Couldn't resist ...

... pulling fabrics for a new project. I really should be working on my 30s fabric Shoo Fly duvet cover, but I need a large clear space to lay out the blocks and DH is currently working nights so the bed is occupied!! So I thought I'd group fabrics for the project in line after that - a quilt for my mum. Mum put in a subtle hint a couple of weeks ago for me to make her a small quilt to go at the foot of her bed to keep her feet warm. She is a very 'matchy-matchy' person, so the quilt has to be blues and creams to go with the bedroom decor. I started pulling from the nickels (5" squares) I swapped a few years back, then added some extras from larger scraps and a few shirts to bulk up the pales/creams.

I've decided on the pattern which is a simple, traditional block, but I can't remember the name of it. So here is a picture of a kid's quilt I made a few years ago which is the same block. Dorothy Young came up with a simple assembly method to be used with nickels so it will be easy to construct :)

Chinese Coin Hearts Finished.

Finally, a photo of the finish to share!  Not that it took all this time for DH to take the photo, rather we've had computer troubles.  First the router died, then we lost our internet connection for a couple of days.  Fingers crossed ... we are up and running again.  Computers are wonderful ... until they stop doing what you want them to do :)

Finished size approx 45" x 62".  I'm hoping this will be donated to a local hospice via Creative Quilting shop.

PS: The quilt does hang straight, even though my design wall is making it look 'wonky' at the bottom!!

Hearts Quilting ...

The quilting is done - yeah!!  As you can see I just did an all over loop-d-loop with hearts.  I learnt this from the Patsy Thompson quilting DVDs and it is such an easy and useful pattern.  This quilt is approx 45" x 62" which is only slightly larger than I usually make for donation (40" x 50"), but the extra size really is noticeable when it comes to the quilting stage!  I hope to get the binding done today, but I might have to wait a couple of days to get DH to take a nice photo of the 'finish' ... there's only so much I can do with the camera on my mobile :)

V&A Museum Exhibition.

For the first time in about 12 years,  I went to London on Tuesday.  For a few years in my early 20s I commuted daily to a secretarial job in London, even living their for about 9 months, but these days I never seem to want to make the 'long' journey   However, an exhibition of UK quilt history at the Victoria and Albert Museum was the incentive I needed.  WHAT A GREAT EXHIBITION!!!!  I never realised what a strong history of patchwork and quilting the UK had.  Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos ... they really want you to buy the book!!  It runs through to early July, so if anyone gets the chance to go it is well worth it :)

The bed canopy/curtains shown here is from the 1730-50 period and is English paper pieced clamshells.  I can hardly get my head around how old this is and how beautifully preserved!

It's a Flimsey!

At last, I got myself in gear with the sewing and the blocks have become a flimsey!  Now to baste (my least favourite part), then quilt and bind :)

Slow Progress ...

There has been some progress, but it's been slow!  DH has had some holiday time, so my routine has been blown away and we've been busy doing other stuff.  I have managed to get the block parts sewn together ready to be sewn into hearts :)

Preparing for a new project ...

I've had a small lull before starting this new project.  Sometimes I can launch straight into a new quilt and other times I have to reflect and prepare to start something new - kind of a 'letting go' of the finish before I can start something new.

Anyway, here are the beginnings of the new project.  It will be more of the Chinese Coin Hearts and will be a slightly larger version of the one I made earlier this year.  I'm planning on 15 hearts with slightly wider borders which should make it approx 45" x 60" and I'm hoping it will go to the local hospice.  I'm starting to see a 'dent' in those Chinese Coin units from the HeartStrings group.  Now I just need to choose a background fabric and get cracking :)