In the Sewing Space

Off to Hythe today (9th) for a workshop with Angie at the Sewing Space, hand sewing a Manx Log Cabin Cushion cover. The project materials were all supplied including a finger pincushion and a very fine 10 applique needle which once threaded (!) was lovely to sew with. It was a lovely relaxing morning, just four of us around the table. If I wasn't so slow at threading my needle I would have finished my piece. All I needed from my sewing kit was my thimble.

Everything I need.

I also collected my very generous raffle prize and as I had a voucher came away with a few useful fat quarters.

Been Busy

Quilt Sandwiches

 

At our group sewing day I sandwiched three quilts together using spray baste and sewed the borders for the Stars quilt and added them when I got home. I've also pieced the back and made a sleeve and the binding. At 85" square it's going to Maggie for longarming. Now I'm quilting the sandwiches. I have made a disastrous start on the windmill solids quilt but have reminded myself I can't win them all.

Borders added

Marion Drake

 At the weekend three of us went to hear a talk by Marion Drake. It was the third time I've heard her and each time the quilts are different but with the same love and appreciation of their beauty and respect for the women who made them.

I have been playing with the idea of equilateral triangles since realising Maggie has a cutting die.

Wow just check out the originality of that red and white border.

I have a set of 30's blocks like these

A wonderful frame quilt

Very large scale HST's.

Large scale crazy controlled by blocks.

A setting idea

Another setting idea

Clearance

These brown and aqua transatlantic swap blocks have been hanging around for a long time as has the sale fabric I planned would go with it (the shop I bought it from has changed hands twice since then and has now closed).

Note the odd one out on the bottom row - background too tan.

I framed the 9" blocks to bring them up to 10" finished size - some needed wider frames than others - and embarked on cutting borders and setting squares from the coordinating fabric only after cutting out lots of pieces did I see blocks and fabric side by side only to realise they don't really coordinate after all. I'm just hoping the magic of patchwork and Maggie's long arming will come to the rescue. This was always meant to be a sale or giveaway quilt and fabric for the front and back was taking up a lot of space in my cupboard. I'll put any bits remaining on the retreat scrap table.

Now I've started to set the blocks - I am sewing four quadrants - I am getting to like the combination and thinking this will turn out to be a nice quilt which would work well in many bedrooms.

However the fact that I am more invested in the project made me worry about the one block with a darker background that jarred. 

So  I am now making a replacement having drafted a slightly simplified pattern which I shall foundation piece. I sourced fabric of the same vintage from a top of the cupboard box.

The offender though very nicely sewn

My pieces ready to sew

Seasons

Spring Baskets 18" square

I took this photo of Spring baskets in Maggie's garden but finished sewing down the required hanging sleeve when I got home. I'm not very pleased with my single fold binding.

Also at home I finished the Summer Days piece with a much better double fold binding, here pictured pinned to our shed.

Now I can get back to the delicious hand quilting on the Give and Take quilt a real stress buster.

Tumblers

 Joining tumblers cut out on Maggie's accuquilt machine was very easy and I managed to sew all the rows while there and join them once I got home. My stash of wax prints seems to take up more room now than when I started.

Rows on Maggie's floor

Quilt top on mine

Retreating

 

I'm spending time staying with a friend to quilt and enjoy the company and just now a gin and tonic. I haven't touched my machine today but yesterday I assembled my Siblings Together charity blocks which once sashed looked much better together than I expected.

Today I cut out lots of tumblers in background and African fabric using Maggie's Accuquilt cutter and dies. Then I laid them out and spent some time choosing the final arrangement and on hands and knees labelling the focus blocks.

Maggie's house reflects quilts and quilting in every corner.

The stair well.

FOQ 03 My Quilts

Celestial Timepiece

My Celestial Timepiece was in the traditional section and it was good while stewarding to see several people  looking closely at it and the judges' comments were the most positive I've ever had. So I am well pleased and thinking about submitting Give and Take in the modern section next year.

And Frida's Cafe Curtains was on the other side of the aisle with the illusion clear at that distance. The white walls set the quilts off very well.

FOQ 02

 We went out for meals with friends on the two nights I was there so no time to post. I saw all the quilts and galleries. Here is a first selection from galleries.

Sewing with Liberty: Jenni Smith & Kay Walsh

Detail

Christine Restall

M J Kinman: Eclipse

Hollis Chatelain: Disappearing Treasures
This seems a departure from other work I have
seen by her.

From the Amish Gallery:
Chinese Coins by the Miller Sisters
International Quilt Museum

Triple Irish Chain by L Miller

Detail

Kaffe Fassett Gallery:

detail

Fussy cut stars from the Liberty
Gallery.

Detail: this is the classic print that inspired Paula
Nadelstern on her kaleidoscope journey many
years ago.

By Edwina McKinnon; I own one of her quilts

Rosie James asked people to send her a photograph of themselves in lockdown. Many did and Rosie
translated them into stitch framing her own portrait in green

Detail

M J Kinman whose eclipse quilt is shown above is fascinated by the facets of jewels. Her birth stones quilt pattern is the Cotton Patch's block of the month starting in September. I have the emerald pattern I intend to make as a cushion for myself.

M J Kinman Jewel quilt

Emerald