Weekend of sewing, walking and chatting ...

spent a wonderful weekend with my friend Jenny at Keyhaven, Hampshire.  Spent the time sewing, walking, chatting and enjoying a glass or two of wine!

 Our photo shoot ...

Thanks for a fabulous weekend Jen!

And on to the next quilt ...

which is going to be for my Aunty Pauline who will be 80 years old next April!  I've had the pattern for a while.  It's from a Kaffe Fassett book and it's called teapots.  I'm going to adapt the pattern though and use my own choice of fabrics which I have started to collect ...

Do you remember this Jam and Jerusalem fabric?  I love it and bought a few metres last year when Steph at Cupcake Cottons had a sale on.  Well I think it will be perfect for the backing!  It's great when a quilt starts to come together ...

I also bought some pretty waxed cotton thread ready to hand quilt my Angel Quilt ...

I won't start quilting though until the weather turns a little cooler - you get so hot sitting with the quilt on your lap when you are hand quilting!

Vanessa x

A belated birthday present ...

from my lovely sister-in-law Eileen ...

Thank you Eileen - it's lovely!  Beautiful crochet!

Here it is in my sewing room!

Vanessa x

Two quilt tops and backs handed over ...

 to Barbara to work her magic!

Was thrilled to find this anchor fabric for the back of Dad's Memory Quilt ... just perfect!

Calendar has arrived from Pretty Fabrics and Trims!  I love having a pretty calendar!

Vanessa x

One thing leads to another ...

Lori Holt posted on her blog this week that her first calendar will be out soon!  Excited, I thought I would see if I could get one in the UK - so I Googled it - as you do!  The online shop Pretty Fabrics and Trims not only had the calendar to pre-order but it also had some lovely Lori fabrics!  

The fabric arrived beautifully wrapped with a lovely gift tag from Sarah and Penny ...

Thank you ladies.  Looking forward to receiving my 2016 calendar soon!

An evening with Kaffe Fassett ...

my dear friend Jennifer got us tickets to see Kaffe Fassett in Bath last night.  One word for the evening - FAB-U-LOUS!  He was so entertaining and inspiring - it was really great!

The evening was organised by Topping Book Shop in Bath ... so, of course, I had to get the book and have it signed ...

oh and thank you Kaffe for our free gift ...

Vx

Whilst on holiday ...

I've been busy ...

piecing this quilt top ...

I've made it in memory of my Dad, who loved boats and the seaside.  I'm going to donate it to Prospect Hospice, once I've had it quilted by Barbara at Fir Tree Quilting.

I used a pattern by Pam and Nicky Lintott from their Two From One Jelly Roll Quilts book, although I did make my quilt larger and I added a border.  I wanted the quilt to be bright and cheerful, so I used a Moda Jelly Roll called 30's Playtime.  I thought it was rather appropriate, as my Dad was born in 1933.  

Our new neighbour ...

she is so comical ....  

this beautiful sampler is hanging in the cottage stairwell ...

wonder if my quilts or needlepoint will still be around in nearly 200 years ...

second Festival of the year ...

with Poppy and Andy ,,,

and David ...

Thanks for the socks Poppy!!! xxx

Isle of Wight here we come ...

great crossing ...

our cottage ...

sewing room all set up! ...

was thrilled to find this Westie fabric in the jelly roll ...

found this at the end of the lane ...

Archie took a paddle!

Cupcake Cottons Exhibition 2015 ...

this weekend 21-23 September 9.30 am to 5 pm (10 am to 4 pm on Sunday) at Burford School ...

beautiful quilts ...

amazing raffle prizes ... hope I win something ...

lovely goodies to purchase ...

I spy some familiar quilts ...

Ample parking ... a lovely cup of tea (in china cups!) and yummy cakes ... quilts ... what more could you wish for!  

Vanessa x

After the mud ...

at WOMAD 2015 ...

beautiful sunshine in Portsmouth ...

Poppy took me to a new fabric shop in Southsea ...

and I just HAD to buy some pretty nautical and musical fabric ...

Vanessa x

Things just grow ....

so I needed a quilt to make which was easy to just pick up at the end of the day ... something which would go together simply and look pretty ... and I found it on one of my favourite blog sites called Cluck Cluck Sew, by Allison Harris ...

so I started making blocks ...

and it just grew ...

and grew ...

and is still growing ...

Originally, I thought I'd make this quilt to snuggle under in the summer house.  However, I've now made 32 blocks which is enough to make a throw and two cushions but the blocks look so pretty laid out on Poppy's bed that I'm tempted to keep sewing and make enough for a quilt for her room!  Oh decisions, decisions!  

Oops I forgot ...

is it a chicken or a sheep ...

Thanks Jo Jo! Vx