Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Stop Press


As Laura Robson was playing at Wimbledon I was able to watch the tennis while I sewed the final seams on the bag! Tuesday bag perhaps?!



Hang out the flags - 100th post coming up!! Except I think it is only the 99th!!


Happy 100th Birthday to us!!
For those of you who have managed to look through the entries, thankyou.  We do seem to have made some wonderful quilts/cakes etc since embarking on this outing.
It all started because, after many years of discussing the fact that we never took photos, Alison arrived in blogland, & here we are!



Tea & cake has always been a big part of the day - always a time for 'Show & Tell' & discussion before getting down to work!
Today was no exception - no fat lemon cake (whisked sponge) with a lemon curd filling.
After Sandown at the weekend we looked at each other's purchases & books/magazines from birthdays & the show - oh no, more ideas!


Chris had already nearly finished a monkey Buttons 'Kangaroo' bag, only purchased on Saturday.  The fabric was from the Monkey Buttons stand too.  We discussed the finishing edges & how to attach the one-piece handle, which makes it very strong.



 Janet Was finishing the binding on a 3 sisters, Moda, quilt - Le Moyne Star from Studio 180 designs.  Quilted by Yvette at Needle & Thread, another sample for the shop!




Archie had a very good use for the quilt - I think he approves!!



Alison was putting the finishing touches to her fourth block, which is actually block nine, of the Barb Adams BOTM quilt.  She is doing the four corners first in case you were wondering!!

Chris has a very large box of 2 1/2" strips so was deciding which to use for a scrappy friendship braid class that Janet is running at Needle & thread on Saturday.  There is certainly plenty to choose from!!!


 The sun came out & so did we, minus Caroline who has had to go to work today.  Hopefully we will be five again soon!
Lasagne & salad followed by fruit crumble was on the menu, along with a few more cups of tea - of course!!



Just to prove I did actually do something - this hand quilting needle case needed finishing.  A project run by Yvette at Heather Quilters in Camberley, I used Belle Fleur fabric & buttons from my stash!  Yes it is not only fabric us quilters have in abundance!!

  


I also managed to almost finish my Beach Hut wall hanging from Julia Gahagan's class at Needle & Thread.
I purchased the hanger from a stand at Sandown - Patchwork Corner.
I have a few more shells to attach but they need larger holes drilled into them as even the smallest needle will not do through!











No Fat Lemon Sponge
For each sponge
3 eggs separated
3oz caster sugar
2oz SR flour
touch of Baking powder
Juice & Rind of one lemon

Whisk egg yolks with sugar & lemon rind.  Add flour & baking powder alternating with juice.
Beat egg whites separately & fold into mixture.  Bake in lined tin for about 25mins on 180 C (if fan oven slightly less)
I made two & sandwiched together with lemon curd

Another busy day - until next time!!!











Sunday, June 23, 2013

It's been a long time!

Well it has been a long time since the last Tuesday visit to Hampshire and my turn to write the blog. I had to think about it for a while before jumping in and getting started. Obviously didn't think about it enough though as I forgot the cardinal rule of saving your work as you go and managed to lose the first copy of the entry as I attempted to insert a link! Not a good start!

Unfortunately Caroline could not join us today as she had other obligations, hopefully it won't be long till we can have 5 of us together again.

We started the day with reminding ourselves about 'The etiquette of tea' as featured on a birthday card Amanda had sent me. We all loved the idea of scones, sandwiches and then cake but we in reality we enjoyed banana and chocolate chip cookies with our first cup of tea of the day.

Show and tell was next, Janet had a lovely bowtie quilt that she has made using Belle Fleur by Moda, I think one of the French General collection. She had used a charm pack and a little extra fabric for it. It really was very pretty. It will be a sample for the shop Needle and Thread to show off some of the fabrics.



She also had, yes she has been very busy as usual, a super tumbler quilt
 using Basic Grey PB&J fabric. The tumbler shapes had been cut using the Studio cutter which makes accurate cutting of a lot of shapes quick and easy. it was such a bright and colourful quilt. Another sample for the shop I believe. Yvette, the owner of needle and Thread, had long arm quilted them both. They inspired us to get cracking with some projects. We are fortunate to have the chance to see so many of the new fabrics made up into quilts as they often come to life in a quilt as to on the bolt.


After catching up on all the news and another cup of tea, we got down to some sewing. Amanda was busy putting the finishing touches to a wallhanging that she had been making on a workshop with Julia Gahagan at Needle and Thread. We all aahed and oohed over it and it made us long for some really summer weather and a day at the seaside!
Janet was binding the the bow tie and tumbler quilts and Chris was binding the Black and white quilt  of which I can't believe I didn't take a picture. I will 'borrow' the photo from an earlier blog post.
 As Amanda and I both have birthdays in June we were celebrating birthdays this week. We were both extremely lucky with delightful and thoughtful presents from our friends. Lots to look at it and admire and a bit of reading matter to inspire us too! Thank you from both of us.

 The celebrating didn't stop at presents.....Janet had made us a chocolate birthday cake which we adorned with candles and the obligatory singing and blowing out of candles followed. It was a delicious cake!!! thank you Janet.
 In between making cups of tea and unwrapping birthday gifts I was busy appliquing a double wedding ring quilt onto plain white borders. as soon as that is done I can layer it and get quilting. I am on a deadline with this so watch this space!
It was lovely to see everybody, Caroline, you were missed and hope it is not too long before everyone gets back together again.

Wishing you all some warm weather or at least some sunshine!