ANZAC Day

Thank you to all our Commonwealth friends.

 They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them,

Nor the years condemn.

At t the going down of the sun

and in the morning,

We will remember them.



Wordless Wednesday



Les Amies. Thank you Sheila.

Burrator Reservoir

Burrator Reservoir

Sheeps Tor Church

The church and Sheeps Tor in the background.

The Blue Woods.

A lovely tree just past Yeo Farm.

A beautiful cross on the back road to Meavy.

The bridge that also is on the back road to Meavy. 

The view from the Meavy bridge.

A few pictures from our two hour short bank holiday Monday walk!!

Holly

I have been asked about Holly by several blogging friends.  Holly is my Horizon 8900QC that came to live with me in November 2013.  This sewing machine comes with an instruction book and a instructional dvd.  I will be writing more posts about other functions of the Janome Horizon 8900QC in the near future, so if you have a query or question please feel free to ask me.  

I have been asked to teach several free motion quilting workshops in the next few months. So with this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to make some samples and get some practise with Holly over the bank holiday.

The above photo shows the convertible free motion quilting foot with open-toe attached.  Notice the round nut on the right at the top.  

The Horizon comes with a convertible free motion foot that can be fitted with three different feet for quilting. A close-toe foot, open-toe foot and a clear view foot.  Once your chosen foot is attached, it can be adjust in height by turning the round nut until the foot barely touches the fabric.   

The Horizon also comes with a standard daring foot.  This is the foot that I usually use for my free motion quilting.  I did like the convertible free motion quilting foot attached with the open-toe foot.

The sample below was sewn on the Horizon 8900QC. 

I do not take Holly out of my sewing room, I normally take Jan my Janome CXL301 to workshops.



Jan is perfect to take out and about to a class/workshop.  In my opinion this sewing machine is ideal for those that are new to sewing or like me, an advanced quilter that needs a second machine that is more portable to take to classes/workshops and can be easily used by my students.  I will write a separate post about Jan in the coming months.     

Lucy's Bag

I made this draw string bag last Monday as a Easter gift.  I gave the gift to Missie L today fill with Easter eggs and a chocolate bunny.  So I can now share with you how to make this delightful bag. As I did not photograph any stage whilst making Lucy's bag, I am going to make another bag tomorrow.  So this project will be posted over a few days.    

Lucy's Bag Part One
Recipe

Outer fabric
Cut five 5 inch squares - base and pockets

Cut four 5 x 8 inch rectangles - sides.

Lining fabric

Cut five 5 inch squares - base and pockets

Cut four 5 x 8 inch rectangle - sides

One metre of ribbon.

Disappearing Four Patch

I first posted the instructions for the Disappearing Four Patch on the sister blog called Cupcake Quilter in March 2011. I am going to copy and paste the post here today.

Recipe

You will need the following to make one block:
A) One 5 x 5 inch blue plain/tone on tone.
B) One 5 x 5 inch red plain/tone on tone.
C) Two 5 x 5 inch white on white.

Sew together as above to form a four patch block. Press the seams open.

Cut 1 1/2 inches from the centre seam. With each cut turn the board not the fabric, this will help to keep the fabric from moving. Do not be tempted to move the pieces after each cut. Once you have cut four times then check to make sure you have cut properly.

Leave the four corners and centre blocks and turn the four outer middle blocks to form a new nine patch block.

Once you are happy with the new block sew the block back together. Pay extra attention to matching all the seams.

Next time you could vary the width of the cut from the centre seams. It will give a different feel to the block.
Well done.

April's Workshop

Another Monday afternoon workshop this week.  It was five weeks ago since three young students spent the afternoon here getting to know their sewing machines. 

Squares cut with accuquilt.

Blocks done for the table runner, now just need to arrange them into a pleasing design. 

A window makes a great and cheap light box. 

Remember to press and not iron!!

 Busy, busy, busy.

A late lunch on the lawn enjoying the sunshine.

 Banjo is wanting his photo taken with the girls.

 Two machine embroidery pieces, two hearts and one table runner.  Well done girls!!!

Craft Fayre

I spent the day at the Fabric and Paper craft fayre today, you may know it as 'Just Tracys'.  My stall was overflowing with all the items that I have made recently.  I met and chatted with some wonderful people.

Thank you for coming and supporting the event.

Easter Bags

I have made some Easter Bags, in fact I have made seven so far.  These small bags take a fat quarter of fabric to make, yes a whole fat quarter!!  

I forgot to show you my pin cushions that I have made for the craft fayre. Four round pin cushions plus a tiny round cushion and one large pin cushion.  

Plym Jar

7 x 20p = £1.40

5 x 20p = £1.00

1 x 10p = 10p

Total £2.50  

OPAM April 2014

I have busy making items to sell at the local craft fayre at Just Tracy this weekend.  It is a great way of using up my very large fabric stash.   

 

Nine Travel Tissue Covers.

Nine Japanese Flower Bags.

Eleven Box Cases.

Three Pen Cases.

Two Pen Cases and Two Flat Cases.

Eight Box Cases.

Five Flat Cases.

Plym Jar

40 x 20p = £8.00

9 x 10p = 90p

Total £8.90 

Mystery Quilt - That Garden Quilt, Part Two

I met SusanClaire aka 'The Gourmet Quilter' at the Westpoint Quilt Show on Friday.   We talked about her mystery quilt and how I was looking to buy the background fabric at the show.

I found a fabric I liked and purchase two metres but it was a creamish spotty fabric and I really wanted a black mottle background fabric.

Can you believe it when I was cleaning the guest bedroom I found a black mottle fabric that I used on a previous project.  There is enough fabric to do the mystery quilt and it is already washed and ironed!!

I have printed off part two, so now I must get started on this mystery quilt.  Are you going to join me in making this quilt?     

     

Quay Quilters

I have fun this afternoon teaching members of Quay Quilters how to made pin cushions.

At the show and tell time some members showed their blocks that they made at the daisy workshop I taught last week.