Time continues to fly by

I can't believe it's almost the end of October....where has the time gone? 10 months of the year gone already.....


The people of the east coast of America were in our thoughts this morning. As we enjoyed the autumn sunshine they were battling with the terrible storm 'Sandy' which has caused such havoc and destruction. The force and power of nature is certainly not to be taken lightly.

After a very autumnal start to the day with a fine mist blanketing the hills, the sun came out for the drive down for the Surrey girls. A half car load today with Janet and Caroline today as it is half term and the Amanda and Chris have other plans.

The kettle was soon on and after a cuppa and apple spiced muffins, which were not my finest I have to say,  we were down to work. I took advantage of their opinions to decide what borders to put on a scrap quilt that I had made at the previous weekend's retreat. The consensus was that I didn't have the right shade of red so I would have to go shopping for another ..... tough job but someone has to do it!

Janet soon got down to work on her log cabin blocks. She is using a Moda Honeybun of Wildflower Serenade II and a Marti Michell Log cabin ruler  to precut all her pieces. You can see all the little baggies with her sets already to sew.

This is a project that Janet is sewing on her lovely featherweight machine.
Janet completed 5 blocks today making a total of 11, only 53 to go!!!























Caroline was machine quilting the Friendship Star table runner that she had started in class with Janet at Needle and Thread. She was using a selection of fabrics including some from the Macower Yuletide Abstract range. Some she had purchased from a needlework shop called Reticule in Kendal whilst on holiday in the Lakes.

It really is lovely and not only will it look super on the table a t Christmas but will bring back happy memories of her holiday.

Also in the spirit of Christmas, I was preparing a wool table mat that will makes its appearance over the holidays.

I couldn't resist it when I saw on a visit to Quilters Haven on the way to a retreat last weekend. Well I say I couldn't resist but I picked it up and put it down and picked it up and put it down, till I took myself in hand and repeated the old mantra, you will only regret it if you don't!!   (that maybe explains the size of the fabric stash!) 
Jane who was with me was chuckling away at my indecision, and as she reads this she will also be laughing at me having started it before finishing any else.

All too soon it was time to pack up and for Janet and Caroline to make their way home, hope they weren't too busy chatting that they missed any turnings this time!!

Hope Amanda and Chris have enjoyed their halfterm break and look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Four Together Again, At Last!

Due to family issues, I am rather late in posting and as this is to be a less than adequate blog, I offer my apologies. 

It was a conservatory day thanks to my lovely, but absent neighbour.  It was a cool day so the first thing I had to do was organise a heater which didn't take long to make the room nice and toastie.  By the time Janet arrived everything was ship-shape and ready to receive the Tuesday Girls.  Alison, sadly was not going to make it having another commitment. Of course, tea was served up with triple chocolate muffins and coffee flavoured chocolate brownie (Betty Crocker mix with a strong dose of coffee added).  Now a word of caution... don''t try to follow two sets of instructions at the same time as near disasters are best avoided.  I added the oil from one recipe to the other by mistake, but luckily the result wasn't as bad as it could have been and the muffins were perhaps a little moister than they should have been. (The left-overs were taken to work and were gone before I got to the staff room at break time!!!)

We sat and reviewed family life, house extentions and briefly looked at magazines for a while, then Janet showed me a seam roller she had bought.  She had been reviewing several blogs, Which we looked at on my lap top... Cathy's Quilts and RaNae Merrill's Quilt Design (hopefully, links will be provided once I find them again and then how to insert them) where she came across the idea of using a wallpaper seam roller as a seam roller for quilting.  It works too!  She used it on her quilt seams as we machined, very effectively too.  Saved getting out the iron and ironing board!  Then the door knocker sounded and it was Chris.. she had managed to get away early.  Amanda soon followed and without further ado, more tea was served up as we reviewed Janet's find.   

 

A little more sewing was enjoyed before I began getting the lunch ready.  This consisted of home made veg soup (roasted for about 40 minutes till soft - carrots, butternut squash, onion, potato with a small apple thrown in, then blended together with some chicken stock. I add a vegetable Oxo,before roasting then herbs and garlic granules to taste), fresh crusty white bread (made in the bread maker) all followed by Devilishh Chocolate desert. Another cup of tea and we cleared the decks to continue sewing.   

I had my table runner, made in Janet's class at Needle and Thread, to quilt... Chris was knitting and Janet had various projects, including log-cabin  blocks and some chain piecing she was doing, and Amanda had her applique . I couldn't believe that the time passed by so quickly, but sadly it did.  Chris was expecting a delivery so left early, then Janet and Amanda went together.  Sadly another Tuesday over.. next week Janet and I are off to Alison's.

Until next time...!!!

Just Three Today

There would only be Amanda, Caroline and myself today.

After a couple of phone calls, from both Amanda and Caroline saying they were running late, Amanda was the first to arrive, with the kettle already boiled, we had our first cup of tea of the day. As soon as we finished our first cup, Caroline arrived, and the kettle was on again. 

We had chocolate macaroons, lemon slices and waffles.  The waffles when balanced on top of a mug of tea go all soft and gooey

Amanda was preparing her applique pieces for a block of the month from Patchwork Cabin in Great Bookham called Evening Bloom from the book by Blackbird Designs called Country Inn.

And with all the pieces prepared for sewing.

Caroline was sewing on the borders on the Friendship Star Tablerunner in Christmas fabrics. This is from a workshop at Needle and Thread  done last Saturday and then Caroline pinned the layers together in preparation for quilting.

All pinned and ready to go! 

Lunch was vegetable soup, french bread and apple pie with creme fraiche.

After lunch I continued making the log cabin blocks from a honey bun from Moda called Wildflower Serenade by Kansas Troubles. This is a project that I will be doing on our Tuesdays over the next few months, four blocks done and lots more to do! 

Amanda was sewing more of her hexagons together, this is growing into a much large piece now.

Until next time.

  



We're Back Again!!

Although the blog is back, it was only a small gathering, just Janet & myself today!

Due to other commitments we might be a little thin on the ground until Christmas, so watch this space!!



We started with lunch of fresh chicken & vegetable soup with chunky bread followed by fresh fruit - a very healthy but tasty option.

 Then it was down to business. Janet wanted to make some charm squares into half square triangles.
She had a pattern in mind until I showed her this quilt.  It was donated by a member of Guildford Quilters, Moira Edwards, to donate to the Samson Centre in Guildford.

 Janet loved the layout of Moira's quilt & was inspired to start cutting her background squares.  Hopefully there will be enough fabric to make a slightly larger version.

 I had printed some quilt labels onto fabric, using an inkjet printer, so spent the afternoon backing them with calico & finishing the edges, ready to sew onto the charity quilts.

We finished off the afternoon with some scones (courtesy of my mother) with home-made raspberry jam & fresh cream - well, we did miss out on our morning cake & cuppa - didn't we???

Hopefully we will be back next week!

Autumn is approaching

A beautiful autumnal day for the drive down to Hampshire for Janet and Amanda today. It is definitely cooler now at the beginning of the day although warming up as the day goes on. A small gathering today as Caroline is still on holiday and Chris is at home as the Tuesday puppy needs a bit of looking after.

What are you doing for Britain?

With the tea brewing we tucked into some oat and chocolate chip muffins. We tried to be good with some mini ones and there was a lot of discussion as to how many mini muffins equaled a large one ....I fear we are only kidding ourselves!



Sewing started with Janet trying out her new ruler Marti Michell log cabin ruler, she was using a now discontinued Moda Honeybun -1 and 1/2 inch strips- from a range called Wildflower Serenade II. She announced that it was a very easy ruler to use and that it made the process much quicker and more accurate. Always good to hear how a tool or new ruler has worked out. This will be a project to be sewn on her Featherweight. We look forward to seeing it finished and knowing Janet's prolific output I don't think it will be too long!

After a great deal of discussion about the relative merits of patterns and block sizes, Amanda and I got busy starting to cut up some shirts for a memory quilt. We decided that taking the backs out first would allow us to get a good idea of how any squares could be cut from each shirt and would also allow a bit of flexibility as to what other part of the shirt would be used. More of that project in a later post.

After a lunch of a chicken, chorizo and butter bean casserole served with salad and baked potatoes, we finished off with brownies and raspberries from the garden.

After all that, we all would have been quite happy to have a nap, but instead it was back to business. I had been preparing a block for a new quilt, from the book Country Inn by Blackbird Designs. The quilt is called Evening Bloom, I had seen one that had been completed and just loved it ....I mean what's not to love, there is applique and big blocks and flowers!

Block one - The Tulip block

I was using some new applique tools that I had bought at this year's Festival of Quilts called Apliquick, they are really meant for using with much smaller pieces but it was good to try them out - sorry I forgot to take a picture of them being used - next time! they really make the process very painfree, it will be interesting to see what effect the fusible interlining has on the look of the finished piece, especially after it is washed.

Amanda brought along her log cabin wallhanging, she was hoping to get some ideas on what design to use for quilting, the blues and browns looked so lovely. She has now decided so we are looking forward to seeing it completed.

She then got busy on more hexagons, it is amazing how they quickly mount up just doing a few at a time. it is always fun to see the containers that people use to keep their hexie projects in and how they change as the hexies grow and grow.

All too soon it was time to say goodbye and another Tuesday is marked off on the calendar.

Back to School Already

Janet, Alison & myself made a start with the usual tea & cake - lemon drizzle (low fat, of course!!).  Chocolate  chunk cookies courtesy of Morrisons as I ran out of time!

Alison has nearly finished hand quilting her on-going project so we are saving the photos until it is complete! She did however, make use of a gift from another quilting friend, Bee.  A lovely thread tidy & pin cushion in Japanese fabric, made for a retreat in a few weeks.              

                                                                                                                                                             

 I, along with a group of my Guildford Quilter friends, have completed the first of our charity quilts for the Samson Centre in Guildford. It is to be raffled for funds.
It was made using a crazy patch pattern with scraps from people's stash and sewn together with binding strips.

 As there were two extra blocks made, we decided to make a bag in which to carry the quilt.  This will also be useful if a wheelchair user wins it, as they can carry it around with them.










Janet has been busy with some hexagons. A practice using apliquick tools with interfacing & glue, not papers.  She was experimenting with thread & invisible thread using different methods for joining. Remember this for the future - it may be a table runner!!!

 A lunch of chicken & chorizo risotto with salad

 was followed by rhubarb fool.  I even had to remove a shelf from the fridge as the glasses were too tall!  (Recipe at end courtesy of Delia)

 Janet had almost completed her tumbler blocks quilt in Martinique by Three Sisters for Moda.
It is for a class at Needle & Thread in Horsell, where she works. It might be on display on Weds evening as there is a fabric sale on in the shop from 7-9pm.

I did actually do some cutting during the day, along with eating, drinking & tea making!  Chris joined us for an afternoon cuppa, along with our other Tuesday member - Berry.  It was an interesting experience as Berry encountered one of my cats, Archie, on the sofa.  Forgot the photo as puppy was scared & cat leapt out of open window!!
The end result, finished after everyone had gone was another charity project for the Samson Centre.  These Ohio Stars are the four corner squares for a Christmas raffle quilt.

After a couple of texts from Caroline, currently enjoying the Lake District, it was time to pack up after another fun filled day, with thoughts of next week in mind......until then!

Rhubarb Fool  (Delia's Complete Cookery Course)

2lb (500g) rhubarb, washed & cut into chunks
2oz (50g) caster sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger

For the custard
8fl oz (225g) double cream
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon caster sugar
1 teaspoon cornflour
2 drops vanilla essence

Add caster sugar & ginger to pan with rhubarb.  Cover & cook gently for 15- 20 mins. Stir frequently until tender but not mushy. Drain off some of the juice if there is a lot.

To make custard bring double cream to boil. Mix  cornflour, sugar, egg yolks & vanilla essence in a basin until smooth.  Whisk cream into mixture & pour back into pan. Whisk whilst heating until thickened.

Mash drained rhubarb until smooth (I leave some lumps as it gives it more texture).  Add cooled custard mixture, combine & pour into dishes.  Cover & cool in fridge until needed.

This can also be made hot & eaten straight away.
It is lovely both ways!

Summer is Back and so are We!

Today summer seems to have returned and hopefully we are going to have a few warm days.

Caroline was the first to arrive, followed by Alison and before the kettle had boiled, Chris and Amanda arrived together.  Chris would only be with us for the morning as she had to go work in the afternoon.

As usual we start our Tuesdays with tea/coffee and cake, today we had Banana, Pecan and Sultana muffins and Coconut and Chocolate macaroons.

We spent the first hour or so catching up on our news.  Three of us had been on holiday to Spain, Cornwall and Scotland and also to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.  Three of us still have holiday to take, to Cumbria, France and Hawaii.

And it was down to do some sewing, Chris was sewing the binding on her Union Flag quilt, made in the 'London' fabric from Makower.

Caroline was hand quilting her Log Cabin Star Quilt for her Dad.

Amanda was sorting our her squares in baby brush cotton, a quilt for her cousin's baby.  At home, Amanda had all the squares arranged, but had left them for a few minutes, only to come back to find that her cats had a game across the squares and it was all in a mess and had to start again!

Alison was also hand quilting her block of the month, this has been a few months of work, but there is a light at the tunnel now.

For lunch we had Chicken thighs cooked in the Colman's Season and Shake, Garlic and Herb with salad and new potatoes.  For dessert we had apple and loganberry (from my Mum's garden) crumble with Creme Fraiche.

I had been making class samples a Little Star tablerunner

and Granny Squares with two different layouts.

After more tea, Alison, Amanda and Caroline made their way home.

See you next week.