November ...

has been all about finishing things off!  I started this wall hanging in 2016 ...

the pattern came from this gorgeous book by Gail Pan ...

and here it is hanging on the wall ...

I also finished quilting this table topper from a pattern by Allison Harris at Cluck Cluck Sew ...

I bought this advent calendar in 2016 at a quilt show and have finally completed it ...

And in class this month I made ten mini stockings ...

It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas!

Vanessa x

October ...

has been another busy month - wedding planning this time - very exciting!  So not much time for sewing and I didn't even make it to class this month :(  

However, I have finished free motion quilting "A walk in the park" ...

I'm really pleased with the end result.  Here is a close up of the quilting ...

I simply cross-hatched around the border ...

I have decided to give this quilt to Judy (Jo's Mum) who isn't too well at the moment ...

A comfort quilt!

Vanessa x

September ...

started wonderfully with an engagement ...

Congratulations to Poppy and Andy!

In class this month, I made this little robin ... going to call him Ray after my Dad ...

David and I spent a fabulous week in this house in Cornwall ...

Atlantic View

View from our bedroom window

The house had a fantastic conservatory which became a perfect sewing room .... 

During our stay I made my first baby quilt ...

As you know, I'm trying to get to grips with free motion quilting!  This quilt is made from a panel which I got from one of Steph's sales at Cupcake Cottons.  The panel has "Twinkle twinkle little star" around the border so I quilted the middle part using a loop and star design and then just cross-hatched the borders and I'm pretty pleased with the end result ...

I bound the quilt by using the backing fabric - a new technique I found on one of my favourite blogs - Cluck Cluck Sew ...

I also made a table topper (again a pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew) which I free motion quilted ... I think I'm improving!!!

During the week I managed to visit three quilting shops ... Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts, The Sewing Studio and Cowslip Workshops ...

Some goodies I came home with!

Vanessa x

August ...

sometimes you see fabric that you just have to have ... like this Garden Notes range from Moda ... I just adore it!  

Lucy at Secret Garden Quilting wraps fabric up beautifully!

It's been a busy summer with graduations, weddings and WOMAD and I've not had much time to quilt!  I was beginning to feel a little frustrated about this and needed a quilting fix so I pieced this quilt top ...

and I felt much better afterwards!  I used a pattern called Garden Trellis from a Pam and Nicky Lintott book which I've had for years!  It went together beautifully and was so quick - just what I needed!  I've called it "A walk in the park"!

I spent a lovely wet Saturday tidying up my sewing cupboard ...

Before!

After!

I need to do some serious stash busting this autumn/winter!  I've got SO many patterns I want to use - beach huts, jugs, buttons, umbrellas, dishes - the list goes on and on!  So I've made a start on a quilt called Floral Bouquet ... using fabric from my stash ...

Think I got this fabric from John Lewis?

First time I've used this book!

So pleased!

This month in class at Cupcake Cottons I got going on my "Little House on the Prairie" quilt  ...

Steph is helping me to design it!

And finally, I can announce the "Flowers in the garden" quilt was for Velma's 80th Birthday!  Velma is a dear friend of my Aunty Pauline.  When my Aunty Pauline was unwell last year, Velma was amazing, so this is a little thank you gift and a Happy 80th Birthday gift!

Loving being able to make labels!

I've sadly not had time to make any little houses this month - will have to double my efforts in September!

Vanessa x

July ...

I turn up to class at Cupcake Cottons and I'm never sure what Steph has planned!  This month she had us all making these sweet make-up bags ...

Finally quilted "flowers in the garden" ...

and in August I will be able to reveal who the quilt is for!

July has been busy with graduations, WOMAD and Dan and April's wedding but I did manage to grab an afternoon of sewing with Jenny to make some summer bunting ...

I call it "cheats bunting" because it comes in panels and all you have to do is put the panel right sides together with some backing fabric and stitch around the triangles.  You cut around the stitching, turn the triangles out and press then stitch them to a long piece of cotton twill - simple!

Vanessa x

June ...

not had a lot of time for sewing this month I'm afraid!  However, I have been back to Amsterdam where my quilting story began ... so lovely to revisit old haunts - particularly these two quilting shops ...

Den Haan & Wagenmakers

Birdblocks

Same lovely Dutch lady at Birdblocks!

And, of course, had to make some purchases ...

And it was so good to visit our old house ...

It looked just the same only not as many bikes outside!

I have, however, had another sewing day with Jenny and made this bag with the beautiful fabric she brought me back from Material Obsession in Sydney - did I say, picked for me by Kathy Doughty herself...

I wasn't really keen to start because I was nervous of making a mistake with the fabric - it would be a long way to go to get more - but Jenny made me do it!  Sometimes you need a little push from your friends!  Thanks Jen!

Jenny with Kathy at Material Obsession

Vanessa x