It seems a long time since the Usual Suspects met and we had a lovely day together on Wednesday. Judi's latest project was much admired. It is a Modern Quilt Studio (Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr) mystery though Judi knew the result before embarking.

At home I was looking for some 1930s reproduction swap blocks from a decade plus ago and emptied a bottom drawer. Long forgotten items emerged and various odd blocks . I did find the basket blocks but also masses of 9-patches and applique flowers inspired by a Lynn Edwards' talk and pattern. Although I probably have enough for a double bed I think that might be a bit much and will start with a baby size quilt top.

A motley crew

I thought I had laid out 7 by 8 blocks but I realise I am one row short and will add another one. If I had also made blocks with white in the corners that would have given me more options.

I am looking through Mary Mashuta's Cotton Candy Quilts which is giving some leads about using these fabrics.

 Another coherent set of nine blocks emerged and I'll audition some possible sashing, either a gingham type check or some somewhat grungy Tilda chambray.

I think the block's name is "Boys' Nonsense"

Here is the basket block. I thought they might serve as leader enders but realise I would need to pause and do quite a bit of preparation and I already have a ton of cutting for my current project.

Back home

Back home I unearthed a Fons & Porter kit bought in the US in the noughties and have started cutting (there's a lot) and sewing. It will be a massive piecing effort. The pieces will be cut  to size so I shall need to concentrate on being as accurate as I can. My first foray isn't perfect but will do.

These are a soft brown. Next there is a set of pink stars. I am following the pattern using seven eighths and five and a quater inch measurements which leaves no room for error and try as I might I am losing points.

I thought I would sort out a layer cake leader ender pattern inspired by a Moonkin YouTube video but the leader ender took over and I have been making quarter log cabins as fast as I can. I'm using two similar Moda layer cakes from a lady's destash. I have left a batch to trim while on retreat and sets of strips to sew into blocks, good on retreat when I am tiring.

At firstIworked randomly but then I
did some sorting to make sure
every fabric in the block was different
and a mix of value.

Sets of cut 10" squares and of mixed up
layers ready to dew into blocks

I got home on Tuesday then it was Quay Quilters on Wednesday where Jenny talked about slashing fabrics and the now assembled raffle quilt top was produced for us all to admire. It's impressive.

Pastures new

 

We have been away on a family weekend to Pett Level, the shore between Rye and Hastings. Time to enjoy the lovely views out to sea from our lofty bedroom.

We went to Rye where Merchant & Mills was seething with eager shoppers.

Pretty corner in Rye

Aja handed me the Cherrywood fabrics I had had posted to her parents in the US seen here in the basket I bought in Rye.

On another day we visited Hastings where we went up the furnicula.

I prepped some sewing to take having recently made progress on my quilt of the crosses one inch at a time.

The photo served as an aide memoire as it's a bit like a jigsaw to assemble

Blocks completed

 I've finished the 20 blocks for the St Brigid's Crosses quilt plus one extra. I'll take them to one of my three (!) upcoming retreats to complete there.

This and That

Detail

Border detail

I put the quilt I bought from Maggie on my bed. It's her version of fussy rotary cut four squares but hard to discern as it's such a lovely plethora of patterns. It has a lovely drape and looks great. But almost straightaway I had to relinquish it as it's going in the Oast Showcase in October. I'm away for set up day and for the Oast Open Day so needed to hand it over to someone beforehand along with two of my own.

Sunny detail

Westminster Chimes detail

 

None were in our show last month. There was a hand quilting theme to those; these celebrate Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics.

I am getting on with my batik blocks and and I'm on the home straight. I'll join them into a top on a retreat. I have three retreats coming up which makes me very happy.

We had a Queen Beez Day and I bought Maggie's pattern which she showed us made up in Penny Jeffries' fabrics. She also completed a half finished piece handed to her by a customer. She does lovely crochet too.

Hanging diamonds

Next time we're going to work on our Shimmer quilts. About time in my case.

Batik Trail

 

Pockets for phone, glasses, pens etc

Pocket for book etc and there are two side pockets

I made a carry all bag but didn't finish it in time to sell at our show.

I have one that I use all the time when staying away from home.

My carry all bag

Going through the cupboard I found a huge kit intended to be a strippy squares quilt. 

I decided to make St Brigid's Cross blocks: found in this book

The pattern picture

The picture looked simple but the piecing is more complicated than I thought with the cross having a framed centre and two pieced strips for the crosses plus insert plus partial piecing! But with all that the blocks can end up as a blob.

The cross is composed of a two strip unit with insert and the centre is a
framed square. The strip units are added to the oblong pieces and
these are partially pieced around the framed centre. I tried to assess the
right side of the batiks but didn't succeed with one of these oblongs. If I
use this block I'll change it round.

I have used less than half of the fabric so a strippy squares quilt may the best option.

QUEX PARK

 

There are lots of lovely events in Region 2 of the Guild these days and on Wednesday I went on an organised trip to Quex Park near Birchington home to a remarkable family. Powell-Cotton collected items on his grand tour and caught the hunting bug in a big way. He went mainly to Africa and preserved the skins of the animals he taught and brought them back to be mounted and displayed. A museum was built and later galleries added as his collections grew. Of the four children only the youngest daughter married and her descendants still own half the house while the other half is run by a charity with paid staff. Two daughters and a son also also collected but with more provenance and anthropological intent. They led distinguished careers mostly in Africa while son Christopher returned to Quex returned to run the museum and estate when his father died.

We enjoyed a talk about a small selection of textiles which were acquired without reference to their cultural aspects which the curator is seeking to rectify as far as possible. 

The weather was good, the surroundings calm and beautiful and many friends met up and were able to eat outside.

Neareast is bark cloth bought at auction and
of incredible fineness.

Embroideries applied broderie perse style
as part of room decoration.

Detail of C19th quilt probably brought from Mrs powell-Cotton's
Cumbria farmhouse.