One stunning quilt ...

made by my sister-in-law, Eileen Charleston!  

In Eileen's words ... "The quilt was made for my wonderful daughter Katherine and I'm currently stitching a dedication to her into the work.  I hope that it brings her many happy memories in the future and that one day our descendants might look at it and wonder about our lives.

"I started my quilt at a workshop at Quorn Country Crafts here in Loughborough about 5 years ago!!  Because I tend to be a slow worker, after the course I still had quite a bit to do and it's been a comfort and delight to keep picking it up as and when I could and see it slowly evolve. Barbara from the shop says that everyone needs to have a big project on the go that takes time, it made me feel better to hear that!  

"It is a candlewick quilt, it's widely thought that the name originates from the women who went west in America to settle new land.  Because what they could take with them in the wagons was limited they sewed using calico or canvas and ingeniously used candle wicks for thread hence the work generally being white or cream on white/cream.  Colonial or French knots and backstitch were traditionally used but I've used chain, stem, back, running and whipped running, buttonhole, coral, knots, satin, lazy daisy, fishbone and lattice stitches as well using DMC Perle thread and a chenille needle.  

"I embroidered 16 squares using designs supplied by Quorn Country Crafts and some that Katherine drew for me; she drew the irises, her favourite flowers and the peacocks, I included a rose design since it reminded me of the white rose of Yorkshire where both Katherine and I were born.  The squares were sewn together by machine and bars were added to make the quilt big enough for a double bed.  I then hand quilted each square and the bars and edges of the work using cream quilting cotton (it took over a reel of thread!) and a quilting needle.  The thread was waxed to make it stronger and easier to get through the work.  

"Although it's a long process I absolutely love sitting quietly and working by hand, it's so soothing in difficult times and so creative since you can chose what to quilt and it's great to see the embroidery suddenly have a 3D look to it. 

"My nerve failed when it came to binding such a large piece of hand quilted work so it was undertaken by Steph at Cup Cake Cottons and she did a wonderful job.  I finished off hemming the bound edge by hand and it went together beautifully."

It's absolutely beautiful Eileen!  Well done you! 

Vanessa x

Happy Birthday Andy ...

I think he likes our present! :)

I used a pattern by Allison Harris from Cluck Cluck Sew called Touchdown!  As Andy is American, I thought this pattern was appropriate and would help to remind him of home!   

Barbara at Fir Tree Quilting used her usual magic and came up with a pattern to long arm quilt it, which has a star in it for the stars and stripes!

It's been a difficult couple of weeks because my lovely Dad has been very poorly again and has had to undergo a second major operation!  Get well soon Dad ....

We all love you!

Vanessa x

Come on girls ......

I made this quilt for my sister-in-law Jo's birthday!  Jo loves chickens as much as I do, so I couldn't resist making her this quilt!  It's from a pattern by Pam & Nicky Lintott and the fabric is a dessert roll made up of Chateau Rouge by French General.  

As usual, I sent the quilt off to be long arm quilted by Barbara at Fir Tree Quilting.  Barbara suggested a feathers pattern and I think it works perfectly ...

 Happy belated birthday Jo Jo!

Vanessa x

Lovely to be back at Cupcake Cottons .....

this week working on my first angel quilt block ...

this angel is called Charlotte the Shopper!  She was born to shop!

the pattern is called An Angels Story and each month we will be making one or two blocks!  The pattern is just lovely with a little paragraph telling you all about the angel you are stitching - it's so sweet!

If you love Anni Downs like I do, then get yourself to Cupcake Cottons where Steph has permission to use her patterns!

I must also share this book by Gail Pan.  It has some beautiful designs in it and really easy to follow  stitching instructions - great for me as I'm not the best hand stitcher!

I bought the fabric for my angel quilt with the voucher my dear friends gave me for my birthday so I'm dedicating this quilt to them - thank you Sue, Maggie, Theresa and Lesley!

Vanessa x