Have yourself a merry little Christmas

 It is hard to believe that we are celebrating the end of another year, it was lovely to get together again, something that has not happened very often this year for various reasons. Janet and Caroline arrived safely, Amanda was coming later as she was working this morning. Chris, you were missed, hope the Tuesday puppy is on the mend.

After a couple of cups of tea and banana muffins we got down to some sewing, you have to love those RUB boxes they are so good for the organisation of quilt projects.

Caroline was busy working on a couple of projects with a Christmas theme - some table mats with foundation piecing, each tree was slightly different. Not sure I would let anyone near these with food!  Also a table runner with friendship stars. These were both classes with Janet at Needle and Thread, I think

Janet was busy hand sewing some square in a square blocks using a foundation. They are very pretty with a lovely range of fabrics.

Amanda arrived for lunch and after lunch we continued to sew. Amanda was working on her hexagons which has grown in size every time we see it.

I was working on hand quilting a double wedding ring quilt which you can see on the chair in the background. I had hoped to have this finished by Christmas but it simply is not going to happen.

 Of course as it was nearly Christmas we had lots of presents to open. It is always exciting to shake, squeeze and prod the parcels, wondering what delights are contained within. Everyone always makes such an effort to choose such lovely gifts.

After another cup of tea, and a little more sewing it was all too soon time for the girls to head off home.   

                                                                      

As we have all been finding it tricky to meet up weekly, next year we have decided to try meeting once a month, that way we are hoping we will all be able to keep that day free. So hopefully there will still be regular blogposts but just once a month.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2014!

December Again!!

 It was a day of bindings.  Janet was finishing her Kansas Trouble table runner, whilst visitor Janet was also finishing a binding on her quilt.

Cake, as usual, features somewhere in the day!! - Watch out for low fat, calorie recipes in the New Year - have we heard that before??

Janet's birthday, better late than never!  The dorothy bag made in memory of a late friend, Chris Thurlow from a pattern given to me by her in a past workshop.





Our visitor had some lovely examples & has been very prolific.  This quilt was made up from Red Rooster fabrics, "A Year To Crow".

Meanwhile, the finished Kansas Trouble table runner by our own Janet.  Love the way it went together - a workshop to do, I think!

 Again, our visitor at work.  The above panel, again Red Rooster Fabrics, Let It Snow & the table mat from a set of African Birds from Out of Africa.

As Some of us have reached the age of in built central heating, I did not have the radiators on.  Caroline was feeling the cold so we wrapped her in a quilt, of course!!

My effort for the day - Fabrics from "Worn & Washed" purchased at Sandown about six years ago, made up & left in a drawer!  Thanks to Yvette at Needle & Thread otherwise it would never have been quilted.

The recipients were delighted so it was worth it in the end!

Where did November Go?

Here we are at the end of November, where did the last four weeks go? Or the past eleven months?

Caroline was the first to arrive this morning, as she would only be with us until 12, as she would be teaching this afternoon.

Caroline was followed by Amanda and Chris soon after. Alison had other plans today.

With our tea this morning, we had a Carrot Cake, which Caroline had bought - a very nice cake.

Caroline brought me an early birthday present, a patchwork book, that uses precut fabrics, book marks showing the buildings of New York and some cat themed sticky notes.

Amanda was making the borders on her Jacob's Ladder quilt, there is a photo last week's blog. 

Chris was continuing to make hexagons.

I was making a Mini Travel Bag by Brenda Walker, a kit I had bought last year at the quilt show at Duxford.

For lunch we had Chicken and Vegetable soup with Ciabatta and Apple and Blackberry crumble with custard.

After lunch Chris had a 'show and tell', the quilt pattern is 'Going for a Spin' by Sue Harlan.  It was made using a split stripe fabric.  The split stripe fabric (a wide stripe that has a row of flowers, where the colour changes) has been fussy cut in each of these patterns to create a special effect. This fabric is no longer available.

Until next time.