Loving a bit of Holiday Sewing....

The best part about going on holiday,

besides being by the sea,

was staying in a cottage with no internet!

This meant I got a chance to do

LOTS of handquilting.

I started this quilt in 2006!

(Eeek! that IS 10 years!!!)

It's is my 'BQL Ostrich'

The story of it can be found here: 

http://sewkalico.blogspot.co.uk/2007/05/ufo-of-week.html 

I don't hand quilt much anymore

when I can longarm quilt my quilts

in a matter of days.

But it is very enjoyable now and again

to have something in your lap

while you unwind 

from a day of unwinding on the beach ;o)

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

 Our new favourite holiday destination is Northumberland.

 When the children are not on the beach we head into Alnwick...

 Alnwick Castle is a great day out 

and these school holidays were no exception

with chain mail... 

and armour to try on in the inner Bailey...

  (as well as the usual fabulous dressing up closets!!)

A great time was had by all!

Wordless Wednesday - A Flock of Sheep

Blocks & Baking

I haven't sewn much lately....

 but I like the way these blocks are working out.

I have definitely spent more time baking...

Chocolate cake:

  ...than I ever used to do.

Banana Bread:

And I have definitely spent more time grieving

than I ever thought possible.

I miss you Mom. every. single. day!

Tractor Blocks

My handwork project for a while has been these tractor blocks,

that I designed as a part paper-piecing and part applique project.

I tend to take them with me when I am waiting for the children 

at dancing or an activity where I have to wait for a while

(sometimes even babysitting for friends :o) )

I have made 2 quilts using my original tractor blocks.

They were just simple ideas to make some children's quilts that you can see here:

http://sewkalico.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/tractor-quilts.html

Now that I have an ever growing collection of tractor blocks, 

in a variety of colours, 

I decided that I should probably make a few more small quilts.

I am cutting 3.5" squares to create the first border...

*****

When putting the fabric squares together

I always use pieces of paper pinned to the start of rows

to keep a track of which row goes where.

Sometimes I use numbers,

but this time, top, bottom, left, right... seemed more appropriate.

Now to sew the rows and make these blocks grow!

Aspire Photography Course

I had the privilege of spending Friday learning more at

Aspire Photography Training....

A gorgeous model is provided on the day

(As well as a huge amount of knowledge

and a superb lunch!!)

*****

There were lots of lovely people on the course too 

and it's great to hear about their photographic journey.

We learnt many techniques,

but the best for me was working out 

what on earth half the buttons on my new camera are for....

Our model was really fun and so pretty 

 and she was very patient with all of us 

asking her to do this and that...

...while we adjusted settings and wiggled reflector boards

The bluebells were out,

but I personally thought our model 

suited the 'yellow flowers' better....

The shoot was a lot of fun 

and we had great help from all at Aspire....

I learnt loads and really had a fabulous day -

Thank you!

My Etsy Shop

It's been a long time since I listed anything in my etsy shop,

but there are so many things I want to do

(Courses to pay for and go on etc...)

that I thought it was worth a try..

I will be added things as I go along,

but have only listed a few things for now.

Check me out here:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/sewkalico

Yoga Cushions

A friend asked if I would make her some cushions...

She has been collecting vintage fabrics...

and wanted some cushions for her Yoga studio...

It was quite fun using her fabrics

and my trims

to come up these results.

Now back to quilting!

The Day Le Tour de Yorkshire came to Town

 The end of Stage 1 of the Tour de Yorkshire

ended in our local town...

With the finish right on our doorstep 

it would have been rude not to go,

So we took the children down to town

to see what was going on....

Some were more enthusiastic

  than others...

*****

We positioned ourselves with friends

away from the mass of spectators

to a less densely crowded part of the main street

to see the throng of bikes

and cars 

go whizzing past! 

It was a grand day out -

despite the weather's best efforts to soak and freeze us all!

The Patchwork Dogs

 Not my quilts...

And even more sadly,

Not my lovely dogs.