February already

Thank you all for the lovely comments you left on my last posting. It's great to hear from you all.

I had a lovely day yesterday with the girls in the village hall. The aim was to test one of the members instructions for a scrappy Double Irish Chain. The idea is that you do all the hard work putting the scarves together and don't have to spend time moving the blocks around to get a good scrappy finish. It was very good - but my head did hurt by the end of the day LOL. As you can see I did make good progress but there's still some left to so. Unfortunately won't have time this week and we've been told -;) we have to have them ready for our festival in June. So as usual no pressure..... It was really interesting to see how we all had the same instructions and how the different colour choices looked so very different.

I've also been a very good girl and got my entry off for Trentham (3 - 5 April 2009). I'm very annoying as I've got the quilt ready now.

February is already with us and as I type this it's snowing. Flo has found the weather very confusing - she's chased the snow and run a round after it but in the end it landed on her she ran around in circles and wanted to come in. I should think by now she's assumed her standard position of sleeping.

I wanted to let you know about a video podcast I watch that I think is great; it's Bonnie McCaffrey. She does great interviews with artists and they often share their ideas and techniques - please do try to find time to have a look and listen.

I'll leave it there for now - hope you all have a good week.

Just a few things for you...

Here's my BQL January 2009 challenge. The idea is that you make a 12" quilt - it gives you the opportunity to try new techniques, colours and use up some of your stash. I'd really encourage you to have a go as it really doesn't take too long.

As it's new year it's a great opportunity to try new things and think in new ways. One thing I think we should all take more time with is in looking after ourselves. With this in mind I'd like to tell you about a new digital radio station I've found called Chill FM. They also have a website that enables you to download their podcasts - I've found listening to their meditation podcasts before I go to bed has really helped me get a good nights sleep. I'd love to hear your experiences with them.

And finally I'd like to let you know about another website that also has podcatsts available - it's Alyson Stanfield's website Art Biz Coach.com. She really puts a lot of effort into her website, newsletter and podcasts. And I'm sure you'd find lots of useful information.

I hope you'll be able to find time to look at these sites and let me know what you think.

Day out

Hello,
Yes - I'm still alive. I managed to catch the wonderful viral infection that DH had and I've spent most of the last week in bed. I now have a delightful cough left - but I am feeling so much better. I think most of the UK must have had it by now.
And my first day out was a really good one - and of course sewing related. As I'd been going to the monthly classes at the Bramble Patch I hadn't been free (or had the time) to attend any of the events with the Rocheberie Schoolhouse Quilters - but yesterday I did. And it was a really good day. It's great value for money - only £4.00 and that includes tea and coffee for the day and cake is only 50p per slice ( and very nice too). The talk is usually in the afternoon - but this time it was in the morning - it was given by Amanda Hall of Monkey Buttons. Lots of talk about bags.... Amanda started the talk by saying she had 36 hours in her day - I think she must have at least 48 as she seems to get sooooo much done. I feel like I have about 7 LOL.
The afternoon was spent having a good chat with lovely people like Jane from Sew Create it and her daughter, Lynda and lots of other very friendly attendees - quilters really are a friendly lot.
I promise I'll have a photo of my BQL challenge next time - I'm making good progress but want to wait until it's finished before I post it.
See you soon.

Holiday time

I've had a great holiday. A lovely Christmas and New Year, met up with friends and got lots done. Best one for ages.

I've been brave and decided to sign up to the 2009 BQL challenge. The idea is that you make a 12 inch square quilt each month. Kandy published the instructions and you learn lots of new skills as the year goes on. I really like the challenges as it encourages you to try different skills and see if you like them without having committed to a large quilt.

Now the dreaded January New Year's Resolutions. I'm still pondering - so when I've decided I'll let you know...

Happy New Year

Hello,

I seem to have missed Christmas with you all - sorry about that. I hope you all had a nice time - I had a lovely time. I managed to cook the turkey and not kill any of the family. They all managed to eat most of their dinner too. Unfortunately my mum was ill so couldn't come along for dinner - but I did send her a doggy bag round.

I've had a great time off work - making stars from a great book I had for Christmas - Scrap Quilt Sensations by Katherine Guerrier. It's an easy to follow book and I'm pleased with the accuracy of the stars I've made.

I've also enjoyed having the time to cook - the Spicy pork and chilli pepper goulash from the Jamie at Home book is delicious - give it a try.

Have any of you dared to make New Year's Resolutions? I'm going to have a think about them and see if I can think of some fun ones.

Have a great New year and I'll see you in 2009...

December already

Is it just me or has December come around really quickly again? I always know it's on its way - but I'm still suprised when it arrives. At least I think I've got all of my Christmas presents now - I just need to wrap them and write the cards.

And talking of Christmas cards bnelow is a photo of the cards we made for each other in our Bramble Patch with Bren. They're all so different. I was really sorry to say goodbye to all the girls as I won't be joining the class next year - but I think I will be back there in 2010 - boy does that sound a long way off.

And arriving on my doormat in the last few weeks - the new Selvedge magazine - beautiful as always.
And here's a bag a made for a friend's birthday...From this book...

And hot off the press (a late birthday present) is Keri Smith's latest book. It's a good fun book. Have a look if you get the opportunity.

And here's what I have to cope with when I'm trying to bind a quilt. Flo decided, in spite of the pins in it, it would be a good idea to curl up and go to sleep in it.

Take care and I'll be back soon.

Still here

Hi,
Sorry about the break - been away on holiday for a week and I still don't seem to have got back into the swing of things.
Just read a good book that has a great closing paragraph. The book is 'Addition' by Toni Jordan it's about a girl who is obsessed with numbers. But the closing paragraph goes like this:

Most people miss their whole lives, you know. Listen, life isn't when you are standing on top of a mountain looking at a sunset. Life isn't waiting at the alter or the moment your first child is born or that time you were swimming in deep water and a dolphin came up along-side you. These are fragments. Ten or twelve grains of sand spread throughout your entire existence. These are not life. Life is brushing your teeth or making a sandwich or watching the news or waiting for the bus. Or walking. Every day, thousands of tiny events happen and if you're not watching, if you're not careful, if you don't capture them and make them count, you could miss it.
You could miss your whole life.

What do you think?

Sandra Meech...

So I spent last Friday and Saturday at the Bramble Patch attending a class with Sandra Meech. I was very pleased to have such a great group of people on both days to work with and I'm pleased with my results from the class.

The first photos I have are examples of what students achieved during the days

Below are examples of the paper collages we all made on the first day.

And these are examples that Sandra brought in for us to look at.

And below is my paper collage of a sea scape.
And the result of the transfer paints and other embellishments I used to produce another seascape.

I won't be posting for a couple of weeks - but I'll be back with lots of photos for you all.

Have fun.

What I've been up to...

My aim was to do some art everyday and for the most part I have managed it - it might only have been 10 minutes or a flick through a magazine - but I have done something. And the photo above is what I did for a week in the evenings. It was a very good friend's birthday and i wanted to make her something - so here it is. I'm very pleased with the result - and I'm pleased to say so was she. It's from a book called Kokoro no Te - Handmade presents from the heart and it's the first project I've made from it. I do like having something to hand sew rather than always being at the machine so another aim (yes I have lots of them) is to always have some hand sewing.
Now - although like me you are trying to forget how quickly the year is progressing - it is coming to that time of year again -yep Christmas. And at The Bramble Patch on Saturday Bren bought along some Christmas theme boards she'd made. The idea was to think about different colour ways for this festive season - not just the traditional red, green and gold - but silver and blue. What do you think?

She also had some great ideas for wrapping presents - from making your own paper to using fabric to wrap presents.

Now I'm going to leave you guessing what I'm up to with this....and ideas?

I'm finally getting over my sketchbook phobia - its only taken almost 2 years - but it was well worth the journey.

So here are a few pages.

Lots of dyed calico...

And here is the fruit of the sketchbook - well it's a work in progress.

And finally - Flo asleep on the bed. She won't move for anything LOL

I'm so excited as I've got a 2 day class with Sandra Meech at Bramble Patch on Friday and Saturday.

Have a great week.

And finally...

I've been meaning to show you this for ages -it's part of the village Bosworth in Bloom. Yes - it's a policeman's helmet planted up and hung outside our village police station.

And here is our stand this morning for the NSPCC coffee morning - we decided to make a contribution to the coffee morning but donate most of our takings to LOROS. I think we did rather well for 2 hours - I'll be able to tell you later in the week how much we took.

And finally - what comes in a case like this...

YES - ONE OF THESE...


Boy is it nice. It's runs so smoothly - it's a real delight. I only got it yesterday so I've not been able to spend too much time playing - but I'm very pleased with it so far. I promise to keep you updated with my progress. If any of you have the same model I'd love to hear from you and would like to receive any comments you have.

Oh and I have been creative every day for the last week - I can't show you what I've made for my friend's birthday, but I can show it you next week.
Have a good weekend - I'm off to play now.

A very crafty weekend...

Well I've had a great weekend - lots of quilting associated stuff.

I had a great day at Great Doddington at the Quilder's Guild Regional Day. I was very impressed with the 2 speakers they had Ferret and Katherine Guerrier. Both very different, but it was great to hear how they have developed their ideas and skills. It was a delight to heat them both speak. I'd highly recommend making the effort to attend either a regional or area day - it's a great opportunity to meet other quilters and hear well known ones speak and also meet up with fellow quilters.

I had a great day. It also fitted in very well with my challenge for this month - to do something towards my creativity everyday. So that's Saturday 4th October started - and today I've posted on my blog, bought some calico (for dyeing) and get set up to start some other things too.

I'm also very pleased to have my sewing machine back in full working order.

I'd also like to let you know about a few events coming up:

NSPCC coffee morning:- Saturday 11th October between 10 - 12. There's a £1.00 admission fee but that does include a coffee for you. And the Market Bosworth Quilters will be there selling some quilts. If would be great to see you there.

Christmas Fair - Saturday 29th November, 10:00 - 3:00 at the St Peter's Church Hall, Park St, Market Bosworth. It was a great event last year - and we were very lucky that Santa was able to make an appearance. Please do try to come along - you'll be able to buy some beautiful gifts for Christmas (or for yourself) and they'll be raffles and tombolas too.

Well I hope you've all had a good weekend. Hopefully I'll have some photos for you all next time.