My Son's Quilt Finished!

This was a Jelly Roll pattern by Pam and Nicky Lintott. I used a Jelly Roll by Minick and Simpson, I can't think of the name at the moment but it's lovely. This pattern went together quickly and very easily, I'd definitely do another quilt using this pattern. I put a wider border on it so Jorden could use it on his bed if he wanted to but the pattern size would make a great quilt for snuggling under on the sofa. The pattern is one of a series of individual patterns called "Just One Jelly Roll" and this pattern is Flower Baskets. The original is 62" x 62" without a border but mine has a border of around 6 inches or so. It did take just one Jelly Roll for the blocks and corner stones plus 2 1/4 yards (2 metres) for the sashing and setting triangles. I quilted an all over meandering feather on my longarm machine. I asked my son if he had any preferences for the quilting and he said he wanted "that really flowing flowery one"! I had to get him to show me an example, it was the meandering feathers! Great choice as it works beautifully with the prints, it gives a lovely texture. I used a 60% wool 40% poly batting which I have often used. It machine washes and is cuddly and warm, it's a dream to machine quilt. Not the greatest photos but here it is:

Enjoy your weekend. Happy stitching, Rowena

More Benjamin Biggs Blocks

I am gradually catching up the Benjamin Biggs blocks but I still have a few more to do before I am up to date.  I won't even mention the border applique! I'll get around to tackling that once all the blocks are done! So here are the blocks I have completed recently.

Block 17

Block 15

I am madly prepping a couple of blocks to get them ready to stitch over the weekend ( I hope ! )

I have also completed a quilt for my son, it's quilted and bound, just waiting on the label to be finished and stitched down! I will try to photograph it this weekend while my son is home and can act as chief quilt holder-upper!

My Mother has improved considerably over the last couple of months which is wonderful but she will never be as independent as she was before all the ill health she has had this year.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Benjamin Biggs and some instant gratification!

I have to say I can't think which number this block is off the top of my head but at least it's nearly done!!

I have still been having to grab stitching time where and when I can as Mum has still been needing quite a lot of hands on living assistence.  She has improved quite a bit but 5  months of inactivity has really taken its toll on her strength and energy so I am still very much her carer. I hope to get her to the Physiotherapist next week to devise some type of exercise regime that is designed for an elderly, much weakened woman in an effort to halt the loss of muscle and energy and hopefully start to regain some of both!!

However, back to sewing!! I have another 3 BB blocks in various stages of prep, 2 are almost ready to glue onto the background ready to machine applique.

I have still been doing a little bit here and there of my Whig's Rose blocks. A much slower project as it's all hand applique. While I do love the quick results of machine applique I still really enjoy the soothing and relaxing process of handwork.

Now, the instant gratification of the heading is a small idea that sprung forth after spying some Fig Tree Charm packs I've had in my fabric stash for a few years. I had a sudden uncontrollable urge to cut up and stitch together these pretty fabrics!! Here is the result of a couple of hours playing on Sunday night after dinner.

The colour hasn't come out as saturated as it is the the flesh unfortunately but it's so pretty I think I may make it bigger than I had intended.  I was going to make a table topper but I am now considering adding some applique on a border of natural quilters muslin and continue the borders to a lap or bed size quilt.

I have no idea why blogger has suddenly centred all my writing but I can't get it to align left now! If that's my biggest problem today I'm a lucky girl!!

Enjoy life and happy stitching,

Rowena

Quite a catch up! I can't believe it's July and the last time I posted was January! My Mother had a fall which took months to get over and I was having to do everything for her which put my quilting very much on the back burner. When she finally started to really recover she tore a muscle in her back which put her out of action for another couple of months. We are all back to normal now with Mum being a lot more careful about where she walks and how she does things, I'm very pleased to say!!

So here is what I've been up to, a little bit of Whig's Rose and BB blocks 13 and 16. The blocks in between are in various states of prep.

Whigs Rose (all hand appliqued)

Ben Biggs Block 13  (All BB blocks are machine appliqued with cotton thread that matches as closely to the applique pieces as possible)

Ben Biggs Block 16

Some of the BB blocks laid out to get a feel for what it will be like when finished ( use your imagination!!)

....and a few more...

So I will say goodbye and go back to prepping and catching up on my BB blocks.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Benjamin Biggs Block 12

Another BB block finished and the next one is being prepped. This block was an easy one but the next one has a lot more pieces!

School goes back next week, I can't say I'm looking forward to ironing shirts every day and being back on the school run, most of all I'll miss having my gorgeous 14 year old son at home!  I always love the summer holidays. I loved them when I was at school and I think that is part of the reason I enjoy them so much still, I remember exactly what it felt like to have all those weeks stretched out ahead to do whatever we feel like.  Sad to think it's over for another year.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Benjamin Biggs and Jacob's Ladder

Not a lot of sewing going on over Christmas and New Year but I have finished block 11 of Benjamin Biggs as well as another block finished of my Whigs Rose.

Today I laid out the strips of my Jacob's Ladder in order to sew them together.  I've had these

blocks for quite some time!

Lastly a picture of my Christmas entrance hall.

I am hoping to get a couple of quilts made over the next few months for 2 of my sons and I'd like to get back to Love Entwined sometime . Finally after 8 years of having all my quilting and sewing machine stuff in my bedroom I have a sewing room, I'm so delighted. The set up is pretty basic at present but I'm loving it!

Happy New Year for 2015 and happy sewing!

Rowena

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