The quilt shown at the top of the Blog is now at the hand quilting stage so that is what I'm going to work on, slowly but surely.
I took it to my craft group this afternoon with good intentions but when I got there I realised I had left my glasses at home, the tiny needle I use was not going to get threaded without them. Someone offered to do it for me so I could try and start but even with her glasses she couldn't see it either.
I've got the quilt in a hoop and I've done a couple of the blocks so far, the square blocks are all machine pieced but the pictoral blocks are all hand appliqued and each piece is button holed around and some have additional embroidery on them too.
When the weather is nice I like to quilt on the deck in the back garden - being England I don't get to do that as often as I would like.
The garden is south facing and I get the sun (when there is any) all day until early evening when the sun moves around to the side of the house to the patio, so if I'm still stitching (yeah right) I can move round there to get better light. Either place is right next to the kitchen.
Earlier this year we had the garage at the bottom of the garden insulated and converted to a craft studio for me and this is where I can hide and stitch. I don't tend to hand stitch here as I prefer to be up by the house (and kitchen) but there's no where better for cutting and piecing. I even made space for two desks so I can have a friend over to play (and you know who you are).
It's a bit messy but I like it that way, I've tried having it spotless but I just get hung up on tidying up and don't create anything in case I make a mess.
I'll keep up with the hand stitching as often as I can and will keep popping into people's blogs to see how they're doing and Bonnie, I pop in yours everyday, it keeps me stitching.
Sally
Hello from the U.S.! I found your blog through Bonnie's linky and I must say that I find your quilt lovely. Applique isn't something that I have done much of, but I do love how it can enhance a pieced quilt.
ReplyDeleteAnd a craft studio, that sounds heavenly!
Thanks Jan - it is heavenly, just to escape from the kids and shut the door - but even more to let me leave it all out on the table and shut the door, just knowing I can just walk back in and get on with it straight away. The quilt is a bit of a labour of love as all the pieces are hand done, I hurt my back and couldn't sit at the machine for months so this saved my sanity. Give it a try, you'll get hooked. I've a machine applique dragon quilt on the go for my son as soon as I've the one off my desk (only requires binding) then this will be back on the table. Watch this space.
DeleteSally
I want to come over and play!
ReplyDeleteAnytime Bev, you know the 2nd desk is really for you....
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