Not a dry eye in the house!

In October 2011, Chris, a dear friend and founder member of Foxy Quilters, lost her battle with cancer. Weeks before she died she asked me to promise to finish her quilts for her. Some were finished shortly after her death but the rest have now been completed and were presented to her husband yesterday. 

Here is Neil, her husband with the bed quilt that Chris was making for them. It was a mystery quilt, Chris had done all the piecing, layered and tacked it so I just had to quilt and bind it.

Chris had bought her fabrics to make a Civil War quilt in patriotic colours as she has an American granddaughter. Sadly she had only completed one block before she died. As the class progressed, I cut fabric for her blocks each week and members of the class made up enough blocks to make quilts for her grandchildren.

This was a very emotional surprise for her husband, sister and brother in law and I am sure they will be treasured.

Cheddar Bowties!

Over the last few weeks I have been working on my cheddar bowtie blocks. These were a Bonnie Hunter leader and ender challenge from last year! I decided I didn't like the traditional settings of the block and a visit to google images came up with this alternative setting which I really like. Also , by adding in the plain squares it makes your quilt twice as big! The blocks are 3 inches finished size and the top measures 50 inches square so far.

 Here is a closer view. It will finish with a narrow dark green border and then a border of four patches, currently being made as leaders and enders, in true Bonnie style.

 At the moment I am quilting my Geometric Modern Sampler quilt which I will share soon. I love quilting my own quilts, revisiting each block as I quilt it, but it takes so much longer than I think!

Knitting and Stitching Show Harrogate

Yesterday I visited the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. I think I have been attending for around 20 years! Although the focus is not on quilting there are usually lots of interesting exhibitions and this year was no exception. Here are a couple of my favourite exhibits.

 Cross stitching on metal and wood!

I purchased loads of fabric - I have been collecting the Alexander Henry Mexican 'Day of the Dead' fabrics from Fabrics Galore and yesterday I added these to my collection.

The plan is to make a simple, modern quilt for my youngest son.

Liberated Piecing Workshop for Region14 of the Quilters Guild

Last weekend I was busy teaching for the Yorkshire and Humberside region of the Quilters Guild.



Just look at these lovely colourful liberated blocks made by Glenda.



Batiks used to great effect by Sandra.



Christmas blocks made by Davina. She experimented with rectangular blocks and tiny liberated flying geese.








We had a big show and tell at the end - fabulous blocks and loads of them!
I really enjoyed the workshop and would like to thank all those who attended for such a lovely day. One of you paid me a great compliment when you commented that 'it hasn't been like a teacher led workshop, but just like a group of friends sewing together for a day'. Thanks for that, it means a lot!

Harrogate Quilt Show 2012

This is late, I know, but I forgot to share my quilts which were on display at the Harrogate Quilt Show.


This is our Group Quilt, all blocks made by members of Foxy Quilters and joined together by me. If these blocks look familiar it is because they were all produced for the Block Lotto at our International Quilt Day earlier this year.


We won a Judges Merit for this quilt! We were so proud!
Foxy Quilters meet on Tuesday afternoons in Dodworth, Barnsley if you would like to join us.


I also won second place in the Cot Quilt category for my little quilt, Paintbox Crumbs.


It was lovely to see my Civil War Quilt on display and my Little Log Cabin Trees.


And I have exciting news for 2013! There will be a display of Civil War Quilts made by members of Foxy Quilters at the next Harrogate Show!

Quilts on display at Thorpe Hesley Village Show.

Today we visited Thorpe Hesley village show. The weather was glorious and the show was excellent , a lovely traditional English village show.



Lovely 'Baskets of Plenty'



A category for Victoria sandwich cakes


And amusing vegetable sculptures.



And lots of quilts - many had been made in my classes.


First prize for Kath's cat quilt!



I also loved this crocheted throw - made from school house blocks.


What a lovely day out!

Modern Quilts at the Festival of Quilts

When looking at the quilts I found myself attracted to what I consider to be modern quilts.



This one reminds me of a Gee's Bend quilt.



Love the improvisational piecing in this one.




This quilt almost looks as if it has been woven.



This close up shows the interesting use of raw edge appliqué.



I found this one fascinating. All those little strips!



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