Writing by Machine

I'm still struggling to get my machine writing to be as nice as my handwriting!  I think I need a lot more practice but here is this month's journal quilt for the Contemporary Group challenge.  The text is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, 

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air,"

Note: In Emerson's poem, Merlin's Song, the line ends, "drink the wild air's salubrity".

Boro Runner Finished

Today I have finished the boro style table runner that I have been working on for a while.

Here's the kantha stitched koi (which needs a press!)

and here's the finished runner on our dining table:

Now it is time to get on with swaps and Christmas stitching.  My Christmas cake is in the oven, filling the house with spicy alcoholic aromas and I'm going to sit by the fire and work on a festive prayer flag for a good friend. I feel like I'm living in the little house on the prairie!! 

Journal Quilt - October

My CQBI journal quilt for October reflects the ups and downs of life while keeping to my self imposed rules.  It's late but it's done!

Remember Me?

Oh dear, I have not written a blog post for absolutely ages.  Thank you my dear followers who have enquired after me in my absence from blog world, I appreciate your concern and care.  Nothing too dramatic has been happening, compared with earlier this year anyway, normal life has just got in the way.  

I am behind with my journal quilts, October's is designed but not made, November's is forming slowly in my brain.  I also have two swaps to make for Global Piecer friends before the end of the month. I have, however, achieved some finishes.

The boro table runner is nearly complete, I have added a koi in kantha that just needs some detail and then I'll share it with you.  Last week was a mega stitching fest with the Christmas meeting of Country Roads Quilters where, between us, we made fifty Bags for Beads of Courage, followed by a two day workshop with Helen Howes working on trees and tigers.  I have just finished off my wall hanging from the workshop and called it "Indigo Winter Woods".

You can see Helen's work on her website, www.helenhowes.co.uk but here's a taster.

And, while I'm uploading photographs, here are all those bags we made at Country Roads Quilters.