Welsh Quilt Winner!!

I have read the Welsh Quilter's blog for a long time. Andrea's work is beautiful, and her blog is a delight to read. She is so calm, and she never seems to get frazzled. When her daughter, Jess went on a college trip to Africa, I was really interested, because I have been involved for a number of years with the Mercy Ships, and our local school had just come back from a trip to Malawi. Andrea had a Giveaway to celebrate three years of blogging - and guess what? I WON!!!!

I got this lovely 3D card from Andrea. And do you notice what is beside it?

She had recently bought a book on Welsh quilts, and decided to buy an extra one for her Giveaway. It is gorgeous. Do you see the quilt on the lower right corner...?

Well Andrea decided to make the quilt top and add that to the Giveaway. It is absolutely beautiful, and the stitching is perfect!! The book has the history of Welsh quilts, and is full of pictures of old quilts -

The one on the right is early 20th century - doesn't it look right up to date?

It gives you yardage, shows you how to make the quilt and even gives you tips to help you on your way.

It gives you suggestions on how you can quilt your top, to make it look like an authentic Welsh quilt.

And if you want to design your own patterns, there are loads of ideas and how tos at the back of the book, to get you started. I have already changed my mind twice on how I am going to quilt my top.This is a fantastic book, and I am overwhelmed by Andrea's generosity. Thank you so much , and I love the idea that there will be two of these quilt tops, because Andrea is going to make one as well.

Till next time.

tich

Thank You!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have contacted me, both privately and through this blog, to commiserate over the death of my sister. I have been overwhelmed by your good wishes.

My sister was a wonderful person, who was a gifted artist and calligrapher. She will be sadly missed.

I will be back in a few days.

tich

My Sister

I am taking a short blogging break. My sister died yesterday. She was dearly loved and will be sadly missed.

Rosemary

AccuQuilt Giveaway!!

Just a quick note to let you know that there is another opportunity to win an AccuQuilt Go cutting machine. Go quickly to http://www.bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com/ to see how you can enter this wonderful Giveaway, and also see what Barb has done with her machine. It is fantastic!! I want one!! I forgot to say, if you do enter, tell Barb where you got the info (from tich) and I will get another entry.

Till next time.

tich

Mini Quilt Swap

This is my interpretation for the Mini Quilt Swap hosted by Michele at Quilting Gallery We had to embroider a central panel, designed by Lenna Green from Stitching Cow I blogged about it here and my granddaughters even embroidered part of the design for their teddy bear blankets. (See below)

I decided I was going to get some historical reproduction material, so I bought some Jane Austen material called Winchester. I made prairie points round the central design and then added a border. I used Hobbs 80/20 batting, but I found it quite difficult to hand quilt, as it did not needle well. I was really pleased with the way it looked before washing, but not so pleased after. I sent it off last week, but have delayed posting about it, so that it gets a chance to arrive at its destination. I also sent a little thank you to Anita for the lovely mini quilt she sent me. (We have different swap partners, so the person from whom we receive a quilt, gets a quilt from an entirely different person.)

Thankful Thoughts

We have a Folk concert and dance tonight, with all sorts of musicians and traditional dancing. It is going to be FUN!!

Till next time (after a few days to recover!)

tich

Teddy's Basket

Sorry about the quality of these pictures. The light was not good! My sister is still not very well, so I decided to send her a little gift to cheer her up. These little baskets are so easy to make. Someone showed me how to make them over twenty years ago, and you can rattle one up in an evening! I have no idea where the original pattern came from, but I have tweaked it over the years. I did not make the teddy, but when i saw him in Kirkwall, I just had to buy him.

The basket is made of two circles of material and a circle of wadding. The centre of the circle is sewn with free motion quilting and the sections sewn in. The sections are then wadded lightly and the edge of the circles are joined, using a large zigzag. The basket is then formed by threading a strong cord through the zigzag stitches and tied in a knot. Lace is added and then a binding to cover the raw edges. Add a handle and it is ready to be filled with all sorts of goodies. Really easy and quick.

Thankful Thoughts

I don't have to say anything, do I?

Yipee!! The Postie Has Been

The Postie came with a mysterious parcel!!

You will notice I am not starting this post with a picture, like I usually do!

OK! I won't be mean!

When my husband brought this in, I did not twig at first. I had not ordered any material, especially from Holland, and the parcel said it contained fabric!. I opened it up and read a wonderful letter from Anita. She was my swap partner for the Embroidery Mini Quilt Swap from Quilting Gallery We all had to embroider the same 4" x 6" daisy motif in the middle and then interpret the rest of the mini quilt according to our swap partner's wishes.
When I opened the parcel, this is what is inside. Isn't it just AMAZING!!!!! I left it up to my swap partner to do as she pleased - and I could not be more pleased! It is FANTASTIC, and the amount of work she put into it is amazing! I love the emboidery! I love the colours! I love the patterns!
As if making the mini for me was not enough, Anita made me a really nice bookmark, which will be well used (it is inside a book, as I type).
This is the quilt in its entirety, and -
I think, though it is really difficult to choose, this is my favourite bit. I love the bird and the pumpkins!!

Thankful Thoughts

I haven't been well for the last few days. My husband brought me this in today from the polytunnel, because i was feeling better - the first strawberry of the season! It was wonderful!!
I keep forgetting to update the 'Hundred Books in a Year Challenge'. I have five to do just now, and I am sure I have missed a few! Duh!

Till next time.

tich