It's been quite a satisfying half-term - time to sew!

Missed the company today but look forward to seeing the others again soon

Cutting and sewing ...

Four Tuesday girls today - all cutting and sewing. The fifth had obligations elsewhere. She was missed.

Show and tell to start the day:

The black and white with red quilt is the latest to be pieced from Kim Brackett's book "Scrap Basket Sensations". Pieced by Chris and quilted by Yvette at Needle and Thread and awaiting binding.

The tumbler quilt is a gift for Chris's niece. Quilting is a work in progress but needs to be completed before July! The tumblers were originally a kit purchased at Farnham Maltings - a few years ago now. The fabric is Odyssey from MoMo for Moda.

It was a day of hand sewing for most which is thirsty work but we were trying to stay away from the calorific cakes and had Weight watchers bake well slices

Janet was making great progress with her calendar blocks from Nancy Halvorsen and has the Summer months almost completed - just the details to add.

Caroline was handstitching her Four Seasons. I'm always in awe of her beautiful stitchery

Amanda got her next block basted - very delicate work

Chris was cutting for a new project. These are going to be big blocks so I'm only making four rather than the nine in the pattern layout.

Another Tuesday gone. Half-term next week so we may all be away! Enjoy the Bank Holiday and fingers crossed the sun will shine

Is It Really May?

Is it really May its more like March here today, cold, wet and windy.

Chris was the first to arrive followed by Amanda, Caroline would be with us at lunchtime as she was teaching this morning. Alison was visiting her Mother in Scotland, trying out Sheltered Accommodation again!

Our cake today was from the Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake Book, a All-in-one Victoria Sandwich Cake, with strawberry jam.

Chris was planing a Log Cabin Star Quilt using a Charm Pack, a Mini Charm pack and some yardage of  Noteworthy by Sweetwater from Moda fabrics.

Chris also brought with one of the baby socks she had been knitting - so tiny!

Amanda was tying the ends of the Thomas the Tank Engine Quilt for her cousin's baby.

Chris left before lunch to take the Tuesday puppy Berry to agility.

Caroline arrive in time for lunch, which was salmon and salad, with meringue creme fraiche and fruit for dessert.

I was putting the borders on a pineapple quilt, this is a sample for Needle and Thread. The fabrics are Avalon by Fig Tree from Moda fabrics.The blocks are foundation pieced

A close up of the centre.

This is the scraps from the pineapple blocks.

Until next time

What do I call today?

A wonderful sunny day started off with some show & tell.
This Amish quilt I made at a class with Sue in Canterbury on an Amish Day.  We had whoopee pies & other Amish food, to go with the sewing, along with a bit of history.
I have cut the borders so hope to have a completed top to show you all soon!

 Always a favourite with children, I am making this for my cousin's baby, Thomas Edward Bertie for his christening.
The baby quilt never quite got finished so I am determined to do this one properly!!
I thought it appropriate to choose Thomas, but he is being known as Bertie so will have to add some Bertie the Bus fabric!!

 Caroline is using her not so new machine to practice "stippling" before attacking her quilt from the previous few weeks!
Getting used to a different machine, the stitching is getting smaller!

Janet is sewing these Christmas pictures, a strip by Moda, from Needle & thread in Horsell, to make up into Christmas bunting.  they will be displayed in the shop later in the year.  This is what I call being very organised!






 Alison is proudly showing off some of her finished Block of the Month blocks from Country Inn by Barb Adams & Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs.

The two blocks on the left are my BOTM blocks from the same book, using fabric from Patchwork Cabin in Bookham.  Alison is using her own fabric selection.

This is a comparison of the two identical blocks in the different colour combinations.








Another successful day of eating, drinking & quilting - it should be "Tea & Cake on Tuesdays!!"

Which Way Up?

Tuesday began with a start.  I overslept!  So, bang went any idea of me baking (as I have said in the past... I am a little on the last minute.com side and had planned to do it when I got up which is usually about 6.00am,) so it was off to a local supermarket to buy the makings for lunch and for something to have with our cups of tea.  Oh well!  I had the best of intentions - I will hope to resolve the issue next time I host!

By the time I got into the conservatory to check that all was well it was past 10.00 am and warming up rapidly.  It was a beautiful and bright blue morning so I whizzed around with a duster and set the table with mats etc so at least I was ready for the imminent arrival of the Tuesday Girls.  Alison was first on the scene by which time I had even got the kettle on.  Chris arrived a short while later and then Janet.  (Amanda was in London at the Kaffe Fassett exhibition, so it was just the four of us.) Tea for us and coffee for Alison with some low fat carrot cake slices and some mini breakfast muffins (which were rather nice warm but a little less so, cold).

Apart from Chris, we had been to the Meon Valley Quilters show on Saturday ( showing a wonderful display of modern and traditional styles all beautifully displayed in a church near Fareham), then we went on to Alison's for lunch after.  Janet and I had both bought some fabric there from Creative Quilters and another stall, which we showed to Chris.  In one room we saw demonstrations of rag rug making and some tumbling blocks.  A template was given and so by today, Alison had already had a go and made some up.  Which way up would they go up though...?  So after our short 'show and tell' we all had our preferences. Each way up looks so different! So, which way would you have them?

I have finally completed the top and back of my quilt from the Modern Quilting magazine and was able to layer and pin it.  It is now awaiting quilting, but as to which way I will do it is anyone's guess.

Janet and Chris were both sewing on bindings to some incredible quilts, one for charity and the other for a niece.  Alison was working with another of her BOM and applying the stem and flowers ready to applique them on.  I was prevaricating as ever and putting off cutting the backing up for my black and white quilt as I couldn't remember the sizes or setting out for it.  This was unfortunate as Alison and Janet had helped me with it once already.  Luckily they were willing to help again.




Chris departed before lunch as she had agility training to attend, so it was three for lunch.  This was to be chicken thighs with a sage and onion seasoning and a thick slice of orange (to caramelise) over the top.  Mini pork pies and prawns; salad and some rustic rolls were to go with it then; fresh strawberries and creme fresh or toffee apple pie and cream were to follow.

After lunch and another cuppa,  we carried on with our various projects and I finally got around to cutting the backing up and have several pieces now to stitch.  That will have to wait for another day though as I was short of time. Janet, having completed sewing her binding on and Alison packed up all too soon and so before the school rush began, they were gone. Another wonderfully relaxing day over, but at least we had all achieved our goals and had something to show for our efforts.

 

Once more... until next time!