Thank you

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to leave me a message. It has been a great comfort to read them and the many cards I have received this week. It has been an up and down kind of week. At first I had no energy for anything- the slightest task took an age. My brother, parents and Steve's daughter and fiancé have all been planning the funeral which we hope will reflect the Steve we knew. I chose a poem from a book edited by the husband of a good friend which my husband will read on my behalf. The funeral is next Friday and I hope that we will be able to celebrate his very full life.

On Tuesday I decided that I must get out of the house so I went to the September meeting of Cutting Edge in Ystradowen. I even had, hold your breath, a finish to show; Isobel's quilt. However I did not take photos. I'll get some when the sun shines again. I do have photos taken yesterday of my second finish, the Japanese +x quilt started last year. So without further ado, drum roll please....

The quilting was done by Sue Phillips of School House Quilting near Newport. 

Details of the quilt are here. Funnily enough that post contains marmalade references and I have been making some today. I know, it is September. I'll let you in on a secret, we have had an offer on the house. I hope I'm not tempting fate by mentioning it and it is very early days so shush..... Anyway, I have decided to try to sort out the freezers (note the plural!) We could probably eat for months out of them. The two bags of Seville oranges were frozen in early February so needed using.

The roses are from the second flush this summer on the bushes and they smell divine. I'm taking another bunch up to Jenny's tomorrow. Her new baby is expected at the end of next week and she has been early with her last two pregnancies. I can only stay for a three nights but it means she will not have to call on her neighbour if she does start between now and Wednesday.

My next post will contain photos of a new online crazy quilting course I have been following. I never meant to keep it secret but have not had the time to write about it so until next time,

Have a good week,

Catherine

Marmalade wars

This morning (Sunday) is so cold. Next door's roof is covered in frost and there is a thick white foggy stillness to everything. Mike brought me toast and tea in bed as a treat with my marmalade on the side. I said only a nice person could have made marmalade as good as this, in my usual self deprecating way. He said his was just as good. You see, dear reader, we have totally different tastes in marmalade so each year we both make a batch- he prefers thick and dark with large peel chunks and I love a lighter, brighter, fresher marmalade with fine cut peel. On these differences are marriages founded. Oh bother, now I've got sticky hands and toast crumbs in the bed. Might have to get up soon and face the day.

I made myself a promise that I would finish off one or two WIPs before I started anything new this year. I had 6 blocks for this Japanese +x lap quilt done from the class at Patchfinders in Cheadle with the lovely Lucy Brennan (Charm About You) from last October. I had enjoyed the class and most of the blocks were already cut out so I'm not sure why it hung around so long. This week I spent 3 full days sewing up a storm to finish the other 19 blocks and assembling the top. The fabric is Juggling Summer by Zen Chic for Moda- quite different from anything else I have done but I'm loving it.

The quilt as it is measures 65 x 65". I have been contemplating adding a narrow dark border before binding. I thought that if I just added binding to it that I would lose a bit of all the outside blocks. I contacted Lucy for her opinion and she reminded me there was a ¼" seam allowance. Whatever was I thinking of(or not)?
So I am just going to add the binding now. Lucy also reminded me about black wadding (batting) so that if there is any bearding of fibres it will not show when quilted.
 Lucy quilted hers by hand with lovely large stitches. I love the look but hand quilting is not my thing so I would appreciate some ideas for machine quilting.

The quilt is destined to be a winter quilt for the conservatory. The room is quite warm enough when the sun is out as it is south facing but can be cooler early or later in the day.

Lastly, a film review. Whatever next? I went with my lovely friends Celia and Judith to our local cinema and arts centre, Chapter, in Cardiff to see "Testament of Youth". The film is based on the book by Vera Brittain and is the true story of her years during the first world war. This film is the most moving account of love, loss, hopelessness and the waste of life during this abominable war that I have ever seen. Superb acting especially by Alicia Vikander, a young Swedish actress. I can only say that if you get the chance to see it you must. A full review can be seen here by Tim Robey, film critic with the Telegraph paper.

Have a wonderful Sunday. I hope to get out and about later to enjoy the cold.

Catherine

I've linked up with Kelly of My Quilt Infatuation. (the badge is in the right hand column)

My first completed machine pieced block

The house is full of the most delicious smell of my marmalade simmering on the stove and the kitchen is steaming up. It's so cold outside today. We've had such a wet but mild winter so far.

I finished my (Polar) Bear Paw block last night for the Classic Meets Modern QAL and I am really pleased with it. It is a complete contrast to my sampler quilt both in colour and I hope in style. Its as modern as I can make it at the moment. I've looked at a few blogs and the possibilities seem endless but I'm going to leave doing improv etc until I have more experience with the actual machine piecing.

I'm hoping the block can be counted as modern because it features mainly solids with a sprinkling of a large modern print and the colour palette is cool and looks modern to me.

My very first machine pieced block

Even though I tried to cut accurately and sewed very slowly it came up nearer to 12" than 12.5". This was the reason I had to email Erin to check that the seam allowance was included. I'll have to see how the next blocks shape up. If they all come out a 12" I don't think there will be a problem but I may need to sew it again if all the rest are more accurate. That all said, I LOVE, love, love it!

So, wherever you are, keep warm, keep dry and have a good day.

Catherine

My favourite January thing!

I spent the morning preparing Seville oranges to make marmalade to Nigel Slater's recipe from 2009. I had a look at his 2013 recipes but I really wanted a more traditional light marmalade and I have used the 2009 version before. There is something really calming about cutting the peel up. Its all ready now to be cooked tomorrow.

My fabric choice for the Classic Meets Modern QAL

I'm really pleased with the fabrics I chose online from Cottonpatch.  They were pretty close to the colour palette I had used.  

• Background: Robert Kaufman Kona Solid Snow
• Solids:     Spectrum Plain Slate, Spectrum Plain Vintage Blue, Robert Kaufman Kona     Artichoke, Classic Blenders 83(dark grey), Wickerweave 11 (dark blue)
• Patterned fabric: Tula Pink Fabric Salt Water: Sea Stripes, Aqua
• Backing fabric: Annali, Scribble Lines, White on Light Grey.

The order was ready and I had plenty of time to choose the patterned fabric.  Staff in Cottonpatch are so pleasant and helpful too. It's a great place to browse the beautiful fabrics without being hurried. I had the great pleasure of meeting the winner of the Great British Sewing Bee, Ann Rowley, in the shop too. I recognised her when I went in but was too starstruck to say hello. However we both got to the till at the same time and she commented on my very bright stripy scarf. She said how beautiful the colours were and we chatted for a minute or two.

The first block chosen by Erin was the (Polar) Bears Paw. I spent the afternoon cutting and assembling the block. I was pleased with the result until I realised I had not allowed for the seam allowance when cutting out. 

What to do???? Should I leave it and make the same mistake in all the blocks?  I've emailed Erin to see what she thinks. Even so, for my first attempt at machine piecing it's not too bad, if I say so myself.

Erin got back to me and the seam allowance was included so alls well that ends well!