All pieced and basted, with nowhere to go!

I have worked pretty hard this week to create my latest quilt with the most gorgeous fabrics designed by Anna Griffin called the Lulu collection. The design is pretty basic with squares within a bordered frame. I managed to cut, piece and baste this quilt within a few hours over two days. The plan was to be able to practice my free motion quilting with this one - free-hand flowers and loops. Plans didn't go according to plan however. I have spent the past two hours and used up lots of scraps trying to get the thread tension just right. My Janome Memory-Craft 6600, is not cooperating and had I not sat down to write this post then I may just have come to blows with the machine.

I have cleaned it inside and out, put in a new needle and she is still not happy. I have been on the phone to the service centre, who were very happy helpful but suggested having it looked at by a sewing machine engineer. I'm at my wits end! I can sew on her no problem with other feet and the tension is fine but free-hand quilting causes utter melt-down. Does anyone else have a similar problem with their machine. I would be very grateful for any advice!!!

I may just have one more go - maybe it's the thread i'm using ....

Love is ....

I've been busy for the last couple of weeks. There have been a few finishes and another start on this recent project that I have called 'Love is'. I wanted to do an easy project that wouldn't involve lots of drawing and appliquing. I also wanted do a quilt on the theme of Valentines and decided on a rather simple block involving hearts, the writing around the edge being one of my initial inspirations. The Rose fabric on the binding and the Makower love letters fabric for the sashing were the very first fabrics I bought - 2 years ago! I did go off the 'Love Letters' fabric but bought so much of it (4m worth at 99p per metre) that I stashed it away in the loft swearing to never look at it again.

I am rather thrilled with the results - the lines from Corinthians were hand stitched around the edges. I was looking for a romantic love poem, but as I am getting married in a few months and love the Corinthians text, I thought it would be rather appropriate. In case you can't read them on the photo they say;

Love is Patient

Love is kind

Love is never envious

or arrogant with pride

Here's wishing you all a Happy Valentine's day.

The North Wind Doth Blow and We Shall Have Snow...

On my Birthday!!!!

I woke up yesterday morning to find a light dusting of snow on the ground - it was a lovely treat on my Birthday. After opening presents in bed at 6am, I took my Jack Russell Henri out for his morning walkies, he loved the snow. I know he looks a bit silly in his coat, I don't really believe in dressing pets up but he does get terribly cold.

This is one of the views from the field behind our house - the weather did look terribly bleak but today the sun has been shining and it was just as though we had never had snow.

I had a wonderful array of presents - since my partner and I are frantically saving to pay for our wedding in June I decided that I would only ask for presents that I really, really needed, well he did ask me to write a list!!! I asked for some quilting bits and bobs that would see me through the year - and between him and his wonderful parents this is what I received ....

Lots of wonderful goodies and more besides I also got a leather thimble, a necklace, Mamma Mia DVD, a new cutting board and quilting book. Nothing could make me happier. I have enough to keep me out of trouble for weeks!!!

This weekend I have been experimenting with hexagons - I am trying to work through my stash and found a collection of Liberty Tana Lawn fabric that Tony bought me when I first started quilting. I haven't really known what to do with them and was inspired by the gorgeous rose quilt here that I decided to give it a whirl. I arranged the colours into seasonal shades since there seemed to be a collection of brights, neutrals, oranges/browns and blues. I have no idea how the quilt will come together but I think this one will be for keeps.

I'll leave you for now with this photo I took, of snowdrops, the day before the snow arrived. I rather liked it!!! I'll see you on Friday.

Another Quilt Completed

I started this quilt last week after being inspired by the black and white quilt challenge. I knew that I wanted a 'Cat' theme and set about drawing some characters. My cat looks rather grumpy but by the bottom of the quilt you will see that he manages a smile before showering his friends with hearts and flowers.

The next time your own cats are gazing out of the window staring gloomily at a bird on a branch - perhaps he's having quite different dreams from that of the usual cat and mouse/bird theories ....

Cats Are Special

Thought I would give you a sneak previes of my latest quilt - I wanted a catty theme for the black and white quilt challenge but the previous blocks I did weren't working out. I made them into a bag instead as I hate waste and started working on this project. It's applique again, I know not really a challenge for me - perhaps the next project will be a little different!!

One Finish, Four Starts and Two Lbs Lighter!!!

I've had a rather successful sewing week this week, in part due to the fact that my partner has been working nights and I could sit, guilt-free with my stitchery projects in the evenings. Today, Tony decided to come home for his sleep rather than camp on an army surplus excuse for a bed, at a rather noisy hospital. This meant that I had to be fairly quiet and what a better excuse than to sit on the sofa, my Henri dog beside me, while I sat and hand-sewed the bias binding on my farm quilt - bliss! Awful that I've only spent a couple of hours a day with wonderful (but extremely tired) partner but next week will be back to normal!!


Needless to say that after an evening of stippling and a day of sewing, On the Farm is finally completed!

I'm very happy with the finished article.

As for the stitchery's I joined a couple of BOM's and can't wait to complete each block as we progress through the year.

The snowmen can be found here while the 'Love' stitchery is here. The little mouse in a rather wonky log-cabin is part of my own design for the Black and White Quilt Challenge Project which can be found here. The design is aptly called 'Wonky Cat and Friends. It is a bit of an improvised project as I haven't exactly designed it yet! The idea is to have a few cats, maybe a dog, a couple of mice and one or two birds thrown in for good measure. I'm hoping to work on a few more blocks tomorrow so I'll keep you posted.

I'm also on weight loss target for this month - 2lbs already lost from eater slower, slightly less portion size and not snacking - crisps are a huge vice for me!!!

Farm Quilt

I'm well on the way to completing the Farm quilt I started at the beginning of December. I only have the quilting to do - which shouldn't take long as I am just stitching in the ditch - and the bias to add which I can do in the evenings.

It is a little heavy going on the old applique but I can truly say that it is an original work, designed and drawn by me. I'm pretty proud to be honest, I'm not an artist by any stretch of the imagination but I'm happy with how it's turned out.

I'm going to have a break from applique for the next quilt. I quite fancy having a go at some wonky log-cabin blocks that I found here.

See you soon
Caroline