Workshop overload.

I haven't had much time to blog of late as I have had four workshops in the last ten days, plus a friend visiting from France so I could not get to my computer which was in her bedroom. I will try to keep this short and 'photofull'.

I went to a workshop with Ferret 10 days ago and spent the most of the time cutting out tiny skinny triangles to produce this:-



It needs a little more quilting adding to cover the few spots where the background shows through and then the binding added. I like the effect but not a technique I think that I will try again in a hurry.

Last Saturday I went to a workshop with Barbara Chainey and Chris Franses called Walking Round in Circles. What a fun day and the really good thing about this technique is that it is when the circles are sewn together it is finished, no edges to bind etc.. If ever you get chance to attend one of their workshops do go as they are both great teachers. This will eventually be a table runner when I get time to do some more blocks. First of all the wrong side.



And then the right side.



We even got a free template to do the circles with which came in very useful for the cake that was produced in the afternoon - a Wedgewood plate no less. I meant to add a photo of the plate but my camera battery has just gone on charge. I have just added the link to their site and checked it out and the photo of the workshop is on the home page!!

On Monday and Tuesday I had the opportunity to do a couple of workshops with Janice Gunner at my local quilt shop Quiltessential. The first one was curved log cabin. We all managed to finish one block although on person managed two as she had lost her voice and could not chat. The blocks are here together in all their shapes, sizes and colours.



... and this is a picture of my block. I am thinking of making two more and turning it into a wall hanging.



The second workshop was machine quilting so there are no photos as it was all practice and samples. Again Janice is an excellent teacher and I certainly recommend her workshops.

I am currently taking part in a postcard swap with Popular Patchwork. This round is entitled Under the Sea. This is my card from Helen which is of very beautiful Jelly fish.



This is the one that I sent to my partner Irene. The mosaic effect was a technique that I learned in a workshop with Barbara Weeks quite a few years ago.



Finally I will leave you with a Biscornu pincushion that is a project from last month's Stitch magazine. I had intended that it should be a birthday present for my cousin but I liked it so much that I decided to keep it for myself and make her another one as her birthday is not until October 10th. I think I may have had a deprived childhood as I have never had a pincushion before and didn't realise just how useful they were.



I now have lots more sewing to do, many blogs to catch up with and Classical Greek to learn so if you drop by and make a comment it may take me a while to acknowledge it but be assured it will be read.

Happy sewing

Maggi

A near miss

Unfortunately no photos for this part of the blog as my camera was upstairs so I just had to make do with my binoculars. I had just returned from shopping and was sitting having a coffee when there was a commotion outside in the garden - lots of flapping etc. I am quite used to the fact that a very large wood pigeon, the size of a duck, scatters all the birds when he comes into land, partly because he literally shakes them off the feeder, but this time it was accompanied by frantic alarms from all and sundry. I looked up to see a juvenile male sparrow hawk had just landed. He must have been inexperienced as he missed whatever it was he was aiming for as they all headed for the beech hedge. He spent about 5 minutes walking around the garden trying to look very nonchalant before eventually flying off. I can't help thinking that they are very beautiful, even thought they are so predatory, but that is nature, and this time there was no blood shed anyway so all remains harmonious.

I was also startled as I walked out into the garden the other day to see a huge ladybird just above the hedge. No, it was not one of the foreign species that has apparently invaded our shores, but a little alarming nevertheless, as these ladybirds do not usually fly so low. He did, however,manage to clear a nearby tree and continue on his way.

Until next time, happy sewing

Maggi

New blog site

A new blog site has been launched which is providing free patterns from Australian designers. It looks like being very interesting so why not head over there and check it out. It is called Among the Gum Trees

Enjoy your browsing

Maggi

Read the instructions!

And I thought it was only men who embarked on a project without reading the instructions first, or at least without reading them properly. Not so. I am taking part in a bag swap and decided to do the bag that came with a tutorial on the site. My first attempt took quite a long time as appliqued the circles by hand and also hand quilted it. It was meant to be a sort of boxy type bag but I didn't read the bit about making it boxy, hence the second attempt. I like the first one though; it was inspired by my Circles Little Gems so I will keep it as it will be handy to take small supplies to any classes.

This is the one that went wrong



And this is the second attempt which will be going to America once I have searched out some goodies to put into it which won't increase the postage by too much.



I have also finished my JQ for August for Popular Patchwork which was using the bleached piece I posted about before the FOQ. I added some weeping willow leaves made from organza, some of which are wired and just did the minimum of quilting. It is missing a wired leaf at the moment as I just found one on the floor when I was tidying things away so will have to attach it later. Just September's to do now before the October issue comes out.



I have changed my internet service provider and the increase in speed is really noticeable. Perhaps now I will be able to keep up a little better, I certainly need to as my OU starts again on October 3rd and I have four workshops this month with Ferret, Barbara Chainey and two with Janice Gunner.

Thank you to all of you who sent kind wishes about my back - all is now in working order so until next time. Happy sewing.

Maggi