2012 December

 

Hello My Deer

A few months ago, a friend, Hayley, mentioned that she was booking herself onto a willow weaving course - weaving animals - I thought it sounded fun so asked if I could join her

[note to self, find out more before you sign up for stuff with Hayley in future]

We set off yesterday at 8am (!!!!) I brought a coffee with me but the travel mug leaked, so no coffee to wake me up.  By 10am we were at a little garden centre outside Tunbridge Wells - walking 1/4 mile or so down a hill to collect 3 metre hazel saplings which had already been cut down.  We then had to drag 4 each back up the hill. and shove the ends into the very soggy ground,  At least at this point we were rewarded with coffee!

Martin, the tutor then 'just' curved the tops of two of them and magically created the hind legs of a deer

 

More and more hazel branches were added, with willow and dogwood

Until (now photographed from the other side) Hazel was starting to look finished!

 

 There were four of us on the course, and each deer developed a definite personality.  Hazel was nosey, looking off to the right, while Sylvia's was checking for danger, looking over her right shoulder, and Alex's had heard something, and was looking off to the left.

Hayley's was looking more forward, ears back, listening for something

By the time we finished, and starting thinking about loading them into the car it was getting dark.  We hadn't really considered the problems of getting two 6 foot plus antlered deer into a family saloon car - we had to leave the legs sticking a bit out

Hayley - I wasn't expecting to go hill climbing, or to work outside all day, or to make a deer, or to make something even half as bit as this - but nor was I expecting to have such a great time - so yes I have forgiven you, thank you so much, and what can we do next???

Santa's Sacks Sorted

A photo of three more items finished from the lit

And Chloe's sack was also finished, but I guess I didn't take a photo of that.  Carol's place mats have been started: the monogrammed centres have been embroidered.  But there are more new costumer orders that have snuck their way onto the list too - such is life!

Long List in the Sewing Sweat Shop

In the sweat shop that used to be my sewing sanctuary ... I have been working hard.  

I have embroidered names onto three dressing gowns, and names onto four fleece blankets.  I have designed and stitched a sample badge for the local scout pack who, next year, celebrate 90 years of scouting in the village. 

I have taken deliver of old covers for 14 caravan cushions, and a roll of upholstery fabric, and have been sent a dozen photos to magic into a cushion for a friend to give to her sister.

Also, I've been asked to alter an Angel wall hanging that was made for the crib at church,  Janet made this fab hanging, but one of the clergy feels there should be just one significant star.  

I think the other three do balance the quilt, and they will be difficult to remove or disguise without looking as if we had done that, so I'm going to increase the significance of the one big star, and hope that the compromise is acceptable to all parties!

 

Which looks best - the echo lines to the right of the star? Or the radiant lines to the left?


And I have been practising says "I'd love to, but I'm afraid I cant" - do you reckon I'll be able to say it to the next person who asks?

What A Wednesday

The day started cold and grey (8am! no not the sun, just a street lamp!)

and didn't really improve much, so after I'd worked the morning, I came home and stitched, and trimmed, and stitched, and pressed . . .
I added the borders to the placemats

I pieced backs for the placemats

I stitched, and turned, and quilted 7 placemats

And then I got fed up, and went and watched TV and hand stitched the base of this Christmas tree closed.

The tree was made for me by Jackie, two years ago

(cut 4 tree shapes, stitch together (rst) in pairs, leaving open at base, turn, lay one on top of the other, stitch from top to bottom, 'decorate', stuff, slip stitch base closed - ta da!)
 
And it was decorated in Australia last year with Indi and Marley choosing the decorations and telling me where to sew them



I was asked today if I could replace a zip in some trousers - and - (are you proud of me?) - I managed to say "I'd love to, but I'm afraid I cant".  It didn't take much will power, as I actually *can't* do zips, but at least I said it!

Looooong Term Project

I would hate to guess how many years (decades?) I've had this Christmas embroidery.  It comes out each Christmas with the decorations, and it goes away each January, with a few more stitches.

It will be lovely when it's done, I just hope no one is holding their breath!

(No it's not on the list!)

Saturday Sewing

I wont achieve as much sewing as I could have managed today, as instead  I took full advantage of the first day in *months* that I haven't had to set the alarm, so I enjoyed a very lazy morning.

Then I got to panicking about "the list" so started on some sewing.

* FINISHED Scarves for Liam and Harry
I stitched these in a dark green as these scarves as going to the girls' boyfriends - they are intentionally low contrast

* FINISHED Increase star on Angel Wallhanging

  

Now in the Nativity crib at church

* FINISHED 5 x flannels for Beth

 
* FINISH Santa Sack for Casper

YAY!  The list is looking better :-)

THE LIST

For when Dave & Liz's baby arrives
 * FINISH I-Spy Quilt

For Christmas  
 * FINISH Napkins for Anna
 * START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots 
 * START cushion for Sam
 * START Wrap for Terri
 * FINISH 12 place mats for Carol

After Christmas
 * START Jacket for Jamie 
 * START Embroider Anisa's name onto a quilt
 * START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Simone's caravan cushions
 * FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

Polaroid 9 Patch, and Placemats

Another day, another two projects off The List

A friend asked for a cushion for her sister, with pictures of the sister's young son. She sent me loads of pictures and I couldn't decide on just a few to use.  I've seen lots of Polaroid blocks recently and thought they would be a great idea to use lots of the photos.

I used Little Miss Shabby's pictures for my inspiration, and made this today.

* FINISHED cushion for Sam


The placemats have now been completed, all 12 of them.  Lisa will deliver them to her friend's mum on Tuesday, so they have been ticked off

* FINISHED 12 place mats for Carol

THE LIST

For when Dave & Liz's baby arrives
 * FINISH I-Spy Quilt

For Christmas  
 * FINISH Napkins for Anna
 * START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots   * START Wrap for Terri

After Christmas
 * START Jacket for Jamie 
 * START Embroider Anisa's name onto a quilt
 * START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Simone's caravan cushions
 * FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

Nearly Finished

Well, thank you to all my cheerleaders, I think I'm nearly done now:

I wasn't looking forward to doing these:  They all needed to be hooped in pretty much the same place to make all the embroideries appear in the same place.

Usually I hoop the item to be embroidered, but instead I hooped some sticky stuff, so that could stay in the hoop and I could stick the napkins to it.

I then drew a line to mark the placement of the napkin corner

And carefully lined up each napkin along the line

And stitched

Each embroidery took a chunk out of the sticky stabiliser which is why that looks at bit patchwork, but it all worked out fine, phew!
 * FINISH Napkins for Anna
Just a few projects to go

THE LIST
For when Dave & Liz's baby arrives
 * FINISH I-Spy Quilt
For Christmas  
* START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots   
* START Wrap for Terri
After Christmas
 * START Jacket for Jamie 
 * START Embroider Anisa's name onto a quilt
 * START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Simone's caravan cushions
 * FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

Oh Cobblers

I never signed up for cobbling, and I don't think I'd pass the entrance exam, but after the pair of books I made for myself

I thought I'd keep going.


I have made a pair for God Daughter's Christmas present,

And then a teacher at school asked for a pair too

 

Making them involved a bit of Heath Robinson thinking:  The only clear space to set up the Bernina was a bit high for using the foot pedal.  And the machine then had to go on a stool to give enough room to move the boot around, So I stood at the desk to make them.

I think they worked OK

Christmas Goodies

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, and were spoilt by Santa, and those who love you - I was :-)

I received a lovely beaded Christmas tree decoration from the very talented Amo who blogs at View From Our Hill, and, just behind in the photo, a green fabric star from the very lovely Plum

The very talented, (and only 12 years old) niece, who uses the on-line name of Roxy Flame (and blogs here and here,) cut me a bundle of blue fabrics ready to be patchworked, and made her Uncle Brian a Socktapus for cleaning the car windows

My lovely mummy got together with the daughters and did a stocking for me - including these fab stripy fabrics

My BFF, Jackie did far better than me - her pressie from me has been made, but is still waiting to go to the post office, so I cant even show it here as I know she'll see it.  She made me this lovely zipped pouch (please Jackie can you teach me how to do zips  x x x) and I don't know how clear the necklace is in this photo - but between the beads are bobbins filled with bright coloured thread - how awesome is that?

I was a very spoilt girl, so I promise not to show you all the pressies I got, but these final few need to be shared - 

Younger daughter, Niki, got me these super earrings - real Forget-me-nots set in resin, I LOVE forget-me-nots

and Older daughter, Lisa, got me the top purse here (I do love things with writing on) while the lovely Annabelle (who blogs here) sent me the pouch in the bottom of this photo

Thank you all very much :-)

Post Christmas Post

Gosh Christmas seemed to be spread over many days, but it also already seems along time ago.  Now the family are all back in their normal places, the bin men have emptied the over flowing bins, and the stuff that was shoved into the sewing room to make room elsewhere has been returned to its normal place, and I can get back in!

I did manage the finishes on "The List":

Anisa's quilt got named

Terri's scarf got written on and finished

(although the poem is a family joke, I also stitched it as an infinity scarf, so she can wear it in public:)

 I also wanted to share some other making:  These hearts are traditional Norwegian (maybe  Scandinavian in general) Christmas decorations. They are woven, usual paper or card, but woven in 3D to make a small basket (see this site for instructions)  The more intricate one below was sent to me by my great aunt, the more basic one was made with felt rather than card.

But I saw a few variations on Pinterest, and these appealed to be as a patchworker: I had great fun making some more.  [Note to self - red and white card needed!!!]

THE LIST
FINISHED: * Harry's I-Spy Quilt
FINISHED * 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots   
FINISHED * Wrap for Terri
FINISHED * Anisa's name onto a quilt
After Christmas
 * START Jacket for Jamie
 * START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Simone's caravan cushions
 * FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

PS

What can be better than spending an afternoon sorting fabric while listening to, and half watching Mama Mia!

Picture fabrics including fabric / sewing themed

Spotty fabrics and fabrics with writing on

Striped fabrics, and plain /  mottled fabrics

I confess I found some that I had forgotten about, and there was some stroking as well as folding!

Hope you are enjoying not being at work

Happy Hexies

I've got a couple of hand sewing projects on the go for while I'm watching TV, so I thought I'd show you the progress on the larger one:

I actually thought ahead for this project, and drew out the design, and made some partial flowers so I could square off the edges without wasting fabric.  But I didn't think it all the way through - I have nothing left for borders or binding, so it will be the size it finishes at! (It will be about 36" wide)

One of the students at Chertsey Museum, Kay, makes dolls house items: 1/12th scale, 1/24th scale, and even 1/144th scale!!!

She has lent me a book.  My next project involves tracing and cutting hexies that only measure 1cm top to bottom - watch this space!

2012 November

 

Patchwork Boots

It's been a bit of a strange few days, and not much has gone to plan, but my Bernina has returned from its 'holiday' with nephew. 

Whilst I love my Brother machines, they don't have the oomph that the Bernina has.  I started making these boots a while ago, and now that Bernie is back, they've been finished ;-)

(Dont look too close, there are some dodgy sections!)

Birthday Baking

Ok, not quite baking, but I did make a cake

Confused?

You won't be when you see this cake that I made for my colleague at school, Sarah

(hum, I must have taken the photo before I hand embroidered the candle wicks - you'll have to imagine them)

I usually make the cup of first coffee, as I get in about 10 minutes before her, so I put her coffee on it, then started work.  Funnily enough, she knew straight away it was from me :-)

Perfect Post 6

Oh My Gosh

I have to be the most spoilt person in blogland!

My latest Star of Africa Bee star arrived today, from Jen, the Quilter in the Closet (isn't that a fab blog title).  Jen lives very near to Hollywood (!) and based her star on the famous stars set into the pavement in the Hollywood Walk of Fame:

With my name, and a sewing machine hand embroidered onto it

With the extra 4 pieces that I cheekily asked the girls for, I get this liberated star, already to tessalate with the other yummy stars

But there was more ... This amazing mug caddy that Jen made - and then popped into Hollywood to buy a mug for!  (see the daisy button that is the perfect match for the daisys on the fabric)

Then (as her lovely letter explained) she saw another mug that she thought would be ideal, but clearly wouldn't fit in the caddy, so I got BOTH mugs

 (how great is that!)

But the mugs then had to be protected from postal machines etc, so they were wrapped in two fabrics.  The batik is an amazing intricate design, but the "Evolution" fabric is heart-stoppingly gorgeous.  I'm not sure I'll ever be able to use it, I think it has to be framed (but that's ok, because Jen sent me a piece with this image TWICE)

So if anyone out there in blog land has had a better delivery this week, month, year! I'll eat my hat!

Someone's Stocking

OK, not stockings, but Someone's Sack didn't have the same ring to it!!!

I had a few customers ask me to make Christmas Sacks last year: they thought they asked in plenty of time, but as I was going to spend the first 17 days of December in Australia, I had to tell them I couldn't help, so this year I am getting ready early.

I have changed the design slightly so I can get them prepared before personalising them, so decided to make one for our new Great Neice, so I could photograph it:

So, Dear Santa, this year I have been good, Lucia

But if trouble is afoot, and Santa needs to be aware, the tab can be flipped over:

I have an image of, in a few years time, mum or dad shouting to Lucia "Dont make me turn the tab around"

Foot Free and Fancy Loose

Have you ever tried FMQ without a foot?

I had a project that I've been putting off for ages: my boss (the best boss I've ever had, possibly the best boss anyone has ever had) asked me to quilt a blanket to a sheet for him, so I said yes.  He taught himself knitting and crochet earlier this year, and was very pleased with the resulting blanket

I roped mum and Jackie in to help me, we stretched and bullied it into a neat rectangle, and pinned and tacked the rectangle onto a sheet, and I then started to quilt it by hand.

However, what we hadn't considered was that the stretched bits didn't really want to stay stretched, so they were springing back to their original shape, and taking the sheet with it.

I had long discussions with the Broom Farm ladies, and the final decision was to spray baste it, in it's preferred shape, onto a fleece blanket (in fact two joined to be big enough) and then quilt it along the seams.

But the knitting was quite high (is that the right work? loft?) and whatever foot I tried to use got hooked up in the wool, so I abandoned the idea of a foot, and went ahead and quilted.  Yes I know the lines and wobbly, and the quilting leaves a lot to be desired, but it was blinking hard work.

Do you want to see the blanket?

Are you sure?


Ta da!

Almost finished :-)

A Few Finishes

 Last month a friend, Jacqui, lead the group at Chertsey Museum, and taught us how to do Padded and Raised work,  She used the theme of a rock pool, and gave us a number of examples.

I've finally finished mine

I have also finished stitching on the binding for a Batik Square Dance that has been in the PHD pile for far too long.

* * * * * * * *

To keep me on track I have written a list of projects to be finished before Christmas: at least the Square Dance can be my first tick!

• Christmas Waistcoat
• I-Spy for Dina
• I-Spy for Liz
• I-Spy for Jane (Chloe)
• Christmas sack for Chloe
• Christmas sack for Richard
• 12 place mats for Carol
• 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots
• Warm Stars quilt for Philippa
• Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging
• Napkins for Anna
• Batik Square Dance  18th November)

Perfect Post 7 and 8

Well, the delivery I can blog about today was one delivery from two people!


Tina and Veena, both from the Star Of Africa Bee, both live in India.  Veena was recently rushed into hospital for an operation, so Tina stepped in to help with my block.  These two blocks arrived from both Tina and Veena, and I love them both.  I told the group that I was choosing grey as the linking fabric as next March is our silver wedding anniversary, so my Bee buddies are helping me make an anniversary quilt.  I wasn't particularly thinking that the blocks were to represent weddings, as the blocks are already to represent our locality, but Veena and Tina have managed both!

Tina writes about this one

Benta, since this is for your wedding anniversary, here's something from our weddings. The garments of the bride (red) & groom (white) are tied with the sacred marital knot throughout the duration of the wedding ceremony. Isn't that cute? Another interesting bit - when the man turns 60, the couple take their wedding vows once more in another 'wedding', this time with the kids and grandkids around too :-)

 (should be twisted anticlockwise): 

If you follow this link to the flickr group you can see a much better photo of it


This second block also has a wedding theme

Veena writes that it represents two palms decorated with henna.  This is painted onto the hands of married women

Both blocks are beautiful.

Thank you both for the blocks, and for the fabrics you kindly sent too.  Veena, I hope you feel better soon x x

No Reply? No Problem!

Just a short post today - I had a lovely visit from Lisa: she planned to be here just until 2pm, but stayed until 9:30, lovely but no sewing time today.

I did get a little niggle sorted.  Fiona at CelticThistleStitches told me that I was suddenly posting as a No Reply blogger, but I couldn't find the setting to change it.  Fiona suggested it might be caused by Google Plus.  Eventually Mr Google helped by leading me to this blog page:.   From Me And My Gang.  The author shows how to disconnect Google Plus, how to change settings, and then how to return to Google Plus.

Apologies for being a No Reply blogger.  All sorted now

How Generous is Janine? (Perfect Post 9)

You may remember me having blogged about Janine (The Rainbow Hare) before.  She and I have been following each other's blogs for a long time now.  She made this fab hexie spiral mini quilt

 earlier this year, and very kindly sent me the books so I could make one myself,and she and Nicky (Mrs Sew and Sew) blogged about the Star of Africa Bee which I then joined.

Janine's Bee Block arrived a few days ago, but I was feeling so full of cold, and achy and generally bleugh, so I made myself wait until today before I opened it.  It was lovely to have something to look forward to even though I had already seen the block when she posted it on FlickrL


The Out Of Africa Bee Blocks each represent something from our own locality, and while my geography is rubbish, I recognised this block as soon as I saw it: The White Cliffs of Dover

And here it is in the centre of it's star

Thank you Janine

But before I even came to the star blocks, I shrieked.

Seriously!  Its so lucky there was no-one else home as they probably would not have understood - but you - my bloggy patchworky friends will understand.

You understand that when a stranger (lets face it, Janine and I have never met) sends you not only a lovely block, but also something beautiful, intricate and painstakingly made, and in this case something also previously lusted after, there is no correct response other than a loud, girly shriek

Prepare yourselves

This is now mine

 

 Words cannot describe how I feel, but I tried - I found Janine's phone number through BT.com, and called her to thank her.  We had a lovely long chat, and Janine, I hope you realise how delighted I am!

Slightly paling into insignificance, I have done *some* sewing today, and this misshapen collection of  Christmassy blocks is the result.

It might be clearer from this side

Tomorrow I am meeting mum for a spot of Christmas shopping, and I will pass these pieces over to her, and when I next see her (if she has taken a break from the cardigan she is knitting me) she may have made me a Christmas Waistcoat!

Thank you mummy!

So the Christmas List:

• 
  
• Nicky's book block
• I-Spy for Dina
• I-Spy for Liz
• I-Spy for Jane (Chloe)
• Christmas sack for Chloe
• Christmas sack for Richard
• 12 place mats for Carol
• 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots
• Warm Stars quilt for Philippa
• Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging
• Napkins for Anna
• Batik Square Dance
• Christmas Waistcoat

A 'Nearly Finish'

"Warm Stars" has been quilted

and bordered, and half bound,

 and despite a panic that I didn't have enough of the second border fabric, has come out quite well

Just need to hand stitch the binding and she's done!

Another Finish from the Christmas List

One of the teachers at school is leaving on maternity leave.  I had it in my head that it was at the end of term, so I have an I-Spy quilt on the list, but no rush . . .  Until I was told that she leaves at the end of this month!

Gulp.  Luckily I did have the blocks cut and stitched into strips, so a quick quilt as I go (my method which really is quick!) and add a binding, and it's now done

Panic over

The To Be Done By Christmas list now looks like . . .

• Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
• Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa)
• I-Spy for Liz
• I-Spy for Jane (Chloe)
• Christmas sack for Chloe
• Christmas sack for Richard
• Christmas sacks for Liam and Harry
• 12 place mats for Carol
• 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots
• Warm Stars quilt for Philippa
• Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging
• Napkins for Anna
• Batik Square Dance 
• I-Spy for Dina
• Christmas Waistcoat

Three finishes on my List

The first finish hadn't actually made it *to* the list, so I've added it and crossed it off, which is a very happy feeling.  These are made 'in the hoop' - which kind of means I do a little bit of work on the computer and the press go on the embroidery machine and it does all the hard work!  A whole load of little 'thinking of you at Christmas' gifts sorted

This is an I-Spy quilt for a friend who has just become a Great Auntie to a baby called Chloe.  Her name is embroidered on the ballet fabric, but you can hardly see it.

And while watching the first half of the Bone Hunter last night I finished the binding on Warm Memories and Stars - this may be for a teacher leaving school at the end of the year.  I have two finished and they can now go to school where someone with decision making abilities can choose!

So the new and improved list now looks like this:

• START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
• START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa)
• START Christmas sacks for Liam and Harry
• START 12 place mats for Carol
• START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots
• FINISH I-Spy for Liz
• FINISH Christmas sack for Chloe
• FINISH Christmas sack for Richard
• FINISH Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging
• FINISH Napkins for Anna
• Batik Square Dance 
• I-Spy for Dina
• Christmas Waistcoat
• In The Hoop Gifts
•  I-Spy for Jane (Chloe) 
• Warm Stars quilt for Philippa