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

Festival of Quilts photos and a postcard.

Just a quick blog with some photos before I go to work.

Mother Earth, winner of Art Quilts by Helen Godden of Australia. Black fabric with the image painted in bleach and then beautifully machine quilted.



A selection from the exhibition '20 years in Switzerland, Belgium and Hungary'

Imilchil. Nicole Glorie of Belgium



To burst into bloom - bloom - to wither. Therese Peter of Switzerland



Elegantie. Therese Keppens of Belgium



Seren Fechan. Group quilt by Gwenfai Rees Griffiths and Mandy Parks



Flora's Feathers by Eugenie



Sylvia's bridal sampler - My journey with Sylvia . Anna Ida Rokeness, Norway



From Judy Bowker's exhibition



I also met Angela for the first time. Here she is in alongside of her beautiful Autumn Glow, and it really does glow against that dark background.



There were so many quilts to see and I took loads more photos, far too many to include here.

I also received a postcard from Jan this morning as part of the Popular Patchwork Hearts swap. Her trusty workhorse died on her recently, hence the very original idea. Thanks Jan.



I may be missing for a few days as my current internet connection goes down on the 29th and I don't get my new one until September 1st. Also I have pulled a back muscle which is making sitting at the computer very uncomfortable. I even had to sleep sitting up last night as it was too painful to lie down. I think this could have been down to carrying heavy bags round the FOQ so I only have myself to blame.

Until next time, happy sewing.

Maggi

I didn't win, but ...

The first time I have ever entered anything. I am so thrilled.

No time for more as I am just off to Birmingham for day 2. Some beautiful work on display there.

Happy sewing from a very happy bunny.

Maggi

Almost Thursday

I can't believe that the Festival of Quilts is suddenly imminent, at one stage four days of fun in Birmingham seemed an age away. It also seemed like a good idea to do three workshops and two stints on the Little Gems stand. I did try to get the Monday off work but no joy so it will be up at 5 am as usual - with luck it will be quiet and I will be able to drink copious amounts of coffee to keep me awake.

I seem to have managed to fit in quite a lot over the last two weeks. I finished the second of my two 'Circles' Little Gems and also my Quilting Gallery swap.

That's my dose of hand work out of the way so I think it will be back to the machine. Or maybe not. I discovered a wonderful place called The Threshing Barn on Saturday. It is run by a lovely lady who dyes all her own yarns and wool and all other lovely things - she even keeps Wensleydale sheep and alpacas. I was the only one there as there was no workshop on so had a great time filling a basket and then being treated to freshly brewed coffee and a slice of home-made fruit cake - this was my kind of shopping. I actually spent half of the money that I had earmarked for the Festival of Quilts but I think you will agree with me that it was worth it. I also bought a peg loom as I've been looking for ways to create different backgrounds.

The next Popular Patchwork Postcard swap (try saying that when you have had a few!) is now under way, the theme for the first one being 'Hearts' and mine is now winging its way to Israel.



Finally I did find time to try some Shibori type bleaching for a journal quilt. This one was my favourite piece and should get finished after the FOQ.



If you are going to Birmingham over the next few days, have a wonderful time. If not enjoy your stitching.

Maggi

Replacements done.

I have finally managed to finish the pieces that were stolen in the post and now, having sent them by a tracker service I know that they have arrived. A little more expensive but I feel it is worth it for the peace of mind. Neither is a replica of the original as I couldn't duplicate the fabrics but I like them both anyway.

This is the Spring Blooms swap that went to Valerie in France

and this is the replacement bag for my friend, also in France.

After spending hours at my machine on my Festival of Quilts entry I was really in need of a bit of hand sewing. As usual I appear to be unable to do things in moderation.

My postcard for Kim in the Popular Patchwork 'Gardens' swap

The beginnings of my Quilting Gallery Summertime swap. I have almost finished the applique since this photo was taken.

... and another Little Gem. I now have sore fingers, hand quilters out there will know what I mean, but I have found it so relaxing.

I did have to resort to the machine for July's Journal Quilt in Popular Patchwork which was sunprinting as I didn't want to get too far behind. (I think the proliferation of birds in my garden at the moment is inspiring me)

If any of you who read this are going to the Festival of Quilts on either the Thursday or Saturday, I will be on the Little Gems stand - Thurs 12 - 2 and Saturday 10 - 12 and would love to meet you if you fancy saying hello.

Until then, happy sewing.

Maggi

I've been hacked

First of all apologies for any of you who have received emails supposed to be from me directing you to a Chinese website. My email has been hacked and my contacts list stolen. I have sent them a very strongly worded email and have removed all my contacts - possibly shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted but at least it will stop it from happening again.

I have been quiet of late as I have been trying to finish my entry for the Festival of Quilts which I am happy to say has now gone off and will hopefully have reached its destination by now. I am not entirely happy with the finished result, mainly because the size constraint meant that I had to add a border that I had not really wanted. Still at least it is finished. I am showing it here with a couple of close ups so that you can see the stitching a little more clearly. The worst part was trying to get it to lie flat as it is so heavily machine quilted but I did get there in the end.

I was not so lucky with my Spring Blooms swap as the quilt I sent to France was, I believe , stolen. All that my partner received was this ...

I have blanked out my partner's address but the torn bit of the envelope, top left is where my sender details were. She just got the empty envelope and a letter of apology from the Royal mail. This is what she should have received.

What is really annoying is that I sent a birthday present to a friend who also lives in France at the same time and that has gone missing as well. If you see the above quilt or this bag on your travels please send it home. What I have just realised is that Ros also has a bag like this but with a different button so please don't jump on her if you see her with hers!

I am busy trying to make another quilt for my swap partner. I did warn her that it would not be started until the end of July. I have actually got the top done so it shouldn't take me too long to finish. Hopefully I should be able to show it in my next post. I have learned that from now on anything I post will be via a service that allows me to track it even if it costs a little more.

I did spend an enjoyable day yesterday at a workshop with Susan Sheldon who is a member of the Living Threads group. They do a regular programme of workshops and so I decided to do something a little different for me and try some goldwork. I doubt that I will ever do it again in such a traditional way but it was really useful for learning about the properties of the various gold threads and I did come away with some ideas on how I might be able to use them in a more contemporary way. In case you can't work it out they are meant to be cherries.

My birds have returned and brought others with them to use both the birdbath and the new feeder that I decided to buy. In fact the feeder had only been in place for twenty minutes before a family of six goldfinch came along. The only problem that I now have is trying to keep pace with how quickly the feeders empty. It is lovely being able to watch them whilst I am having breakfast though. So those of you who told me to be patient were right, thank you.

And finally I could not resist including these two photos that I took just before the hot weather broke, one from my front door and one from the back. They sky was so dramatic and just kept changing by the minute.

Until next time, happy stitching

Maggi

Spring Blooms swap

The warm spring weather may have disappeared for now but on Friday I received my Spring Blooms swap from Sue in Australia and it is absolutely beautiful, I am so lucky. It has a wonderful array of Sweet Peas and is so beautifully embellished with machine embroidery and quilting. It took her 26 hours to complete and I am not surprised as the stippling is so tiny. I will treasure it and at the moment I am trying to decide where to hang it. I suspect it will go into my work room as I spend most of my time there and so will be able to see it on a daily basis. Thank you Sue, this was certainly a swap worth joining.  

I have finally decided to enter a quilt for the Festival of Quilts in August. I had been uncertain about this as the entry form required exact measurements by the 29th of May and although I knew what I wanted to do I hadn't even started it so was thinking I wouldn't bother. It was Angela who persuaded me by telling me to send in the form and then make the quilt to fit the measurements that I had given. Thanks Angela. Here is just a little peek for now. It doesn't have to be there until 31st July so I do know that I can get it finished, unless of course there are any major disasters.



Nothing more for today as I have to go to work shortly. I only have today in the office and then tomorrow I am going out on an attachment with one of our dog units which should be fun. I'm then off until 25th June with only the Neil Young concert in Nottingham to distract me from sewing.

Until next time, thanks for dropping by and happy sewing.

Maggi

PS. Thanks to those of you who told me to be patient and that the birds would come to the bath, so far I have had one blackbird who landed on it and flew straight off again - I live in hope.

A quick update

In my rush to get the blog done last night I completely forgot that I had not included the postcard that I had received from Angela as a 'prize' for helping her to name her Rhapsody quilt. Many apologies Angela but it is here now. It has beautiful colours and the flower in the bottom corner is made of Tyvek with a beaded centre. Thank you so much.



I have also just been out taking advantage of the glorious weather to take flower photos. This chap was not invited! I didn't realise that he was arriving until I had taken the photo and as it was hard enough getting the flowers to remain still in the wind, there he will remain.

Sunny sewing

Maggi