Appliqué love!

I love appliqué!!!

What a surprise! I really wasn't sure I could like it as much as patchwork but I do. Its completely different yet wonderfully creative. Even if you use someone else's design the colours, placement and fabrics are all your own making it just about impossible that there could be two exactly alike.

Its so versatile too, you can buy a pattern or draw your own- it doesn't matter how your picture starts. I even bought a children's colouring book at the weekend because it had a great line drawing of the African savavnnah complete with volcano in the background, another was if hot air balloons and yet another was of a mouse in a sailing boat in front of a lighthouse. The lady serving me at Waterstones laughed when I told her what I had bought it for and thought it was a clever idea do as is my style I'm already overflowing with ideas and long time plans.

Fun fun fun

Until next time
Gillian

Applique Calendar Quilt

This week I started the Calendar Quilt by Nancy Halverson/Art to Heart that I have chosen as my monthly project for 2012. My aim is to make one block each month, and as January is well under way I finally got started on it.

Firstly I traced the design onto the paper side of fusible applique paper- I've no idea of the make as I simply went to my usual fabric shop, explained what I needed, and bought the type they recommended.

I then cut the pieces out leaving a small border and then had to choose the fabric for each piece of the picture. I've bought a Nancy Halverson charm pack for the applique pieces. Mostly I need really small pieces of fabric and this was my solution to having a wide range of patterns and colours to choose from which I knew would definitely go well together. I just added a few other bits of darker colours from my stash for the log cabin.

I ironed the fusible paper onto the fabric and then cut out the pieces and then put them together to see how they looked...

I then peeled off the backing paper of the lowest layer of applique pieces and ironed them onto the backing fabric.

I did find an easy way to store the pieces when I stopped for the day--- good old A4 polypockets usually used for keeping paper in folders.

Today I actually used my sewing machine to sew around each applique piece using satin stitch.  I'm really pleased with the result. It's not finished so there is some tidying up and plenty of hand stitching to do yet- but for a first go it's pretty good (the photo doesn't really do it justice and I will take a better one when it's finished). 

Until next time

Gillian

Beautiful sky

Today we had the most beautiful sun rise. I wanted to share the photos I took on my phone.

Until next time
Gillian

The skies over Bodmin 8.10 am...

A new project

The decision has been made...

The fabric is chosen...















... The pattern is chosen (from one of me favourite books)










Just waiting to start!!!


Until next time
Gillian

In between times

I'm in that funny "in between time"- the one where I've finished one quilt and am trying to decide what to do next. I've plenty of options having been given some lovely fabric packs at Christmas. I've also got quite a healthy stash pile to raid too.

I'm enjoying this phase though- out with my patchwork books, visiting websites (especially moda bakeshop) browsing through Flickr quilt photos... I love it!

Next I'm matching fabrics to the patterns I think I want to do next... It's like trying it out- laying them all out next to each other and auditioning them to see if it works.

Its a fun process, one that is slow and indulgent- just to please me!!!

Until next time
Gillian

This is one of the quilt patterns I found on the moda bakeshop. It's by Karen and I have to say her blog is worth a visit too.

Just right

Sometimes when you quilt you have to decide just how to put it together. It's a process of trial and error, placing and moving until it looks just right. This was yesterday's job with my current quilt. I then took a photo so if I mix up the pieces in some silly careless moment then I know how they should go back together.

Now it's just waiting to be sewn together.

Until next time
Gillian

Here it is- just right!

Why I make quilts

This is why I make quilts...

When someone is really tired and in need of snuggling up!

Freedom of expression- quilting style!

Quilting is not really about simply sewing for me- it's about expressing myself through my design choices. Sewing is just the process of putting it all together. Making a quilt is about so much more...

There are choices every step of the way. First I choose a selection of fabric, then the pattern. Sometimes I do this the other way round looking for fabric that goes with a pattern I like.

Then I choose which particular fabrics I will use for particular parts of the design. Favourite fabrics get to be feature parts of the design but it all has to look and feel right to me.

I may also decide to change the size or shape of the quilt and adjust accordingly.

I usually try to make a reverse design to go with the quilt front, using any leftover material from the top. This is always my own design piercing together what is available.

I then put the top/wadding/back layers together. I don't like binding so I sew reverse sides facing and then pull through to turn right sides out before hand sewing the gap closed. I always do a straight stitch about 10mm from the edge all the way round to give a lovely firm and tidy but soft edge.

My final choice is how to quilt; sometimes I follow the seaming, sometimes I use fancy stitches, sometimes I make concentric squares and recently I've tried free machine quilting producing random patterns. This is the part I and other quilters might notice but seemingly other people are less likely to see.

So you see how every quilt I make is an expression of me. No one else will make the same choices as me, and each choice is about what I think will look best.

Until next time
Gillian

This is how the front, border and reverse all must blend and fit together to make the quilt just right!

2012

I didn't make any resolutions this year but have some things I want to do more of this year...

Look for the good even when things are difficult

See the positives in life's events

Spread smiles, they are contagious and it will be wonderful to get more back

Be kind, considerate and willing to help others because that always feels good too


If I can do more of these things I think I will be a happier person...

So until next time
Gillian

Here's a smile to start the feel good smiles...

Happy New Year 2012

A new year has arrived and I'm torn between looking back and looking ahead.

2011 Is now over... We did so much last year...

Tom sat his A levels, got good grades and went to university...

Kieran sat his GSCEs, got good grades and is now doing his A levels...

Sean is now in year 5 and has hugely gained in confidence, performing in the school talent show (cup stacking) and reciting Christmas poems at the school carol concert in church (ytwas the night before Christmas)...

Sean is now eating lots more foods; we no longer cook separately for him and he willingly (most of the time) tries new foods...

John and me are both in the same jobs but feeling more positive following some recent changes (no more about work I promise!)...

We've all been pretty healthy thankfully though in truth I haven't exercised enough...

We've taken more steps towards giving our children freedom to develop as people, letting them make their own decisions and accept the consequences when they do- this is a tough one which is hard for a control freak like me...

Creatively I've ended the year with quite a few finished projects and I'm enjoying the positive feeling that has given me. The person who started loads of things but rarely completed them has finally turned a corner- I'm now someone who actually makes things. It's a big creative breakthrough for me! Definitely the way to go in the future...

So on to 2012... My outline plan is to basically work hard, have fun, be creative and spend quality time with my family... I'm looking forward to it!!!

So until next time
Gillian

Here is a photo of today's sunset... How beautiful the world is!