Tuesday 23 August 2011

Work in Progress

How do you work? Are you neat and tidy? Do you sit in chaos? This is my work in progress. My neat and tidy room looks like an explosion in a fabric shop. Luckily I haven't shown you the other side of the room with the wardrobe doors open and fabrics spilling out of the boxes. Am I sitting in there sewing amongst all this chaos - no, I am sat downstairs in another room where it is tidy -ish. I have been auditioning fabrics for the remaining blocks of Camelot. There are just 2 blocks left to stitch and then on to the borders. One more to cut out hence the riot of fabric everywhere whilst I decide on colour choices.



Block 13



Block 14



Remember a few posts back I was stitching yo-yo's? Are you wondering what has become of them?

Brooches. Hand dyed blanket and buttons complete the look.



A little bit of fundraising for St. Margaret's Hospice in September.



I had a lovely surprise in the post last week from Maggi from To Dream To Stitch as a little consolation for not being able to meet at Festival of Quilts. Maggi chose a very pretty pack of pale teal fabrics to co ordinate with my pink fabrics and they are gorgeous. There is also a lovely pack of buttons in the shape of a teapot and teacup. We will have that cup of tea Maggi and sometime soon. Thank you once again.



We have been away for the weekend to Torquay in Devon. When we set out it was in heavy rain but as we arrived the sun came out and turned glorious. Off we went for a walk down to Anstey's Cove and there we sat on the beach with a glass of wine. Ha! nice and relaxing.



This is Babbacombe. It is very steep and was a strenuous walk down there through a cliffside garden. Luckily there is a cable car to take you back up - or down. That would have been the sensible thing to do.



On Sunday we went for a mammoth walk into Torquay via the coastal path. This was such a strenuous walk but well worth it as the view once you reach the top is just so amazing. The whole of the English Riviera set out in front of you.



The reason we went away for the weekend was this. This photo was taken 30 years ago on our wedding day. Here we are all looking very young. My sister and Mick's sister as bridesmaids and my Mum looking very glam in her hat. The weather was a dark and wet day hence the photo looking dull but we all had a lovely time.



A close up of the embroidery around the skirt of the dress. I designed and made it myself inspired at the time by an embroiderer called Sue Rangeley. The flowers were painted with fabric paints and padded, embroidered and then beaded. Around the flowers are lazy daisies. It took me many months of sewing.



I have also been working on a little something which I will show you next time. Stay posted.

Happy Stitching

Shirley.x


18 comments:

  1. The state of your room has a familiar look about it! Don't you just hate having to put it all away again? Your Camelot quilt is going to be sooo good.

    Congratulations on your 30th anniversary. A lovely photo and I just love that embroidery. Also good that Sue Rangeley is still inspiring people. I got her latest book not that long ago.

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  2. Congrats! Your wedding dress looks lovely! Mine was bought after Di and Charles' so was a bit of a meringue! Good progress on Camelot and yes I sew in a mess too! Glad you can't see my room!

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  3. Gorgeous dress and embroidery Shirley - and congratulations on your 30 year wedding anniversary.
    Love how your Camelot blocks are looking - and yes, my sewing room ends up like that too--with bits everywhere!
    The brooches are very cute. A neat idea.

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  4. Beautiful blocks. I also love your room, it shows exciting creativity in progress. Happy Anniversary.

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  5. So many interesting things. Camerlot I still love it. Walking photos and your wedding dress. It is lovely you really are very clever.

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  6. Great post. I can identify with the sewing room. It is so time consuming to clean it up but finally when it takes longer to find things than clean up, the cycle begins again. I did enjoy the views from your walk. Nothing like an English landscape. Seems like 1981 was a popular year for weddings. Was it the Di effect?

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  7. I call it "Creative Chaos" Shirley, Camelot blocks are looking gorgeous.
    Congratulations on your 30th anniversary. A lovely photo and love that embroidery that you did on your dress...
    Lovely scenic photos..
    Julia ♥

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  8. Happy Anniversary! We also had out 30th this year. Must indeed have been an popular year. But it doesn't feel like THAT long, does it?
    Love your projects.

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  9. Congratulations on your anniversart Shirley. You were a beautiful bride and you're still pretty.
    My sewing room looks just like yours except there are parts I'd be too ashamed to show. I'm loving the Cameloit blocks and thanks for photos of another part of the world.

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  10. Wow Shirley your dress is beautiful......
    I also made my wedding dress and sewed on the pearl buttons down the back the Thursday before the wedding.lol.
    Happy Aniversary.
    Loving the Camalot blocks.....

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  11. I love the dress. My friend Helen and her mother made her wedding dress and it is also a fabulous creation. Those flowers just make it!
    Another Anniversary...congrats from me.
    And once again thank you for taking me on your lovely weekend trip.

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  12. My studio oftens looks like this and often much worse - there is a saying "you can't make a cake without breaking eggs". The trick is having a home for all your stuff to eventually put it back in so that you can find it next time to make another mess. The Camelot blocks look great and I am looking forward to seeing this fabulous quilt. Torquay looks lovely and I hope you really enjoyed your 30th anniversary.

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  13. What a beautiful wedding photo and a gorgeous couple! Love the dress too.
    Don't have to nag you about the Camelot blocks you are doing very well on your own.
    My sewing room is always a mess as is my head. I always think next time I will be more organised but it never happens.

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  14. You were right about your room Shirley, your original photographs were very misleading!

    Loved the dress, and how glam was your mum?

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  15. Hi Shirley, What happened to that beautiful new sewing room!!!! I was shocked when I saw the pic but if I went and took a picture of mine, it would look exactly the same!!!

    Congratulations on 30 years! We had our 30th anniversary in January - sounds like such a long time doesn't it. Looks like you had a wonderful weekend away in a beautiful spot.

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  16. Gran always mentioned your wedding dress to me auntie shirley and ive never seen it. I must say it is very beautifull and i can see why she spoke about it. The camelot quilt will look fab, loving the materials you've chosen. No comment on the state of the sewing room! X

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  17. OMG Meg. I cannot believe you have never seen it. It is always hanging up in the wardrobe. Next time you come and stay you can have a look at it. Lots of love.

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  18. Happy Aniversary!! And a beautiful dress too.

    It is an absolute delight to have a place to leave things out isn't it? With mine I now even enjoy the buzz of having a tidying session (me tidying is virtually unheard off)because everything actually has a place and it helps rediscovering things!

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