Sampler quilt

I do enjoy sampler quilts.   I did Sylvia's Bridal Sampler....

... and made a backing with leftovers ....

... and I did the Splendid Sampler....

... and made a scrappy backing with the left overs!!!

And this year the 3 of us who sew together on a Tuesday (we sewed the other samplers together also) are making this one...

My friend Deb was destashing some French General fabrics and these ones are just perfect ...

Here are the first 6 blocks and my choice of cornerstones and sashing and border/binding depending on how I finish it up...

I couldn't resist trying out the sashing and corner stones....

 

This week we got another 4 blocks done...

the blocks are smaller this time and some pieces are hard to hold on to ...

I am using my classic Elna Stella machine (the others are using their vintage Singer featherweights)

I have decided to try and keep up with the sashings and cornerstones on a weekly basis...

Here are all the blocks so far....

I am liking the look ....

I think I like the challenge of a variety of blocks, and the fact that the three of us sew the same blocks together - all our quilts always look completely different...

One day I hope to quilt and finish off mine?????? hmmmmm

Righto, Gotto Go.  I need to photocopy a foundation piecing pattern for next week!

Quilt Backings....

Last years big project was the finish of Sylvia's Bridal sampler which I did in Reproduction Civil War fabrics....

I've done a few quilts in these fabrics so I had gathered up quite a lot of smaller mixed pieces ... so I decided to make a heap of different blocks and use them for the backing....

Gosh - it took ages with no pattern.... measure cut sew trim repeat again and again....

But finally it's done and I love it..... I had some real backing in a green which was perfect to finish off and make it the right size -  

I don't make up all my backings but I do love it when I do....

This is one of my early quilts made from a layer cake..... Marina mentioned she had some pieces from the same range (I've forgotten what it was called but I just love the fabrics in it)

... so I made lots of different size pinwheels and put them together with some cream background....

It makes a lovely summer quilt on this side, and a winter quilt on the other side!

Another of my early quilts I made for practice when I learnt redwork.  This was a free design (Raggedy and Friends) from Kaaren at The Painted Quilt.  Kaaren is no longer blogging but she has generously left her blog and freebies available.....

Again there were pieces left over so I put them together and made up this scrappy backing....

When I am doing it I think I am mad... but when it's done I am thrilled with it....

Here's another view of my latest one....

What about you?  Do you do this?

Righto, Gotto Go...... Quilts to pat.....

Sewing.... sewing... quilting... gardening...

At the weekend I was lucky enough to win a lucky door number prize (there are always heaps and it's so fun).  This glasses case was made by Steph from The Quilters Angel under Me & Leigh Creations....  her work is just lovely and I have bought a few gifts from her over the years....

I have been lucky enough to be quite busy with quilting... it's other people's quilts so I'm not showing them off here...  I still do my own handwork at night  and here is another 4 of the Dutch Treat blocks.... as you can see they are all so different....

Dear Shez had a birthday this month and we always trade gifties at this time ....  I didn't realise until too late that it was an extra special birthday she was celebrating but I did put this bag together for her and fill it with a few goodies....  I think it's always nice to have a little pampering and Shez is doing a bit of travelling around so hopefully this will be of some use....

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler has been a bit neglected and I had been meaning to put some borders on the sides to square up the shape a bit...

 I cut up a whole bunch of 2 1/2" squares in coloured and background fabrics and sewed these together...

.  then just added these strips to the two sides....

... now I can truly say the top of this quilt is finished....

I got rather keen with organising the leftover fabric (I was sick and tired of them being all over the place as they have been for the last year) and cut up some 10" squares, 5" squares and 2.5" squares...  I wish I would do this more often instead of a pile of odd bits...

One of the best things in the first year of a new home is discovering what is in the garden...

We have a hedge of this port wine magnolia... the scent in the evening is like port wine jelly - almost too sweet to be there for too long.... It is just covered in blooms...

I have quite a few clivia, which we split and moved to fill up some gaps when we got here... it's lovely to see the two colours  - so bright and cheerful...

we were given a wisteria so it was our first planting and it has had it's first flowers this year.  I'm sure it will do lots of growing this year now it has settled....

I do love the bunches and they have a lovely delicate scent...

This is the one I had in my last house.... it was just amazing and what I am hoping the fence will look like in a few years....

Righto, Gotto Go... I want to prepare some more Dutch Treat blocks today...

I hope you have a lovely day doing something you love

The week that was......

What a week for all sorts of reasons - Hooray for weekends!!!  Even though I don't go out to a 'paid job' I still looooovvvvvveeee weekends.   Maybe because Hubz is home and I can pretend to be the Boss for a couple of days and supervise activities????

This sweet Christmas stitchery (from Michelles Christmas book) was appliqued on some wool and stuffed to make a sweet door hanger.....

I only started with door hangers a couple of years ago (through blogging) and now I love them and want one for each door in the house!!!

Michelles book has a whole bunch of patterns and I want to make most of them.   Do you find pattern books such great value?
(no I don't get freebies to shout out for her, yes, she is a good friend of mine)

I sewed all my Sylvia sampler blocks together on Tuesday.... tidies it up so much and I love how it is looking.....

you can see the extra seams on the sashing as I went around each block and trimmed back because they were not equal sizes....

It is 70 x 92" at the moment and I want to put borders on the sides to widen it up a bit.  I will do squares with left over fabrics alternating with the sashing fabric and then maybe another inch around the whole quilt .... what do you think???

Us three are going to be working simultaneously on getting these finished, The Splendid Sampler blocks and Dutch Treat now??????? hmmmmm we may all be hauled away in straight jackets soon?

I did a bit of secret micro quilting too over the week..... I really love love love doing it but it takes ages for a small piece really... 

... and I have been busy with a few "job's".... I'm so lucky to get pocket money for something I love doing....

Both of these have quite busy fronts and I have done the quilting so it doesn't take away from the lovely fabric - but then we can see it nicely from the back... this makes it a reversable quilt???

... all over informal flowers on a lap quilt....

a larger quilt with more formal pieced blocks so each block has this design and a feathered border around the whole edge

Really lots of fun and a great way to have my mind focussed on loveliness instead of so much of the ugliness that seems to be happening in our world..... 

Righto, Gotto Go, young widget is coming for the night - he wants to make sausage rolls and watch murder mysteries!!!

Have a lovely, lovely weekend doing something you love

Bitsa this and bitsa that.....

Some more of my Splendid Sampler blocks ......

I haven't got them all in here but this is the first 30 I have done....  I quite like the general look these colours are giving....

I have finished the stitching on this sweet little heart from Michelle's book - this will be made into a door hanger for Christmastime .....

Another OMG (Organic Modern Graphic) piece.....

part of me likes that crazy binding with it... part of me doesn't.... but there it is

If anyone is interested in seeing these quilts and even join in the fun this is the Facebook page.  Helen Godden gives us a picture each month which serves as our inspiration for making up a quilt.

We were given these funny little plants that don't need soil - just air and a spray of water .... I have placed them in the little glass bubbles (my daughter left these behind when she moved out - you snooze you loose I say).  They are rather fun and cheer up a spot in the kitchen (the place I most need cheering up!)

Righto, Gotto Go... those little plants probably want a bit of a spray today...