tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31976717366095452492024-02-18T22:40:29.288-08:00Quilting For EnglandGertie quilts for England!
Or tries to, in between looking after small children and avoiding housework. I enjoy all needlework but especially patchwork, hand appliqué, making dresses for my girls, and crochet. Thanks to the encouragement of fellow bloggers and quilters I have now tried FMQ and machine applique instead of procrastinating. In my spare time (!) I also love to read.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-70922684615227496582015-05-05T09:32:00.000-07:002015-05-05T09:32:02.778-07:00OK so it's been a year and a bit ....I hereby charge myself with wilful neglect of a blog.<br />
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Guilty, M'Lud.<br />
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The problem has been mainly one of time, namely trying to do a fairly full time (yet unpaid) volunteer job at the same time as childrearing a pre-schooler and a junior who gets a steady stream of bizarre homework, plus attempting to keep my household management just above the threshold where I get shamed by a TV program.<br />
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The other problem has been Instagram.<br />
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IG, home of instant gratification, clicking the little heart when something nice whizzes past the screen as I scroll through at light speed. It is just so quick. And colourful. And fun!<br />
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I was considering totally abandoning my blog as I'm not sure about the future of blogging for the casual and slightly lazy crafter. I see some people essentially make a career out of it but I can see they work very hard to maintain that. I am never going to be sufficiently prolific at making stuff to blog about to have a proper serious blog.<br />
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However, occasionally there is something that I get sufficiently excited about that I want to blog about it. Currently I am very excited about a new QAL that I saw on IG (obviously) but which I might try to blog about, and then you can have a sweepstake on how embarrassingly quickly I fall behind.<br />
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<a href="http://verykerryberry.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-small-world-qal.html" title="My Small World QAL"><img alt="My Small World QAL" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYORS3UpDbPOP0gwB1e2hGUsTjriuIn2jYMWlalB3W3MeeLgVUjIZcSqa1nd_KZVo-C4H2WFVeCEXDNRUpR76W4xCWFfWNMzbY_1YI5Oemqk4Kc4CYeY0USctLXkJIDqK2Zzo2vYqoXDY/s1600/MSWqal200.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://verykerryberry.blogspot.co.uk/">Ketty at VeryKerryBerry</a> is co-hosting the "My Small World" QAL - namely this wonderfully whimsical quilt from the fantastically named Quiltmania magazine. This pattern is from the <a href="http://www.quiltmania.com/english/navigation-entete-droite/boutique.html?type_produit=HS">Spring 2015 Special Edition of Quiltmania</a> - the front cover looks like this:<br />
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Kerry has made a list of stockists in her <a href="http://verykerryberry.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/my-small-world-quilt-along-details.html">Small World QAL post here</a>.<br />
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I have a very poor track record for keeping up with QALs - I still haven't finished my <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/do-you-perv-long.html">Pervalong quilt from Autumn 2012</a> (oops) although I have recently made significant progress on it which I will post soon.<br />
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Anyway, apologies for the serious hiatus in this service and let's see if this QAL can kick-start my SewJo in 2015!<br />
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x<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-36834968203735331762014-01-17T15:36:00.001-08:002014-01-17T15:36:05.209-08:00FAL 2014 Q1Now really, after a 4 month break from blogging, surely what I need is a Start-a-Long rather than a Finish-a-Long? Either way what I need is a good kick up the bottom.<br />
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<a href="http://thelittlestthistlecraftshop.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Finish Along 2014" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB08iSsGZ-G_kG7oUWk-I10lA6vOav92HGjEq4LfgPYIJYDeBM-bTTH6dOrTaYBWLb7KU3kE8TIzhmwqN8DAVgRgcQT6OWVyVC-HBkaNY9JN0hLduBQT4wXJKD6X-UOXiDj61iX7cJzkOI/s1600/FAL-2014-Button.jpg" height="180" width="180" /></a></center>
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The last few months I have done precious little sewing although I did do two fantastic patterncutting modules at <a href="http://www.fashionantidote.com/">Fashion Antidote</a> near Brick Lane. The course was right at the upper edge of my ability so I feel like I learned more in those few hours than I have learned in weeks of faffing around with patterns myself.<br />
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However the focus was on getting the basic blocks drawn up and then using small scale models to show how to manipulate them in theory, so I have a huge pile of scribbles rather than any finished garments. Which leads neatly into the first item on my FAL:<br />
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<b>(1) Finish personal dress pattern and make up in calico</b><br />
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Doing this course (including homework!), coupled with knocking together 2 costumes for my elder daughter's school dressing-up day exploits, has meant that I did practically no quilty stitching whatsoever in Q4 2013 *sigh*.<br />
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But every cloud has a silver lining. This hiaitus has highlighted to me what I really want to be doing and I have been itching to come up with a low volume / monochrome quilt of my own. So yesterday I broke my fabric-buying moratorium and bought a whole bunch of fabrics that I hope will be the start of something special. I would love to remember 2014 for being the start of something creative so I am putting this on the list to make sure it gets some attention:<br />
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<b>(2) Low volume / monochrome quilt</b><br />
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Hm, a distinct lack of pretty pictures so far. I will post a photo of the new fabrics I have bought as soon as they arrive (obviously after I have finished doing a happy dance around my living room). In the meantime I had better consult my back catalogue for some of the millstones that are hanging about my quilty neck:<br />
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<b>(3) Siblings Together improv quilt</b><br />
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This is a proper FAL as the top is pieced and ready to go. It will be my first full size quilt that I plan to home quilt rather than send off to the longarmer. Argh!<br />
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<b>(4) Pervalong</b><br />
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I love the colours in <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/do-you-perv-long.html">this PP</a> so much that every time I see it waiting for me it makes me smile. I am about halfway through the blocks so I just need to knuckle down and get the rest of them finished. This is going on the FAL list even though I know I have a cat in hell's chance of finishing it because I plan to hand quilt it.<br />
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Thanks to <a href="http://thelittlestthistlecraftshop.blogspot.co.uk/">Katy</a> for hosting this year's FAL and also for posting a deadline reminder so that Last Minute Charlies like me can join in.<br />
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Happy New Year one and all x Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-67991435166950591882013-09-16T14:15:00.002-07:002013-09-16T14:15:39.806-07:00Here's one I made earlierJust as well as there is not much sewing going on here at the moment - back to another weary episode of "When Toddlers get Ear Infections". Poor little lamb has been walking about with her head sideways all weekend saying "Ear hurts, Mummy". Got some antibiotics from the doctor this afternoon so fingers crossed that it will clear up soon.<br />
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Happily I did do some sewing in August and so this post doesn't have to exclusively relate to ENT problems for the under-3s.<br />
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This is the needlecase I have made for <a href="http://londonmqg.wordpress.com/">LMQG'</a>s December needlecase swap with the <a href="http://vancouvermodernquiltguild.ca/">Vancouver MQG</a>. Having had a good gander at the <a href="http://vancouvermodernquiltguild.ca/">VMQG website</a>,
I am only sorry I don't get to deliver it by hand myself, as it looks like the
good quilters of Vancouver have a lot of stitchy fun in their beautiful
city.<br />
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My favourite part is the metallic stitching I added to the tiara outline - it doesn't really come out on the photo but in real life it is nice and sparkly :)<br />
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I tried to make it as UK themed as I could with this linen stamp fabric on the front, with some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonnetofthemoon/5933253829/">Echino London</a> on the back:<br />
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And found some nice bright felt colours to go in the middle:<br />
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Good topstitch practice!<br />
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The needlecases will be picked by lucky dip so I hope this one goes to a happy new home in Vancouver xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-23203454813710134912013-08-30T07:17:00.001-07:002013-08-30T07:19:10.582-07:00Where do you come from?Where do you come from?<br />
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Don't worry, I'm not searching for my roots or getting esoteric. I am just curious how my fellow quilters found quilting - or how it found them. I am a bit of an accidental quilter, even though I have always loved needlecrafts. A chance 'pop into a shop' on a chance 'I need lunch' stop off in a random small town whilst on honeymoon is the culprit for starting my quilting adventure.<br />
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(PS thank you, <a href="http://www.thesugarpine.com/">Sugar Pine Company in Canmore, Alberta</a> - although you sure have cost me a lot of money over the past 10 years)<br />
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However, in terms of where I "came from" - my needlework beginnings almost did not get off the ground at all, as although I loved this subject at school, we had a rather touchy-feely matronly teacher who liked to fondle us in the way that most of us prefer to fondle fabric.<br />
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Happily, despite having dropped Needlework in favour of Art, when I was 17 one of my Christmas presents was a Forever Friends cross-stitch like this one:<br />
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Smitten as I was with my new boyfriend at the time, I duly stitched it up in proclamation of our puppy love. Stupidly I then gave it to him so I no longer have it. And although our puppy love never grew into a full grown Alsatian, I had definitely been bitten by the stitching bug.<br />
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Over the next decade I cross-stitched away merrily, occasionally doing a bit of embroidery but always returning to cross stitch. It was my first love and I am still very fond of it (unlike my first boyfriend). But it doesn't quite push my buttons any more. Maybe because it confines the stitcher to the grid - but then there is something very comforting about knowing what it will look like at the end.<br />
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Just as I have a huge pile of quilting fabrics waiting patiently for their turn to be stitched, so I have a considerable pile (but not enormous - I didn't have much money in my twenties) of cross stitch kits waiting to be made up. And this week I finally finished one that I had started whilst I was expecting Baby #2 and thought I could finish it before she was born:<br />
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Obviously I estimated incorrectly as she is now 2. But I hope she will like it when she is old enough not to cover it in sticky fingerprints.<br />
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The pattern is <a href="http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/ABC-Lessons-Chartpack-with-Threads__LIZ-K38.aspx">"ABC Lessons" </a>by <a href="http://lizziekate.com/">Lizzie*Kate</a> and uses some hand dyed variegated thread to give it a bit more depth.<br />
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And fittingly it includes our family motto (or what I say to my kids 300 times a day...)<br />
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So where do you come from? What is the primordial soup of your needlework? I would love to know!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-38400601282758264402013-08-24T14:08:00.001-07:002013-08-24T14:11:41.043-07:00Siblings Together improv quiltGoing to the <a href="http://www.fatquarterly.com/">Fat Quarterly Retreat</a> really reignited my sewing mojo (Sewjo?) and so the week following it I spent every spare minute rattling up a new quilt top for <a href="http://siblingstogether.co.uk/">Siblings Together</a> with the leftovers from my Bee quilt.<br />
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I had based my Bee blocks on <a href="http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/not-lost-in-woods.html">this wonky rectangles tutorial</a> by <a href="http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.co.uk/">Tallgrass Prairie Studio</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86APoZwvPI-uHutjZqQ6CiVfdOut5VUvll2AiWw9KVSTHm1W5eJ_g-UzsFNxn4xkonJjvc1oN2xX_fAnQPiUsYlZwOV2KZ19mPKTxpQPMRPpIoYZQ8WRP5GuMZlcByOOk1H033QzJnY0/s1600/QFE+231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86APoZwvPI-uHutjZqQ6CiVfdOut5VUvll2AiWw9KVSTHm1W5eJ_g-UzsFNxn4xkonJjvc1oN2xX_fAnQPiUsYlZwOV2KZ19mPKTxpQPMRPpIoYZQ8WRP5GuMZlcByOOk1H033QzJnY0/s400/QFE+231.JPG" width="340" /></a></div>
<br />
I wanted my fellow Bee members to have the freedom to do whichever sized rounds in whatever order so sent out the same amount of each fabric, which would mean they had plenty left over. I also said they could keep the fabric or if they chose to make strips or improv blocks which I would then incorporate into a quilt for <a href="http://siblingstogether.co.uk/">Siblings Together</a>.<br />
<br />
I had received most of my Bee blocks back (more of which when I've sewn them together) along with a number of strips / improv blocks from my fellow Bee-ers. I had also taken the same fabric to FQR to use it up and so had some blocks from my classes. Thus armed, I rallied my newly revitalised Sewjo and we embarked without a compass on our improv quilt top. <br />
<br />
I had some <a href="http://www.fatquarterly.com/retreat-classes-lucie-summers/">Portholes</a> from my class with <a href="http://blu-shed.blogspot.co.uk/">Lucie Summers</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_d0-wWNE3aZLqfoLxNNW-0GPSmng5Prgb3YkgaXrAcZXs1lTc71TMjjOEaT9HAnkfnulo7Yj7t9mR3g3l4fHIWvmo6VpwKXl3LQJP0KOBieuQX3-2K6bLVY2kGMa4OzK284F-sDxfKE/s1600/QFE+227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_d0-wWNE3aZLqfoLxNNW-0GPSmng5Prgb3YkgaXrAcZXs1lTc71TMjjOEaT9HAnkfnulo7Yj7t9mR3g3l4fHIWvmo6VpwKXl3LQJP0KOBieuQX3-2K6bLVY2kGMa4OzK284F-sDxfKE/s320/QFE+227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And some <a href="http://www.fatquarterly.com/retreat-classes-tacha-bruecher/">leftover hexies</a> from <a href="http://haniesquilts.blogspot.co.uk/">Tacha's </a>paper piecing class at last year's FQR:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06dOtB8hpOBxC4LtJIXpGa-Dkp_Ec32_jBNNfDsjW6rrrQUubVlFSVyMVI6__qRPkZKcJf207TpQ-niVeLv0wOKwX18g6YdvWsd9Rbb9zlfQD8nNvoYJw3kg8dGhmq7pGMCf71MGV5P8/s1600/QFE+226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06dOtB8hpOBxC4LtJIXpGa-Dkp_Ec32_jBNNfDsjW6rrrQUubVlFSVyMVI6__qRPkZKcJf207TpQ-niVeLv0wOKwX18g6YdvWsd9Rbb9zlfQD8nNvoYJw3kg8dGhmq7pGMCf71MGV5P8/s320/QFE+226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Plus one lonely orphan block from my <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/how-you-know-when-your-spouse-does-not.html">Apple Crisp quilt</a> - I had made 64 blocks but only needed 63:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkDGujj8asVAHD2YmirvDYos29uIFauJNlFVHr9NljiPlsygFrMoHSQkICI0M6PFjohuHnSspz_bPwKhUUCxgKLh-7VA2qGruHCq2C4QTYzR_wfIFSCfV0-Ed63c0QQPgFoleB3Mqymw/s1600/QFE+228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkDGujj8asVAHD2YmirvDYos29uIFauJNlFVHr9NljiPlsygFrMoHSQkICI0M6PFjohuHnSspz_bPwKhUUCxgKLh-7VA2qGruHCq2C4QTYzR_wfIFSCfV0-Ed63c0QQPgFoleB3Mqymw/s320/QFE+228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Put them together and what do you get?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyILGzAGliYBLX4XYy1Ji0d4KnSRe7Jh7KfNHMhgH-PXyZieQpDK0tGKGpXRZ8LgPETdyaodIvf9IrV7yHPPoMbYyVs1TWkkGM7hnDgWoGPoU8reoBixBGSkMO0Eg4DdNizjbIOIkd3s/s1600/QFE+225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyILGzAGliYBLX4XYy1Ji0d4KnSRe7Jh7KfNHMhgH-PXyZieQpDK0tGKGpXRZ8LgPETdyaodIvf9IrV7yHPPoMbYyVs1TWkkGM7hnDgWoGPoU8reoBixBGSkMO0Eg4DdNizjbIOIkd3s/s400/QFE+225.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!<br />
<br />
I found putting this quilt together quite liberating because I really had no idea what it was going to turn into. Having seen the wonderful array of<a href="http://siblingstogether.co.uk/"> Siblings Together </a>quilts at the Retreat, I needed no further motivation to get this pieced so that I have time to quilt it (eeek!) in plenty of time for next year's call for quilts.<br />
<br />
And also this plus my Bee quilt should use up the last of my blasted Rouenneries fabric that I bought too much of when I was terrified of running out of it for my <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/how-you-know-when-your-spouse-does-not.html">Apple Crisp quilt</a>. Being a pedantic self-disciplinarian (not that you'd know from my messy house and numerous bars of Dairy Milk), I have it in my head that I am duty-bound to use my fabric on a FIFO basis. I have already agonised over this in <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/curly-watts.html">this post </a>and even though I know my<a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/curly-watts.html"> Curly Watts approach</a> is not logical, I can't help myself.<br />
<br />
So hurrah for breaking out some new fabric and maybe even breaking my own rule and going straight for those lovely <a href="http://www.oakshottfabrics.com/">Oakshotts</a> ......Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-6577014378918125712013-08-18T01:59:00.001-07:002013-08-24T14:11:24.484-07:00Mothers and quiltersHaving seen this mosaic many times ... and how true it is:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwg6zBkpyJcE4YPAcJycPk-cuR6KCvL2p_JocetV2KijReZM3vdKc_Dk2bXgAAEuD5AdNeQim-pwe0nLxwJYDZS8KaCVezmjN8_-OlLoQpu_M7Td-3ksG419tram-wypfl0e7XLodsSc/s1600/I-am-a-mother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwg6zBkpyJcE4YPAcJycPk-cuR6KCvL2p_JocetV2KijReZM3vdKc_Dk2bXgAAEuD5AdNeQim-pwe0nLxwJYDZS8KaCVezmjN8_-OlLoQpu_M7Td-3ksG419tram-wypfl0e7XLodsSc/s400/I-am-a-mother.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I was very happy to see another one on <a href="http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com/lavieenrosie/">Miss Rosie's blog</a> for quilters ... also true:<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-20207291286227131092013-08-12T08:16:00.000-07:002013-08-12T08:16:09.178-07:00Paper piecing is not my strong suitI have my computer back, hurrah! It is like regaining feeling in a lost limb. I have felt rather cut off from the world without it, not least because we then all decamped to the <a href="http://www.visitsouthwest.co.uk/">West Country </a>for a week, where the 21st Century has still yet to arrive in some places. What the South West needs is a nice big <b>MOTORWAY</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhlz2dDX-R3gsdiNa8OT94fFqX2Wfb1r6YxDJkOqrhvmre0KzI01dEtYjrqoLC3bjLygGNsPo8bMnjkqDN6jrhqJCwODp2dGU0r8nQcFeUmf-rViZ824g_BKEtdmBuKMMOp78BCD1ig4/s1600/QFE+219a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhlz2dDX-R3gsdiNa8OT94fFqX2Wfb1r6YxDJkOqrhvmre0KzI01dEtYjrqoLC3bjLygGNsPo8bMnjkqDN6jrhqJCwODp2dGU0r8nQcFeUmf-rViZ824g_BKEtdmBuKMMOp78BCD1ig4/s400/QFE+219a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Although given that any road in the South West is liable to be roped off with orange string at any given moment to allow a herd of 200 cows to pass by, perhaps this wouldn't be such a good idea.<br />
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<br />
Not much sewing going down last week as we were too busy driving along wiggly roads and trying in vain to wear out the children with a variety of exciting activities. In fact all we succeeded in doing was exhausting ourselves whilst the children went into overdrive, although we did manage to watch most of the first series of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaking_Bad">Breaking Bad</a> once they finally went to bed.<br />
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<br />
So a bit of a catch up first - here's what I was working on just before the Retreat - my final block for the FQR Bee:<br />
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This was actually February's block but I was so scared of paper piecing that I put it off until June. Bad girl! <br />
<br />
The fabric we got was <a href="http://comfortstitching.typepad.co.uk/comfortstitching/2012/08/sew-little-stitches.html">Sew Stitchy</a> by <a href="http://comfortstitching.typepad.co.uk/">Aneela Hoey</a>, and we got free rein on the block except that it had to be sewing related. I was blown away by some of the blocks the other girls did, such as <a href="http://kettleboiler.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/big-girl-pants.html">this one by KettleBoiler</a>:<br />
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... and <a href="http://lizofdandeliondaydreams.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/pressing-on.html">this one by Dandelion Liz</a>:<br />
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<br />Er, pressure! It took me a long time to draft the pattern from a fuzzy picture I found on Google Images, and then a great big panic when I realised there wasn't a lovely straight line to sew down at the end. Thankfully it didn't end up with a big crease in the middle - just as well, as I don't do unpicking if I can get away with it.<br />
<br />
I have also just finished my <a href="http://siblingstogether.co.uk/">Siblings Together</a> quilt top so hopefully will have a blog post about that very soon too x <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-87151018706303347482013-07-29T15:21:00.003-07:002013-07-29T15:21:26.136-07:00Warning: blogging with prehistoric computerI will be interested to see whether this blog post comes out more or
less badly laid out on the page than the previous iPad post. On the
plus side, it is a 'proper' computer ; on the downside, it is so old
that it might possibly have been found in a cave in France along with
troglodyte art and perhaps a fossilised mammoth. Typing leaves huge
pauses while the computer has a little think and then suddenly posts
three-quarters of a sentence with some bits missing. So if any of this
post makes less sense than usual, it might (for once) not be my fault.<br />
<br />
Something
that is squarely my fault is that I didn't take my camera to FQR.
Another thing that is my fault is that I was so late sewing on the
binding to my last Sample Swap mug rug that I didn't take a photo of any
of them before I swapped them. Happily, my swappees have more
brainpower than I and so I have a photo of one kindly sent to me by <a href="http://mammafairysews.blogspot.co.uk/">MammaFairy Rachel</a>:<br />
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Once
I have charged my camera up (oops) I will post photos of the lovely
sample swap goodies that I received too - 3 lovely things that I have
been using every single day and that make me smile every time I pick
them up!<br />
<br />
I may have done more chatting than sewing at
FQR but it has definitely re-ignited my sewing mojo. The morning after I
got back, I sprang into action (possibly the knowledge that it was my
last child-free day for the next 6 weeks may have spurred me on too).
By school pickup I had pieced the majority of an Improv quilt for
Siblings Together. I now have one last seam to sew before I have a
quilt top. Definitely a record for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
(PS - see <a href="http://lilysquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/siblings-together-quilts-on-roof-terrace.html">this post</a> on <a href="http://lilysquilts.blogspot.co.uk/">Lily's Quilts</a> to see some of the fab Siblings Together quilts that were handed over to the phenomenal lady who runs the charity, Delma.)<br />
<br />
<br />
If this post works then I shall go back and re-edit my disastrous
iPad post. There still won't be pictures, but there may be
paragraphs! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-84349050840870418292013-07-23T09:29:00.000-07:002013-07-29T15:29:14.210-07:00Pictureless FQRJust a very quick post to confirm that I am still alive (apologies for recent blogging hiatus) and to say thank you to the many lovely folks I chatted with at FQR (more chatting than sewing if I'm honest) and who made a good weekend into a great weekend.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately my desktop exploded (literally) when I got back from FQR which means I am tapping this out one-fingered on the iPad. I don't know how to get photos onto the iPad so this will be a pictureless post.<br />
<br />
Anyway, back to FQR! So glad to catch up with <a href="http://www.runquiltknitwrite.com/">Helen</a> & <a href="http://kettleboiler.blogspot.co.uk/">Moira</a> again and to meet <a href="http://willowbeckdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/">Di </a>&<a href="http://lizofdandeliondaydreams.blogspot.co.uk/"> Liz</a> for the first time - thanks to you all for some lovely lovely chats. It was also so nice to catch up with many of my Bee members - some for the the first time (Kate, Mary, Carol) - and see the 2 Siblings Together bee quilts in the flesh.<br />
<br />
Inspired, on Monday as soon as the kids were dropped off I knuckled down with my offcut Bee blocks (more of which later) and Portholes from FQR, and whipped together the majority of an Improv quilt destined for next year's Siblings Together. Hoping to finish this next week although we are now in school holidays so my sewing time reduces from 'not much' to 'almost nil'.<br />
<br />
Also a big thank you to <a href="http://houseofpinheiro.blogspot.co.uk/">Rachel Pinheiro</a> who kindly refitted my Amelia dress bodice onto me so that I can move onto the next stage. Without her help I think this might have been consigned to the scrap pile so I am extremely grateful. When my computer is up & running I will do a whole blog post on this.<br />
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Another thing that will get its own blog post is the sample swap - I got some gorgeous goodies from <a href="http://mrsssewandsow.blogspot.co.uk/">Nicky</a>, <a href="http://mammafairysews.blogspot.co.uk/">Rachel</a> and Anna and I hope they weren't too underwhelmed by my mug rugs. I am such a donkey that I didn't even take a photo of the mug rugs I made before I swapped them. Rachel has sent me a photo of one so once my computer is back to life I will have a picture to post.<br />
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Anyway, I shall sign off here - too many words and not enough pictures! And why won't my iPad do paragraphs? Trying again....<br />
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Edited to add some links and some much-needed paragraph breaks! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-5673768805830776382013-06-10T03:42:00.000-07:002013-06-19T13:24:11.023-07:00Needle vs fingerTake heed of my sorry tale:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPNuyG_OF7jkjs0URxJIw6vqhYUgWM7SXkEowkGBhwWHVRFBzCVQgtX0Dh_0QliWsD-FTCCbcvASe2-SvUF1tKlWHA3U3FITt0vK7GSIeWSHxTqFgoMQ99rMc_6AbzIrIB-urvChySbw/s1600/QFE+218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bent needle sewing machine" border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPNuyG_OF7jkjs0URxJIw6vqhYUgWM7SXkEowkGBhwWHVRFBzCVQgtX0Dh_0QliWsD-FTCCbcvASe2-SvUF1tKlWHA3U3FITt0vK7GSIeWSHxTqFgoMQ99rMc_6AbzIrIB-urvChySbw/s400/QFE+218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the battle of needle vs finger, there are no winners. Ow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-64702094198574176132013-05-22T05:39:00.001-07:002013-06-19T13:28:14.772-07:00Name tag finishAt last - a finish to speak of! And happily even though this is a name tag for the <a href="http://www.fatquarterly.com/">Fat Quarterly Retreat</a>, it is not a secret because it is doubling up as a belated <a href="http://londonmqg.wordpress.com/">LMQG</a> name tag swap too. I received this jazzy name tag from <b>Amanda</b> aka <b>MetroQuilter</b> who is a lovely and increasingly prolific member of<a href="http://londonmqg.wordpress.com/"> LMQG</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5g43jEDMm-6e0W-slcvbyB-OXT2jvx84gW-7A573cg9VPLS6pXCdq0K_JxQSozKivJpywiOozCOiskMQs2ZO_Jie_6gewUAUnyTwmqCPPSc-qqk-M6Ke5boivd17P5gSylqVsPU8Drs/s1600/QFE+217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5g43jEDMm-6e0W-slcvbyB-OXT2jvx84gW-7A573cg9VPLS6pXCdq0K_JxQSozKivJpywiOozCOiskMQs2ZO_Jie_6gewUAUnyTwmqCPPSc-qqk-M6Ke5boivd17P5gSylqVsPU8Drs/s320/QFE+217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Amanda made my name tag very punctually in February because she is a good girl. My tag-making has been delayed, partly by my own inability to carve out some sewing time to do it, and partly as a result of my notorious tendency for indecision. I changed the concept at least 3 times before deciding that I would use the famous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_the_Paris_M%C3%A9tro">Paris Metropolitan lettering</a> for the "<b>Metro</b>" from MetroQuilter:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB57mxyJT8tLSnn31b7zrgbXBfGRqZncDiIAsaNov3lgDFGrP3pEQO52rQ-f8eamNb6G1HSOpQLVXnn2YhsNUrzMGM1frKWMfk6XTjLuPc04jkis1-xeWZ3GQjLjB4CwxixNwJkWGL3A/s1600/QFE+216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="paris metropolitain abbesses art nouveau metro entrance" border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB57mxyJT8tLSnn31b7zrgbXBfGRqZncDiIAsaNov3lgDFGrP3pEQO52rQ-f8eamNb6G1HSOpQLVXnn2YhsNUrzMGM1frKWMfk6XTjLuPc04jkis1-xeWZ3GQjLjB4CwxixNwJkWGL3A/s400/QFE+216.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So here is my version:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zuBnsV1XDqXPjDSAexs-MuwiavxmDYoO8Rr9f2LzXfEmgOgeJqpml5cDAw4-zlDO5YjVF8z2XQJlDYzOFl3TP04jlbwCRJ5yyCtRewQuMQ6_ykO-FplznEkBbMUYtUyKtIJOrhI5d5s/s1600/QFE+213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="metroquilter paris metro name tag" border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zuBnsV1XDqXPjDSAexs-MuwiavxmDYoO8Rr9f2LzXfEmgOgeJqpml5cDAw4-zlDO5YjVF8z2XQJlDYzOFl3TP04jlbwCRJ5yyCtRewQuMQ6_ykO-FplznEkBbMUYtUyKtIJOrhI5d5s/s400/QFE+213.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And the back, taken from a <a href="http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_la_petite_ecole.pdf">Petite Ecole</a> panel:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5G9vSkY2tAUD52W3Zj_UcwDQaSOplgdaFxKdM_QvxBUNDvKaQyb2-uUWzUG5HhyphenhyphenKjthAAwXt0fJLBBbAkx8pPpHNruZxb4D8q2az7nbpiEpes5_Y72NY7twgZ_o9QXtATEdzawjgvHY/s1600/QFE+214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="petite ecole french general name tag" border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5G9vSkY2tAUD52W3Zj_UcwDQaSOplgdaFxKdM_QvxBUNDvKaQyb2-uUWzUG5HhyphenhyphenKjthAAwXt0fJLBBbAkx8pPpHNruZxb4D8q2az7nbpiEpes5_Y72NY7twgZ_o9QXtATEdzawjgvHY/s400/QFE+214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The lanyard is a bit too long - this is what comes from blindly following an online tutorial - so I think I will rectify that before I give it to Amanda:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflVETiFoyfzTNmkgrspT2rQOVWT-gxdAr2RZ_RIol4awUfkSK9AD_yx_Qe7rYD3XVqmRMvl8Lgu25OvI9caGQa8gXwPGMSNMC5ptzrUkP4DJMh_Ejsq_brwknk1IzUMwh2KI98KO7HU8/s1600/QFE+212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="french general name tag lanyard" border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflVETiFoyfzTNmkgrspT2rQOVWT-gxdAr2RZ_RIol4awUfkSK9AD_yx_Qe7rYD3XVqmRMvl8Lgu25OvI9caGQa8gXwPGMSNMC5ptzrUkP4DJMh_Ejsq_brwknk1IzUMwh2KI98KO7HU8/s400/QFE+212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used this beasty machine - the <a href="http://www.handyhippo.co.uk/p5685-we-r-memory-keepers-crop-a-dile-ii-big-bite.html">Crop-o-Dile II</a> - to punch the hole fix the eyelet. The eyelets I bought initially were too thin and flimsy for my liking so I ordered some heavier duty ones with washers which arrived today and which definitely give a better finish than the rubbishy ones.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLxkCmHF9YKtm2aEXOJjCWzvixgohHjcgogmUIVGWro-H88iP_QaTem7zM_pZ0xi40LG1HuJ8jdqPttNCc9KoCXMnPRaRAMEI5bb95fNtVdum7NtcXVRN37ryMuhqZDuu3Xpgp5LJfeM/s1600/QFE+211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="crop-o-dile II eyelet punch name tag" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLxkCmHF9YKtm2aEXOJjCWzvixgohHjcgogmUIVGWro-H88iP_QaTem7zM_pZ0xi40LG1HuJ8jdqPttNCc9KoCXMnPRaRAMEI5bb95fNtVdum7NtcXVRN37ryMuhqZDuu3Xpgp5LJfeM/s320/QFE+211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now I have to get started on my Sample Swap items for the <a href="http://www.fatquarterly.com/retreat">Fat Quarterly Retreat</a> - luckily for me, Amanda was kind enough to wait patiently for her tag, but the Sample Swap has a time and a place so they will just have to be ready on time! I will be making Mug Rugs, so I need to decide on a design sharpish and get sewing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-58725701214111421462013-05-09T02:02:00.001-07:002013-06-19T13:32:20.103-07:00Bee blocks & more FMQ practiceI enjoy being in a Bee but I do feel the pressure of getting my blocks done and dusted asap. These are April's blocks for Kate, and are called Converging Corners - here is the link to the online tutorial.<br />
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Kate wanted to use up scraps from a green quilt she had been making so here are my 2 blocks:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfCTUejliZXlf6Hkwki07h1rLZK8qI9TYdbPlccfh8X8S-zs-FY4NKpX_Mf1garK9pJoLfGvFzByLzjpePdviOEtG7yDqCJY29WhbshS9uoYlo_YSsXzhjqSKa9tfsOIeNxvgr-0Tp2U/s1600/QFE+206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="converging corners quilt bee block" border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfCTUejliZXlf6Hkwki07h1rLZK8qI9TYdbPlccfh8X8S-zs-FY4NKpX_Mf1garK9pJoLfGvFzByLzjpePdviOEtG7yDqCJY29WhbshS9uoYlo_YSsXzhjqSKa9tfsOIeNxvgr-0Tp2U/s200/QFE+206.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTkdtjenELzWDxVaMKT6YSQiGz_iH6U157OUrlrH3irFSwqqzwVAo1G9Duv1wAGk88WL0xgrf4wqcyMz1n56Oyp3PQwQkEpU4PvRcYgTxJ3GnN8syFkXAogRxLFg59Elcns_mdlnfuLE/s1600/QFE+207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="converging corners quilt bee block" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTkdtjenELzWDxVaMKT6YSQiGz_iH6U157OUrlrH3irFSwqqzwVAo1G9Duv1wAGk88WL0xgrf4wqcyMz1n56Oyp3PQwQkEpU4PvRcYgTxJ3GnN8syFkXAogRxLFg59Elcns_mdlnfuLE/s200/QFE+207.JPG" width="198" /></a></div>
Apologies for the big creases running down the middle - I had packaged them up for sending before remembering that I hadn't taken a photo!<br />
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I have also been having another go at FMQ - this time a paisley / clam shell type design:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUVPs8IoK7jSYAdSv_9oT174I66nZuDcld4N_vG6wHQGNM8tki59zdyUpl19YOxm7Ln05BkEkFixgU-OFifdSXjPZRiF7iJzG546LYobz-b4NQ_gpvXNIYfYYPfDCC43rcbMskX-s-us/s1600/QFE+205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FMQ beginner practise" border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUVPs8IoK7jSYAdSv_9oT174I66nZuDcld4N_vG6wHQGNM8tki59zdyUpl19YOxm7Ln05BkEkFixgU-OFifdSXjPZRiF7iJzG546LYobz-b4NQ_gpvXNIYfYYPfDCC43rcbMskX-s-us/s400/QFE+205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
One of the things that I am finding hard is keeping the shapes big - I thought it would be harder to do smaller shapes but actually it's the other way around.<br />
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Still lots of things on the back burner - <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/slowly-but-surely.html">Pervalong</a>, <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-best-laid-plans-etc.html">Amelia dress</a>, my PP'd February block that I need to knuckle down and do. I have half the binding machined down on my daughter's <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-best-laid-plans-etc.html">Dolce quilt</a> so hopefully that will be a nice thing to hand sew in the evening once I get the other half machined on.<br />
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I have also been doing a lot more reading recently. Earlier this year I read <a href="http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/Authors/3691/">Hilary Mantel's</a> Wolf Hall, which is just a superb book. I think Bring up the Bodies has just come out in paperback so I am going to get that one to carry on the story.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAmDgWwNjBOaAptVBhHt8pLr_V0yWMwTpyS8k0U2UdgKh9w2KOmTFbRMMPkFDEEzl_grJdfnDnqTz254Yu7ghGMrWECZ0ikkeEJaxQq1_cebcwDN_vZV2jcMmGT_OEPIDS8yz0EbdlRg/s1600/QFE+208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="wolf hall hilary mantel book group" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAmDgWwNjBOaAptVBhHt8pLr_V0yWMwTpyS8k0U2UdgKh9w2KOmTFbRMMPkFDEEzl_grJdfnDnqTz254Yu7ghGMrWECZ0ikkeEJaxQq1_cebcwDN_vZV2jcMmGT_OEPIDS8yz0EbdlRg/s320/QFE+208.jpg" width="208" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VSh52kHSlPb19UD__sotla6AMOf30MMzCTi0gEy3rE4hZ5fjpul95Whmn1on4fbmvU0ZynyjeF_kx6snmxH656n6v5Iv6FwmJzOW76RPqdNKh6nvPhvHHpdN4uZ9l_xb1h_llw9tG3c/s1600/QFE+209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bring up the bodies hilary mantel book group" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VSh52kHSlPb19UD__sotla6AMOf30MMzCTi0gEy3rE4hZ5fjpul95Whmn1on4fbmvU0ZynyjeF_kx6snmxH656n6v5Iv6FwmJzOW76RPqdNKh6nvPhvHHpdN4uZ9l_xb1h_llw9tG3c/s320/QFE+209.jpg" width="205" /> </a></div>
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Another good book I read this month was The Fever Tree by <a href="http://www.jennifermcveigh.com/">Jennifer McVeigh</a> - little spoilt girl gets sent to South Africa - another good read. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwckik3MoJYqQxwLIPiEfqYCukzCT79ZirX_LQH0_cebpU_MkZ8N_qE2ueQDeBlY3SXGFzzaIc9IXnAiMOzLMP5Zkdk9xx_QqQCVKyd3R_Yo1CfpAQhkyvk8TLcBM03W18chiHHFNj7kI/s1600/QFE+210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="fever tree jennifer mcveigh book group" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwckik3MoJYqQxwLIPiEfqYCukzCT79ZirX_LQH0_cebpU_MkZ8N_qE2ueQDeBlY3SXGFzzaIc9IXnAiMOzLMP5Zkdk9xx_QqQCVKyd3R_Yo1CfpAQhkyvk8TLcBM03W18chiHHFNj7kI/s320/QFE+210.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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Any book recommendations gratefully received! I am getting to the point where I am too old to waste my time with rubbish books. I only have time for good ones!</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-22094336864131626072013-04-29T03:38:00.000-07:002013-06-19T13:33:54.443-07:00FMQ 101FINALLY! Nobody is ill, I don't have any accounts to do or dull meetings to go to, and everyone is in school or nursery or wherever they are supposed to be. In celebration, I have found my balls, attached my free motion foot (not to my imaginary balls) and finally had a real life go at FMQ. Huzzah!<br />
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<u>Disclaimer</u>: Please excuse the lurid green cloth that I have been using to practise on, and perhaps go and get some sunglasses before you scroll down, so that you don't damage your eyes.<br />
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Here is FMQ attempt #1, during which I fought with the cloth, forgot to breathe and declared "This is ridiculous. I am NEVER doing this again".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaCOKYzDI9k2AoctYBblWLjPqcgJR0g0EcZr1uudyoNv1Z6ar0iqS1JwPWi1KEzZH5Ghz0DGEqPNjKMhFT8Xgx9eCbhgNqf8jwGVRzwwMTNxKWLuYixpRyhHt1JSfY8om95yJzk7OZj8/s1600/QFE+203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FMQ beginner practise" border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaCOKYzDI9k2AoctYBblWLjPqcgJR0g0EcZr1uudyoNv1Z6ar0iqS1JwPWi1KEzZH5Ghz0DGEqPNjKMhFT8Xgx9eCbhgNqf8jwGVRzwwMTNxKWLuYixpRyhHt1JSfY8om95yJzk7OZj8/s320/QFE+203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happily, I rarely listen to myself, so I had another go on a fresh piece of green straight away - here is FMQ attempt #2:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsuB3OuKrj9bvpJqd5fzadx6_3_8woYDJ2mrkNg2CNBu-ZALys_OEkSmXKFvJHzJnJ7DFgNTw95cP-n0lQvZIJLrfmTCHa9ADgRRq3GP139KcaZviF_B8u7gOys5sZDAHT2CMtgVgCuU/s1600/QFE+204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FMQ beginner practise" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsuB3OuKrj9bvpJqd5fzadx6_3_8woYDJ2mrkNg2CNBu-ZALys_OEkSmXKFvJHzJnJ7DFgNTw95cP-n0lQvZIJLrfmTCHa9ADgRRq3GP139KcaZviF_B8u7gOys5sZDAHT2CMtgVgCuU/s320/QFE+204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Much better! I can see why people say that the key is to practise, practise, practise. I found<a href="http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.co.uk/"> Leah Day'</a>s <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/">Craftsy course</a> very useful for helping out with things like how to stop big long stitches on starting and stopping (still getting used to that).<br />
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My mantra of the day - SLOW DOWN. My instinct is to push the cloth away like an unexploded bomb. I think I spend so much of my day rushing about that I forget how to do things slowly.<br />
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Also, how much bobbin thread does FMQ use???? I think I might just go and wind 10 bobbins in advance and be done with it.<br />
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G xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-11562588413677159602013-04-17T05:32:00.004-07:002013-06-19T13:36:53.814-07:00The best laid plans etcApologies for the lack of action on this blog. The plague of ill children has struck the Pye household again, this time knocking out any kind of fun for 3 out of the past 4 weeks. Hopefully a course of antibiotics will see off the current dastardly ear infection so that normal life can resume soon.<br />
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I didn't even have time to post about my Q1 Finish-a-Long, which is probably just as well, as despite a roaring start, it stalled in February and never really got going again. On a happier note, I now have 2 quilts at the binding stage, and without the FAL they may have still been in boxes, so progress made. Here is my elder daughter's <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/first-q1-fal-finish.html">Dolce quilt</a> ready to bind:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9WKFilRBB2k63eIoNYX-ZXTQhveIQZyrpCxvGmYJinC-UhUErmhJqK59CbPRNXDEqgNnoWF2SsOm8Qk4AJz1gj5r92a8oObcsFhwzFaPbwAtZLn73l0UCqZ2N6oaiUmKsaEi0uiCbIU/s1600/QFE+199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tanya whelan dolce quilt jelly filled thimble blossoms pattern" border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9WKFilRBB2k63eIoNYX-ZXTQhveIQZyrpCxvGmYJinC-UhUErmhJqK59CbPRNXDEqgNnoWF2SsOm8Qk4AJz1gj5r92a8oObcsFhwzFaPbwAtZLn73l0UCqZ2N6oaiUmKsaEi0uiCbIU/s400/QFE+199.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I genuinely enjoy doing the binding which gives me an additional incentive to reclaim my evenings and sit on the sofa hand sewing, while my husband watches one of the many tedious series currently clogging up our Sky+ Planner.<br />
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I have missed the Q2 FAL deadline but I am still going to set some personal goals. Although given this last month, just "any sewing whatsoever" would have been something to achieve. I must also factor in my Bee blocks - I always forget to put them on my list, but they do take time.<br />
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I am also delighted to see BBC2 running the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0165nj8">Great British Sewing Bee</a>, on one hand just to get sewing on the map and also to see the poor contestants trying to whip up a piece of quality clothing in far too little time. I haven't seen last night's episode yet so <b>don't</b> tell me who goes home!<br />
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It has also given me the nudge I needed to get my dressform (Christmas present from 2008) out of its box for the first time (*hangs head in shame*), adjusted to my expanding waistline, and set up in my sewing room:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRxIIgir5sivVI_vy4ko-c97c3K8MvyCFEf7j01CemuJnQc9uJgDMfHucR6WyDVh8qttrvGVOavNaixo8NvbSWHL4R9ghWfDFlwBQvebAkdsIWiiG0LP9CQwrHgf7pqQkSRNX3aqOuhg/s1600/QFE+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="setting up dressform sewing great british sewing bee" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRxIIgir5sivVI_vy4ko-c97c3K8MvyCFEf7j01CemuJnQc9uJgDMfHucR6WyDVh8qttrvGVOavNaixo8NvbSWHL4R9ghWfDFlwBQvebAkdsIWiiG0LP9CQwrHgf7pqQkSRNX3aqOuhg/s320/QFE+200.JPG" width="289" /></a></div>
... which, by the by, is another new development - clearing out the cot & assorted paraphernalia from the old nursery and claiming it as Mummy's Dedicated Sewing Space. Next step is to put a lock on the door. Muhahahaaa!<br />
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I have traced the pattern pieces for this <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/sewing-patchwork/sewing-patterns/green-bee-patterns-amelia-dresshttp://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/sewing-patchwork/sewing-patterns/green-bee-patterns-amelia-dress">Green Bee Amelia dress</a> which I am going to make up in a muslin first:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI9T-IVgcV_3jO3rXw_LTfyzM9atrR6I3neYpkKn9OWmeTtaVj5mGDnjMyx5DRJile95tBBRGXImes0VN1ocFjBIPD9ITCx0pAzcv-d4ml_U4lErtXbwJVmKt2NB1a-B57FzrsL2CgPY/s1600/QFE+201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="green bee amelia bias cut dress" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI9T-IVgcV_3jO3rXw_LTfyzM9atrR6I3neYpkKn9OWmeTtaVj5mGDnjMyx5DRJile95tBBRGXImes0VN1ocFjBIPD9ITCx0pAzcv-d4ml_U4lErtXbwJVmKt2NB1a-B57FzrsL2CgPY/s320/QFE+201.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
... with a view to then making it properly in <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/salt-water-sea-stripes-in-aqua">Tula Pink's Saltwater</a> - hoping that the bias cutting does some interesting things with the stripes:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXh0cuWnJrq_pPK6k3nIooeDpCAabVAfErF0-DuWD34_MoapAF6iXQsApU_S0xwMRVf3r_DPsngvgoB46Z310TW4quBzOddMycGY9dXw_IzYqEFMGlgTNMXyUDMvtCkhOCWLq0NBzrDc/s1600/QFE+202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tula pink saltwater stripe fabric" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXh0cuWnJrq_pPK6k3nIooeDpCAabVAfErF0-DuWD34_MoapAF6iXQsApU_S0xwMRVf3r_DPsngvgoB46Z310TW4quBzOddMycGY9dXw_IzYqEFMGlgTNMXyUDMvtCkhOCWLq0NBzrDc/s1600/QFE+202.jpg" /></a></div>
But who knows! I am not very experienced at dressmaking (except for children's clothes, which are much easier). And it is possible that if a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0165nj8/profiles/judges">dapper beardy man from Savile Row</a> doesn't appear to check my handiwork and let me examine his trouser waistband, I may well lose interest. If I get this finished before the proper summer weather arrives, I will be very happy indeed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-45900180264827550642013-04-12T02:19:00.002-07:002013-06-19T13:38:28.273-07:00Zephyr sundressHello peeps<br />
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Head on over to <a href="http://thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/blog/">The Village Haberdashery blog </a>to see my daughter's <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/first-q1-fal-finish.html">Zephyr sundress</a> featured in <a href="http://thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/blog/2013/gerties-nani-iro-sundress">this week's newsletter</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh509THxj4NXDV-sixuO1YwPgTRjg8ZvYb8RnVFUNM42hv2nE0kFhXc8zAx7qxFvu9_ndmpxvMwk4YMNWaLNEpNRbQ58yu25rpWmA0z7iU2ehTsu7WW5ZGDoxOZq1CDBNlL_9k0m12LJqo/s1600/QFE+198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="village haberdashery figgy's zephyr dress nani iro little letter nina double gauze kona sundress straps" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh509THxj4NXDV-sixuO1YwPgTRjg8ZvYb8RnVFUNM42hv2nE0kFhXc8zAx7qxFvu9_ndmpxvMwk4YMNWaLNEpNRbQ58yu25rpWmA0z7iU2ehTsu7WW5ZGDoxOZq1CDBNlL_9k0m12LJqo/s400/QFE+198.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Pictures by <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/">Annie</a> - much better with a camera than me!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-9601006567240196922013-03-11T14:43:00.000-07:002013-06-19T13:42:02.838-07:00Slowly but surelyFor once I have some sewing output to show - not much (blame half term) but a little:<br />
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First up, a Bee block for <a href="http://www.traceypereira.com/">Tracey</a> at <a href="http://www.quiltmehappy.co.uk/">QuiltMeHappy</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLQPCiEEO84fW7bvM4Y6iLEpBoYB16Dn5MC97aCowFraPZbEtuomOdLKofyUvJp9Zs58L2COGp82-AY5SdW2Q08Gub9e_4v-LV9E9PlZOLYFvQSMjaitwUT30XB49qh_Qq4d7ka_YPEw/s1600/QFE+195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="HST quilt bee block" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLQPCiEEO84fW7bvM4Y6iLEpBoYB16Dn5MC97aCowFraPZbEtuomOdLKofyUvJp9Zs58L2COGp82-AY5SdW2Q08Gub9e_4v-LV9E9PlZOLYFvQSMjaitwUT30XB49qh_Qq4d7ka_YPEw/s400/QFE+195.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This is the same <a href="http://www.traceypereira.com/">Tracey</a> who so expertly long-armed my <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/2013-finish-long.html">Apple Crisp quilt</a>. Tracey sent ready-made HST blocks and asked us to arrange them however we liked - one big block, a couple of small blocks, even all in a big long row! No matter how wacky I tried to make my block, symmetry kept winning out so I went with this layout in the end.<br />
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The other thing I have been chipping away at is my <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/do-you-perv-long.html">Pervalong</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreGjq7ppxGdlH_G0cJOH_qWmBLJ19C3B5SaBbtAZAy1aysAc59VJ4PM0yJ485W9Cbw-1vmLM0Ur_zdQwHvHpz7BpRDb4QgiBYMxnCo_SL9TJFrE-Jl3nLyK1-Tq531NYPXqGyXllKpdg/s1600/QFE+196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pervalong PP paper pieced quilt kona pink green" border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreGjq7ppxGdlH_G0cJOH_qWmBLJ19C3B5SaBbtAZAy1aysAc59VJ4PM0yJ485W9Cbw-1vmLM0Ur_zdQwHvHpz7BpRDb4QgiBYMxnCo_SL9TJFrE-Jl3nLyK1-Tq531NYPXqGyXllKpdg/s400/QFE+196.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I have made all of the central blocks now but just need to sew them together into 4 quarters and then join the quarters to make the centre of the quilt. The thing with paper piecing being backwards (well it is in my head anyway) is that I don't really have a feel of how the quilt is looking as I am going along. I can't wait to get these blocks all together so I have something to show for it instead of 4 envelopes stuffed with numbered blocks.<br />
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Right - off to carry on binding my Apple Crisp before the 31 March comes around and it is still on my WIP list. Not this time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-20323162420269505942013-03-04T14:10:00.000-08:002013-06-19T13:46:40.216-07:00All the gear, no ideaBack when I was young and hip (all right, just young) we used to go on a group skiing holiday every year. It was a real motley crew - various friends of friends - and one of our group always had all the latest stuff - titanium skis, heated boots, de-misting goggles. However, whilst the rest of our group went merrily sailing down black runs, he usually skied with me on the nice gentle blue runs in what we termed "Remedial Ski School". One of his mates dubbed him "All the gear, no idea".<br />
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I am the equivalent of "<b>All the gear, no idea</b>" in the world of machine quilting. Take a look:<br />
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<b>Supreme slider - check</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFU9LVcRdGELh34OyRN1zvkfIU8vP5fqxfthMijEf0u590zn8uq1gZ2-tm-oIWGaU_Ctqx5bAp0-3GABcDWasTtfEmni3zGq7titD67N-WPpjdBYfXPYLl-1iDQF3pqJWjnKx70dcv1CY/s1600/QFE+190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="supreme slider quilt FMQ" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFU9LVcRdGELh34OyRN1zvkfIU8vP5fqxfthMijEf0u590zn8uq1gZ2-tm-oIWGaU_Ctqx5bAp0-3GABcDWasTtfEmni3zGq7titD67N-WPpjdBYfXPYLl-1iDQF3pqJWjnKx70dcv1CY/s320/QFE+190.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<b>Bobbin washers - check</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuNsrPAn5OGGKT0qnXRqedozyQY1FlVMeYDhnZlNgxosNA1DgYd39WmtkDHApWt8TEFneIPfBlM_BabtlokNHv3yZQwn8RE3gDuVCWtkIkyG2eJODYXfUHzZY84qKekjsA8KppAglSTQ/s1600/QFE+191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="magic genie bobbin washers FMQ quilt" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuNsrPAn5OGGKT0qnXRqedozyQY1FlVMeYDhnZlNgxosNA1DgYd39WmtkDHApWt8TEFneIPfBlM_BabtlokNHv3yZQwn8RE3gDuVCWtkIkyG2eJODYXfUHzZY84qKekjsA8KppAglSTQ/s320/QFE+191.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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<b>Craftsy online class with <a href="http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.co.uk/">Leah Day</a> - check </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhZdVtoprwbjINrz0atJeDQahMwwhp3nOqhg8RJG6M25US67QkBQclaDoqAGFtiUsAuGJ_blwj3JoTWkn0lfNmYcRih2mjy3GYgtHuJdIE9R8HTXpgxCrQlsnx7WtKEO7TELxX97xv3A/s1600/QFE+192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="craftsy online course FMQ beginner leah day" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhZdVtoprwbjINrz0atJeDQahMwwhp3nOqhg8RJG6M25US67QkBQclaDoqAGFtiUsAuGJ_blwj3JoTWkn0lfNmYcRih2mjy3GYgtHuJdIE9R8HTXpgxCrQlsnx7WtKEO7TELxX97xv3A/s320/QFE+192.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Multitude of FMQ books - check</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusQmfWlTPV9o6u_Y6qj2QZYOqJO7rxILJ4Z_dPzjq7s6LwxrY560jc3S_L0aV6mYSQYyBTbTJtmQxl7l4hiSh7u52Yn8qR1Kk2bNHehIy0RzcmnI44ixgu1sudwztEoXjG1vKohdTaVo/s1600/QFE+194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FMQ beginner book quilt" border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusQmfWlTPV9o6u_Y6qj2QZYOqJO7rxILJ4Z_dPzjq7s6LwxrY560jc3S_L0aV6mYSQYyBTbTJtmQxl7l4hiSh7u52Yn8qR1Kk2bNHehIy0RzcmnI44ixgu1sudwztEoXjG1vKohdTaVo/s320/QFE+194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>300 pages of quilt doodles - check</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK42G9VdJWkmv7aCwVNCyNoKIduy88qaVy4l7NOHogiuD7uxznV7llBS3XI1_QLQBUA7sd6EVziHBMxefqBMaV7QRbraDo9nmnHeuR0n2t-TV6wH8qQ2HqNHFQdlWX7XwoEtcy43AgiuQ/s1600/QFE+188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FMQ beginner quilt doodles paper" border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK42G9VdJWkmv7aCwVNCyNoKIduy88qaVy4l7NOHogiuD7uxznV7llBS3XI1_QLQBUA7sd6EVziHBMxefqBMaV7QRbraDo9nmnHeuR0n2t-TV6wH8qQ2HqNHFQdlWX7XwoEtcy43AgiuQ/s320/QFE+188.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Hideous fabric from remnant shop to be sacrificed in inaugural FMQ attempt - check.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcEuDmnc9JvtOyYZQVxjBJZF6pTu936CUoBuy8FoVT-c12GG2LySb5yypbMbqehUwLFBToZhWs0J8uDxmw7-ptgRsJpfG-xgQyBVkqOiohp8nlCOlZaHBB6KVwL7RhoOiah27Ku1tdV4/s1600/QFE+193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FMQ practise fabric" border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcEuDmnc9JvtOyYZQVxjBJZF6pTu936CUoBuy8FoVT-c12GG2LySb5yypbMbqehUwLFBToZhWs0J8uDxmw7-ptgRsJpfG-xgQyBVkqOiohp8nlCOlZaHBB6KVwL7RhoOiah27Ku1tdV4/s320/QFE+193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Have I tried it out? No.<br />
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Too scared.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-84692167063896460702013-02-14T15:06:00.000-08:002013-06-19T13:47:53.238-07:00Quilt doodlesPerhaps one of the ironies of having a blog called "<a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/">Quilting for England</a>" is that I am actually not very good at the "quilting" bit. More accurately my blog should be "Mainly piecing and the occasional bit of applique for England (and Wales)" but it didn't have quite the same ring to it.<br />
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My choices would appear to be:<br />
(a) change my blog name<br />
(b) live with the hypocrisy<br />
(c) learn to quilt, woman<br />
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I am opting for (c).<br />
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I am far better at being a "theoretical expert" - got the books, bookmarked the blog posts, noted all the top tips - than I am at biting the bullet and actually *doing* it. One of the "top tips" I speak of was to doodle quilting patterns on paper before trying them on a machine. I realised I had to get better at this, as with my first few doodles, I would get stuck at a point and not know how to get out of it. If I can't doodle my way out on paper, there's no way I could quilt my way out.<br />
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I have been practising swirly doodles and I think I have finally found a pattern that I can do competently and always find a 'way out' for where I would move next:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPefv8lkTU6tLZJiRF_POF5HASFDyI9ecJRlrALkksLyLVPLLHG0mH1s-sMbSpe8_35cEZW4_qyE4788UwVbplsP5JD_3fvvZLEiBe-jTgpOq3mfIP7P8xbAkLVkc946OLIqJwpK7oP4/s1600/QFE+188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="quilt FMQ doodle judi madsen paper" border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPefv8lkTU6tLZJiRF_POF5HASFDyI9ecJRlrALkksLyLVPLLHG0mH1s-sMbSpe8_35cEZW4_qyE4788UwVbplsP5JD_3fvvZLEiBe-jTgpOq3mfIP7P8xbAkLVkc946OLIqJwpK7oP4/s400/QFE+188.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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My doodle is based on Judi Madsen's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXLCQj--eSs">Feather Swirl Tutorial on Youtube </a>- admittedly I was watching this in a popup window at the same time as my youngest was watching <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ6zmKq5u3E">IgglePiggle</a> - but I think I caught enough of it to work out how to do the basic move and then move onto the next space. </div>
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If you haven't read Judi's blog (<a href="http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.co.uk/">Green Fairy Quilts</a>) before, do pop over - but first fetch a cushion and pop it on your desk so that when your jaw drops at what this lady can do with a long arm machine, you don't injure your chin too badly. Here is the <a href="http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/dear-jane.html">link to a "Dear Jane"</a> quilt which is one of my favourite quilts of all time - but if you read the rest of her blog, you will see it is fairly par for the course for Judi, who is playing a whole different quilting game to the rest of us. </div>
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Judi has a book out in the near future which I will be popping onto my Amazon wishlist straight away - it is called "<a href="http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/my-book-has-cover.html">Quilting Wide Open Spaces</a>" and is due out in the Autumn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqf9USK7GLNf_7GGdIdWtUFfs4jDDcfO4hR2kad2cDlOG7ITkGiC_4VSyGKYDUZHbArWB-l6xovCyjxb21dgqTr2EdW0nQcQa4nF8zZv8KYpvXyXrbKE95jew9Msa6MHjV6ksd2frW0-I/s1600/QFE+189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="judi madsen book quilting wide open spaces FMQ" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqf9USK7GLNf_7GGdIdWtUFfs4jDDcfO4hR2kad2cDlOG7ITkGiC_4VSyGKYDUZHbArWB-l6xovCyjxb21dgqTr2EdW0nQcQa4nF8zZv8KYpvXyXrbKE95jew9Msa6MHjV6ksd2frW0-I/s400/QFE+189.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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Totes amaze, as the yoof of today might say.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-34333934388725775012013-02-09T16:18:00.002-08:002013-06-19T15:41:09.084-07:00First Q1 FAL finish!Apologies for the fuzzy photo (my phone) and terrible light (evening) and thankfully you can't see the dreadful tartan carpet (previous house owner) - but I am so excited to have my first Q1 <a href="http://www.shecanquilt.blogspot.co.uk/p/2013-finish-long.html">FAL</a> finish that I just had to post it today:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSbbwE6SbLLA-d1vVqBDZJ_78hOJSK4Gmfv7tWtJTxgm-aKqaN4gy93c_h2SWqPgrzhO6IFGn3rJngLK3G2DlIDvfCjH1-dTsVp4chY77KvlY3J2pdJ94_o9LiwdpqduppjsjmmolQlc/s1600/QFE+186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="figgy's zephyr dress sundress nani iro little letter nina village haberdashery kona braided shoulder straps" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSbbwE6SbLLA-d1vVqBDZJ_78hOJSK4Gmfv7tWtJTxgm-aKqaN4gy93c_h2SWqPgrzhO6IFGn3rJngLK3G2DlIDvfCjH1-dTsVp4chY77KvlY3J2pdJ94_o9LiwdpqduppjsjmmolQlc/s400/QFE+186.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
This is a sundress pattern called Zephyr by Figgy's which I got <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/figgy-s-zephyr-romper-and-sundress">here from the Village Haberdashery</a>, along with the fabric which is a floaty double gauze called <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/nani-iro-little-letter-in-nina">Little Letter by Nani Iro</a>. The contrast yoke is <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/sewing-patchwork/fabric/kona-cotton-solids-rose">Kona solid in Rose</a> (yes nicked a smidge from <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/lovely-lovely-post.html">my Pervalong bundle</a> - but it went so nicely!).<br />
<br />
My daughter is a bit of a skinny minnie so I added side ties to sort out any skinny waist problems. I will definitely be making another one of these dresses so on my paper pattern I am going to adjust the yoke inwards a little to make it skinnier too. The nicest parts of this pattern - curiously the parts I had been sceptical about before I started - are the braided shoulder straps and the button loop detail on the front yoke. They really are very pretty little details.<br />
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This is the first time I have sewed with double gauze but I definitely will do again - it is easy to sew - not slippy as I had feared - and has such beautiful drape.<br />
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Also in FAL news I have completed my Dolce quilt top (also for the same daughter - she is having a lucky week) but in my haste I bundled it all up ready to send to be long arm quilted without taking a photo of it first. Pah. Here it is at the all-blocks-completed stage:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KGO78hK306iQf1BpwsIPNgpniNKLmenrUF6xppL3cEjmt51rV3TjsiNUv1QUjUyQWI3SiZK4YTqFRcehy31dCi_emBElu-JuBTRlSocwQVomavUqB97tnUpHg_zaIMWRhwxudVtnTmU/s1600/QFE+104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tanya whelan dolce quilt jelly filled pattern thimble blossoms jelly roll" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KGO78hK306iQf1BpwsIPNgpniNKLmenrUF6xppL3cEjmt51rV3TjsiNUv1QUjUyQWI3SiZK4YTqFRcehy31dCi_emBElu-JuBTRlSocwQVomavUqB97tnUpHg_zaIMWRhwxudVtnTmU/s400/QFE+104.JPG" width="305" /> </a></div>
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You will just have to believe me when I say it looks much better all sewn up. </div>
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And on top of all this I am sewing down the binding on my Apple Crisp so - God forbid - I might get 3 of my FALs done on time? Surely not. </div>
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Updated to link to the Let's Get Aquainted link up at <a href="http://boldgoods.com/">Bold Goods</a>:</div>
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<a href="http://www.plumandjune.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Plum and June" height="200" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s494/PlumandJune/linkupbutton2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-26799528878264835032013-01-28T02:11:00.001-08:002013-06-19T13:49:24.104-07:00Super quick postHello<br />
<br />
I am going to just post a couple of pictures so I can get on and sew! This morning is my only sewing window all week so I have to make the most of it.<br />
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I have been chipping away at my <a href="http://www.shecanquilt.blogspot.co.uk/p/2013-finish-long.html">Finish-a-Long</a> <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/2013-finish-long.html">stuff</a> so hopefully I will have an update on at least one of those very soon. In the meantime, I managed to put together this for the February<a href="http://londonmqg.wordpress.com/"> LMQG</a> challenge:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwujANMA2bSIVlRY4r_ayEH-6-V_sEZGsdPPrWIxfIhavkXocgMmNqrO4YXXDjhKGB0_7iOVcyQTHEP-eNss9MEeZTVmyJudjI216Y2Xbol0RH0g4XXEwa9aSdU4wbIQnVVS0kwgNpn8/s1600/QFE+184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="chinese new year mini quilt year of the snake script" border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwujANMA2bSIVlRY4r_ayEH-6-V_sEZGsdPPrWIxfIhavkXocgMmNqrO4YXXDjhKGB0_7iOVcyQTHEP-eNss9MEeZTVmyJudjI216Y2Xbol0RH0g4XXEwa9aSdU4wbIQnVVS0kwgNpn8/s320/QFE+184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The challenge theme is "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_%28zodiac%29">Year of the Snake</a>" and this is supposed to be the Chinese symbol for 'snake'. It is approx 8.5" square, and so is too big for a mug rug, but is a bit small for a wall hanging, so I'm not sure what to do with it yet. But I enjoyed making it. Maybe I could make one for all 12 Chinese zodiac years and turn them into a quilt!<br />
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The other thing I made this week - and which was delightfully quick to do - was a Victorian style <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mob_cap">mob cap</a>. One of the mums at school asked if I could knock something together for her, as she is helping out at "Victorians Day" for one of her children's classes and the grown-ups have been asked to dress up. I enlarged a <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-1992-costumes.aspx">child's pattern</a> that I have in the depths of my pattern box, and came up with this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAalsbt5BGC8bop169uE5NgWJr-3EZqjyZmvcCWwQSnvLkLpSD7cldQ8SrYZ7J0vBhTKMd1tVbi72feMwFI5bX_CWIgfZijBKzjg27ZraKBZQJxiXejZOai98zcUdYJjobf3kz8Pn7xUQ/s1600/QFE+185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="victorian mob cap pattern" border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAalsbt5BGC8bop169uE5NgWJr-3EZqjyZmvcCWwQSnvLkLpSD7cldQ8SrYZ7J0vBhTKMd1tVbi72feMwFI5bX_CWIgfZijBKzjg27ZraKBZQJxiXejZOai98zcUdYJjobf3kz8Pn7xUQ/s320/QFE+185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
...skillfully modelled by Billy the Bear. It's actually very comfy! <br />
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Right now I am going to do a bit more sewing on my daughter's <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/nani-iro-little-letter-in-nina">Nano Iro</a> <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/figgy-s-zephyr-romper-and-sundress">sundress</a>, and if I have time I am going to start my <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/do-you-perv-long.html">Pervalong</a>! Fabric pressed, <a href="http://charlottenewland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/pervalong-piecing-central-blocks-and-b.html">foundation papers prepped</a>, and I'm ready to go! Wheeeeeeeee!<br />
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Have a great week everyone x<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-46885275671916157732013-01-23T15:35:00.000-08:002013-06-19T13:52:21.420-07:00Curly Watts?Let me explain my conundrum with a tenuous analogy:<br />
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Imagine you have a loaf of bread, dated tomorrow (say). Then for some reason*, you suddenly have 2 more loaves of bread, both dated a week or so from now. Experience tells you that you aren't going to eat 2 full loaves of bread in the space of a week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7OeGv5SK61cvT5Q-WJ6lWtIWjuVA63hwQPi8yGppk1OcKAGOxKgRLPHIvxNZdzfbvqc_O8JQ-WteDfnsUoG9ffs8BpixascpB0JDKlvWWqQ6U3LPdkMhVDJzLFFLBnL43BhiKrjit9Y/s1600/QFE+182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="loaf of sliced bread" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7OeGv5SK61cvT5Q-WJ6lWtIWjuVA63hwQPi8yGppk1OcKAGOxKgRLPHIvxNZdzfbvqc_O8JQ-WteDfnsUoG9ffs8BpixascpB0JDKlvWWqQ6U3LPdkMhVDJzLFFLBnL43BhiKrjit9Y/s1600/QFE+182.jpg" /></a></div>
Do you:<br />
(a) open the bread dated tomorrow and use it until it starts to go mouldy?<br />
(b) open the bread dated tomorrow and use it just for today, then chuck it?<br />
(c) chuck the bread with tomorrow's date and move straight onto the fresh bread?<br />
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Out of habit, our family tends to go with (a), which always causes my Mum to declare "Curly Watts!". Apparently Curly Watts, whilst managing his local supermarket on Coronation Street, often used to come home with surplus food, which he then insisted on eating in date order. The running joke was that he came home with fresh bread every day but always ate stale bread.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjrqSTeA3n_glFoXTs2ENjL7x9cKe2y2-BV3TH6_awUHQxHQmB_6aq0mO5N_hl4fgxfi2QehUJNRUoiRT75enHguEQshJccLkWPqBIAiKDAaPYSPln1niN6yx_j9BgqBYQDCyxoM2fUA/s1600/QFE+181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="curly watts supermarket" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjrqSTeA3n_glFoXTs2ENjL7x9cKe2y2-BV3TH6_awUHQxHQmB_6aq0mO5N_hl4fgxfi2QehUJNRUoiRT75enHguEQshJccLkWPqBIAiKDAaPYSPln1niN6yx_j9BgqBYQDCyxoM2fUA/s320/QFE+181.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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My conundrum is re: fabric. Admittedly, fabric doesn't go mouldy (hopefully!) but it can seem a bit 'stale' once it's been hanging around in the cupboard for a while.<br />
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The Mrs Beeton's Household Management in me tells me that I should use up my old stuff first, so that I don't end up with very old stuff in my cupboard.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHrElFSlVTQQhKCS9rYGDxHZxkN5hmCLcKDHCHfNkQsl_X9lg1kkNGM0kHuDieu4vahOH-X8t6XyfC8I-eNNl5EN-nuhkml_LCYgQ3oIRctY1iCRdu2oVM5t-pC1XYnz4p8x8ToovDU4/s1600/QFE+180.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mrs beeton" border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHrElFSlVTQQhKCS9rYGDxHZxkN5hmCLcKDHCHfNkQsl_X9lg1kkNGM0kHuDieu4vahOH-X8t6XyfC8I-eNNl5EN-nuhkml_LCYgQ3oIRctY1iCRdu2oVM5t-pC1XYnz4p8x8ToovDU4/s200/QFE+180.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwF9QrODD2HA3q67IgAT9H6RZ4SZo04Kc8-DqJ27J4v_1qKOpp3xVqU5jNm3V0JWczzp_W8qDZxyF4Cmt84lQy4xoujfNO8w1fMGl8vub8K6KMBSElWvdHq8qsPpRSBPRjivc_VHR9JA/s1600/QFE+179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mrs beeton" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwF9QrODD2HA3q67IgAT9H6RZ4SZo04Kc8-DqJ27J4v_1qKOpp3xVqU5jNm3V0JWczzp_W8qDZxyF4Cmt84lQy4xoujfNO8w1fMGl8vub8K6KMBSElWvdHq8qsPpRSBPRjivc_VHR9JA/s1600/QFE+179.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
My impatient self shouts "Curly Watts!" as I worry that I will always be
sewing with older stuff that I don't love any more instead of nice
fresh stuff I've just bought. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzOowqLS6rhVlhJ6eSMwk8QXr80l88m0VqKWxKCwpZoyQJyLYMO5_t2b7od29dFJGrMP53CsXgFsHC3AczSU7iBy65aHUN8UtNOLtu6ZsJ1RKdOcHGGfcB0CX3LcTPeEm3C-9A9IQne8/s1600/QFE+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="chicopee FQ bundle denyse schmidt" border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzOowqLS6rhVlhJ6eSMwk8QXr80l88m0VqKWxKCwpZoyQJyLYMO5_t2b7od29dFJGrMP53CsXgFsHC3AczSU7iBy65aHUN8UtNOLtu6ZsJ1RKdOcHGGfcB0CX3LcTPeEm3C-9A9IQne8/s320/QFE+100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>What I really want to be sewing with right now...</i></div>
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Of course, the answer to all this is to sew more and buy less. Yeah, right!<br />
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I am dutifully working through my Finish-a-Long - and getting through it, step by step - I will post an update soon. However I always have one eye on what I will choose for my next big project. Old or new? What to do?<br />
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<a href="http://www.shecanquilt.blogspot.com/" title="she can quilt"><img alt="she can quilt" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshdM5O1QXHGWGxvKpZczWXB3X5_T0azQJ-9mNpc6iIlOzqKQQUNL52l4NhwGKSeI9gCxe5rYMTXQOLBHKPDP0JZXMHy1CtoUUS2gtP7yigV5N1Jb_ZVH_5FRUPpXyScRZNmAoywzIHrX2/s170/DSC_0273+4.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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Answers on a postcard please....<br />
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G x<br />
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* P.S. The way you end up with twice as much food as you need is when your parents come to visit and they bring their own bags of food (literally the equivalent of a supermarket shopping trip) just in case I haven't been competent enough to stock my fridge and cupboards with edible produce. Yes really.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe06iaSIPChZV5VrH38dfsKp6q5I1WEiYywOldBR64E1RKims7yalz_V3N-JVrk77-lXueMuKJt9vEOu6rlPulhg26a7nM1N0kI3uhEl45AyaNy7LXe_ZOJPKQTvcZDyP37iIUV4hEls/s1600/QFE+183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe06iaSIPChZV5VrH38dfsKp6q5I1WEiYywOldBR64E1RKims7yalz_V3N-JVrk77-lXueMuKJt9vEOu6rlPulhg26a7nM1N0kI3uhEl45AyaNy7LXe_ZOJPKQTvcZDyP37iIUV4hEls/s320/QFE+183.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-74730409807695291092013-01-13T15:32:00.001-08:002013-06-19T13:56:37.161-07:002013 Finish-a-LongOh boy. Did ever I need the <a href="http://www.shecanquilt.blogspot.ca/p/2013-finish-long.html">Finish-a-Long</a> to carry on this year. Hats off to <a href="http://www.quilterinthegap.com/">Rhonda</a> for hosting the fabulous 2012 FAL - which did wonders for my WIP last year - and an enormous thank you to <a href="http://www.shecanquilt.blogspot.ca/">Leanne</a> for picking up the torch and carrying it into 2013!<br />
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<a href="http://www.shecanquilt.blogspot.com/" title="she can quilt"><img alt="she can quilt" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshdM5O1QXHGWGxvKpZczWXB3X5_T0azQJ-9mNpc6iIlOzqKQQUNL52l4NhwGKSeI9gCxe5rYMTXQOLBHKPDP0JZXMHy1CtoUUS2gtP7yigV5N1Jb_ZVH_5FRUPpXyScRZNmAoywzIHrX2/s170/DSC_0273+4.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
I have been thinking long and hard about my list and here it is:<br />
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<b>(1) Rouenneries Apple Crisp</b> - I really am on the home straight for this now - it is back from Tracey who did a beautiful long arm custom quilting job on it. Even my husband commented on the loveliness of Tracey's quilting - and don't forget this is the <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/how-you-know-when-your-spouse-does-not.html">same quilt he unthinkingly threw his trousers onto</a> last year. This is just waiting for the binding. Surely I can manage that?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNp2PMYdIek3KzgO4uGJAyK46FjlwDCmKOSbn8jrWbvJmLnyrt8hmiCQsxqumsvll8j_DL83u6dtNwC1SzB4m8WHVZzOvek0Ncu5WLSxMVseCTALh4IVBfupRGOUFnp_uMbzVKCD9oww/s1600/QFE+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="apple crisp evelyn sloppy quick cut quilt french general rouenneries courthouse steps" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNp2PMYdIek3KzgO4uGJAyK46FjlwDCmKOSbn8jrWbvJmLnyrt8hmiCQsxqumsvll8j_DL83u6dtNwC1SzB4m8WHVZzOvek0Ncu5WLSxMVseCTALh4IVBfupRGOUFnp_uMbzVKCD9oww/s200/QFE+094.JPG" width="161" /></a></div>
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<b>(2) <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/figgy-s-zephyr-romper-and-sundress">Figgy's Zephyr Sundress</a> in <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/nani-iro-little-letter-in-nina">Nano Iro Little Letter</a></b> - This will be a summer dress for my elder daughter and I have to get it finished by the time the weather gets nice and before she grows out of it! I love this double gauze fabric, it is so lovely and floaty. This is all cut and ready to go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xGrr99wHFCymVn8LO9tetNxooRMU8a7jviyWLxi6x-Ie2rIsIJg0EOfigA47lZ2VH9tsAMWrBXEjG0frqpdp8Y2bYWWA7xtN_IKR0dOojzd186BaOB7UnXN5iFGJkmpboLRpEMUU8dU/s1600/QFE+172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dress="" figgy="" height="200" pattern="" s="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xGrr99wHFCymVn8LO9tetNxooRMU8a7jviyWLxi6x-Ie2rIsIJg0EOfigA47lZ2VH9tsAMWrBXEjG0frqpdp8Y2bYWWA7xtN_IKR0dOojzd186BaOB7UnXN5iFGJkmpboLRpEMUU8dU/s200/QFE+172.jpg" sundress="" width="130" zephyr="" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s8NR1rCGWi1NC996vxXRW1XpTQLpjgkhLyP1Mc1d-rMU1suygUMbaSQBJx_bEnwS64-k9AaQShK_7HKc7M4EFN-iH7CCi_ml8mPlUKKptd0AKi5rqYkWg5I5NMzUXj_e6V92p-V1Oqw/s1600/QFE+173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" double="" gauze="" haberdashery="" height="200" iro="" letter="" little="" nani="" nina="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s8NR1rCGWi1NC996vxXRW1XpTQLpjgkhLyP1Mc1d-rMU1suygUMbaSQBJx_bEnwS64-k9AaQShK_7HKc7M4EFN-iH7CCi_ml8mPlUKKptd0AKi5rqYkWg5I5NMzUXj_e6V92p-V1Oqw/s200/QFE+173.jpg" village="" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>(3) <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/111172487/pdf-pattern-for-3-types-of-slouch-bag">Slouch bag</a> in Spoonflower fabric</b> - I love this pattern by <a href="http://judith-justjude.blogspot.co.uk/">Just Jude</a> and I am hoping it will look quite funky in the Spoonflower fabric I ordered just before Christmas. I have seen various versions on the interweb, like <a href="http://willowbeckdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/a-quick-finish.html">this one</a> by <a href="http://willowbeckdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/">Di @ Willowbeck Designs</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiuUDDMxzgxMV8A8aKIwgsbuu9zDa98eIbnjJPGuslube0x1aOWpovZQVC__3Zcrk0TblFd0zERcehnnL3zzGVaP5IosTT6cYie3e-ksfuQEzEbERofSxlKqkeGhrl794tolhwUXFMhI/s1600/QFE+158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="spoonflower purple vacuum tubes fabric" border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiuUDDMxzgxMV8A8aKIwgsbuu9zDa98eIbnjJPGuslube0x1aOWpovZQVC__3Zcrk0TblFd0zERcehnnL3zzGVaP5IosTT6cYie3e-ksfuQEzEbERofSxlKqkeGhrl794tolhwUXFMhI/s200/QFE+158.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_qSfW_Y5tIyDIG49q0UBxmnP4J_6FzOudCEkGHvYOrikUi3FsSwSPaCQ3aujSGFfsLQR4hcPekp1F-o8OYqi5Wbijb3QjSZMrFSL5M405VybUWFfj_yVBU-6LeKc4epKE2azru3PeyA/s1600/QFE+174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="slouch bag etsy just jude pattern" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_qSfW_Y5tIyDIG49q0UBxmnP4J_6FzOudCEkGHvYOrikUi3FsSwSPaCQ3aujSGFfsLQR4hcPekp1F-o8OYqi5Wbijb3QjSZMrFSL5M405VybUWFfj_yVBU-6LeKc4epKE2azru3PeyA/s200/QFE+174.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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(4) <a href="http://charlottenewland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/pervalong-piecing-central-blocks-and-b.html"><b>Pervalong </b></a>- I finally have all my foundation papers prepped and my fabric pressed and ready to go. I can't wait to get this one underway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mNPKeEJ-dMv3b8k7asZKpzzIkGlhe3dgMdCI9WpBLj_WeTcq-Ip7HdTdSomd-ukNd1rN0cVGzDu8Xb1v2wc0fX-0gx6fWmycxiIsfAPVSNthkAtxIgku6EnHtgraeIkK8dYWhPyJu5s/s1600/QFE+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pervalong kona solid PP paper pieced quilt" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mNPKeEJ-dMv3b8k7asZKpzzIkGlhe3dgMdCI9WpBLj_WeTcq-Ip7HdTdSomd-ukNd1rN0cVGzDu8Xb1v2wc0fX-0gx6fWmycxiIsfAPVSNthkAtxIgku6EnHtgraeIkK8dYWhPyJu5s/s320/QFE+099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>(5) Dolce quilt</b> - blocks have been done since the beginning of October so quite why they are still in a box waiting to be made into a top is beyond me. Must must <u>must</u> get this done in Q1.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qvbWWtDGR0et2Q5wUTeMuX8eHQWJE-U8oppdnyQhDu7iV7fcQmdElFhLEFN1GiiwJYvLmZ3c4djdcvks3cSethNyKSeav7mIurj2TeZYdJP64JTMGFILYj5h6A9r5xRk_ArxEY4giPg/s1600/QFE+104+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img blossoms="" border="0" dolce="" filled="" height="200" jelly="" quilt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qvbWWtDGR0et2Q5wUTeMuX8eHQWJE-U8oppdnyQhDu7iV7fcQmdElFhLEFN1GiiwJYvLmZ3c4djdcvks3cSethNyKSeav7mIurj2TeZYdJP64JTMGFILYj5h6A9r5xRk_ArxEY4giPg/s200/QFE+104+-+Copy.JPG" tanya="" thimble="" whelan="" width="152" /></a></div>
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I think this is probaby enough for Q1 - I must get this linked up to Leanne's FAL linky page now as it's half an hour to midnight on deadline day - a familiar feeling for me.<br />
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G xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-68456537084314313892013-01-09T15:30:00.000-08:002013-06-19T14:00:18.126-07:00Dandelion delayed!I must start this post with an apology to <a href="http://lizofdandeliondaydreams.blogspot.co.uk/">Liz of Dandelion Daydreams</a> for the lateness of her (November) Bee blocks. I am so sorry that these are late. Two words - <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/making-rod-for-my-own-back.html">Christmas Fair</a>. Enough said.<br />
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Never mind - they are done now! I am doubly excited about this, because until I actually got going on the blocks this morning, I didn't have a clue what I was going to make. Liz gave us a nice simple brief: <b>Selvedge blocks</b>. Any size, any shape. Argh! Too much choice!<br />
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I had never sewn selvedges before so I thought I would start with the simplest of the simple to minimise the chance of me stuffing it up - Pinwheels:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUAHJCbq17UQgjKTorDi9GXrnaxQcQQDTLe-0GqROgS39mnCspbkDq0yNzFwWeDbQbheqhsWIwJpYe2L_64_tHc-zt3KXJhPew06Y4HOIugL3k25afSMcmFL8JmCNEw-L4pnHndluB5M/s1600/QFE+175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="selvedge pinwheels quilt bee block" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUAHJCbq17UQgjKTorDi9GXrnaxQcQQDTLe-0GqROgS39mnCspbkDq0yNzFwWeDbQbheqhsWIwJpYe2L_64_tHc-zt3KXJhPew06Y4HOIugL3k25afSMcmFL8JmCNEw-L4pnHndluB5M/s400/QFE+175.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Then I thought I would try to do some applique as I will probably be doing applique for my January block so a bit of practice could come in handy:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnRrfdV_x73IDTm0kS3hignmaDuQ0AlD3oZKiMTh35s0XhWG-cDKZWGL036_EH2ndQTNOGA_mqJekjZ5HoqB4wrMTMgGMCVOTipBMyIB32IuxArSJwxlRAHoBDWA7lrvHDApktHLGEmk/s1600/QFE+176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="selvedge flower applique quilt bee block" border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnRrfdV_x73IDTm0kS3hignmaDuQ0AlD3oZKiMTh35s0XhWG-cDKZWGL036_EH2ndQTNOGA_mqJekjZ5HoqB4wrMTMgGMCVOTipBMyIB32IuxArSJwxlRAHoBDWA7lrvHDApktHLGEmk/s400/QFE+176.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My first version of this went a bit wrong as I had envisaged outlining the blocks with bright zig zag stitch around each circle. However, it looked dreadful. Happily I managed to salvage the centre circle and half the little circles and start again. It worked much better with a small blanket stitch in white.</div>
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The most fun thing about these blocks is that you can make something so pretty out of something that usually ends up in the waste paper basket. I think I will be saving all my selvedges from now on.</div>
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Perhaps if you're feeling ambitious, you could attempt a selvedge dress, like these incredible creations:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT8VaKzEwiwW_M46oxFZQFVhYDy0gBExBefP_08xyUUIBZ6g1lkXzI6kquR_AEPhjT9AYlqPxS7-Fbne6m6xvEfK9K5CiN89Ik04AswBfj63HHYOZADJ1jDR6xwKKgOvn4eh3XXNL9qI/s1600/QFE+177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="selvedge dress jodie" border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT8VaKzEwiwW_M46oxFZQFVhYDy0gBExBefP_08xyUUIBZ6g1lkXzI6kquR_AEPhjT9AYlqPxS7-Fbne6m6xvEfK9K5CiN89Ik04AswBfj63HHYOZADJ1jDR6xwKKgOvn4eh3XXNL9qI/s320/QFE+177.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><b><a href="http://vintagericrac.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/big-selvedge-project.html">Selvedge frock by Jodie</a> who blogs at <a href="http://vintagericrac.blogspot.co.uk/">Vintage Ric Rac</a></b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftj2nwY2LjIjVHJfpXrJp0UCDqCLhkflH69d8r3Br7X0KbpxkE9ELhYFViVK2G3R6K6mcNjBq8_zcXg2E5PGvnS8JoFY37RJCfwxQVjTsp1qu4DAwPu3ByrlXUwLEA-2Ue59uaRaaD3E/s1600/QFE+178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="selvedge dress" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftj2nwY2LjIjVHJfpXrJp0UCDqCLhkflH69d8r3Br7X0KbpxkE9ELhYFViVK2G3R6K6mcNjBq8_zcXg2E5PGvnS8JoFY37RJCfwxQVjTsp1qu4DAwPu3ByrlXUwLEA-2Ue59uaRaaD3E/s320/QFE+178.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://juliajanetaylor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/jealous.html">Selvedge dress by Julia</a> who blogs at <a href="http://juliajanetaylor.blogspot.co.uk/">Jules' Jewels</a></span></span></i></b></div>
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Wow - some seriously talented ladies at work! Amazing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-54596736247851819262013-01-06T14:58:00.002-08:002013-06-19T14:04:10.364-07:00Back into the grooveUntil today I had not sewed a single stitch since just before the <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/post-apocalyptic-catch-up.html">Christmas Fair</a>, so I was delighted when I negotiated an hour and a half sewing window today after my plans to go to the <a href="http://londonmqg.wordpress.com/">LMQG</a> were scuppered by various (small) members of my family.<br />
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I decided to get started on a paperback book carryalong bag as seen on the cover of from this past issue of <a href="http://www.molliemakes.com/">Mollie Makes</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyniMRL1fQMmo3Plcf1h2wNL14Yg8GKiMV_cbJwDusrIMIFyCB2g5nrZtiCDyjPh-K8ja6IOIHZnVacHyo7rrP4IXOOZMTBLPElK0a-LxcQqqhDJah06DO3bkfckKr3lbmj3dalxWMeeQ/s1600/QFE+163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mollie makes issue book journal cover" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyniMRL1fQMmo3Plcf1h2wNL14Yg8GKiMV_cbJwDusrIMIFyCB2g5nrZtiCDyjPh-K8ja6IOIHZnVacHyo7rrP4IXOOZMTBLPElK0a-LxcQqqhDJah06DO3bkfckKr3lbmj3dalxWMeeQ/s400/QFE+163.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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...using this <a href="http://www.eternalmaker.com/london-scene-natural-echino-2011-fabric-by-etsuko-furuya">London fabric from Echino</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFxfyb-Q2ll2HKd9FXxFNlX4zCz3-z7nVUoPfzZjDAa1FHsk1JkWgOLMS3Rb9SgD5GtPSBafcfpNlehpq9khhMvIF_n6HHa7_qjfzzRpXtwfia73JLV7CsBJ1HUqv5eIDrcfScD92fQk/s1600/IMG_7097+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="echino london linen fabric" border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFxfyb-Q2ll2HKd9FXxFNlX4zCz3-z7nVUoPfzZjDAa1FHsk1JkWgOLMS3Rb9SgD5GtPSBafcfpNlehpq9khhMvIF_n6HHa7_qjfzzRpXtwfia73JLV7CsBJ1HUqv5eIDrcfScD92fQk/s400/IMG_7097+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The pattern said it would fit an average sized paperback of up to 500 pages. Mine, however, seems to have supersized itself as it comfortably fits my too-tall-for-the-regular-bookshelf monster 1300+ page copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Miserables-Vintage-Classics-Victor-Hugo/dp/0099529963/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357512508&sr=1-2">Les Miserables</a> :<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8i3WIOIcyQuAmb4EHRtYfK63iCItA7pq8wA_YyhH2fu9m14-JI9MixrXtGfkqsrcNHgeiz_IFbSjINokLLjwbvovP2PUwTjdUSe98nGwZlQKaauRVoTKC65RNhsvyLkU3k0odZ5s7Zg/s1600/QFE+168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mollie makes journal cover echino london fabric" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8i3WIOIcyQuAmb4EHRtYfK63iCItA7pq8wA_YyhH2fu9m14-JI9MixrXtGfkqsrcNHgeiz_IFbSjINokLLjwbvovP2PUwTjdUSe98nGwZlQKaauRVoTKC65RNhsvyLkU3k0odZ5s7Zg/s400/QFE+168.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I do like the pattern so I have measured a normal paperback against my monster Victor Hugo and am going to adjust the pattern accordingly so that I can make one that fits the majority of my paperbacks. Nevertheless I expect that this monster bookbag will its share of wear, as Les Mis is going to take me a while to read.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlab2mx5CmLG7XyOFbLHNQjvC9MseBgdjm2qmPTBG864fuvC1VasmuqxZr3ekPe0VpEH4RI1gVv0NOehcaM81go6o21nBVPWsp1CrUhU-RwPElD1vPODzBumPWaqDOq53g4o0EN8pfTg/s1600/QFE+167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mollie makes journal cover echino london fabric" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlab2mx5CmLG7XyOFbLHNQjvC9MseBgdjm2qmPTBG864fuvC1VasmuqxZr3ekPe0VpEH4RI1gVv0NOehcaM81go6o21nBVPWsp1CrUhU-RwPElD1vPODzBumPWaqDOq53g4o0EN8pfTg/s400/QFE+167.JPG" width="330" /></a></div>
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I am also obliged to post an update about the marmalade. It turns out that my "<a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/marmalade-anyone.html">ridiculous husband</a>" is also a curious soul who occasionally reads my blog. Oops. Hello, dear!<br />
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Anyway, here is the marmalade boiling away at 222F on the final straight towards marmalade-dom:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKmxFeqNfSkpHanb17JzwEp9VHP_XaSHqSKopAarj-A1289atvEdHHllYOXLvgfqdclMC2HUh_9NjqU68qf9UYZBBdeOdi1yi7b_RXAcQXUMFBrctBRLMg7UphTUHeR_vfxO0MBNdAQ8/s1600/QFE+169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="home made marmalade cooking thermometer" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKmxFeqNfSkpHanb17JzwEp9VHP_XaSHqSKopAarj-A1289atvEdHHllYOXLvgfqdclMC2HUh_9NjqU68qf9UYZBBdeOdi1yi7b_RXAcQXUMFBrctBRLMg7UphTUHeR_vfxO0MBNdAQ8/s400/QFE+169.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here it is all bottled up:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQbl6BoCn2cVr9S3QL3WmZKEm7K1nbWl82wLsWDGJL-ak98PRvFt78ixmgUQXZ7U8oP73sj8VjgsKuR30wbL06YSf6vIM3dqg3YaScBqWsvCyTRRuxdxIKqlwXOj-wefIwnXVB2lLR3c/s1600/QFE+170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="home made marmalade jars" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQbl6BoCn2cVr9S3QL3WmZKEm7K1nbWl82wLsWDGJL-ak98PRvFt78ixmgUQXZ7U8oP73sj8VjgsKuR30wbL06YSf6vIM3dqg3YaScBqWsvCyTRRuxdxIKqlwXOj-wefIwnXVB2lLR3c/s400/QFE+170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am not normally a fan of marmalade at all, but I was asked to try a bit of this particular batch on a piece of toast (possibly as punishment for ridiculing the whole process in <a href="http://quiltingforengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/marmalade-anyone.html">my previous blog pos</a>t). I have to say, as marmalade goes, it is definitely much more palatable than some of the other brands I have tasted. Compliments to the chef!<br />
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Although, dear husband, if you are reading this blog again - <a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/store/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?sid=9656161738539656&Store_id=499&page_id=23&Item_ID=75526&Parent_Ids=">THIS</a> is the kind of Marmalade I really like....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSzkGfyF2x17ijFqBOJuj4qLZvXxL4EO1RCPDIrGUdGQMIS_1jn0fLmYUuqaZczH9ndGNSGNBimIYAb25wFxSX6C6zZGCWCmS7ne_BCCYRnOG840erFlkspk2eewTYfQMkHJRKvLD-Dk/s1600/QFE+171..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="marmalade bonnie and camille FQ bundle fabric" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSzkGfyF2x17ijFqBOJuj4qLZvXxL4EO1RCPDIrGUdGQMIS_1jn0fLmYUuqaZczH9ndGNSGNBimIYAb25wFxSX6C6zZGCWCmS7ne_BCCYRnOG840erFlkspk2eewTYfQMkHJRKvLD-Dk/s400/QFE+171..jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
.... yum yum x<br />
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<b>Edited to add:</b> linking to <a href="http://heartofcharnwood.blogspot.co.uk/">Heart of Charnwood</a>'s monthly book challenge - by happy coincidence this month's challenge is to make something book related!<br />
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Here's the linky button if you want to enter too:<br />
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<a href="http://heartofcharnwood.blogspot.co.uk/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Heart of Charnwood" height="150" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8305266850_a7b72c78d0_m.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197671736609545249.post-57088722571844783902013-01-03T14:39:00.001-08:002013-01-03T14:39:26.036-08:00Marmalade, anyone?Consider a jar of marmalade. Like this one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19ATpLROerFiZ4D1z96w-y4P-xrpyq6b0iWpl5oU0sEvIjmNZs2pAAjsRFGkLv9dGfy7FyipkfCCoScWUHCHkbhMHpSOJTzGXBG52SCYUSmBcI_SNkiwj045e2pfJ3u63Li04ahbHdmQ/s1600/QFE+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19ATpLROerFiZ4D1z96w-y4P-xrpyq6b0iWpl5oU0sEvIjmNZs2pAAjsRFGkLv9dGfy7FyipkfCCoScWUHCHkbhMHpSOJTzGXBG52SCYUSmBcI_SNkiwj045e2pfJ3u63Li04ahbHdmQ/s320/QFE+165.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
A nice posh brand might set you back by a princely £3. <br />
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Now imagine that you decide to make your own marmalade*. Wait! Let me stop you before you think too hard.<br />
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You might end up with a pot like this after a couple of days: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT1Z6Mls4tkFnnRW0n9iQv9bgTtbCOXGw_nF-hIcaLXfstw2yBlkWlzJi3gsxe2_WvppBz4Doz2YJyEg2N2-80dXgsjBSFNO0P-dYIrSlH75WaYQkLO5ctGYJgWKSe6YHh-L_bN0wZYU/s1600/QFE+164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT1Z6Mls4tkFnnRW0n9iQv9bgTtbCOXGw_nF-hIcaLXfstw2yBlkWlzJi3gsxe2_WvppBz4Doz2YJyEg2N2-80dXgsjBSFNO0P-dYIrSlH75WaYQkLO5ctGYJgWKSe6YHh-L_bN0wZYU/s400/QFE+164.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This pot is 36 hours into its marmalade evolution, with at least another 24 hours to go before it can even think about going into jam jars. So far it has required the gas hob on full blast for a great number of hours. Possibly more than 3 quid's worth.<br />
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Oh, and did I mention - my entire house now smells of Lemsip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcaAizcbvb8lK-RIVaIzyqTVJdlxOL-BitTkCkCfsMNw2ekhLrlG2z_XOD_CYqcMG2jAncOmVQ96z2f0t92Jqxd-S0Q9eVEML_1hPl8Sp8Fj10RoF9KYuG8K88JoDu7BgHq-GquE3Nqo/s1600/QFE+166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcaAizcbvb8lK-RIVaIzyqTVJdlxOL-BitTkCkCfsMNw2ekhLrlG2z_XOD_CYqcMG2jAncOmVQ96z2f0t92Jqxd-S0Q9eVEML_1hPl8Sp8Fj10RoF9KYuG8K88JoDu7BgHq-GquE3Nqo/s320/QFE+166.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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Conclusion: buy the damn stuff from the shop.<br />
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G x<br />
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* This should really read "Now imagine that your ridiculous husband decides to make his own marmalade". I would never consider making my own marmalade because I can't stand the stuff. However I do love candied orange dipped in chocolate. Perhaps I will suggest that to him next time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4