Gloomy Tuesday!

What a cold, miserable day - just right for indulging in a bit of sewing!

Janet was eager to get started & was putting the finishing touches to a 2007 project, 'Hidden Stars'.

Just the thing to warm your knees!

Caroline had found a scarf she was knitting many years ago - another project to finish off.  Lovely soft, white wool - stocking stitch and looking good.

It is definitely a day for finishing & Janet had also brought along a Nancy Halvorsen project. The idea is to finish the christmas projects throughout the year!

After a lunch of chicken & bacon pasta with salad & chocolate mousse, Janet showed off the finished article from a class by Carolyn Forster using Kansas Trouble & Thimbleberries fabrics from her stash.

Amanda finished a quit top for the 'Quilters Challenge' for the Guildford Quilters Spring Show at Clandon House in April. She used a pack of fabric strips from Patchwork Cabin in Bookham with a colourful background from Needle & Thread in Horsell.

Caroline was asking advice on borders for her black & white disappearing nine patch, using fat quarters from Needle & Thread.  We all decided on a small white border followed by a slightly wider black border.

Chris didn't make lunch but brought along a Lil' Twister sample using some spare scraps.  We do seem to be starting off the New Year with renewed vigour - long may it continue.  I for one am determined to reduce the UFO's to a manageable pile!!

Alison was unable to be with us but we are all looking forward to a trip to Hampshire next week - hopefully a 'full house' again.

UNTIL NEXT TIME!!

Together Again

Alison was the first to arrive today, followed by Caroline and Amanda, Chris was running a little late, but would be with us by twelve.

The weather was good, blue skies but very cold.

We spent our first cup of tea and biscuits, followed quickly by a second, on catching up on our news.  Four of us had been to Farnham Maltings for the Quilters Sale on Sunday and we compared notes on how we thought it was.

Alison had a show and tell.  A quilt she had made on Monday!!  The pattern was from Moda Bakeshop website and was made with Sleepytime, (a moda fabric) and some additional fabric.
 

Alison was also sewing some more Farmer's Wife blocks.

Amanda was sewing a black, white and turquoise quilt, the pattern is called Twinkle and is in a book  Scrap-Basket Sensations by Kim Brackett

Caroline was sewing the last rows on to her black and white quilt, which is done as a disappearing nine patch pattern.

 
Chris was cutting the sashing for her Mystery 12 Days of Christmas quilt.  Alison and I have also done this quilt, but we are waiting until they are all finished or at least the tops, before we do a 'show and tell'. 

I was sewing the ends in on a Hidden Star quilt, which I had started with Carolyne Forster at a workshop we had at Alison's a few years ago.

At lunch we were joined by the honorary Tuesday Girl, Stephanie, who had just come back from taking an exam at University.

For lunch we had lasagne, salad and french bread with a chocolate dessert.

These chickens were a belated birthday present  from Caroline for Chris and myself.

After lunch we continued on with our projects, two more cups of tea and some fruit bread, before it was time to leave, Alison back to Hampshire, Amanda and Chris back to Woking.  Caroline stayed a little long to finish the last row of her quilt.


Until next time







 

Altogether Once More

A Happy New Year to one and all... a little late, but as this was the first time we have got together since December, this is the first blog of the NY. 

This was the first Tuesday we were all available to get together so it was a little un-nerving to not know if I could host or not.  We have visitors from Brazil staying so the conservatory was unavailable for me to offer for us to meet.  Chris was kind enough to offer the venue and I supplied the edible matter! It was wonderful for us to All manage to make it, too! Amanda was first, me second, closely followed by Alison and Janet.  I was carting the 'kitchen sink' or so it seemed so was grateful for the many helpful  hands.  I really must learn to only take what I can reasonably achieve... but to be fair, I did have our lunch etc.  as well as my quilting extras.

We began with a cuppa; what else would we do after such a long break? Cakes were white choc and raspberry or double choc brownies and some completely fat and egg free muffins ( these were disappointing... a recipe from the internet involving orange zest, mashed banana and grated apple.. They were too wet and needed much longer cooking than suggested but didn't taste too bad)... 

Amanda had been to France for Christmas and brought back some very useful bags for us.. I utilised mine immediately.. you will read how later. After a great deal of chat and laughter plus some show and tell from Janet (her amazing christmas quilt top, from a block of the month project several of them have done - as yet not complete and a quartet of Seasonal cross-stitch pictures which looked lovely.. the colours just 'popped' on the fabric and complemented each of the  panels). 

Then, I was presented with pressies as it had been my birthday at the weekend.  My very thoughtful friends had given me gifts ranging from a wonderful quilted machine tidy mat (everyone clamoured for one to be their next present too)... to a 'super' (sorry - couldn't resisit the pun!!!!) Covent Garden Soup recipe book, amazing quilting books and a super jelly roll.  I am a very spoilt woman.. as each member of the group has shown how much they've noticed about me and my preferences and produced just the right gifts.  Thank you, ladies.

We all began working on our individual projects ranging from Alison's applique, Amanda had almost completed her Xmas gift  kit from Janet, to me laying out my panels for the disappearing stars quilt I began a few years ago.  (I hope to make this the wedding gift for our Brazilian friends whose wedding we went to in November.. so long as the design / colours are acceptable.) I looked longingly at Chris's version of this quilt which is beautiful.. noting how the stars really do stand out.  Some thought is needed for mine which is floral in theme. At this point my camera ran out of power so photos are from Chris!!  Moral.. remember where you have put your charger... or the spare battery!!!

 Soon it was time for lunch... I had made some roasted vegetable soup whilst staying at MIL's and frozen it, so it made an ideal lunch item to 'cart' around as it was 'pre-packaged'!  Combine that with baguettes and carrot and sunflower seed bread, ham, prawns and a small beetroot and watercress salad plus trimmings, it made a filling lunch.  Desert was fresh fruit salad or passionfruit and raspberry cheesecake or both if that was what took your fancy!  We returned to our various projects, chattering as we went... The ladies gave me some sound advice about fabric choices - floral against plain for the Star quilt and then we drank some more tea. To the tune of 'Happy Birthday' we partook of a wonderful chocolate cake with candles... which I duly blew out!  All too soon, it was time to pack up and so my wonderful pressies were put carefully into my new bag and toted to the front door, ready to go. Sadly, another Tuesday was over.  Until next time!!!