Honeybee Quilt

This is another quilt from my favourite quilting magazine Vignette. It has been on my "to do" list since I first saw it. I finally thought I would give it a go. With the white and all those lovely greens it looks so fresh.

It is very aptly named, as you know the quilting group I belong to meets at the Bee Hive in Wickham Market every Wednesday. I have made up 20 of the 37 blocks needed and am now in the process of adding the little oval leaves. 444 in total are needed for that, and yes I know, I did say I would not do any more needle turned appliqué and I did try machine stitching them but I think they look better needle turned.So I shall have plenty to do at the Bee for the forthcoming weeks.:0)

My textile course is keeping me busy so here is a little look at my sketch book. Yep it is like being back at Art College

Painted B Web fused to cotton on felted wool with added threads.

I told you last blog we were painting on Bonda Web/ Wonder under. Well it's great fun, though not sure how to incorporate it into a quilting project as yet.

Painted BW fused to felt.

Free motion on cotton and silk from original photo of reflections.

Last week, we were being taught dyeing fabric in a microwave and I hope to have a go this week. If nothing else I am learning lots of new techniques and at 72 years young that is not a bad thing.

Got to get back to my appliqué. Only 411 little green leaves to go now Ha! Ha!

keep safe and keep stitching...........................Doti...

Water

What have I been up too..... ? you may well ask..

I have been going to a textile art group, which at the beginning completely overwhelmed me.

You know the scenario ( thinks to oneself what the dickens am I doing here ) :0)

We are working from an A level Textiles course, and we were given Water as our theme.

So water was duly brainstormed. Water ie: running water, sea water, puddles, reflections etc etc.

I decided on reflections and not venturing very far, just into the garden to one of the bird baths and this was my starting point.

Trees and srubs reflected in the water.

 After this we painted with water colours,( no photos of my paintings as yet ) but

this is it so far, my piece of felted fabric. A long way to go but it's getting there.

Wool from the scrap bag was sewn on to Solufleece and then felted with a hand needle felting tool and block( this takes for ever)!.

Yesterday in class, we were painting Bondaweb/wonder under with acrylic paint so watch this space!!!!!

Getting back to something approaching normality, I have finished block three of  of Mrs Beasley's Mystery sampler quilt. So now I have to wait for issue 13 of Vignette to come.

Back to sock production, my year is getting shorter as I'm now doing Augusts pair.







Keep safe and keep stitching.......................Doti...

Round up at the quilting Bee

Yesterday it was Quilting at the Bee and I thought you might like to see a little round up of what some of the girls were doing.

Ann was doing lots of different things, one of which was sandwiching her Quilt top. This one was designed by Lynne Edwards and was in Popular Patchwork some time back.

This quilt is also on my to do list, though I am not sure when I will get around to doing it.

Maggie was also making this quilt, though slightly smaller, and in a different colour way.

She is hand quilting hers.  

Jenny was putting borders on her place mats. I do like this fabric range, it is called Field fare,and I have some in the my current project.

This was another of Maggie's quilts. She had just finished the binding and it's to be a charity Quilt.

 

Allison was putting the finishing touches to her two owls for the Bee's Charity Quilt.

   

Ann was also sorting owls out. This is to be a Quilt for her great grandson due soon.

 All in all every one was quite busy, those not stitching were Knitting.

It seemed to be all critters and flowers.

Me,well nothing to show as yet. I have just started doing the stitchery on my mystery block 3.

Though I have finished my my two blocks for Helen (Magpie Cat) who is the Mama of the month in the Siblings together 2 group.

Helen has written a great Tutorial for this block over on her blog

themagpiecat.blogspot.co.uk

The block comes out at 15 1/2 inches and is very quick and easy to make, it looks complicated but is very simple to do.

Hope you give it a try :0)

Off now to sort out tea.

Keep safe and keep stitching..........................Doti...

Mojo gone walkabout..

Been a little under the weather for the last week or two, so not much knitting or sewing done. 

So after a little sort out of the sewing room, trying to find projects to kick start my Mojo.

The sock stock is well on target for twelve pairs this year, April's has already been gifted so I am one pair short in this photo.

Block two of Mrs Beasley's Sampler Quilt is now finished. I am not sure how they join up as yet as it is a mystery Quilt and I reckon I will have to wait until block four to find out.

  I am pleased with how it is going as each block is 15inches and has such a lot of work in each block, appliqué, stitchery and that's after the block has been pieced.

 Block three has 39 pieces before the appliqué and stitchery. This pattern is from the Aussie Magazine Vignette and started with issue No 10. 

It can be bought here in the UK. from Coast and Country Crafts. It is rather expensive but has lots in it including nice recipes.

I am using fabric from my stash as 21 different fabrics were needed, though lots are small pieces which is fun as I am using up lots of scraps I have had for years :0))

Block 3 looks rather bare, so off to sit quietly and do some needle turn appliqué with a nice cup of tea.

Other projects will have to wait a little longer...

Keep Safe and keep stitching.......................Doti...

Time Flies.

It does indeed fly as it's 14 days since I wrote a post and yes, a lot has been going on but I don't seem to have time to write about it. Let alone photograph it.

I took a class with the lovely Lynne Edwards. I book in on her class every year at Sew & So's if I can. All I knew was we were doing something called a Curvy Hen. 

Well this was it, a very cute wall hanging.

 I did manage to make two Curvy Hens at the class out of some scrap fabric that I had taken with me, which would possibly make a cushion. The intention is to choose some more neutral fabric from my stash to make the wall hanging, so watch this space.

Lynne did say she hopes to make the pattern available for sale.

My 2 Curvy Hens done in class.

A long time ago, I made a lot of my own clothes and the children's when they were younger.

So I thought it was high time I started again. 

This pattern was bought from Merchant & Mills Drapers on line and this is my first attempt at a work top (Top 64) though I just  might dress it up a bit with a pretty scarf or beads and wear it out.

My second attempt at top 64 is on the cutting table, fancier fabric this time, not enough done yet to take a photo.

In the evenings I have been sitting and knitting or a little embroidery but also nothing yet finished.

Looking out of one of the bedroom windows this morning, the Wisteria is out in all its glory along with the honeysuckle, what a lovely picture... 

 

So it's back to the garden as the sun is out to plant up some of my cosmos seedlings and keep my fingers crossed the slugs and snails don't get this lot.

Keep safe and keep stitching...................Doti.....

This time it's a Rainy Day..

The weather has changed for the worse so it's a day to light the wood burner and sit and hand sew.

I have been working on a mystery four part quilt, Mrs Beasley's Sampler Quilt  by Leanne Beasley.

Block one is finished and I have started on Block two.

Block 1.

 I am well pleased, and using up lots of fabric from my stash as the quilt calls for 21 different fabrics. Though some are very small pieces, and some of my treasured Oakshott fabric left over from the Floral Impressions quilt.

Block 2 work in progress. 

I know, I can hear you saying she was never going to do any more hand turned appliqué :0)

Well there is only a little on this quilt, and it does look nice with the stitchery..

Patshyn Catrin is the mama for May in our Siblings Together group and she has chosen a block that I have never done before, its a Double Heart Block. A tutorial can be found over on her blog.

patshyncatrin.blogspot.co.uk

It was fun to make and is rather effective, it looks paper pieced but it's not and very quick to make.

I have not posted a view from my back door for a long while, the daffodils are all finished now and I have quite forgotten what else flowers in that bed. We will have to wait and see. 

Hopefully Mr M will have put his ladders away too..

View from the back door.

I had thought there were tulips but looking out of another window I now see where the tulips are.

Sorry about the reflection from the window, but much to wet to venture out today..

Now to sit and work on block 2 of the mystery Quilt.

Keep safe and keep stitching....................Doti...

Really Good Weather

Well you know what happens when the weather is good? Yep,I decamp to the garden.

It seems ages since I last wrote a blog and to tell you the truth I have very little sewing to show, though I did finish April's socks and have cast on May's, so I am still on track for 12 pairs this year.

I have always liked Leanne Beasley patterns and her Magazine Vignette Leanne's House . In issue 10 she started a sampler quilt and as it was just 4 x15" blocks I thought that's for me.

So I sent to Australia for issue's 10 and 11 and obtained issue 12 from the UK and set about cutting it all out. Goodness me! 21 different fabrics. This should help to bust the stash of fabric I have.

This is the top half of the first block. Piecing,embroidery and appliqué, yep needle turned. :0) Some of the embroidery is so close to the edge, I had to add some temporary scrap fabric to be able to use the embroidery ring. 

I am certainly having fun with this project.

You have probably guessed it's raining today so other then water things in the greenhouse, I am house bound. So its back to the sewing room to add the bottom half of this block.

Also to sort out this months North Pole Blocks, or I shall be all behind and it will not get finished for Christmas.

So other than showing you a picture of our beautiful deerhound Gladdie who joins me in the garden on nice days, this is a very short post today.

Keep safe and keep stitching..................................Doti...

Bit's and Pieces.

That is what it feels like this week,when it's nice I am in the garden and when it's not I have been trying to catch up with all things sewing.

First The North pole Blocks for March are finished. I have been a little slow with them this month.

 Then the blocks for the Siblings Together for April are finished. These will be traveling to Clackmannanshire to Biff who is the Mama for this month. They will make an interesting quilt.

 Now these little owls were such fun to make. The pattern is called Hooterville and I am not sure who designed it. It is to be a joint project with all the girls at the Bees for this years Charity Quilt.

These two are my contribution, plus I have a Tree to make which is done but not photographed as yet.

Don't blink , yes it is Christmas hangings :0).

BunnyHill Designs is giving these Snow Happy Hearts as free patterns every month.

I am altering them slightly, as you know I always do, adding more embroidery etc.

They will be little presents to give away at, dare I mention the word, Christmas!!!

 Mr and Mrs Mouse ate all my Tomato plants, or should I say decapitated them. So I have had to start all over again, but hey ho I am sure we will still have our own tomatoes again this year.

Keep safe and keep stitching......................Doti...

Round up at the Bee

A fun day was had at the Bee this week, it was Annie"s Birthday so of course there was cake. Though most of us are on diets as per usual, only Sue refrained from eating any cake. She has more will power than the rest of us.:0)

Alison was machine quilting her lovely quilt. It is a UFO, this will be her second finish for the year.

 Maggie was also quilting around the Owls on this charity quilt though by hand, this one is going to a local Hospice.

  

Ann was stitching another border on her lovely Baby Quilt.

 Jenny was making some lovely table place mats as a gift for a Birdie friend. I do love these fabrics.

Annie was big stitch quilting around the hearts on the bed quilt for her daughter.

Liz was knitting and helping Sue, who is learning to crochet. (sorry no pictures).

I was putting the border on another quilt that is for the Siblings Together Charity, This one is made from my scrap bins which never seem to go down.

So that is the round up of what the "Queen Bees" were working on this week. They are a very productive lot.!

Its another fine day today so I am off  to the garden, my Tomato seedlings need repotting.

Keep safe and keep stitching..............................Doti.....

Floral Impressions Quilt

It was October 2013 when I started this quilt. It was designed by Deborah Kemball and the fabric is Oakshott

Photo taken outside.

I started this quilt as I was hopeless at needle turned appliqué, and I thought as this was a BOM I would have a whole month to do each block. Also, if after a year I had not conquered needle turned appliqué I never would. :0))

It did take me 18 months and I reckon I have just about conquered it.!!!

I needed to get back to my sewing machine, so this week I have been playing with Reverse appliqué 

You cut out your design with a scalpel on a 15" block and then you have a negative and a positive. The negative needs backing underneath, and the positive is stitched on to a plain 15"block, so you get two for the price of one which is fun and quick to make.

I have made a quilt similar to this before so thought I would update it.

I know Mothers day has gone but I was so thrilled with this card from my daughter that I thought I must show it off to everyone.

Mothers Day card from my daughter.

Since finishing the Floral Impressions quilt, I feel as if my strings have been cut and have just flopped down in the chair at night and done nothing, not even my knitting.

After all, I think I need a rest.

Keep safe and keep stitching...................Doti...

Scrap Bin.

I can't believe that after making 80 blocks from the scrap bin, the bin does not seem to have gone down very much at all. It is slightly less dense but still over flowing.

The blocks were seven and a half inches so have made up to a fair size quilt top. Just a little border all the way around and then to sandwich it with wadding/batting and backing and I might just have another quilt for my favourite charity Siblings Together.

Probably just straight line quilting on my trusty sewing machine. I do so like this mini shadow block, and such fun to make. The centres are 5 inches and are surrounded by 2 inch strips of grey and white. to make them look like they are floating.The scrap bin must have gone down a bit even if it does not look like it.

80 Blocks sewn together.

 Susie is the mama of the month and has asked for 3  10 inch nautical blocks in these colours, so the next job is to get them in the post.

I am very late blogging this week as the weather has been so good that Mr M and I have been trying to sort out the garden a bit. We had a lot of work done on the cottage and sad to say workmen are no respecters of the garden, and how do you hide a huge oil tank.?

On that note it's time I sorted out the backing for the new quilt.

Keep safe and keep stitching..................Doti...