It was my husband's birthday yesterday. He works as a supervisor at a workshop for disabled adults. They take birthdays seriously. Apart from cards and scones with jam and cream at work, he got this wonderful spectacle case. It was made by a young man called Paul, with a bit of help from Linda, a member of staff. It fits into his shirt pocket nice and snugly, his glasses are well padded with the double layer of felt, and with the bright colours he now has little chance of mislaying his glasses. Also, he loves fish. This looks like a juicy fat salmon. A perfect present - he is very attached to it already!
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I did a bit more free motion quilting today on the little wall hanging of Karol at the Window - a few shrubs and trees. It looks quite intriguing at the moment with the dark blue sky and the bright white moon. It's almost a shame I can't leave it as it is, but the sky needs to be filled in with quilting because otherwise it will billow out. The moon is in fact a circular sticker I put there to find the best position for the sun. Originally I was thinking of putting in a pinkish setting sun, but now I am getting used to the sticker, so perhaps I will do the moon instead. Such an agonising decision. I think I will mull over it for a few days.
Thank you to everyone who has posted comments about this project so far. This is only the second project I have posted as I make it (the first was the tea cosy). It is very encouraging to have you all cheering me on!
This post is being linked to Marelize's blog Stitch by Stitch for Anything Goes Quilt 'n Sew - lots of projects to be seen there!
Also linking up to Plum and June's blog for the Monday Link Up.
And Connie's blog Free Motion by the River for the Tuesday Link Up.
Such a lovely shade of blue.
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The blanket stitch is done by hand, but the radiating lines in yellow and dark purple are done on the Singer 15K hand machine. I have been having a few problems with the purple thread getting twisted around the take up lever, which can then make the thread twist itself around the needle. If I don't spot it in time the thread snaps. Very annoying. The purple is cotton 50. The yellow, however, which is from an ancient reel of Sylko cotton 40, is behaving itself perfectly. I had a moan about this problem a little while ago.
Anyway, I have just about finished this bit of stitched detail and am pleased with the result. The colours are working well together.
This is all I am showing for now. This is a detail of the doll quilt that I am making for Diane, my partner on the Doll Quilters' Monthly Swap. It should be finished in a few days' time and ready to put in an envelope for a long flight to Minnesota.
This post is being linked to Barbara's blog Cat Patches for the July NewFO link up
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This smashing little quilt arrived the other day from my July partner on the Doll Quilters' Monthly swap. The theme was stars and stripes, but Diane knew that somehow I wasn't going to get hugely inspired by the theme. Something to do with being English. To me July 4th is just the day before my birthday.
Diane hit it just right with all these lovely little stars dancing around on a background the colour of the night sky.
Each star is different... little florals...
... tiny cherries ...
... a few bold colours in among the pastels...
... and a red gingham print.
And so she didn't depart from the theme altogether, she also sent this little mug rug with stripes!
Thank you Diane! I really must get a move on with the quilt for you...
Progress has slowed down a bit on the little wall hanging of Karol at the window. It felt a bit odd sewing a snow scene in the middle of a heatwave, and it has been too hot for treadling. Also, I have a secret project to be getting on with, a doll quilt for my partner in Minnesota, Diane.
So here is Karol's hand against the window. I have done the bit which I was a bit worried I might mess up, the quilting in the tight spaces between his fingers. The middle finger is a bit wobbly , and there is a crease across the hand, but so what I tell myself. It's all an experiment. However it turns out I'm sure my bro in law will be pleased.
This post is being linked to Lee's blog Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday - lots of interesting projects to look at there, and also to Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday.
This is the quilt I made in June for my partner in the Doll Quilters' Monthly swap.
The theme for the month was fantasy, and I was stuck for inspiration until I realised that this plate was propped up on the sideboard looking at me.
So I did a little tree. The trunk and branches are made up of home made braid, and I showed the work in progress a little while ago, but didn't show more because I always keep the swap quilts under wraps until my partners receive them.
No two leaves are alike, each one is made from a different coloured scrap of Oakshott cotton fabric,
and a different coloured embroidery thread for the blanket stitch edging.
Each of the four little flowers is made from a different shell button, with little glass beads at the centre.
The outline quilting was done on the Singer 15K hand machine, and the free motion quilting on the Singer 15K treadle. For the quilting in the central panel I did my usual meandering infill, and around the border I did a design based on the curly leaves I tried out in one of my practice pieces.
This was a really enjoyable project. For ages I have been meaning to do a quilt based on pottery design, and the fantasy theme gave me the opportunity. I really love Staffordshire pottery. My mum grew up in The Potteries and from her I picked up the habit of turning over plates to check the maker's mark. So for the sake of completeness, here is the underneath of the plate. Hooray, made in Hanley.
This quilt is now with its new owner Merry in Minnesota. So glad you like it Merry!
This post is linked with Janice's blog Better Off Thread for Sew Cute Tuesday - lots of interesting blogs to visit there!
And also with Leah Day's blog for Free Motion Friday.
And with Richard and Tanya Quilts for Link a Finish Friday.
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