Showing posts with label Quilting Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quilting Friends. Show all posts

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Wordy Wednesday

Phew! A lot has been happening at Chez Nous over the last week which is why I haven't been posting a lot.

Lots of packages arriving from various corners of the world pour moi. Lots of goodies for the stash and lots of fabric fondling going on.

A few weeks ago I received a huge box of "stuff" (as The Old One calls it) from lovely Bridget. She lives in New Mexico and has the most amazing greenhouse for growing all her veggies. Hop over and take a look.

I can't show you the goodies she sent as they've been rehoused amongst my stash, but suffice it to say an Our Lady of Guadalupe quilt has joined the list of Things I Have to Make Very Soon.

Then last week an envelope arrived from the States containing some fabric I'd ordered. This was a "I need this fabric" buy. I don't usually splash out on fabric unless it is really really necessary. This WAS really really necessary.


Brandon Mably for Rowan bought from Material Girl Chic. The middle one is from the Casbah range, the other two are from the Ripple range, and there is one helluva a lot of fabric there. A lot more than I was expecting.

I hadn't heard of Brandon Mably before these fabrics arrived. Looking at his web site he's based in London and works with Kaffe Fassett. No wonder these fabrics are 2000% gorgeous. The colours just zing. I have an idea brewing which involves liberated stars and letters, but we'll see how it grows before I start cutting these gorgeous babies up. I'll just sit and fondle them for a while.

We've been having serious serious swimming pool problems. I've nurtured the filter along for the last 2 seasons, treating it with kid gloves. When I opened the pool up this season I decided that enough was enough and it wasn't going to get through this summer without some TLC.

Along came Mr Wonderful Pool Man who knew at once what the problem was. No. Not another filter, just a part. He returned yesterday with said part and we now have a working pool again. Phew! That was a close one. Thought we'd have to fork out hundreds of Euros.

To keep my mind off having to fork out hundreds of Euros, I decided a bit of quilting therapy was needed.

My lovely friend Pippa keeps sending me envelopes of "stuff" and in return I've been sending "stuff" back. I made her a name quiltlet for her to hang in her sewing room (forgot to take photo when it was finished, but you can see it here (she's not as good at taking photos as "someone"!)).

Pippa has a gorgeous little girl called Amelia. What do little girls like most? Well, pink of course, especially with hearts.

Photo is clickable so you can see the fabric

I originally did a lower case l, but it didn't work with the i. It looked silly. Like two strips.

That is now waiting to be posted, but Pippa is flying to London to attend the Fat Quarterly retreat on Friday and she's so excited I can't get a sensible word out of her. Not only that, the postal service is so awful at the moment, I'd prefer to send it when she gets back from London. (We won't talk about the postal service thank you very much. I've been waiting for a parcel to arrive from the UK for nearly 2 weeks. I hope it hasn't got lost. It's a very special parcel, but you'll have to wait on that one).

Oh and a big woot for me!

Look what I did yesterday!


My very first appliqué heart. A bit messy round the edges and the zig zag went out of control, but I'm really chuffed I plucked up the courage and did it. It's amazing what you can do with freezer paper and spray starch.

And on that note (if you are still reading and haven't fallen asleep), I'll leave you with a photo taken the other evening.


I have no idea what I pressed to get this shot and will probably never find the setting again!

More soon.

Friday, 30 March 2012

Some Sad News

I found out yesterday via Facebook, that our lovely fellow liberated quilter, Roz, died last Sunday.

She suffered quite a severe stroke last October/November and, although in a care facility, seemed to be on the up.

She was a very very dear online friend to me. We "met" via Tonya and struck up a firm friendship. We chatted via email about this, that and the other and had a laugh, mostly at my expense.

I shall miss her very much.

Dear Roz,

These are for you my friend.

Courtesy of Google Images

xx

Saturday, 13 August 2011

Who's a Lucky Girl!

Lots of goodies having been arriving at Chez Moi!

It's not very often I win a give-away. The lovely Roz was hosting one to celebrate her 500th post and was giving away etui's (needle cases to you!). I won!



I  love it!  Thanks's Roz.  I'll treasure it always!

The following day I received a squishy from Heidi in Germany.


Sorry -  not a good photo.  My sewing room was in full sun when I took this.

When I've finished machining together red and white strings, I'm hoping to start on a sort of Lego quilt like Tonya's. I've been going through my strips/strings and think I've got enough for a lap quilt, but lovely Heidi sent me these.  I love the Halloween one. Thanks Heidi. Can't wait to start using them.

Then someone gave me this.


I'm not too sure what to make of it.  Although the colours are great, and it's beautifully made, every single piece of fabric is poly or Viscose and the shiny black is imitation leather.  Interesting mix of colours and I like the concept, but .......

The back is denim


and although it's small, it's heavy!

I'm going back to those red and white strings, but I'll leave you with a photo of a lovely clothes shop in Brantome.


More soon.

Monday, 18 July 2011

Liberated Round Robin - Round 3 and More

I'm been sewing up a storm here in the land of vin, pain et Boursin.

Weather is dreadful.  Stormy and wet.  However, mustn't complain as we desperately need the rain.

As you know, I've been despairing about this quilt.  I've ripped, sewn and ripped again.  It just wouldn't come together. After my last post I suddenly saw the light and have spent the last 48 hours in the sewing room creating a helluva a mess and having fun. The sewing machines don't think so - more on that in a later post.

So here we are - Liberated Round Robin Round 3 Rectangles.


It's roughly 46" x 46" and is covering up my Haunted Houses quilt.  There are another 2 rounds to go, the next one being published next Friday.  So I wonder how big this will be at the end?

I've been doing a tiny bit of stash building.  I've started fabric shopping on Etsy and found the lovely Julie of Stitchin' Stash. I had a credit card problem and couldn't use PayPal.  The French site doesn't like my UK card.  Anyway, she very kindly let me email her with the card details et voila! A few weeks later these gorgeous fabrics fell into my lap.

I love the skeleton lying on his back



and just love love love this 1950's style fabric by Alexander Henry.


Go and seek Julie out.  She's got some lovely fabrics.  Tell her Clare from France sent you.

While I was fabric shopping I was sussing out rulers at the same time.  I've been after the Easy Angle HST ruler for ages, but with the price of shipping from the US it sort of doubles up the price. Imagine my surprise when this also arrived a few weeks ago.


A gift from my lovely friend Irene.  She's such a sweetie.  Thanks Irene.

This will make you laugh.  The Old One is fascinated by it.  He thinks it will come in useful for woodworking and other "men stuff".  Oh yes?  It's been hidden away!

Then this came through the letter box last week.  Omnigrid 8.5" x 8.5".


My friend Pippa was having a spend up at Hancocks and asked if I wanted anything.  This is perfect for the Q4L blocks.  Exactly the right size!

Such lovely gifts and so useful.  Thank you both so very much.

To round off this rather long post.
Pipette.


She's turning in a beautiful and very affectionate cat.

I'm off into Périgueux to "faire les courses".  However, before I go can I ask one small favour of you?

A dear dear quilting friend has just lost her lovely husband.  Very unexpected.  Please keep the lovely Joyce and her family in your prayers and thoughts right now.

More soon.


Monday, 6 June 2011

I Won!

Kate has been having a clear out and held a mini give-away.

I love some of the work she does and couldn't resist putting my hand up to ask for some of her gorgeous 9 patches in hand-dyed fabrics.

Today they arrived at their new home.


Aren't they gorgeous!  Thanks Kate!

More soon.

Monday, 23 May 2011

Oh My!

 I really don't believe it!  Quilting friends really are the bestest.

Copyright





The little yellow van drew up outside our house again this morning and dropped off yet another USPS envelope.






Wow!

Look at these!


The photo makes them look a bit wishy washy, but they really are gorgeous.

All the way from Alameda in California.  Isn't Laura just lovely!

She also threw in a packet of these.

 

Believe it or not, they are called France.  I'm going to plant them in my window boxes as soon as possible as I didn't get any Geraniums this year.  In fact, I might even buy another couple of packets.  Never thought of planting Nasturtiums in window boxes instead of Geraniums.  Perhaps I'll set a trend!

As you can imagine, I haven't been doing much this last week.  In fact, life is incredibly boring and I'm getting thoroughly fed up.

This is really and truly saving my life

Family Trees
and I'm nearly finished.

I reckon I've about about 2 days of sewing left and then I'll start on the next one.

I'm really missing my sewing machine and can't wait for the dratted plaster to come off (5 weeks and counting) before I can sew sew sew.

In the meantime, I'll just have to "Just Keep on Quilting" [smile].

More soon.

Thursday, 5 May 2011

Fabric Fairies Pay a Visit

When we got back from our visit to the UK there was a huge box waiting for me and an envelope.

These were in the envelope.


Gorgeous Japanese fabrics.  Love the French ones.

And now for the Big Box.


Gorgeous pot holder - isn't it sweet.


Lots and lots of orphan blocks


and lots of black and white which is my current fad.

I've learnt that with 4 kittens in the house it's best to get everything bagged before it gets shredded!  My sewing room is in complete chaos.  As soon as I put everything up higher, the little monsters are up there before I can blink! This morning my collection of batik scraps - tiny little bits for starting the log cabins off - were on the floor!  Everything is covered in cat hair and there is dried cat food everywhere!

How come they can open doors, but their Mum can't.

This lot arrived before we left for the UK.  I was speechless!


Got to love those blues.


Not a good photo - sorry.  Had to get everything bagged up quick!

Not much else to show.  Sorry.  Too much happening here at the moment and can't settle down to anything.

I'm hoping 2 kittens are going tomorrow and another one on Monday.  Perhaps after then I can get my head together and finish the log cabins.  I've got a list a mile long.

I look like my Mum
Right - time to clean the litter tray and then to mow the lawn.

More soon.

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

Thursday, 31 March 2011

Celebrating Em!

Yes, ok, I know!  Em holds all the copyright for celebrating, but it's about time someone celebrated her.

As you know, it was The Young One's 16th birthday a few weeks ago.


Don't look too closely.  We have a binding problem.

Anyway, later that day I received an email from Em asking for my address.   Woohoo!  Pressie's in the post.  I love receiving surprises.

Yesterday a little box was delivered, addressed to me.

Oh - do look!








 I think I'll keep the Starbucks's mug and T.Y.O can have the quilt :-)

Kitten photo call.
Daily Wrestling Match

Help!  Let Us Out!  NOW!

Mum's tail is the best toy ever!
More soon.

Friday, 31 December 2010

2010 Round Up

Which means not a lot!

Learnt a few things.  Like how to adapt, expand and extend.

Liberated Strings

Back of Liberated Strings
Thanks to Tonya for such an fantastic liberating class (Liberated Amish Challenge).

Ummm - what else?  Can't really think.

2010 seems to have been taken up with the Liberated Quilters Yahoo group and web ring.  Fun fun fun, but time consuming.

Quilts 4 Leukaemia has also taken up a lot of time - Quilt #32 is finished and I'm about to start on Quilt #33 - woohoo!

Meeting the lovely Viv in July was great too.  Hope we'll meet again one day.

Oh - musn't forget!  I suppose the 3 highlights of the year were the publication of Liberated Quiltmaking II, then receiving a letter from Gwen herself and, of course, the best thing to happen this year.  The publication of the most talked about book in Blogland this year.  Word Play Quilts.  What a year it has been for liberating books.

What a year it has been too for forging long lasting internet friendships.

So here's to 2011.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Friday, 24 September 2010

Beautiful Batiks

The Fabric Fairy paid a visit again on Wednesday.

She really did herself proud this time.

Heavenly


Wonderful
Gorgeous


Mouth watering


Drooling!


and hidden amongst that stack above were these.


Not a very good photo - sorry.  It doesn't do the colours justice.  They really are heavenly.
They've given me some much needed inspiration.  I'm finally going to take the plunge and start cutting up my batik collection (deep breaths).

Thank you so much Fabric Fairy.  You know who you are!