Little Dresses for Africa

Hello, do you remember a few months back Kathleen and I were making Dresses for children in Africa, well here they are we managed to make 5 each and they look really pretty. We used pillowcases and bits of lace to make them look pretty. This is a really worthwhile cause so have a look on Little Dresses for Africa website and have a go, these one's are now going off to Michigan and willl then be distributed, We hope the little girls love their dresses.

A Very Useful Bag

Hello, I have just finished making this bag and I am really pleased with it, When we go to The Fabric Guild I often buy these squares of fabric, some are large and some are smaller but they all have delightful pictures on them this one is all about Teatime, I have others with beach scenes and gardens, cats, floral and I buy them and never know what to do with them but they are so pretty and usually cost about 25pence each maybe a little more sometimes but not much. My good friend Kathleen (cottonreel) showed me how to make bags with them and it's a brilliant idea because no matter what the size the square you can make this bag, and it is so useful with 4 big pockets. We are going to Cosby quilters tonight it's a once a month meeting, there is a guest speaker who we have'nt seen before lets hope she is interesting it has'nt been unknown for Kathleen to fall asleep if she gets bored and she usually starts gasping for a cup of tea half way through, Oh well here's hoping.

Getting There

Good Morning, it's a very grey and dismal day here in Leicestershire so I am going to stay at home and sew. I have finished the 30 crazy patchwork squares they measure 10" ea, I am now going to stitch them all together and then the real fun starts I can start to embellish them. Just recently I have got really interested in crazy patchwork and I bought Kathy's book from Shawkl Blog and it is so helpful I have also purchased some lovely lace motifs from her too, I am looking forward to this part. I will show you when I have put all the squares together so that you have an idea of what it will look like. I am not seeing Kathleen today, we went shopping yesterday and it was absolutely freezing, what is it about supermarket carparks? the wind seems to cut you in half, I suppose it is because they are so open, so today we are staying in the warm and sewing.

A Little Bit of This and That.

Hello People, I have been very remiss in not posting for a little while, I have been busy shopping for birthdays I seem to have a lot of birthdays that fall at this time of year. I am also trying to catch up on my sewing I seem to have several things on the go at the moment and I am trying to get some finished.
Do you remember Kate (my daughter) who got married in August, well she and her husband Steve have just sold their house and found a lovely three storey Edwardian house to buy, there is much excitement and they are keeping their fingers crossed that everything goes through smoothly.
Yesterday Tony and I travelled to Birmingham to see his Mom and Dad, it is Dad's birthday on Tuesday he is in his late 80's and has some dementia but is still able to have a conversation about 'The Old Days' we took his presents and sat with them for a while it was a nice time. On the way home Tony took me to and antiques place he had found out in the country I would never have found it, it was a craft centre too and had lots of little shops. The antiques barn was two storeys high and had lots of rooms, I loved the Tapestry chair that you can see in the above picture it was just £37 and very pretty but I restrained myself. This is a new place for me to takeKathleen she will like it because there is a Tearooms as well . I received my Magazine from Pat Winter Gatherings it is called Crazy Quilt Gatherings and it is the first magazine she has produced it is lovely and has some good tips and patterns . I am going to sew now as it is quiet and no one seems to need me at the moment, have a good Sunday.

Lovely Fabrics

Hello Everyone I hope you are all having a good Sunday, I have been working in the garden, there is so much to do and the weather is not cooperating so I just went for it today, Tony had to replace a fence post after the high winds so he has been doing that and is now tidying up I removed lots of weeds and I have been cutting back things like phlox and penstemon which are starting to sprout, my back is now complaining a bit but I have cleared a nice patch so I feel good.
These are the fabrics I bought from Bramble Patch, the fat quarters were just a £1 each, I chose a random selection, the Blue with roses on was also in the sale I just love it.
My favourire is the floral by In the Beginning I love their fabric but can never afford it but this had been reduced to £6 a metre so grabbed some quick I will make a quilt and use the lovely border around it. The last item was a kit which was not in the sale but I fell in love with the fabrics, it will make a beautiful quilt. I am now spent out and have to start saving for the next trip to the Malvern Quilt show in May but I will enjoy using all my fabrics after I have looked at them and stroked them for a while, I am sure you all know what I mean.

Bliss

Here they are, hordes of rampaging females on the scent for fabric, these lovely tables were piled high with glorious fabrics, there was a bit of pushing and shoving but no fighting. I took this photograph whilst sitting on the balcony drinking coffee and eating chocolate cake with Kathleen, we had already braved the crowd and got what we wanted but there was still the shop to get around which was also very full of ladies who wanted fabric. It was a fun day and we did get some lovely stuff I will photograph mine and post it next time.

Bramble Patch SALE

Kathleen and I are off to the Bramble Patch Sale tomorrow, this sale only happens once a year so it is a good one. There will be all these mad women heading up and down the motorway to grab a bargain it's good fun. I hope everyone had a good weekend, it was a bit mixed weatherwise here but it was lovely because I saw my family and thts always special. Spring seems to be dragging it's feet, this lovely picture of a Bluebell wood was taken a couple of years ago it was quite breathtaking to see them all and thats when I chose my name for my blog.