I made this tuffet using Sarah Vedeler's Happy Tuffet design.  In the hoop applique on a Bernina 730 using the mega hoop. 

Large and Mini Tuffet

I loved making these tuffets.  A large one and a mini pin cushion tuffet. 

Playing with the circular attachment on my new Bernina 790e Plus.  I love the embroidery designs on the machine.  It is so much fun just playing. 

I love this crystals design.  I thoroughly enjoyed making it.  Just to be layered and quilted.  Working on my new Bernina 790e plus at the moment.  It's always fun getting to know a new machine.

Xmas Folded Wreath

I have had a really fun time making these folded wreaths by Poorhouse Designs.  The latest one is a Xmas wreath, 10 sections, with a little one on top.

I just love these.  I also made a 12 section blue and cream one which matches my decor.

Once you start it is hard to stop making them.

Rose Photograph Printed on Fabric

I took this photograph in the summer and had it printed onto fabric (size 40" x 40").  It looks quite stunning printed.  A bit of free motion quilting and I am sure it will look good.  A great way to create your own fabric and it wasn't expensive.  I can see me making use of this service again.

I have just finished reading A Talent for Murder.  Andrew Wilson has caught the right atmosphere for this book.  It caught my imagination from the very beginning.  It covers the time Agatha Christie went missing.  Would she do what was asked of her, sinister though it was.  I loved the twist in the tale.  a must read for any Agatha Christie fan and anyone else just wanting a good intriguing read.

That's another quilt finished.  Just finished the binding this morning.  It was a panel I found in Kaleidoscope quilt shop, bought on a whim.  The lovely coloiured fabric in the border and binding is one that has been in my stash for more years than I care to remember.  It must have been waiting for this particular quilt because the colours match so very well.

I had planned on quilting it myself but instead I sent it down to Kay Bell in the borders.  As always she has made a beautiful job of it.  I love the dinosaur design she used very much in keeping with the quilt.   Just the label to make and it's done.

Norman's Quilt Finished

I made this quilt a while ago.  I never seemed to have the time to get it finished.  However I sent it down to Kay Bell in the Borders to have it quilted, and what a beautiful job she made of it.   The binding is finished  and Norman has claimed it as his.

I made it with a layer cake.  I thought the colours were just right for a man's quilt.  

It's always nice when another project gets finished and isn't just lying around as a UFO.  

It's been a while

It has been a while since I posted to my blog.  Time just seems to fly past.  I have been busy with classes.  They finished a week or two ago and I won't be teaching anymore.  I have decided to spend more time on my own projects.  I am still going to keep in touch with my Monday students but I won't be back until late September.

Apart from that I have started on the Latte quilt again, it's been a while.   I have also made a start on a painted quilt spurned on after purchasing Linda Poole's new book.  

We have been busy up at the allotment and made it ready for this year's planting.  

All the beds are looking good.   Yesterday I planted 3 varieties of onions as they had started to sprout, they are covered with mesh so if it does got cold and we have frost they should be OK.  

I took the chitted potatoes to plant but the ground is a little too wet at the moment maybe later in the week if it stays dry.

A New Addition to the Kitchen

I have a new addition to my kitchen, a Kitchenaid mixer:

do I need one, probably not, but I just couldn't resist it.  Too many colours to choose from but this one matches my tagine.  I am busy collecting new recipes to try out.  Perpermint Chocolate Cupcakes sounds a good place to start.  I am always a little apprehensive when I have a new toy so I shall be a little cautious.  (It took me months to pluck up the courage to use my food processor, silly me).

The Last Clinic by Darla by Gary Guisick

The book starts right away with a murder.   Rev Aldridge is shot whilst protesting outside an abortion/health centre.  The centre provides health care for women not just abortions and Aldridge and his fellow protestors are keen to close it down.  

Darla Cavannah, a detective, moved to Jackson with her pro footballer husband who was tragically killed in a vehicle accident.  Still grieving Cavannah was assigned to the case to solve the murder.

I am keen to see how the romance between Darla and Stephen progresses if indeed it does.  Perhaps we will find out in future releases.

I was drawn into the story from the beginning and found it difficult to put down, a sign of a good read. 

 

I received a review copy from Netgalley.

Canton Elegy

Stephen Ah Nom was born in China and aged 6 was sent, by his grandfather, to  the US to get a  good education.  On completion of his degree he was unable to gain employment because he was Chinese and so returned to China.   Stephen wanted his children and grandchildren to know about him and so he wrote what was in effect a really long letter to them.  He kept it hidden and it only came to light after his death.   This is one of the most heart warming memoirs I have ever read.  Canton Elegy was a wonderful read.  Stephen and his wife’s courage  is truly amazing.  

Forget Me Knot

I have just finished reading Forget me Knot by Mary Marks.  It is a wonderful mystery.  I love how quilting was interspersed with the murder mystery. I enjoyed all the little quips like the reference to Poirot.  I also liked the detail of quilting like how Martha used an 11 needle to stitch.  Something I use myself.  It was full of intrigue with many twists and turns.  It started when Martha Rose, the main character, and two of her quilting budies went to the home of a fellow quilter, Claire Terry,  and found her dead.  Although the police were involved in the search for the murderer Martha just couldn't help getting involved.   I loved the idea of the quilts telling the story of Claire's life. At risk of her own life being taken Martha continued her search for the person who killed Claire. Very clever using the French knots to guide Martha to the killer.   It certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.  I look forward to reading more from Mary Marks.  If you love a mystery and enjoy quilting this is a book for you.

Experimental Flowers in Watercolour

I loved this book.  Ann Blockley explores experimental techniques and explains the texture of various flowers and vegetation.   The accompanying photographs in the book are clear and made me want to get out the watercolours and brushes.  A beautifully presented book.  I loved the use of gesso and cling film in some of Ann's work.  This certainly was something a little different.  A must for any artists's bookshelf.  

The Vicar's Wife

I have just finished reading The Vicar's Wife by Katharine Swartz.  A new auhor to me so I wasn't sure what to expect.   I was completely taken in by the stories of the two main characters Alice and Jane.  Alice was a young bride when she moved to the small Cumbrian village with her husband a vicar.

Jane was an American living in New York with her British husband and 3 children.  Jane led a hectic life running a charity and jugling family life.  After 16 years living in New York Jane's husband wanted to relocate to a small Cumbrian village and so they bought the vicarage where Alice once lived.

I was completely enthralled reading the two narratives, Jane in the present and Alice in the 1930s and the early war years. 

When decorating Jane came across a shopping list which intrigued her and made her want to know more about the person who wrote it and who had lived in the vicarage before Jane and her family bought it.

I loved reading about the family's trials and tribulations as they tried to make a new life in their new home and also the life that Alice had lived.  

A great read that really captured my imagination.

Do ahead Dinners

I have just read through James Ramsden's Do ahead Dinners.   This is the time of the year for comfort food and at a time when we are all so very busy do ahead dinners seemed like a great idea.  If you are entertaining then it is always good to have as much as possible prepared in advance so that you can spend time with your family. 

Some things can be done days ahead and hours ahead even frozen part way through although I am not a fan of the freezer.  Although the recipes are geared for 6-8 people they can easily be altered for fewer people.  It is a book giving practical ideas for staged cooking and is not gimmicky.  The fennel soup sounds gorgeous and one I am certainly going to try is scotch quails eggs.  I am never sure what to do with quails eggs.  I have only ever boiled or poached them.  A very nice book and one I will add to my already large cookbook library.

Quilting with a Modern Twist

I have just finished reading this most interesting book.   Quuilting with a Modern Slant by Rachel May.  It introduces 70 modern quilters.  Some are household names and others are less well known and some are known through their blogs.  Altogether a very interesting selection.   Although the projects are basic the quilters introduce their stories, techniques and projects which will have you diving into your fabric stash.

I think this wiould be a great book for the City and Guild student.  I wish it was around when I did my City & Guilds in Patchwork and Quilting.   It would be a great resource for all levels of C&G students.

As a quilt judge I was intrested in reading about modern quilkts and what they are.  Quilting with a modern Twist is certainly going to take a place in my book library.  It was provided to me by Netgalley for review. 

Back from Alsace

We spent a lovely week in Alsace.  The wuilt show was lovely and we did a bit of sighseeing.  The weather was good which was a bonus.

I bought a lovely souffle dish and just need to find time to  make something with it.

I also found a lovely mould to make a traditional bread/cake. 

Nice additional to my cookery collection.  

Asian Pickles Japan

This little book had some lovely recipes both traditional and Karen Solomon's own recipes.  I liked the fact that there were no poreservatives or artificial colourings or flavourings in the recipes which so many shop bought pickes have in them.

Karen explains how to make and serve the pickes.  I now have a  better understanding of the techniques used to pickle and the various marinades.  I look forward to reading the others in the series.