Fabric Postcards for Easter

I thought I'd give you a break from my reports on the QGBI Conference and show you what I've been making.  This is a set of fabric postcards for the BQLPC Easter swap and I'm quite pleased with them.  I love the way a set of cards looks when put together as a patchwork too - must put something similar on my to do list!

The design is based on a stained glass window I photographed when I was in Jerusalem with DS in 2009.  I always thought I would translate it into a fabric project and these Easter cards seemed ideal.

I tried to make the colours using fabric crayons and adding lace for texture but wasn't very happy with my first attempt:

so I raided my stash for a brilliant blue fabric, a batik and also a gold metallic fabric for a bit of additional texture.  NB There's an article by Chris Hammacott in this month's British Patchwork and Quilting magazine about texture in patchwork, very interesting.
Here's a quick "how I did it" in photos:

Mark the design on the background fabric in pencil

 Mark the lines with a Hera marker onto the fabric to be applied (below the background)

 Cut just beyond the marked lines

 Position the pieces and attach with fabric glue or bondaweb

 Pin bias tape into place around the awkward bits and iron into position

 Add the rest of the bias tape, iron to hold and then stitch it all in place 

(preferably while sitting outside in the sunshine as I was able to)

I backed the cards with calico and pelmet vilene, 

cut them to size 

and machine buttonhole stitched around the outside.

I couldn't manage the Hebrew text from the window

so added the words "Alleluia" in Pigma pen and

voila!

I've been alternating making these cards with short sessions in the garden today.  It's been so glorious and the weeds seem to be growing at a massive rate.  I sat and pulled the weeds and moss out of the cracks in the patio and then DH and I had lunch - including yummy asparagus and herbs from the garden -outside on a very tidy patio and admired our work, bliss.  I hope you've all had a good weekend too.

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.

Fabric Postcards for Spring

It's a beautiful day in the Lincolnshire Fens today, the sun is shining and the thermometer reads 15.5C, very spring-like indeed.
I've finished the fabric postcards for the latest BQL swap and here they are.

Can you see the lovely embroidered butterflies I used?
While I was finishing off the decoration on the cards I was listening to the news and to stories of all the tragic things that are happening in our world at the moment.  It seemed a good idea to add a "yellow ribbon" to the last two cards I made.
I then discovered I've made one too many cards for the swap (again!) so somebody is going to be getting a little surprise in the post.  Enjoy.

Oh, by the way, did anyone see Griff Rhys Jones in India on BBC2 last night?  The programme was all about textiles and was very interesting (although I would have liked a closer look at some of the pieces he was talking about!)  It's worth catching it on iplayer if you have the chance, the link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00zfmkd/Hidden_Treasures_of..._Indian_Art/ and this is what the BBC website says about the programme:  "In his quest to find out if traditional art still thrives among the indigenous people of the world, Griff Rhys Jones goes to India in search of exquisite textiles. Can he solve the mystery of an extraordinary Indian floor cloth kept in Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire for over 300 years? Who made it and does the skill that produced such a work still exist?

Griff travels to Gujarat in India, famed throughout history for its beautiful handmade textiles. He goes off the beaten tracks to the towns and villages of the north-west plains and discovers how centuries-old printing, dyeing and embroidery techniques are still the cornerstones to a way of life.
Finally, he travels to the heart of one of the most reclusive and fiercely traditional societies in India, the Rabari, who are famed for their toughness and their astonishing embroidery. Here, women spend years sewing dowry gifts - but can the custom survive in the 21st century?"

Good Haul

I just wanted to share these lovely finds with you all.  I don't often buy old linens as they are quite pricey here now but I couldn't resist these two tablecloths that I found in Norfolk.  For the work the price was nothing really and I'm going to use them as cloths rather than cut them up to use in other projects.  I have a great friend who sends me wonderful packages of embroidered napkins, hankies etc that she finds in her local charity shops in Australia.  I like to use them in fabric postcards such as the one I made for a Global Piecers swap.  You can see it here.

I was also unable to resist this gorgeous silver needle case.  It's had a hard life and has a few dents but it was made in the nineteenth century so it's no wonder really.  It needs a bit of polish and some tlc but I adore it and, like the cloths, I'm going to use it.
Isn't it strange how some trips to charity, bric a brac and antique shops are wonderfully successful but some trips result in nothing at all?  I've recently discovered Oxfam online, like going to a charity shop but without that smell!  Last night I browsed the bric a brac and was tempted by one or two things but resisted, and then I started looking through the vintage silk scarves.  Oh dear, far too easy!!  Have a great weekend whatever you do.

Prayers and Postcards

This is my first mini quilt for Jenny's "Give thanks" BOM wall hanging and today I am giving thanks that the prayers Jenny requested for north Queensland yesterday were answered and that, although there is terrible devastation, there was no loss of life when cyclone Yasi hit.
I haven't felt up to doing any sewing this week but did receive the last of the latest fabric postcards in the current swap I've been doing.  This is with BQLPC and is a lot of fun (and you don't have to do every swap).  The theme was "Inspired by ny favourite music" and these are the cards I was sent:

This is Pauline's beautiful interpretation of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Dragonflies"

and Jacquie loves Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition"

Janet's favourite, the Duet from "The Pearl Fishers" by Bizet inspired this delicate design

Two ladies decided to base their cards on a genre of music rather than a specific piece, 

Jan loves jazz

and Annette was moved by hearing her brother sing as a soloist in their church choir

My cards for the swap were inspired by Holst's Planets Suite.  They were all slightly different but this is the one I kept for myself.

It is so exciting to wait for the postman when cards are due and to see how the themes have been interpreted.

More Fabric Postcards

I had a lovely surprise parcel today from Catherine in New Zealand.  I joined her in a PIF and this lovely pincushion arrived today with some pins and needles.  Thanks Catherine, I love it.

Several people have said they are looking forward to seeing the quilt I'm working on for my daughter.  It's not ready to share yet but here's a quick teaser:

Over the past couple of days I've made a set of fabric postcards for the November swap at BQLPC.  The theme was "Something Black and or White" and as I have been working at the cloth weaving online workshop with Jude Hill  I decided to use that technique for the cards.

I'm pleased with the results.  I used a pair of wool trousers and a linen shirt, both from Oxfam, for the fabrics and added buttons and large handstitching.  They were fun to do (except my machine decided to throw a wobbly when I was stitching the edges).

Have a great weekend everybody and enjoy the fireworks.  I'm off to the Autumn Quilt Show at Chilford.

Fabric Postcards

These are my GP Fabric Postcards hanging at the window of my sewing room, aren't they a great collection?  Thank you to everybody for their great pieces of fabric art.

Friday Night Sew-In Report, September

Well, I've had a Friday Afternoon Sew-In or I suppose I've had a Friday Night Sew-In with anybody who's in Russia, China or Asia.  Please leave me a comment if you are, it would be lovely to know who I was sewing with. 
I wasn't sure I'd make this one and so am feeling very pleased with what I've achieved.  It was good that I had prepared a lot of this project before I got taken ill.
I got very comfortable, in bed, propped with lots of pillows, my bed covered by all my sewing things and some yummy food and drink on the bedside cabinet and then I got going with some fabric postcards.  These are for the current BQLPC swap.

The sashiko stitching was very therapeutic to do, as ever, (although my stitches are not as neat as usual) and cutting out the maple leaves from gorgeously textured and dyed vintage kimono fabric was a delight.  I had to drag myself to the iron to assemble the cards and then, after a nap, it was back to the hand stitching to add the beads and embroidered leaf veins.  I managed to sit at my machine to do the edges and am now feeling very shattered and waiting for my beloved to return from the shop with fish and chips for dinner before I sink into a deep slumber.

Anyone in the BQLPC group will notice that in my enthusiasm to be sewing again I even managed to make too many postcards!  Maybe I'll have to have a little giveaway soon, watch this space.

Thanks for hosting Heidi and here's hoping that while I'm sleeping everybody else will be having a great FNSI - I look forward to reading your reports tomorrow.

Current Global Swaps

Any member of Global Piecers can suggest a swap and organise it for the rest of the group.  Members can join in a swap or not - but we only receive if we give! 
At the moment we are coming to the end of our first Fabric Postcard Swap which Carol has masterminded for us. 
Some have already committed their creations to the postal system ("nude" or in envelopes according to their faith in the service) and others should be on their way around the globe by 15th September.  There was no specific theme and it will be really exciting to see what has been created and to decide how to display the cards.  I'm thinking a mini-washing line with those small craft clothes pegs might be fun.  These are the fabric postcards on their way from Teresa, adorned with vintage embroidery, I wonder which is for me?  The postcards I made are at Online Quilting.

Throughout the year we have had a Birthday Fat Quarter Swap.  We have a database showing our favourite colours and stitching techniques and when our birthday comes along every other member of Global Piecers who has opted into this swap sends us two FQs in fabrics they think we will love and a birthday card.  I have just had my birthday and it was wonderful to receive a whole series of delightful packages from my quilting friends all over the world with lots of gorgeous fabrics and some additional goodies too sometimes (optional but very much appreciated).  This is what arrived from Sal this morning:

I think everybody has enjoyed the Birthday Swap and I'm sure all the Global Piecers will join in again next year.
Our next swaps will be an Autumn/Fall block swap, a Christmas block swap and a Secret Santa swap.

Fabric Postcards, Improving

I have so many ideas fighting in my head after Festival of Quilts that I hardly knew where to start this morning.  I put away all my purchases and tidied my sewing room a little and then decided I needed to start and finish a complete piece of work today.  I have recently joined the British Quilt List Postcard Group and am having a little swap with the co-ordinator, Claire Scott, before I get going on any of their full swaps.  Inspired by Gail Lawther's New Zealand quilts and my own time in that wonderful country I decided to make a postcard which would be the "Final Day at the Beach this Summer".

I enjoyed looking at some of my photographs over a nice cup of mint tea and then created this:

It's much more successful that the ones I made with a card backing, this one has iron-on pelmet vilene as the middle layer and I applied the fabric to a base of muslin.  The edges are not as good as I would like but I'm getting better.  I hope it survives the postal system.

Been Stitching

I'm shocked to see how long it is since I last wrote a post.  I have several excuses, would you like to hear them?  No? Oh well, fair enough!
I haven't done a lot of stitching but what I have done has been of the extremely noble kind - I've been working on my UFOs/WIPs.  I do seem to recall promising that I would finish one project for each new one I started....
So, I've been working on journal quilts from my trip downunder earlier this year, I'm making good progress on a quilt for my daughter and I've done another block for my sampler quilt.
As far as new projects - I've joined the BQL postcard swap group.  I had lots of information from Sue about this group and decided to go for it as the swaps are small (7 other people maximum) and optional - so no pressure.
I have nothing much to show you but I can't do a post without a photo so how about this one?  Wouldn't these tiles in Jerusalem be a great design for a quilt?

Fabric Postcards and Beautiful Jewels

Today I finished the fabric postcards I was doing for the Global Piecers swap.  I've never done fabric postcards before and there is good news and bad news!  I've enjoyed making the cards and am pleased with my designs.  I made them to represent me, with some sashiko stitching I'd done, Japanese fabrics, buttons and lace. 

I'm not so pleased with the finish of the cards.  I used a zigzag stitch for the edging and have a lot of threads and frayed bits sticking through.  I have also discovered that the stitches perforated the postcards that I used for the backing and that they will therefore easily tear away from the fabric.  I think I should have used a fabric backing and maybe painted it with PVA to seal it and make it rigid. 

Never mind, the postcards are made with love and I hope the recipients like them (assuming the cards survive the postal system).
While I was feeling creative I made a necklace.

Look SHARON....

Sharon at Indigo Threads made the beautiful ceramic pendant and sent it to me and I added the beads and bow.  I hope you think it looks good Sharon, I am delighted with it.  The beads are moss agate and something else I can't remember the name of that I bought in Florida and have been sitting and waiting for the ideal project.  The other pendant (bottom row, second from the right on Sharon's blog) will be more simple, I am intending to hang it on a dark blue, velvet ribbon.  I'll post a picture when I've got the right ribbon.

Friday Night Sew-In: Saturday Morning Report, July

I had quite a varied Friday Night Sew-In last night, flitting about and doing lots of different stitch-related things. 
Firstly I finished this sashiko project which you can read more about at Sashiko Started It.  It's an online tutorial from Susan Fletcher at Sashiko Stitchers and has been great fun.
I then put my needle down and spent an hour or sew catching up with all your wonderful quilty blogs.  I love reading what you are all doing, both quilt-wise and in other areas of your lives.  I find such inspiration and support from fellow bloggers.
Back to the fabric and I worked on my 'Blush' wavy four-patch for a while and then made three fabric postcards.  There will be photos soon.
I was very good on the nice things to eat front.  As it's so warm and summery here I resisted the chocolately things and snacked on a bowl of gorgeous dark red cherries from Kent, delicious.
This morning I discovered I am a winner in Abbey Lane Quilts' gorgeous giveaway so I'm doing a happy floral dance.
Thanks Heidi and Bobbi for hosting another great FNSI.  Looking forward to seeing what you all got up to.

Fabric Postcards

This is what's sitting on my sewing table at the moment waiting to be made into fabric postcards.  I've never done them before but there are lots of tutorials on blogs that have given me ideas.  Some of my favourites are:
Red Shoe Ramblings'
Calidore's
and Needledmom's
The postcards are for the current Global Piecers swap so they'll be going to Scotland, South Dakota USA, Australia and New Zealand.