Mooing and Making

Finally, finally, the summer is here at last!  And in Jersey it's been no exception.  The socks, winter boots and rain macks have finally retired to the back of the wardrobe, in favour of sandals, summer dresses and sunglasses.  Hooray! 

Even our neighbours, the Jersey cows have been enjoying the sunshine;

For my international readers (if you're out there) you probably won't have heard of Jersey.  It's a teeny tiny island off the coast of France, and part of the Channel Islands, only 45 square miles wide, and famous for, you guessed it, these gorgeous, friendly, sweet natured cows, that produce rich creamy milk, arguably the best in the world.  I am so lucky to get to see them every day! 

Anyhow, back to the business of quilting.  Last week was another productive week, as I put these gorgeous Ed Emberly Happy Drawing fabrics to good use...

And came up with this:

So that's two quilt tops made (this one and Walk in the Woods) and they are both to be finished asap.  Watch this space.

I have also been doing some research into the history of quilting as part of my coursework, which has proved fascinating.  I might share some brief snippits another day.  It is interesting, I promise!

A Little Charm Quilt

Last week the gorgeous fabrics that I ordered came through the letter box.  It was a bundle of fat quarters of Walk in the Woods by Aneela Hoey.  They were wrapped so beautifully, and were just so enticing,   I couldn't stop thinking about what I was going to do with them.

But then it got to Friday, and after several evenings of studying, I couldn't help myself.  I just had to make something with them there and then.  Nothing complicted, just something quick and simple, so on Friday evening I came up with this...

As you can see it's just the quilt top, and it's still to be quilted, backed and binded, but I do feel rather pleased with myself.  It was a late night though, and I paid the price the next day with a throbing headache!

I had hoped to post about it earlier, but I was keen to get an outdoor picture.  I can honestly say it hasn't stopped raining here in Jersey all weekend, so today (Monday afternoon) was literally my first opportunity.  But as you can see, the sky is still grey and the temperatures far too low!

As per usual I have run out of fabric.  I have ordered a co-ordinating piece of fabric for the backing and some more wadding, and as soon as they arrive I shall get going.  I am thinking simple machine quilting, in the ditch and also 1 cm either side.  I can't help feeling that these gorgeous fabrics need to speak for themselves.  I just adore the little girl that is Little Red Riding Hood and I don't want any fancy quilting to take away from her. 

I have also made good progress with my coursework.  Last week, I managed work on module 5 nearly every night and managed to:

• research 'form' and put a set of notes together
• research my chosen artist - sculptor Phillip King (very interesting) and finalise my notes
• start researching the history of quiliting, for a seperate file I have to put together on quilting techniques

Lots more to go but a good start. 

In other news - I am going out tonight!!!  First time this year!!!  So no feeding the baby/sewing/designing/creating/blogging for me tonight, just eating, drinking, socialising and hopefully having fun!! 

Blogger's Quilt Festival

It seems that something very exciting is happening in quilt blog land.  Everyone is talking about it.  And participating in it.  So of course I just had to join in.  It is the annual...

Which is essentially a festival of all things quilty, and a competition too, with different categories and lots and lots of lovely prizes.  So first I had to decide which quilt I wanted to submit as my entry. The most obvious choice would be my most recently made quilt, the cot quilt for baby William:

But whilst I could enter it into the 'hand quilted' category, or the 'baby quilt' category, I couldn't help thinking about another little quilt that I made at the beginning of the year.  So I have decided to enter my dolly quilt... and hope for the best!

This quilt was inspired by the quilt 'Dotty About Dresden' in one of my favourite books 'Material Obsession' by Sarah Fielke and Kathy Doughty.  I love all the quilts in this book; I love their use of colour combinations, the hand stitching, their philosophy and most of all their fabric choices.  I couldn't resist having a go at making one myelf.  But, being heavily pregnant at the time (January 2012) I couldn't make the time committment of making a full sized quilt, so a dolly quilt seemed like the perfect compromise.  I had been dying to have a go at dresden plates for some time, so what better than to start by making just the one.  I appliqued it onto the background and made a scrappy border, before hand quilting it using using perle cotton no. 8 in purple and white. 

It is the last thing I made before William arrived.  It's special to me because I adapted a pattern to suit me, and it was the first time I had properly attempted hand quilting.  I just love the fabrics and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process. 

Fingers crossed!

PS. Lots to post about tomorrow - I have been making again, and am just waiting for the rain to stop so that I can take a photograph outside :-)





Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop

In these last few months I have really got into blogging.  Although I have had my blog for over a year now, it is only recently that I have really put the effort in and started to connect with more people, and put myself 'out there' in blogland.  And I am having so much fun!

I am also trying to get a bit more technical and learn more about different features etc.  So I hope you notice my latest addition...my flickr slide show! 

Anyhow, I came across a lovely blog called Plum and June and they are running a 'Let's Get Acquainted' blog hop throughout the summer. 



Basically, a schedule is put in place, and everyone is invited to view the designated 2 blogs per week, starting next week.  The blogger has to blog information about themselves and their quilting, and produce a small item and little tutorial, based on the theme of Novelty Prints.  (Click here for details of the hop). 

I thought it would be fun to take part, as I like meeting new bloggers, and it might be nice to make something and put a little tutorial together (nothing compliated!)  And better still, I have just recieved my Aneela Hoey 'A Walk in the Woods' fabrics that I ordered last week, so this is the perfect opportunity to put them to good use.  I have a few ideas, but you will just have to wait until Tuesday 14th August to see what I come up with!  Yes, that's my date, when everyone will come and visit my page...can't wait! 

And yes, I realise I am meant to be head down, focusing on my coursework.  I promise that I have been.  The research aspect is going well so far, but there is a lot of it to do!  I'm going to do a little post all about what I am studying at the moment in a couple of days.  But for now I have to:



Wish me luck!

Siblings Together Cards

It really was a weekend of finishes, because not only did I finish William's quilt, I also managed to finish off 100 cards for the Siblings Together Charity.  (Click here for my original blog post, to find out what it's all about).   And here they are;

And I have now put William's quilt in his bedroom, and  couldn't resist an 'in situ' photo, particularly as it matches rather nicely with his rug;

So that's two projects ticked off the list.  Next, back to business and full steam ahead with module 5.  There is quite a lot of research and paperwork involved, so I won't have any lovely makey things to post about in the coming weeks.  But I do have some items in my back catalogue of projects that I haven't blogged about, so I might include a picture or two of them, in case your'e interested.  Hopefully!

William's Quilt

I have been going on about it for what seems like months, and sewing it for what feels like even longer, and here it is at long last, my quilt for William!

The design is based on a pattern from the blog Flossie Teacakes.  It is just a simple design; I wanted something that was quick to piece together and that didn't require too much brain power, as it has mainly been constructed of an evening, between 9 and midnight, when little William has finally gone to sleep. 

It's machine pieced and hand quilted using no. 8 perle cotton thread, and as per suggestion from my lovely friend Juile, I have included some...

which breaks up the slightly less imaginative...

 I am really pleased with it, it's always nice to have another project finished and under the belt.  I think William likes it too but he is not allowed near it for fear of dribbling/being sick on it. 

It will just have to look pretty in his bedroom for now!

A Happy Post

It's been a hectic few days here, as we have had all the family come to visit.  And I literally mean all the family.  Mum, Dad, Sister, Nan, Grandad.  And with my two little ones as well, there were 4 generations!  Everyone had travelled a long way, so it was really nice that we could all be together for a brief time. 

We also got out and about as much as the weather would allow, and there was even some sunshine.  So much so that we all donned our sunglasses, in an attempt to look cool...

I digress.  Back in the world of quilting, I am very excited to show you my finished quilt for William very soon.  Just got to finish the binding, then I am done.  And it's looking good, if I do say so  myself.  Watch this space!

And my other current crafty project, being the Siblings Together cards, is also very much well under way, and just needs the 100 Siblings Together logos to be stuck onto the fronts.  (Huge thank you to my special friend Suzy for allowing me to use her colour printer, after the disaster of our own, new colour printer not working and having to be sent back to Amazon.  Grrrrr.) 

I have also been busy purchasing some new fabrics.  Not sure when I will get to  use them but they are so gorgeous, I couldn't resist.  I shall post pictures of them when they get here and you can drool over them too :-)  

The cogs are also turning in my brain (slowly!) about ideas for module 5 'Form'.  Once the above two projects are complete then it will be full steam ahead with research, designing and thinking about the required 3D style of presentation.  I have a few ideas, I just need to figure out how to put them in action.  Really looking forward to getting started. 

Right, better get off the computer and get cracking! 

All Craft Media and Modern Quilting Magazine

Yesterday I wrote a post about my excitment about having a 2 page article in Modern Quilting Magazine.  And less than 2 hours later I felt I had no choice but to delete the post, because it has come to my attention that All Craft Media, (ACM) who are the parent company of Modern Quilting Magazine have very likely gone into either administration or liquidation. 

But the plot thickens. 

It should be noted that ACM, owned by Kerrie Allman, is a pheonix company of another company she owned,  KAL Media, which went into liquidation in 2010.  

http://companycheck.co.uk/company/06683690

It seems that there are many unhappy designers and contributors who have produced copy and designs for ACM and not been paid.  I am one of them.  (Perhaps my cheque is in the post?)     And many designers have not received their samples back. Check out these links to see for yourself:

http://sewhappygeek.co.uk/index.php/2012/05/04/me-and-acm/


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3940237


http://sewingmad.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/be-careful-when-submitting-articles-to-some-craft-magazines/


http://www.dull-roar.com/2012/02/all-craft-media-and-why-you-should-run.html

If you are a contributor or subscriber who is owed money,  then take a look at this link for the administration details:

http://thesewingdirectory.blogspot.com/

Sadly, it doesn't end there. 

It seems that Kerrie has set up another company in her father's name:

http://blog.joyuna.com/2012/05/all-craft-media-in-liquidation.html

Please draw your own conclusions.

It really saddens me to write this post.  And I am so disappointed not to be able to share my article with you.  It was my very first of the patchwork and quilting variety.    But I am one of the lucky ones.  My contribution was an article that involved about 2 afternoons of writing.  Many others have spent hours and hours designing and sampling their work.  All for nothing. 

All Craft Media is leaving a bitter taste in people's mouths.  But I hope this post will make people aware of the information currently circulating on the internet.  Based on my experiences, that is all I can do. 

Thank you for reading.  I look forward to posting a happy post soon. 

It's That Time Again!

Well it's the beginning of a new month, and with it comes the sunshine.   Let's hope it's the start of things to come.  But before I look forward, I am going to take part in:

Which is basically a round up of what has been achieved in the previous month.  And here's the bit where I get fancy.  I have taught myself how to make a photo mosaic :-)  So rather than rambling on about what I have made in April, you can see for yourself:

Oh and, most importantly, I completed and passed module 4 of my coursework :-)

And along with my new found photo mosaic skills, I have been learning how to use Touchdraw for the ipad to design quilts.  Once again, all thanks to Lynne from Lily's Quilts.  It's been great fun and I think it will be a really useful skill to have for the future.  But I have to say, even though I am relatively young (ish) and have been brought up with computers, I do find that technology is moving at such a fast pace, it really is a struggle to keep up! 

All in all I think I have achieved quite a bit in April, now the pressure is on to get lots done in May!  First priority - finish my quilt for William - this will mean lots of midnight stitching, but it's going well, photos coming soon :-)

And now it's time to get social; I am taking part in:

So if you are new to my blog, then it's lovely to meet you!  Please do become a follower and I look forward to following you back and getting to know you.  I have lots of exciting things pending this month and I very much look forward to sharing them.