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:

Crafty Time Out

This is my craft group's stall at the Stickford School centenary celebrations this weekend. We had a great day, got lots of people interested in what we go in our group, "Crafty Time Out", and even raised some money for the group by selling items we'd made. In the photo are Jane who makes exquisite teddy bears and dolls' houses and Jill who is a brilliant cook (to die for lemon drizzle cake) as well as doing tapestry.  That's my "arty" quilt on the wall behind and also my sampler quilt behind the table to the left.

Great Global Christmas Swap

I've got my partner for the Global Christmas Swap and have already had an email from her, Sal, in Australia. 
Sixteen more northern hemisphere partners are needed for the swap so why not sign up with Fionamarie, it'll be great fun.

Free Jellyrolls

I adore Jellyrolls, I think I might actually be addicted to them.  I met a quilter at a show a few weeks ago who was totally unaware of them and I had a wonderful time explaining and enthusing and she immediately rushed to a trader's stall and bought one for herself - does that make me a pusher?!
Trudi's just told me about a great jellyroll giveaway at the Missouri Star Quilt Company You need to go to the website and have a look at all the wonderful ideas and patterns, go now...

Elm Creek

Oooh, our lovely postman brought me "Elm Creek Quilts" and "Return to Elm Creek" this morning.  Lots of lovely quilt patterns by Jennifer Chiaverini and Nancy Odom linked to Jennifer's 'Elm Creek Quilters' novels and beautifully illustrated.  I wonder which one I shall start with?

Yellow Brick Road

 

This is the quilt I made using the Yellow Brick Road pattern from  Terry Atkinson.  The pale "cloudy sky" fabric is a bit too much contrast and I used a polycotton mix for the backing which I won't ever do again but I enjoyed using the design and it is a good holiday souvenir, those manatees were gorgeous.

Great Global Christmas Swap

This sounds like fun, take a look and sign up at

http://www.fionamarie.com/greatglobalchristmasswap.shtml