Silent Sunday
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Author Archives: sophie newey
Community Quilting
With the Scrappy Trip along and Schoenrock Cross QAL completed, there has been a void. Don’t get me wrong, I have lots of other exciting projects on the go. But I was suprised at how much I enjoyed taking part in a Quilt a Long. Trying something new, with a community of people, sharing and learning along the way. So, this week I have been looking for another project in the online quilting community.
There are many interesting projects happening out there. I have never taken part in a quilting bee before and I love Amy’s idea at Diary of a Quilter. A virtual Quilting Bee, I can take part when I like at my own pace, perfect for a Bee beginner!
There will be a new block tutorial every other week, by 16 different bloggers. After 8 months you will have enough blocks to make a quilt. Amy has also written informative posts about supplies, quilting basics, and choosing fabrics/colors to get you started.
http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2013/02/a-virtual-quilting-bee.html
So here we go…….
Firstly I picked my fabrics. I decided to use the stash I already have. Usually I would select fabrics with a finished quilt pattern in mind. This felt a bit back to front selecting colours, without a plan in my head, of how they would ultimately fit together. Seeking guidance I read Amy’s choosing fabric and then followed her link to a ‘phenominal’ post The Art of choosing written by Jeni. I think I will be refering back to this for ever!
I had such fun doing this; found lots of forgotten about fabrics, swapped, changed and learnt a lot! I am sure there will be more changes along the way. I will definately be adding some solid colour fabrics, to help accentuate some of the patterns.
Then onto Block#1 by Sherri of a Quilting Life
A lovely star block. You only need to make one, I want to make more, Instantly wished I had used a light blue backround, would the star pop even more?
Waiting a fortnight for the next tutorial……that will not be easy!
There is a Flickr Group for sharing your blocks.
Silent Sunday
Schoenrock Cross QAL update
I started this QAL along a couple of weeks ago. It is my first attempt at paper piecing of any kind, so do not judge too harshly!
Half term and illness interupted the flow of things, but back to it yesterday. Leila sorted out my flappy corners and it seems obvious now, but it was a lightbulb moment for me! Yep the 1/4″ seam allowance is for the corners too, ta dah. Armed with this info, piecing was much easier than my practice block. I love the way it came together. Most of the points and seams matched. A few hiccups and a little unpicking but nothing too stressful.
The fabric, I purchased from Justine of Simply Solids. At the end of December she had a sale. Everything was so reasonably priced, I thought I would try some different fabrics and colourways. I have used ; Mama Said Sew Moda Charm Pack, Kaffee Fassett Shot Cottons Coal and Vermillion, Kona Cotton Solids Ash and Charcoal all from Simply Solids. I then added some Architextures, text on white and Madrona Road, Memoir in white.
It must have turned out ok, because Hubby has bagsied it for a cushion in his office. It was really satisfying to make. You need a bit of patience and to be feeling as fresh as a daisy. Not something to pick up after a long day when you are tired.
Well with that finished I am off to do some fast and carefree sewing. I have another Trip around the world to finish!
You can find Leila’s Schoenrock Cross tutorial here http://wheretheorchidsgrow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/schoenrock-cross-qal-freezer-paper.html
There is also a Schoenrock Cross Flickr group to share your photos here http://www.flickr.com/groups/2137040@N20/
Thanks Leila and Justine
Silent Sunday
Tickly Tuesday
And so to the Eden Project to soak up the sights, sounds and smells. A tame robin sang for us, a fire roared in the yurt and the first signs of spring were bursting throught the soil. It was good to be back, the boys love visiting the biospheres………
Wandering along the mosaic paths in the warm, temperate Biome takes you through The Mediterranean, South Africa and California. Olive groves, citrus trees and aloe veras line the way. Bacchanalian sculptures dancing in the vines, captured the kids imaginations and talk once more turned to Narnia
The rainforest Biome has to be our favourite. The verdant, steamy atmospere, so different to the Mendips. It was much cooler in there, than our last visit and we were able to amble through the jungle. So many things to see; bananas and papayas up high, rubber trees, cocoa beans, mangrove swamps and a malaysian hut. We stopped to watch a lady, making a piece of traditional batik fabric, then onto the enormous waterfall. Cascading through the South American Rainforest, with a cool breeze and light misty, spray. On the way down we stopped to admire the colourful sugar truck and the spice boat, with it’s many drawers.
Finally at the end of the visit, Eden’s education centre ‘The Core’. A plethora of interactive displays. We headed striaght for the giant nutcracker. With it’s enormous windy handle. Then the seed made from Cornish granite, much taller than any of us and with it’s own peculiar sound. Finally we waved Eden a weary, cheery goodbye….until next time!
Thanks to No.1 son, for permission to use some of his many hundreds of excellent photos he took of the day.
Magical Monday
We have just returned from a fun packed trip to Cornwall. A whistle-stop tour. Our house is a bubbling cauldron of fresh ideas and excited whispers.
On Monday, Kiddywonk counted Owls at the quaint cottage that was home for 4 days in Lostwithiel here
It was mostly grey and wet, but that did not matter an iota. Lostwithiel did not disappoint.
Kiddywink bought some space stamps. This prompted mesmerising postmaster tales, of planets; one made from diamonds and another surrounded by ice.
A funky, fake, fur, bee stripe, rally car, back from Barcelona nestled down a side street outside the church. An alien texture, out of place
Further on down the road was the vintage shop deja-vu antiques
A beautiful place, a suprise round every corner. The jolt of the familar, school chairs, old cotton reels not seen for aeons.
Back at Owl Cottage the chance to catch up on my EPP Ferris Wheel, whilst planning Tuesdays trip.
Silent Sunday
Silent Sunday
Jump in January and small blog meet.
Having sewn for many years, the start of a new year, was the shove I needed to finally jump in with both feet and make it a larger part of my life. Well that and abandoning trying to plan it. I decided to just do it and see where it goes. So I started this blog and oiled my trusty Bernina Sport.
First up, was a neat pile of projects, started last year waiting patiently to be finished.
However once online, a dizzy whirl of exciting projects, fabric and chat caught my eye and I was distracted. So I formulated an excuse to sideline the part finished pieces. A quick, ‘jump in January’, trying new things, followed by ‘finish up February’…perfect.
The first project to derail me was the scrappy trip around the world. A blessing in disguise as it turned out to be my first finish of 2013 and a bday pressie for my Mum. Next up the Japanese x and + cushion for Kiddywonk. Woop, another finish.
So as January draws to a close and I have two, albeit small projects finished, I give myself permission to carry over a January start. http://wheretheorchidsgrow.blogspot.co.uk.schoenrock-cross-qal-freezer-paper
Actually I haven’t physically started it yet, just mentally. It looks very tricky, but I am hoping that with some patience, practise and Leila’s wonderful tutorial I will be able to muddle something vaguely close to the Schoenrock Cross. Well it was jump in January! So into Finish up February we head…………
This post was inspired by Lynne at Lily’s quilts fresh-sewing-day-and-small-blog-meet
I am hopefully about to learn how to add a button………or not, fingers crossed. Hmmmm, I need to work on that!
p.s January is really great for spending far too much money on fabric, which I have done with gusto!