A Brace of Quilts

Today I have finally finished this sampler quilt (from Lynne Edwards' books) and named it Second of a Brace, "The Pear Tree Without the Partridge".

This quilt has had a long gestation period.  I started it to learn how to quilt, to try lots of techniques and find out what I liked and what I didn't.  The plan was that the nine block quilt would drape over one of my sofas.  I finished the quilt top in August 2009: Sampler quilt top finished

One of the first projects we did when Country Roads Quilters started was a Fat Quarter Frenzy

and I made a quilt of that design in 2012 which I gave to Daddy, it was One of a Brace  (scroll down to the end of the frosty post). I then decided that I would finish the green sampler quilt for Mummy, it would be the Second of a Brace.  Mummy died before the quilt was finished and I put it away, wondering whether I would ever finish it.

In May 2015, after Daddy died, I decided to finish the sampler quilt in memory of my parents and complete the brace.  Daddy's quilt was machine quilted, the Pear Tree quilt is all hand quilted, it has been slow-stitched and very good therapy during a difficult year.

And today, it is finished.  Next weekend, just a few days before what would have been my parents' 59th wedding anniversary, I shall take both quilts to a family picnic in a special place where we will be scattering Mummy and Daddy's ashes.  I think they would like that.

Back to Bach

I'm home after a few days at my bach in Norfolk, the first visit of 2012.  It was lovely to be back, to catch up with friends, to see the sea and to find that the bulbs I planted last autumn have survived mice and other wildlife and will be flowering for us soon.
I caught up with a friend of mine and she has started a new business that I thought I'd share with you.  It'll only be of interest if you're in the Norfolk area and planning a wedding I suppose but here's a plug for Clair and "The Scrapbook Wedding Company", I hope she is very successful with it.
I didn't manage to get to the LQS so that is definitely on the list for the next visit! 
We actually stayed in for most of the time as the weather was appalling, wild wind and torrential rain (not that we don't need the water here in the east) and it was very cold, snow was forecast for Monday morning but thankfully it didn't materialise.  We had plenty to do, getting the bach ready for the new season.
We painted doors, cleaned windows, spruced up the cooker and hung new nets.  DH did manly things with silicon in the shower.  We restocked the cupboard with basic supplies - tea, hot chocolate, pepper and salt, that sort of thing.  We replaced pictures and wall hangings and I added my new quilt, Still Waters Run Deep,  to one of the guest/grandson beds.  It's almost ready.  When we next visit we will (weather permitting) weed the little garden, clean the outside of the windows and then clean out the cupboards and vacuum thoroughly.  How does a place get so dusty when it's not being used?  Then we will be welcoming family and friends to our little haven.
I hope to be able to have a little rest now before the countdown to Japan - I've already realised that some things are just not going to get done before or for the Japanese Textile Study Tour! I wonder if Bryan, our host and teacher, is feeling the same?  Read his post about house renovations here!!

Frost, Freezing Fog and a Finish

I know we English are obsessed with the weather but that's because we have weather (and not climate).  Awoke to freezing fog and minus 13 this morning so you're going to be treated to another batch of photos, just to make my friends in the Southern Hemisphere feel glad about their stifling heat and humidity!

As my friend, Sal, pointed out we are very fortunate to still have a doorstep milk delivery here (although it costs us 64p a pint for the privilege) but I don't think this pint will be useable.  As well as the milk being frozen the bottle is shattered!
Last night I sat in front of the fire and stitched the binding on this quilt.

It's another version of Fat Quarter Frenzy and was made with the birthday FQs sent to me by my lovely Global Piecers friends last year.  I hope you approve ladies.  It's called "One of a Brace" in reference to the pheasants on some of the fabrics and yes, there will be a partner to make up the brace, eventually!
Have a great weekend, I'm off to make a mug of hot chocolate and then work on another quilt.

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.