Celebrations and Goodbyes

I have just realised it is almost a month since I did a ‘weekly’ blog.  Somehow the summer months are so filled with things that keep me away from the computer and the sewing machine.  We’ve had the annual ‘tea and cake’ for our eldest, and taken the pic of her and the kids, so we can say ‘look how much they’ve grown.

A couple of days later we helped my friends celebrate their 50th anniversary.

I made this  wallhanging of their family peeping out of the leaves of the tree.

Our youngest girl said a sad goodbye to this wee lady who was 14 1/2 yrs old. This was taken some years ago.Molly had been her constant companion since college, when she got sneaked into the room in a pocket.

And hello to this rascal, Phoebe.

She wanted company for this  guy who was sad to lose his companion. JR is a friendly little dog who is finding it just a wee bit difficult having a juvenile to cope with.

Grandaughter finished her last summer’s project. A woolfelt cushion with her name on it. I think she is going to be a typical needlewoman. A few UFO’s always around.

The summer has been glorious. We have been out and about a lot. Unfortunately I didnt take many pics.  This was at Bangor, on a day when we took the train and relaxed, with no driving to do.

Happy 4th July

                              Wishing all my US blogging friends
                 a Happy Independence Day

Summer and cross stitch

I Havent much quilty to blog about. The weather has been really good, so outside becons.  The pipeband championship was held in the park this week.  I really enjoyed it, must be my scottish blood.  My niece’s girls and hubby are involved, and with all those tartans and hundreds of people around, I managed to find them. Z’s pink sunglasses  drew my attention.

L has been doing this since she was little. Now at 16 she is very skilled.

I did a few cross stitched pictures for baby cards for the church.  I like to have a few in hand in case we have a baby boom.

Bought myself this little treat.  Dont know what I will do with it yet, but it is sitting nicely in my stash til then. Luv to all.xxx

The walk of shame and Convergence

I have to confess.  I am so ashamed. What have I done you ask?  It’s more like what have I not done.  This afternoon I was sewing away merrily on my Convergence quilt, see below, when my trusty machine began to make horrendous noises, and nasty loose stitches.  I didnt know what was wrong, thought it might be the bobbin cover which seemed loose.  I stopped and decided to take a couple of pics of the quilt so far.  That done, I pulled out the manual for my faithful friend.  I turned to the maintenance section………well, have you caught on yet.  I saw the instructions for cleaning and oiling.  I opened the needle plate and was horrified to find lint the size and colour of a small fieldmouse. Boy was I ashamed. I admit I didnt do the maintenance/cleaning bit in all the years I have had her. Almost 8.  Sooooo… she got lots of tlc, a needle change, and bless her she is sewing like a dream.  What a bad stitcher am I.

Here is the convergence quilt, not quite finished.  I have enjoyed this, and would be tempted to do another sometime soon.

Thank you for listening /reading my confession.  I have learned my lesson….really I have.

A bit of Catch-up

Well, I didnt last long with the ‘blog every week’ resolution.  I just seemed to get busy.  What was I doing……I’ll have to think about that.  Lets have a look at where I was last blog…..27th April! I can hardly believe that.  Where have the five weeks gone.  I went to Scotland as a surprise for my Auntie on her birthday.  Had a great couple of days, but not many photos. This very peaceful scene at the front of my cousin’s house where I stayed.

Then DH and I went to Donegal. This is a pic of the cliffs at Slieve  Liag (league). The weather was not great, but we had this cosy stove for the evenings.

A local church held a lovely quilt exhibition in our neighbouring town.  There were some beautiful quilts, and lots of inspiration.  This is something new for my neighbourhood, and was a great hit. Here are a few pics.I loaned my Scrappy Happy Spring.

Summer has brought new life to the lake in our park.  This swan had 5 babies and seemed to be waiting for the other 3 eggs to hatch.  Sadly, as I walked this morning I noticed the eggs still there, and the family gone to swim at the other side of the lake.

We also have a family of 5 goslings to add to the growing goose flock.I entered a quilt in the home industries part of our local agricultural show. The first show I ever entered.Am I just a little proud to be acknowledged.  This is the quilt that won.  It is not well displayed, as there is a window behind it.Th photo doesnt do it justice.

I will finish with a peek at something I have made for a competition.  I will show all after the judging is done.  I am getting into this .

Finally, finally I bought Ricky Tims book and am in the process of trying this technique. More photos to follow.

This will take practice, but I love it. B.

Birthday gifts,Easter, and sunset

 I did a little sewing this week.  My aunt is having a big 0 birthday soon, and I bought her a lovely panel and coordinating fat quarters.  Yes, she sews too. I chose a few things from my sewing box to share with her also.  Using my pieced selvedges I made a zip pouch to put them in

and added

a couple of mugrugs.  I found the Val Laird pattern for these in a Creating Country Threads mag, and changed the stitchery to sweetpeas which are my favourite flower.  I just know she will love these goodies.

I made a little Easter quilt which has a very narrow binding.  It sort of spoiled the look.  I could take it off and redo.........before next year.

Look at this beautiful sunset.  The photo doesn't do it justice.

It was really wonderful. 

See you next week God willing. xx

Friday becomes Monday

Ok, so I dont have a lot to blog about weekly. I enjoyed my guild meeting last Tuesday, which was a show and tell.  Such lovely quilts.  I took my spring quilt and two of the Christmas throws I made the girls. 

The postcard became a swap. I waited to see if anyone would take my ‘red sails’, and then picked this little gem by Jean Kelly. It’s called ‘scraps from Grace’s quilt’. I loved the buttons. Grace is her baby grandaughter.

I enjoyed our ‘prayer room’ set up by the youth of my church for the week leading up to Easter.

It was lovely to go and sit for a quiet time in a special room.  We had great celebrations of our Risen Lord Jesus over the weekend.  So uplifting and joyful.

The weather over this weekend has been super in my little part of the world.  Where the south of England has had rain and cold, we were basking in unusually warm temperatures and clear blue skies.  It is good to feel the warmth of the sun after a cold winter.

That’s all for now folks. Talk again soon. xx

Friday becomes Sunday

Well, I started to blog on Friday, forgetting that Blogger wasnt accepting my photos for some reason.  So here I am, take two.

This little girlie arrived safely.  Her name is Crunchie.

She will have a posh name later.  I have done very little sewing this week.  I took this panel and simply added batting and a soft brushed back to make a small boy happy. (havent picked which small boy yet).

Think that’s all this week folks.  It’s sunny, and the outdoors calls. xx

A finish, edges and postcard

I have finished Happy Scrappy Spring.  It is very simply quilted with straight almost straight line quilting by machine, plus a little hand quilting on the centre panel.  My sewing machine was struggling with the quilting, so I kept it to a minimum.{my excuse}Here it is with feet. DH happily held it up for me.

I was playing around yesterday with selvedges.  I dont know what I will do with it, but a nice zipped purse for my favourite auntie is on the cards.  Northern Lights, my area Quilters Guild of Ireland group, set a task for us to try making a quilted/fabric postcard. Here is my first attempt.I call it red sails in the sunset. Very simple pic. Background quilt as you go. Boat and sun raw edge applique using bondaweb.  Features added with embroidery cotton. I am going to try to post it to Scotland in a few weeks, to aforementioned fav auntie. We’ll see how it fares. Talk again soon xx

Live Writer does it for me

I have tried Live Writer, Needled Mom.  Looks like it may work for me.  So here goes.  I have two pics about ALQS8 to share.  I sent this to Marei in Sacramento and I received thisfrom Beth. I must say I love this, and have it displayed in my little sewing room.

I had a little lace to add to GD’s tutu.  Here it is pinned only.  Of course I let her away without taking the completed pic.

I did a little spring cleaning yesterday, and made a couple of cushion covers to brighten up our small sunroom.Amber appreciates her freshly laundered bed.  The laundry basket is her domain.  It is a long time since it’s been used for laundry.  I filled it with old cushion pads and her ‘other’ rugs. What a spoiled lady.I dont know how clear this is. Although she has choice of two drinking bowls, she prefers the watering can……which DH keeps topped up for her.

What am I sewing now?  I am still working on my Happy Scrappy Spring by Kaaren.  My niece wants me to enter it in the  home industries class at our local agricultural show…….we will see.  I have just two more carrots to applique, then i hope to quilt it very simply myself.  After all that newsy stuff, I hope this does work. xx