I realise that I am starting to sound like a stuck record (blah blah blah work, blah blah blah kids, blah blah blah dog) but I genuinely have had very little time to sew lately, and it's starting to get annoying. The enormous pile of things-that-must-be-made-in-order-to-avoid-nervous-breakdown is just not getting any smaller.I did have a couple of hours the other afternoon for some hand-stitching in front of the telly, which felt so decadent. I'm working on an Oakshott project for Lynne that should have been finished ages ago. Luckily she is very lovely and patient (and beautiful and clever and hilarious and not at all distracted by flattery) so I am hoping she will forgive my [Read more...]

I finished this ages ago and completely forgot to show you. I really like the way it turned out and am thinking about using this idea again but making it much bigger. This one is really, really teeny. Baby sized, in fact, and there sure as hell aren't going to be any more of those around here any time soon.It's backed in the ubiquitous Ikea Nummer fabric, and machine quilted in a diamond pattern with extra stitching around each dark hexagon.The London MQG has partnered with the Octavia Appeal to donate quilts to the Royal Brompton Hospital paediatric ICU, so this little one will be heading off there soon and where it will hopefully bring some comfort.

I am so glad to have this little number finished. It makes me ridiculously happy with all its glowy, shiny gloriousness. It's machine quilted with miraculous size 16 perle cotton. Miraculous because it works perfectly for both the top and bobbin thread in my Janome. I had wanted to hand quilt this baby, but chickened out because of the ridiculous seam situation I would have to deal with. This thread meant that I could get the chunky stitch look without making holes in my fingers. Excellent. I drew around three different sized plates to make the circles and then used a walking foot and five colours of thread for the stitching. I love the way that all the colours can be seen on the [Read more...]

Well, technically we're going glamping. The difference being the flushing loo, running water, wood-burning stove and proper beds. It's a repeat of last year's holiday, but hopefully (according to the forecast at least) without the torrential rain. And with the addition of a slightly crazy dog. Apparently there are free-range chickens all over the farm. This could prove interesting.I thought about taking my new machine with us but have settled on my Lizzy House rose stars that have been lingering for quite some time. Like over a year. I kind of lost interest once I'd done the interesting bits but I really want to get it finished. I'm hoping that the lack of electricity will focus my mind [Read more...]

Another wall quilt finished, although this one is quite a bit less subdued than the last.It's a collaboration with Chawne, who is renowned for her quilts that don't mince words. We got talking about the UK vs US difference in euphemisms and decided to celebrate our "two countries divided by a common language" in quilty form. It was quite difficult to pick out those expressions that are entirely British, and haven't been bastardised from American English. Consequently, my quilt is pretty small. I think Chawne's will end up queen size at the rate she's going (you can see two of her recent blocks here).My little quilt is made with raw edge applique letters, which were then scribbled out [Read more...]