Tukusan Tsugi

Here's my entry to the Blogger's Quilt Festival being organised by Amy  As I'm in a Japanese frame of mind after the sashiko workshop at the weekend I thought I'd share my Tukusan Tsugi (Many Patch) quilt made in May this year from a pattern in Fabrications magazine (issue 59). 
I've acquired a lot of Japanese fabric, I just love it, and thought this quilt design showcased the fabrics beautifully.  The fabrics come from shops all over the world, including in Florida and in New Zealand, but not from Japan! I am visiting Japan next year so I hope to replenish my supplies!
As always this quilt came with some learning - in this case, not to use polycotton sheeting for backing fabric in an attempt to save money, disappointing results, yucky to use and to feel!
I hope you are enjoying the Festival, it's very inspiring isn't it.  Thank you very much for visiting my blog, God bless you, Lis.

Quilting Fever

Kwiltmakr posted this lovely poem on her blog, Under the Rose,  after it appeared in Country Woman magazine.  I thought you would enjoy reading it: 

Quilting Fever

I can shop all day
And hardly spend a dime.
But let me in a fabric shop-
I nearly loose my mind.

I see those lovely fabrics
So pretty and so bright
My eyes take on a glassy look
(it really is a fright).
My knees, they start to shaking,
My nose begins to twitch.
As I look at all the colors,
My fingers start to itch.

I picture Dresden Plate
Done up in yellow and blue
Oh, look at that lavender
Just right for Sun Bonnet Sue!
Across another aisle
It’s true I almost ran
For a shade of brown I had to have
To make for Overall Dan.

Drunkard’s Path or Ohio Star
Pieced in that real bright red
Would be absolutely beautiful
Covering my bed.
I gasp, I pant, I simply
Lose all sense of time
As I pick out all the colors
That I have to have as mine!

I hurry home, my purchases
Clutched tight beneath my arm,
Dreaming of the quilts I’ll make
And how they’ll keep us warm.
Housework gets forgotten but
I have no pangs of guilt
As I start cutting and a-piecing
‘cause I’m going to make a quilt!

By Beverly Page

Sashiko workshop

Very exciting - I'm off to Norfolk for the weekend and will be attending a sashiko workshop with Jenni Dobson at the Quilters' Guild regional day on Saturday. Jenni's also agreed to come to Dayspringers in North Walsham to do a mini workshop at the monthly meeting on Friday. Not too sure what to expect, I've got a requirements list but no picture of what we'll be making so it'll be a surprise, a good one I hope. I'll put a photo of what I end up doing on here next week. I've never done any sashiko before, just hoping my hand stitching is up to the challenge!

It is a beautiful, sunny, autumn day here in Lincolnshire, the trees are glorious in their autumn colours, I really must get out with the camera before it rains and the wind blows and it all turns to a slippery mess.

Fans of Jennifer Chaverini's Elm Creek Quilts books may like to look at Quilt magazine's website where you can download a free pattern for an Underneath the Stars quilt  to tie in with Jennifer's new book which is due out on 3 November.

Quilty Christmas Presents

BQL is having a Secret Santa event.  Thus will be great fun - we can buy and send quilting-related gifts, or make and send a quilty pressie.  You have to subscribe to take part and all gifts have to be in the post by the beginning of December - which is not as far away as we think!

Click to join BQLSecretSanta

New Quilter

I had a great time at the weekend - went with my sister to her LQS (having persuaded her that was a much better idea that the nearby craft supermarket if she wanted expert advice and specialist items!) and got her started.  She bought a Very Hungry Caterpillar panel and is going to make a border for it with English-pieced diamonds in blue, orange and green batiks, it'll be stunning.  She's going to start on Lynne Edwards' sampler quilt book at half-term and has various ideas of things to do with all the Christmas fabrics she saw.  I'm really looking forward to seeing how she progresses.
She lent me the latest Jennifer Chiaverini and we're both waiting for the new one on 3 November :)

Lincolnshire Day

Happy Lincolnshire Day to all fellow bloggers, just to let you know it's warm (ish), sunny and autumnal here in the Fens.

Park City Girl: Blogger's Quilt Festival - 13 days and counting

Park City Girl: Blogger's Quilt Festival - 13 days and counting

Happy Quilting Christmas

Well somebody has to be first with the seasonal greetings and I've been in Christmas mode today.  My English-pieced wreath is coming along nicely, I'm waiting for my beloved to make me a hoop frame for it, and I've just ordered all ZandS's stock of "Benartex-IBelieveInSanta" to go with the Christmas jelly roll I bought at Harrogate.  I wanted 3 yards and they had 3.75 yards left so I decided it would be daft to risk it!  It's gold with shadowy snowflakes, yum.  
Today is a beautiful, sunny, autumnal day in Lincolnshire - not very Christmassy at all but it's no good waiting until December to think about these projects as I've learned from experience - the Advent wall hanging I made for my scrumptious grandson last year was a very close call!! 
I thought I'd make a few changes to the appearance of my blog too, please let me know what you think :)

FMQ

 I've just been given a link to this blog by Brenda on BQL and it's fantastic.  25 year old US quilter, Leah Day is posting a new FMQ design each day for a whole year, she's on Day 41 so there's plenty to see already and plenty to look forward to.  She has full details, including the inspiration for the design, and tutorial videos.  It's an impressive undertaking and a great resource.  Thanks Leah.
http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com

Log Cabin Challenge

The BQL challenge this month is a Log Cabin quiltlet made up of twelve small blocks.  I've never done Log Cabin but have always admired it, there seem to be some many variations to be achieved by use of colour and position.
I've developed something of a phobia about this block but yesterday I finally made my challenge quiltlet.  I admit to cheating as I only made four blocks, and of a larger sixe than in the BQL challenge but I decided to make mine following Lynne Edwards' instructions and in the fabrics of my ongoing sampler quilt so that I didn't have the added challenge of choosing colours!  I chain-pieced my block but I understand Log Cabin can also be foundation-pieced.
I'm pleased with it, so here it is for your consideration: