the running chicken quilting

Two finished quilts ready to be collected....

2012-02-22T19:11:00.001Z

I have been working on a beautiful hexagon quilt this week.....the quilt is handmade and truly lovely

Detail of quilting

Back of quilt..

The back of the quilt is black and needed some detail, especially as it is destined for a very young child.
The other quilt with an edge to edge pattern treatment is made with lovely autumnal shades...

Really pretty...
And talking of pretty... our first daffodil is out in the garden. Spring is on its way...

Getting rather ambitious now!

2012-02-18T18:49:00.002Z

I found this book on my travels this afternoon and couldn't resist it. With the scarf in full flow, I thought I might try something fancy when the quilting allows!

Source: amazon.co.uk via The running chicken quilting on Pinterest

Having a go......

2012-02-16T11:23:00.004Z

Well, I am not a brilliant knitter...I can do it, but tend to begin with great enthusiasm and leave the unfinished article in a safe place for later!!! However, a simple scarf can't be that difficult to complete...can it?

Back to finish the quilt on Gerty the longarm now!!

A busy day

2012-02-15T19:03:00.000Z

Three lovely visitors with quilts today!!! So the woollies didn't get their morning walk....not happy about that! Also started edge to edge pattern on Val's quilt, so busy day.
Decided to investigate Pinterest this week and arrange photos/picture albums. Lots to see and inspiration abounds!!

Source: etsy.com via Hattie on Pinterest

Snowy days and swooning!!

2012-02-12T20:57:00.000Z

It has been very cold here lately....

So good opportunity for trying out new sewing projects. I came across the Swoon quilt by Camille Roskelley on the web and thought I would try it out! Great fun! And I downloaded the pattern too...getting very clever now!!
I have made two blocks so far in Flower Sugar fabric by Lecien...

Exciting things to make...

2012-01-31T11:02:00.000Z

I found this Take 2 mystery quilt group today and thought it such a lovely idea...it might make me get sewing for myself more!! Where I will find the time I am not sure, but it will be worth a go! What colours should I use, I wonder....two, or scrappy??

Messing about with photos

2012-01-10T13:07:00.000Z

Following a blogpost from a fellow blogger, I decided to try Picasa to make photo collages...what do you think!!

It really takes me a while to know how to use these amazing computers!!! I always get there by happy accident!!!

A bite, a marathon and a new chicken....

2012-01-09T20:39:00.000Z

Poor Mr Zach, out in a pub, minding his own business, my poor boy was bitten by a nasty terrier ....thankfully he is okay

I have been busy with my mum's quilt over Christmas, but following a fall in the woods, I had been making very slow progress with it. Finally however, it is done and lovely...Hope she loves it

And to lighten the mood a little, I have been busy making a chicken pot handle holder ..... I am visiting a quilt group in February and they wanted a little project for the evening, so I thought that this would be fun

His head is a bit large so I have refined the design today....more later!!

Happy 2012

2012-01-02T00:08:00.001Z

Happy new year to all my followers and friends! Xxxxx

Happy holidays.......

2011-12-30T23:31:00.000Z

Time spent at home....celebrating

Beautiful daughters at home for once!!

and very happy turkey fed woollies.....

Happy times.....

And the winner is.....

2011-12-18T10:00:00.002Z

Connie from Quilting by the river. Thanks to everyone who left comments and to Michelle for organising the bloghop! Happy Christmas!
Karen

Blog hop giveaway

2011-12-10T14:21:00.001Z

Hi, just an update....for my blog hop giveaway, I am offering two wonderful charm packs. Each pack has about 40/42 fabrics and each square is about 5". Great for small projects and saves on the cutting out!

I have made a couple of quilts for my woollies, aka the labradoodles with charm packs. If you would like to win these charm packs leave me a comment telling me what you would do with them! A lovely early Christmas pressie for someone! I am so excited to be part of this blog hop! I am happy to ship worldwide!
The draw will take place on 17th December so good luck!

There are over 200 participants in this blog hop, so have fun and check back for more exciting chances to win!

Blog hop giveaway

2011-12-07T11:20:00.000Z

I have joined the quilting bloggers blog hop giveaway...this is my first one, so it is very exciting!
Click the link to find out more details!

Hunters star quilt....

2011-12-06T12:19:00.001Z

Along with the lemoyne star ruler from the US I also acquired a hunters star ruler...and I made this!

What lovely stars are formed!

It came out so well, after lots of trimming and cutting! Well worth it though.

Long time, no blog!!

2011-12-05T12:01:00.000Z

Time flies by..December is here and as usual, everything is chaotic in the running chicken household. Busy with last minute quilts for Christmas, making samples for classes taking place in the new year, and celebrating my Mums birthday!!
One of the quilts recently completed has gone to Germany...it was such good fun to quilt

I hope it brings lots of smiles and warmth to the recipient!!
Meanwhile I have been experimenting with a new ruler by Deb Tucker to make lemoyne star blocks...I love them so much that I am teaching a class or two in the new year. What do you think?

In this picture above, I used my Tilda fabrics and in the one below, I tried the other end of the ruler and used two colours for the star...

Wonderful rulers!!! I am selling some on website soon...we are just updating our shop, so please take a look or call for more info.

Meet Mr knobbly knees chicken!!

2011-11-02T11:36:00.000Z

Do you like my latest chicken project?

Hallowe'en colours

2011-10-31T13:27:00.000Z

Such fun to make....little pumpkin pincushions! Lovely Autumn colours too....

It is rather a dull grey day here today, but quite unseasonably warm! Strange weather....

Now that the clocks have gone back, it will get dark so early, so a shift in the dog walking pattern must be made!

I have had a customer call to pick up her quilt this morning...she came with a friend and we chatted for nearly two hours!!! E's quilt was lovely and again, full of autumn colour, acorns and oak leaves...

One of these will be sent off to my mum for her sewing box....

Detail of acorns in centre of quilt...

A quilting weekend!

2011-10-17T11:00:00.001+01:00

Saturday saw me at Tikki patchwork in London, teaching my chicken block...four lovely ladies put up with me for a few hours, having some fun choosing fabrics to create individual chickens..and they all looked different!
It was a bit scary driving up to Kew, but I made it safely and found a precious parking space!! Only trouble was that I had forgotten to take lunch, so by the time I arrived home later in the afternoon, I was starving!! Anyway, I hope everyone had a lovely day.

On Sunday, we had been invited to a quilt show, held in a village hall near Uffington, Oxon. I had long arm quilted the raffle quilts and various others on show, so it was really good to see them again! And wow!! what talent there was on show...the colours used, the piecing and the appliqué was superb.

Hazels quilt

Another of Hazels quilts

Beautiful!!

We stayed for quite a while, enjoying coffee and cake. Then spent a happy few moments catching up with Clare Kingslake who was signing her book Folk quilt appliqué and comparing the behaviour of our Australian labradoodles!!! Sock eating seemed to feature quite a lot!!
Clare is very talented and her book is really lovely!!

Until next time.....

A busy week ahead...

2011-10-12T11:44:00.000+01:00

Oh, why do I keep a diary if I don't bother to look in it!!!
I am usually fairly efficient and I write things in my appointments diary so I know what I should be doing and where I should be doing it...but the system only works if you read the thing! Last week, i forgot to go to a supply teaching day and happily spent a lovely day working in my fabric room (normally dining room) and making a new quilt. I have been more careful this week and I keep my diary open on my living room table just in case.....
Weekends have been just as busy...this weekend I am teaching up at Tikki Patchwork in Kew and the last couple of weekends have seen us visiting gardens and properties owned by the National Trust. Stowe landscape gardens is lovely and welcomes dogs...it is beautiful and there are lots of 'temples' dotted around the grounds. Very old and quite amazing. I have tried to make a photo collage using some new software on my computer...it is not brilliant and I have lots to learn, but I will get there!!!

Now back to work...I have a lovely bright coloured quilt on the machine today from a lady in London, so that should cheer up a rather grey windy day ...until next time

Late summer heat and lots of sewing....

2011-10-04T11:20:00.000+01:00

We have had a heatwave this last week which I think has just broken today....a bit damp out there now! I have struggled to work in my studio as it has been so hot, so I have been busy getting things made for my trading stand at the quilters guild event at Ashtead, Surrey on 22nd October.

Tea cosy

This tea cosy was fun to make..the idea came from a Japanese book but it needed to be sized up and the squares are rotary cut rather than using templates (because I hate cutting using templates!!)..I think it worked quite well.

I have also been thinking about what to do with charm packs or 5" squares, so using Petit Poulet range of charms, I cut and sliced and ended up with this...

It is a little difficult to see the quilting because of the sunlight and shadow, but it is a sunflower pattern with cross hatching in the centre panel. I used gingham to bind the quilt. I should have photographed the back as I used chicken fabric!! I will try and remember to include it later...
The woollies have been loving the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and we have done a lot of walking...

Happy sewing.....

A lovely sunny day...and hot too!

2011-09-27T15:12:00.000+01:00

I have been basting a quilt on my machine this morning and plan to do another this afternoon, but oh it is sooooo difficult...the sun is shining and it is very warm in the garden!! The woolly monsters are begging me to go and play ball with them.....but I really should get on! What a dilemma! Work will probably win as guilt will set in!! Hey ho!
I have also been experimenting with more chicken blocks and mini blocks lately. What do you think?

A 1950s style chicken

Reproduction star blocks

Mini churn dash blocks

With longarm quilting I work at such large scale that it is great fun to make small quilts or items...oh for the time!..not sure what the churn dash blocks will become, but the chicken is going to be a cushion and it is similar in style to the block I will be teaching at Tikki patchwork soon. The star blocks will be a wall hanging I think!
Right, ...off to enjoy a little sunshine with a cup of tea just for a short while....

New quilts to sell as kits

2011-09-26T16:32:00.000+01:00

I have had a day teaching today....a late night phone call to ask if I could cover sick leave found me in a Reception class full of little ones! Exhausted now and glad to be home with the woolly monsters.
I have been looking forward to putting up pictures of new kits which will be added to my website shortly. They are fairly easy to sew together and fun to make

This one is a lovely bright strippy quilt and lovely for a little (or big) girl ....

This one is die cut and made from various vintage and new fabrics...a lovely mix of lilacs, pinks and mauves. Much easier to sew when it is die cut!!
I will try and post them on the website this week, so take a look!
Now for a little rest......ahhhh!

New computer at last....

2011-09-25T19:39:00.000+01:00

I have been waiting for a while to get a new computer as my old one is dying!! And yippee, that time is now here!

It is a bit scary as I have moved from a pc to a Mac and its almost like starting again! Totally non technical, me....but it is a pretty machine and I will get there!!!
We have had a rather exciting time lately. It was our 28th wedding anniversary last weekend and we celebrated with a trip on the Orient Express..a pressie from my mum and dad. It was wonderful and we were thoroughly spoilt!

Back to normality now though, and quilts are being stitched and constructed. More later....
Bye for now..

Holidays and happy times...

2011-09-02T17:11:00.001+01:00

Well., we have been 'on holiday' for the last week. But Mr RC had to finish some work and got loads of phonecalls!!! We are at home anyway, so I decided to sew up a new kit for my webshop..

I love my Accuquilt cutter and it is brilliant for cutting quickly and accurately..in fact an exciting package arrived just today with some new dies so I can make up some different kits for my customers..

The only trouble is that the package is very heavy and attracts lots of duty and postage!!EEEEKKK!! Hey ho, I cant wait to try them now.
My wonderful Mum and Dad stayed with us for a couple of days this week, so we had an outing to the local National Trust property, Basildon Park...its only a few miles down the road and it is where Pride and Prejudice was filmed, with Keira Knightly.

The weather was a little grey and overcast so it looks a little gloomy in the photo...it is a lovely house and to make things even better, they had an exhibition of Horrockes clothes from the 1950s. My Mum used to sew these dresses in South Wales when she was first married, so lots of memories.
The gardens were pretty too..

~We ended the day in The Swan pub which dates back to the 1600s and had a really good meal and some drinks. The woolly monsters had to stay at home, so were delighted when we got back!!

Now, back to investigating my Accuquilt boxes.........yippee!!

A year in the life of.......

2011-08-27T22:34:00.000+01:00

Goodness, its been a year since I began this blog! I have not posted as often as I have wished, but I have enjoyed every minute! With a new and faster computer hopefully on the horizon, it will be easier to post more regularly.....all good intentions!!
Back to quilting, I have been experimenting with making log cabin blocks using Marti Michell rulers...they are really good and for once, my log cabins are perfectly square and have no wavy edges....

I have been making samples up for a trading stand in October...lots to do! I just love these Lecien fabrics.
Trouble is, my sewing room aka the dining room looks a real mess now.....

Never mind...

Look at these lovely flowers I have been given by one of my customers..makes it all worth it.
Have a good weekend..

Another quilt completed....at last!!

2011-08-26T19:01:00.001+01:00

Well this project has been very time consuming....the quilt, a very colourful Kaffe Fassett creation, has lots of pieces and some crazy flying geese. The customer wanted the geese to stand out from the backgrounds so I decided that pebbles would be good. I freehanded them and placed some sun blocks in the larger areas with my Statler...the result is lovely, so I hope C thinks so too!! But oh my, it took ages..

Not a brilliant picture, but still looking good!

I think I deserve a moment to stare blankly at a wall tonight!!!! Maybe with a glass of wine in hand??

Did I mention that we have been putting up a summer gazebo in our garden? Well if the weather gets better this weekend, we are now proud owners of said gazebo

Tom and Jess last weekend plus dogs!

It has rained since we put the thing up, so here's hoping for sunshine, sealed with a kiss!!!

until next time...x

Happy birthday, woolly girl...

2011-08-24T19:10:00.002+01:00

My beautiful girl is three tomorrow...where does the time go!

Sunflowers and sewing!

2011-08-19T19:33:00.000+01:00

This year we have planted sunflowers in our modest patch! They have grown to an enormous height and are really happy flowers! This monster is nearly eight feet tall!! Inspired by their loveliness, I have made a mat from some of my linen collection, including a drawing done in fabric inks....I have not used them before and this is not a brilliant image, but it was fun in the process!!

Have a lovely weekend....

Catching up.....

2011-08-18T15:09:00.000+01:00

Oh its been a while!! I swore that I would keep my blog up to date regularly but my, my...I have begun to go down the slippery slope and let time overtake me! A very slow computer which really needs replacing doesn't help of course, but there is no excuse....
I have been very very busy with my quilting business and many pieces have come and gone! We are also in the process of building a wooden summer house in our garden, so between aches and pains of manual labour and standing up quilting, I am grateful for a sit down in the evenings! (with that glass of wine or two) I have also adopted the habit of long early morning walks with the two woolly monsters, which they love...we have seen green woodpeckers, squirrels (which they chase) and lots of pretty deer. I am hoping it will help me lose a little weight!!
Today the weather is dreadful...very wet and tipping with rain, so time to catch up with the photo blogs

I have just completed J's quilt...it is her first quilt, but it has turned out beautifully...pretty colours and feathers always work well....hope she likes it!!

H's quilt is gorgeous and as accurately pieced as ever...sometimes I wish my customers would forget their quilts and leave them with me!

Lisa's amazing quilt

Lisa's quilt was a beautiful richly coloured one and it took just ages to quilt it....it became a real labour of love and I am delighted that Lisa absolutely loved it!

Last weekend we went to the Festival of quilts in Birmingham....a wonderful array of quilts, stalls and people. I bought some more french fabrics from Une etait en fois and some rulers from Marti Michell, which are great! I also visited Mary Jenkins on her stand and bought the ebook of Welsh quilting from Rainbow discs, chatting to a lady called Vivienne who was lovely! Too much money was spent and we arrived home really exhausted, with tired feet!

I must finish with a promise to blog more in the future...and maybe on a new computer, one which works a little faster!!! Until next time....

Garden done

2011-06-28T23:15:00.000+01:00

Just a quick update....garden semi done, but continues to bloom!! Quilt turned for last Borders, teaching continuing....totally out of control but sort of happy......can't load photos from iPad so will have to wait until next post.........here's to that and to bed!

Sandown show and a quilt on show

2011-06-22T19:29:00.000+01:00

We are slowly recovering from a very busy weekend at Sandown Quilt show....such a lot of lovely people to meet and chat to and lots of wonderful fabrics and quilts to see.

My stand looked very colourful and bright...I had been very busy sewing and quilting before the show in order to highlight my collection of fabrics and my chicken quilt was completed too...pattern on its way! Mr RC was with me all weekend, which was lovely!! However, preparing and packing takes its toll and we felt like we had jet lag at the end of the four days!!
Another bit of excitement was seeing Susan Briscoe again...last year, at the same show I was asked by Susan to quilt one of her lovely Japanese quilts for a book. The quilt was then chosen for the front cover of her book Japanese Inspirations...and my name is in print!! Very exciting.

The two woolly monsters were none to impressed upon being left behind, but have been rewarded by long walks on our return home!! Daughters had to babysit!!
I am back to quilting up in my studio now and there is much to do, including a couple of days teaching ahead. The dust is still gathering and the garden needs lots of attention...failing miserably in most of these tasks! How do some people seem so organised?? Not me.....

Colourful Kaffe.....and traditional blue and white

2011-05-19T19:23:00.000+01:00

Life is hectic...quilting, teaching, housework, gardening, dog walking, staying awake until errant younger daughter arrives home after a night on the town!!! Superwoman, not me!!!! Yawn and reach for the wine glass...

I have been very neglectful of my blog lately...must get more organised. I have recently been very busy quilting...two lovely Kaffe Fassett quilts brightened up the studio..

Aren't they gorgeous! A nice edge to edge pattern suited these quilts. Then I moved on to a more traditional piece of work.

A wonderful blue and white quilt destined for someone's dad. Just love the ribbon border.

Meanwhile I am busy cutting and sewing a newly aquired Layer cake when I have a moment. I will post the results as soon as it is done!! (who knows when that will be!) My role as taxi driver to Mr RC is now being called upon as he arrives at the train station from working in London, so must dash....

Another birthday, a visit and a royal wedding....

2011-04-29T20:56:00.000+01:00

Well, I have been very neglectful of my blog for a few weeks....but lots to tell. My quilting has kept me soooo busy up to Easter with lots of last minute 'please do this quickly for me' quilts...

M's quilt turned out really well and she was very pleased. Photo is not brilliant, but there was a lot of cross hatching involved in this one! Mr RC had a few days off work to celebrate my birthday and Easter so quilting was put aside for a couple of weeks and we had a splendid time with my Mum and Dad roaming the Wiltshire countryside on a visit to Stourhead, enjoying a lovely cream tea and the Spring sunshine...

Even Raffi had to keep in the shade, it was very hot....

The rest of the holiday has been hard work, as a fence had to be erected in our back garden....nearly finished that job now.
But today, we watched the Royal wedding on the television...Wow, what a dress and a lovely ceremony..I spent most of the time in tears, it was so beautiful, but it doesn't take me long to get soppy! Wonderful...the bunting looked good too

We enjoyed a bottle of champagne and a good walk to finish off a memorable day...
Next week, it is back to work as lots of quilts have arrived in the last week and I must keep the wolf from the door, so to speak!!
Until next time....xx

A visit and a couple of birthdays.....

2011-03-17T10:34:00.000Z

Mr Zach is now two years old!!! Enjoy woolly boy!!! And there is a birthday coming up for Mr RC shortly, so lots of reasons for celebrating in the Running Chicken household.
This week has been particularly busy, getting ready for a visit to Pilgrim Quilters in Banstead, Surrey. I had been 'booked' to give a talk on longarm quilting and anything connected with my business...so the last few days I have been cutting and stacking fat quarters, half metres and scraps of fabrics to take with me

It takes a long time to cut everything and fold it neatly....but it all looked lovely and colourful and I wanted to buy some!!!!
The journey was interesting...not one to travel far, the evening we do need to go somewhere saw the M4 being closed and of course the resulting gridlock in every direction....however, with Mr RC at the wheel, we managed to do a tour of back roads to safely bring us out our destination. A visit to my Mum and Dad's house first.....a very welcome cup of tea (or two) and some gorgeous poppy seed bread meant we were set up for the evening talk! Then onwards to Banstead. We arrived at the hall and carried in the fabrics, quilts and various paraphernalia associated with longarming.
And what a lovely welcome....lots of members and a thriving group. Feeling very nervous, as this was my very first talk to such a big group, I launched into my talk....I was very lucky to have one of my customers quilts to show (thanks M for allowing this) and some of my own creations.

After the talk, everyone mingled and chatted and fabric was stroked and chosen!! Thanks everyone for making me feel so welcome....I really enjoyed my visit.
The way home beckoned and we arrived at about 11.30 to be greeted by two very excited woolly monsters who jumped and growled with delight....another lovely welcome!!!!
We all slept very well last night......

A new week...

2011-03-02T14:47:00.000Z

Just come home from a mornings teaching....sun is shining, and spring flowers are beginning to bloom

The daffs are tiny and so pretty! I really love this time of the year especially as the evenings are beginning to draw out.
I have been very busy with quilting lately, sending a couple of quilts off this week and loading three more! The Statler certainly helps with the edge to edge work, although the custom work is still very time consuming, but wonderful! I took time out to finish one of my own projects this last week.....very bright Lecien fabrics, and very jolly

The lemoyne star block is lovely but my favourite is always the bear paw...just love it!! Just have to find the time to quilt my own quilts now! One day........!!!

Where do the days go....?

2011-02-16T14:37:00.000Z

It has been mighty busy in the Running Chicken household lately! Just when I thought I had got on top of the backlog of quilts coming in, I have had lots of enquiries and quilts arriving by post and with their owners!! It certainly keeps me out of mischief, and I am soooo lucky to be able to do this job. H is coming today to pick up her absolutely beautiful appliqued and pieced quilt...

It has taken forever to quilt, but it is gorgeous and a real pleasure to do! Hope you like it H!!
I have allowed myself a little time to sew too..only making small, quick projects, but they are fun and they don't end up in the pile of UFOs normally found in my studio.

I made these two projects from the Moda bakeshop site...but changed the heart block to a tiny size, using lovely old feedsack fabrics in my collection. I think it turned out okay. The penny pockets above are supposed to be filled with valentines gifts, but I intend to keep my reading glasses in them as I am always forgetting where they are!

Having sent off the mug rugs to Australia, I have not yet heard from the recipient...but, I had a lovely surprise parcel arrive for me from Portugal..two mug rugs made from Ana Maria from Lisbon. Her blog is anamar.patch.blogspot.com. Thanks once again from me!!
And finally, it is good to know someone loves me...

Until next time.....xxx

Mug rug piccies....

2011-02-10T12:39:00.000Z

Here are the mug rugs recently sent to the other side of the world.

They are quite bright and cheerful, but a bit of fun!! Horrid weather here today...grey and rainy and everytime the dogs go outside, they come in with very very muddy feet which they happily transfer to my kitchen floor (which is cream!!) Driving me mad.....

Mug rugs sent

2011-02-09T16:04:00.000Z

Just a quick post today. My mug rugs have been sent to a recipient in Australia..piccies to follow! I wonder who is making them for me?

Obsessive, compulsive quilter....!!!!

2011-01-31T19:01:00.000Z

My goodness, it has been busy in the Running Chicken house lately! In an effort to learn really quickly all there is to know about my new Statler Stitcher on Gerty Gammill, I have been burning the midnight oil. Lots of quilts later, I am beginning to get there!! And combining both computerised work and freehand work is magical!! However, just when I think I have mastered one thing, there is always another challenge...I am not hugely technically minded and you might sympathise when I explain that the three people in my life are very good with computers and so I have lived with ...."oh Mum/Karen, its like this..." and with the twiddle of a few buttons, my problems are solved....I have not found the need to worry about my inadequacies in this department!!! NO MORE ......quilting beckons and if using a computer is a thing I have to do, I will learn to do it!!!! And secretly I am sort of enjoying it, despite lots of tantrums and name calling (only to the computer, you understand)

Here are some of the latest pieces of work

Janice's beautiful baby quilt...lots of freehand work combined with blocks on the computer.

Gill's lovely red and white huge quilt!

Close up of some freehand/computer work

I have also had a little time to do some designing and my bright chicken quilt is still progressing, all be it very slowly

I am having such fun with this one....

I have also been organising some very lovely Lecien fabrics to sell on my website

Meanwhile, I am sitting here with all these ideas in my head and still lots of do...but feeling very horrid with an awful cold. Snivelling and sniffing is not very attractive!!!! The woolly monsters and I are waiting for Mr RC to come home right now....until next time...

Farnham and all change....

2011-01-17T11:35:00.000Z

We have just had a very busy few days here....Farnham Maltings Quilting Sale yesterday came and went in a flash of fabrics, boxes, quilts and bags! Always very busy but great for meeting up with all my regular customers and meeting new ones! Margaret picked up her gorgeous red and cream quilt and Janet dropped off her pink creation..

The quilting was hand guided custom work and took ages!
In the week before Farnham a huge box arrived in our home.....of course, it had to be investigated

Zach cannot understand why Charlie cat just adores boxes!!! But he loves Charlie....It was my turn to explore the content of the box later. I have been wondering whether to upgrade my Gammill for ages, and I have just taken the plunge...my Statler has arrived and Gerty is now looking a little more modern!

This will make it a touch quicker to do edge to edge patterns and also hand guide my machine with ease. But there is so much to learn, it is a bit daunting. I haven't been up to the studio for a day or so, but I have plenty of things to read and learn about the new system and it is all too exciting!! The woolly monsters and I are relaxing in the living room and putting off any serious hard work at present!! Poor Mr Running chicken had to go back to work this morning!
Christmas seems a long way away now, but loading some photos, I came across a rare piccie of all the family together....wonderful memories of a lovely meal in The Royal Oak in Yattendon

I'm sure I was made to have this sort of lifestyle every day!!!!! Hey ho....guilt is setting in and work needs to be faced with enthusiasm and positive energy!! Yawn for now......

New Year!!!!

2011-01-06T13:52:00.000Z

Well time has got the better of me.....Happy new year to my friends in blogland!!! A bit late but sentiment is the same. We had a busy and happy Christmas and it seems a long way away now. I am back to work now and currently custom quilting a beautiful red and cream quilt. Piccies to follow.

Snowy days...

2010-12-20T13:37:00.000Z

Well the trees are up and decorated and the snow is falling outside....Very Christmassy!!!

But not all the shopping has been done...eek! We have the bizarre scene of sun and snow together at the moment, giving a very ethereal, but wonderful scene and the 4x4 is at the ready....
Another quilt posted off this morning too and some cards still to write..don't know where the time has gone this year, somehow swallowed up in the melee of business and tinsel!!

Daughter waiting to go out......

Just hope the roads are clear by the end of the week for our visitors....

Christmas is coming....

2010-12-16T13:34:00.001Z

Continuing to quilt...having some fun with custom work and trying to get things done before the holidays. Fiona's quilt has been sent off..what fun this one was..

It is difficult to see all the stitching, but each boat block had different weather!! Sort of ran out of ideas by the time I had completed all of them!! Another quilt done since then and I am currently trying to finish one made from vintage fabrics! I shall probably have to work right up to Christmas eve, but we have family coming to stay, so sometime must be spent on getting ready for that! Always last minute, I'm afraid!!
Today the weather is horrible, although I managed to walk the woolly monsters before the rain started. It is soooo dark right now, so we are staying cosy in the house and studio. Must go now, lunch awaits and Zach is making a terrible noise out of the back windows!! I'll go and see what the matter is....

Phew!!!!!

2010-12-08T13:13:00.001Z

Well, back again and trying to catch up with life in general! We have been very lucky here, catching little snow when other parts of the country are suffering! It is cold but very grey and wintery, so perfect for quilting and sitting by a warm fire....

We went for a really long walk with the woolly monsters last Sunday, taking in lunch and then returning home to our log burner as we felt cold to the bone! Luckily we had a load of logs drying out which made for a roaring fire...Lovely!

Most of the time however, I have been in my studio...feeling a slight panic at the sight of all the quilts which need doing before Christmas. I completed all the quilts for my quilt group friends before we met last weekend, so working hard... I loved L's quilt

An enjoyable day was had by all on Saturday! Lots of yummy food to share, and probably more chat and cake than sewing!

I had taken along my mug rugs to share out...

Which one shall I have...???

L decided upon this one...!!

I really enjoy our monthly meetings, it seems strange to think that the next one will be in the new year!! Where does the time go?

Anyway, due to meet one of my quilting friends for a cup of tea and mincepie in the local National Trust property this afternoon...woolly monsters are asleep after a long walk in the woods this morning, so they will not worry too much! It will be a nice break from the quilting machine for a couple of hours and a catch up on news...until next time...

Mug rugs and more.....!

2010-11-25T11:18:00.001Z

A lovely quilt has been sent back to London, so should be with its owner this morning! I just love the colours..

And the backing fabric is perfect...blue and white spotty! Cheryll, your quilt is wonderful! I now have a Christmas baby mat on the machine for one of my quilt group friends, so must finish that this morning.
Yesterday, whilst waiting for a customer to arrive I did some making of my own. I made four 'mug rugs'....they are very very addictive! You don't need a pattern really, just some scraps and some imagination. I used some vintage and some modern fabrics and an old linen table cloth provided the pieces of embroidery. Then layer and quilt simply on your domestic machine...hey presto! Some pressies for someone at christmas, if I can bear to part with them!!

These are made of linen from Japan...
These are mainly vintage fabrics...

Now its off to the studio....nice and warm up there! It was sunny and bright this morning but it's now clouded over and looks like we may get a bit of the snow they keep going on about on the weather forecast...time to quilt!!! Till next time......

My candlemat has arrived!!

2010-11-23T12:58:00.000Z

Going to check the post yesterday evening brought a lovely surprise...a big parcel containing my candle mat from my swap partner in the USA. How exciting!! Couldn't wait to open it...

And a magazine to read too! Wonderful! The colours are just what I wanted and they go perfectly in my living room

I am really thrilled...and the woolly monsters seem to like it too!!

My candle mat swap partner comes from Wallingford, Conneticut. I go to a quilt group in a small town called Wallingford, Oxfordshire....which is not far away from here, so really strange how, in such a wide world, this could happen!! This is the first online swap I have done and I have to say it has been very enjoyable. Thank you so much Tracey for my lovely mat..I love it.
Anyway, back to work now...doing a colourful Kaffe Fassett quilt for a customer in London. It is cheery and bright and makes you smile as you work! I will post piccies soon.

A busy weekend

2010-11-15T13:02:00.000Z

Well what a busy weekend! Saturday was a lovely day...having had a whole week of quilts, quilts and more quilts, I decided to have a day off. We took the woolly monsters for a walk in the countryside in the morning which they loved and then stopped off at The Sun Inn in Whitchurch for a pub lunch. Yummy! In the afternoon we watched some rugby on the tv and raked leaves in the garden...a never ending job! In the evening we went out to dinner with my quilting friend Sue and her husband. More food and a good chat!

On Sunday, well it was back to M's quilt which had to be completed urgently!

Ready to be sent off today...I hope she likes it! Freehand quilting is soooo much more fun than edge to edge work.
Also posting a parcel to France...a lady ordered one of my Tilda Take that quilt kits from my website. Not many left now, they have been very popular!

All this is just too much for the brown woolly one....

Which way is up!!!
The cat doesn't mind either way..

Cold and damp outside, warm and cosy in the studio!

2010-11-10T18:00:00.000Z

Just finished a lovely zigzag quilt on the quilting machine! M always chooses such wonderful fabrics, lively and cheerful and I do enjoy quilting them. Dashed off to the post office this evening and managed to catch the last post, so it should be with her by tomorrow. I love the way the backing fabric is so much a part of the over all look...sometimes people pay little attention to it, but not in this case...wonderful!!

A lovely yellow and green spotty fabric with a strip of pieced squares...
I have tried to get on with my chicken quilt I am making...working on a little chick block and just finished blanket stitching the schoolhouse block..

There is also an ever increasing pile of vintage cottons to sort out...they have all been washed and dried and ironed (ironing...not something I am good at normally!!!)

I have also heard from my Candlemat recipient who is delighted with the candlemat I made..I now have a new friend in sunny California! Her blog is Pams activities in quilting...take a visit. I have not received one yet, so fingers crossed this will happen very soon! I wonder who is making it for me!

Beautiful season...

2010-11-04T13:50:00.000Z

The colours of the trees around here are just gorgeous. Today someone has a fire and there is the smell of wood fires in the air, the sunshine is making hazy beams between the leaves and it is just lovely!! The medlar tree has some amazing fruit and the birds love the orange berries of the pyracantha....

When I was at school many years ago, I used to love a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins about this time of year..

Summer ends now; now, barbarous in beauty, the stooks rise
Around; up above, what wind-walks! what lovely behaviour
Of silk-sack clouds! has wilder, wilful-wavier
Meal-drift moulded ever and melted across skies?

Wonderful isn't it........
More quilting done this morning, a lovely London tube quilt by Tiina from Tikki patchwork in Kew, London..I will post some pictures later..I freehand quilted a watery sort of pattern across the quilt as requested! Now pinning on another quilt this afternoon before a walk with the woolly monsters!!

Time to catch up...

2010-10-29T12:13:00.000+01:00

Where has the time gone? I have been very neglectful of my blog lately....so many quilts to do, dogs to walk, floors to clean, washing to hang out....no superwoman me!!! I hope I'm not the only one who wonders how to cope with the day ahead!! Where do I start...
Well, I am delighted to have so many quilts to do and that my customers trust their beautiful creations to me.
Look at this huge one...a lovely autumnal maple leaf design

Hopefully it will be arriving at its destination in South Wales this morning!
I have been doing a bit of my own sewing this last couple of weeks too...using some new and vintage fabrics I have been collecting. These two pieces will be cushions I think..

There are four stars with a piece of embroidery in the centre cut from an old tablecloth....the first picture is made up of strips of fabrics to create the heart.

I have found quite a few vintage fabrics lately from various places...I just love the feedsacks from the 1930s and 1950s and the tiny ditsy prints you can find on older fabrics..

Aren't they lovely! Sorry, I am a complete banana when it comes to fabrics!!! Obsessive behaviour!!! They would really suit mini quilt projects..talking of which, I sent my candlemat off earlier in the week for the swap. I wonder if the lady has received it yet...exciting! Anyway enough rambling, these fabrics will be for sale on my blogshop which we are setting up soon, so keep looking!
Back to another quilt on my machine now...got to keep the wolf from the door!!! (or maybe that should be got to feed the wolves inside the door!!) Until later.....

More quilts....

2010-10-13T10:41:00.001+01:00

Had some lovely visitors yesterday who brought two quilts to be done....but after they left it took me sometime to get going with my work! The opportunity to chat and share stories is wonderful!
Today, I must finish a beautiful jelly roll quilt which is on Gerty (my longarm machine!)..I have been very busy custom quilting a japanese style quilt by Susan Briscoe who is publishing her next book (clever lady) for the couple of weeks before our holiday, so it is time to catch up with the edge to edge jobs! Hope these two won't want to join in...

Back to business....

2010-10-12T14:07:00.000+01:00

We have had a lovely two weeks holiday at home! Now, I have loads to catch up with.....
Before the holiday I signed up to a Candlemat swap from the Quilting Bloggers site...it will be the first swap I have done, so I am quite excited about being a part of it. I have already started my candlemat and I have been given the name of the recipient who lives in the USA.Colours chosen and cut...

Piecing in progress

I have decided to add a little embroidery too and to hand quilt it....

My dining room has become the new sewing room.

I have been collecting some vintage fabrics in the last couple of months...just love the feel and smell of them. My favourites are the feedsacks from the States, but some are difficult to get hold of. I have had a few deliveries lately too from France and Germany...

And my collection of hand embroidered cloths is growing....

And the green floral fabric has been rescued from an old French eiderdown from around the 1950s........

To go with the older fabrics I have ordered some lovely Lecien faded florals too and these will soon be on my website.....

A rainy day...

2010-09-29T20:21:00.000+01:00

More horrible grey weather today, but we are 'on holiday' at home, so let's enjoy!! We went out for breakfast and then had a shop. We had bread and wine in the afternoon and headed home. Still raining! Dogs delighted to see us.
I signed up for a Candlemat swap yesterday, just waiting to be assigned a partner to sew one for. Made a strip heart cushion cover too...must post the photo! Cup of tea waiting right now, so signing out......

Chicken pin cushion

2010-09-24T12:23:00.000+01:00

I have been having a bit of fun making a chicken pin cushion....it has ended up being larger than I intended but I am happy with the result! This chicken is definately not 'running'.....looks like he's eaten too much stuffing!

The pictures are a little dark....despite the flash on the camera, it is very dark and rainy here at the moment, so they have not come out as well as they should.

A lovely few days....

2010-09-20T10:02:00.000+01:00

Well we have had a very busy few days..on Friday it was our wedding anniversary, so we went out for the day to the seaside! Had a lovely meal at the Castle Inn near Lulworth Cove in Dorset and went for a long walk over the cliffs to Durdle Door - spectacular! The dogs loved the beach and came home tired and smelly.

One tired dog!

On the weekend we went to the Royal Berkshire Show in Newbury. It was a cold but sunny day. There were stalls, demonstrations, tractors, animals, craft and food tents to name a few...

A farrier competition...fascinating to watch

A beautiful owl..look at his eyes!!

Horse and hounds...

We came home to a wonderful welcome from the dogs who had to be left behind (not allowed in the showground) and did a bit of gardening. Then I ordered some new fabric for my 'shop'..take a peek..

Some brights and some more muted florals......these should be on my website in a few weeks!

A new week ahead...

2010-09-13T15:46:00.000+01:00

Well after a busy weekend putting up our new shed in the garden, back to quilting. I have a japanese inspired quilt on the machine at the moment which should be great fun to freehand. Still wondering whether to purchase a Statler for the other edge to edge jobs.... I just love freehand stuff..

A quilt I did a few months ago..

I just love receiving quilts with these colours...

It is very grey and cloudy outside today, very autumnal....makes me think of fires and cheese on toast!! Anyhow, no more rambling, on with the quilting...

Busy, busy, busy....

2010-09-10T12:33:00.001+01:00

Well it has been a busy week...and lots of quilts finished and delivered to their homes! I've also been inspired to try some crochet...haven't done that for years! So with new instruction book to hand, I have made some flowers. The first one came out like a woolly blob, but the rest are okay! I have really enjoyed making them.....

One of the quilts I had to do this week was a lovely baby quilt...very sweet

And I have just received the Bernina attachment for my Curve Master foot which I bought at the FOQ in Birmingham..so had to have a go at making some curved blocks

The pups didn't think much of all this business and flopped out on the back of the settee!

Chicken quilt......another block done!

2010-09-06T12:33:00.000+01:00

Had my monthly quilt meeting this weekend and managed to get a little more done for the Chicken quilt that I am designing! I don't normally work with such bright colours but it is a very happy thing to do!!

Wedding ring quilt completed

2010-09-03T11:19:00.000+01:00

At last, I have completed my customers wedding ring quilt....

This afternoon I will be doing a nice easy edge to edge pattern!!

Quilting a wedding ring quilt

2010-08-31T21:00:00.000+01:00

Today I had to drag myself away from the beautiful blue late summer skies and put my head down to quilt! Normally don't need any encouragement to do this but my soul wanted to be outside! I am freehand quilting a wedding ring quilt for a customer who has hand pieced her quilt....

There are still lots of blocks to go....

Some new designs in progress!

2010-08-27T18:11:00.000+01:00

Had some fun with piecing and applique yesterday...work in progress!! I love wild flowers so decided to try some small scale designs on the pieced backgrounds. Hopefully it will be available as a kit in a few weeks. Still working on my Chicken block quilt too....more to come!!

Goodies from Birmingham...

2010-08-24T14:21:00.001+01:00

Japanese linen...

Worn and washed fabrics....

Il etait une fois fabrics, oakshott cottons and spots and stripes....

Lots of lovely goodies from Birmingham....not sure what I am going to make just now, but just so wonderful to stroke!! It's like being a child in a sweetie shop....

Inspirations....

2010-08-24T13:02:00.007+01:00

M's beautiful quilt has been sent off.. I think the pattern came from the book The Gentle Art of Quilting by Jane Brocket. I came across a few really good books at the FoQ..one of them was a really super bagmaking book called The Bag Making Bible by Lisa Lam and although I am not one to make bags, this one really makes you want to start! Lots of lovely piccies and instructions.

Click here to find out more about this book

Festival of Quilts

2010-08-23T11:35:00.018+01:00

Came home with lots of goodies...cottons from Il etait une fois and Oakshott fabrics and books to read in the bath!!

I loved the Petra Prins and Den Haan en Wagenmakers stand and their reproduction fabrics and the quilting on their show quilt was superb.

The quilts were beautiful.....

We spend two wonderful days up in Birmingham at the FoQ...lovely quilts to see and lots of stalls eager to tempt! Having just completed a quilt for a customer made from Kaffe Fassett materials I was keen to investigate his stand at the show...Wow, bright and vibrant colours and lots of ideas. The man himself was there signing books and knitting!

Rag quilt

2010-08-18T10:36:00.003+01:00

All squares are stitched together, it is washed and tumble dried and hey presto....

2010-08-18T10:30:00.004+01:00

Wadding is placed between two squares.

Then stitched with a cross.

Rag quilt completed!

2010-08-17T10:09:00.002+01:00

Finished the rag quilt...it has been washed and dried and fluffed up!! Looks very cuddly, so I will post some pictures later.

2010-08-10T11:19:00.000+01:00

I am lucky to be able to quilt some lovely things! Managed to get pictures of my latest freehand quilting...normally forget in the bewildering minutes of my day!!

2010-08-09T16:30:00.000+01:00

Busy loading another quilt today for one of my friends and getting on with designing my 'bright' quilt which I hope to offer as BOM in the next few months...having such fun with this!

2010-08-03T18:39:00.000+01:00

Doing well with rag quilt sewing, but it creates such a lot of fluff! My poor dogs are fed up with all the sewing...finished a customer quilt this morning too! Housework is long overdue...no superwoman here I'm afraid and the garden is looking very sad.

2010-08-02T15:20:00.000+01:00

First post...very scary! Should be quilting right now, but decided to have a cup of tea and begin my blogging journey! There is excitement in the air here...some new dies have arrived from the US for my Accuquilt machine and I am really keen to get going on a rag quilt made from some lovely flannels I have.