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Showing posts from 2011

Welcome to the New Year.

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I had an eventful run up to Christmas. On a trip out to deliver my brothers presents I was in a collision with another car, whilst I ended up with minor bruises my poor car alas is no more. I will always be so grateful to the kind people who helped me by taking me , a stranger ,back to there house , looking after me , letting me use there computer and phone and  giving me coffee whilst I waited for my brother to come and pick me up. The whole incident was quite an upset and was made so much less traumatic by these wonderful people. So, no car, and a ton of presents to get to London. I travelled by taxi, train, tube and bus to reach my family with two huge suitcases and two bags. It was so worth it, I had the best Christmas, lots of wonderful food, wine and the pleasure of seeing the absolute delight on the face of my 3 year grand daughter when she saw that Father Christmas had been and left lots of presents under the tree. I'm home now, I pick up my new car on Tuesday and wi

More stitching on Ediths House.

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Every afternoon in the couple of hours before starting dinner I am sitting and stitching on Ediths House. I make a pot of tea ,put the radio on and settle down on the sofa in my kitchen with my needle and thread. The lettering is done, the door has a number and a door knob and there is a tree in the garden, it just needs leaves,. My son and his wife had a tree planted in there street to replace one that the council removed so this is my version.            Today I'm going to start on the garden, there will be lots and lots of flowers.                                   See you next time with the garden blooming.                                                          xox Angela.

Ediths House.

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                                          Today I've added the applique to Ediths quilt.                                                            Hearts and flowers...........          I used a dark brown blanket stitch on my sewing machine for the edges.              Tomorrow I need to add the flower middles...........                                                           xox, Angela.

New quilt top, 'Ediths House'.

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Piecing a quilt top for me is about creating a 'canvas' for lots of Applique, embroidery and of course quilting. I promised my daughter in law a very special quilt for my newest grandaughter. She already has a 'Tummy time ' play quilt but didn't have something really beautiful to welcome her into the world. I've thought and thought about this quilt and very slowly an idea has formed.  Today I finished the ''canvas'''. The quilt is to be called 'Ediths House'.  My son and his wife have a detached Victorian house in London so I made a rough lookalike to go in the middle. I've left enough room above to add some lettering which will be hand stitched as part of the quilting.                           I made a paper template so I can judge the placement. Tomorrow I'll start on the applique, no firm plans yet, we'll see how it evolves.... I've looked back in my photo files and found a few pics of some of the d

Floral Pins

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One of my best sellers at fairs are my little flower brooches. They are fun to make and small to post and I have lots of repeat sales. I had been writing some words with my sewing machine for one of my books and had one word left from the project. So I've combined my flowers and the words for a new brooch design. Forever. Believe. Imagine. Love. I finished with two necklaces. Find them in my Etsy shop today. Hope you've all had a peaceful Sunday. xox Angela.

Progress on the Christmas quilt.

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Progress on my Christmas quilt is slow, I keep being distracted by other things. (see my other blog )                                         The angel is aloft, surrounded by stars. I added a little 'Love' 'Joy' and 'Peace'. I have no plan in mind just stitching and seeing how it turns out. I'm off to pick up my needle. xox Angela.

Home from Cowslip.

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I've just had a fabulous weekend at Cowslip . it is my favourite place to visit and this was Jo's annual Christmas Fair. My table ready to go!! See that beautiful vintage quilt behind? I bought it and it's now on the back of my sofa. More off that some other time..... So much to see........beautiful white wood work and rows of bears...... Cat's  amazing textile pictorial textile art..... Lovely hand made pottery............... Lots of floral baskets............. Vintage textiles, buttons and gorgeous bits and pieces. Inspirational quilts. and my favourite , the fabulous reprodution fabrics from Petra prins. I have been enjoying visiting Petras stand at the Festival of Quilts for many years now. It was a real treat to meet both her and Mary Koval . It's so nice to see their passion for antique and traditional quilts. I was truly inspired, thank you both. It was a truly memorable weekend and if you can get British TV watch out for Kirsty Allsops Chr

The cat and the Christmas Quilt.

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I'm having a week in London looking after my sons cat while his wife and daughters are having a holiday with her family in Ireland. My son is off to Washington to attend a conference. So it's just me and Beau.!!  He is very old and totally deaf, he loves to sit where ever he has company. I don't think he will be hard to please. I am going to be working on a quilt that I started two years ago. It is pieced and has some machine applique on it and has been waiting to be quilted. Now it's ready to bring to life. I have lots to do plus it's a little bright for my taste now so I will be aging it too. Today I'm going to work on the sky, it needs an angel don't you think...  I'll show you when she's arrived. I'm going to be out and about in the capital, if you would like to follow me around check out The Mouse House  and I'll show you. Hugs, Angela.

Imagine.

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This is just a quick post to show you the last of my books for my next fair. The piece of blue fabric was an ofcut found in a little shop in Devon. I love the soft blue. I've added some machine embroidery, hand stitching and pearls.  Some of the pages are fabric and some  hand made paper for journalling. The rose on the cover is made with silk chiffon sari ribbon. For the fabric pages I have used some linen napkins, I love the fringes! I have stayed with the same fabrics throughout just adding different lace and trims. The thread is a hand dyed variagated cotton Again I am pleased with how this has gone together. 'Practice makes perfect' so I'll keep trying. I'm doing some chores in my Mouse House so pop across and see my progress. Enjoy your weekend. xox. Angela.

They're all in black and white.

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I've been hanging on to some black fabrics and lace pieces for a while knowing that I would be inspired one day. I pulled them out a couple of weeks ago and this is how they turned out. I wanted to make a smaller journal, just the size to fit in a handbag!!! 'Tales from my Heart'. 5''x4'' The three signatures have lots of black and white lace. Little pieces of glove leather. Some of the paper pages have been left blank for journalling. I loved making this!!! With fabrics left over on to the next..... My quilters books are always popular so this time 'Embroidery' is my theme. I love the cameo against the lace and the silk ribbons to tie. I've tried to include lots of inspiration in the three signatures and I have to say, I was so pleased with the construction of this journal, it came out really well. There are pockets and pictures. Spaces to write notes and scrapbook. These two will be for sale on my stand at Cowslip Christmas Fair. Finally