I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!

'What is this? What is she up to now?', I can hear you asking. I just can't believe it (IJCBI)!! Let me explain. I love blog hopping, and I also can't resist a Giveaway. I am usually not very lucky, but recently my luck has turned and I have won two Giveaways (see recent posts). When I saw a Giveaway at Rosa's World for 'chunks' of Civil War material, I was really intrigued. I have read about the Civil War reproduction fabric, but I have never actually seen any in real life. I entered the Giveaway, did not win, but Rosa contacted me and asked if I would like a bit, as I had never seen any. I was absolutely delighted! As well as doing this Rosa got me in touch with a delightful lady called Elly, who lives in the north of Scotland. She filled me in on all the patchy things, which were going on in the area. This was great, because I had been struggling to find any people who were as fanatical as I was about patchwork, and who lived relatively near. I was tickled pink. Then I got three parcels with Civil War material in them at the weekend. But what I couldn't understand was how these people had got my address? The next day I got some more, and to date I have had eleven letters/parcels with CW material, notes, letters and pictures!! I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!
The wonderful Rosa put my name on one of the newsgroups of which she is a member, and told them I had no CW material. When I got Elly's letter, I told Rosa and Elly that I was thinking of using the material for a doll's quilt. I think they must have burst out laughing! Rosa suggested I might want to think about a Dear Jane quilt. Last year I looked at the DJ quilt online and thought that anybody tackling 225, four and a half inch blocks must be mad. I must be mad, or Rosa must be very persuasive, because I have ordered the book, and Rosa is going to do a SECOND DJ quilt along with me.

I just can't believe that people have been so kind. Imagine! I have had letters from all over the world. The kindness has been overwhelming, and I am so touched. I would like to say a HUGE 'thank you' to Rosa, who has been the initial instigator, and has emailed me at least once every day with lots of info. I would also like to thank the following people for letters/parcels with CW material, notes, letters and pictures and especially all the good wishes - Elly, Diane, Caroline, Wenche, Beverly, Martha, PJ (no full name), Sandy, Mary and Dee. I can't thank you enough! I am having such fun looking at where the the letters come from, and even more fun patting the material, plus the bonus of stamps for my stamp collection! I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!

Till next time.

From a very humble and thankful tich

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?