Thursday 16 May 2013

Blowin in the wind

 
Ever since my daughter was little, I've wanted to make her a little bright and cosy quilt like the ones we used to see in her story books, where the lucky owner's of such quilts were little woodland creatures.

This sort of thing.........

 
Both these illustrations  (above and below) are from Woodland Stories illustrated by Eric Kincaid.

 

But being a busy working Mum then, bringing up a little girl, I never found the time to quilt.

But now I'm not working, and being inspired recently by the lovely quilt on the front cover of Nicky Trench's book "A Passion for Quilting" (mentioned a few posts ago here ), over the last couple of weeks I have finally got around to making that woodland quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

I finished hand sewing the binding last night, and this afternoon saw it blowing in the wind in the sunshine.

 

 

 

Even though it was on the line for taking photos, I haven't yet washed it, and I'm looking foward to seeing how it looks when washed - I know it will probably soften and gently pucker, making it seem a little time worn.

 

 

Both Bella and I are pretty happy with how it's turned out, and for me it's a first in that I have made my first machine-quilted quilt.

(My last full sized quilt was hand quilted).

It's a generous single size quilt made from 6" squares and quilted "in-the-ditch". I used mainly fabrics from my stash, with a few old fabrics and fabric from some of Bella's clothes from when she was little. The only fabrics I bought were a couple of new pieces near the end when it was laid out and I could see what colours were needed - the bright green floral and the small pink and red on white print.

The cheerful bright yellow backing and self-binding are a Robert Kaufman print, bought in the sale.





I love the way the light shines through in this photo.


So Bella now has a quilt to take away to uni to snuggle under and remind her of home.

 
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Wednesday 8 May 2013

Tulips from Great Dixter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you all had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK. For once the weather was pretty good!

We ventured out on Sunday for my birthday treat to visit the beautiful gardens designed by Christopher Lloyd at Great Dixter.

The tulips were glorious, and I'll let the pictures speak for themselves............

Enjoy!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Am having a few computer problems at the moment (gnashing of teeth - is it gnash or just nash?)

Whatever, I like the word regardless of how it's spelt as it  feels the right kind of satisfying word to describe my irritation and frustration at wasting my day today on the pc instead of being outside gardening or working on my latest sewing project - to be revealed soon I hope! )

Hope all well with you, and thanks for all your comments on my last few posts!

 
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