Well Mr F and me are off to London on Sunday to meet up with some friends, who we first met when we went on a cruise to Norway back in April. It seems such a long time ago now - so it's going to be absolutely great to catch up with them all again - (Vanda and Gill - can't wait for a good girlie gossip!!). We've got the day all planned out - travelling up to London on the train, then meeting our friends in a pub for a quick drink, taking the clipper boat along the Thames, a historical walk around Greenwich and then it'll be time for food - and drinks - and a bit of a natter - before we head home in the evening. I'm sure London will be buzzing with excitement as it's the last day of the Olympics..... .....anyway, I just needed a new bag to take to London with me - and what better than a really BIG bag to keep all the stuff that I'll need for a grand day out. I decided to use this fabulous canvas - how patriotic is that!! I based this bag on the pattern "Håndbagasje" by AnnAKa but did not use the applique or Suffolk puffs. I marked out a simple 3" cross-hatch pattern using a Clover Hera Marker, and quilted this bag using a King Tut quilting thread in black.... .....what do you think? Inside I have used a red crowns print keeping with the patriotic theme - there is a hanger for my keys - just perfect!! Oh and a label? Mais oui!! This bag is HUGE and so there's plenty of room for the surprises that I'm taking with me for Vanda and Gill (you didn't think I'd come along empty handed did you girls?!) Anyway, I'm going to have a fabulous time - and even Mr F is just a little bit excited about our trip too!!
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My friend Emily had commissioned me to make a couple of baby quilts for two of her friends who are due to have babies - I've already shown you "Dino Dudes" and here is "Baby's Little Goslings" - this pattern was a free download from the McCalls Quilting website a few years ago. As you can see, I've made the quilt top with a collection of baby flying geese in peaceful shades of cream and white..... .....I've quilted this very simply, "stitch-in-the-ditch" around each of the flying geese using a cream Mettler quilting thread both as the top thread and in the bobbin, and finally "stitch-in-the-ditch" around the borders. I used Quilters Dream wadding, which is 100% cotton and is ideal for baby quilts..... .....I've also added a little bit of stitchery to this quilt too. This really does make the quilt unique, and has become my "trademark" when I'm making a baby quilt. This is one of my favourite phrases to add - "We made a wish..... .....and you came true!" - and once again this stitchery quote was from the book "A Winsome Baby" by Nancy Halvorsen, and this time has been stitched with 2 strands of DMC thread. Initially I stitched this with a cream thread, but it didn't really show up very well, so a hasty bit of reverse stitching and I chose a slightly stronger colour..... .....a label added to the back? Mais oui!! This was stitched in place by machine at the same time as I added the binding. Oh and I used a pretty cream spot for the binding fabric..... .....I'm really pleased with how this mixture of cream and white and neutral fabrics look together - it really is very subtle and will go perfectly in the newly decorated nursery..... .....this baby quilt will soon be winging it's way over to Australia, to Emily's friend who is expecting her first baby. Hope she likes it! Guess where I'll be on Sunday? At the Great British Vintage Market, which is being held at Snape Maltings - just a short drive from where I live - so maybe I'll do a little bit of browsing at the vintage goodies and maybe a little bit of shopping too. I'm meeting up with two very special friends in a couple of weeks so maybe I'll be able to get some vintage gifts for them too. Might see you there! |
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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