Change of Plans

Well, today was going to be an 'up in the air' day as we weren't sure that it would happen as the Tuesday Girls were 'all over the place'.  As we thought there weren't going to be 'enough of us, Janet and I arranged to meet for lunch, but it transpired that Amanda could make it for the morning and then Chris said she was able to make it.  Plans were remade and I had a hasty trip to the shop for lunch items! Sadly Alison was unable to come up today but we were thinking of her.

I arrived at Janet's first though had 4 texts to answer before I'd even got out of the car!  Amanda suddenly flew past my window with her friend's daughter, Laura as the rain 'decided' to fall from the heavens at that point.  We all ran inside and settled at the table. Chris was not far behind and we began to chat over a cuppa! Weight Watchers Bakewell slice and some raspberry, pistachio and white chocolate cookies duly made their appearance on the table.

Amanda and Laura were cutting out jam jar covers (they had been busy making jam over the previous day) from ranges of fabrics from Amanda's stash. It is amazing how a circle looks large enough to cover an item until it is measured up.  They tried drawing around a plate and hopefully that will be the correct size.  Fingers x. 

 

Chris was sewing on the binding to a London Quilt, her second and making it look very smart and so easy.. fabulous tiny stitches.

Janet showed us a pattern she had got from the USA, 'Abigail's Pins' by Heartspun Quilts which looked really lovely and was making Log Cabin blocks using fabrics from Moda's Kansas Troubles and Homespun Wildflower Serenade II.  Very effective and will be another stunning quilt. 

 

Janet used her wall-paper roller to 'iron' out the seams.  This is so effective that all she needed to do was iron the tops to complete the task. Amazing how a simple and cheap tool can do such a great job.

Me... well I was sewing on the buttons to the triangular flaps on a Square Bag, the pattern for which I had waited with baited breath, (they looked so good in the photos), from a thread on BQL!  When it was put up, I downloaded it and away I went.... I hadn't wanted to use a large piece of fabric in case my workmanship didn't produce the result I wanted so reduced the dimensions a little to fit fat quarters.  (This is my proto-type as I want to make one as a gift for my neighbour's new wife.) I even had enough to make the handles, a small needle case and a scissor case.

Amanda and Laura left before lunch - and it was with the sudden realisation that the potatoes were not in the oven, that I then began the prep.  Janet bless her had offered to provide the venue today, as my usual venue was unavailable to due to a large contingent of my lovely neighbour's family staying over.  We ate tuna or cheese baked 'tatties' with salad followed up by some truly yummy chocolate and coconut cheesecakes from the Co-Op's meal deal range.  Highly recommend them... although Chris felt unable to partake as she had recently had some time away in Cornwall and said she had over-indulged in all the wonderful locally made produce!  She has more will -power than I do!

After another cup of tea, Chris then packed up and I followed about fifteen minutes later.  It was good to be together again as I had spent many a Tuesday working, recently. It being the holiday season however we will perhaps only be two, maybe three over the next few weeks.   As always, watch this space!

Post Wimbledon

Can't write today's entry without mentioning Andy Murray winning Wimbledon on Sunday!

Today was a scorcher, too hot to eat outside and so we settled in the sitting room, windows flung wide and the fan to move the air around! Didn't stop the tea and chat from flowing.

No big projects on the go today so no sewing machines required. Janet and I both had quilts to bind ...

Janet's midnight stars

Alison was preparing an applique block














Amanda was chilling after a busy weekend.  Caroline was at work - although she was able to join us for lunch :}

The Girls asked me to share the recipe we had for lunch ...
1 chicken breast per person (I sliced each into slightly smaller portions)
The marinade per chicken breast
      2 tbsp natural yogurt
      1/4 tsp each of chilli powder; salt; crushed cumin & coriander seeds
      1/2 tsp crushed cardamom pod
      1/2 tsp each of tumeric; root ginger
      1 clove crushed garlic
(I also added some leftover tomato paste, onion ... and bits of leftovers from jars in the fridge!)

After lunch we looked at the layout of my  scrappytrip  around the world blocks. Ladies - I still think the bottom left hand corner needs tweaking a little looking at the photo?

Things are looking a little quiet on the Tuesday front for the next couple of months as we enjoy the Summer. 

Two for Tea on Tuesday

It would only be Chris and I today as Alison, Amanda and Caroline had other things to do

As  usual, we started with tea and biscuits, today's was Sainsburys Taste the Difference, Belgium Chocolate Chunks and Hazelnut Cookies.

Then it was down to sewing.

Chris had brought the Friendship Braid quilt, that she had started at my workshop at Needle and Thread on Saturday. Chris had made excellent progress, finishing the braids and adding the sashing strips and the first border since Saturday.  Today Chris planned to add the final border.

After lunch, of salmon, salad and new potatoes, with meringues, creme fraiche, raspberries and blueberries for dessert, Chris finished  putting the borders on.

I was stitching the binding on a Midnight Sky quilt, a pattern by Thimbleberries, that I had done with Anne Walker at a workshop given by Thameside Quilters, some years ago,  Alison and Chris might remember which year as we did the workshop together. It was longarm quilted by Yvette at Needle and Thread.

Until next week.

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?!

Kangaroo Bag by Monkey Buttons

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!!!

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!

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

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