Our House

With Jonathan's quilt out of the way, it means I can go back and finish some of  the other quilt tops on my shelf.

The houses quilt I did along with Terry was next in line.  It's backed with the same orange as the chimneys on the orange houses, and the binding is a dark blue.   I thought having a dark binding was perfect for all the bright colours in the quilt.  There is a hanging sleeve on the back, so it can be used flat or hung on the wall.

Thank you Terry, it was fun to do this with you, and almost as good as popping round  for a sewing session.

I even managed to get another two bonus crumb blocks done too.

Something Completely Different

Over the next few weeks, there will be evidence of painting, but it will be connected with stitch too.  I am taking another of Karen's classes, this time An Embroiderer's Legder.  This is a process I've never attempted before, so it's both scary and enjoyable.

This is the start of my first page, the starting point being the card on the left.  I've used watercolour for the first line of colour sampling, and then card wrapped with thread, and of course some buttons.

For some reason the camera picked up the blue, which made the yellow really pop.

Surprisingly, I'm quite pleased with the start, it will be interesting to see how it moves on.

Part 7 and 8-In Full Bloom

Part 7 and 8 are now complete.  The stitching is appliqued onto the background fabric and the broken dishes blocks have been made.

The stitching on the next section has been started, but my fabric has arrived to finish my house quilt, so I think that will be next.

Watering Girl and Garden Gate

A start has been made on the next section,

two more stitcheries are complete.  This is Watering Girl and Garden Gate.

Now to press and cut some more fabric to finish this stage.

In Full Bloom-Parts 5 and 6

Another month's installment is now complete. 

The stitcheries appliqued onto their blocks,

and the broken dishes blocks both made.  Three more packets to do.

Next

Even having got some quilts finished, that didn't affect the level of my work basket, so now it was time to pick out the next project.  It had to be one out of the basket, as no doubt, there would be more to go in very soon.

Hidden right at the bottom, were the Lynette Anderson, In Full Bloom BOM waiting to be finished.  I got out the packets, and I had four, each containing two stitcheries to complete.

These are the first two, and notice the strange light in the photo?  That was sun which has been long absent from our vicinity.  Maybe, if I keep on with these, the sun will stay for a few more days.

Another Finish

I know it takes longer, but I find it so satisfying sitting and doing the hand quilting on these small quilts.  It just seems to go with the feel of the fabric,

Once the hand quilting was done, the binding was added, and hand finished.  Then it's ready for washing and drying.  It then gets that lovely lived in, crinkled look.

As I expected, it's perfect for the computer table, and gives me a lovely surprise every time I sit down. 

I wasn't so sure of this when I had it laid out on the floor ready to piece, but having seen it draped over the back of the settee in one piece, I really like it now.

As a bonus, I got three more crumb blocks.  Still quite a way before I get enough for a decent sized quilt.

Small Quilt Talk-June Quilt

The small quilt chosen for June was a simple one to do.  I don't have any of Kathleen's books, so I just make up the measurements and use what I have.

Most of the fabric used were from a previous swap on the group, and some extra reproduction fabric I've bought for the backings and borders.

This will be hand quilted, and should be the perfect size for the top of my computer unit.

Leftovers

There were four blocks leftover from Jonathan's quilt top, which originally, I intended to use to make pillowcases.  Since I made the quilt, he now has a settee in his room, so I thought a cushion cover to match would go nicely.

I echoed the quilting from the quilt and simply finished with an envelope style back.  He'll now have a decent sized cushion to go on his settee.

With all the quilt trimming, I managed to get a couple of crumb blocks too, nothing wasted here.

Feeling Blue

The biggest task that I needed to do while the boys were away, was to get Jonathan's quilt finished.

The top had been pieced a long , and for several months, it had been sat waiting with the backing and batting, ready for the quilting.  After the struggle with doing the free motion quilting for Daniel's, I decided on simple straight lines/

It's now quilted, bound, washed and dried, ready for use.  Not sure when it will be used yet, it's going away in the pressie cupboard.

Quick and easy

Many, many years ago, I bought a cushion cover, just because I liked it.  It wasn't a normal size or shape at the time, but I thought, it's commercially made and sold, no problem.

After several searches, I couldn't find a pillow form to fit, so away in the bottom of the cupboard it went.  We moved, and again, into the bottom of another cupboard it went.  I discovered it on one of my sort outs and thought, it's got to be used or it's got to go.

I decided, it would be quick and easy to make a cushion insert, so in five minutes, with some calico and toy filling, a simple pillow form was made.

Now on my settee, I have another cushion which fits perfectly in the small of my back.

You wouldn't believe how many cushion inserts I've seen now, but hey, this one cost less to make, so I'm happy.

Summer challenge

This week Chris and Barbara put out a summer challenge.  It was to come up with an interpretation of this photo of an air brick.

I'm not sure if I will get to do anything with it, but the sketch pad came out, and some ideas are on paper.  This is definitely a work in progress, but you never know, before the summer is over, and a few more scribblings, it may find it's way onto fabric.

Another page

The first lot of foliage has been added to the owls.

This marks the end of the second page, over half way through.  There's one and a third pages left to do, so a little way to go yet.  At leat the next owl is a little one.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge-Purple

The month may be nearly over, but I got the purple blocks done in time.

There wasn't a lot of purple here, so only four main blocks,

and a string block.

It'll be interesting to see what colour comes next, it's quite nice not having a lot of scraps around.

Up, not down

After catching up with "It's  a little bit French", the level in my work basket was going down, but then the post man came.  The next instalment of the Art of Crochet arrived. 

The parcel was opened, and three blocks later, the level had dropped again, but then I made a big mistake.  I sorted out a magazine rack underneath my sewing table.

Now look at my basket, it's overflowing again.  Looks like I'll have to get busy before I sort out the next one, I hate to think of the hidden gems there might be in there.

It's a little bit French-Part 5

For a few days only, I am now caught up with this project.

This is the first time I've made a jewelry roll, and lessons have been learnt, lol.  Nothing wrong with Cheryl's instructions, just my brain not working.

Inside, there is a zippered pocket for valuables, and a "tube" for a ring holder.  The button marks where the popper holds it closed.

As with the other sections, there is a piece to be held back for the final project.

A little bit French-Part 4

To go with the thimble pip, there is a scissor keep.

It's made using the same method, so this was a little quicker to put together.

This piece in the blue colourway, goes in with the others for the final project.

Thimble Pip

A little bit French continues with this thimble pip.

I've not made one before, but Cheryl's instructions are very clear and concise.

It was quite fiddly to do, but well worth it in the end.

As you can imagine, Daniel thought of every possible use for it, apart from it's intended one, but at least it showed he liked it, lol.  He thought it was a perfect alternative to a Red Nose for Red Nose Day, or else we could add a body to make a frog. 

There are two more parts for this section, hopefully, that should be done today.

Owl Update

It's not been a bad week for working on the owls.  It's just as well, as I thought I was going to be boyless for ten days this month, but their holiday has been put back due to the bad weather.  I'll get a weekend free, but have lots of paperwork to catch up with.

I managed to get all the cross stitch done on the owl,

and then after several hours, the back stitch detail was done.  You can't see the full extent of it on this photo, but believe me, it went on forever.

I had a good laugh when I too the photo, the camera came up with a warning-"blink detected"!  I don't think I could ask for a better compliment to my stitching.

I am now working on the foliage to the left which will complete another page of instructions.

It's little bit French- Part 3

The third section is now complete, only two more to go to catch up.

This one is a spectacles case.

I like the way the button on the top hides the stitching for fastening the press stud/popper.

The blue version goes away for the project at the end.  Now on to part 4.

It's a Little Bit French-Part Two

Part Two of "It's a little bit French" is now complete with the making of this pin cushion.

I used the fabric I had leftover from doing the blue houses for the hexagons, backing and binding.  I really love this pincushion for it's size.  Small is often beautiful, but sometimes, it's lovely just to have something a little big bigger.

Now on to complete part 3.

At Last, A Finish

Well, I've been home, but it hasn't all been fun and games.  Housework had to be caught up on, ironing to be done, and the gardening was calling while the rain stopped for a short while.  It might not be much, but progress has been made, and however small it may be, progress in any amount is more than welcome.

I had some new threads arrive, so I could do a blue version of the "lavende" for "It's a little bit French".  This has now been put to one side for a bigger project at the end.

The next project was a joy to do, tiny hexagons are always welcome here.  The pink version has been made into a doily,

and the blue one is waiting to be finished into something else.

It may be done today, but Daniel is off for the day, so the owls are coming back out.  After hardly seeing the light of day last week, it's about time they had a decent outing.  The body will definitely be finished today-I hope.

Time for the Dust to Settle

It's been a really hectic weekend.  I hired a car, and I haven't been seen for dust since Friday morning.  Both boys have been driven round Sheffield, picking up tools and stuff for the garden that can't be brought home on the bus, and Daniel has had a trip to Shropshire.  The car went back this morning, so hopefully, it will be a return to an almost normal routine this week.

Not being home has meant that anything crafty has had to take a back seat.  Apart from reading my book whilst waiting for Daniel, I did get a hexagon flower made, which was a bonus.

Now I'm back home I can hopefully finish these projects ready and waiting in their folders,

and maybe a few rows on the next knitting project.

Whatever gets done, I shall enjoy it.

Bah, Humbug!

Some things don't go just as they should, but it is possible to turn it around.

I am trying to catch up with the "It's a Little Bit French" from Willowberry Designs.  In the bottom of my basket, I found I had done an extra piece to make a lavender bag. 

I went off to the machine, quite happy in the knowledge that I knew what I was doing, sewed the french seams only to realise I hadn't folded the fabric properly.  Instead of having the seam going up the centre back, it was at the side.  This meant the stitching was in the wrong place.

I wasn't going to undo two lots of stitching and came up with the idea of making a humbug.  I filled the bag with lavender, folded and stitched across the top, and have a unique, lavender filled humbug.  Mistakes don't always mean things are ruined!

Another treasure found at the bottom of the basket, was some cotton leftover from the panda.

Having a son that loves black, I've crocheted a black face cloth.  Waste not, want not seems to be the perfect motto for this house at the moment.

Afghan Blocks

I had two packets from the Art of Crochet, so I thought I had a lot of work to do, however, one of the packets only had two magazines so a total of six blocks to do.

We are getting close to the end of the series, so hopefully, it won't be long before I have a completed afghan. 

My basket of things to do is no longer overflowing, just full to the top.  It'll be a lucky dip to see what comes out next to be finished.

A Good Week

It was a good week for stitching on the owls and a lot of the body on the third owl was done.

I don't think I'll get much opportunity for it this week, but I would love to get to the bottom of the body.