Time to catch up

I am very behind with blogging - I feel I can find it hard to keep up with the "to do" list. Anyway here are two Pebble Pop blocks, the first two made guessing how to go and the last with a proper worksheet. I don't think I'll pursue these any further though.

First two

Done the right way

November saw the Region 8 Virtual treat weekend, for me a couple of talks, a mini bag workshop (incomplete) and a wonderful all day Sunday workshop with Janet Bottomley making liberated blocks. I am so pleased with the ones I've done so far. We did four on the day and I bought sheets for four more and there are extension blocks for some. more again. I think my fabric will stretch to nine. The blocks are supposed to finish at 12 when trimmed but like someone else I could get 16" out of my first two so I've continued in this vein so I'll end up with a more useful sized quilt.

Sewing Room Set up ready to go

And the blocks:

I loved this one

The second one in the making, round and round:

First round

The third one was squares cut with scissors, quite fiddly. 

Completed

The last a version of Churn Dash

in the making

Complete

Laid out

Finally on the bed till Advent

Last Day

 

The front

The back

At first the time seemed endless but the last day always comes but I began it having completed the main task of making my giant nested circles blocks. I had brought items from a neglected to do box under my sewing table including some rather old fashioned double sided log cabin blocks that came to me from who knows where. I joined them and used folded strips to cover the seams on the back which is now definitely a back rather than the reverse of the pattern. One for the group show sales table. Last thing in the evening I pieced the Just-Get-It-Done Stashbuster  #3 I had previously cut out, for sale or Linus.

I may add a border to complete it

Other completed tops or projects by the retreaters also appeared.

Kathy's stunning record sleeve top

Colette's hot air balloon quilt using hand dyed fabrics from South Africa

Chris's Christmas Peter Rabbit disappearing 9-Patch.

Friday Doings

Sewing machine tidy

Here is the one I am using

I completed all my giant nested circles, 26 in total including a couple of spares. Trimming will await till I get home. This took most of the day and I stayed up till 11.30 to finish the machine tidy bar sewing down the outer binding, one for the show charity sales table. Tomorrow we're going shopping for linen and last Saturday's zoom workshop has been rescheduled for the afternoon, not very convenient.

Chris's layer cake top

Fabric purchase

Kathy's Today's Quilter BOM

Mandy's cushions front and back for her brother

Colette's bright modern quilt

More retreat activity

I expected to get a lot more done yesterday. I did manage my quota of five more nested circles. We also marked the day with a two minute silence. We went into Bungay where I got wadding from Sew and Sews and three pieces of bright thirties fabric. On our return I had a heritage Zoom with Carolyn Gibbs during which I sewed down some of the binding I had added to my Give and Take quilt on the first day. Then in the evening it was Book Group zoom. We also held our raffle gift session that evening and I won an Advent calendar to make up and very nice too.

African tumblers on show.

Julie's beautiful chain quilt

Detail

Debbie's beautiful Advent calendar

My giant nested circles so far

Retreating

 Lots of work is being done at our retreat. I began the day with giant nested circles but no photo as yet and ended it with making up some long ago surplus blocks made for a swap into a small quilt aided by a fairly recently acquired fabric which is just right for a sashing. Others too worked on and completed tops.

Heather's Winding Ways

Julie's advent calendar

in the making

Carrie's stunning Bear's Paw
variation quilted by Mandy

Detail

Made by Chris for a friend

Yvette's DNP for Linus

My brown and blue stars

Rochester

Old quilts in the window

 On the way here I stopped off in Rochester to visit the beautiful quilt shop, Hometown.

I also popped in to the town exhibition space to look at the nostalgic work of Neil Bottle which included a tray of sewing memorabilia.

Giant Nested Circles etc

Daisy Aschehoug talking us through her giant nested circles

 I have been following up a Zoom workshop - Giant Nested Circles with Daisy Aschehoug . The tutor was in Norway. We were worldwide from the the UK, Canada and the US.  9 am till 2 pm for me conveniently. One of us was up in the middle of the night.

Here is my improv fabric making currently on hold. I'm going a quicker route choosing a single fabric instead.

Now I'm on a quilt retreat in Norfolk where I've attached the binding to my give and take quilt inspired by Tara Faughnan.