Finally Finished!

Firstly, sorry that it has been so long since my last post.  I have just been so busy lately, what with classes starting and trying to get things finished up.  I have finally finished my Country Sampler quilt, you'll be glad to know.  I was able to take a few photos of it in the garden today, as it wasn't raining. 

Country Sampler Quilt

This is the quilt that I'm teaching at the minute in St Peter's Parish Centre, Culmore here in Derry.  I designed it myself and to be honest it has driven me a bit crazy at times.   

Nine Patch, Flying Geese, Irish Chain

There is quite a variety of blocks on the quilt, fifteen different ones in all.  I used fabric from my stash to make it so it saved a trip to the quilt shop.  

Border & Blocks

I machine quilted the centre of the quilt in the ditch.  It took quite a while as I wanted to be able to see all the individual blocks on the back and I was very pleased with the effect.  As the backing fabric is cream, it was difficult to photograph  as the quilting lines didn't show up very well. 

By the way, I used my EQ6 software to help design the quilt.  I would recommend it to anyone.  It was the first time that I had used the custom setting but I got the hang of it and learned some new things.  I like EQ so much that I got the EQ7 Update recently. 

Must go now as it's late.

Talk soon.
Sandra

Cubby & Vintage Spools

I went to an exhibition in the Verbal Arts Centre here in Derry today with my friend Ann.  It was called "To The Lighthouse an interpretation in stitch".  Marlene Milner was the artist and it was based on her favourite book by Virginia Woolf and the work had been completed for her City & Guilds Level 4 textile course.  My favourite parts were the trapunto work and hand-quilting on the ottoman cover.  Amazing.

We also did a bit of shopping while in town and I found this wonderful cubby.  I had seen one on the Pottery Barn website before and then by chance found this one today.  I love it and couldn't wait to get it on the wall.

Cubby Organiser

Also, when I got home, my little spools had come from America.  I had thought that I would use them for embroidery thread but I just love them bare.  The labels on the end are lovely.

Vintage Spools

Vintage Thread Labels

So a big thank you goes to Jinxxy, I am really pleased with my purchase.

Well, Ann and I had a lovely day.  Must go now, it's late.

Bye
Sandra

Fresh Starts

It seems like ages since my last post.  I have been so busy!  My youngest son has just joined his older brother at secondary school and there were lots of preparations for that milestone.  He has had a growth spurt since I bought his uniform and his shirts won't last long.  But that's life.  My daughter went back to university and I miss girly chats at night.  I was also getting ready for two new classes which started this week.  My new quilt is for one of these classes but I haven't quite finished the quilting on it yet.  I promise to put up pictures when I can. 

My friends and I are starting a new chapter together as we no longer have our local quilt shop.  Our group is called "Keep It Crafty" and we offer quilting and knitting classes. We were very grateful to be offered the use of St Peter's Parish Centre here in Derry to run our classes.  It's fantastic!  Big room, nice and bright, good lighting with a big car park right outside the door.  Really handy.  Big thanks go to Rev. Robert Miller for being so generous.

Mary Good is giving a class in patchwork landscape, Louise Kelly is offering kids sewing classes and she should have a knitting class in the near future.  I have a free motion quilting class and then my country sampler quilt. 

Free Motion Quilting Designs

My classes went well and everyone was really positive about our new venue. 

I was back at the Car Boot Sale  again this week and I found some lovely old glass bottles and ink pots.  Most of them were dug up by a digger driver who now has quite a collection.  They needed a lot of washing and even though some of the glass is damaged, I still thought they were very pretty. 

Old Glass Bottles and Ink Pots

The big green one is a milk bottle with a cow on the front and someone milking it.  The tall bottle is apparently a lime cordial bottle from Ross' s of Belfast and has shamrocks all over it.

Before

All clean and shiny

Well, I must go now as it's late.  Hopefully it won't be too long until the next one.

Bye for now.
Sandra