful example of the master in thread painting Susan Brubaker Knapp ! It is simply amazing the real skill she displays in making her very very lifelike thread paintings. Her blog is HERE at Blue Moon River and her work is just amazing! I am a big fan of hers and have been following her blog and endeavours for a long time now. Do go along and see what she is doing. It's SO worth it! (LOVE the latest Rusty Chevys!) And by the way, can't wait for her book to come out mid July. Not long to wait now... sigh....

This is the dvd I bought and downloaded. The one with the lovely butterfly on the front. Susan explains the whole process really well and it is almost as if you are in the room with her! I wholeheartedly recommend it.

SO... as you do with the Oscars (and it does feel like I have won one!), I will have to thank my manager, my editor and the director (me, me, and me :-) but most of all thanks goes to Susan for inspiring me and to Sherry for loving what I have made! Nothing is so lovely as when you have poured your heart into a piece and it touches someone else.

Bee blocks - start to the big catch up....

2011-05-26T14:48:00.003+01:00

February:

Julie (ForestPoppy) asked for something with trees or leaves. I hope you like this one Julie. A tree with leaves (lol!) Thanks for the lovely fabrics, they really inspired me to do this tree (as have the countless examples I found on other blogs.. too many to mention).

Ali's (a2(w)) theme was confetti. I hope this is what you wanted Ali. She asked for the edges to be well sewn down so to make sure of this, I turned under with a 1/4 inch (well fiddly!) and then used a dense zigzag stitch. Whilst I was hoping this would be both secure and look good, I had great trouble with the sewing machine sewing the cloth to itself (in one place). I have no idea why it does this. It's not only at the beginning (or end) where there might be problems with double thickness but also just randomly somewhere in the middle.. Whilst it looks simple to do, I had a lot of trouble with unpicking and redoing before it looked anywhere near I wanted it to! So fingers crossed Ali likes it!

Next up is Vicky who so kindly swapped her month with me when I was bogged down with the learning. (Thanks again Vicky!). So April is next and catching up there at last.

Both Julie and Ali's blocks will hopefully go out this week. Just a question of wrapping, addressing and sending.... (does that happen to anyone else? you sew the block and it is lying there... waiting for envelopes, cards or stamps... and a week later it is still there?....) I will try and do it asap girls! Scouts honour!

Ta daaaaah.....

2011-05-23T12:30:00.000+01:00

No... I did not mean this beautiful boat against a backdrop of the largest windfarm in the world shimmering in the heat (and that wasn't this week, the heat I mean, that was a couple of weeks back!).

No, I meant the (partial) reappearance of myself on my blog! Hi everyone|! *waves*. I have re - emerged from study land. Finished the course, and am going to be the proud owner of a Certificate stating that I am now officially a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language !

It was an intensive course and I found myself studying all the time and worrying about the next assignment and the next and the next.... However, all done and dusted now and looking for work.

I am not quite back to my own bloggy self yet.. It needs a bit of acclimatizing jumping out of the study bubble into real life. I thought that on finishing the course I would be full of energy, doing all the things I could not do for a while... like catching up with friends, (as well as housework and admin etc.. yuk...) and sewing (yay!) but I find that funnily enough the energy has left me completely.. A sort of backlash if you like.

Oh well.. I am sure I will get there eventually and I will endeavour to catch up with things on the blog slowly but securely!

Thank you SO MUCH to all those kind friends who sent me words of encouragement. I so very much appreciate your kind thoughts and good wishes. Thanks also for all who have understood I had to disappear for a while.. it was tough, but I did it!

I am still not reading blogs so no idea what you are all up to yet. I am starting slowly and catching up with one thing at a time. I am going to prioritize my bee blocks first. The February block is in the making! Thank you Julie (Forest poppy) for all your patience! The March and April ones are not far behind now.

Hope you have all been doing lovely and wonderful things whilst I was 'away' and are happy and healthy! See you all soon !

Can you feel the love tonight?

2011-03-02T15:39:00.003Z

I certainly can!

Whilst I am being absent doing some hard learning (man, is this stuff harder than when you are in your teens! you wouldn't believe it!!), I am definitely feeling the 'lurve' !!!

First I received a stylish blogger award from Hadley who blogs at Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle.

She has a lovely blog so if you are not here on a link from Hadley, go have a look! Thank you Hadley, sorry I am a bit late blogging about it (and not so many facts about me either... I will put my thinking cap on and do some in a later post).

Then I discovered I have been given a 'Bloggy Lurve' award by Leila of 'Where the Orchids Grow' fame ! Aaaaw... Leila.... thank you girl!! That is sooo sweet of you. I am blushing now being nominated twice in one week. You sent a new follower over too you know (welcome Marianne, I saw you joined, love your blog too!!), all exciting stuff!

If you haven't visited Leila before... you know what I am going to say... HERE is the link!! Leila has not been blogging long but she is very talented (and sweet) and is rapidly on the way to becoming one of our bloggy celebs. Stay tuned there !! (you heard it here first!)

And.......

Tadaaaaah..... DQS10 basic windows (still closed) have been steadily multiplying. Nearly there with the base and ready to start thinking which colours to put in the windows. That is going to be a lot of fun after doing all the (read... a LOT of the..) groundwork. Can't wait.. Hold on in there partner... it's getting there!

Back to the grind. Assignment due coming Tuesday... aaaaagh....

Going... going..... ok, ok, I'm gone...

(see you all soon) xoxoxo

Lily's is baking !!

2011-02-13T13:17:00.002Z

Look at this guys! Our own Lynne of Lily's Quilt has made her debut as a Moda Bakeshop Baker!!

Isn't it a smashing quilt? The fabric is Sherbet Pipps by Aneela Hoey, another talented blog pal turned designer.

I love the way the pattern showcases the fabric. A lovely quilt!!

Hop over to the Moda Bakeshop and leave Lynne some love in the form of a comment. If you click "HERE" you are going straight there.

And when you come back, why not hop over to her blog "HERE" and take your chance at winning some of the sweet fabric she used, and look at her lovely blog of course.

Go on,.... you won't regret it!

ORBC - Ticker Tape - Round 9

2011-02-12T09:31:00.002Z

You have heard me talking before about the marvellous Flickr Group called "the Old Red Barn Company". It all started in 2009 when Dana hosted a sew along on her blog.(btw, she also sells marvellous soaps and things!) We all had such fun and we got such a lovely group of participants together, that we did not want to stop! So we all went on!

Sewalong after sewalong appeared and would you believe it, we are at round 9!!

Round 9 is ably headed by Dolores of DeeRoo Designs. She is doing a marvellous job making a lot of examples and tutorials, so everything you ever wanted to know about ticker taping is there! Go and check it out HERE. All the info in one yummy post.

I have been excited about doing this since months before it all actually started and been keen to join. However... yep... you guessed it... The Course happened and it is all so much more work than I anticipated.... So my intended quilt has shrunk from a quilt to a mini quilt... to maybe a mugrug??? Lol.... I WILL get it done and the beauty is that this will stay on Dee's blog so everyone can look back at it at any time.

In fact we still have regularly photos appearing of quilts made in round one and later rounds. There is no time limit!! So even though a fair few quilts have been made and the instructions are complete, do come and join us on the Old Red Barn. This ticker taping is such a fun technique with infinite possibilities (as Dee and the girls have shown!).

It'd be great if you could join us. It's a great group and round 9 a great round to join. See you THERE !!!

Coming up for breath...

2011-01-26T13:16:00.002Z

Hi guys! I have been (and will do) a lot of studying but coming up for breath briefly for some enjoyable interludes.

Firstly, it was my birthday last week (how time flies, nearly a week ago now!) and both my boys got me such lovely presents. My elder got me a xbox kinect exercise tape/game/whatever... (I keep calling it video but have been told that is showing my age, lol!) This was not a hint, I actually wanted that one. It scans your body and you can see yourself working hard on the screen when following the (virtual) instructor. Good fun!

The younger one was very lovely and got me an incredibly sweet pincushion in the form of a reel of thread and selected a great book on mandala quilts I had not even seen before. What do you think? I really like it!

My mum, being elderly and having to post, asked me to buy myself my current favourite thing... No brainer!

Recognise it? Of course you do... Amy Butler Soul Blossoms! It will have to stay in its pretty stack for a while till the DQS10 is done and the course lets me sew something else.

Last but not least, my 10" block for the competition in Irish Quilting Magazine has been finished and sent off. The brief was to make an unfinished 10 1/2" block with a floral theme. You had to use at least 2 different stitches from your machine.

This is the result. I have been an avid admirer of Susan Brubaker Knapp for a while now and have been wanting to try one of the tutorials on her blog. So I perused the older posts, bought her master stitching DVD and off I went. I am quite pleased with the result, even if it by no means to the standard Susan reaches, but by having a sort of impressionist style, a lot can be forgiven!

So next (apart from studying of course, but a girl has to have SOME time to herself..) I am going to give the DQS10 my full attention!! Not that I have not thought about you partner! I have been reading your blog and following your flickr and thought of and rejected several ideas.. but I think I have twigged the general idea now. Next is thinking of, and ordering maybe, some fabrics to use.. depending on what I have and what not.. We'll see. But now the flower block is gone, DQS, full steam ahead!!

If I don't get back to you....

2011-01-17T09:01:00.002Z

You know how life can take over? How suddenly you have committed yourself to do this that and the other (sewing or otherwise..) and run out of time?

Well... I have realized that I need a 48 hr day at least to keep up with everything I am supposed to be doing. Main reason is that I have just started a daytime course, with lots and lots of reading, researching and assignments to be done and given in. This by itself would mean that I have no time for anything else.

Then there is the sewing of course, lots of commitments there and I do not want to disappoint my fellow bee members or my PIF followers who are still waiting for their surprise (hold on guys... it IS coming but I have to apply for an extension there, just hold on a bit till summer when the course is over...). I DID apply for DQS10 and got, but I reckoned I would need a little relaxation inbetween all the studying and that would be just the ticket.

I have won and been given lovely prizes and gifts. Patterns I want to make, kits I would like to make up and show the generous giver what I have done with it, programs to learn..

I would like to answer at length everyone who sends me a comment or email, I would like to comment on each and every blog I am following and where I see something that interests me and want to say.. 'hey, this is great!'. To try and keep up with this, I have (sort of)kept up with the posts in my reader... scrolling through most, clicking on those of special interest where I want to answer, comment or simply print out some inspirational photos. These then open in a new tab.. I have left all the tabs open.. "for when I get time..." and the amount of tabs grew and grew... Every time the computer is switched off, there is an option to 'restore' and get all my open tabs back.

However... this morning.... nothing!! no tabs... no restore... All my tabs gone... It's as if you have a whole pile of important papers on your desk and someone threw them out of the window in a raging storm. Nothing left, nope, nada.. It is an enforced (ruthless..) clear out and I am already starting to fill up a new line of tabs..

So if you know I read your blog, and I suddenly stop commenting... or I do not answer you... please let me know. It is not personal, I am not snubbing you, I simply cannot keep up..

I have had to prioritize, and radically. The most important time consuming task at the moment is my course. I hope to have completed this by summer when my time is going to be more my own again. As it is, it's nose in the books, and a little sewing on the side. Internet will have to take second seat for a bit.

I am therefore not going to keep up with all your lovely blogs till summer... I will only see all these lovely things and get wonderful ideas I don't have time for!! I will comment here and there, and try to answer mails, but again... If you don't hear, it's me disecting some grammar, not you!

I hope you'll all bear with me. I won't be absent, but semi absent, and try to curb my natural desire to connect with you all.

So if I don't get back to you.... don't fret and please remind me!

Thanks friends, wish me luck !

We have our partners !

2011-01-16T13:31:00.002Z

Ooooh so exciting! Partner details are being sent out as we speak! Some of us have the mail, others not yet!

I have my partner and thank you mama !! (you know who you are, lol) that was a wonderful match! My partner and I share our taste in fabrics and some other things besides (not going to say what so as not to give away too much..) so I am very happy. I will be stalking you for a bit and form an idea of who you are and what would make you happy before I start to make your quilt.

Here is a lovely photo of Scotland taken on the Isle of Raasay. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the DQS but I like it and I don't like posts without photos..

So, having got that out of the way, you, my partner who is making my quiltie for me, will log onto my blog either today or in the coming week. And you will read this. So..

Dear Partner,

I have given you a little bit of an idea of my likes and dislikes on the form that has been sent onto you. That does give you an idea. Feel free to read my blog, and look at my flickr photos, that should help to tell you what sort of person I am.

When it comes to making my quilt, I would like you to have great fun in making it. This is my first and foremost requirement. I don't know whether you have done this before, but when I started, I really worried myself sick throughout most of the first time and was mainly worried about getting it 'right' and whether my partner would like it...

DON'T do that !! Have fun and don't worry about getting it 'right'. If you put love and care in what you make, I will like what you make for me, because I know the effort and time you have put into it. When I look at it on my sewing room wall (where it will go), I would like to think that when you look at the quilt in photos a year from now, you will remember the fun you had in the forums and the fun you had selection fabric/pattern and making it. That is my main wish.

So don't worry too much about which colours or designers I like. You will get enough of a general idea from my blog mainly. It takes a lot more time to upload photos to flickr than to the blog, so consequently there is less on flickr although enough there too.

I have increased my favourites to contain more of the quilts from the last round. The favourites have specifically been chosen from former DQS rounds to give my DQS partners an idea of which ones I liked in the various round. Just to give you an overall idea. You do what you like. OK ?? great !

Now lots of luck and fun for everyone. I know I am going to have!

It's Doll Quilt Swap Time !!

2011-01-15T11:47:00.007Z

It's that time again when we are all waiting with baited breath for our doll quilt swap partners! For my readers who don't know what it is all about a quick recap;

The doll quilt swap started small, with a few people being organised in pairs to swap doll quilts they are making especially for their partner. It is a blind swap, which means that you know who you are making the quilt for (obviously, as you are having to 'stalk' them and find out their likes and dislikes to make the best quilt possible for them) but you don't know who is making the quilt for you, that will be a surprise!

To give your partner information on your likes and dislikes, you can write a letter to them on your blog, make a mosaic, update your favourite photos in Flickr and make lots of comments in the threads. Likewise, when you have been emailed with the name of the one you are making for, you stalk them in turn to find out their favourites.

The group itself is very jolly and has lots of amusing characters who entertain us all in the threads. I am not that funny myself but I enjoy reading some of the banter going on. Some threads get quite raunchy, lol...

You can imagine, as this swap has now grown to 200 participants per round, we have a lot of fun! It is organised by swap mama's, ten of them this round (and an angel mama, who makes a quilt for those who get lost in the post or not arrive for some other reason, Hi Carol!!), who each look after a batch of 20. The mama's collectively read all the blogs and look at each flickr page to match participants as best as they can. It's a lot of work and we are so thankful to all the mama's who make it possible for us to participate in one of the best swaps on the net!

I have been lucky enough to participate in DQS8 and 9 and here are the quilts I made and received;

This is the first doll quilt I ever made. I was sooooo worried my partner would not like it, as I did not have much information at all that time because she was taken ill and had to drop out of the swap. My swap mama and I decided to still continue as planned and I made a quilt and sent it to her as a surprise.

As Laura my swap mama made the angel quilt to send to the one who was my partners partner (if you get what I mean), I made a surprise quilt for Laura. She just loves Hello Kitty, so made her one of those. I don't seem to have a photo of the finished quilt.. and Laura hasn't published any of it either so I can't scoop those. I remember taking some.. wonder where they went.. Anyhow, this is the piece before quilting;

The quilt I received was made by Marianne Penner (maripenquiltmum). She made this lovely bird, which I coveted seeing it grow on her blog and in Flickr. I just loved it but thought that nobody got just those quilts they particularly like... So what a surprise when I got a parcel from her and this beautiful quilt came out!! It has pride of place in my sewing room now and I admire it every day.

DQS9 arrived and I took part again. This time I was making a quilt for Mari who wanted a square quilt for her kitchen table. This one took me a long time to make, not in the least because it was a new technique I was trying and, now I had more information, I wanted to make it perfect for her! I think she liked it and she has a beautiful picture of it on her Flickr with a candle in the middle.

The quilt I received reduced me to tears. Teresa the Lochside Quilter in Scotland made it and she just hit the nail on the head and made it perfect!! I had just returned from a journey to Scotland which did not go entirely to plan, so I arrived home very tired and a bit sad from a long long journey in the car, having to shop and breathe life back into the house before going to sleep and recharge. I came through the door, and... surprise!!! My doll quilt!! And what a lovely parcel with thoughtful extras and a fantastic dolphin quilt. Teresa had 'read' me perfectly. Love water and dolphins, love Scotland too and amazingly had passed the day before almost by Teresa's house. It was so nice to know that someone who I did not even know had taken such care in putting such a lovely parcel together! It was a warm welcome home I had not counted on! It now also lives in my sewing room. It's getting a really nice place to sew with all those beautiful quilts on the wall, as almost every I sew is given away, so it's nice to have these lovely memories of both swaps on the wall!

We are on the evening of DQS10. We will be getting our partners in about a week or so (or two...) I think... Who will it be?? Excitement is growing!

Go check out the Flickr Group.. You will enjoy it !!! (click here)

Mystery.... anybody know the solution??

2011-01-15T09:31:00.005Z

Hi everyone, I was just trying to export some photos from Picasa (where all my photos are) and an odd thing happened... Whenever I select a photo, then click an icon (like.. email, save to web, export to somewhere else on the computer), the answer is not to do something with the selected photo, but jump to a random other selection... either single or whole sets.

This means I cannot post photos anywhere.. neither on the blog OR on Flickr.. Now with the DQS10 starting, that is not a good situation to be in. I have no idea what causes this or how to solve it but will do my best to try and figure it out.

In the meantime if anyone has had this happen and knows the fix.. please let me know! I'd be ever so grateful..

Me and technology.. not a match made in heaven.. sigh..

I am going on a journey of discovery and will do my best..

Update: I suddenly thought of that TV programme "The IT crowd" I think it was... whenever someone comes to them for help, the standard answer is 'have you tried turning it off, then on again?'. They say that without even listening to the problem, it is the standard joke..

So... I turned the whole computer off and killed the electricity at the socket for a while, turned it all on again and..... Hey presto... IT WORKED !

I am obviously an IT expert now... Thanks IT crowd! *big grin*

Ferret fixed it for me !!

2011-01-09T18:54:00.002Z

You know how there was this tv programme where one of your dreams could come true? Now, there are several (quilt related we're talking about here) dreams I have... some of them impossible (?) to achieve (probably, lol) but others more within reach, yet too expensive to do them all...

One of mine was to listen to all of the wonderful shows on The Quilt Show. The Quilt Show has lots of interesting things for all us quilter to hear and see, they have forums, quiltalongs, a blog and wonderful shows for us to watch. You can access much of this if you are a (free) basic member, but all the exciting new shows are reserved for star (paid) members only.

So you can imagine my delight when I found out that Ferret (Ferret Fabricates Blog), had selected me to have one of the few star memberships she was giving away!!

Thank you SO much Ferret! I am a bit late in thanking her in this post as I have just had a massive 3 day migraine,... so am behind again in more than one way (posting, email, sewing, housework...)but wanted one of the first things to be this post! I am really delighted with this and am really looking forward to watching lots of shows and learn lots of new techniques!! I will be making good use of my 6 months membership !!

Ferret came to see us in our local Quilt Guild back in June 2010. I posted about it HERE, so if you want to see part of the most fantastic work she does, please click through.

To have a look at all the Quilt Show has to offer, click HERE ! The Quilt Show is hosted by Ricky Timms and Alex Anderson and there is much to see for non star members too! (if not the lovely show that is on now!) I am particularly pleased, as I had seen the shows that have been planned for 2011 and quite a few of them are just a must see!!

So thank you again Ferret! I am really looking forward to this! A wonderful present!!

Bearpaw is 100 !!!

2011-01-06T14:31:00.002Z

Well... amend that to... Bearpaw is at her 100th post!!

Jo, who is blogging at Bearpaw blog has reached this milestone. You ought to go and have a look anyway, as Jo is super talented and has made lots and lots of wonderful crafty items. Every single one is lovely and most even nicer than the previous ones. Some are for friends and family, but if you are lucky enough, they might appear in her shop and you can buy them!

Now to celebrate, and when you finished reading her blog, Jo is having a giveaway..

Just look at all this !!!!

The whole package includes, 10 lovely Fat Quarters, among which Tanya Whelan and Amy Butler, a lovely ball of Rico wool and last but not least, one of Jo's miniatures she sells in the shop all framed and ready to be hung, not only suitable for the craftroom but not out of place in any style home, so versatile!

So.. if you would like to read a super blog.... or if you would like to have a go at trying to win the giveaway ... ( or both !!) Go along to Bearpaw's NOW!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-05T13:43:00.002Z

January 3rd.. the going is still good...

2011-01-03T13:53:00.002Z

The New Year is still living up to its promise and nothing major untoward has happened yet. Some lovely walks and relaxation before going back into the fray tomorrow when the holiday season officially ends and all go back to work.

Yesterday the morning sun had a special surprise for us.. The rays peeking from behind dark clouds made the water seem like silver and the light bouncing off the wet stones was pretty special;

Today all was much quieter and the tide only just coming into shore,

We saw some oystercatchers again, this time not in the nature reserve but along the shoreline where we usually walk, 'just' an ordinary beach (but quite special to us)..

A little bit further on I discovered a curlew on the waterline. I managed to distract Rafael's attention as I did not want him to scare it away and we managed to pass close by and leave it in peace on its rocky perch.

Tried some more paints out on calico. Of my previous attempt, only the fabric paints were performing really well (that figures doesn't it!) so I have now done some diluting and mixing and layering and see how that comes out in the wash! (do not look at the quality of the image... it's not very artistic.. it's just a test!)

On the back you can see how the paints I have diluted are bleeding through more.

I am hoping the images stay the same after washing. It will be a good start!

Happy New Year !!

2011-01-01T15:02:00.004Z

from Ramsgate to all my friends and readers.

ramsgate harbour in the (not rising from the fog yet) early morning sunrise..

remnants of New Year Celebrations were evident everywhere...

our New Year's walk took us through the village of Pegwell

into the countryside. (I thought of Micki but did not carry a carrot for the horses.. which was just as well as soon I saw a big sign saying 'don't feed the horses'!)

Pegwell Bay nature reserve is lying on the edge of a disused hovercraft site but has a beautiful beach lying at the bottom of the cliffs which are towering over it..

It is good this stretch is a nature reserve and protected, as in the marshy waters of the bay, many migrating birds have a rest before continuing on their journey. Here a few oystercatchers standing inbetween the seagulls.

Whenever a manmade structure gets abandonned, nature takes over again. Through the cracks in the concrete of the abandonned hover port, lilac bushes and grasses grow in abundance, making for a surprising landscape..

Can you imagine cars waiting to board here in the heyday of the hovercraft?

A bird with Very orange legs risked coming quite close.. (I have to look up what it is.. not sure at the moment..)edited: It's a redshank, thanks Julie!

And flocks of smaller birds also flitted about. Settling on the mud en masse...
(a sort of sanderling maybe?)

only to fly off just a second later..

The sun seemed to symbolize the start of this year... It's trying to break through to make it a sunny one... but still a bit of a struggle...

I hope that for those of you who had a brilliant 2010, the coming year will be even better. For those for whom it was a thoroughly terrible year (and sadly, there are quite a few too...) I hope that the sun may shine through the fog and come out bright and strong and make 2011 a year to remember for all the good things that happened!

I will leave you with another beach shot. May 2011 be the best year ever !!

Rain and Fog...

2010-12-29T12:16:00.001Z

this morning... and a 'warm' 5 degrees celcius...

start to an experiment with fabric paint...

Boxing Day

2010-12-26T13:47:00.002Z

A beautiful boxingday sunrise which I missed by about ten minutes.... Still..a beautiful new, if very frosty day.

Frost on the roads..

and a curious Rafael looking down onto the beach... what is he looking at?

aha.. the seagulls flying up from their morning breakfast on the sands, disturbed by early dog walkers!

Merry Christmas !

2010-12-25T10:28:00.001Z

Merry Christmas everyone !

I am wishing for all a wonderful and peaceful time.

Blustery icecold winds....

2010-12-23T11:31:00.002Z

sweeping up the waves....

battering the harbour wall...

and do you see those two people standing there? and that van driving along the wall?

rather them than me!!

Inside the fire is roaring and if I don't have to go out (which I will,on a station pickup...) I will stay in!! Brrrrr....... (no snow though, just windchill. yuk too..)

All good things come to an end...

2010-12-20T16:29:00.002Z

Time for Maria to leave.. a last look at Ramsgate Harbour..

Last warming hot chocolate at the cafe before leaving on the bus...

Maria's mum Dee has been lobbying for a photo of the two of us... here you are Dolores! (although I don't like having my photo taken! much happier behind the camera:-)

Yum, yum, yum, yum.... (Maria's had marshmallows hidden under all that cream too!!)

I think she was enjoying that... don't you??

Come back soon Maria!

and Sunday.....

2010-12-19T14:00:00.003Z

Maria accompanied me on my morning walk, which was very nice! Snow was still lying on the ground, lots of ice too and freezing temperatures....

Wintry scenes in the park with dogwalkers look great though.

And Rafael had a ball snuffling in the snow on top of the cliffs!

We walked over the cliffs to Broadstairs..

Maria in front of Viking Bay;

Viking Bay all under the snow still!

We took the path at the bottom of the cliffs to go back home,

Again, Rafael running around happy as Larry!

Icy waters lapping at the foot of the cliffs.. no swimming today! (brrr....)

Someone eloquently informed us of today's conditions.. So if you hadn't got the picture yet.. here is the summary!!

Saturday......

2010-12-19T13:29:00.004Z

All was well in the morning..... a beautiful sunrise...

and a clear day.

A snowstorm drifted in from the sea, but stayed offshore..

it tried to snow ... but after a few flakes... that was it!!

So... as Maria, who is staying with me at the moment, really wanted to see Dover Castle, off we went to Dover! Where we met an almost empty (but open)castle, with enthousiastic guides everywhere who were glad to see a living soul!!

It was VERY cold however, so wrapping up was the order of the day.... (Maria is in there somewhere!)

The King's bed with real grey squirrel fur, looked very inviting...

Then.... REAL snow started to fall with a vengeance and we hurried home...

"Where's the road gone?" situation a one point...

but we never really were in any danger (do not worry Dee!!) and made it home absolutely fine!

What a difference...

2010-12-12T10:12:00.002Z

I was going to say 'what a difference a day makes' and compare this morning to yesterday.. but in fact, you could say what a difference 5 minutes makes!!

Sun this morning on a (below zero temperature) glorious beach..

turning into a bit of a cloud deck over sea..

bye bye sun...

That's the seaside for you! rapidly changing weather...

Christmas Carols at Canterbury

2010-12-10T11:11:00.004Z

Last night I attended a beautiful carol service at Canterbury Cathedral. The Crypt Choir was outstanding as always and the service beautiful.

From 2010-12-10

Outside a life size stable (and tree too but I didn't get a half decent pic of that)

From 2010-12-10

waiting for the services to start in this magnificent interior

You must all excuse me for the standard of the photos. I did not have a camera with me so tried to take some snaps on my phone.. My poor old phone (which needed renewing over a year ago now) couldn't take the strain and the battery died after these!

Which was ever such a pity, not only was the service lovely, it was breathtaking standing in the dark in this amazing cathedral with all the candles lit, the choir singing with heavenly voices and the organ playing... I would have loved to shoot a tiny bit of video to let you taste the atmosphere, but alas..

The organ was magnificent (you might or might not know I am a particular organ fan) and when it was time to leave, the organ burst into Widor's Toccata (symphony no5)which I just LOVE! Funnily enough I heard it in the car a couple of days ago on radio 3 during a long drive. Ever tried to turn up the sound in the car with that piece? amazing!!! And now the carol service ended with it too. What a treat!!!

Listen to this, then imagine this on the big organ in the Cathedral... A-MA-ZING....

Email not working!

2010-12-08T10:30:00.003Z

Thanks everyone who made a comment or emailed me. For some odd reason my hotmail account will not let me reply or start a new message although the mail seems to be getting to the inbox ok..

It might be just a glitch and correct itself automatically, so please be patient whilst I wait for things to go back to normal and I will reply then!

Thanks!

Echino!! and the Quick Christmas Bee

2010-12-07T12:08:00.002Z

Yesterday I had some great mail. The 4 Fat Eights I won on Fat Quarterly Blog by one of my favourite designers Echino! Thanks so much Brioni and the FQ peeps!! Love the fabric!!!

Earlier this year I joined a couple of friends in a Quick Christmas Bee. There are five of us in all with the idea to have a Christmas quilt ready before Christmas. Maria was first and sent out a lovely advent calendar, pattern available free on the web (for personal use) by Elizabeth Hartman on her blog 'Oh Fransson'.

I was last (hence finishing a bit late....) and thought it was a great idea, so with help of my four lovely friends, I have now finished the calendar too.

Another finish, another tick off my list! Time to start thinking about making my card and present list!

Christmas Tree Festival

2010-12-04T17:23:00.004Z

From 3 - 12 December, a Christmas Tree Festival is being held in Ramsgate's St George's Church. A number of organisations in town are decorating their own individual tree and the trees are there to admire for all who come along during this period.

This beautiful church is lit up with the lights of all the different trees;

The festival announced outside;

The local Quilt Guild, Thanet and District Quilters also have a tree, here in the process of being decked by Angela, a committee member.

The local historical society has made sure that important historical figures are represented;

And this is the one the children from the Sunday School have made all by themselves, isn't it lovely?

Last but not least the local Health Food Shop's tree.. How stylish!! It makes me think of Narnia and the Icequeen, or Hans Andersen's Snow Queen, but in a good way! I think it is truly lovely.

Snow stopped - slowly thawing - gloomy...

2010-12-03T12:37:00.003Z

update; just been out and even though the snow is disappearing... it's WELL below freezing!! my hands turned red and froze solid in no time... watch out for black-ice!

A very special quilt

2010-12-02T18:34:00.004Z

A while ago, a very good friend of mine was to become a gran and asked me whether I would be able to design and make her a quilt for the new baby.

She outlined some of the things she would like; it would have to be perfect for baby, but not in babyquilt size, so the quilt would be lovely to cuddle up in as a toddler and older even. So the colours must be suitable, but not too babyish. And of course it had to be sturdy enough for many uses and wash well.

Silk was out then.. I thought... lol !! Seriously, I thought long and hard, and when I learned the baby was there, a healthy bouncing boy, my thoughts went to the Surf and Sand Line of Michelle d'Amore. I fell in love with this line some time ago and had been saving it for a special occassion, and what was more special than this!

Another love at first sight was Kate Conklin's pattern "There's a square in there". I bought the pattern (you can get it HERE) and set to work. The pattern is a delight to work with. Very well explained and illustrated. (Kate is a genius in pattern writing, do go and have a look at her BLOG)

So here it is! Fresh and soft coloured, yet suitable for an adult as well as for a baby....

What do you guys think?

I handquilted the squares in. One of the things I really liked in Kate's original.

Here it is in it's entirety (66" square and held up very helpfully by my home from school youngest). I apologize for the bad quality of the photos, but with the snow outside (and not stopping for a minute) I did not want to take the quilt outside for some good light.. Shame really, it would have looked lovely in the snow ;-)

The back I kept completely dark. This is handy when putting the quilt on the floor for baby to lie on, or in the play pen, or in the park as a playrug in the spring.. Even though the top has a lot of white (on purpose to keep it fresh)this is great for use with babies as the quilt is totally machine washable up to 40 degrees, so it is easy to pop it in the machine and tumbledry it after (yes, tumble-dry-able too!). It's got to be easy to use with baby!!

So as you see, it is a double sided quilt too.

I do hope my friend likes it... but... if she doesn't.. I think it does look quite at home there in that chair ... mmmm....

What do you guys think?

Update: I heard from my friend and this is what she said;

"there's no way it's staying on that chair and depriving my Grandson of such an absolutely beautiful gift. Sorry! I think it's absolutely fabulous and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!"

Result!!!! Yoeeeeeehaaaaaayyyy !! Woot woot !!!!

It's real snow and it's STILL snowing !

2010-12-02T10:07:00.004Z

From my window this morning it didn't look too bad. What I forgot is that the seawind is blowing right up our street, so most of it got blown away...

Away.. or into our porch!

Gritting lorries are out on the main arteries. But some much is lying there allready with an icy layer underneath it doesn't seem to make much difference...

it makes playing the lottery even more of a challenge than usual!

Snow and icy roads wherever you go..

Top marks for Royal Mail trying to deliver mail... on foot... and in SHORTS!!!

These festive berries hidden under a blanket of snow..

Rafael having een absolute ball! Diving into the deepest snowdrifts he could find and ending up not only with a beard, but also with snow clumped on his feet so we had to turn back and thaw him out...

We had a 4 mile hike to the station to check out the trains (or rather lack of them..) so the park will have to wait.

On the promenade a nasty sharp snowstorm blowing in from the sea. Visibility at sea completely obliterated... I could not even see 100 yds off shore.. less probably.

We'll dry out a little before we go and see how pretty the park is!

Still snowing and now coming up for (guess..) 3 or 4 inches.

Snow !!

2010-12-02T07:42:00.001Z

A fall of 2 inches overnight. Roads slippery, trains in a muddle... all as expected!

Cold and Blustery.......

2010-12-01T08:37:00.003Z

I know some of you are still curious about our weather...

Yesterday we had some of the 'white stuff'. I deliberately do NOT call it snow! It came down in a flurry and looked like snow. It was however just slush.... When it snows and settles, you can pick up some snow and make a snow ball yes? This was just icy water... you pick it up and have an iceball at best, ice turning to water and slush within seconds more likely. So I call it slush showers! Nothing much stayed but the dusting that did has frozen over this morning, so icy roads everywhere.

And an ICE COLD wind blowing from the northeast.. The few dogwalkers who braved the elements this morning were frozen to the bone, talking about balaclavas and hot chocolate waiting at home.......

A Mega Post: - Weather, Goodies and Results!

2010-11-29T17:23:00.003Z

Apologies to the fans of my daily weather report.. it's just not been in it! You all know the score... too much to do, too little time! However, with the "will it snow/won't it snow" situation, I can report 2 sleety flurries lasting about 20 minutes and disappearing in about 20 minutes too... Snow is still forecast but we'll have to see... nothing so far!

Instead it has been cold and bright. When wrapped up well, perfect dog walking weather!

Then the goodies section!! SO exciting! My luck is still holding (although the lottery tickets are doing nothing at all....:(

I have won on DeeRoo Designs blog!

I could choose a quiltie out of an entire washing line full! and I chose this lovely little cheery one! I am getting addicted to miniquilts since I started Doll Quilt Swap, and love having them cheering up the wall in my sewing corner.

Dolores not only sent the quiltie, but a coaster as well AND some lovely meadowsweet fabric AND a pattern! I am truly spoilt... thank you Dee !! Super parcel!!!

I also won a bag pattern on Susan Brubaker Knapp's blog. Susan is an amazing quilt artist and I have been following her blog for quite a while now. She came back with goodies from Quilt Market and I was lucky enough to win the Margot Bag pattern! Really looking forward to making this bag. I have been wanting to make bags for quite some time but STILL not got round to it... This looks like a great bag to make and hope to have some time for it soon! (... after Christmas.... ha!)

And... yes I have also been sewing like mad... I have nearly finished a quilt, which I will show you in a future post of its own, and I have been doing a bit of this...

and finished off a little bag... which is winging its way somewhere as we speak....

So finally some results!! Done that tick, tick, tick!! Yoooooeeee-heeeey !!!

I am going back to finish some more ticks on my list (not necessarily all sewing though) and will be back here when I have accomplished some more. (or if it snows..:-)

Do you love chocolate??

2010-11-26T13:46:00.002Z

First question I have to ask you. Do you love chocolate?

Just look at these hollow Santa's aren't they not only cute but good enough to eat? They certainly are!

Are you by now all screaming YESSSSS !!!! CHOCOLATE!!!! .... mmmm... I thought so....

Second question: Are you able to come to Taunton, Somerset UK coming weekend?

If you can, you could go to the Rural Living Show this weekend!

You will find (and now I quote from their blurb) "Crafts and Lifestyle show showcasing the finest regional crafts and foods. A long established show at a venue just outside Taunton with ample parking and food provided all day. The idea opportunity to have a great day out and buy unique Christmas presents! Supporting Children’s Hospice South West. Entertainment throughout the weekend. Entrance £3.

Saturday 27th, 10 am to 5.00pm/ Sunday 28th 10.00am to 4.00pm
Kings Hall School, Taunton, Somerset Somerset TA2 8AA

Sat 27 Nov to Sun 28 Nov

And what does this have to do with chocolate you ask? This weekend, on both days, you will encounter Rick and Lorna from "The Chocolate House" with not only a fine range of chocolates they have brought with them, but they will also have their chocolate fountain running to serve their famous chocolate kebabs! I can tell you, they only use the finest Belgian Chocolate in their creations and on their stall you are definitely in Chocolate Heaven!!

They have even a limited amount of free tickets for their customers although you will have to hurry.. there is great demand for them and gone is gone...

If you can't make it, not to worry. This weekend they have closed their shop to be able to attend the Rural Living Show, but normally they are open and in the shop ready to welcome you. The Chocolate House is located in the High Street and is currently open Tuesdays to Sunday from 11ish to 5ish. They are closed on Mondays.

Stop by after the weekend at the shop located in Dunster, a medieval village with a real castle! There is a lot to see and do apart from the visit to the Chocolat House!

And if you are weary from walking and sightseeing, you can refresh yourself with a lovely cup of coffee or tea (or hot chocolate of course.. made with REAL chocolate.. my favourite!!) and eat some of the yummy cakes and buns!

For those who can really not make it to either, there is still a chance to still your thirst for chocolatey goodness... They also have an online shop. You will find it HERE.

I know all you chocoholics will love their products as much as I do! Only one sad thing for all my overseas friends... due to the delicate (and very fresh in some cases) nature of the chocolates, currently they cannot send overseas...

So there is only one solution... get on that plane and visit me!! :-)

But seriously, if you are near Taunton this weekend, or near Dunster any other day.. give them a try. Chocolate Heaven.. you know you deserve it ! (say hi from me when you get there please, as I am too far away this weekend..)

Sunday

2010-11-21T12:39:00.001Z

The sun was hiding this morning, but lifted a tip of the heavy cloud-deck to reveal some rising sun redness..

Another lovely giveaway

2010-11-20T15:59:00.002Z

Look at this lovely quilt Allison from Strandz has made...

Don't you love all the fabrics? If so.. you can buy it in her shop! or.. go and enter her giveaway where she gives away 48 squares so you can make your own.

Accuquilt giveaway

2010-11-14T16:56:00.002Z

Many from Simply Solids has one of the famous Accuquilt giveaways.

She also has a lovely UK based shop in which she sell Kona Solids and a selection of fantstic fabrics.. Worth a look so go pay a visit to her shop and blog!!

The Accuquilt GO is a nifty little machine to speed up cutting out your quilts and there have been lots of these giveaways about... all of which (it feels like!) I entered.. Will I be lucky this time??? (or will YOU!!! :-)

Sisters of the World Quilt

2010-11-09T07:57:00.003Z

Do you remember, in September, I was asking for quilt blocks? My friend Lizzie was making a quilt for her friend Sue, a quilter of many years who is terminally ill, and who, through her quilting life, has given many handmade quilts to many people, yet never received any.

I sent in the blocks I received to Lizzie, and many people sent their blocks direct..

In fact 123 of them !!!

Lizzie made this absolute beautiful quilt with a selection. She was overwhelmed with blocks and had enough for several quilts, so she made a front and a backing, then the rest were donated to the NZ earthquake appeal that Cat is taking part in. The horrible earthquakes in Christchurch NZ have affected many families and many families with children. So if your block has not been used in this particular quilt, it is going to a very good home and keeps on helping!

Just look at the quilt, isn't it beautiful??

And this is the back;

Rebecca Vollmann offered to do all the quilting and she has done a marvellous job with different patterns and colours of thread.

Lizzie listed a rollcall on the side of all the names and countries...

and made the most gorgeous label !

All and all an absolute masterpiece! I can't wait to hear what Sue's face looked like when she is receiving this. She has not received it yet as it is a long car journey for Lizzie but as soon as she can she will go and see her. However,I did not want to wait and show you the finished quilt now!

It's glorious Lizzie! A project well completed!

(all photo's courtesy of Lizzie and taken from her facebook)

Sunday; a nice surprise and a finish

2010-11-07T16:17:00.003Z

Sunday.. a no mail day, so I thought...

But just LOOK what a surprise when I read Nicole's blog at Follow the White Bunny..

a wonderful stitching ebook by Carina (who sells lovely things at Polka & Bloom) which I have won. I am really pleased about that because I have been wanting to do a bit more embroidery since I have seen all the lovely work on the web. Not in the least on Nicole's blog, where she shows us all the patterns in progress and her Etsy shop where you can buy them!

I was so enchanted by some of her patterns that I have allready bought some, but, not being an embroiderer, I was a bit intimidated in starting and knowing how to do the stitches so this book is going to be just the thing! You can see it more closely here. Carina also has another book, Small Stitches, which I think I will buy to complete the set. You can find Carina's shop here. Thank you Carina and Nicole!

The finish is for the block I was making for Cat, for the Fresh and Funky bee. Cat sent us fabric, and requested a tree block, inspired by Sarah Fielke's 4 season trees in Material Obsession 2. The background and tree fabric were determined. A lot of strips in greens and pinks were sent too. Cat said she liked spots and owls and would love to see the blocks personalised if possible.

It was a tall order but I think I have done it... I just hope Cat likes it. I had the crazy idea to make the branches green, and then cut out zillions (for my feeling) little bits of blossom.... Next time I think something like that up.. will someone warn me that after you have cut them all out AND stuck them down, you then have to SEW them down too?? each one individually? I don't know what I was thinking but I was determined to get it done today and I did!

Sorry for the lousy photo... light was just going.. these winters with early darkness.. brrrr...

Cat's owl in the tree and one of those troublesome blossoms..

I really thought long and hard on how to personalize ....

I hope you like it Cat, it will be in the mail on monday. Also monday, the fabric for the Christmas Bee will be in the post girls. Sorry to be late with that. Phew.. three things of my list!

That list was in danger of getting more things put on it all the time and no slashes through anything... so depressing... but... luckily.. Three slashes (roof, bee fabric wrapped and beeblock finished) this weekend and a win... not bad going!!!

Lovely mail ! Things are looking up..

2010-11-02T11:35:00.002Z

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments. It is nice to know there is so much love and care in our community throughout the world!

Last week I got a lovely handmade card in the mail from Helen who won my giveaway. Thank you Helen, for taking the time to make a card just for me and sending it in the post. I really appreciate the effort and it was such a nice surprise to open the card, seeing I wasn't expecting it! Thanks so much.

Isn't it lovely??

Helen blogs at The Dining Room Drawers. Go have a look. She has just completed two lovely colourful quilts for charity. Fantastic Helen!

Last year around this time, I committed myself to a PIF (Pay It Forward) by replying to a post from Catherine (The Sewing Attic). The idea is that within a year, you get a present, and in return you Pay it Forward by sending three people a present yourself. Now with all the unexpected things happening this year (emergency operation, leaky roof, and loads more demanding priority attention) I must admit I have not sent any of them out.. All I can do is apologise to my lovely friends who are still waiting and apply for an extension... I WILL get to it.. promise!!

In the meantime, today I got a mystery parcel... from Catherine, it was my PIF!! She sent me the fantastic pincushion/needlecase she made from a Heather Bailey pattern and that I had been admiring on her blog!! (complete with pins and needles!)

Just look at all the detail here;

Isn't it beautiful? The wings open to reveal a second layer so you can embed the needles between both wings. Catherine makes the most beautiful things, go and have a look at her blog at The Sewing Attic.

Last but not least, what do I find in my mailbox? (well, on the doormat really, we do not have a mailbox..). 8 lovely FQ's sent by the lovely Kathy Mack from Pink Chalk Fabrics. Kathy holds a draw each week amongst her customers. Two prizes each time, one to be drawn from comments on her blog that week, one from those customers opening their newsletter.

I was lucky on the newsletter although I also read and comment on her blog. Way to go Kathy! Thank you so much for this beautiful fabric!

For the enquiring minds; It is lovely holiday fabric by Basic Grey, called Fruitcake This FQ set being the Avalanche colourway and availble to buy on the Pink Chalk site. For the link go here.

I love the muted colours, matching and looking very much like Figgy pudding. The solids are beautiful too. Just fantastic all together! I am thinking about what to make, a table runner maybe? Just love it. Thank you so much Kathy!

A better week this week with more things being done = less pressure = progress! Still a long way to go with my 'to do' list and even with my 'urgent to do' list, but step by step getting there.

The roofers mending a longstanding leak in the roof have finished yesterday... I am keeping my fingers crossed... will it have done the trick this time? I will tell you once we have had a downpour!

A great mailweek lifting the spirits. Both in the letterbox and on the email. Thank you friends for writing to me!! (you know who you are)

Thanks so much....

2010-10-28T10:38:00.002+01:00

To Lynne for encouraging me to post a photo, and to those true friends all over the world who missed me and emailed me...

You know how life can not just be a rollercoaster but an avalanche? You don't invite it... it just happens all at once! It's a bit like that at the moment...

I'm scrambling and coming up for air soon, can you see the light? I'll get there soon..

Thanks Friends!! I love you all xoxoxo

A giveaway won and a giveaway...well.... given away!!

2010-09-25T17:31:00.002+01:00

These are the goodies I won in a lovely giveaway Jessica (Narnia Mum blog) held before the summer. She kindly hung on them whilst I was away over the summer and they have now arrived at my house. How lovely to get surprises like that in the mailbox! Thanks so much Jessica! Both for my prize and for holding onto it for a bit.

These are the stars that are on their way to Lizzie for Sue's Quilt. Thank you so much for all the lovely people who sent blocks or are in the process of making them! It is heartwarming to see how the quilting community comes together at times like this and I think Lizzie is going to be very busy designing the most amazing quilt!

I have just heard that the response has been so overwhelming she now has enough blocks for Sue's quilt.

So thank you to all and therefore it is time for me to tally up my little band of great friends and do a drawing...

The prize is.... (roffle... roffle... roffle.....- drumroll-) a charm pack of Botany! (Allready not easy to find anymore!)

The draw included Sharon, Jo(bearpaw, who sent lovely Ohio Star blocks) Cat and Micki, who are sending direct, Helen, who also sent me Ohio Stars, and Vanessa (who gave kind permission to use her tutorial and is making some herself as well!) and Cathie, who enthousiastically pledged blocks.

Thank you to each and every one of you. I really appreciate the support you have shown me and Lizzie!

and the winner is......(we'll suspend with the drumroll for now :-)

Number 5!

(I am not sure how to get the number generator on here, you can't highlight and copy so you will have to believe me!)

Helen who sent two Ohio Stars.

Congratulations Helen, I will send you your prize soon!

Orphan Blocks and Ohio Stars.... (and... a Giveaway)

2010-09-15T17:39:00.007+01:00

Hey friends and quilters! (and you newbies who just googled 'giveaway' lol!! ) A good giveaway always gets a lot of attention!

I am having a giveaway (not decided what it is yet but it will be worth it!)to those readers of my blog who decide to give my friend Lizzie(a house in the country) a helping hand....(and this is in addition to the giveaway on Lizzie's blog)

Earlier today, I read the newest post on her blog... Lizzie has a friend who is in real need of a quilty hug! This friend is terminally ill and would SO appreciate your help!!

Lizzie is looking for blocks you might want to donate... any orphan blocks you might have or blocks you might want to make.

I was thinking that if some people might want to make a block especially, like an Ohio Star

this would unify the quilt a little so I am going to make a few of these for Lizzie to put into her quilt.

SO: If you are able to send Lizzie a block, either Ohio Star or otherwise, leave me a comment and I will do a draw amongst those whose blocks have been received by Lizzie. If you are in the UK and rather send them to me, I will gladly pass them on.

A good tutorial on the Ohio Star can be found HERE on Vanessa's blog, V and Co. (thanks Vanessa!)

But any block is welcome. To make it even clearer I have copied Lizzies post under this one so you can read all about it for yourselves!

Come on guys... let's get this quilt made!! I know you are all lovely people who have at least a block in you! (or hanging around...)

Here is Lizzie's post (I couldn't have put it any better..)

I need a favour................

from A House in the Country by Lizzie

A friend that I've known for more than 30 years is sick..!! Not just I'll be better next week or next month or even next year sick! She's helplessly and terminally sick..
My friend Sue is a quilter, a SCQuilter (Southern Cross Quilters for all you non-Aussies/N.Zealanders), a crafter, a wife and a mother as well as a friend.

I met Sue when I was pregnant with my youngest son, so going on 33 years now, she's his godmother too. We used to make softies for the local craft shop, big softies, lions and elephants, giraffes, cats and dogs. At one stage we couldn't keep up with the demand, I think Sarah still has a lion and a dog somewhere..?? Anyway, we had a ball, a couple of mums at home with young kids in a tiny Mallee town.
We moved on, work called us back to the big smoke, Sue didn't, they stayed in the tiny Mallee town and live there still......but Sue now lives in the local nursing home..!!

I don't know what the official name is for what she has, what I do know is that her brain stem is dying..! Simple, straight forward, no messing around just dying.. The last time I saw her she was shuffling around with the aid of a walker. She's my age! This amazing quilter can no longer dress herself! Her family had to make a heart breaking decision to hospitalise her.

Over the years Sue has made more quilts than I ever will I think, but I don't think anyone has ever made one for her. What I'm asking for are your orphan blocks, you know, those blocks that you make then decide you don't like the pattern/colour/size or whatever..! If you're like me they sit in a box or basket, in a drawer or on a shelf, you can't just throw them out but you know that you really will never do anything with them.

If I can gather at least one block from everyone that reads my blog, put them together and get it quilted, then I can give a sister quilter and friend a unique and heartfelt gift from quilters everywhere...

Is it too much to ask? I don't think so. Some of you, if you're scquilters will know her, most of you won't. I'm not a religious person but the saying 'There but for the grace of God .." is so true. In my last post I was wondering what genetics and hereditary held for me. At least I can still wonder, Sue knows what her future holds and it's not pleasant, realistically it's horrific...........

Can you help? I'd love to do this in the next month or two. Any colour, any size, any pattern, any amount. A quilt of orphans coming together to show how much we as women and quilters care for our sisters all around the world...

Just as an incentive (and I know you don't need one really) I'll put everyone that sends me a block or two into a draw for ......something?? Probably a jelly roll or something similar, I'll work it out I promise...

Email me at: elizabethmcmahon1950@gmail.com if you can help and I'll send you my postal address.

I'm going to say thanks now because I know how supportive and caring this community of ours is, so...

A HUGE THANK YOU.....

A Wedding Tree

2010-09-14T13:02:00.002+01:00

On 20 August, Karen's son Matthew and his lovely fiancee Dawn were married at the Lothian Chambers in Edinburgh.

I got to know them when I was up in Edinburgh visiting Karen and pondered on what to give them as a wedding present. I had seen through the years, and in various publications, this idea of a tree with leaves. A great idea for a wedding, but can also be used for a christening, reunion, anniversaries, parties etc. The guests write their name or a wish on the leaves so (in this case) the couple will have a permanent reminder of their special day.

I could not find a pattern(where are they when you need them!!) so set about to make my own and constructed the main tree and leaves in Edinburgh. I made 101, just to make sure there were enough... I can tell you, that's quite a pile of leaves!!

Dawn then sent me the signed leaves after the wedding and I attached each of them and sandwiched with vilene, backed with the same silk as the background on the front and quilted.

The silk was very tricky to work with, looking nice and shiny but shifting all the time. It took a long time but I have pulled it off without puckering and the back is completely straight. I just finished off handsewing the binding on and it is now ready to be packed up and be sent back.

Wishing you both a long and happy marriage Matthew and Dawn !!

Catching up on September Bee Blocks

2010-09-13T15:14:00.002+01:00

For Crystal of the Fresh n' Funky bee

Lynette said she did both blocks in an hour. That shows what an excellent seamstress she is as it took me four! (just for you who are slow like me... you are not alone!)

These are for Jo in Edinburgh. Ohio stars for her spare room quilt.

Still more to catch up on before I can do my own.. Next holiday I must keep to shedule and not get so behind :-)

Eurovision bee - September - Tick!

2010-09-08T17:32:00.000+01:00

The Eurovison Bee

2010-09-05T14:11:00.002+01:00

One of the bees I am taking part in is the Eurovision Bee, with girls all over Europe! Very interesting to have such a diverse group and some very interesting blocks we have all made in the past!

My month fell originally around the time I had my appendix operation and so I am thankful to them for enabling me to postpone my quilt and tack me right at the end of round one! It has been absolutely great but sadly, due to increased pressures in 'real life' (don't you just hate when that happens?) I have to step back for round two for a bit. Maybe round 3? We will see. I am looking forward to seeing what you guys are going to make!

So now for my own quilt. Firstly, I have never done this before and had the greatest trouble cutting fabrics and imagining how much of what to send to each member... In the end, I just cut a lot of random strips of colours that seemed (sort of) to go together and am hoping for the best... If you do not have enough of a particular fabric, please let me know and I will send you some more!

The fabrics I am using, I have been collecting for a long time. Have you all done that? Having a stack of "precious" fabrics on the shelf you just don't cut into? Well... My Amy Butler Daisy Chain collection, is just one of those! (although there is a bit of Jennifer Paganelli, Paul Prass etc in it too). Also have some batiks and Essex cotton/linen blend in there. I finally have seen the light and decided that this quilt I have in my head needs to be made!

For the pattern I got my inspiration seeing two lovely parterns on the net. My vision is something of a cross between two patterns. The first one is a gorgeous quilt pattern that I really like in its own right! (and will make 'as is' too!). It is the "There is a square in there" pattern by Kate Conklin (click HERE for her blog). Kate has very kindly granted me permission to reproduce the pattern on my blog (Thanks Kate!) and here is a picture of it;

(btw you can buy the pattern HERE)

The other pattern is the Daisy Chain Hedgerow Pattern by Elizabeth Hartman of "Oh Fransson". Elizabeth does not grant permission for people to republish her photos for bees, but she is happy for me to link to her photos or add them to a gallery in flickr. Now I have no idea how to do a gallery in flickr (something I will have to learn soon! expect a question in the threads) so I am sorry that you will have to go to Elizabeth's blog. You can click the link HERE, however and get straight through to the image.

I like the Daisy Chain Fabrics Elizabeth used and the block idea with complete rings going around. I tried a similar block;

I also like the way Kate has offset the centres of the squares and made them uneven, so I tried to have a go at that here;

I then also tried to elongate the centre and did not quite manage to get the last circle to go round, but I think mirroring the fabrics top and bottom does work too if that happens...

These are the fabrics I have cut up and sent to you all...

The sashing is going to be Essex cotton/linen blend in 'Sand'. As sold by the lovely Jackie from Canton Village Quilt Works. (See the Essex range HERE) The three solid FQ's on the left are the 3 Essex colours in there.

Apologies for the out of focus photo, but by the time I realized.. I had cut up all the 'sand' and couldn't retake..

SO.....

What I would like to ask you to do is....

* make 12 1/2" unfinished blocks ( to end up 12" finished)
* To offset centres and make as many or as little rings as you like (if you do not have enough fabric, please let me know and I will mail more out)
* On average I have sent out 5 different prints but some of the strips are quite wide and you may be able to re-divide and get two rings out of one fabric. On average you will manage 5 rings but any more (like the 7 in the middle photo) would be grand!
* As far as possible keep the rings in the same fabrics
* I am happy for you to add some of your own as long as it fits in with the colourrange
* Please send back any leftover fabrics (I think I sent quite a lot to be on the safe side...) so I can use those for border and backing.

Any questions please let me know. My email is on the blog, flickrmail on flickr.

Thank you ladies for a most enjoyable 15 month round of our Eurovision Bee. I have really enjoyed it!

The fabrics are going in the mail Monday 6th September 2010.

Catherine's new Etsy Shop

2010-09-01T19:51:00.002+01:00

Hey guys, Catherine from Catherine's Attic has a new Etsy shop. Look at this e.g. which is in there! (but of course loads more... go see !)

To celebrate she is also having a giveaway. Quick go and see!!

DQS9 finished and a bee-block frenzy....

2010-08-30T20:27:00.003+01:00

I have been a bit quiet this week.. Having been away longer than anticipated, I was behind with commitments, and if anybody knows me, they know I like to be in time!!

First up was finishing DQS9. It's all done, quilted and bound and being sent off tomorrow. I hope you like it partner!!

A shot of the back...

Then there were the various bees...

I was behind for Christiane's 9 patch for July in the Eurovision bee... sorry Christiane you had to wait so long... I managed to get three blocks out of the fabrics for you.

That finished off July. In August there were Marit with a fantastic photo tutorial (thanks Marit, I love a good tutorial!) to make a sweet person.

and Leah, who is making a cute pink heart quilt for her daughter.

Karen, over at the Fresh and Funky bee wanted a 12 1/2" block that consisted of any pattern that can be divided in squares (like 4 patch/ 9 patch etc.). Cat set us onto the path of Quilterscache, and I found this one. I hope you like it Karen..

Lynz requested wonky stars for the Quick Christmas bee..

whereas Maria was making an advent calendar...

That rounds up the backlog to the bees for August and I am up to date!!

Rests to send out my own fabrics for the Eurovision bee for September, and both the Eurovision and Fresh and Funky September blocks which are still to arrive. Also awaiting Jo's Christmas block. But....

those are all September ones and... I AM UP TO DATE again.... YAY !!!

Now catching up with all that did not get done in the house.. lol... so you might not hear for a bit again... See you soon though!

My DQS9 arrived!!

2010-08-21T13:32:00.002+01:00

And just LOOK at it !!!!

Isn't it just beautiful?? In the big picture you cannot see all the wonderful details so here is a close up of some of the dolphins and the rope work around..

This is the label on the back. A great title and there is something very special in knowing this was made especially for me!

And that was not all!! Teresa, the Lochside Quilter from the Scottish Higlands hit the nail on the head with her entire lovely package! She must have been reading my blog very well as she could not have done better!!

I love blue, I love nature and dolphins and an amazing thing is that I love the Scottish Highlands and actually just came from there... Possibly passing Teresa's house (without knowing) within a couple of miles on the day she was posting the package!!

Look at all these goodies... A lovely needlecase, which I will use with great pleasure, a very nice scissor charm (blue of course!) and a beautiful card plus shortbread, which is great to have with my tea as I am missing Scotland allready!

Thank you SO MUCH, Teresa!! I came home after a long arduous drive, very tired and a little sad, and finding the parcel waiting for me (and not only that... realizing it had followed me from Scotland) was amazing and all the care and attention you have given it really touched me and made me cry!

You couldn't have done better! I am so happy with my little quilt, it will have place of honour in my sewingroom!

Edinburgh.... and back to base!

2010-08-20T11:44:00.002+01:00

Hello friends and readers!

A sign of life from me! I have not been blogging (as announced) but.. unexpectedly.. I have not been on flickr and email either!

I had some plans for this summer, none of which included spending the summer in Edinburgh! but circumstances change, and you have to go with the wind when they do..

Firstly Karen (Karen's Cosmos blog) missed her plane to Edinburgh and ended up stranded near London. Now she was due to come and visit later on, but we quickly changed plans and she and her 10 year old son, arrived on my doorstep late at night after a long and arduous journey. So plans changed and we travelled up to Edinburgh by car. I ended up staying longer than anticipated and Karen and I emptied the Edinburgh shops! She has a wonderful eye for colour and dress and found some gems for me to wear in the racks, which I then of course had to have!

I was very kindly invited to her son's wedding, but ended up returning home before the event. Again, change of circumstances and going with that wind... I was worried about my dog barking too much with the rest of Karen's family arriving (and being new to my excellent guarddog!) as well as changing beds to accomodate everyone and not sleeping well on the new mattress (I get migraines if the mattress is too soft) so rather than becoming a problem to Karen and outstaying my welcome (although she was very sweet saying I was welcome to stay) I decided she deserved to concentrate on the wedding without any added problems and now am back home.

I had a great time though but now have a list as long as my arm to catch up on! Apart from house and family, sewingwise I have to apologize to my DQS9 partner for being absent! No blogging over the summer must have been a bit bleak... sorry! I really needed that break.. Also apologies to my various bee partners... I am late with August.. September trickling in, and a quilt of my own to send out... I feel a sewing marathon coming on...

Consequently I will be blogging but not every day for the time being. I will also be on email again (which I was not over the summer) and answer you as normal but promised myself not to be on the computer more than half an hour at a time... I tended to get totally stuck surfing and it is eating to much into the time I need to do other things...

I have come back to thousands of blog posts on my google reader and 350 emails... Again, I will take it a bit at a time so if you have written and don't hear from me, please could you resend to the top of the list? It will be a while before I am straight again...

Last but not least thank you to all who wrote to wish me a relaxing break. It will be great to re-connect.

Off to send out envelopes and unpack those suitcases now... Looking forward to getting 'back into the groove'. I will leave you with some images from Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, a lovely view through one of the streets into the distance

Going down the steps to 'The Mound' to meet the girls..

Here they are! Jo (Bearpaw), Karen (Karen's Cosmos) 'The Chookie' herself,Lynz's lovely daughter(she deserves to be in the picture, she took everyone elses!), and Lynz herself (Domestic Light and Magic).

I also spotted Dr Who must be in town...

You never know where the wind blows you if you go with the flow....!!

Bloggo-holiday and on a clear day you can see France!

2010-07-19T07:50:00.002+01:00

I love my blog and I am truly thankful for the wonderful people I have met through this blog. I am looking forward every day to see what you are all up to and am trying my best to give you a little bit of insight in what is happening in my part of the world.

Lately though, a number of things have been happening in my life, that have been very time consuming and draining energy on me.. Some of which you know about (bloomin' windows, lol!), some of which are private however not less draining...

I am struggling to keep up with the family commitments, sewing commitments and still trying to keep up the blog to its usual standard (i.e. more than the weather forecast!) and write my friends back with more than a oneliner and give them the proper attention they deserve..

So I have decided that with this busy summer coming up, people coming to stay here and dropping the kids off all over the place, something will have to give...

I am closing the blog down for the summer holidays therefore.. and will start back blogging when the schools start in september. I will still be on email and post DQS9 progress on flickr, just not the blog for the time being.

I know many of you will be travelling and away for most of this period yourselves so we might not miss each other as much as you would think! I hope you all understand and be back with me in september as I really appreciate your support and will try and keep up with you all of sorts over the summer.

I will leave you with today's pictures. On a clear day you can see far here (this happens sometimes, not often) and see the ferries leaving and entering Dover Harbour and even France ! (if you know where it is, otherwise you might mistake it for a cloud..)

Ferries entering Dover Port;

That 'bank of clouds' in the distance is France!;

Zoomed in closer you can see better it is actually land...;

To the right of this picture (zoomed even closer) you can see the cliffs rising out of the sea, the colour being paler where the cliff face is exposed.(behind the white ferry that looks like a sailboat- it's a ferry, being so far away you would not see the sailboat.. )

I hope you all have a fantastic summer, I'm looking forward to reconnect with you all end of August!

lovely sunny day... bliss....

2010-07-18T09:29:00.000+01:00

Cooler but has the rain gone?

2010-07-17T08:59:00.001+01:00

Much brighter this morning...

hopefully the rain has finally gone so the painting can be finished... Not much to do... fingers crossed...

Lots of lovely mail...

2010-07-15T12:40:00.002+01:00

Last week I was finally a 2nd prize winner on one of Bearpaw's lovely giveaways.. They are always full of lovely goodies so I was very pleased to win this lovely book! It tells you lots of stories of individuals who have organised quilting for a diverse amount of goals, all for charity, from quilting for disaster victims, to war heros, to children with illness etc etc.. It tells the stories and also gives some easy patterns you may use to make some of your own and help the effort of your choice.

I have always known quilters are the most generous,supportive, fantastic bunch of people but it is heartwarming to see all the projects and the good that is being done. This being an American book, most are from the USA, but there are plenty of organisations that operate world wide (Project Linus e.g.) and in the UK there are a lot of UK based ones too doing the same thing.

Thank you for this beautiful and inspirational book Jo !!

AND....

It's here, it's HERE!! Wow... I won this back in March in a contest by Ann of Prairie Primrose Stitches and the Electric Quilt Company (see post here)and it finally arrived! Just look on the back of the box of all the lovely things you will be able to do!

I can't wait to start learning how to use it!! I immediately loaded it, but, being hopeless with technology, I will need to take the manual, and learn the hard way, step by step...(not like my kids who go.. tapety tapety tap and the most wonderful things appear on the computer as by magic... - showing my age here - lol!)....

Thank you Ann, for hosting this event and having me win! and thank you Electric Quilt Company for putting up this wonderful prize!

Duckie box...

2010-07-15T09:25:00.002+01:00

Some of you were asking about the cute duckie under my fabrics... It isn't part of the design! It was the lid of my sewing box. This is the box I transport itty bitty stuff in, like little pencils, erasers, seamripper, pins, measuringtape etc etc, when going places. Nice and compact and totally cute!!

No sea photo today.. went out without my camera... Sorry, as it was an amazing view first thing... The rising sun glistening on the sea, whipped up in winds gusting 50 mph, the white horses white in the sunlight, the sea in varying shades of the darkest blue right through to emerald and lighter green.. Ran out of battery, tired, up at 4am when a window started banging.. and not got back to sleep...

Cut out some fabric on the doll quilt and tried to sew it together... I have only one word for you... CURVES... oh no, and another three... TIGHT POINTY CORNERS... Not having done those before... what WAS I thinking??? You should see my tryouts... or maybe no... better not, lol!! Oh well... sigh... trying again.. Practice makes perfect, yes? :-)

Look at what Marie Madeleine Studio is giving away...

2010-07-14T19:34:00.002+01:00

Marie Madeleine Studio is giving away a FULL FQ stack of the new line at Lecien.. Flower Sugar Two..

I am in love.... If I don't win this I just might have to order some....:-)

Decision has been made!

2010-07-14T12:01:00.002+01:00

Angela (Tweedledee Designs) suggested to swap the orange and green in the outer layers of this design and what do you know... genius! It worked a treat and really like this now! Thanks Angela!!

So on with the pattern pieces (real life size)

and individually cut out, including the center replicated to one piece.

Long way to go... I now have to start cutting (eeeeek.....), but, saved by the bell, real life is intervening, so hopefully see you much later!

Will it stay dry?

2010-07-14T07:44:00.002+01:00

Yesterday was a good day. Both for sewing AND painting! Initially we had drizzle so I decided to have a mega sewing session... It cleared up in the afternoon so by the evening (and after 9 hrs designing..) I painted for 2 hrs as well.. it got a bit late in the evening... but both got done!! Yay!! (just one coat left on the windows now and the scaffolding can come down!)

So what's forecast for today.. Looking at the clouds... mmm... could be anything...

and that feeling was reinforced an hour later, when we were standing in full sunshine on the beach, with blue skies and dotted white clouds high above, looking out over sea at this....

Whether I get that last coat of paint on today? Get some sewing done? I will let you know later!

Hope you all have a fine day.

DQS9 - the design stage

2010-07-13T13:29:00.002+01:00

As it has been raining for 2 days and I cannot paint...:-( I have taken some time to start on the design process for my doll quilt (you can always leave dusting .. right? :-)

As I have decided to make my quilt square.. I thought of this book, that I once had out of the library but liked so much that I bought it!

Now I don't aspire to make a Rhapsody quilt!! They are a-ma-zing!! Mostly made of solids, very intricate and take months and months to make....(if not years!!)and maybe, just maybe I dare to start one... but not just yet.. as time is short at the moment and time is what you need for these..

However, I decided to go with Ricky Tims' principle of mirror designing... You take a square, fold it in four, then in four again on the diagonals. You end up with a triangle of 1/8th of the whole square. Ricky then explains the design process and drawing these few lines on the triangle isn't as easy as it looks!

Transferring these lines in a mirror image onto the next 1/8th and so on.. leaves you with the complete design;

So far so good...

Colourmatching the colouring pencils to try out colourways (oh this will be so much easier when I get my EQ7!! will this be the last time I go with the 'old-fashioned' method??)

I have come up so far with two colourways... This one;

or this one;

What do you guys think??

Drizzle....

2010-07-13T11:37:00.002+01:00

...so no painting again today... I do wish I had finished the job day before yesterday... I DID think you never know how long the good weather lasts... but there you go... I have to patient and wait till the sun returns..

A yacht heading into the wind and drizzle this morning, making good passage with the tide

Another downpour...

2010-07-12T09:17:00.002+01:00

Remember we had a downpour a few weeks back and I showed you milky puddles on the beach? We had another one last night... it rained and rained and rained...

Washing down the cliffs, over the promenade and down the walls... leaving white trails of milky limestone....

I love the milky puddles on the beach as a result;

and the chalky water even created a zebra beach!

Hmmm... I can see a quilt in that....

Ferret's quilts - close up and personal

2010-07-11T16:44:00.003+01:00

A while back I did a post on the talk that Ferret gave to our local Guild (An evening with Ferret)and the fabulous quilts she brought for us to see. I had forgotten my camera and Ferret kindly gave me permission to use some images from her blog.

They did not show you close up how marvellous her quilting and stitching is! So when I came across the slideshow of Ferrets work on The Quilt Show,(Ferret's slideshow)

I thought you have to go over and have a look. Close up photos of the quilting as well as shots of the entire work. AND all the prizes she has won this year.

Congratulations Ferret! So pleased for you !!

Fabric colour matching...

2010-07-11T06:59:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I went to a local patchworkgroup meeting. A speaker, and lots of traders.. as I thought my DQS9 fabrics needed some solids with them... I took them along.. on the off chance but thought.. 'what are the chances to find something matching??'

Just LOOK what I bought...

Isn't that amazing?

and I know you all like the sea and the weather so here it is...Warm but not as hot today... no sun as yet..

The sun might have gone to Lizzie in Australia? Hope you get some lovely winter sunshine Lizzie!

Another hot day..

2010-07-10T07:52:00.002+01:00

Barely any wind. A yacht motors out of Ramsgate Royal Harbour whilst the pilot boat just returns from guiding big shipping into the shippinglanes (from the Thames Estuary into the English Channel and vice versa)

Today's weather - especially for Jackie!

2010-07-09T13:23:00.003+01:00

Sunrise came with the promise of a hot day....

and not even an hour later it was already hot (the tiny white speck on the horizon is the Dover Calais ferry making its way to France)

and it is indeed a scorcher!! Since it's dry I have spent the morning painting the outside of the house. Sealer, primer and undercoat done! Just the gloss and varnish to do now... phew.....

My DQS9 fabrics have arrived!

2010-07-09T08:01:00.001+01:00

I better start designing this weekend!

Early morning swim....

2010-07-08T07:05:00.001+01:00

Temperatures dropping a little..

2010-07-07T07:57:00.001+01:00

A heavy sky and though not cold, a chilly SW wind blowing up over the beach. Summer is taking a break.

Where's the ball....

2010-07-06T10:10:00.002+01:00

Bit grey today and tide in so won't share today's pics but these were taken two days ago when it was a mega picture day and a lovely sunny day at low tide!

Where is that ball??

Aha! There it is!

Oh no.... a wave is coming... shall I duck??

Nah.. better jump for it... get ready.....

JUMP!!!!

Brrrrrrr... where am I??

Oh NO!! the ball is gone! where is it? where is it????

Aaaaaah!! There it is!

LUNGE !!

Got it Mum !!!!!

SOMETIMES.... it is hard work being a dog....

A Mid Summer Night's Dream...

2010-07-04T10:36:00.002+01:00

Yesterday evening, I attended a marvellous school production of a midsummer night's dream.. I won't even attempt to summarize the story! Suffice to say it involves two Athenian couples (Demetrius and Helena, Hermia and Lysander), the King of the Fairies and woodfolk Oberon and his queen Titania, a travelling troupe and lots of fairy magic mixing things up a little! (including changing one of the troupe -'Bottom'- to have an asses' head..). I realize I have done Shakespeare a great injustice here as it is one of the greatest plays of all time but really, a blogpost cannot contain it all!

The master of the Revels, Philostrate, looking pensive..

Bottom being groomed by Queen Titania and her Court

and led away by the forest people.

Demetrius and Helena

Oberon and his Queen reunited

Part of the travelling performers

The lion roaring...

Time to take a bow at the end of the performance (Lysander and Hermia taking front stage)

and all too soon it was dark and time to go homeward.... (Canterbury Cathedral illuminated)

This was a school production of the absolute highest standard. A performance which could rival or even outshine professional performances! Well done to the cast, director, choreographer, custom design, make up so in short... all involved! A fantastic performance greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all !

Bearpaw - A new Etsy shop!! (and a Giveaway to celebrate)

2010-07-04T10:03:00.002+01:00

Bearpaw has a new Etsy shop!! So all those wonderful goodies you have been admiring on the blog can now be yours!!!

Go check it out!! Go to Bearpaws' Etsy Shop, and have a look around, maybe buy something and definitely make sure you show her some love and make it a favourite so you can find it back when you need it!

and all these amazing goodies? It's a great giveaway to celebrate with more than one winner too so go to Bearpaw's blog and make sure you get your entries in! You never know, it might be... YOU!!!

Wild Sweet Peas

2010-07-03T06:47:00.002+01:00

Today some wild sweet peas have appeared on the cliffside with a wonderful vibrant colour

It was nice to see as the sky is full of dark clouds and even though it is quite warm and oppressive, no sun to be seen. Just waiting for the occassional squal to come over and freshen things up!

The windows are now in, and waiting for 5 panes of glass who were wrong and have been reordered to arrive from the factory. Hopefully by the middle of next week that will have been put right too.

In the meantime there will be another never ending list of jobs (not in the least painting the woodwork over the windows and the windowsill and spring cleaning a very dusty house!) but at least I will be able to get my sewing room up and running again so you might be seeing some more crafty things appearing (finally.. I hear you sigh.. and you would be right, lol!)

Things are looking up!

2010-07-01T10:59:00.002+01:00

The last window to come out... This is what my front room looks like at the moment!

The team have put some things right, other things (like replacing window glass that was the wrong size) still to do..

But once this last big window is in, the big clear up can commence!

Thank you everyone who has been so encourageing. It really helped getting all your messages!

Dark clouds on the horizon...

2010-06-30T09:22:00.003+01:00

...in more ways than one...

The window company has made yet another mistake... The openings on the bays in the middle have been reversed.. They open on the top, instead of the bottom and building regulations dictate you have to have a means of escape in case of fire.. besides, this is how it was ordered and as the other windows do not open at the bottom, we would be totally hemmed in there with non opening windows... NOT what we have ordered...

So now I am left with all rooms still in disarray, no curtains in the bedroom (on the street side)and a boarded up window (where they did not get the glass right...) ... dark clouds indeed....:-(

update: the team has turned up with temporary measures.. work is going to be done today ... phew....

For Jodi - what's growing on top of the cliff?

2010-06-29T14:25:00.004+01:00

These are the plants you can see on top of the cliff. The white irises and the purple ones are called 'red valerian', a plant that specifically thrives at the seaside and in habitats near cliffs.

Cooler, not so sunny..

2010-06-29T07:51:00.003+01:00

...but that is not a bad thing when trying to fit windows... A new team has turned up and redone most of what went on before.. The back now nearly finished and hopefully finally starting the front bays now... Trials and tribulations... severe test of patience and endurance...

Will I make it to the end of the week with my sanity in tact?

(ps.. mum and dad kestrel both out on the cliffside after not seeing mum for weeks on end... does this mean the eggs have hatched...?)

DeeRoo has a smashing giveaway!

2010-06-27T18:22:00.003+01:00

Look at all the yummy goodies!

and she'll have five... yeah FIVE winners!!

They are Vlisco Véitable Hollandais Dutch Wax Prints so veeerry special! Hope along to DeeRoo's place and have a look!

Smooth like a mirror...

2010-06-27T10:37:00.003+01:00

the sea is today... not a breath of wind...

awaiting another hot day, dad kestrel is dozing on the cliffside

The window news? Day one.. they did not come (overran on another job), Day two,... they realized mistakes were made in the manufacuring, wrong seals, mismeasured windows.. most of the day was spent waiting for the surveyor.. Day 3 (friday, the day the were meant to finish!) They finally started. Yay!

However, rather than doing one room and finish it, so I can get things straight in the room they have done, they have put the windows in so far in the back, but not finished them (brickwork still showing..) and are proposing to take the front windows out on monday, then finish the rest starting tuesday.. which means I cannot unpack anything at all, and they are working in all rooms at the same time... In short? Nightmare...

I keep thinking that in a weeks time it is all over and I can unpack and sew again.. All keep your fingers and toes crossed for me it is going to go ok from now on....

Off to pack up the lounge!

Muggy, hazy, sticky....

2010-06-26T08:04:00.000+01:00

Into the light..

2010-06-25T07:10:00.001+01:00

A little tease....

2010-06-24T07:57:00.002+01:00

Looking in my bird book, I think this little bird is a water pippit

Every morning, along a particular stretch of beach, it greets us, and proceeds to tease Rafael.

It sits just out of reach and stays there until he charges, flying up at the last moment, then settling down only a few yards away. If we are on the beach, and Rafa does not see it, he (she?) will fly over his head and sit down, taunting him and willing him to follow. It is not that they are attacking defending a nest site.. They (there is a pair of them) will follow him to the waterline and onto the seaweeds only just laid bare by the tide.. It is as if they think this is a good fun game.. Something to get the feathers exercised early in the morning... a sort of bird aerobics ...........

From this....

2010-06-23T21:08:00.002+01:00

To this....

I'm rethinking the layout...now it's all piled up in the corner... I could put it back any way I like... right? ...

Finally... summer has arrived...(or has it...?)

2010-06-23T07:15:00.004+01:00

now only hoping it stays a while! The promise of a great sunny day this morning, quite hot on the beach, even at 5am! that really surprised me! (took a jacket, did not need it! but after all we have had the longest day of the year so the sun should be strong early on - if it is shining, lol!-)

The window people did not finish their previous job in time so are not coming today... On the one hand this is putting things back... on the other hand, it will give me more time to clear some more things out of the way for tomorrow, when they promised they WILL be coming (fingers crossed..)

Hope you all have a good day and for those in the UK I hope for all of us that summer has finally arrived...

Morning all..

2010-06-22T09:14:00.001+01:00

A glorious morning and sun forecast for today 17 - 19 degrees celsius.

This is good! We need dry weather for the painting. Last day of preparations.. the windows are coming tomorrow! Wish me luck!

White irises have appeared on the cliff..

2010-06-21T07:39:00.000+01:00

Rollers...

2010-06-20T07:08:00.001+01:00

Some pretty big waves rolling in from the Channel this morning and rolling in (and breaking up) into Louisa Bay, Broadstairs..

The fearless and the brave are undaunted..