Tuesday 23 November 2010

Jan's Quilt - ready to go



I have so enjoyed making Jan's Quilt. Every process, from getting to grips with EQ7, drawing up the blocks and designing the top to ferreting at FoQ for the right fabrics, stitching the blocks and even the quilting!
My course with Angie Hughes this year has really improved my confidence with machine quilting, embroidery. Its made such a difference to what I'm prepared to have a go at, and I so much prefer the look and feel of a machine quilted piece to one that has been hand quilted.
The hard thing is that having spent 3 months with these fabrics and then the quilt it feels sad having to let it go!

Monday 22 November 2010

Absent without leave!!!




Why do I always dream up these really good ideas for Christmas gifts? I then get bogged down in getting them finished in the required time. Yes I know its still November but some will have to be delivered in early December..... so, yes, the panic is on!
So... since getting back from the fabulous trip to Jordan I have had to finish Jan's quilt (more on that later) and make 2 quillows for my great nephews and a gift for a friend. I have been working so hard and playing with my new HTC phone that I've neglected my blog!
You see I found these two charming story books which I knew the boys would enjoy and the images were so tempting that I just had to consider a small snuggle blanket to go with each book.
I was so pleased that the publisher was willing to give permission to use the images and I am now stitching and quilting the second one.
Strictly, they are not quilts! They have a top layer with applique shapes which is then backed with fleece.
They are a new departure for me, as a rule, I don't do pictorial or representational pieces so I am learning as I go along. They will never be works of art, but that's OK as they are made for use not as ornament or heirloom.
I've included a picture of the whole so far, a closeup of "Larry" and the book "Introducing Limelight Larry" by Leigh Hodgkinson, published by Orchard Books