Stained Glass or Sugar Candy Houses

This is one of the projects I did for Lazy Gal's Summer Class 2008.

This is the stained glass version.  Pretty isn't it?

But I think I'm going to stick with the original idea.

Question now is how do I quilt it?  I don't want to detract from the houses so perhaps stitch the ditch round the rooves and the house blocks and then fans on the black?

Anyone any ideas?

....... and more Pink (and a link)

Wooo hoooo - this has got to be a first!

Look!



Crap photo - sorry.

The small maverick star on the right has got some white in it which slipped in by mistake.  That's why it doesn't show very well.  I was going to do the right hand border entirely of Maverick stars, but realised I'd still be cutting tiny HST's in 6 month's time!  Remember this?  It's going to be the binding.  Thought I needed to starting cutting into it after just over a year of it sitting in the pink stash box

I've already started tying the quilt and it should be ready to go to the UK at the end of next week for Mum to take to Los Angeles middle of next month.

Whilst I'm here, have you read about Lazy Gal Tonya's latest idea.  Hop over to her Priority Hope Challenge blog and join in.  It won't take up too much of your time and it looks like fun.

And on that note I'm off to bed!

More Pink

It's the Stashbuster Virtual Retreat this weekend so I thought I bust more of the pink stash.

The words are done and all I've got to do now are the borders.  I'm going to put a few small Maverick Stars in them to use up some of those tiny HST's that seem to have been multiplying by themselves in the scraps bin!

I rang my sister in Los Angeles the night before last.   I'd sent her a photo of the current WiP on this quilt and in between telling me how gorgeous she thought it was, she told me that they are going to call Little Miss Bump Estella, which means star.  How spooky is that!

Oh, I forgot to tell you.  The 1425 sewing machine has gone in for a service and renovation.  We couldn't get it to work and DH was loath to touch anything.

He's not too sure about the 191B either.  We are waiting to see how much the 1425 is going to cost before going any further.

Back to the sewing.

Hope you are having a good weekend.

Playing with Pink

I'm still weighing up the pro's and con's so will stay put for the time being.  The main reason for staying is the templates - much prefer Wordpress to Blogger for that, even though Wordpress's widget's aren't as good.

Anyway, on to more important things, like what has been happening in the sewing corner.

I've put the stars together and put a border round them.



I then thought words round the edge (You are a star), but I think I've over-egged the pudding.  The words could go across the top and down the side, both sides, or down one side and across the bottom.

Without the words the quilt measures 26.5" by 36".  Obviously with the words and another border it's going to be a lot bigger.

The quilt is for my niece to be .  If I leave it as it is then it will be fine until she gets to sleep in a big girl's bed, but I thought if I made it bigger then she'd have it for keeps.

Decisions, decisions. HELP!

The weather we've been having here is unbelievable.  The Hibiscus has normally finished flowering by the end of July.  There are still one or two blooms left on it.



I've been meaning to take a photo of these fountains for ages.

They're in the centre of Périgueux near the Theatre (Allée d'Aquitaine).

Now isn't that just typical!  There's me saying we having gorgeous weather and the sky has turned black, its raining and there are ominous rumblings.

Donc, A+

Just thinking ..........

..................  that I might move back to Blogger.

Would you be terribly cross if I did?

It's only a thought at the moment.

I'm weighing up the pro's and con's.

Quilts 4 Leukaemia

Boy is this getting big or what!

Right now the total number of quilts made is 11, with the help of Finn and Mary, and there are requests for another 4, with more requests coming in.

The web site is now up and running and if you click on the How to Help link at the top, you will find a Pay Pal Donate button at the bottom of the page.  There is also one on the side bar of the blog.  The money will be used for sashing fabric and postage.

Thanks to everyone who has already contributed blocks, donated batting, backing fabric, gift certificates via Quilter's Quarter (Quilter's Quarter have stopped doing these) and no end of support.

Abstraction

".......... 2a an abstract or visionary idea. b the formation of abstract ideas ........."

I suppose this is could describe Gwen Marston's new book.



I haven't seen it yet, but it's on my Christmas list and I hope if I'm good enough Santa may decide I deserve it.  (Mum - subtle hint if you are reading this!)

However, Woolywoman, aka Laura, over at Yarn, Kids, Dogs and a Few Weirdos (got to love that title) has already made a start.  Hop on over a take look.  Great colours.

I'm hooked!

I've been following Bonnie's exploits in her attempt to build up the largest collection of vintage/antique sewing machines.

She has been very kind and replying to emails fom an over-excited amateur.  We swapped mails about a Singer 239 I found in the local brocante which was well and truly battered and would have needed a lot of TLC - and I mean A LOT!  She suggested I went for it, just to give the poor thing a home, but it wasn't to be.

Yesterday we were in Périgueux twiddling our thumbs in between various appointments and thought we would try to find the local Emmaus.  Emmaus is a charity founded to help the homeless and those "on their uppers" so to speak.  Someone had told me you can occasionally find sewing machine bargains.

So it was a must go to NOW.  You know what us sewing gals are like - Do It Now!

We found it at the back of one of the housing estates in Perigueux (not the sort of place to be on a dark night I can tell you) and Mrs Eagle Eyes set to work.

Meet the Emma's!

Emma 191B is my baby - it looks as if she has hardly been used.  No accessories or instruction book, but oh boy am I chuffed to bits with her.

I think Emma 1425 is going to be my "work horse".  Again no accessories or instruction book (has anyone got one they could copy for me in exchange for fabric or something?).

They've both got foot pedals and electric leads - the 1425 has got a variable speed control which is right up my street AND a self-threading bobbin case.  I think I'm going to love her to bits.

All for the princely sum of .................................................. wait for it ...........................................

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25 Euros for both.  YES!

Update - User Manual for the 1425 now found.  Now surfing for its accessories.

Star Bright

(please excuse crap photo - light is appalling)

I'm getting fond of these.  My fav so far is the one bottom right.

Only a few more to do and then I can do the border which I'm looking forward to.

Stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday