Mothering Sunday Early

I just thought I'd share these two photos with you.  The first was at Doughty's fabric roadshow in Lincoln this morning:

We arrived soon after opening and there was already a queue the length of the hall so we decided to go for the coffee and cake option first.  Unfortunately while we were feasting even more ladies (mainly) arrived and the queue got longer and the hall more crowded.  Those in the queue had their arms full of bolts of fabric and some had got chairs - for the fabric!  As the average price per metre was £6 it was no wonder.  DD and I both got what we wanted, purples for her (I'll be doing something creative for her new bedroom with those) and turquoise, cream and a touch of brown for me to use with Lynne Edwards on Friday (I'll share afterwards).  I didn't find anything for our panel Michelle but will have several more opportunities at the weekend.  I did manage an impulse buy that then needed two extra fabrics to go with it!  I'll be using those for a Global Piecers mug rug swap so I can't share those either! 
So, what's the other photo?  Well, after DD had bought me lunch it was back to her place for some gentle (ha ha) curtain hanging (as it was rather damp outside and the gardening was postponed).  I was really impressed to see how she is enjoying homemaking and sneakily took her photograph (she'll probably kill me when she sees it).

And I can report that she was pleased with her shopping list holder and immediately hung it on her kitchen wall, bless her.  A successful but tiring day, so Chinese takeaway for dinner!  Happy Mothering Sunday to you all for tomorrow.

Retreat Photos

As promised here are some photos of what I've been working on.  Please excuse the quality, I have a new computer with a different photo editing programme and haven't got to grips with it yet.

This is the quilt using Nara Gardens fabric.  I've pieced the quilt top and now it needs a good press and a large clear space so that I can layer it and pin it and then get on with the quilting.

I am pleased with how this design went together but think I should have chosen fabrics with a better contrast for the framed square.  The eau de nil fabric is fine but the other one has too much black for the design to be obvious.  I like it though so I won't be changing it!

The pattern and kits to make these cute shopping list/notepad holders were. given to Dayspring Quilters in Norfolk for IQD 2011.  The pattern is copyright of Village Fabrics Ltd in Oxfordshire.  Please reward their generosity by taking a look at their website:  www.villagefabrics.co.uk  I made the pink and green one for my DD and the blue and cream one below for myself.

I'm not very happy with these butterflies but they are done and dusted and I've learned from them.  I made them for a fabric postcard swap and thought cutting them out would be interesting.  That's one word for it.  The theme was "my favourite film" and I chose "The Butterfly Effect" - a great film, much, much better than my postcards!

This next project is coming along nicely.  As you can see it is a New Zealand themed wall hanging and I've got it quilted and ready for squaring up and binding.  A wet afternoon should see it finished and hanging on the wall in our bach in Norfolk.

Still on the New Zealand theme, this piece is completely finished.  It's a small wall hanging after Gail Lawther's "Seascape" in her wonderful "Glimpses of New Zealand" book.   I was unable to get a place in her workshop at FoQ last year but bought a little selection of fabrics from her to make this quilt.  The one she made is smoother, she put it together in a foundation piecing style whereas I have gone for keeping all the fabric edges exposed - I suppose my sea is a rougher one than Gail's, maybe a West Coast sea, but then the sand should be black

So it's onward and upwards.  Tomorrow I'm going to the Doughty's fabric roadshow to get fabric for Exeter next week, for whatever DD has planned in purple and also, big drum roll here and a shouted 

 Michelle!!!!

I'm also planning to get fabric to go with "our" panel Michelle,  can you believe it?  While I was having my little retreat I worked out the design for the Essence of Clair table runner so I hope that will work out well and I think (!!) I know what I'm doing with our lovely Spring panel so watch this space closely!  I'm really enjoying working on all these NZ projects, they remind me of a great holiday and all the lovely people I met.

Retreat Report 1

I had quite a productive time on my little retreat and will share some photos in the next post.  Today I'm up to my eyes in catching up (washing etc, groan) but I did have a wander around the estate and found a very brave asparagus spear poking about 2" through the soil, just the one but such promise of delicious things to come (I wonder if there'll be enough for a starter when you get here Teresa?)  The tulips are looking lovely and the blossom on all the trees around is just stunning this year, I think that chilly winter did everything good.  A delivery of seeds arrived a couple of days ago so I'm hoping for a warm few days to get things going.
Tomorrow I've also got to get things together for my next jolly.  I'm going to the Quilters' Guild AGM/Conference in Exeter next weekend and will be doing a class with Lynne Edwards among other delights.  This means I need to go to the LQS to get the class requirements!  Fortunately Doughty's are having a roadshow nearby on Saturday so I'm going there with DD (who I believe has another project for me, in purple!)
Okay, back to the river to get on with the washing, more tomorrow and photos, I promise.

Who's a lucky girl?

When I got home this afternoon I found a parcel behind the green bin (thank you postman for not making me fetch it from the sorting office). What a lovely surprise when I opened it and found this Amy Butler pattern and all this lovely material. I won the prize, sponsored by Doughty's, in the October Giveaways in British Patchwork & Quilting magazine, aren't I a lucky girl?