This could become addictive

This is my second flower piece done using Photoshop. It is from a photo of a clematis in my garden. This one is also going to the Little Gems project.



No update on the chimney sweep yet. I have left a message on his mobile and his landline but he has not got back to me - does anyone know any small undernourished boys!!
Maggi

Parrot tulip

Still waiting for the chimney sweep to ring back, guess I'll have to try again tomorrow now. I did finish the parrot tulip piece though so it was not a wasted day.

February JQ

I am keeping up to speed with the Journal quilts and finished my February one yesterday. This was the result of a Mystery Quilt that I signed up for in January. Having cut all the pieces and made strips for part two, part three had us sewing half square triangles - they gave us the wrong measurements! I am no longer taking part in this but decided to use some of the strip pieces for the JQ. I overdyed them all in yellow-green but it still didn't look too good so I added some bleach and then did some printing and added some Shiva paints. A few dabs of complementary colour and now I feel quite pleased with it.



I wrote at the start of the year that I was going to get to grips with Photoshop so having finished my colour lessons with Ellen Lindner I have signed up for a class with Beth Wheeler through Quilters Keep Learning. Only two lessons done so far but it is really making things so much clearer. Here is a glimpse of a Parrot tulip that I manipulated and have now started to machine quilt. It is A4 size and so I think it is likely to go to the Little Gems appeal. If any of you out there fancy supporting the Quilters Guild of the British Isles do take a look at the Little Gems project - you don't have to be a member to contribute.



That's all for now as I had better get back to sewing and I am also waiting for a chimney sweep to phone me back. I am having a new fireplace and stove fitted on April 1st - no joke- and have to get my chimney swept first. That should be fun.

Happy sewing. Maggi

Thank you

I have a couple of people to say thank you to today for different reasons. Firstly Micki who sent me a beautiful lace bookmark from her giveaway together with an embroidered postcard for a swap we have agreed to do. They will both be treasured and the bookmark will be used a great deal. Thanks Micki, your card will be in the post on Monday.



Secondly Lesley gave me this award last week.



Thank you Lesley. I now have to nominate 3 other Creative blogs, add a link to them here and leave a message on their blog to let them know they have the award. It is not easy choosing only three as all the blogs I follow would qualify but, in the spirit of the award I have chosen:-

Donna - a fibre artist from Canada who creates beautiful pieces and also has recently posted pictures of her new puppy on her blog - he is so cute.

Micki - an America now living in Ireland. She does beautiful embroidered work as well as a host of other hand work.

Sandra - a dyer and quilter from West Yorkshire. Her blog is both colourful and inspirational.

Do visit these blogs and check them out.

Today's blog is short as I am under pressure to get something finished for Saturday. Will post about that when it is finally finished.

Take care to all my readers

Thinking of you in Australia

To all Australians who are caught up in the horror of the fires, may you and your loved ones be kept safe.

January JQ

I know that it is the start of February but I have finished my January Journal Quilt for the Contemporary Quilt Group at last. The format this year is 6" x 12" which I have found is a really comfortable size to work with. There is no theme we have to work to so my initial thoughts are to explore Photoshop - although that may change. I had a piece of hand dyed fabric that I wanted to use for something and it was just the right size for this project - less than an inch leeway on either side. My Hippeastrum that I showed a bud of in an earlier post had just came out so I decided to play around with that in Photoshop for a while and eventually came up with the placement. The one aspect of this that I agonised over for some time was the quilting. I loved the fabric so much that I didn't want to detract from it so I eventually decided on a complete contrast to the organic feel to the piece and go with straight lines. I am happy with the result fortunately.



This is the Hippeastrum in full bloom - all four flowers were 7" across when fully open.



Like everyone else over here we've had our fair share of snow overnight. I spent two hours clearing the drive this morning ready for going to work on Thursday morning only to discover that more is forecast. Perhaps I should explain that I live in a cul de sac the start of which is a steep hill. My drive is also on a slope. We never get gritted and getting out is as hazardous as getting in as you literally slide down to the junction at the bottom. There have been several occasions when I have had to leave the car somewhere at the bottom. I don't have the option of a day off on Thursday if it is bad so will have to brave the elements at 5.30 am and hope for the best.

This is what I was watching last night and believe it or not there are normally hills beyond the roof in the photo.