Making progress

so on Tuesday I spent a wonderful day with Di, and this time, in addition to the chatting and laughing, wonderful food and company, and freshly baked cake ...

we even managed a couple of blocks for Bee Blessed!

I left the remaining scraps with Di for a little more fabric therapy, and will aim to get a few more done at the weekend. The hardest part of these blocks was making the decisions of which fabric where!

And further evidence of progress ...

I'm sewing binding!

In other news, the big birthday bag (purse) went down very well indeed!

Low Volume Swap

If you are not already aware, there is a Low Volume Charm Swap going on Flickr right now ...

 

 

 

 

details and sign ups can be found on Rebecca's blog here if you're interested. 

Going on, what harm can it do to take a look, it'll be fun, right?  

Sunday Sitrep

Sunday already! 

 

My goodness this week has flown by!  is it just me?

 

I wanted to get a lot done, no, I NEEDED to get a lot done!

 

first up, Pea Room BOM Block

 

 

 

and then there was the round robin to get to Lynz for the Ab Fab Free Bees

 

 

and of course the Brit Bee Blocks for the lovely Katy

 

 

and a small matter of a framed purse for a birthday gift, 

 

 

I haven't finished quilting the Best of British just yet, but it's close

 

 

my time seems to be on everyone else's agenda at the moment, and I'm a little sluggish getting going in the mornings ... I need to change that situation ...

 

though the annual school shop for shoes (urghhh!) and uniform is done!

And this year the Teenage Diva actually lost the will to live long before I did!

 

Plan for the coming week ...

 

finish quilting Best of British

 

turn this pile of loveliness into a Brit Quilt Swap quilt for my partner

 

load up a customer quilt and get it movin'

 

I think, being as I already have a day sewing planned with Di that is enough to keep me out of too much trouble, don't you think?

 

And then there is the small matter of himself that has other ideas, and Mum's Taxi duties!

(I continue to do battle with Blogger loading my pics, and my laptop that is slowly dying)

festival finds

Firstly, I found one or two people whilst browsing the stands ...




None other than the lovely Laura Jane, demo'ing on the cotton patch stand for Sizzix. AND Hadley's quilt she made for them keeping her company!  And another Sizzix flag flyer teaching all day, everyday was Katy!  (but no pic sorry)

and there was Alice of Backstitch

 

and then there was Tracey from Quilt Me Happy ...

 

 

I had an early visit from Judith of Needles and Lemons ...

 

 

and there was also Susan, Nicky, Shevvy, Emma, Mandy, Tina, Joan, Jackie and ... well lots of lovely friends old and new who stopped  by to say hello or that I bumped into in the isles ...

and then there is the small matter of the things that found their way home with me!  Really very modest!

 

 

 

 

 

Really, very modest indeed!

Festival Fallout ...

So the other of my quilts in the show were ...

There's an Echo in my Cherry!

 

and ...

 

Carolina Christmas ...

 

but not only that there were a couple more there working hard on the stand ...

 

recently finished, just in time ...

 

and for an example of what can be done

 

So today yesterday (amended because blogger is taking forever and some to load my pictures) I drove to Birmingham and collected my quilts, and with them came those dreaded Judges comments ... hmm, seems that on the whole my quilts were good, and in some cases excellent, but in others, well lets just say, the judge completely missed the point! 

Still I know have a pile of tissue paper, bubble wrap and brown wrapping paper to fold, sort and organise ... not rest for the wicked!

and I just happen to be on leave now til the return to school for the Diva ... so it's time to knuckle down and play catch up!

first up ... Bee Blocks for Katy ...

 

then I have this pile to turn into another round for the Ab Fab Free Bees and get is sent to Lynz sharpish before the wee beasties arrive! 

think of an image of fabric and you'd be close!
 

and then there's this that needs to be turned into a birthday present before the weekend ...
 

imagine a picture, because I've now lost the will to live!
 

and of course there is still this on the frame ...

but I do have a plan ... I was doodling first thing yesterday morning! before I tackled the Pea Room BOM for last night's meeting!

 

but, this task continues ...

in earnest!

and of course, there is the small matter of the Brit Quilt Swap 3 mini to make!
 

So I'll be back soon with something else to show you when I stop for air, food and water, and maybe with a little luck I'll find that mojo fast!

(and if Blogger ever lets me upload any pictures!)

Festival - Part 1

So my feet are a little sore, and I'm feeling weary after day one of Festival ...

Now, about that challenge quilt ...

I thought about the theme 'Britain what it means to you' long and hard, and how I could depict that in pictorial/quilt format ... and this idea grew and grew strong. so strong I had to paint it as a watercolour to make sure I could get it out of my head and make it work ... Sorry I don't have pics of that here ... But I can reveal the quilt now it's on show ..




As you can see, it's not your average tea, cakes and glory bunting ... so how did it come to,this ....

during my 21+ years in the Royal air Force, all the many detachments, deployments and serving aboard, every time I came home, what I was alway struck by was this green and pleasant land. I'm proud to have served my Queen and Country, and I am proud of the medals I earned doing that. whilst there is a broach which is a real copy of my medals on my quilt, I could not display them without a poppy attached to honour all who have gone before me, those who have served, those who continue to serve ... And those who came home to rest. On my poppy I have quilted the words Pride and Honour to reflect all this.

In the hills and contours I have quilted the words of the poem by William Blake, This Green and Pleasant Land.




None of my quilts on display are winners, and that's ok, I enter as without the quilts ere would not be a show, I never expect to win, but some how, this challenge quilt made me anxious, it is so different to,all the others on show, there will be those who get it, and those who don't, and tonight I'm ok with that.

Now it's time to go eat!

gone!

My phone that is! It was there, I knew it was there, I just don't remember picking it up when I left. When I went back to check, it was. ... Gone!

so I do have a new phone and sim card, same number for those of you that have it. I just don't have any of yours, so if you are trying to get hold of me, I,won't know it's you, so please give me a clue or send me your number so I can update this really awful cheap phone I'm now suffering with!

Thanks for understanding :)

See you at Festival, find me on stand A46 and B36-38 come and say Hi!