Craftsy BOTM 2012 Catch up 4

1. Craftsy BOTM 17, 2. Craftsy BOTM 18, 3. Craftsy BOTM 19, 4. Craftsy BOTM 20

The September and October Blocks were really completed in November - I had got that far behind.  But the fabric was bought so I am going to get this quilt finished.

Septembers blocks involved curved piecing, with the Chain block pattern and Cleopatra's puzzle block.  I tried a special foot for curved piecing (like my tools/toys) but with lack of experience and at this size it was a no-go.  I will probably return to this foot when trying a larger curved piece, but for these blocks I went with the plenty of pins method.  Once all the pieces were pinned the sewed up quickly. At least the templates and my small rotary cutter made quick work of the cutting for these blocks.

The October lesson involved paper piecing - which I found quite fun but needed a little planning up front to ensure the fabric pieces were large enough and placed in the correct areas.  The blocks are Friendship Circle and Circle of geese (template for this were designed and provided by piecebynumber.com).

Craftsy BOTM 2012 Catch up 3

1. Craftsy BOTM 13, 2. Craftsy BOTM 14, 3. Craftsy BOTM 15, 4. Craftsy BOTM 16

July saw me getting a little behind, but I got on track when I saw that it required (well not really but it was a good excuse) for a new tool.  It was the month of Dresden plates - one tradional and one a little more contemporary.  As I didn't trust myself to be that accurate with a homemade template, I treated myself to a tool for guidance - nice and quick with a mini rotary cutter.  I think the best bit was picking out all the different fabrics and mixing them up for the traditional plate.  I could see myself playing with my scrap fabrics and producing a cushion cover or a few blocks for another quilt this way.

August (well October/November) was a return to basics with some star blocks - Ohio & Double Star. Covering quarter square triangles and introducing flying geese in the double star block.

A Wizard Birthday

This year's birthday outfit from Mummy Bear Maker.

A little gift for myself

Amongst all the various treats and gifts I have received for my birthday was a lovely pampering break at a nearby spa.  I decided to continue with the relaxation with this lavender eye pillow for my yoga sessions. The treat was completed with a piece of hand dyed silk satin from my stash.

Craftsy BOTM 2012 Catch up 2

1. Craftsy BOTM 9, 2. Craftsy BOTM 10, 3. Craftsy BOTM 11, 4. Craftsy BOTM 12

The block stitching starting getting a little slower during the early summer, but were more or less finished within sight of the month there were introduced. In May I looked at the wonky log cabin. The really wonky one was a revisit for me to crazy patchwork land. I did some crazy patchwork in the early days of my City and Guilds course. One piece I did the base my machine (ans was frowned at by not slip stiching it all by hand), this time I refrained from adding embroidery - I think the Amy Butler prints are embellishment enough! June returned to something a little less complex in the form of modern 9-patch blocks. Not amazingly exciting but a good chance to return to some of the seam matching techniques from previous months.

Craftsy BOTM 2012 Catch up 1

1. Craftsy BOTM 5, 2. Craftsy BOTM 6, 3. Craftsy BOTM 7, 4. Craftsy BOTM 8

Whilst I have been more (or less) keeping up with getting my Craftsy BOTM blocks done, I haven't posted any of the images anywhere. These blocks were completed on time for each month.  March saw me learning about foundation pieceing, with the string block and the broken spider's web block.  April saw me "coming home" with English paper piecing - there was a time when I was first introduced to patchwork when I took it to just mean doing frustratingly inaccurate things with hexagons.  This time I completed the hexi stripe and sunny with a chance of hex blocks in good form after being introduced to the delights of using copier paper wrappers (the stiff paper kind) which do a similar job to freezer paper.  I did have some issues with my can of spray starch  - less spray more intense jet of starch which ends up discolouring and going yukky.  I have since picked up the tip from another quilter to use a pump bottle spray starch than a can of spray starch.

I really liked both techniques - both could be useful in using up scraps in my fabric compost.  The English paper piecing is a good portable project which can be done whilst TV watching or waiting about.

More to follow but - I need to pack for a pampering.....

Last weekend's adventures part 2

 

 Last weekend was a lovely long one in the Brecon Beacons, staying just outside the town of Brecon. I wasn't in the best of health (or fitness) to do some of the cycling planned by my fellow travellers (great company, good curry eaters, fantastic bakers and breakkie chefs). I did however, get a little walking - a 7 mile walk which turned into more like 8 as we lost the path. The walk was mainly sunny but it wouldn't be Wales without a little rain. This was also the muddiest walk I have ever completed due to some forestry work which had churned up some of the trail. The mud river was soon forgotten after climbing to the open moor and being able to see the stunning views of the snow topped Fan y Big and Cribyn and enjoying the cool delights of some of the cascades of the Nant Menasgin.

Last weekend's adventures

With textile jewellery:

at Walford Mill Crafts in Wimbourne

with Melissa Warren a textile artist and designer based in Wales.

Tokyo Blues necklace

Finally got my glue and findings out to finish this little number.

Being - By the sea

Being - By the sea, a photo by Redlanne on Flickr.

A post work chill by the sea this evening.

Grandma's Sewing Table

Grandma's Sewing Table, a photo by Redlanne on Flickr.

Not quite what the title would imply. This is a table, this was my Grandma's and it currently has a lot of my sewing paraphernalia on it.  This photo and post was inspired by this recent post The Sewing Table « « Alabama Chanin Alabama Chanin.

The table that is featured in the photo was for many years the hallway console table in my Grandma & Grandad's house.  When my Grandma passed on my mother was loath to see it pass out of the family, due to its unique history.  She "persuaded" me to have it,and now I would not be parted from it.  It was originally an apprentice piece made by the gentleman who my Great-Grandfather (my Grandma's father) was apprenticed to. This means it was made late in the 19th century.

A little evening sun.

A little evening sun., a photo by Redlanne on Flickr.

I would have liked some real sunshine today - but these on my kitchen windowsill will have to do.

Somewhere in a field in Hampshire

Somewhere in a field in Hampshire #augustbreak, a photo by Redlanne on Flickr.

The weekend started off in fine style at the Wickham festival. I haven't quite got the hang of using my phone camera in these lighting conditions. Unfortunately, my closer photographs of KT Tunstall (who was fantastic) make her look as though she has no eyes - besides no photo would be able to convey the energy and warmth of her set. This is a hastily grabbed snapped of The Proclaimers who were on after.

Breakfast

Jam tomorrow, a photo by Redlanne on Flickr.

Treating myself to a day off and a leisurely brekkie.

Jam done

http://instagr.am/p/N1nLygRjhc/
Another 11 pots of jam for the storecupboard.

Everything comes to those who wait

It seemed to take forever for the raspberries to ripen this year (bit like my blog posts).  Now we are picking enough to make plenty of jam.  Which is what am going off to do right now.

Learning to quilt

1. Craftsy BOTM 1, 2. Craftsy BOTM 2, 3. Craftsy BOTM 3, 4. Craftsy BOTM 4

A month or so back I signed up to this course on Craftsy - I fancied having a go at some "proper" quilting.  I haven't really made a quilt before - just flirted round the edges.  I would not consider the sampler "quilt" I made from some college appliqué and patchwork samples a quilt. Even though it is proudly displayed on my studio wall.  The fact that the course is free was an added bonus. The course is running over 12 months with the first 10 months featuring 2 blocks of the month and using a specific quilting technique in a fun modern way, the last 2 months will cover putting the quilt together.  I am really enjoying the course, picking up all kinds of tips and learning different techniques to achieve similar effects. Also, I appreciate seeing some of the antique quilts and own quilts made by the course instructor, Amy Gibson, which feature the technique throughout.

I was so enthusiastic in February after I finished my blocks, I thought I would start small and try my hand at my first quilt.  A really small one in the form of a "mug rug" although I haven't had the heart to start using it at such, you are supposed to use the extra space for a cookie biscuit or two...

There are plenty of tutorials for various mug rugs, I followed this one from the split stitch for ease.

After that, I was still keen and using some of tips learned graduated to a slightly larger quilt.  A baby quilt for my friend P who has just had a baby, S:

It was quickly put together (btw 1/4 inch foot for my sewing machine has been one of the best investments) and then I sandwiched some wadding and backing and used ric-rac for the edging (no binding to grapple with at present).  I vaguely followed the instructions for this project from Learn to quilt by Sharon Chambers, although I think the project implied hand piecing it but I decided on using the machine.  It was, however, hand quilted in a nice naive fashion and I am now pondering a purchase of some sashiko needles and further investigation into thimbles. I am very pleased with the results, although I think I prefer the back:

On the table, in the lunch box this week

Butternut Squash and Ricotta Cannelloni
Butterbean puree with dukkah (Yotam Ottolenghi in the Guardian)
Not really pork normandy
Pasta with kale, mushrooms and chilli
Prawn and pepper curry
Purple sprouting broccoli and leek soup
Hot cross muffins

Kitty, Kitty, where have you been?

Nope I haven't been to London to see the Queen.
In the meantime I have got the living room cushions done:

and started some adventures in quilting, prompted by this free Craftsy course.

Fabric scrap and yarn trail

This Eco Salon post got me thinking.  This designer, Zaida Adriana Goveo Balmaseda, is inspiring post was inspiring.

Then I wondered, how would I do this myself?

search found D is for Delicate, scrap projects and ideas:
http://disfordelicate.com/2010/07/28/projects-for-fabric-scraps/

and then on to this tutorial:
http://mademoisellechaos.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-make-yarn-from-fabric-scraps.html

Few ideas for starting a child sewing

Child's sewing kit box
To convert a book to a sewing box via How about Orange 
A fabric box with a zip

2 cushions

2 cushions, a photo by KittyStitch on Flickr.

Only a year late! Pondering my fabric, trimming and size choice for next pair.