Almost Finished

Tomorrow is Friday Night Sew-In and I'm hoping to finally finish my Japanese Circles and Squares quilt that I did in a workshop with Susan Briscoe.  Today I have a little more tying to do, then I'll spend tomorrow evening sewing the binding - which seems to be a classic Friday evening occupation at the moment, suitably relaxing/mindless!!  What will you be doing?

Still Waters Run Deep and FNSI morning report

Quite a productive evening and a very enjoyable one too as DH didn't go out after all and so we both sat by the fire while I stitched and he read, very companionable.  This followed a lovely lunch with DD, DGS and DSiL to be!!!  It was only my second meeting with DSiL to be but it was apparent that things are going well and moving quickly, good for them I say. 
Back to FNSI.  I did some Feather Stitch for the TAST2012 project but, rather than a new piece this week I added the stitch to my existing Malta cloth (a piece I started after doing Jude Hill's cloth weaving course several moons ago).  I think it works well, evoking the patterns in the stone of Malta's buildings.

 I finished my "fat quarter frenzy" quilt which has now been christened "Still Waters Run Deep" and is destined for one of the guest beds at the bach in Norfolk.  I'll take it with me when we open up at the beginning of March and hopefully we'll soon have family and friends joining us and sleeping beneath it.

The rest of FNSI was spent knitting and that's what I'm going to do now.  DH has just made a pot of coffee, it's raining outside and blowing a hoolie, there's a casserole in the slow cooker and at 1.20 this afternoon they're showing Breakfast at Tiffany's on television so that sounds like a plan to me.  Have a good one whatever you are doing.

Wait For Me Please

2012 is going too quickly already.  I haven't posted for ages, I haven't done my TAST2012 stitch for this week (it's feather stitch and I'm looking forward to doing it, just haven't found time), I haven't done most of the things that were on my list for this week.
What have I achieved?  Well I've had two stitchy meetings. 
On Tuesday it was the first meeting of the year for Country Roads Quilters and we had a good day.  Our theme for the beginning of the year is to be Log Cabin, with some people making quilts, some doing smaller projects and some not doing it at all (nothing is compulsory).  We did a lot of chatting, drunk a lot of tea and coffee and one lady brought in a box of chocolates to share - and we didn't get chocolate on our work.  I stitched down the binding of my "fat quarter frenzy" quilt and so now that is finished except for the addition of a few paua shell buttons which I shall do this evening during FNSI.  I could say that these are to add surface texture and interest but really they're to hide the most wobbly bits of FMQ!!  I'll share it tomorrow in my FNSI report.
On Wednesday morning we had the first meeting of Crafty Time Out.  More chatting, more chocolate and very little stitching!  I did a little knitting (the slippers, still) but we mainly chatted which I really enjoyed.
The rest of the week seems to have been spent at the local hospital, nothing serious, don't panic, but both DH and I have had several routine appointments and they've all taken ages.  You need to allow extra time to travel in case the traffic is bad.  Then parking is a nightmare.  Then you have a several stage check-in.  Eventually you reach the waiting area where your doctor is and settle down to wait (the clue's in the name I guess).  Lots of hours spent waiting this week.  I have started a new book though, Japan through the looking glass by Alan MacFarlane, an interesting read so far.
Good grief, I'm becoming a grumpy old woman.
I'm looking forward to today.  We're having lunch with DD Saz, DGS Sam and ..... Saz' boyfriend, Rick.  He's been on the scene for a while but now it's serious.....might even be a new hat job!!  Aaagh, an another Double Wedding Ring Quilt?  He's a nice guy and excellent with Sam and I'm looking forward to getting to know him better.  Then this evening is Friday Night Sew In, it'll be those buttons, the quilt label and then feather stitch I think. 
Wishing you a great weekend whatever you are doing.

Friday Night Sew-In

It's December's second Friday Night Sew-In this evening.  Sam has gone to bed and we've had a very easy supper and now I shall soon be sitting down and doing a little knitting.  I haven't got much with me here at DD's house so I might also do some planning and list making for new year projects.   Whatever you do this evening I hope it involves neat stitches and plenty of chocolate plus your favourite jimjams, have fun, see you in the morning.

Having a Great Time

I'm having a very special time at the moment, staying at DD's house and looking after the wonderful Sam while his Mummy has a little holiday in Marrakech.  We thought it was easier for me to stay with Sam so that he can still go to nursery school each morning and has all his own things around.  He is being an absolute star, a super shiny star with extra glittery bits!  I am having a great time (but it's shattering!!)
After school we have been going out, into the city or out to the supermarket. 

Today we are going to a big garden centre to enjoy the Christmas displays and have some lunch.  Sam enjoys being out and about.  I have no idea how I managed to cope with my two children on my own, Al and I seem to be short of hands when looking after Sam between us.
We've had a few messages from Saz, she's been swimming and sunbathing.  We had to de-ice the car before taking Sam to school, doesn't seem right does it? 
Sam is missing his Mummy of course but sums it up as "Gone with Lilly" (Lilly is the friend Saz is on holiday with), I think Lilly is going to get the cold shoulder when they get back!  I'm understanding a lot more of what Sam says due to being with him for a long time and I'm also learning from Mr Tumble - who knew children's television could be so interesting?  Today I've learned to sign "shopping trolley" and "pineapple".
Sewing?  I've done a little knitting and Saz has Sky so I've watched a few crafting programmes but that's about it!  It's FNSI again this week so here's hoping!

Friday Night Sew-In: Saturday Morning Report, November 2011

I did something a little different last night, knitting instead of sewing.  I've been working on these little slippers for a week or so.  I had to unpick the first one and then sort the pattern out which I wasn't too happy about.  I suppose I should have realised sooner that there was a problem but I've never knitted slippers before so I wasn't sure how it was all going to work - answer, it wasn't!!

The pattern was originally for using Bernat Sox wool and you can see it here:  http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=3815&cps=21191

Two things.  Firstly, it's not a UK pattern and so the shoe sizes are different.  I wear a size 5 and knitted a 7/8 which fits well and a 2.5mm needle is a size 12 in old money!  Secondly, the pattern should read:

Cast on 5 sts.
Beg at heel, work in garter st (knit every row), inc 1 st each end of needle on 4th and every following 6th row 3 times. 13 sts. 

Cast on 17 sts beg next 2 rows. 47 sts.

Cont even for 2 ins [5 cm] in total, ending with a WS row.

Anyway, I'm pleased with my little slippers now and will be knitting a few more pairs soon.  

I then decided to get on with some Christmas projects 

but was soon distracted by Children in Need on television, absolutely amazing generosity from the public in these horrid economic times and amazing stories of children and the people who help them.
Thanks to Heidi and Bobbi as ever, I hope you all had a great FNSI, today I am baking my Christmas cake (more about that tomorrow) and working on the Advent calendar shown above, have a good weekend whatever you're doing.

Friday Night Sew-In: Saturday Morning Report, October 2011

I'm posting during FNSI itself just before I go for a nice soak in the bath and then an early night.  I got back from a trip to Rugby this afternoon (the English town not the World Cup in New Zealand sadly) and have been working on my "Southern Belle" bag since having a lovely fish and chip dinner (thanks DH for fetching it).  I'm getting on quite nicely but am now wondering whether I ought to "cheat" and machine the lines of stitching that strengthen the handles.  I was intending to do the whole bag by hand but...what would you do?
My early night is in aid of it being QGBI Region 10 Area Day tomorrow.  Susan Briscoe is coming to speak about her Japanese Quilt Inspirations and on Sunday I'm doing a workshop with her, Japanese Circles and Squares.  I'm very excited and will hopefully have a lot of photographs to share with you next week plus a quilt top.  Hoping you're all having a good FNSI and that you have a lovely weekend.

FNSI Report

This is my progress on my bag.  The top picture is of the flowers for the front of the bag, I have got to make eight of these and managed two during FNSI, they are very fiddly.  The other picture is of what I'd done already, the back of the bag and the flap.  It looks a strange shape as I need to avoid the flap gatting caught up when I do the sides of the bag.
I hope you all had a great FNSI and got lots done.  I spend a couple of hours in the afternoon with Ros, my sewing friend in Norfolk, and we had great fun going through her stash getting together all the things she wants for the "Beach Huts" wall hanging workshop we're doing together tomorrow at Wroxham Barns.  I think we selected enough stuff to make a full size beach hut!  Well, you just never know quite what you're going to need for a workshop.
Today is dry and I've done a little tidying up in the small garden here at our bach in Norfolk and then DH and I went and picked blackberries and now have purple-stained fingers.  That reminds me, when I get home I'll unwrap my seaweed dyeing and see what (if anything) has happened to the cloth.  Have a great weekend, whatever you're doing.

FNSI

Tonight is Friday Night Sew In and I'm going to be working on my Southern Belle bag again. I'm doing it all by hand which is taking a while but I think that, because the pieces are small and the piecing a bit tricky, I'm probably better off doing it this way than fiddling about in and out of the machine. Also, I want to use this bag when I go to Japan and so wanted to make it in a more traditional way. The Japanese do most of their sewing by hand, from choice and also from space restrictions. Most of us have a sewing area, or even a room or purpose built atelier if we're really fortunate. In Japan homes tend to be smaller and a sewing room is reduced to a specific chair, with a box of fabric and notions along side. Julie, who now lives in Tokyo, posted a great picture of her sewing chair here. Back to the bag. I am now piecing the front of the bag, eight small "flower" blocks. I'll post a photo in the morning, in the meantime, have a great FNSI and thank you Heidi and Bobbi for hosting again.

Friday Night Sew-In: Saturday Report, August 2011

Last night was Friday Night Sew-In for August and I got rather waylaid by climbing French beans!  We've been (ha ha) away for a few days and so DH went to the garden and picked all the beans that had grown while we were away.  It was rather too many for dinner last night so before I started sewing I blanched the beans and got them safely into the freezer.
While in the kitchen I thought I'd do a very experimental piece of natural dyeing.  When we were in Norfolk earlier this week the beach was covered by the most amazingly pink seaweed.

I gathered some up and tied it into a piece of cotton which I've left to brew.  I'll post the results when I unwrap the parcel.  I read Fiona's post on dyeing with seaweed which was very helpful.

I then got started on Operation Cardigan.  DD and I both bought some cardigans from H&M and decided we would jazz them up and make them look less like £10 cardis and (hopefully) more like designer numbers by adding some goodies from the haberdashery department.  This navy one now has pearl buttons and little bows and ribbon on the pockets.  What do you think?

Finally last night I made a start on my Southern Belle bag which I bought from Chilford last year.  All's going well so far but I got tired and as I know that the later at night I sew the more I have to unpick in the morning I called it a night and finished off the limoncello nougat that I brought back from Italy, mmmm.

Friday Night Sew-In: Report, July 2011

I'm still sitting all day with my knee splinted so I actually had an All Friday Sew-In apart from a couple of hours out to pick up a wheelchair on loan from the Red Cross and to see my GP about the drama queen fainting fits I keep having (the last one leading to a series of obs inside an Italian ambulance).
I did some more EPP clamshells

and then made a start on my fabric postcards for the latest swap I've signed up for at BQLPC.  The theme is "oriental" so, of course, I headed to Japan for my inspiration.  I've had this lovely pattern for a kimono for a long time, it's by Ursula Riegel at Designs to Share and is called "Monoki".  (clever eh?)  I had to do all the sewing by hand and the kimono will look better with a bit of a press and with a decorative button on the front but I think they're rather neat.

I'm trying to decide whether to attach them permanently to the fabric postcards, or just add them with stitch or two so that they can be removed and used as hanging decorations.  What do you think?  Either way they won't be going through the post naked, I'm popping them into transparent envelopes for safety.
I had a good read through the latest issue of British Patchwork and Quilting and entered their giveaways and then decided to add the gorgeous quilt by Lynne Edwards that is featured on the cover to my to do list.

DH brought me my lunch and then it was time for some more stitching.  He was dispatched to my "atelier" to find my Storm at Sea miniature quilt (do you remember this one from a million years ago?!) and that's what I worked on during the afternoon.  I'm too weary to stitch all evening but I hope you all have a great FNSI, I'll be thinking of you.

Friday Night Sew-In: Late!

This is a very late post for Friday Night Sew-In as it's now a wet and grey Sunday morning here in the Fens.  On Friday I was very weary so I didn't actually do a lot of stitching and have nothing to show you.  I did read a quilting magazine and clean my sewing machine ready for a visit to DD on Saturday though.

Yesterday I made a fairly early start for a day with DD working on her bedroom.  We made drapes to cover her shelves and hanging spaces and although we didn't get finished she's very happy with the progress we made.  We also covered her dressing table stool with a new fabric which looks really good but I was in trouble as I sat on it first!!  Saz's aiming for a rich, luxurious atmosphere in her room which is her oasis of calm and a place to escape to and relax (except when DGS gets into the roof space and causes panic).

Today is Fathers' Day here in UK so I'm off to phone my Daddy and see what he's been up to recently.

Friday Night Sew-In: Saturday Morning Report, May 2011

Thanks to Heidi and Bobbi for hosting another great Friday Night Sew-In.  (Click on the button right to join in next month)  This is as far as I've got with my scrappy floral picnic cloth yesterday.  I've used all the six inch squares I got from Susan, the Quixotic Crafter, and now need to find something suitably summery for the border.  I was tempted to head off to the LQS this morning but think I might be better off looking at dress fabric.  I'm going to have a simple six inch border with contrasting floral corners and then I'll need to think about quilting but I want it finished to use this summer so it'll be something straightforward.  I love it already, thanks Susan.
On the subject of florals, the Californian poppies are looking splendid in the garden at the moment:

Have a lovely weekend and can I add two massive thank yous?
Thank you to all the lovely people who visited here during the Bloggers' Quilt Festival and left such lovely comments about my Manatees quilt.
Thank you to all my wonderful followers from Online Quilting and Sashiko Started It who have clicked that follow button here at Piece'n'Peace, you're the best.

Quilty Eye Candy from Exeter

Some Friday eye candy before we all settle down for Friday Night Sew In.  Not signed up?  Click on the shiny new button to the right and add your name to Heidi's list now!
These are all quilts that were entered in the challenge category at the Quilters' Guild Conference, as the weekend was in Exeter, in the West Country of England the theme was "Wild West".  I imagine giving that theme to my readers in USA would result in a rather different set of quilts.

Finally for today, this lovely quilt by Jenny Hutchinson, isn't it evocative of summers by the sea?

Right, time to get the dressing gown on, cosy slippers and a stash of yummy things to eat.  I'm working on the piece I started with Lynne Edwards last weekend, more about that to come.  Don't forget to enter my blogiversary giveaway, click here!

Friday Night Sew-In: Saturday Morning Report, January 2011

Good morning FNSIers, I hope you all had a lovely evening.  After my fish and chips I headed to my sewing room, no, that's a lie, I took my sewing to my bedroom!  It was definitely an evening for being under a quilt or two.  Cosy in bed I made a few kanzashi (more pictures at Sashiko Started It) and other fabric flowers for brooches and then worked on my sampler quilt.  I have now joined twelve blocks together, quilted them and joined the backing pieces, so I'm over halfway through.  I might actually finish this quilt while it's still winter.
I was going to make an apron last night. This little nostalgic muse on aprons was posted by Heather:

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few and because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons required less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons.

REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill
to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love...

It reminded me what a great invention an apron is.  I have a plastic-coated pinny in Liberty's peacock feather design which is rather attractive but not very practical for everyday use as it is rigid and of no use other than as a protection for the clothes underneath.
I decided to make an apron using Jenny's January challenge method.
Thinking about this brought back some memories of Nanny who always wore a pinny.  I can recall being a very irritating grandchild and pulling the tapes of Nanny's pinny undone while she was busy at the sink.  I remember Nanny's pinny continuing to hang by the stove for a very long time after her death, almost as if she might walk into the kitchen and tie it on at any moment.
I bought a lovely Laura Ashley skirt from the local hospice shop yesterday, I didn't even have to try it on as I knew I would be cutting it up.  Anyway, I got it home and rashly thought I'd see if I could squeeze into it (I have lost a bit of weight recently but it is two sizes smaller than I've been wearing).  You know what's coming...it fits!  It's gorgeous, I've dropped two dress sizes and I'm not going to make an apron with it!

Here's another couple of pieces of good news to end this post.  In "The Works" (the bargain book and stationery shop) they have a crafting section, mainly card making and scrapbooking.  I bought these reels of ribbon, 2m on each reel, for £1 each.

Then I got a great surprise when the postman rang with a parcel - for once I wasn't expecting anything!  This lovely collection of fabrics was a giveaway prize from Patchwork and Quilting's "Inspirations" magazine.  It's for a picnic set but I might have other ideas.  Those strawberries certainly scream "summer" don't they?

Have a great weekend, I hope you have time to sew.

Walking in the Sunshine

Today it's been very cold, but sunny.  Ideal for wrapping up warmly and going for a little walk with GS Sam.
He walked better than I did!
I'm all ready to take it very easy this evening with a gentle FNSI.  DH is just fetching fish and chips and then I'll put on my cosy red dressing gown and be ready to make a few kanzashi brooches and work on my sampler quilt.  Photos in the morning. 

Oh and just before I go, Jessica posted a design quiz. 

I came out as,

Results: You most resemble a "California Country".

Details...

Cozy… not oversized - a hand crafted gem. Your kitchen is your prize. Decorative, finished… elegant. A tailored bedroom rewards a hard day's work. Art that definitely does not match the sofa. An Asian asthetic intrigues your dinner guests. The graceful ceremony of sharing. 1,000's of hours of handcrafted detail provide your decorative foundation. Wild and crazy days in your wonderful home..

Suspected "California Country"

- Sandra Bullock
- Harrison Ford
- Jeff Bridges

I'm not sure how accurate that all is but it was fun!  Have a good FNSI everybody.

Friday Night Sew-In

It's time for another great Friday Night Sew In.  I'll be working on my sampler quilt and looking forward to sharing my progress and seeing what you get up to. 
Get the warm drinks, yummy snacks and comfortable dressing gown ready and join Heidi, Bobbi and the rest of us for FNSI.  Click on the logo on the right to sign up.

Friday Night Sew-In: Saturday Morning Report, December 2

I pieced the backing for Sara's quilt during the second December FNSI last night but couldn't face the layering and tacking so I made a few more kanzashi and then called it a night and attacked the block of Whittaker's Peanut chocolate that lovely Michelle sent me all the way from New Zealand! 

Today I've cleared the decks, the wadding is relaxing all ready to go and I'm about to tackle my least favourite job in making a quilt. 
I'm just going to put off that moment for a little longer by sharing this photo with you - my daughter and my younger grandson, Sam, (also known as His Imperial Samness) stirring the Christmas cake mixture, I hope their wishes come true.

Okay, can't put it off any longer - what's your least favourite part of quiltmaking?

Swaps and Surprises

I enjoyed my craft group's Christmas meeting today although we were low on numbers due to illness and probably the persisting icy roads.  Those of us who made it enjoyed very little stitching, lots of lovely chatting and some very yummy things to eat.  I'd been idle and bought a tin of Italian biscuits from John Lewis (but they were delicious and now I have a pretty festive tin for putting things in) but have to congratulate Anne who made the most wonderful meringues, sandwiched together with fresh cream.  Crisp on the outside, soft and sticky on the inside and no calories in them at all. In the little time we did spend with needles in our hands instead of sweet, sticky things I worked on bonnets.
I haven't made many new Christmas decorations this year although there are lots of lovely ideas on the blogs I follow.  I've added to last year's, which you can see at Christmas decoration tutorial , with the festive fabric postcards I've been receiving from BQLPC members.  The theme is "A Touch of Bling" and all these glittering, sparkling cards are making a wonderful display over the fireplace.
Today I was tempted by Catherine's button wreath and so I thought I'd make one, it's working out well and when I've added the bows I'm going to hang above the mirror in the sitting room.  Thanks Catherine.
I've been enjoying receiving fabric postcards, Christmas swap blocks and some wonderful goody bags from quilting friends, what wonderful gifts from people with the same affliction addiction obsession as me, thank you, you lovely people.  In parcels I send I also like to include something I've made.  Last year my friends received a fabric Christmas decoration, this year I've been creating kanzashi.  These are folded fabric flowers and are a delight to make - although mine are a little uneven - still, practice will make perfect.
It's Friday Night Sew In part 2 this week and I'm planning to be quilting.  I keep putting off starting on quilting my daughter's quilt and really must do it.  I'm telling you so that you can nag me!  It's not too late to join in on Friday, sign up by clicking in the logo on the right, you'll be very welcome.

Friday Night Sew-In

It's that time of the month again, it's time for the great Friday Night Sew-In, hosted by Heidi and Bobbi.  I'll probably not be able to post on Saturday morning so I thought I'd let you know what I'll be working on.
Firstly I'll be doing my second Roses from the Heart bonnet.  This one is for Ann Elizabeth Harwood who arrived in Van Diemen's Land in August 1820.  I haven't been able to find out anything more about her but will keep trying.  I'm making her bonnet with the remaining calico from the backing of the quilt I started with Jane Bottomley.  I only have the binding to slip stitch and the label to do and hope I will also have time to work on it at the Norfolk Quilters' exhibition on Saturday if I don't get it finished during FNSI.  This quilt is actually going to be a table cloth and so it is backed but doesn't have any wadding.  I suppose it's not strictly a quilt but a piece of patchwork.  I don't mind what it's called!  In fact I do mind what it's called, I need a name for it if I'm going to get the label done!  It is made using wonderful French General 'Lumiere de Noel' fabrics from Moda but isn't "Christmassy" and will be used all year on the table where Bonni, my lovely vintage Singer machine sits when I'm not using her.  Thinking cap on...
Oh I can't do another post without a photo so here's one of the full set of Global Piecers fabric postcards I received, aren't they great?

Enjoy FNSI everybody.