Saturday 22 July 2017

where did it begin?

Recently I have been reminiscing about past quilts and where my love of quilts started.....
My first quilt was truly a scrap quilt. I was making a lot of smocked dresses and I loved using good quality fabrics, a lot of them american cottons, but mostly pure cotton fabrics as they were easier to pleat, so there were lots of scraps. A friend of my mum's offered me a bag of scraps to start me off, to have a go and see if I enjoyed patchwork without having to go to expense. Dress remnants and lots of different fabrics, including some poly cotton but I didn't care it summed up the whole idea of patchworking for me-Utilising left over bits of fabrics to make something new.
Well the result may not be the prettiest of quilts but it is one of my absolute favourites. I had no patchworking ruler or rotary cutter, just pencil, ruler and scissors. very basic.
I hand quilted around the hearts and used a large stash of buttons for the centre of the 4 patch blocks and that's all that's holding it together, but hold it has.
I backed it in a piece of purple tartan someone had given me. Pretty ugly when you look at it but I remember being so excited that it would fit the top and I thought it was lovely.
 I love to drape it over my bed head.
I stitched my name and the year of completion around one of the hearts and it was made in 2004.

Thanks to the enjoyment I had making this quilt many more have been made since and a passion was ignited.
I think I have learnt a lot over the years and my skills have improved also but I'll always have a soft spot for this quilt and don't think I could ever part with it.


When did your patchwork passion begin and what was your first quilt like?Not sure how to do the linky gizmo but if you'd like to share just mention in your comments that you'd like to post your first quilt and I'll pop over to see.



On another pleasant note.....
The working week just flew and it was a great week.
A squishy parcel arrived in the mail from Fiona of Bubz rugz.
this gorgeousness was my belated birthday gift.
Such perfect stitching and beautiful fabrics. Thankyou so much Fiona! Love , love, love them xx


Have a lovely weekend and hope to see your first quilts in blogland.

Happy days
Marina






Saturday 15 July 2017

all good things

Two weeks of bliss has flown by and Monday will be the start of a new term.
Have not been out and about much but have had a great time at home sewing and keeping up with mum.
Sometimes you need the world to slow down to a more manageable pace especially after last term which was quite full on due to my new job. Hoping that the new term will be an easier one as long as I remember everything  lol
Lots of progress on my Gossip in the garden blocks and I'm quite enjoying them.
Binding got done on Sweet William and Caswell top is finished after the suggestion to add a small border made of all the background fabrics just to frame it simply. No pic but it should be back from the quilters soon as luckily I had two in the queue to be done and I swapped one with Caswell so it will be done first.
Can't wait to get this lovely back all quilted.
Now for some Gossip in the garden blocks...


block 1
block 2

block 3- some changes to this block- orange peel blocks, heart applique and the little bluebells are not on the original design. Just need to add the stems for the bluebells and sew down the dresden plate.
I've added little things that will remind me of my old workplace. The orange and lemon peel blocks represent all the lemons and oranges I used to take in to work for the girls. The big blue willow teapot is for the Teapot gifted to me when I left. there will be more little reminders in blocks to come too.
Just goes towards making it a special quilt!

Hope the sun is shining where you are... it's fresh here but the sun is out so Billy may get another big run and swim to mark the end of the holidays. 

Happy days

Marina

Tuesday 4 July 2017

holidays...

Well it's that time again and I've been a rather pathetic blogger and blog follower, even though I have been a bit of a stalker...
Time just seems to be at a premium at the moment and I've found myself spread a bit too thin...
Am finding my feet at my new job which I am happy about after a rocky start but it has been 16years since I started a new job so there were going to be some stresses.
I thought I'd pop in and update on a few projects as I like to chronicle my crafting through my blog.
the holidays have started off with a bang as I have been busily concentrating on just one project for the past few weeks and that is Sweet William. I set a goal to have the quilting completed by these school holidays.Well the holidays have started and it's a finish!!! woo hoo you can imagine me doing cartwheels around the place if you're game...

Roll the film please...
Ta DA.........


 some stats if you're interested..
Started Jan 2015 after some one on one consultation from the very clever Elyte
Top completed September 2015
Started hand Quilting April 2016
Hand quilting completed 4 July 2017
Have loved making this quilt and have learnt so much along the way, also igniting my obsession/passion for needleturn applique.


Another finish I have been remiss of celebrating is the completion of my Caswell Quilt top.
I am still undecided as to how to finish, the borders ie. I am not fond of the ones on the pattern but can't decide how to complete it.
This has been an absolute joy to work on, have loved the process and surprised myself that I have accomplished it.
Will be a little while before it is a complete finish but that's ok too....
Good things come to those who wait.
Some more stats..
Started in March 2016
Only completed 25 of the 30 blocks.
Top together May/June 2017
A new project I started once Caswell was done is my farewell quilt....
Gossip in the garden by Anni Downs.
Now that sweet william is done I can work on the second block and get back to some other wisps.
Happy Days....

Marina

Time is flying....

 Seems like my blog has become a little neglected again, this doesn't mean a lack of crafting though. Progress has been achieved on most...