Friday 30 October 2009
Wednesday 28 October 2009
What a glorious day! But I love the winter.
The weather yesterday was fantastic! Where did that come from? With the clocks going back, I sort of accept that the "normal" weather is back and the summer clothes are firmly tucked away for another year. I always feel that summer, as terrific as it is, is a special season; a reward for having to deal with nine months of cold, wind and rain. Winter is the way life is. I feel safe in winter. Huddled under a warm quilt, protected from the world outside. I think it is important to have special days or special seasons. If it was the same for 12 months it would be dead boring. Winter gives you the chance to do all the indoor stuff you want to get on with. All the projects to make for Christmas gifts and projects to make for next year's exhibitions.
A few friends came over yesterday and the ideas and excitement of making craft items for our quilt show next year were in abundance. I love to see the 'light bulb' go on and the eyes wide. My blood pressure has been up because of all the excitement of carrying out all the ideas in my mind. The thought of sitting in a group at a friend's house making pincushions and bunting and mini quilts fills me with joy. It is that sort of thing that gets me through the winter months. That is why I prefer this time of the year. Just wait until I get my wood burning stove! That will be the icing on the cake!
A few friends came over yesterday and the ideas and excitement of making craft items for our quilt show next year were in abundance. I love to see the 'light bulb' go on and the eyes wide. My blood pressure has been up because of all the excitement of carrying out all the ideas in my mind. The thought of sitting in a group at a friend's house making pincushions and bunting and mini quilts fills me with joy. It is that sort of thing that gets me through the winter months. That is why I prefer this time of the year. Just wait until I get my wood burning stove! That will be the icing on the cake!
Friday 16 October 2009
Fantastic mini projects from Sue Spargo
I can't believe I actually got some sleep last night. Midnight surfing can catch up with you eventually. This morning I checked out some of my favorite blogs and thought I needed to share this with you. Stocking fillers! Gifts for mums, aunties, friends.
As I went down my blog list, I saw my FOLLOW SANTA bookmark. Great one for the kids because it shows Santa's tracks across the world leading up to Christmas Eve.
But then that got me started on Christmas presents and these are so ideal. I want to meet Sue Spargo!! She lives in Ohio and that is where I came from before settling here in the UK in 1971. So..........thought these little ideas would be good to get the children involved as well. See what you think.
As I went down my blog list, I saw my FOLLOW SANTA bookmark. Great one for the kids because it shows Santa's tracks across the world leading up to Christmas Eve.
But then that got me started on Christmas presents and these are so ideal. I want to meet Sue Spargo!! She lives in Ohio and that is where I came from before settling here in the UK in 1971. So..........thought these little ideas would be good to get the children involved as well. See what you think.
Sue has some great books for sale with some really nice contemporary folk art quilts.
Tuesday 13 October 2009
I just love this site. The photos are so beautiful with their vivid colours. The name says it all "Pretty & Simple". Take a look and see if you agree!
Fabric Doll's House Tutorial
Here I am in the wee hours of the morning filling my mind with so many crafty ideas! Just wish I could concentrate on making at least one of them! Never mind. I hope you might take some of these ideas yourselves and give them a whirl. With Christmas coming in a few months, this doll's house idea might be just the gift for someone special!
Sunday 11 October 2009
Ever wondered how to get wavy seams?
Surf's up again and along I go! Found this super site with cool tutorials for making simple but useful items. This one shows how to make a wavy seam block with no templates or pins! What do you think about that. Check it out now.
Saturday 10 October 2009
Teenie Tiny HST!
I have collected several HST from another project, so old I can't remember where I put it! It was the idea that Bonnie from Quiltville advocates. I was adding squares to the corner of some blocks and did the whole double sewing on the corner to produce these wonderful little babies. I even made my friend Alison do the same. She cursed me, I know, but I told her it was important to save all these for another project. So now I have finally found a project to use them in.
As my group, Hearty Quilters, will be doing A4 quilts for our Maidstone Quilt Show this year, I reckoned that I could use these little darlings up in that. I think it may be easier if I first fuse them on to some gridded vilene for ease of handling. Got my Singer featherweight out as I thought this would be just the job for its first outing. Just love that little machine. It brings back warm memories of sitting and watching my mum sew! The smell does it. You don't get the same from the modern machines.
Somehow I don't think this is going to be as easy as the pictures in my head make it! We'll see!!!
As my group, Hearty Quilters, will be doing A4 quilts for our Maidstone Quilt Show this year, I reckoned that I could use these little darlings up in that. I think it may be easier if I first fuse them on to some gridded vilene for ease of handling. Got my Singer featherweight out as I thought this would be just the job for its first outing. Just love that little machine. It brings back warm memories of sitting and watching my mum sew! The smell does it. You don't get the same from the modern machines.
Somehow I don't think this is going to be as easy as the pictures in my head make it! We'll see!!!
Tuesday 6 October 2009
Maidstone Quilt Show 2010
How wonderful, I have been re-elected as chairman for another year. So many things to organize and loads of ideas to work on. I hope to get the group really motivated so we can make loads of money for the Heart of Kent Hospice.
Our Maidstone Quilt Show will be changing venue for 2010! We are holding a three-day event at The Friars in Aylesford on the July 30, 31 & Aug 1, starting at 10am. How marvelous is that going to be!! They have a beautiful converted barn with traditional thatched roof and oak beams. I can see how glorious all the quilts will look surrounded by such a magnificent building. It will be a show not to be missed.
As always, there will be trade stands selling delicious fabrics, patterns, books, buttons, all sorts. We, Hearty Quilters, will be making journal quilts in the style of the Little Gem Tombola at the Festival of Quilts. In addition, there will also be craft items and cakes made by Hearty Quilters on sale.
With the winter creeping in on us, I like to picture myself sitting near a log fire with my sewing draped around me, helping to keep me warm. A glow on my face and totally at peace with myself. In reality I am snowed under with stacks of fabrics looking for space on my shelves and in my cupboards and half started projects hanging around, shouting at me "finish me, finish me!" It is good to dream. Ahhhhh....
Our Maidstone Quilt Show will be changing venue for 2010! We are holding a three-day event at The Friars in Aylesford on the July 30, 31 & Aug 1, starting at 10am. How marvelous is that going to be!! They have a beautiful converted barn with traditional thatched roof and oak beams. I can see how glorious all the quilts will look surrounded by such a magnificent building. It will be a show not to be missed.
As always, there will be trade stands selling delicious fabrics, patterns, books, buttons, all sorts. We, Hearty Quilters, will be making journal quilts in the style of the Little Gem Tombola at the Festival of Quilts. In addition, there will also be craft items and cakes made by Hearty Quilters on sale.
With the winter creeping in on us, I like to picture myself sitting near a log fire with my sewing draped around me, helping to keep me warm. A glow on my face and totally at peace with myself. In reality I am snowed under with stacks of fabrics looking for space on my shelves and in my cupboards and half started projects hanging around, shouting at me "finish me, finish me!" It is good to dream. Ahhhhh....
Saturday 3 October 2009
What an exciting day I shall be having Saturday. It is the AGM at my monthly quilt group and as I am chairman at the moment, the responsibility of it is quite exciting.
So many things happening right now. Just really would like to get back to quilting though. I have some projects on the go that require more effort. As we are planning for our 2010 Maidstone Quilt Show, I need to get these quilts done if I have any hope of entering them for the show.
What I like about the Maidstone Quilt Show is that anyone can enter and the quilts are not judged. They are entered as a way of contributing to our adopted charity, THE HEART OF KENT HOSPICE, but also for the sharing and enjoyment and the beauty of seeing your work from a different perspective. Sometimes we are looking at our work too closely and being very critical of it. When you hold it up and stand back, you can better appreciate how absolutely stunning it really is. Everyone ought to enter their work into a local quilt show. If anyone is interested in entering their work into the Maidstone Quilt Show next year, details will be available in the near future.
More glorious sunshine in my part of the world! But just a bit of rain would certainly help!
So many things happening right now. Just really would like to get back to quilting though. I have some projects on the go that require more effort. As we are planning for our 2010 Maidstone Quilt Show, I need to get these quilts done if I have any hope of entering them for the show.
What I like about the Maidstone Quilt Show is that anyone can enter and the quilts are not judged. They are entered as a way of contributing to our adopted charity, THE HEART OF KENT HOSPICE, but also for the sharing and enjoyment and the beauty of seeing your work from a different perspective. Sometimes we are looking at our work too closely and being very critical of it. When you hold it up and stand back, you can better appreciate how absolutely stunning it really is. Everyone ought to enter their work into a local quilt show. If anyone is interested in entering their work into the Maidstone Quilt Show next year, details will be available in the near future.
More glorious sunshine in my part of the world! But just a bit of rain would certainly help!
Thursday 1 October 2009
It's October!
Today is the first of October and I know summer has come to an end. The weather has been kind but you know what is around the corner. My little Bumbleberry Cottage is sitting quietly as the nights are drawing in. The dogs are doing really well with their training and I have been busy with other things so the cottage has to wait.
My friends and I had a wonderful day in London, just floating along the river Thames. What a wonderful way to see some of the historic sights the city has to offer. You feel like you are totally removed from the madness which surrounds the city. We stopped for lunch at the tex-mex restaurant near Charing Cross. Managed the whole meal without incident (spilling and such like). Then meandered our way back to the river for our return to the O2. We were celebrating a 65th birthday, a little belatedly! Fun was had by all. Our quilting was always weaving its way through our conversations. After all it is what brought us all together in the first place.
Loads of ideas have been springing into my head and I can't wait for the time I will be able to make some of them come to life. As quite often happens with me, the ideas can be a little off-the-wall. But with the right tweaks, they are certainly do-able.
I am really thrilled with the new website I stumbled upon. www.thecutestblogontheblock.com. How wonderful all the templates are! I am certainly going to have fun experimenting with them. I just love all this technology.
Just off to La La Land now. Wonder what t'morrow brings!
My friends and I had a wonderful day in London, just floating along the river Thames. What a wonderful way to see some of the historic sights the city has to offer. You feel like you are totally removed from the madness which surrounds the city. We stopped for lunch at the tex-mex restaurant near Charing Cross. Managed the whole meal without incident (spilling and such like). Then meandered our way back to the river for our return to the O2. We were celebrating a 65th birthday, a little belatedly! Fun was had by all. Our quilting was always weaving its way through our conversations. After all it is what brought us all together in the first place.
Loads of ideas have been springing into my head and I can't wait for the time I will be able to make some of them come to life. As quite often happens with me, the ideas can be a little off-the-wall. But with the right tweaks, they are certainly do-able.
I am really thrilled with the new website I stumbled upon. www.thecutestblogontheblock.com. How wonderful all the templates are! I am certainly going to have fun experimenting with them. I just love all this technology.
Just off to La La Land now. Wonder what t'morrow brings!
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