I haven't posted on here for 6 months - I can't believe it's been so long! I refreshed the look of the blog today - it will probably change again until I'm satisfied, if I ever am!

I have been busy with various textile related things in the past months, but not everything can be posted yet. All the same - here's a little catch up...

The piece I started last year inspired by the local church was finished in time for Christmas, and here's a photo...

It's made from silk, appliqued and quilted, with glitzy fabric shapes added here and there.

I have also been busy with the Quilt Judging Course. The first module is finished, so I'm moving on to the second one.

The journal quilt plan has not happened - no time!. And I'd rather not dash something off half heartedly, then regret not doing it properly.

I've been involved with the Quilts4London project, where 14000+ pennants have been made in order to give one to every participant in the Olympics and Special Olympics.

Our local group is working on a couple of projects- a Round Robin, and a Mystery Quilt. For obvious reasons, I can't post any pictures of the Round Robin, although I am enjoying it very much, but the Mystery Quilt is my design, so I can post photos of where the project has got to so far.

The centre block - a straightforward Churn Dash...

....was turned on point.....

.....then a border made from foundation pieced cornerstones and rectangles....more to follow!

New Journal Quilt

I've done another Journal quilt - A4 sized, this one was made for a challenge set by Leominster Quilters. the subject was 'A Country - real, not imagined', so I chose New Zealand, and it's a mixture of paint, applique and quilting.

Another Cushion

Another cushion made last week - quick bonded applique and machine quilting.

A quick project

This month I have made a couple of cushions for a friend's grand-daughters, complete with appliqued initials. The fabric is a Cath Kidston - an extra piece I gained after turning a king-size quilt cover into 2 single ones.

Busy Time

Had a busy couple of weeks. I completed a log cabin quilt, out of my stash. (Only had to buy the wadding.)

Also made a sign for my workroom door......

Why the hooks? Because I plan to make a Journal quilt every month, and hang it from the sign. I want to try new techniques (or develop existing ones) and a Journal quilt is a manageable size. 

However, the first one wasn't made this month - it was done on a trip to Cornwall in April, but I have only just finished it off.

Fabric was transfer printed using leaves as a mask, then machine quilted around the leaf shapes. I added a green sheer fabric on top, and hand and machine stitched the background. I'm pleased with it.

Baby quilt

Yesterday and today I have made this quilt for a friend's baby. She arrived last Thursday....

Playing with paint

Spent a happy few hours on Saturday playing with fabric paints along with members of the group. I think we all had fun!

Today, I have washed an antique quilt, which I bought at an auction a week ago. It's washed ok, but a few of the stitches have broken; however, I think they had probably already gone, or were ready to go. I think it's a Welsh strippy quilt - quite large, and the filling is a blanket, so it's heavy, even when dry! Photo to follow soon.

New challenge

I have just started a piece for a challenge set by Linda - to  make a small qult (18 inches max), taking inspiration from the local church. As it is renowned for it's decoration, there's lots of scope. I took lots of photos, and settled on using a detail from the font, which looks a lot like quilting.

However, I've designed something that has much more applique than quilting - so far!

Blast from the Past

Today, I have finished a quilt begun in 2006. A 'Round Robin' quilt, which was part of a group challenge inspired by an artist - I chose Gaudi after a visit to Barcelona. The other quilts are finished, as far as I know, only mine took longer than expected. I was very unsure as to how to quilt this one, but eventually made some decisions, and here it is.

Another quilt completed!

As promised, here's a photo of the other sampler quilt - Back to Basics 2. The centre block was a Quilters' Guild Mystery Quilt project a few years ago, and I was unsure what to do with it once I'd finished. When the challenge was issued at the group, I knew it's time had come!

The quilt measures 72" x 72", and is completely machine quilted. The blocks are pieced using both hand and machine techniques. I'm so pleased with it, I've entered it into the Festival of Quilts in August.