Sunday Stitching

This was my idea of a perfect Mother's Day - spending the whole afternoon stitching! The fire was going, so it was nice and warm and cosy while it was trying its best to snow outside (but it didn't at our house), and the Gingham Girls and I kept company! Here's the two stitchery pieces for block one - meet the girls..........

Cake anyone?

Debbie's been busy too - she brought these in to stitching group on Friday - her latest Kitty block (think this is my favourite so far)....

And these are the next two pink blocks. So sweet.

It's getting really chilly outside, so it will be another night by the fire, checking out block two! Keep warm.

Jenny

I gave in to temptation!

I have no willpower! I just couldn't resist going home on Tuesday night and starting the Gingham Girls. Do you find that some things absolutely have to be started straight away, no matter how many other projects you have on the go? But.... I did finish something first. Barb Smith makes these gorgeous little sewing machine buttons and I had one to play with so made a lovely little old-fashioned looking pin cushion. I quite like this vintage look.

By the time I had finished that it was getting a little later into the evening, so only managed to do a little stithing of ''the girls'' - see, how could anyone resist stitching these fabulous ladies!

I have some gorgeous work to show you, stitched by Linda. This is a Cinderberry Stitches pattern and I love the colours Linda chose. Aren't these little treasures beautiful!

Last week I received a letter from Pam in Australia who overdyes stranded cotton threads, and she sent a sample of some the colours. Well, again who could resist!!!

I ordered the complete range, but what do you think of this sampling of the colours. Brenda Ryan uses these threads in much of her work and I can see why - wonder how fast the postie can get these here?

And I had to show you another very cute little range of fabric that arrived yesterday - very different to the Moda I showed you earlier, I know, but still Wow!

I'm thinking - what will look good in this fabric?

Keep warm and happy stitching.

Jenny

Bon Voyage Mum!

My Mum, the intrepid traveller, is on her way to South America today, for three months! Bon voyage Mum - what an adventure. It's hard to believe that this time tomorrow she will be exploring the city of Quito, Ecquador. The stories she will have to tell on her return will be incredible I am sure. Places she has been and people she has met. I will definitely miss our telephone chats, though, for the next three months - email is great but it is just not quite the same as a chat is it!

This little treasure disappeared a few months back, you might remember. Well, this is version two and I'm happy now!

I've also done a couple more of the lovely little stitcheries for Viv's Christmas quilt - a pudding....

and a tree....

Am currently working on the next block which is snowmen and some writing. But... I'm about to go into a headspin as Natalie's new quilt, "Tail Feathers", is coming through very soon and Bronwyn's ''Gingham Girls'' is here!!! Now, both of these quilts absolutely have to be done of course! The patterns for the "Gingham Girls" are sitting on the desk in front of me as I write - the temptation to do nothing else today but start stitching the first pattern is huge!!! Perhaps I should move them to a place where I can't see them - that would be the sensible thing to do - or.... maybe just a peek at the first pattern sheet!

Have a look at this fabulous range of fabric just arrived yesterday - "Beach House" by Blackbird Designs for Moda. Isn't it just so delicious - these soft blues, reds and greens always look so wonderful. Hmmm - I wonder how ''Gingham Girls'' would go in these fabrics, not that I have got it on my mind or anything!

I have decided I will be good (and sensible) and do what I have to do today before peeking. So I'm going to go and do those things now, so that I can peek soon!!!

Happy Stitching

Jenny

Autumn glow.

This was taken about a week ago - in the back garden - it was casting an orange glow into the lounge, and I thought it was so beautiful. Stunning autumn colours.

Well, the first round of the Bag Club is finished - this is the sixth and final bag. I really like this bag, though, to be honest I'm not sure which was my favourite.

Debbie has been busy with the latest ''pink'' block which is just so lovely....

...and block 5 of a Kittens Tale - half way there now, and I can't wait to see the finished quilt!

Since the last post I have only managed to get one more of Barb's gorgeous little cat stitcheries done, but how sweet are these Hollyhock Cats.

I have also made a start on a new Christmas block of the month - this is a quilt designed by Vivian Robinson and it's called ''The Joys of Christmas Thyme''. I saw this gorgeous quilt stitched and on display in a shop that I visited when in Australia last year - as soon as I saw it I knew I had to stitch it - fabulous Christmas stitcheries, and lots of them - so I will show them as I stitch them. This one is part of the first block.

With the changing of the seasons I decided I also needed to change the display - so out with the red and in with the blue. The quilt on the wall is my version of Leanne Beasley's gorgeous ''Ruth's Quilt'' from her book "Living the Dream''. I did this quilt a couple of years back, now, and remember at the time how much fun the little tags were to stitch (which you can barely see but are in fact on each of the cream patches!)

Have had the fire on a few evenings lately - there is something very soothing about stitching in the warmth of a fire, although it sometimes happens that I end up stitching a little later into the night than I should cos it's so cosy. And if I am knitting, well... it's always, ''just one more row''!!!

Here's to more cold nights and warm fires.

Jenny

Thinking of Easter

I've been getting things ready for the Easter bunnies and eggs basket class tomorrow night, kits galore, and more for another class on Sunday. They will be stitched in time to fill with chocolate - what's Easter without the odd chocolate egg (or two!).

I've also finished a bowl full of Marg Low's gorgeous fabric eggs - this is such a neat pattern, and the eggs were great fun to decorate. I think they look so good in dots.

Last year I made this little quilt top, a beautiful design from Rabbits Haven. Well, finally, last week I got round to quilting and binding it - it's no good to rush these things you know. Feeling quite pleased with my efforts and it is so nice to see it finished, just in time for Easter.

I forgot to take pictures of Debbies latest quilt blocks when she brought then in to stitching group about three weeks back, so I asked her for a repeat show and tell. Here they are - definitely pretty in pink...

and don't you love this friendship block....

Barb Smith, (Theodora Cleave Designs) has done a series of simply delightful little cat stitcheries and I am working my way through them, to make up into a mini quilt - this one was my favourite when they first came out so decided to stitch it first. They are real little cuties, about 4'', and so easy to stitch up in an evening. This one is ''Out on a Limb'' and I'm currently stitching ''Hollyhock Cat''.

Recently, as in last weekend, I gave in to the temptation of knitting (yes, I'm also addicted to knitting from way back) so I'm not sure how much stitching will get done over the next few weeks - I have a terrible habit of not wanting to put the needles down once I start a knitting project and sometimes other things get a little neglected. But with daylight saving about to end this coming weekend, the nights will be longer so maybe there is time for both! Happy stitching!

Jenny

Organising Photo Chaos!

I have just spent large chunks of this morning organising my photos, putting them into proper files and deleting masses and masses of ''just not needed anymore'' ones! It feels great! It's one of those jobs I have been putting off for ages as there is usually something else I can find to do which is far more interesting. But now that it has been done, lets just see how long I can stick to the plan - putting them in the right place and deleting rejects. So, while I was at it, I sorted out some for today. Here's one of Debbie's latest block of A Kittens Tale - how cute is this!?

And here's the Little Patchwork Village quilt, hanging in the nook, all finished and definitely one of my favourites.

I have had this Brenda Ryan pattern sitting at home for many months now, in my ''to do'' pile and the other weekend I pulled it out, ironed on the transfer, and started stitching. It is the sweetest little heart cushion

I must admit I am a huge fan of Brenda's designs - this is one of the very first stitchery's of Brenda's that I did, a few years back now - beautiful Briar Rose.

And these are from her Measured Stitch quilt - loved every minute of stitching this one.

This week at Cushion Club the girls have been doing some piecing, to make this simple little pillow. We made a matching cushion inner which just pokes out a little at the end.

I hope it's been a good stitching week for you - there's a little extra time to stitch these nights, isn't there, with it getting a darker a little earlier.

Happy Stitching!

Jenny

Cushions, quilts and bags.

Well, I'm not entirely sure where the second half of February went! It's a little hard to believe it's March already, and autumn is well and truly on its way. As I sit and write this, it is the most gorgeous day outside, sun is shining and a gentle little breeze. I could quite happily be at home today, pottering around in the garden - pulling weeds and prettying it up again. It never fails to amaze me how a visit from my Mum makes me stop procrastinating about weeding!! So, fingers crossed for a sunny dry weekend. Instead of gardening lately, these are some of the things I've been doing. I have just received the most delicious range of fabric in the shop - it's called Sumptuous Living and it's Robyn Pandolph's latest creation. I cut charm squares from it as I wanted to make up something quite quickly - so made up this little cushion and a lap quilt. I did a tiny little bit of hand-quilting on the cushion and had forgotten how much I enjoy it, which is not to say I'm very good at it - but practice makes perfect! I need alot of practice!

I am excited to be able to show you a couple of pics of Bronwyn Hayes new block of the month quilt that I am going to be running - called The Gingham Girls. Bronwyn has very kindly emailed these pictures to me and has allowed me to show them here - I can't wait to see the whole quilt. She has used some gorgeous novelty buttons on the quilt, and there is lots of beautiful stitchery and applique. Isn't it fabulous!

I've got a couple of little classes coming up which I needed to make samples for - this is a little Easter Egg basket - and I'm also doing a pink version but it's still only partly completed.

This is another fabric bucket class - I started out just making these plain and simple, but realised that the circles on the fabric were perfect for embellishing. The only trouble was, once you started, it was hard to know where to stop.

I also have a Quilters Bag class coming up in a couple of months and feel very pleased with myself for having the sample finished well in advance! This is the bag front...

and the bag back. Something I have always wanted myself, but never got round to making one. But now I have!

I can also show you the finished redwork quilt - Rosalie's gorgeous pattern - Little Patchwork Village. Here's a couple more of the blocks...

and this one...........

and this is the whole quilt. Not quilted yet, but there is hope that it will happen this weekend (after the gardening!)

Cushion club last week saw the girls making this little whimsy. Again it was amazing to see the different colour combinations that each person chose, and the end results - all were fabulous.

This is what we will be making at next weeks Bag Club. I think this might be one of my favourites.

So that's what has been keeping me busy lately - happy stitching!

Jenny