Diana's Happy Room

Snow

2012-02-12T09:39:00.000Z

We sure are having some cold weather.. this photograph was taken of my rear garden a couple of days ago.. it always looks so nice covered in snow!

My resident blackbird seems to love the bubbling stone near the front of the pond and likes to sit on it like a jacuzzi ! He always gets a treat of mealy worms when I see him.

Yesterday our outside temperature was -11 that is just too cold !

Another bird

2012-02-12T09:34:00.003Z

Another bird foundation pieced. I really liked making this one.

Lavender Heart workshop

2012-02-08T14:09:00.000Z

Shopping

Lavender heart

Last night was the Hamtune Quilters meeting, and the horrible snow and ice did not deter many of the members from attending. Maggie Wise from SunFlower Fabrics brought along her wonderful fabric and gave us all a mini workshop making a Valentine Heart Lavender bag. I actually managed to finish mine on the evening .. even though it was all hand sewn [hand sewing is not my thing!]. A most enjoyable evening.

Wee Hummingbird HELP

2012-02-01T12:45:00.002Z

Missing fabric

In 2009 I bought a set of Wee birds kits from http://www.silverliningsoringinals.com/ and I really enjoyed making the first two, but the third one I tried to make just did not have enough fabric to complete it.

I asked the company to send me a small piece so I could finish the bird, and received the sample shown above the birds head... hopeless colour match.

I put out a plea for a match on a yahoo group and asked amongst my quilty group and friends.. after about a dozen other pieces of green batik I still have not found a match.
An awful lot of work has gone into making this foundation pieced bird, and a 6 inch square would complete it.. I have again asked Silver linings to help, BUT if anyone can help I'll happily pay costs.

Catherine Mary SIMONS

2012-01-24T08:10:00.001Z

My Mum

Sadly my Mum passed away peacefully on Wednesday 18th January, after a very short illness. Mum was 97 years old and enjoyed a full life, she is sadly missed by both family and friends.

Daughter Diana [ me] married to Chris,
Grandson Richard married to Jacq
Gt Granddaughters Abigail 8 yrs and Eleanor 4 yrs

Daughter Debbie married to John
Granddaughter Sally
Gt Granddaughter Tess 4yrs
Granddaughter Jessie married to Richard
Gt Granddaughter Mabel 1yr

Pinwheel FQ challenge

2012-01-17T12:00:00.002Z

3" & 2 1/2" squares folded

Triangles attached

Pinwheels joined

Cushion front made

At our Christmas meeting of IAM we were all given a FQ, and the aim is to make something with them, so I used mine [the blue FQ] to make the pinwheel cushion front. I still need to complete the back.

Prayer Garden Wall hanging

2012-01-10T14:28:00.002Z

Prayer Garden Wall hanging

part of the Prayer Garden

Embroidery machined

This Wall hanging consists of 94 quilt blocks made on the embroidery machine [ Brother 4000D]. The design is by Anita Goodesign.
Only the backing and label are now needed to complete the quilt.

WELCOME 2012

2012-01-09T10:17:00.001Z

I'd like to thank everyone for good wishes while I have been so ill over Christmas and the New Year. My blog like everything else has not been touched.. BUT.. I am feeling better now and look forward to a year of quilting and seeing friends again.

help!!

2011-12-12T11:04:00.001Z

Can anyone help me?

I am foundation piecing a set of birds, and although I bought the kits to make them, this one is short of the green batik fabric. The kit was bought in 2009 and although the person that sold the kit has tried to help I still do not have enough fabric to finish it..

All I need is about an 8 inch square or some scraps. I am more than happy to pay for it and postage.

Please email me if you can help. lacemaker@btinternet.com

The Shepherd

2011-12-09T14:17:00.001Z

At a couple of days notice I was asked to make Abigail a Shepherd outfit for her school nativity play. I did not have time to see her so kind of guessed at measurements and grabbed a couple of metres of Thimbleberry fabric from my stash to make the robe and a band for her head covering. Then added a Tea-towel, belt made by my Japanese friend, toy lamb and friends walking stick. Luckily it all fitted well.

Yesterday was the performance at Irthlingborough Church, where 118 children all took part. Abigail sang and performed with the others and narrated a part of the act. It was a wonderful afternoon full of the Christmas story.

Hamtune Quilters meeting

2011-12-09T14:15:00.001Z

On Tuesday evening 6th December, Kim Porter was our speaker at Hamtune Quilters. She was very entertaining with her talk about starting the business and how she sources the fabrics. Most fabrics come from Charity shops and are then washed and ironed before being cut into strips and made into pretty fabric rolls.

IAM Christmas meeting

2011-12-09T14:05:00.001Z

8 of us open our cards

All make a pincushion

Present opening

Our Christmas meeting is always special. We each buy 7 gifts costing no more than £2 each. It is amazing how they are always so different!

Gifts galore

We play the FQ game where I read out a story and every time Right or Left is mentioned the FQ's get passed along.. always good for a laugh. Our final game is called "steal" where we all put a wrapped present in the middle of the table and by choosing a number take it in turns to either open a gift or "steal" someone elses. There always seems to be one present everyone wants and this causes much laughter.
Also at this meeting Penny prepared us a pin cushion kit and we all made one.. thanks Penny and everyone for a great start to Christmas.

Wow what a selection!

Fun in my workroom

Bird #2

2011-12-09T13:55:00.001Z

Bird #2 is now finished. Two more are part way made.

Harrogate weekend

2011-12-01T08:57:00.001Z

25th to 28th November saw Chris and I staying in the George Hotel Harrogate, a special offer break with Shearings Self Drive. These dates just happened to coincide with the Harrogate Knitting and Sewing exhibition at the International Centre, which also happened to be literally across the street from the hotel.
It was a wonder exhibition with lots of different crafts on show, and the above pictures are of a completely knitted Christmas Tree, made for a charity. The branches were bamboo poles covered in green knitted dish cloths, and the array of bells, baubles, candles and chains was amazing. After the show I understand everything was to be dismantled and sold.
While I was enjoying the show Chris went to York to the Train exhibition, so we were both full of news when we met up later for dinner. Sunday was spent driving through the Yorkshire Dales, visiting Theakston Brewery and an outlet village.. lovely weekend, may have to do it again next year.

67 years and still counting!

2011-11-21T11:07:00.001Z

Yesterday was my birthday and what a wonderful day. The day started with lots of cards and presents in bed. Then Chris joined me at Church to see the children take over the service. This was followed by watching my eldest granddaughter perform in a gymnastic competition. The evening was spent at Richard's [son] where he had cooked a really nice meal.

My November project

2011-11-14T11:15:00.001Z

Prayer Garden by Anita Goodesign

My latest machine embroidery project is the newest design from Anita Goodesign "Prayer Garden". This consists of 94 quilt blocks all made in the hoop. So far I have 14 made, so a long way to go, but I cannot wait to start putting some of the blocks together.

Proud Grandparents

2011-11-13T16:36:00.001Z

Little Angel of Mine

Chris and I went to a performance at the Lighthouse Theatre Kettering to see our eldest granddaughter, Abigail age 8 years, perform. She is an absolute star and performed in four different roles, including a solo spot.

Giddy up Cowgirls!

12th November 2011

Fresney Sur Sarthe

2011-11-12T16:01:00.001Z

The gateway to Fresney Sur Sarthe

View from the gardens

Me at the grind stone!

One of the holiday days we went to visit a beautiful village called Fresney sur Sarthe, with dramatic views over the River Sarthe and countryside.

On the way home we visited the war grave of Gunner A H Glasspool. It was November 11th so I left him my poppy as it was the only flower I had with me. He is believed to be a distant relative for my husband. He was only 36 when he died.

Aubigny en Artois France

A H Glasspool

France 3 - 11 November 2011

2011-11-12T15:54:00.001Z

Driving onto the Eurotunnel train

Driving inside the train on the upper deck

Chris outside our Gite for a week

Front of Gite

Rear of Moulin Classe Gite

Me on the bridge in the garden

The stream running through the garden

Chris in the lounge

The kitchen YES I'm sewing!

Hamtune Autumn Fayre

2011-10-31T11:43:00.000Z

Parkinson Charity stall

cushion raffle

Bottle tombola

The lacemakers

Quilting demo

Machine embroidery demo

main raffle

cake stall

craft stall

Halloween Fun

2011-10-28T14:09:00.002+01:00

Halloween fun with Abigail and Eleanor.

Bird # 1

2011-10-19T16:03:00.001+01:00

In 2009 I purchased a set of bird patterns and fabric monthly [ BOM]. They have sat in my workroom going nowhere, so last week I decided it was time to make them. This is the first one I have attempted. It has so many really tiny pieces, but I love it.. now to complete the other eleven plus the four woodland scenes through the seasons.

The pattern and kits were bought from Silverlinings.

Hamtune Meeting 18th October

2011-10-19T15:58:00.001+01:00

At the meeting of Hamtune last night, we had a sit and sew evening, with the option of making a robin or owl [ same pattern different colours!] for our Autumn Fayre. It was very successful and a good time was had by all.

Raspberry Row

2011-10-17T13:37:00.002+01:00

Having cleared a bed in the garden which was very overgrown I decided to try growing some fruit. My sister gave me a bag of autumn fruiting raspberries yesterday and I managed to get them planted this morning.. roll on next autumn and a great crop of fruit.

Celebrations

2011-10-17T11:06:00.001+01:00

Debbie's birthday gift

SunBonnet Sue for Eleanor

Opening the gifts

Sisters Abigail and Eleanor

Mum 97, Deb and me

Born 15 Oct 1914

So much cake!

Richard, Jacq & Eleanor

Birthdays

2011-10-15T13:49:00.001+01:00

9th sister Debbie 64 yrs

13th son Richard The big 40 !!

15th mum Mary 97 years

17th granddaughter Eleanor 4 yrs

Plus other grandaughter Abigail was 8 on Sept 30th..

We are having a joint birthday
party tomorrow.. how will I
fit 213 candles on the cake!!

I made it

2011-10-07T08:05:00.002+01:00

A very successful day. Yesterday I managed to sew on four labels to quilts I had made some time ago, quilted and finished five Prem Baby quilts for Linus [ they were all ready cut out]. I also finished 4 Christmas Tree ornaments that had been waiting since last! Christmas for a ribbon hanger. Plus I made two Halloween bags for my granddaughters.. now if every day was like that I would get a lot accomplished.

IAM day

2011-10-06T08:45:00.001+01:00

The group that meets at my house once a month is called IAM, as in "I am going to finish this or that" so today is IAM day and I have a pile of things I want to finish. The trouble is there is always so much to talk about, then lunch [ we share dessert ] and never enough time.
My list for today:
3 Quilt labels to sew on [ I hate doing this!]
5 Prem baby quilts to quilt and finish [ for Linus ]
3 Christmas decorations to add ribbon to [ for our Fayre ]
2 Halloween bags to make for the granddaughters

3 years of Blogging

2011-10-03T10:39:00.003+01:00

October 1st Chris and I went "Green Lane-ing" in his old Land Rover. Starting at Kelmarsh in Northamptonshire we travelled along deserted lanes, through fields and gated roads to Rockingham Castle.
There was not a lot of water in the "wet bits" but they were still fun. A Shepherd was moving his flock and we had to veer off into the field to avoid them, what a wonderful sight seeing his sheep dog moving the flock to another field. Lunch consisted of sausage rolls and banana overlooking the Reservoir. A really nice very hot day. It also happened to be 3 years since I started blogging.

The cooker arrives

2011-09-29T19:25:00.002+01:00

Firstly I must point out I have a very small kitchen.
My cooker was really old and needed changing, so I decided to go for a double oven, ceramic top, free standing version that would fit my small space.
It arrived this morning and I was thrilled with it, but then as soon as the delivery men left I realised that the main oven door has hinges on the left and opens to the left which is no good in my kitchen. There is no way to change the door, and it is impossible to tell from the look of it. Marks and Spencer were very good and tried to find me one that either hinged to the right or had a drop down door.. no luck. A visit to two local retailers showed all the cookers now hinge to the left.. so I'm stuck. Surely I cannot be the only person that needs a right handed door?

Strange requests!

2011-09-28T16:20:00.002+01:00

My son phoned asking if I still had a hood hairdryer and a box camera [the sort with a cloth that goes over your head]! Now I know I am getting old, but that is ridiculous!
It seems my Granddaughter's ballet class are putting on a production and need 3 hairdryers and the camera! Any one any ideas where I might find them?

Birds and their home

2011-09-28T13:38:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I attended a machine embroidery course at BSK Bedford. I managed to embroider all of the birds and the house, today I have put them together and as soon as I get a few minutes will make it into a cushion.
I really like this pattern and may make another.

Bags of bags

2011-09-28T13:34:00.002+01:00

Bags bags and more bags... Having worked out how to make bags in the hoop [ on my embroidery machine] I have gone mad making them. They will mostly be used for gifts in the Samaritans Shoe Box Appeal. Hopefully some little girl in a far off country will enjoy them.

Grandad celebrates his birthday

2011-09-28T13:30:00.000+01:00

It is all birthdays around here lately, starting with Chris on the 22nd. The grandchildren had fun dressing up for him!

Owls, Robins and Frogs!

2011-09-16T15:51:00.003+01:00

I have made a few more finger puppets, this time they are all frogs, which I love. Also made two little owls and two little robins [ well I think they look like robins!]
I am still experiementing with making bags with zips in the hoop!

1600 quilt with a twist

2011-09-13T10:22:00.001+01:00

This has been one of the quickest quilts I have every made.
Using the method of joining a jellyroll together into a long strip and then sewing the end to the top, cutting the fold and repeating until the required length/width the main area of the quilt was made. Next I cut off 4 strips from the sides and added cream borders and then the coloured strips.
Finally after long arm quilting by a friend, I heat-n-bonded letters of the alphabet and randomly sewed them to the top as this quilt will be for my granddaughters 4th birthday present.

The Visit

2011-09-12T08:25:00.000+01:00

Jessie, my niece, Richard and their daughter Mabel made the trip up from Cornwall to see Mum in her apartment. We had a nice fish and chip lunch in the restaurant. Mum is always very pleased to see her granddaughter and Great Granddaughter. Mabel is now just over 2 years old and a real sweety.

Where does the time go?

2011-09-07T18:11:00.000+01:00

My eldest granddaughter, Abigail, started her new middle school on Tuesday. She looks so grown up in her new uniform, what happened to the last almost 8 years!

Bedford Quilters Workshop

2011-09-05T09:35:00.002+01:00

Saturday 3rd September I attended Bedford Quilters Day and ran a workshop on making a notebook with flowered cover. I had 15 chairs set up for the group and when I looked at the sign in sheet found I had 19 names on it.. panic! Luckily I had made 4 extra kits so with a little shuffling of tables we managed to fit everyone in. Using flowers and leaves from artificial arrangements, lots of beads, sequins and glitter everyone made a book cover and they all looked so different. Even the three children that joined the group had fun. In the afternoon we had a talk from Marion Maule on Samplers. A most enjoyable if tiring day.

Extra Stash busting challenge

2011-09-02T08:30:00.000+01:00

Well here we are in September, and Judy Laquidara has challenged us to review our stash busting. I did quite well last month [ except for the fabric I bought!! ]
I am going to challenge myself to use 30 yds from my stash before the end of the year..
Apart from anything else we hope to have a nice holiday travelling around the USA next year and that means buying more fabric, so I will need the room.

More finger Puppets

2011-08-30T09:51:00.005+01:00

I bought these patterns from http://myembroiderynook.com/index.htm and gave my husband a laugh last night when I suddenly put them on one hand and took a photo with the other hand!

They will all go into the Christmas Shoe Box appeal.

Finger puppets

2011-08-26T19:51:00.002+01:00

Today I made 5 finger puppets on my embroidery machine. Abigail is testing one of them!

They will go in the Christmas shoe box appeal, they were asking for knitted finger puppets, but I do not knit and thought embroidered ones would work well.

Silver Cat bag

2011-08-25T19:16:00.002+01:00

On Tuesday at a BSK Bedford workshop, I machine embroidered the two panels and today at Poppy Patch I made them into a bag. It will probably be a Christmas gift.

Visiting old graves

2011-08-25T19:08:00.005+01:00

Having collected Abigail from Ballet school, she asked to go and see Great Grandad's Tree.. this was planted to commemorate his death in Burton Latimer Church yard. We took along a couple of plants and after planting them Abigail collected feathers to decorate the site. Our next stop was at the old cemetery where her Gt Gt Grandparents were buried, we put flowers on the headstone and again it was decorated with feathers.

BSK today

2011-08-23T19:13:00.003+01:00

This is the project I was working on today at BSK Bedford. It will be the front and back of a bag eventually. It needs a good press!

Block Lotto August

2011-08-19T10:49:00.002+01:00

Four Violet blocks made for this months Block Lotto. I have enjoyed making these blocks and may make some more for myself.

Pictures of bobbin lace

2011-08-18T17:18:00.007+01:00

Here are a few of my bobbin lace pictures. The Shepherd girl was made using 33 different colours of thread. The Peacock has coloured "eyes" and body. The mini and VW have always been a favorite. The two pieces of lace showing Jesus were part of a set of twelve, but I have only ever made these two.

Lace Pillows

2011-08-18T17:13:00.004+01:00

Having given a talk last night on lacemaking, here are a couple of my pillows, one making a cowboy boot with mainly bone bobbins, the other with wooden bobbins marked with places I have visited and workshops, birthdays etc.

Flower circles

2011-08-15T15:54:00.001+01:00

Flower circles, was to be on my design wall this Monday, but I managed to finish it.. even the binding! I have loved making this, started on a workshop with Helen Spence a week ago.

Green Lane Day

2011-08-14T14:16:00.003+01:00

On Saturday Chris and I set off for a day Green Lane-ing in his old Land Rover. The weather was just about right not too hot or too cold. We started our route at Kibworth in Leicestershire, and traveled along farm tracks and tiny narrow roads. All tracks and roads being marked on an Ordinance Survey map and most only suitable for 4 x 4 vehicles. I am chief gate opener and there was a lot of climbing in and out of the LR ! An interesting sign we came across had 4 arms, 3 were Gated roads and the 4th a No through road! some of the lanes were so narrow they scrapped both sides of the LR ! good job the paintwork is not pristine! Around lunch time we came across an Inn at Peating Parva and stopped for an excellent lunch, while watching wing walkers from a local airfield.

Some of my favorite NEC quilts

2011-08-11T16:55:00.003+01:00

This is a selection of some of my favorite NEC quilts.

More NEC quilts

2011-08-11T16:50:00.004+01:00

More NEC quilts, the Tentmakers of Cario quilts were amazing, and I adore the flower garden quilt, BUT the knitted quilt won a prize, and I thought a quilt had to have three layers top, batting and backing.. this was just knitting.. quite strange.

Stash Busting and the NEC Quilt show

2011-08-11T16:47:00.004+01:00

Just back from the NEC Birmingham Quilt show. Here are some of the quilts I enjoyed. Plus 11 metres of fabric will not do my stash busting any good.. but I needed these fabrics!

Kelmarsh Hall

2011-08-11T08:56:00.004+01:00

Last night I attended a performance of a Somerset Maugham's play.

It was a magical experience, set in the wonderful setting of Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire. The room in the photograph was used and the audience surrounded the players who performed in the centre of the room. In the interval we were treated to nibbles, wine and orange juice in the dinning room, while a pianist played on the grand piano. The actors and actresses were excellent, some having travelled from the USA while others were local.

Bedford workshop with Helen Spence

2011-08-09T16:13:00.002+01:00

Yesterday Sue Sewell organised another great workshop in Bedford with Helen Spence as the teacher. The Church hall was extremely nice, with very comfy chairs, and wonderful stained glass windows.

I came home with part of my project completed, and have spent most of today working on it. [pictures later!]

The Postman

2011-08-07T15:15:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I received a package, and I am wondering where it has been ! It contains blocks I won in the May Block Lotto, and according to the Post Office arrived in this country in the state it's in! Luckily the person sending the blocks from New Mexico USA had put them in a polythene bag inside the padded envelope. Addressed to New Hampton and with the post code ripped away I am amazed it arrived in Northampton England .. thank you postman and Janet for sending them.

Bags day with IAM

2011-08-06T12:16:00.007+01:00

Thursday was our group IAM day at my house, and a BAG workshop was organised. Abigail was staying with us for three days and so joined in, making her own bag that she started last week. She is becoming more and more efficient with a sewing machine.

Eastbourne long weekend

2011-08-01T16:22:00.009+01:00

Friday to Monday we booked a long weekend in Eastbourne at the Bay Hotel. The food was good and we had a nice room overlooking the sea with a large bay-window. The weather was HOT! One day we ventured to Beachy Head and watched the people flying high hanging onto their parachutes, while others flew their model gliders. On Sunday while driving back into town we visited a large gathering of "pagan" people dressed in black and many playing musical instraments, carving with hand tools and generally having a good time.

Summer holiday

2011-07-28T17:05:00.005+01:00

Abigail has broken up from school and came to stay for three days this week. We did lots of things, cooking, sewing, recycling, and as a special treat a day at Woburn Safari Park. The weather was perfect [not too hot] and she loved seeing the animals up close. A great day out.

Wow where did the week go!

2011-07-24T18:08:00.007+01:00

Tuesday was BSK embroidery sewing day, I cannot show you what I did as I want them for presents! This was followed by Hamtune quilters meeting in the evening, and Anja Townrow was our wonderful speaker. She had so many quilts to show and ideas to share.

Wednesday was Speed training day, as I had been caught speeding and had the chance to go on a re-training day rather than get points on my licence. Cost £90 which is enough to slow me down!

This was followed by a demonstration of printing photographs onto fabric to my church group. It was a hectic evening as I printed everyone's photos with the help of my friend Penny.

Thursday.. I was SO tired, I read a complete book.. Wanda Brunstetter's A Merry Heart

Friday, caught up on some housework and sewing then watched the Tour de France cycle race in the afternoon. The evening was spent at my granddaughters award ceremony, a very busy noisy event.. when Eleanor age 3 refused to perform.. but Abigail age 7 performed with her street dance group and later with a ballet from the show cats.

Saturday was Fran and Tilly workshop at Pitsford, where I just worked on some of my UFO's and enjoyed the company and a lovely lunch.

Would your group like to do a fabric postcard swap!

2011-07-15T09:01:00.001+01:00

Hamtune Quilters of Northampton England have a shared friendship with Northampton quilters in Australia. We are preparing to do a fabric postcard swap with them, and would like to find another group somewhere in the world that would also like to take part in a fabric postcard swap, please leave a comment if your group is interested.

The start of the 1600+ quilt

2011-07-15T08:40:00.004+01:00

Yesterday I decided to have a go at a 1600 quilt. Well because I had two 25 piece jelly rolls mine turned into a 2150 quilt! The jelly rolls I used were Fabric Freedom Rainbow Lily. Each roll has 25 strips 43 inches long, and joined together, with a bias join, in a long line measure 2150 inches. Once you have the long row you take the end to the top and sew together until you meet the fold, cut this. Repeat this process *end to the top* so the two strips become 4 then 8 then 16 etc.. and in a very short while [35 minutes is the record!] you have a quilt.

Take a look at http://blog.heirloomcreations.net/?p=1897 to see a group video racing to make the quilt.

THE 80th birthday party

2011-07-13T08:16:00.005+01:00

My cousin John Pridmore, celebrated his birthday in style by inviting 40 of his relatives to a lunch at a very nice Hotel in Derbyshire. His children arranged for him to be collected from home in a Hummer limousine, much to his delight. We were asked to wear hats, and everyone joined in the fun wearing mop caps, stetons, baseball hats, jester hats, deer antlers etc etc.. John's speech had everyone in fits of laughter. A wonderful way to spend your birthday.. thank you John.

Design Wall projects

2011-07-11T08:10:00.003+01:00

A couple of projects I am working on.

The notebook has a hand sewn flower, sequin and beaded front.

The four pictures are tests for printing on different types of fabric. The Highland cow photo was taken on a trip to Scotland. The LandRover was on a mud-run last year [ Chris is behind the wheel and I'm a passenger]. I'm with my first sewing machine age about 11 years, and the small coloured fabric print is of my two nieces when they were young. I will probably make the fabric photos into bags or cushions.

TWO more bags

2011-07-08T11:36:00.002+01:00

Just complete two more bags, the machine embroidery was done at BSK. I think one of these may be a present and one for me!

Threads and Patches Day

2011-07-08T10:23:00.002+01:00

7th July I arranged for a group of 17 of us to attend a demonstration day at Threads and Patches Fenny Stratford. It was so good I forgot to take a single photo!

Arrival meant a drink and cake at 10am.

We then had demo's on hand quilting, twin needles and gridded vilene, twisted bow ties [must make some of these !], Slice Fabrique [want one of these, only problem is the £135 cost!], knitting bags, cushions & cowls [bought the yarn to make one of these], easy drunkards path [the free kit was a nice bonus] and making a little owl.

This was all followed by a lovely buffet lunch and shop till you drop.
Everyone wanted to do it again, so I have booked another day in March 2012.

Another bag day

2011-07-06T12:07:00.003+01:00

Spent yesterday on a workshop making a bag with machine embroidery. I actually managed to do the embroidery on two more bag fronts, but I have not had time to finish them yet. I love this butterfly pattern.

Last night was our Hamtune quilters meeting and we had a 10% to funds sales table. I sold a few odds and ends and made £10 which was a nice end to the day.

Baby quilt

2011-07-02T11:51:00.002+01:00

The Church I belong to like to give new Mum's a basket of baby items, so I made a quick baby quilt from a piece of Noah's Ark fabric cut into oblongs and sashed with a feathery print fabric. I then backed it with fleece [ teddies] and quilted in the ditch. By setting the oblongs like bricks I did not need to match seams and completed the snuggle rug in under 2 hours.
I think there are another couple of expectant Mum's so I may repeat the process.

Bath time!

2011-07-02T11:48:00.003+01:00

In my garden we have a pond and a bubbling large round stone. The blackbird has taken a fancy to the water jet and seems to use it as a jacuzzi!

Welsh holiday

2011-07-02T11:40:00.003+01:00

Last weekend we took a 4 day break to Llandudno, North Wales. The weather was mixed but on the Saturday we took a ride on the Tram up the Great Orme, the wind was enough to cut you in half but the views were spectacular. On the Sunday the sun shone so we drove back up the Gt Orme and enjoyed a welcome ice cream.

Design Wall June 21st

2011-06-21T08:32:00.003+01:00

My design wall today has 28 blocks attached that I won on the block lotto. I still have a few more on their way to me.

A big thank you to Coralie (Canada), Julie (England), Laura (GA,USA), Linda (Texas USA), Maree (New Zealand), Mary (WA, USA), Ramie (WA, USA) and Sandi (GA, USA).

What do you buy for an 80 year old ?

2011-06-14T19:46:00.002+01:00

My cousin John will be 80 years old next month and I wanted to buy him a little present but what? Suddenly the thought came to me to make him a notebook with a fabric cover. I found a photo of him as a youngster with his mother, our grandmother and great-grandmother. Hope it gives him a smile.

Todays workshop at Poppy Patch

2011-06-14T19:39:00.003+01:00

Todays workshop with Helen Spence was making an interesting block with 4 FQ's and background fabric. The FQ colours rotate making this a very nice table runner.

Each block measures 15 inches.

Visit the New Blog

2011-06-13T08:10:00.005+01:00

Hamtune Quilters of Northampton England have a new blog.

If you want to see the rest of the quilt made for an exchange with Northampton Western Australia check out the site.

hamtunequilters.blogspot.com

Family Tree quilt goes together

2011-06-12T21:44:00.002+01:00

Gradually my Family Tree is coming together.

After adding a 1 1/4 inch border to every picture I was very unsure how to make all the different size photos fit together.

Chris [ usually called Mr Fixit ] suggested making them all either 6, 9, 12 or 15 inches plus the 1/2 inch for the seam allowance.

As I had been using a jelly roll I just added a strip to each side and then cut them down to various sizes.. all went together well except I had a 6 inch slot missing, so I added another photo of my in-laws wedding and I now have it ready to quilt.

June Block Lotto

2011-06-09T22:11:00.004+01:00

The block for the June entry in the Block Lotto, was a simple three piece green, blue and purple set. I managed to make 9 this afternoon.

It is fun being taken out of my comfort zone, I would never have put these colours together!

Block Lotto

2011-06-06T16:39:00.002+01:00

Wow I won on my first attempt.
36 blocks will be winging their way to me from all over the place, Florida, Canada, New Mexico, Derbyshire, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, New Zealand and Washington. This is so exciting.
My blocks to send to other people that won are off to Georgia and Oregon tomorrow.
Check out the link button on my side panel if you want to play.

My design Wall

2011-06-06T10:58:00.008+01:00

I have all the photos printed on fabric ready for my FAMILY QUILT. Today I finished putting on the first borders and now have to decide how I am actually going to put them together.

In my research I managed to find photos of all my immediate family members back to all eight Great Grandparents, some are photos of paintings. I have also added other photos to make it more interesting, there is a business card from a family member in Hawaii, letter from an uncle while a prisoner of war, wedding announcement from the newspaper for my parents etc etc..

I have used part of a jelly roll, and I now have the rest of the jelly roll to fill in spaces and bulk it out, but how I am going to handle this part of the quilt I have no idea!

Machine embroidery

2011-06-03T11:37:00.006+01:00

This has been a hard time for me and I did not trust myself with a rotary cutter!!

To pass the time I did a lot of machine embroidery on my Brother Innovis 4000D.

I love the cowboy hat and boot full of flowers, and the frog design has been on my "to do" list for a long time. They measure about 8 x 6 inches, and I have no idea what I am going to use them for. Maybe a bag front, cushion, picture.. who knows?

The family

2011-06-03T11:34:00.003+01:00

After John R Glasspool [Jack]'s funeral the family took the wreathes and placed them on his wife's grave. He will be interred in the same plot eventually.

L to R : Eleanor kneeling down, Abigail in pink, Jacqueline and Richard together, Ken and Carol [ Chris's sister and husband] and then Chris is his new suit.

Help needed for Joplin

2011-05-27T09:04:00.002+01:00

Judy Laquidara is offering a wonderful quilt on her blog. She lives near Joplin in the USA that was devastated by a tornado last week.
For every $25 you get an entry for the quilt... etc Please read all about it and support her effort.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/help-joplin/

John Robert Glasspool

2011-05-20T08:13:00.002+01:00

John [Jack] Robert Glasspool 3 Feb 1913 - 19 May 2011

My father in law sadly lost his earthly life yesterday. He was a wonderful man and at age 98 still managed to live on his own. His jest for life, whatever was thrown at him was an inspiration to us all. He will be greatly missed.

BSK Bedford day

2011-05-18T13:04:00.002+01:00

Yesterday Penny, Clare and myself enjoyed a day at BSK Bedford. Because the project was so time consuming, we had two embroidery machines each, to make a large table mat. You can see in the picture my two machines, both busy sewing a quarter each of the outside lace edge. I love this design so much I already have another colour way sewing out on my own machine.

SunBonnet Sue is finished

2011-05-13T17:38:00.002+01:00

Yesterday at Poppy Patch, a local Quilting & Patchwork shop that have a sit and sew day, I managed to finish the binding on Sun Bonnet Sue. I have made this into a wall hanging.. now all I need is a BIG wall! The other pictures are some of the ladies "Sit n Sewing" this is a very friendly group that I attend twice a month.

Abigail's Butterfly quilt

2011-05-13T17:34:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I managed to finish the binding on Abigail's Butterfly quilt.

This was actually inspired by a pattern from Judy Laquidara. For the main part of the quilt I used the same multi-coloured fabric, with highlights of lavender, purple and gold. To make it a bit of fun for Abigail who is 7 years old I am adding 3D butterflies made on my embroidery machine.

Lotto Blocks

2011-05-11T12:21:00.002+01:00

Having recently seen a link to Lotto Blocks [ see side bar link] I decided to join in the fun. The May challenge is to make one to nine blocks using white or WOW fabric for the squares and triangles, plus two grey and 2 gold in each block, the rest random colours.

I decided to make nine, and now have them ready for when I recieve the link to put them on the lotto blog site.

Not sure how this all works, but it was fun making the blocks.

Family Tree quilt

2011-05-10T07:30:00.002+01:00

In response to a question about my family tree quilt and photos.
I decided years ago to make a family tree quilt but never got around to it, so when I thought "now is the time" I looked for photos of my immediate family.
I found I had pictures of all FOUR grandparents, plus to my amazement SIX of my Great Grandparents, this led me to search for the missing two GG's an Aunt said she had a painting of one of them so I hot footed it over to take a photo of the painting, and to my surprise she had found a photo of the eighth GG.
I also have a photo of a painting of my GGGrandfather, but that's as far as I can go.

Parents: Stanley SIMONS and Catherine ASHBY
GParents: William SIMONS m Ellen STEVENSON
John ASHBY m Annie PERCIVAL
GGParents: Joseph SIMONS m Emily CHENEY
Charles STEVENSON m Mary SNEATH
William ASHBY m Sarah ASHBY
George PERCIVAL m Hannah HICKERSON
GGGparent: William PERCIVAL born 1804

If you think you might be related to me I would love to hear from you.

Also I belong to the Guild of ONE NAME STUDIES, and have been researching GLASSPOOL's from around the world.

A lace pansy

2011-05-06T08:34:00.004+01:00

I have finished my first piece of lace for ages.. it is great being back in the lace mood.

I have not decided what to make next, maybe another pansy in a different colour.

This pattern was designed by Eeva-Liisa Kortelahti, and I needed something easy to make at Lace Days.

Hamtune Evening

2011-05-04T08:34:00.003+01:00

Last night was the evening meeting of Hamtune Quilters, Northampton.

We celebrated our 6 years with a beautiful cake, sit and sew and raising money for our nominated charity.

A 10% sales table was a big success, considering it was the first time we had done this. Plus what a great way to sell off your unwanted craft items. We raised £17.15.

Our occassional raffle brought in another £41, so a good start to this years gift to the Parkinson Society.

A new project, Family tree

2011-05-03T13:28:00.002+01:00

Having wanted to make a family tree with fabric I have at last started it!

The print out of my ancestors and desendants has been copied onto fabric. Also I have managed to find photos of my parents, grandparents and even Great Grandparents to add along with snippets of other information, like newspaper cuttings and a birth register document.

I intend using a jelly roll to join the fabric pictures together, and will start by adding a 1 inch border to each photo, then attemp to join them altogether into a wall hanging.

Bournemouth weekend

2011-05-03T13:10:00.006+01:00

On Thursday Chris came home from work and on the spur of the moment we decided to take a special offer Shearings self drive break the following day!

Friday was THE Royal wedding and I did not want to miss a minute of it, so up really early to shower and pack and then TV from 8am until they went into Buckingham Palace for the lunch. What a wonderful wedding and something only Britain and our Royal family seem to know how to do. The weather was fine and Kate Middleton and Prince William looked so at ease and happy.

After a quick lunch we were on our way and made a stop at Thatcham to see Chris's dad who is in hospital, at 97 years old he is just in for observation.

Finally arrive at the Majestic Hotel in time for dinner.

Saturday we took the chain link ferry at Poole and just enjoyed the wonderful weather and countryside. After dinner at the Hotel we enjoyed the company of a couple we met and watched the evening entertainment, an Elvis impersonator, he was brilliant!

Sunday it was off to the New Forest, where the donkeys roam the streets, and a mother duck was seen swimming with eleven babies. Again we enjoyed the evening entertainment a musical act. Monday after breakfast was the journey home feeling relaxed and having had a wonderful time.

Abigail the starfish

2011-04-28T08:27:00.003+01:00

This is my first attempt at putting a video clip on my blog, so hope it works! I made my granddaughter a star fish costume for her "under the sea" show. After the video I sewed sequins etc.. all over the back.

Mini IAM 26th April 2011

2011-04-26T17:59:00.002+01:00

Today being an extra days holiday for the schools, it was decided to have another mini IAM day at my house. I collected Abigail (7yrs) early in the morning and then Jenny and granddaughter Olivia arrived plus Penny.

The start of the class was ribbon weaving in 5 bright colours of ribbon, stuck to heat-n-Bond and cut to basket shape. Next an assortment of artificial flowers, sequins, Tintzl glitter were added, and the whole thing covered in netting. Finally the whole thing was random machined, and three of us turned them into pictures and Penny made hers into a bag. Mine is still to be finished!

With a little spare time at the end the girls designed labels for the back on the computer and printed them on fabric.

A very enjoyable day was had by all.

Abigail's butterfly quilt

2011-04-21T15:26:00.005+01:00

Husbands arms were not wide enough for the quilt photo! but I have managed to get all the borders on and if I can find someone to long arm quilt it, and it's not too expensive I will get the top put together and add a binding. Then the 3D butterflies will be added randomly [ I have 7 of them made so far].

If longarm quilting is too expensive it will take me some time to get it quilted, as it is not one of my favorite things with large quilts. This one measure 66 x 83 inches.

BBQ sauce

2011-04-20T07:58:00.002+01:00

Tonight I am off to a recipe swap at Church, where everyone brings their favorite recipe and we can all try a sample of the made up item. I am definitely not known for my cooking, too many other crafts I would sooner be doing! BUT one of the family favorites is my BBQ sauce, so thought I'd share the recipe with you all.

BBQ sauce

Mix together in a large pan over medium heat:
1 bottle Soy Sauce
1 bottle Worcester Sauce [ keep back a couple of tablespoons ]
1 jar Honey
2 jars Red seedless jam
2 bottles tomato ketchup
Juice of a lemon

Next mix with the remaining Worcester sauce:
2 tbs of dry mustard and 2tbs cornflour into a smooth paste
Add this slowly to the pan and bring to the boil
Leave to cool, then freeze or use.
Wonderful with spare ribs, beefburgers or hot dogs!

A new piece of Bobbin Lace

2011-04-18T11:39:00.002+01:00

Having attended a lace day at Bozeat on Saturday, where I spent my time winding about 40 pairs of bobbins, I have now started a new piece of lace, just a small picture of a pansy.

Cat woman junior

2011-04-15T16:12:00.003+01:00

Abigail is staying with us for a couple of days during her Easter holiday.

For a ballet exam she needs a cat costume, so arrived with the main part and we have made ears and paws for her.

Dosn't she look cute.

Bag Day at Bedford

2011-04-11T18:11:00.005+01:00

Spent today with a very nice group of ladies at Bedford on a workshop. Some were making a quilt-as-you-go quilt, one was working on her very first quilt, and what a wonderful job she did too.

Four or five of us had a lesson from Tiny in making a bag with fancy insets. My bag front and back are pictured.

Thanks Sue for a lovely day.

Sun Bonnet Sue

2011-04-09T14:11:00.002+01:00

My Sun Bonnet Sue BOM blocks are all finished and joined together, using the quilt as you go method.

The next border will be red to match the sashing but then I cannot decide what to do !! There are meant to be further borders with applique on but as I have used red and black I just do not think it will work.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Final idea is just to put on one red border and edge it with the black and use it as a wall hanging.

IAM Thursday 7th April

2011-04-09T14:09:00.003+01:00

As usual a group of eight of us met at my house for a meeting. Usually these meetings are just informal, but it was decided to hold a workshop, and we made purses and notebook covers.. lots of them !