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.

Angel Wings

Giveaway Winner and FNSI Saturday Report

We have two Friday Night Sew Ins this month, the first was last night and the second is next Friday, you can sign up here.
I only stitched until 9 p.m. last night - Strictly Come Dancing semi final, poor Matt, the judges were beyond unkind - and worked on bonnets for the Roses from the Heart project.  The one photographed (made by machine) is already on its way to Christina in Tasmania and last night I decided to hand sew the next two.  I feel more in touch with the convict girls doing that.  Christina has allocated me girls with my own surname, I haven't found out if any are actually rellies but I'm still working on my family history so you never know what will turn up.
I have little information about Ann Elizabeth Harwood.  She was transported to Van Dieman's Land for life, sailing from London on 22 May 1820 on the Morley and arriving in VDL on 29 August 1820.  She was given a Conditional Pardon on 21 November 1836.
I started a bonnet for Elizabeth Harwood last night.  Elizabeth was transported for 7 years for Larceny. She was convicted of stealing £17 from a man. She was a widow with children and left London on the ship, New Grove, on 25 November 1834, arriving in VDL on 27 March 1835.  In a surgeon's report Elizabeth is assessed as:  Good - thought at time to be of unsound mind.  She received a Certificate of Freedom in 1842.
I am also making a bonnet for Esther Harwood (aka Howard).  She left from Portsmouth on the Lady Penrhyn on 13 May 1787 after her trial in London on 20th (probably) August 1787 and arrived in VDL after a voyage of 252 days with 100 other females on 22 January 1788.
I have heard recently from Christina Henri that she has received 20 000 bonnets, leaving only 5 566 to be made for there to be one for every convict girl.  It's not too late to be involved with this great project so please take a look at Christina's website and blog and at my previous posts here, here and here.

Okay, here's what you want to know...

...but first, I want to thank you all again for taking part in my 200th post giveaway and for being followers of this blog.  Welcome to my new followers too.  I have enjoyed reading all your comments, not just for this giveaway but also over the last 200 posts.  It's always a joy when I find that someone has read what I've shared and then taken the time to comment on it, THANK  YOU. 
I would have loved you all to win but I am particularly delighted to announce that the winner is one of my very early followers, somebody who helped me with my blog when I was getting started and somebody who I met this year and found to be as delightful in real life as in blogland. The winner is

MICHELLE. 

Well done my friend, please let me have your address in wonderful New Zealand and I'll have the goody bag on it's way to you.
Now onwards to the next 200 posts and thank you again, you are all wonderful.  Have a great weekend.

200th Post Giveaway

Yippee, here we go, my 200th blog post!

Thank you to all the wonderful fellow bloggers I have met (some in "real life") since beginning my blog; you encourage, inspire and support me and I value your friendship.

This is the first quilt I ever made (with the exception of a planned hexagon quilt that became a cushion cover when I was about 12 years old). 
There is so much wrong with this wallhanging, called "Cornish Seas", that I'm not even going to start but it was the beginning of my passion for patchwork and quilting.  One day I will make a new, improved version of "Cornish Seas" but I'm not ashamed to have the original, made in September 2006, hanging on the wall of my bach in Norfolk.  It was inspired by the sea, of course, and also by a stained glass window in a church in Penzance, Cornwall and some glass sculptures I saw in a gallery in Mousehole, also in Cornwall. 
Since then I have designed and made quilts, followed patterns to make quilts, collected enough fabric to last me for the rest of my life and beyond, enjoyed quilt exhibitions and workshops, met some wonderful people by virtue of our mutual interest in patchwork and quilting, introduced others to our obsession, been involved in swaps and online quilting groups....so many lovely things.  So to all my partners in crime I say a massive "thank you".

This brings me to today's question, the final one for my giveaway.  Thank you very much for taking the time to post comments in answer to these questions, it's been fun for me to learn a bit about you, I hope it's been fun for you too.

Here are the rules:

• All my lovely followers get an entry in the giveaway.

• Kristen, Michelle, Debbie, Teresa, Sue, Jenni, and Paula all get an entry each as they answered my first question correctly, identifying that I went to Morocco on my recent holiday.

• Everyone who answered any or all of my previous questions, two, three and four gets one entry per answer.  Your can still answer question two, question three and question four.

• Everyone who answers today's question gets an entry.

• I will ask my lovely grandson, Sam,  to pick a winner from all the entries on Friday 10th December 2010 at 3.00 p.m. GMT.

So that's a possible six entries in the giveaway.
Good luck.

Oh, nearly forgot!  Today's question:

How did you get started in patchwork and quilting?
(If you are not a quilter please tell me why not!)

And what will the lucky winner get?

I shall make up a goody bag for you and it will include the fabric postcard I promised you in September,

One of the packs of 25 pieces of recycled Liberty lawn fabric from Kim Porter at Worn and Washed Fabrics that I bought at Chilford last month,

Also from Chilford, a kanzashi kit from Euro Japan Links,

To add to your stash I'll include a "Birdie" charm pack from Me and My Sister for Moda which will just right for starting on a springtime project after Christmas,

and a FQ from The African Fabric Shop,

There will also be a few extra bits and pieces included in the goody bag, and judging on the answers to question two there had better be some chocolate too!  I hope there is something there to tempt you all, it's just a way of saying thank you.

Christmas Sewing

Now that everything is safely in the post I can share what I've been doing.  Below are my "A Touch of Bling" fabric postcards for the BQLPC Christmas swap.  As I had 18 cards to make I kept them quite simple (and made a note to self to start earlier next year, ha ha).  I loved the gold ric-rac that I found in John Lewis and hope the recipients enjoy the cards.  I am currently receiving a lovely selection of cards in return and several people have successfully machine-stitched with metallic threads, something I've always struggled with.  Helen, a member of BQL, sent me this email:

I was talking to the man from BarnYarns about this just last weekend.... here is what he said!
"Use a metallic needle OR even better a topstitch titanium coated needle. Make sure the thread is good quality - he says to unwind a length and hold the loose end in one hand and the spool in the other a foot or so apart letting the thread fall in a loop. If the thread makes a nice smooth curve it should sew great if the needle and tension are correct. If the thread twists or loops you may as well throw it away as it will cause hours of frustration and tears....." 

Thank you Helen.

This is the Christmas block I've made for Global Piecers' block swap.  You'll probably recognise the fabrics from my posts about my purchases at Festival of Quilts.  The pattern was adapted (slightly) from one on a magazine that Cara sent me, American Quilting Magazine's "Quilting for Christmas".  In the pattern by Wendy Sheppard, called "Poinsettia Fiesta", four blocks are used with sashing and a border to make a 36" square table centre cloth or a festive wallhanging.

My next post will be my 200th!  There will be a final question to get you more entries in my giveaway and I'll show you what could be on it's way to you if you're the lucky winner.  Don't forget you can still get extra entries here, here and here.
Kristen asked where the photos on my Question Four/Inspiration post were taken, saying they are "dead on for the style of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain".  They are of the same Moorish influence.  I've added details to that post now, thank you Kristen.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

I received this poem in an email with the following explanation:
"This poem was written by a Peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas. The following is his request. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to all of the service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead,  who sacrificed themselves for us.  Please, do your small part to plant this small seed."
That may be true, or it may be one of those chain mails that can be so annoying but the sentiment remains the same and so I'm sharing it with you today. 

T'was the night before Christmas,
He lived all alone
In a one-bedroom house
Made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney
With presents to give,
And to see just who
In this home did live.
I looked all about,
A strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.
No stocking by mantle,
Just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures,
Of far distant lands. 
With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds,
A sober thought,
Came through my mind.
For this house was different,
It was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier,
Once I could see clearly. 
The soldier lay sleeping,
Silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor,
In this one-bedroom home.
The face was so gentle,
The room in disorder,
Not how I pictured,
A true British soldier. 
Was this the hero,
Of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed? 
I realised the families
That I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers,
Who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world
The children would play,
And grown ups would celebrate,
A bright Christmas Day. 
They all enjoyed freedom
Each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers,
Like the one lying here. 
I couldn't help wonder
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve
In a land far from home. 
The very thought brought
A tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees,
And started to cry.
The soldier awakened,
And I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry,
This life is my choice;
I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more,
My life is my God,
My country, my corps." 
The soldier rolled over,
And drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it,
I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
And we both shivered,
From the night's cold chill. 
I did not want to leave,
On that cold dark night,
This guardian of honour,
So willing to fight. 
Then the soldier rolled over,
With a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, "Carry on Santa,
It's Christmas Day,
All is secure." 
One look at my watch,
And I knew he was right,
"Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a good night."

 

Ice Crystals

I haven't posted for ages.  I've been busy with Christmas stitching and then the snow came down and that stopped most activity except keeping warm!  I did get out yesterday and take some snowy photographs though.  I love this one of the ice crystals on the bare branches.  It reminds me of growing crystal gardens in science lessons when I was younger.

I'm having a giveaway on my quilting blog to celebrate 200 posts, you may like to pop over and get an entry or two.

Giveaway Question Four and Lots of Photographs

Photo-heavy post today...

Minus 12C last night, not much better this morning and now we have freezing fog too, brrrr.  I nipped out and took these shots while my porridge was cooking this morning.

Lots of inspiration for a winter themed quilt or wall hanging there.
I took lots of photos in Marrakech to go in the "Inspiration" file, here are a few (plus one of Saz and Sam just because I like it).
(Thank you to Kristen for asking where the photos were taken, I've now added that information,  5th December 2010)
The first was a wall plaque in the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech.

These are details from the decoration in the garden pavilion in the Menara Gardens in Marrakech.

The following photographs were all taken in the Ben Youssef Medersa, the Islamic school attached to the Ben Youssef Mosque.

This is the stunning decoration to the front of Menara airport:

Finally, Sara's hand with henna decoration which we had done in the souq!

Which brings me to today's Giveaway Question.

Where do you find inspiration for your quilts?

Don't forget you can still get extra entries in my 200th post giveaway by answering questions two and three .  Thanks for playing along, I'm enjoying getting to know a little more about my followers, have a great weekend.

Snow, Snow, Snow

I've just been for a little walk along the lane to take a few photographs of our white world.

A "view" across to the Lincolnshire Wolds - honestly, they're in there somewhere!

My beloved doing his Scott of the Antarctic impersonation:

These beautiful roses in my front garden are doing their best but I think their days are numbered:

I walked back into the house to find Sal, my Great Global Christmas Swap partner from last year and fellow Global Piecer, on the phone from Australia.  We had a great chat while Al made a nice cup of tea and put more logs on the fire.  Keep warm and keep stitching.  Please don't forget to enter my giveaway, question two here and question three here.  I'll have another question for you tomorrow.

Tasty Tagine, More Holiday Photos and Giveway Question Three

For these chilly days here's a recipe for Lamb
Tagine with olives and lemon that was in the
Telegraph last weekend. It is very authentic,
just like one we enjoyed in Marrakech.

Lamb Tagine with olives and lemon
Serves 4, preparation time 30 minutes, 
cooking time 60 minutes

Ingredients

2 large onions
2 tbsp olive oil
25g butter
2 large garlic cloves
pinch saffron stamens
3 tsp ras el hanout (Moroccan spice mix)
570g lamb shoulder, leg steaks or neck fillet
1/2 chicken stock cube
3 preserved lemons
75g pitted green olives
80g bunch coriander
1 fresh lemon
250g couscous

Method

1. Peel, halve and chop the onions. 
Add 2 tbsp oil to a spacious 
heavy-bottomed lidded pan or a tagine. 
Melt the butter in the oil and stir in 
chopped onions. 
Stir occasionally for about 10 minutes 
until glassy. 
2. Peel, chop and crush the garlic to a paste 
with a pinch of salt. 
Sprinkle the saffron over the onions, 
stirring as it bleeds colour into 
the hot juices. 
Stir in the garlic, then the ras el hanout, 
stir-frying for two minutes.
3. Cut the lamb into bite-size chunks. 
Brown the lamb in the onions, then 
add 1/2 stock cube dissolved in 300ml of 
boiling water.
4. Quarter the preserved lemons, scrape 
away the seeds and flesh and slice the peel. 
Stir the peel and olives into the stew.
5. Chop the coriander, slicing the stalks 
finely. 
Add the stalks to the pot.
6. Gently simmer, cover and cook for 45 minutes.
7. Check that the meat is very tender, if not, 
cook a bit longer.
8. Adjust the seaoning with salt, pepper 
and lemon juice. 
Stir in the chopped coriander. 
Serve with couscous (250g hydrated 
in 400ml boiling water).

Here are some fabric-related photos from my trip to
Marrakech. We had a guided trip in the souq
and no time to haggle and buy. On my next visit I would
be happy to go to the souk without a guide and
do some serious shopping.

The staff at our hotel seemed very skilled in fabric origami.
The chambermaid folded a towel to make this swan in Sam's cot:

 and a lovely waiter folded this napkin doll for Sam:

So to today's question.  You can still add your comments to question two but question one is closed as it has been answered.  I've realised I haven't told you what the giveaway is!  Be assured it's a lovely goody bag of quilty things which I'll reveal soon.
Giveway Question Three:
What sort of things do you like to bring home as holiday souvenirs (apart from fabric of course!)?