Decision made (in part)

Thanks to everyone for your help on the decision making for the border. However, after much umming and ahhing, this is what I've gone for. The black will end up about an inch wide all the way round. I may add a white border interspersed with purple blocks, or just leave it. The Old One is for leaving it and, I hate to say it, but for once I think he's right. Don't you just hate it when they suddenly pretend to know what they are talking about and get it right!

Wordless Wednesday - Sarlat

Border Options

After yesterday's post I've been doing some thinking. The Old One thinks the quilt looks as if it is in mourning (typical male) and I've yet to ask The Young One as she's only just surfaced and is busy drying her hair! Option 1 - yellow border.

Option 2 - orange border

Option 3 - orange and black borders

I suppose the orange could be replaced with the yellow. What do you think? I can't use any more of the purple I used for the inner border as I've only got a few bits left. A shame as I was thinking of the orange and continuing the inner border through the orange to an outer border in the same purple.

Monday = Mojo's Back!

Borders "placed" to see how it will look and perhaps a pale lilac binding. Even if I say so myself, I like it! (Having looked at the photo again, perhaps the border shouldn't be black. How about orange?)

Once upon a time .....

there was a lovely lady who was a quilter. She made fantastic traditional blocks and quilts and was a quilter extraordinaire. One day she learnt that there was a quilter who helped run the La Vie en France Yahoo group, decided to join to talk about her love of France and all things French, and to see what this quilter got up to. The quilter was a mad quilter and eventually our heroine could stand it no longer. She had to see what the mad quilter got up to. She joined the Liberated Quilters Yahoo group. Lo and behold she was hooked! If you look to the right under the Flickr Free-Piecing group you may see how much that brilliant quilter who makes fantastic traditional blocks and quilts has been liberated. Hers is the lovely green/blue/yellow/black block. Isn't it gorgeous! (my Flickr badge is set to random so you may have to click on the link to see her block).

Let's Celebrate

Home again, home again. Jiggety jig and in order to celebrate, I give you - da da - (drum roll please) Liquorice Lane

Possible Reopening

Please be patient while we redecorate.

Just Thinking

Sorry - no photos - just thoughts.

Life is getting tough. Our income has dropped by a third thanks to the "crunch" and quilting and all that it involves is, unfortunately, going to have to take a back seat for the moment.

I've said before how expensive my favourite hobby is in France and I can tell you it ain't getting any cheaper. In the LQS the other day I noticed that fabric has gone up by about 1.50€ a metre and thread is not getting any cheaper either. I'm hanging on to what I've got - in fact I'm hoarding it!

To this end, I'm afraid I'm going to have to pull out of Project Improv and both the quilts for the bush fires projects.

I will keep going on Quilts 4 Leukaemia until the blocks run out, but please don't send me any more unless you really really want to. In most cases the postage is more than the fabric is worth and in this day and age it just isn't worth it.

As the saying goes "look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves".

I may not be blogging for much longer either. That decision has still to be made. After all, if there's nothing to show what is the point?

You all take care of yourselves and hopefully I'll be back soon.

Love and hugs to all of you.

Clare xx

Charity Begins at Home

You all know I'm a charity quilt person, Quilts 4 Leukaemia being my priority.

However, from time to time I stick my charity head up over the parapet to see what's going on in quilting land.  Sometimes it takes my fancy, sometimes it doesn't.

I know the horrendous bush fires in Victoria, Australia have affected us quilters deeply and I decided that this is one cause I am going to support, but how to?  Below are the answers to the question.

Campfollower is asking for 121/2 inch Maverick Stars for victims of the horrendous bush fires in Victoria, Australia.  Click here to have a look and please help.  Maverick Stars are so easy.

Oz Country Quilting Mum Tracey is also asking for help. Again, click on the link.

I know from experience how generous and kind quilters are so if you were thinking of making me a red and white block, DON'T!  Make a Maverick Star block for Camp Follower, or a lovely country style block for Tracey instead.

Remember - the people who will receive these quilts probably haven't even got a home any more.

Life goes on

Thank you all for your lovely comments. Unfortunately The Beautiful Cat hasn't returned and it doesn't look as if she will. The problem with living where we are is that we are surrounded by countryside and it is quite possible that she has been "foxed".

Considering what has been happening in the world over the last week or so, our loss pales into insignificance. All I can say is that Magic has left a huge hole in our lives and she's very much missed.

I went into a slump just after she disappeared and haven't been able to do any sewing at all.

I suppose it was because my quality controller is no more.  However, this last weekend I got my houses quilt out and started quilting.



Can you see "liquorice"?



Oh my goodness, look at those fans! Did I really do those?

As you might have seen from the side bar on the right, I've joined Project Improv.

I've opted for the blue and green charity block which shouldn't be a problem.  Now all I've got to do is to dig down into the depths of my imagination and come up with a design for my quilt.  I have got an idea based on one of my favourite Gwen quilts, but I'm still not too sure about it.

In the meantime, I've got a bit of a problem and I was wondering if you could help me out. I'm not at all sure what to call the houses quilt.

I originally thought "Candy Houses", then "Sugar Sweet Houses", then "Sweet Houses", but none of the names grab me.  Liquorice Houses was mooted at one point, but doesn't seem to hit the spot either.

Anyone any ideas?

LOST!

If found, please contact heart broken owners immediately.

Take a peek

at this.

but please don't leave a comment.  She'll kill me!

I must admit that I'm impressed with the way she writes - no wonder she wants to get into fashion journalism.

PS: I hope you can read French :-)

A a a a shoo!