An update and a request ...

The first stage of my All Heart Appeal is almost complete thanks to your help.

I am eager to finish the first quilt as I have an event at the village I live in next weekend and wanted our local villagers to feel inspired.

The story of the first quilt coming together;

First was the arrival of many lovely, inspiring and thoughtful blocks from friends met through quilt groups, my teaching group, in my local village and the wider Blogging Community.

I had great pleasure in arranging, rearranging and coming to a decision concerning layout.

I am so glad I decided to ask for more pink/red backgrounds as the layout was heavily influenced on the balance between the light backgrounds and the coloured ones.

The second stage was to move away from the 'tweaking' and start to sewing the squares into rows.

... then the rows into one quilt top.

Of course it was complulsory to audition a few border fabrics, I didn't want anything to fussy to take away from the centre. I settled for some red, polka dot fabric (my personal favourite).

Having decided that the quilt was going to have three borders I set about sewing on strips of 1.5" around each side ...

... closely followed by a 1" border in white ...

... completed with a 3" third border in red polka dots again!!

And Voila!!!

The first quilt made for Cancer Research UK.

Of course now that everything is ready, basted and waiting - my request to all you wonderful peeps out there is to answer me a question ...

How would you quilt it????

A New Obsession ...

I have always been known to whip out the knitting needles at various times throughout my life. Recently I had a strong urge to get the needles out again and knit Henri (my fur baby) a wee jumper in preparation for the colder months.

I found a pattern, bought some wool and set to it. Along the way, I changed a few of the instructions and made it to fit my wee boy. It's no masterpiece but my objective was achieved to the best of my ability. I'm no pro but had the confidence to change a few things along the way.

Crocheting - on the other hand has always been a bit of a nemesis to me. I have bought a few books, had good intentions but alas I have failed in the crochet stakes.

That was until a few days ago ...

Having found a pattern for a Retro-style crochet throw in a magazine I could not help but fall in love. I decided that this was going to be my next 'evening' project that would keep me from playing scrabble on facebook (another obsession!!!).

I have long desired a blanket for the back of my sofa in cream with oceanic colours.

Finding the right wool was the first hurdle, I found Rowan Pure Wool Aran which I loved the feel of but wasn't sure if the colours were quite right. My lounge is more of a duck-egg blue. But eventually I decided that no, I couldn't wait (my obsession was that great).

I spent about four hours making a classic 'granny square' - much undoing, throwing it on the floor and swearing before I had my 'Eureka' moment and finally got it!!

12 Granny-squares later and I am loving how this blanket is coming along.

I've decided that it will consist of 10 squares in each row by 10 rows!!

Am I mad???

I love how the colours come together but I have ordered a few softer tones to balance out the darker turqoise, grey (mole) and dark green. I can't wait for them to arrive.

I reckon it will take me most of the next three months to complete it but it's so therapeutic to crochet a square here and there that it really doesn't feel like a chore.

I am in heaven with my crochet.