Thou Shalt Not Covet......

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours fabric, particularly when she is wearing it. This is Pat's shirt (yes, she is wearing it) and she is very lucky that I have not cut a square out as in the patchwork adverts, you know the one. Husband is asleep in the chair and wife has cut out bits of his shirt and is quilting them whilst her friend looks on. I adore this fabric.



We have been to St Ives this weekend for a little bit of rest and recuperation. It would be churlish of me not to call in the bead shop and buy one or two or three, ok, more than a few things. Someone has to keep them going. Well, I wasn't alone in there and that shop is really an Aladdin's Cave of sparkly bits and pieces and I would like to challenge anyone to come out empty handed. The woman before me at the till said to the assistant " when I come in again later don't say - back again?, you haven't seen me before, right!".



The weather on Saturday was lovely and hot and we sat in our deck chairs watching these Cornish Luggers or fishing boats. This one just let down its sail as I clicked the camera, the sails are traditionally a reddish canvas. The bead shop is just behind those boats on the opposite side of the harbour. Honestly, I WAS watching the boats.



Progress on Camelot means that I have passed the halfway stage now. All the templates are ready and waiting. The pieces for block 10 have been prepped. It takes me so long to decide on colour combinations and even then when I have cut them out I make changes.

Block 7



Block 8


Block 9



A bit of a finish in the knitting department. Remember the yarn I bought at the Quilt Show at Malvern? well, it has become a very colourful shawl. Beads have been added at the edge and are knitted in. I was told that the ball of wool would knit the shawl and I ran out before the end. Rather than buy another ball I just undid a few rows and added the beads and held my breath that there would be enough to finish it. I finished with about 6"s of yarn to spare. I am not that fond of the colours but wanted to see how it knitted up and the pattern was very easy. The pattern came free with the yarn and is Noro Kureyon. ( Details in previous post). I am sure that I have something more suited to my taste in my stash and will definitely make another one.


My niece Megan has taken up patchwork and is busy making hexagons for a quilt for her new bed. She is well and truly hooked. As we live so far apart lessons have been conducted by email and phone and I am impressed with her keenness. According to Meg, today's Daily Mail newspaper says that quilting makes you happy. Now we already knew that didn't we. You can see a bit more on her blog. When her exams are finished then hopefully she will post a bit more.



Sorry, for the long post. I must blog more often and then I won't need to write such an essay.

Happy Stitching.

Love Shirley.x

Retail Therapy

Just in case you have forgotten who I am let me tell you that I am still around, not achieving very much, but keeping up with you all when blogger isn't messing me about. I have tried to leave messages but somehow after a frustrating time it all goes to pot.

Well, I have finished block 7 of Camelot and as you can see they are coming along nicely. I do hope more people will give this project a go as it is fabulous. It will really test your piecing skills. My favourite is always the one I have just finished, so, on to the next one.



On Sunday I went to Quilts UK at Malvern with Kate and Margaret. Unfortunately there were notices around saying that photo's could not be published in any shape or form so cannot show you the winning quilt. Instead I will just have to show you the spoils from the retail therapy bit. Spoilt for choice and really not needing anything other than pins this is what I came home with.

A very pretty jelly roll pack

A pack of fabrics from Worn and Washed ( I love this stand and will happily stay at it all day just sighing and stroking the lovely used fabrics that Kim makes into such pretty quilts). In keeping with the worn and washed and recycled fabric philosophy Kim used old embroidered tablecloths as backings for some of her quilts. A great way to use up these items that we no longer seem to have use for and they can be bought fairly cheaply from a charity shop or car boot sale. I shall certainly be looking at these things in a new light.

A small bundle of wool fabric and a star pattern from
Madeleine Millington.



I had to have my little fix of Japanese books. I love them even though I cannot understand a single word. Luckily the diagrams and photo's are so good that it only takes a little bit of thought to work it all out. The other book is by Kathleen Tracy, The Civil War Sewing Circle.



Have already earmarked a few projects to do. This is only page 1 and look at all those scrummy hexagons. I know I am obsessed. A lot of the items in these books are small and therefore it seems a good opportunity to use up some of those scraps that I keep hoarding.



I also bought a ball of Noro Wool from The Knitting Parlour and had to start it immediately. I won't tell you what it is yet. It definitely isn't socks. It is unusual to see a knitting stand at a quilt show but I cannot pass it by without buying something as it is so good.



Barbara and Chris you were missed this year not having your stand in its usual place. I do hope you will be back again next time.

Happy Stitching.

Love Shirley.x

Nicki's Wedding

Today is the wedding of my daughter's close friend Nicki. They have known each other since primary school when Nicki used to call every morning always with a beautiful, beaming smile. Her smile today was radiant. Along with a street full of well wishers we stood outside for photographs.

Admiring the back of the dress which was heavily laced and ruched at the bodice. At the side was a large sequined bow which was echoed with a smaller bow on the opposite side of the dress at the shoulder. She looked beautiful.



Rachel, one of 8 bridesmaids. Looking equally as beautiful.



All 6 of the older bridesmaids and the two flower girls.



Inside the car with proud dad Stuart and that dazzling smile. Off to meet her beau.



Wendy now has the borders on Laura's quilt and that little strip of green is the perfect shade. Kate helped and it is now sandwiched together ready for quilting. The outer flowers are going to be added afterwards. It is going to be so pretty Wendy and I love it. The pattern is from a Material Obsession book.



Margaret is working on a quilt that she fell in love with after seeing it in an Australian magazine. I cannot remember the name. This is one of the blocks. Very fiddly little pieces but so pretty.



Camelot - Block 5. For more inspiration and a glimpse at the beauty of these blocks then visit Valentina who is doing a wonderful job.



Happy stitching.

Love Shirley.x

Activity at Stitcherydo HQ

Come and take a peep at what is happening behind the door.



Daughter no.2 finally removed her furniture and her bedroom became my sewing room. A luxury I know, but it still has to function as an occasional bedroom. It has been painted and has new furniture. I have made a bold statement with the deep red wall and soon a sofa bed will join it all and it will be a pleasant place to sit and sew. This room has beautiful views towards the Quantock Hills. It isn't quite finished yet and still a work in progress but definitely on the list for a finish this month. In my capacity as Ribbon Cutter Extraordinaire I may invite a few guests and declare it open.



Blocks 3 and 4 almost complete and I am thinking about block 5. These blocks take some thinking about. Colour, how and where to best use it, plus which way to sew a seam and the direction in which it will lie so that it will lie flat, taking care not to stretch all those bias edges. As I am making these blocks I am stitching little bits of my friends into them. The blue/green stripe fabric points in block 3 are scraps from Pat's husbands shirt (scraps destined for the doggy cushions and rescued), the green fabric given to me from Val. A memory quilt of sorts.



You may remember me showing a little bit of this hexagon quilt last year. Well, after 40 years in progress Pat (with the pearl earring) has finally finished it. Well done Pat for such perseverence. There are a few Pat's in our Tuesday group and to distinguish them Pat with the pearl earring came about from a self portrait mini quilt where she depicted herself with said earring.



Congratulations to Mary (Tuesday sewing group)for winning this wonderful raffle quilt at a Quilters Guild sewing Day. It is beautifully made and I hope that clicking on a close up shows the detail.



Finally, I would like to show you this wonderful piece of work that stands outside the Art Department at the Somerset College of Art and Technology. It is by a very talented young man named Ben Plaw, aged 18. Ben is now at Bath University studying Fine Art. It is made from pieces of stainless steel and has been treated to get the rusty look. The brief was to make something to represent overcoming struggles and is partly inspired by The Angel of the North. It is meant to represent braving and battling the elements. I love it and I am thrilled at seeing it everytime I pass the College.


Happy Stitching everyone.

Love Shirley.

p.s. Now didn't the Middleton's do well with the marriage of their daughter Kate to Prince William? The whole day was just a brilliant spectacle and a happy and joyous occasion. It was a much needed escape from all the doom and gloom and destruction that assaults us. One thing our Royals do well is to put on such pageantry and they didn't disappoint. A perfect day.

Camelot teaser

A little teaser for block 3 of Camelot.I am loving every minute spent on making this quilt. Let me tell you though that I think the hardest part is choosing fabrics and it took me most of the afternoon to put together and search for colour combinations. I may yet take out the centre circle and redo it as it is not my best work but I am pleased with the colours. I have prepped the templates now for 6 blocks so that I can get going.



Having decided on my colour scheme I had to do a bit more shopping and a little stop at Dotty Dollies and online at Sunflowerfabrics.com. A rummage in a huge bag of scraps from Pat that is supposed to be destined for the doggie pillows unearthed a few little pieces of treasure. No matter how large the stash there never seems to be the right colours. This was supposed to be an exercise in using what I had. I am digging deep though and finding all sorts of things in my stash that I had forgotten about.


My friend Janet has made the most beautiful quilt for her friend. As it is a gift and not yet given I will just show you one of the blocks. The whole thing just moved me to tears it was so lovely. Janet has such a good eye for detail and wouldn't you agree that the basket fabric is just perfect.



The stash of hexagon diamonds/lozenges has grown now to 79. This week I bought a bolt of cream fabric so now I can start making a zillion hexagons to start setting them in. Still have quite a few more diamonds and lozenges to make though. I hope this will be my contribution to our quilt exhibition next year which will be on the theme of "Diamonds are a girl's best friend". We did think of the Olympics as it will be 2012 but it is also the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and thought it much more appropriate. The jelly roll hexies are on hold at present till I find the right shade for the background. Having bought fabric for them and deciding against it I want to go back to my original plan. Have plans for the ones I have already prepped though. My mind is working overtime on ideas.



Happy stitching

Love Shirley.

Camelot - block 2

Block 2 of Camelot was a little more tricky having to set in those circles. I also changed the middle cross a little to take advantage of the fabric and match the stripe which I used in block 1. It did lie flat though without the help of spray starch and I am pleased. Having discovered that I have more than one or two bits of black fabric with pink in them I now have a plan - sort of! I am enjoying the challenge. Hand piecing allows you to be so much more accurate.



Pat has recently returned from a family wedding in New Zealand and came back with this quilt kit. It is all lovely fabrics with a New Zealand theme and it is looking good.



Kate is indulging in a little play with a fabric panel and attic windows. One of her guests at her quilting retreat was making something similar and she was quite taken with it. It looks very effective.



This next photo is of a reflection of the ceiling in water in Salisbury Cathedral. Now you know I am no photographer and those of you who know how to use your cameras properly will do a much better job. It was quite fascinating. The vessel holding all that water is a font installed in 2008. If you wish to see more fabulous photographs of the Cathedral then click on the link above.



Happy stitching.

Love Shirley.

Camelot - Block 1

Here is the first completed block of the beautiful quilt Camelot by Trish Harper. I have hand pieced the block and loved the challenge of all those parts coming together. The only bit I did think may be a bit tricky was the setting in to the circle but it went in very smooth and I wondered why I delayed doing it. I also used a little bit of spray starch to prevent the circle from stretching as it was being sewn. One thing that I am quite often unsure about is which way to press seams and which way they should lie. Sometimes you want a shape to stand out and with a lot of seams coming together it can be quite bulky and so I went with what lay the flattest hoping that it would still work. We shall see.



This week I have been indulging in a spot of machine piecing. Occasionally even I need to do something that is a bit faster and this had me all excited. I bought a jelly roll last week at the quilt show and got a few pounds off the price because it looked a bit raggedy and it was the last one. It is just so pretty but you will have to wait a bit longer to see what it will make up into.



Valentine's Hearts by Cupcake Cottons. It is the first and probably the last time I shall do a border in this manner. It looks very pretty but fiddly. It needs a bit more quilting but essentially finished. Yeh! My contribution to all the glorious red and white quilts that are being shown around the world. I wished I could have seen them up close and personal. A big thank you to Sue from I Sew Quilts for sending lots of lovely photo's.



Now, I did just mention that I was at the quilt show at Westpoint and, I forgot my camera even after Elyte sent me a message telling me otherwise. Sorry Elyte. Lucky that Wendy took hers and sent me some photo's via e-mail.

The next two photo's are a little bit different for quilts and are by Sandie Lush. Sandie has a whole series of quilts in the shape of sweaters and the textures she creates really do resemble the knitting. When all hung together the quilt names read like a knitting pattern. They even have labels advertising Lush Knits. There are quite a collection but the famous one that she did and you may remember seeing it is the giant cricket sweater. These quilts appeal to me because many moons ago I toyed with the idea of doing a degree in knitwear and yes, Sandie is a knitter.





This quilt is by Dilys Fronks. It was part of a collection of quilts by Dilys who is renowned for her garden gate quilts. One day I am going to have to make one. This I just thought was beautiful.



Having bought the background for the hexagons and buying something that was so totally unexpected I am having doubts. I think I shall just wait and see if I like it any better when I have made a few more flowers. No more pictures now.

Happy Stitching

Love Shirley.