Today Magic, our black lab, was a very lucky girl - a parcel arrived for her, all the way from Australia - Lynette Anderson had made her dog, Hugo, a new collar with fabric from her "stitches" collection and I had posted a comment about it on her blog (Magic and me were both lucky enough to meet Lynette last year), saying that Magic was now very jealous of Hugo, and Lynette very kindly offered to make a new collar for Magic!! It arrived today, and as you can see Magic looks splendid in it - (Lynette, you can't imagine how long it took to get this photograph of her - eventually it was the promise of walkies with Mr F that got her attention hehe!!)
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Quilting is nearly completed - just the centre squares to finish off - and if you're reading this Heather, I haven't got quite the right colour for this - so will need to buy another reel..... ..... oh well, I got impatient with not being able to finish this project, and as I had already cut and pieced the fabric to make 6 placemats, I then quilted them the same as the runner, and added a stripey binding (adds a bit of "zing") and will quilt the centre squares once I've been shopping for the RIGHT COLOUR THREAD!! Oh and some buttons to sew to those prairie points - my HUGE button jar hasn't got enough of those either hehe!! My local quilt shop, Quilters Haven, now stocks Pellon wadding - it is great for runners and bags, and this one is fusible. My top tip is to iron the wadding onto the backing fabric (fusible side of your wadding to the wrong side of your backing fabric)..... .....then I layer the runner on top. If you don't use the fusible wadding, a quick spray of 505 will do the trick - I also use this to spray-baste the top of the runner to the wadding - this saves a lot of time and effort! This is a favourite pattern by AnnAKa, and is from Quiltemagasinet issue 4 2007, "Kle kjokkenet i 60-tansdrakt"..... ..... I always use a slightly larger stitch for machine quilting (about 3mm), and I always use a walking foot - firstly I quilt "in-the-ditch" to stabilise the runner, then I use a Hera marker to "mark" my quilting lines - these ones are approximately 1/2" from the seam lines..... this silk finish thread sews beautifully, and has a lovely sheen to it. I might just have to invest in some more reels in other colours - if Heather and Eva are reading this, they know that I hardly have ANY quilting threads hehe!! I bought a fat-quarter bundle of "Java" fabrics (by Deb Strain for Moda) from my local quilt shop Quilters Haven on Wednesday - before I could take a photograph I'd already cut it up ready to make another runner - anyway, I popped over there again this afternoon to get more of this range, for the backing, borders and prairie points. While I was there I spotted some gorgeous new thread - it's a varigated silk finish thread by Mettler, and I chose one to go with these fabrics - will show you the finished piccies later..... My little sister Lisa has always been very arty and crafty and she has made me lots of beautiful things for Christmas and birthdays in the past. Anyway, she recently sent me an email about a fab little shop - Halfpenny Home at Needham Market, in Suffolk - just imagine how excited I was when I saw that she sells her stuff there - and now they have an on-line store too - and they also have a fab blog here..... (I hope the Halfpenny Home girls don't mind me using this piccie off their blog but couldn't find one of their shop)..... ..... anyway, she made me this needlecase for my birthday a couple of months ago - she had tea-dyed the fabric and it's all handmade - I was thrilled with this, as I really appreciate the time that goes into making handmade gifts..... (and these are for sale at Halfpenny Home so you can buy one too)..... .....a couple of years ago she made me this stocking for Christmas that she had embroidered and filled with nuts and fruit and a miniature bottle of Baileys (my winter-time favourite tipple) and some sewing threads - the plan was that I would return it to her after Christmas, (the empty stocking, not the bottle of Baileys hehe!!) then she would fill it again the following year.....(oooops - sorry Lisa - will remember to return it when I see you next!!) .....in the past she has made me these beautiful lavender bags (all sewn by hand - they are amazing as these log cabin strips are TINY)..... and she has sewn beads on the corners..... ..... and this fab-u-lous T-pot cosy (the design is called Brian, after my dad, who always loved his tea made properly in a t-pot - none of this dunking-your-teabag-in-your-mug-malarky for him!!) which is made from felted wool, lined with flannel to keep the T-pot hot, and is beautifully embellished..... ..... and for my 40th birthday (no I'm not telling you how many years ago that was hehe!!) she made me this BEAUTIFUL cushion - her stitchery is perfect - she has included my daughters dates of birth, my wedding date, my birth sign - she had even sewn a little row of hyacinths as she knew I always have them growing just outside my front door in the spring :) I am truely in awe of you Lisa, and as a fellow crafter I can only aspire to produce the sort of things that you do. You are a creative genius!! Whoooo hoooo - Linda Park has found me!! When I went to Chilford Hall Quilt Show in November, I only photographed one quilt - see above - it was absolutely stunning and was made by Linda Park. I posted a picture of it on my blog, and wrote the following..... "There were some lovely quilts on show and this was my absolute favourite. It was made by Linda Park from Alford, Aberdeenshire - and I thought it was stunning. I have always wanted to make a "New York Beauty" quilt, and this has spurred me on to make one.....if anyone out there knows who Linda is, please get her to contact me so I can tell her how fabulous her quilt was!" .....well, lo and behold - a few days ago I received an email from the very same Linda Park!!! Anyway, this is what Linda had to say..... "Hi Nicola - your blog was forwarded to me by my colleague and friend Jan. It was such a delight to read that you liked my Montana Cartwheel quilt so much - many thanks for your interest. This is a quilt i made at a class at my local quilt shop - Seattle Quilt Company, in Aberdeen. I'm almost finished another Montana Cartwheel quilt top in blacks, greys and red for my eldest son, Cameron who also liked the pattern. I'll send you a photo when it's complete! The pattern is one I have found very pleasing to sew - I do enjoy paper piecing. Quilters Haven looks lovely - I've just had a very quick tour through the shop and also had a rummage through your quilt gallery - so many quilts and beautifully stitched. I'll have to get myself in gear and get a blog going too when I find the time. Will visit your site again soon. Keep in touch! Regards, Linda." I was absolutely totally over the moon to hear from you Linda - if you're reading this "Hi :) and please say Hi to your friend Jan too, who really is the one who found me first hehe!!" - I still really can't believe you found me - and hope you don't mind me putting this picture of your stunning quilt on my blog AGAIN :) Whilst browsing the internet, I found another Norwegian quilt shop "Sy-Sammen" that stocked some older AnnAKa patterns that I hadn't already got, so of course I couldn't resist another little bit of retail therapy :) - I dread to think how many of these patterns I've bought now - probably enough to start my own Norwegain quilt shop hehe!! Anyway, I bought 3 more patterns, "Gledelig Jul" -(2004) which is a runner with appliqued gingerbread houses (pepperkakehus in Norwegian) and trees, decorated with cording to look like icing.....can you see the smoke curling up from the chimney of that looks-good-enough-to-eat gingerbread house? ..... "I oldemors tid" (In Grandma's time - 2006), decorated with applique, and sequins or knots - actually, I thought this would look quite good in batiks..... ..... finally "Stjernedryss" (Starsprinkles - 2004) which is decorated with appliqued stars and rows of decorative stitches. this could prove to be a popular choice for Christmas presents later this year!! Anyway, these patterns will keep me busy for the next few weeks..... so many thanks to Karin for sending these to me - I already had seen "Stjernedryssløper" on Anne-Grethe's blog, and now I can make my own!! I had an email yesterday from Sharon, who has been following my blog more or less from the beginning. Sharon referred to herself as a "curtain twitcher" as she says she has to have a peep at my blog each times she logs on to see if I have made a new entry - (that sounds so much nicer than a blog stalker hehe!!) - well, this blog post is dedicated to you Sharon!! I enjoy adding stitchery to my quilts, and it's a great way of adding a permanent label to your work. This particular design is inspired by Leanne Beasley..... .....Sharon has asked me for some advice about transferring stitchery designs. There are all sorts of marking pens and pencils out there for you to try - some are permanent, and some are soluble. Personally, I prefer to trace my stitchery designs onto the background fabric with a Pigma pen - these are permanent though, so you do need a really steady hand for this. Try to get the finest one you can - I like size 005. They come in a range of colours, but I normally use a brown one. Recently, I bought a Clover water soluble marker (comes in 2 sizes - fine and thick) and I was really pleased with it, and it rises out afterwards. Fade-away pens are also good, but can fade a bit too quickly if you're a slow sewer!!..... .....a light box is really useful for tracing your stitchery designs, (although as my lightbox is so small I have been known to selotape both my pattern and my background fabric to the patio doors for larger designs - much to the disgust of Mr F as it leaves very sticky marks - masking tape is better!!) and it's a good idea to trace your design BEFORE applying your interfacing.... .....backing your fabric with an interfacing gives a bit of stability to your work, and also stops the threads from showing through to the right side of your fabric. I normally use a soft fusible interfacing, like Vliseline (make sure you lay this onto the wrong side of your background fabric, and don't press the sticky side to your iron!!) or you could use calico, or a very soft wadding, such as pellon. When chosing your background fabric, I like to use a fabric with a tone-on-tone print, or a small scale print that won't detract from the stitchery..... .....John James embroidery needles are my favourites, and these come in a range of sizes - I use size 7 (the larger the number, the smaller the eye of the needle)...... .....this brings me nicely on to threads - there are lots of threads around - I like DMC stranded cotton - these come in a huge assortment of colours, both plain and varigated - and even metallic too!! I find the metallic threads sew through the fabric better when mixed with a strand of normal embroidery thread - otherwise it is a bit "harsh" and can pluck the fabric. I have also used some Auriel cotton thread - already stranded on a reel - this was used for a stitchery pattern on linen fabric, and worked really well..... .....I always use an embroidery hoop, and have got an assortment of sizes, in both plastic and wood. Using a hoop keeps your fabric taut and keeps your tension even, so your stitches won't pucker up. Personally, I find a smaller hoop is easier to handle than a larger one. Also, I prefer the wooden ones - the plastic ones are a bit thicker and I found them a bit awkward to hold..... .....so here's to lots of happy sewing Sharon!! On Saturday 26th February, I shall be teaching a stitchery class from 1.30pm - 4pm at my local quilt shop, Quilters Haven, in Wickham Market. I will share lots more of my secret stitchery tricks and tips, including my favorite tools of the trade, so come along and join me there!! I'm writing this blog post all about my friend Eva!! She has just sent me some really exciting news - she has now got her own blog, "Evas Quilterom" so now I can follow her and keep up with all the beautiful things that she makes. This piccie was taken last summer when Eva came to stay with me - we really did have a great time together..... .....while Eva was here, we spent a couple of days on a workshop with Lynette Anderson over at my local quilt shop, Quilters Haven - Eva is really concentrating here - we were trying to master "Colonial Knots" - and if Lynette is reading this, yes we CAN remember how to do them - and we would both love to do another class with you hehe :) When Eva came to stay,she was the perfect house guest - she was quite happy to spend most of her holiday sewing, or going to quilt shops - and she bought me a lovely present too - a real proper Norwegian Waffle maker - here she is demonstrating how it works - my goodness those waffles were delicious..... Here's the Norwegian Waffle Maker in all it's glory - Eva even gave me her special recipe - they were just so crisp and yummy..... .....especially when they are served with blueberries and strawberries and extra thick double cream :) .....I first met Eva when I went to Norway for a holiday in November 2009 - I had gone to stay with my friend Hanne, and Eva was staying with her too - we got along really well (I am ashamed to say that my Norwegian was terrible and has not improved at all!!) and here is Eva, sitting in front of me - we were on a course with AnnAKa, making a Smykketeppe. This stitchery design was a free pattern from NorthernQuilts - I whipped up 3 of these this evening whilst watching TV!!! I used a varigated thread, and some lavender coloured scraps of fabric - now I just need to invest in some more dried lavender to fill the other 2 bags :) |
About me...Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! Archives
July 2023
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