Orchids for Amber ...

I do apologise for the poor qualityof this photo - it was taken on my mobile phone as my camera batteries needed recharging.

I'm currently working on a quilt that was commissioned by a lovely lady for her first grandchild who was born only a few days ago. The colours and fabrics were chosen by Jo who saw the idea for a 'picture frame' style quilt in an old copy of Popular Patchwork magazine. The picture showed flowers made using fabric folding - origami style - not my cup-of-tea at all. The suggestion of orchids came about from Jo's daughter (recently married) who had orchids adorning her hair and in the bridal bouquet. With these two ideas I came up with this cascading orchids quilt which is being machine appliqued. Most of the flowers are in place, a few more pieces just need to be added - as well as two butterflies and hopefully it should be finished soon.

I'll try to take a better photo next week!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Block 2 of the Take Time to ... quilt will also be posted about next week.

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Bundle of Love ...

I have fallen in love with this fabric designed by Rabbits Haven creator, Arlene Neely. The collection is called Nana's Garden and is just gorgeous in soft baby shades of pink, lemon, green and white. My favourite quilting shop only has about 1/5th of the actual collection so I had to make do with a few fat quarters, a border fabric and extra for sashing but this has made such a gorgeous quilt. I even have enough fabric left over for another quilt.

Although this is a simple quilt I'm pleased with the result and hope it will be treasured by its new owner.This was made for a colleague at work who has just started her maternity leave. The baby (obviously a girl) is due in April. I'm hopeful that Kelly and Mark's new little bundle of love will feel comforted and safe wrapped in thIS bundle of love quilt.

See you next time

Caroline xxxxx

Free BOM; Take time to ...

I've recently been feeling a little down and I often turn to reading your blogs for support, encouragement and inspiration with all your amazing creativity. I am also aware that we each have our ups and downs and I am far from alone in feeling overwhelmed and like there are never enough hours in the day to achieve all that we want.

I would like to say that you are each special and deserve to make some time in the day just for you, we are always busy with families, the home, shopping, cleaning, pets etc but it is quite alright to do something that is just for you.

As a little treat, just for you I have designed a little BOM called Take time to .... and each BOM aims to put a little perspective back in your lives, or if not then hopefully just cheer you up!! The blocks completed should measure 7.5" x 7.5" and I am going to make mine into a little quilt just for me ...! There will be nine blocks in total and i'm thinking of using some left-overs from my moda 'Posh' stash to sash them with - i'll keep you up to date with progress.

Please be sure to copy and paste my button into your sidebars, tell your friends and have some fun stitching away.

I have never done this before so bear with me if there are teething problems!!! You can find the link here or by clicking my side-button. Please feel free to use it for personal use and not for profit. Let me know how you get on!!!

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Froggies Expecting ...

I can imagine just what you are thinking!

A hint for what Froggy might be expecting is that this quilt is a recent commission for a baby that is still being kept warm in mummy's tum.

Mmmmmm!!!! The Thinking caps are on!!!

Froggy is perched quite precariously on another Froggy's head - what on earth is going on???

Throw a snail and a turtle into the mix and now you have a tower of creatures!

What's this?? Oh no, the Crane has dropped this little froggy bundle, can the tower of creatures save the day and claim this cutie as their own????

I am in love with this little quilt.

I hope you enjoyed this little story - I loved working on this and I really hope that it's new owner loves it too.

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Spread the Love ...

The lovely Julie over at Bush Baby Jag has very kindly awarded me this Blogger Award and I want to spread the love some more.

It always warms my heart when I receive things like this and confirms how much I gain from blogging.

The blog community has really opened my eyes and heart to the generosity and creativity of so many wonderful people and I am glad to be a part of it.

Thank you.

I want to spread the love by awarding the following bloggers the award;

Kim at Stillmeadow Quilting

Jane at Sew Create It

Lynda at Master of Patience?

Fiona at Dragonfly Crafts

Lyn at Welcome to Bluebirds Quilts

Julie at Julie's Quilt Gallery

Zlaty at Zlaty Sews

These blogs I not only read on a regular basis but their writers have become friends and people I can turn to for advice and opinions, I treasure your friendship and thank you for the help and confidence boosting you have given along the way.

Please return the favour and spread the love some more, to 7 other bloggers.

Apparently I also have to write 7 things about myself that you might not know, so here goes;

1. I am a real home body and love nothing more (except quilting obviously) than making sure that our home is a welcoming place for my husband Tony and Jack Russell pup, Henri.

2. I have a degree in English Literature: I have a great love of books of all kinds.

3. I trained to be a teacher of English and Drama but felt that the British system of teaching; planning and targets etc sucked all the creativity out of me and so I quit.

4. I have been lucky enough to travel to some amazing countries and seen many beautiful sights that will stay in my heart forever; Africa, Thailand, Egypt, all over Europe and the USA.

5. In my previous life I worked for 11 years as a nanny and worked and lived with some interesting families in the USA, Netherlands and London, I can speak Dutch!!

6. I got married last June to my gorgeous husband Tony and I still can't quite believe how lucky I am to have met such a generous and loving man. He is a doctor and i've come to realise that being a doctor's wife is challenging but one I shall rise to.

7. I have long-term depression and I'm neither embarassed nor ashamed of it. I am learning to accept it and live with it and in some ways it makes me stronger, more grateful and appreciative of all the 'little' things in life that really count; a smile from a stranger, a pat on the back to a job well done and a hug from someone in need. I really do try to live for the moment every day.

Thank you and happy Thursday.


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Playing with baskets ...

My 'basket' project is coming along nicely and I'm rather pleased with it despite the fact that I have no idea where it's going or how it will progress further. I felt the urge to piece baskets and equally felt that I needed to do needle-turn applique - although I'm not really a needle-turn-applique kinda gal. I love it though!

To be honest this project has probably saved me from becoming a quivering wreck. I recently had some dental work that caused me a lot of pain initially.

During last week the discomfort settled down and I was beginning to think that it was over.

Boy was I wrong.

On Friday I started to get an achey jaw and put it down to nothing.

By Saturday I woke up with dreadful, intense neuralgia in the right side of my face.

If you have never suffered from this then it's hard to describe but feels as though someone has your face in a vice and is squeezing - then is stabbing you in the cheek.

It is dreadful and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemies.

By Monday I had had enough and managed to get an emergency appointment at my dentist. They immediately took out the nerve in my tooth and I'm glad to say the pain has receded. Relieve.

At last.

There will be more work to do, root filling and possible loss of a tooth but at least there are good dentists around who take pride in their work and will help me see it through to a happy outcome.

My poor hubby was also working nights this weekend and I didn't see him from Friday to Monday morning. It's always tough when we spend time apart - we hate it.

Please, please could I ask you to keep at least one set of fingers crossed for my clever husband who has two very important job interviews next week to become a neuro-psychiatrist. He works so hard, over 100hours a week, and is extremely talented in both his skills as a doctor and communicating with people. He deserves this break.

Good luck my love.

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Elephants on Parade

I've managed to finish the Elephants on Parade quilt although these photo's just do not do the quilt any justice. I promise to take better pictures, outdoors - once we actually get some sun here in the UK!

I decided to quilt it fairly simply with some stitch-in-the-ditch and 1/4" seam quilting. Not very adventurous I know but I wanted the design to speak for itself.

I had the urge to try something I have never done before and that was to make some simple pieced baskets.

Sorry about the photo again!!!!

Note to self - improve photography skills or no-one will want to look at your blog!!!

I have plans for these little baskets and will hopefully get them completed over the weekend.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

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