Changeable weather and Bali Pops

Before we get down to some sewing today , I would like to show you these Geraniums which are in my front garden. I bought them about 3 years ago and paid nearly £20 for 2 plants - I had ordered them from a nursery without asking the price! However each year they have grown stronger and this year they are starting to put on a lovely display.
I am sick of seeing all those world cup flags flying and decided to show off my bunting , but didn't want to get it wet in the changeable weather so --- I have hung it up inside the conservatory! Now the rain won't spoil it!!
On Saturday when the sun did come out, my DS and I set out on The Art Tour, first stop was Katie at Make in Allendale . Check out her website, here, she is running a Get Started with Patchwork course in July - I know the teacher and I think it will be good fun! Well we sat in the sun and ordered a piece of cake from the Allendale Bakery next door and got no further.
My sewing this past week has been unseasonal . I have made another Quilted Hottie from The Cath Kidston SEW book. It is lovely to make and I hope it made a lovely birthday present for Irene to look forward to next winter.
I have started out on my next quilting project , a Cotton Candy Quilt make with a bali pops Jellyroll. These are definately summer colours. This is my first attempt at flying geese.

This is what one of the star blocks should look like when assembled.
And I have completed another block of the sampler quilt - this Dresden plate block was lovely to do, easy to pick up and put together quickly - I even finished the final centre circle in my lunch hour. I am quite enjoying the hand sewing.

Happy quilting xx

Bluebells and lots of quilts

Bluebells are really beautiful in the woods at the moment and in my garden too.
This lovely wood is right by the main road near to my home, but well protected with a barbed wire fence.
And the bluebell colours are in keeping with this lovely quilt I saw when I visited a friend last week. The Dresden Plate block is quite dramatic in blues and purples and the plain blocks are quilted in a Dresden plate shape pattern too.
More blues with the geometric card trick pattern - all done by hand - Inspiration for me to keep going with my sampler quilt
The third quilt in Margaret's collection is a beautifully hand quilted pattern with beads and colonial knots.
Here is a close up of one of the blocks. The quilt took her 18 months to complete - a treasured heirloom but she sleeps under it every night.


Margaret T has been busy too. On Friday afternoon she showed us her latest work in progress, a fantastic applique of an African village. This has taken her just 3 weeks to do.


In between times she has pieced this Star strip quilt with her machine but quilted it by hand - it reminds me of harvest time and ploughed fields.
Irene is having a run on doll making at the moment - her latest project is this lovely Japanese doll.

I have been finishing off my machine quilting - just the binding to sew on. It is good to be able to admire other people's quilts and take inspiration from them. I'm inspired - hope you are too!

Happy Quilting xx