#StayHome & Quilt

Sheep baby quilt.

I used a double layer of wadding/batting

to make it more snuggly.

Quilted with freehand loops and hearts

because I love babies....

Just the binding to do now...

... I appear to have plenty of time in my hands for that 😩

Freehand Leaves

Perhaps if I post from my phone, I might blog more?

Longarm quilting very freehand leaves....

Sewing for the Whirling Dervish

I have been dabbling with a bit of clothes sewing for my daughter.

I haven't done this in a long time as she didn't wear any of the previous stuff I made 

and I actually really don'y have the time, 

but occasionally I have to do something other than work or household chores...

I made her 2 pairs of shorts, but she is not keen on them. Even with pockets!

Then I saw this yellow cat fabric and thought that it would make a nice little something...

The dress pattern is from The Great British Sewing Bee,

a free pattern from the Daily Mail many moons ago....

The dress is a hit... a fudged the zip as I didn't have an invisible one, 

so I just used a regular one that I had to hand. 

And I didn't quite follow any instructions 

to get the zip in, but it works and she loves the dress. 

She has a party this week and if she hasn't worn it out by then, she plans to wear it.

Now to use some fabric from my stash and try something else...

Auction Of Promises

I started this blog many moons ago 

so that I could keep my Mom up to date 

with a few things, 

one being my hobby...

Somehow, since she died I just haven't felt the urge to blog 

and I haven't had the time to sew like I used to...

I now work full time, 

have 3 kids and pursue other hobbies 

which are time consuming including 

photography and wine tasting ;)

BUT, I finished this quilt recently

and decided to donate it to my children's junior school 

for their 'Auction of Promises'

so here is a quick pic with the snowdrops 

before I drop it off...

*****

Today would have been my Mom's 78th Birthday.

Quite fitting, that I did manage some longarm-quilting for a friend, 

but more on that if I manage to blog again :)

Rainbow Hearts Baby Quilt

A little quilt I made for a friend's granddaughter...

Brrummm brummmm.... Tractor Baby Quilt

I had a lovely time delivering this quilt today 

to a friend for her new baby.

I had made her another quilt that was a bit more 'neutral', 

but when I heard she had had a little boy....

Well! It had to be a tractor quilt!!

I longarmquilted it freehand

on my Nolting pro-24 machine with stars and loops...

And then I took a few photos as he gave it a trial run...

He is the sweetest little thing,

and his mother is under strict instruction 

that she can use it however she pleases

as it is completely washable and squash-able 

and made for use.

Every Quilt Tells a Story

Some more Longarming.... 

This time a gorgeous quilt, that has a sad yet beautiful story behind it... 

This quilt will be raffled soon to raise money for a Hospice 

where the initial blockmaker was cared for in her final days. 

The unfinished blocks were put together to make this lovely quilt 

at a later date by a very kind and wonderful quiltmaker 

and she asked me to longarm quilt it.....

I borrowed the quilt back to photograph it

and I hope I have done it justice.

Sometimes I do Quilt...

I have been so busy of late...

I changed jobs to focus on my photography

and ended up doing more than I planned!

Hopefully that will all calm down soon

and I can just take photos and make quilts...

In the meantime...

here is a photo of a quilt 

that I longarm-quilted for a friend. 

I took the photo on the patio of another friend.

One has to love sunshine and good friends!! :)

Work in Progress - Rainbow Hearts

I love making these hearts...

Now to work on a layout

Wordless Wednesday - New Project - Heart Block

Wordless Wednesday - Baby on her gifted quilt

The Night Shift

Late night quilting! 

I am just back from a late night shift at my studio

trying to catch up with customer quilts. 

I drive to my studio after the kids are in bed, 

quilt until I can't anymore, come home and get ready for bed 

so that I can get up in the morning to get the kids to school and me to work. 

My days are too short!!!

This customer quilt has been made by a lady 

who trusted me to longarm quilt 4 other of her gorgeous quilts 

that were needed by Christmas and this last one was made up with blocks 

started by a fellow quilter who sadly passed away recently.

 I believe this quilt is to be raffled to fundraise for the hospice 

that cared for the fellow quilter in her last days. 

Every quilt does indeed tell a story. 

This one of loss, of friendship and of the threads that bind us together 

if we are prepared to find inspiration in each others creativity.

I am still grieving, perhaps I shall grieve forever, 

but I shall also always create!

Hello Again!

Sorry it's been so long dear blog,

but life gets in the way...

And quilting luckily does too! 

I have been longarming for others...

Here are a few pics of gorgeous quilts that were collected today:

This one was backed with fleece...

which was superb quality and quilted beautifully...

I also made and attached all the bindings...

I am very grateful that fellow quilters 

and friends trust me to finish their quilts for them. 

It is always lovely to see the final results.

Sheep Quilt - Baby Shower Gift

I was very pleased to be able to give this quilt

to a special work colleague today 

as a baby shower quilt.

That meant that yesterday I had to dash out 

and take a few photos to remember it by :)

I am also very lucky to have an amazingly helpful 

(and wonderful) friend

who after a quick plea-full phone call offered her sheep, 

her fence... 

(and a bucket of food to call the sheep!)

The wind was blowing an almost gale,

but I wanted to capture the backing fabric too

so no problem with a bit of wind...

The backing is a piece of fabric 

that I have had for a LONG time!

 I liked it so much that I never wanted to use it.

Crazy!! But using it for someone special was worth it.

(No point saving my favourite fabric for best!

As I have probably said before, 

if I don't watch out and use my stash,

 my husband will send it to the charity shop!!)

The backing is a sort of American Country Fair print

with a 'Quilt Show' tent and Fairground attractions

as well as farm animals and red barns.

I thought it worked well as it is fairly neutral.

The recipient doesn't know what her baby will be...

But boy or girl, 

all we hope is that it is healthy and happy

(and feels free to use and abuse this quilt!)

Wordless Wednesday - Aero Mint Ball Birthday Cake

Counting Sheep

Still working on this,

but at least now it is quilted...

And I used a piece of fabric from my stash 

that I was 'saving for best',

but I figure if I don't use it somebody else will 

when I die and my husband sends all my stuff to the charity shop!!

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!