Monday 28 January 2013

Spriiiiiiiing..... maybe, possibly, wishing

I know in my heart it is wayyyyyyy too early for spring, but stepping out Sunday morning to hunt out some parsnips for the Sunday Roast it felt sooooo like a spring morning!!

The sun was shining, the sky was blue. I had to undo my winter coat and take off my hat!  After a week of snow and very cold weather it was a real delight.



Love seeing the bulbs trying to come up - its a sign that the sunshine is not far away!


Slightly alarmed by the amount of water sitting in some of the fields....



Parsnips were found.....and one or two other goodies....







Even more alarming was the amount of water in the rife behind our houses.....best not think about it too much.... bulbs....concentrate on the bulbs....



And the sight of the first snowdrops!!!


Just a little bit of Creative Carole over the weekend....trying to decide which method to use for a wedding quilt I'm making...  the quick way with full arcs or the better use of my fabrics using scraps to make the arc....


And binding my cloth for the drawers - all finished and in place!!



Sunday afternoon was filled with eating, drinking, much laughter (at one point I did actually think I may wet myself!) and birthday celebrations for L.  A great weekend!  I soooo wish they were longer.

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Doing.....

Sometimes I just need to DO, stop talking about it, stop moaning that I have no time and just DO IT.

I have been most productive this last week or so.....

Using 'Man Tools' without a man!!!


Adding colour to the grey world which is happening outside....


Producing a gift from Mum's wedding dress.... actually all finished but can't show until after 70th Birthday Party!!



While I had my gold and burgundy fabrics out I also decide to produce a cloth for the top of my chest a drawers, added to my wish list back in 2010 - two years to start and two evenings to get to binding stage.  Good film at the weekend should get that finished!!


And a trip to Farnham Maltings, Quilting Sale.  A mixture of small, local quilting firms selling off their stock and small, local quilting groups displaying some amazing work.  I went to purchase fabric for two quilts starting shortly.  A quilt for an 8 year old boy and a wedding quilt for good friends.  Some fabric was purchased to inspire me, and mixed with some I all ready have I should be able to make a good start!

Just a few quilts on display which I liked ..... only a few mind... there were so many lovely ones!!



Right, cup of tea and back to the quilting then.....

Way back when....

Back in 2009 I received this most wonderful covered book from my friend CD.  I decided the moment I unwrapped it that it would be kept for my quilting 'To Do' lists.



I have re-opened it today to do my list of 'wishing quilts' for 2013.  I just wanted to take some time to share my past projects - a few completed (!) and many more which seem to progress from one year's list to the next!!!!

I started quilting in 2004, my 'to do' list, of course, started not long after - although I still have many UFO from that period...my list starts, as it did in the book. Do I need to mention the drawer of UFO that have never made it into the 'to do' book ........ no thought not!

2009:

Judy's Star - Made for my friends 65th birthday. Started 2008 - Finished Jan 2009.

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Quilt for L - requested with a fleece backing: Started end of 2009 - Finished Jan 2010.
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Purple Throw Quilt for BH - when we purchased the BH we got most of the furniture with it.  The settee was badly stained and I purchased dome cheap furniture fabric to make a heavy duty throw.  Never actually got round to making it... and now the flood has happened - we have an actual purple sofa.  So this one I can mark as finished by default.

Fan-tastic - started 2006/7 (I think) in class, a pattern designed by Junita Dobb my quilting teacher. Just a boarder to finished and then to quilt. 





Quilt as you go - blood, sweat and many tears were shed completing this quilt: Started 2005 - Finished 2010

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Sunflower - started 2005 - love this one - really, really must finish it!!


Coloured 3D hexagons - Loved this - many happy hours - no tears, many smiles!!!  Started as one coloured section, for paper piecing technique in class - and developed into single quilt. Started 2007 - finished April 2011.

3D - English Patchwork April 2011

Chenille Bag - started, mmmm not sure...2008 - Finished 2009


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Uni Quilt - this was my very first quilt made back in 1993 - made while at university - mainly when I could not afford to go out.  This was back in the days before I knew about strip piecing and rotary cutting.  The quilt was damaged by damp in the flat D and I lived in when we first met - the boarders were removed and the quilt left to one side until I could replace - made the list in 2009 - finished 2011.

 Uni Quilt 1992-95 New boarders 2011

Pinwheel - this was an attempt at a quilting pattern - free from the Internet - outside of my evening class.  Not sure to this day if the pattern was incorrect or if I just cut completely wrong but it worked out ok in the end, but definitely not a Pinwheel pattern!!! Started 2005- Finished 2009.

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Wholecloth Quilt - made the wish list in 2009 for the future.  Started 2009 - Finished 2012



Quilts made during the year - that didn't even appear on my 'to do' list - they just somehow got done!

Three baby quilts, all arriving in April! - Feb 2009 - April 2009.

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Birthday gifts for the QQ - One in Feb - Three in April (really need to space these projects)!! All started and finished in 2009.


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Small Projects for Christmas gifts.  Started November 2009 - Finished December 2009

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And final project started in 2009 for my friends 50th birthday (yes you've guessed in April 2010)

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I have amazed myself - I think 2009 was a bumper year for me - I don't know how I managed to finish so many projects - OK, not all of them were started in 2009, and some needed more finishing than others, but a few were completed the same year they were started - very good for me!!!

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Sunday 6 January 2013

New Year...New Project...

Well 2013 has arrived and is well and truly underway.  The lemsip is out, the man size tissues are being replenished on a daily basis and of course the quilts are out to snuggle under!! The decorations are down and 2012 has been packed away.  The living room has been 'spring cleaned' ready to deal with 2013!!  And I'm slowly working my way around the house to get it back to 'normal'.


The walking to work - now back to normal hours has recommenced...with great joy.  Three ducks taking their morning shower was today's offering!



The sales were attacked...for replacement bed linen for the BH.... but came back with two cushions...well how could I resist...they were 50% off!!!




I have tried to start planning my quilts for this year...so many new ones I would like to do.  We have friends getting married in July.  I have a little boy quilt to do for April. I have two promised motocross quilt, and a skateboarding quilt!!  I have sooooo many unfinished quilts I should be working on.  And best of all ... I have been given, by my Mum, her wedding dress - which has been stored for about 45 years. To make something 'useful' from it.  Actually it's a really good idea to make something as it would only remain hidden away.  But what to make.  I have been asked to make a small pillow and then the rest is up to me.  With Mum's 70th in February, I guess it would be nice to get the pillow done!


The first cut is always the hardest....and i can perhaps now understand why this has not been done sooner.


And just to keep me fully occupied I am continuing on with my mini hexagons...


Its amazing how many you can get done with a spare five minutes here and there!!



The end of my first week of 2013!!!