Free Motion Mavericks - Week 357 - Colours for the Wedding Quilt

 

Knowing these wonderful fabrics have been lurking in a box for a few years has been interesting.  I knew that sooner or later the right project would come along, and it has finally arrived - the wedding present for Genevieve and Gonzalo.  They are all shot cottons from Oakshott, some of which have been discontinued since I bought them.  I have ordered a couple of extra colours, and may yet order more once I have made a start.  Finally my brain is getting into gear for a big quilt.  There are a few ideas for new quilting designs bubbling under the surface, and I shall be using a few of my old favourites.  It is nice that there is absolutely no rush, so I can enjoy going at my own pace.

Now for some wedding photos, with special thanks to everyone for your encouragement while I was busy sewing the underskirt and the veil.  They weren't the easiest projects to blog about, as I was making things up as I went along and could only post pictures of a whole load of white stuff.  Of course, it was all worth it in the end, as you all knew.

All these photos were taken by Matt Willis, who is an amazing photographer.  He took photos in the church, then stayed with us until the beginning of the reception and left before dinner was served.  He managed to blend in so well that at times we were hardly aware he was there.  If anyone in this country needs a wedding photographer, I can strongly recommend him, and it's worth visiting his website just for the fun of looking at lots more of his photos.

So here they are, already married and signing the register.  Genevieve's friend Sophie and Gonzalo's father acted as witnesses.  In Spain the groom doesn't have a Best Man, it's his father's job, and bridesmaids don't seem to feature either, so Genevieve managed without.

i love this photo of them coming down the aisle, very happy, and probably ever so slightly relieved!

Once we were outside Genevieve was able to hitch up her train at the back with a loop over her wrist, which also meant she had to hold her bouquet aloft.  The bouquet was heavy, so together with the skirt she must have felt the weight.

After spending a while outside the church, all the guests walked to the reception, and the bride and groom followed in the wedding limo.  

By the time we went into the restaurant, Genevieve was ready to go less formal without the bolero jacket.  By now she had discovered how layers and layers of underskirt can keep you warm.

Soon the hall was buzzing with activity.  It was time to celebrate!

Here goes for Week 357:-

Many thanks to Norma for linking up last time with her feedsack pillow case.  If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and see more.

 

If you have no free motion quilting to show, feel free to link up and show any project you like.  Here are the usual rules, but feel free to ignore them.  To keep the original emphasis, however, preference will be given to free motion quilting when featuring projects from the previous week.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post.

3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for five days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Tuesday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland, Brazil and Sweden have taken part.  The 

first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 355 - Making Binding

 

Seems insignificant, but this is a milestone!  I am finally on the last stage of a dress for my daughter that I started over five years ago.  It is a made to measure summer dress, so thank goodness she stays the same weight, despite the fact that she has an enormous appetite.  Having looked at my photos, I am slightly horrified by how long it has taken me.  In October 2016 I was halfway there, but then ran into frustration mode in early 2017.  The zip was the bugbear.  Then other projects intervened, and my daughter was seldom at home, especially during the academic year she spent abroad, 2017-2018.  Earlier this year I finally sorted out the zip by adding two lines of extremely irksome handstitching.  A few days ago I finished the hem, and now I am about to bind the armholes.  The end is in sight!

As for post-wedding news, I have now done all the important laundry.  Hand washing the veil wasn't too terrifying, especially when I worked out that the best way to dry it was with the hair dryer.  Once the dress is back from the dry cleaners I am going to have to work out how to store it all.  That will be fun.

Here goes for Week 355:-

Many thanks to Gail for linking up last week with her pangolin quilt.  If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and see more. 

If you have no free motion quilting to show, feel free to link up and show any project you like.  Here are the usual rules, but feel free to ignore them.  To keep the original emphasis, however, preference will be given to free motion quilting when featuring projects from the previous week.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post.

3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for five days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Tuesday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland, Brazil and Sweden have taken part.  The 

first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 354 - Sugar Roses

As you can imagine, and as those of you have been Mother of the Bride already know, it takes a while to come back to earth after a wedding.  First and foremost you need a rest, time to catch up with friends, and then there are jobs that have to be done.  I have taken The Dress to the dry cleaners, and when we get reliable weather I shall have to hand wash the bolero jacket and dry it outside.  The veil could do with a gentle wash too, as could the underskirt.  I think I'll be brave with the underskirt and shove it in the washing machine.  It's either that or the bath.  Unfortunately we have really bad drying weather at the moment.  I had washing hanging out all day earlier this week, and I swear it was damper when it came in than when I put it out, and it hadn't even rained.

A more colourful job I have ahead of me is sorting out how to keep the sugar flowers that went on top of the wedding cake.  As you can see, they are far too beautiful to eat.  The cake was made by Donna, who was recommended to us by a friend, and as you can see on her website, her cakes are absolutely amazing.  I asked her to make some flowers to go on top of the cake, and sent her photos of flowers that were going to be used in the bouquet so she could aim for matching colours.  She did a fantastic job, even making tiny little yellow tansies, a flower she had never made before.  If stored properly the sugar flowers should last for years.  I have managed to buy a display dome that I hope will be suitable, and I shall have to work out the best way to arrange the flowers.  Lets hope I don't break them!

As for sewing, I have picked up a needle again, at long last.  After doing some repair jobs on clothes, I am now finishing off a dress that I started over five years ago.  All I need to do is stitch the hem and bind the armholes.  Then I can start on the wedding quilt!

Now for the linky.  Next week I shall be hosting the linky here - it's Andrée's turn to have a week off.

 

Here goes for Week 354:-

Many thanks to Kathleen for linking up last time to show her Alpha Animals quilt.  If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and see more.

 

If you have no free motion quilting to show, feel free to link up and show any project you like.  Here are the usual rules, but feel free to ignore them.  To keep the original emphasis, however, preference will be given to free motion quilting when featuring projects from the previous week.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post.

3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for five days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Tuesday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland, Brazil and Sweden have taken part.  The 

first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.