Block 39: Pinwheel Star

Blocks from Row 10

This is another one from Jackie Taylor's Civil War quilt.

Block 41: floating spinning star

This was a slightly tricky one to piece. I partially pieced the sections round the central square.

First section added and partially sewn.

Section piece added.

All four pieces with first one still to complete.

Complete

Another Taster bordered

Completed - how jolly - measures approx.  58.5 by 71"

I have bought Cherrywod scrap bags over the years as well as bundles and yardage. I pieced the borders mainly from stack and slash  scrap pieces plus the one print I used. In the process it looked very messy but now I think the border pulls the disparate top together.

Adding borders in a roundabout way

Borders added but untrimmed so the top still looks very untidy

Taster 2 bordered

Now 58 x 74"

Here is the second completed top.

Taster Day 2

Here is the second taster day quilt, this time with framed blocks  and I shall add a plain border to bring it up to size. Currently it's 48" by 64".

The blocks

Now framed and joined.

U3A Taster Day

Blocks on my sewing room floor

With first border (partially pieced so it goes round and round)

I held two U3A taster days at my house, one for five people and the next four.  We made our way through EPP tumbling blocks, patchwork with templates, rotary cutter strip piecing and anything goes stack and slash. They were very enthusiastic and I think several will go on with it either with the U3A or Quay Quilters. The pieces they made will be for a charity quilt and there is enough from this and an earlier year for two quilts.of twelve blocks each. This first one I plan to donate to Siblings Together, a summer camp for brothers and sisters separated by fostering or family breakdown.. They want quite large quilts so I have added a five inch border with a further strippy 5" border to come. Currently it measures 46" by 58". We used Cherrywood fabrics and I now aim to use up as much of my stock of these as I can now that I've used it for several chari several charity quilts and one for me.

Maggie's birthday quilt

Maggie's quilt

I received a super birthday quilt from Maggie using very pretty fabrics and in a complicated mosaic paper pieced pentagram design. Note the pointyness of the triangles and the long diamonds different from those in 60 degree patchwork. It was custom quilted on her long arm machine. All my quilts have been expressive of the donors which is what I wanted. This one combines the technical longarm machine work attuned to the delicate complexity of hand sewn  patches in stunning fabric combinations all set off by the black and white binding.

Detail of quilting

and of fabric choices

On the bed

And another one

Queen Beez enjoyed a day's sewing in each others company and a very nice lunch we all contributed to  though Mary I as hostess played the major part. I received two more beautifiul birthday quilts of an excellence I couldn't aspire to. I'll devote a separate post to each and start with hostess Mary.
Her quilt was instantly ascribable as these autumn tones are her signature as is the lovely embellishment.

Note the very special RicRac edging

Delicate metallic thread on  organza embellishment top right.

Buttons and stitching and added texture.

On the bed

Another view

Farnham trip 03

After Show and Tell at Brigitte's she drove us along very pretty roads to a local patchwork shop where we made a few purchases and then to her studio where she teaches and where her longarm business is housed.  Thank you Brigitte  for a day I shall long remember.

Quilt on the design wall

Brigitte outside her studio.

We had half intended to lunch there but as it was busy we went on to Chawton and enjoyed a sandwich opposite Jane Austen's house where we learnt a lot about her life and viewed her quilt now given due focus. I'm pleased so many museums are being alerted to the popularity of their textile treasures and the viewing number ensuing. We quilters do like to travel.

Jane Austen's final home which she shared with her mother, sister and family friend. Jane died in her forties while mother and sister lived on to their 90's

T

The quilt they made

A coverlet in a spare room , presumably nothing to do
with Jane.

Farnham trip 02

Hot days seem to spell moving more slowly and doing less. . .
Here are some quilts from Brigitte Gillespie's Show and Tell before we set off for the day. Most I recognised from previous years' displays at Farnham Maltings. They always stand out because of the delicacy of design and precision of technique. Many hang on walls and get interchanged with others every so often.

A more masculine colouring.

!930's in Belinda's room

Circles everywhere

Beautiful applique

From a Ruth MecDowell pattern. This one had Belinda and me rushing to buy the book.

Stack and whack with plain background and printed sashing. Great!

Karen Stone design coloured so subtly/

The book we've bought.

Farnham trip 01

Before the talk

I have just returned from Farnham where Belinda and her daughter, Penny, were giving a joint talk to Farnham Quilters. Belinda showed her lovely quilts and Penny her screen printed textiles. The listeners were super impressed by both. Their work is so lovely. However we had to scrabble a bit to find pieces with hanging sleeves on as Belinda's quilts are mostly for beds so we held up the major pieces on the stage. That was my role, bag carrier and holder upper, and I was very glad to be taken  along. Needless to say as I was holding up quilts and teztiles I have no pictures apart from a view before the start.
We stayed with Brigitte Gillespie whom we had met up with in Pasadena so it was a chance for Show and Tell and  a local expedition I'll write more posts but start with quilts which Brigitte owned which she hadn't made herself

This one was made by Farnham Quilters
member, Doris Dove, who I used to go on
retreats with years ago, a lovely lady.

I think this is one of Doris's also. She devotes her time to
using up stash and making charity quilts these days and
took five years to finish all her UFO's. A lesson for us all.

A lady called Sue Davies made this but as it wasn't going to be passed on she elected to sell it so Brigitte bought it and has
given it a good home where it is seen and appreciated. A superb.work.

Label of the Baltimore quilt.

This precious piece was made by Ruth McDowell, a famous quilter, lives at Brigitte's sudio, hanging outside when
she is working there.

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A lucky girl

I let my sixtieth birthday pass by with little notice. Being retired, pensions and bus pass were a sufficient celebration for anybody in my view. However the biblical three score years and ten has always held a special fascination for me and I thought I should be very disappointed not to make it that far. Well now I have but  I did start working towards it a long time ago and suggested to my friends thay might make me a small quilt either 24" or A4 sized expessive of them, more perhaps for fabric choices than technique which might be complicated. As the time approached and they reminded me of this I felt rather shamefaced but they insisted they would and the first two have been handed over. I am so inexpressibly grateful for the time and trouble taken, far more than I anticipated.
Belinda sent me a teaser picture of hexagons but I was amazed to open the package and uncover tiny hexagons with half inch sides made from  Liberty fabrics. All this plus beautiful big stitch quilting. Tracy loves improvisational piecing and uses a distinctive bright colour palette so I knew instantly who had made this little quiltlet which has so much sewing in it. All this and a delightful mug carrier (we take our own mugs to sewing days) plus my favourite Earl Grey tea.

Doll's bed with Belinda's quilt and quilt stand with Tracy's piece.

Detail

Close up

Detail

Label

Label

Mug carrier and tea from Tracy The catch catches without being buttoned through. Very clever. Trademark yellow and pink dots on lining.