Pies and Tarts

I have given up sewing for today. My fingers are sore and at times I cannot feel the needle and thought it time to give them a little rest.

Yesterday, being Saturday I thought I would spend the day catching up with the much neglected Klosjes but that was before the post arrived. I have shamelessly stalked Frances at Quilting Owl blog to ogle her beautiful Pies and Tarts blocks that she has started. Well, I found the starter pack available here in the UK at The Quilt Room who plan to do it as a Block of the Month and my itchy little fingers just wouldn't wait. They are English paper pieced and with my latest best product, the glue pen, preparation was simple. I have enough papers to make 10 large Pies and 10 smaller Tarts. I have decided on a colour scheme of Plum, beige and green, with any shade inbetween from my stash.



These are the first 4. Three from yesterday and one today that proved a little difficult. Maybe it will feel better later.



Can you see what Kate taunted me with on Wednesday? If she was my friend like she claims she would have given me that selvage!!! It is a lovely piece of fabric from the V&A and she is making a small wall hanging with clamshells. That selvage is going to be incorporated into the border. It will be lovely Kate. All joking aside she did give me a little piece of selvage with some wording on it, just waiting for that next project. I have one in mind.



We went to Barrington Court for Sunday Lunch again today and sat in exactly the same place as last time. Of course this time I had to take my camera out to snap this little section of the fireplace. You see, inspiration is all around and nothing under the sun is new, you just have to give it a new twist.



This week I prepped a few more clamshells and tried again with a little project that I have in mind. I will tell you about my idea, but not just yet. I have used some beautiful soft grey hand dyed fabric from Wendy and some of my Liberty prints which are a lovely soft Cotton Lawn.



After Lunch we had a nice wander around the gardens and found the yellow courgettes growing. We had them at lunch and they were delicious. They try to use as much veg and fruit from the walled garden as they can.



My favourite book as a girl was The Secret Garden and I imagine this door leads into another little garden. Didn't see a robin though.



Just had to take a photo of this sunflower. Loved its colours.



Wandering around the back of the gardens I spotted a sign that said Patchwork. Joy! Oh Joy! Ladies, anyone in my vicinity reading this can now visit Barrington Court and do patchwork shopping at the same time. Hopefully this will be a good venture for her. She is also going to be selling fabric at Somerset County Quilters on a Monday evening I believe. I am sorry to say that I didn't get her name. My husband was happy as he stood outside having borrowed a pair of binoculars and watched the owl nesting in the hollow of the tree outside. I came away with a few fat quarters which you can just see in the pies and tarts pic.

Klosjes total 121.

Happy Stitching.

Love Shirley.