Thursday 16 March 2023

Holiday Stitching

 I brought my Brandon Mably fish fabric quilt with me to Madeira so I could finish sewing down the binding while here.



I got Alan to take a picture of me standing by it below our balcony in the garden.

A fellow sewer saw me and offered to hold up one end. She made lots of clothes from interesting fabrics from different parts of the world including the blouse she was wearing and her husband's shirts. She also used her stitching skills in her work as a plastic surgeon (reconstructive not cosmetic).



I've also finished just one of the Drunkard's Path blocks. A lot more to do.





And the Madeiran environs provide plenty of inspiration too. Check out these clamshells.



Monday 6 March 2023

Oast Quilters 4th March

 We had a lovely talk from Penny Bicknell about different sorts of Group quilts from early Round Robins to block swaps and artistic colllaborations and joint efforts with her mother where Penny did the cutting and finishing with her mother hand piecing the blocks, three of which shown here. My sort of quilt.





The smaller space where we met as the school hall wasn't heated made for a jollier atmosphere. As usual the Show and Tell was one of the best bits. Sorry I can't remember names.


I think , Trudi's


A project set by Liz C. - Julia's/

Canterbury Quilters group quilt
poses by Janet Clare jointed
template

Started from a mystery magazine project but
then redesigned


This one from Maria Spiller's
workshop has inspired me to cut my
crosses up rather than leaving them 
as I was planning.


Lovely large quilt










I got rid of magazines, all my remaing programme secretary bumpf and two quilts for older boys to Linus.

Tablecloth Quilt

Mad March Hare





On and off the bed

 

This quilt a long held UFO was finished in 2021. Many of the blocks were swapped with American quilters and the teal and brown fabric to go with it was bought in a long ago JEMS sale. The owners retired long ago. I will pass it along but meanwhile Maggie (Priory Lane Quilting) has done a good job of the quilting and it covers us up nicely.

Shortly destined for the For sale pile
This favoured "Stepping Stones" piece mostly designed by Jackie Taylor of White Cottage took its place this week. Definitely a "keeper".


However we've had a cold snap and now I've added another one on top. I thought I didn't like this started in a Jan Hassard class but now I'm so relieved Isobel and Sophie didn't decide to buy it. I like looking at the big stitch quilting I added.




Sunday 5 March 2023

Quilts for other people

 

I made three legacy quilts using units made by a dear quilter who died over a decade ago. They were passed to me by the friend who had the job of sorting out and disposing of her stash and the bag of pieces had been simmering away on my conscience since. Anyway last year with the help of Maggie Breakspear (Priory Lane Quilting) I completed two of the quilts and got in touch with the friend to ask for Margaret's daughters's address. I remembered Margaret who was in various groups, attended workshops and also she expertly sewed bags and smaller items saying she had never made a quilt . When I spoke to her daughter this turned out to be true and she arrived with her daughter, Margaret's granddaughter, to collect the quilts. She was so touched and tearful but happy.

Blocks before assembling and bordering

Top before bordering

The recipient


I'm mad with myself I don't have pictures of the completed ones. This is my only record.

Recently Sophie who had seen my quilts at the neighbourhood Arts and Arts and Crafts Show brought her mother to view and they bought three quilts.


Deja Vu for Sophie originally for my son but came back to rest happily with me
.

Happy New Year Logs made as a teaching sample

Jackie's Jellies from A Jackie Erickson workshop at Sisters Oregon

It transpired Isabel had lived in Malaysia when her children were small and she sent me sarong fabric to add to my collection from our time there 1999-2009.