May ...

things I've learnt so far about machine quilting ... 
* you really need to press and baste well!
* it shows up any sloppy piecing - help!
* it is SO time consuming! 
* and finally you need plenty of thread!

First Bernina quilt finished!

Love the way I can now make labels!

A close up of quilting!

So pleased with my first quilt made with my new Bernina!  It's far from perfect but I'm thrilled with the end result and I can't wait to get started on the next one!  I called the quilt "Beauty and the Beast" because the fabulous colours remind me of the opening scene in the new Beauty and the Beast film AND if you remember I've nicknamed my Bernina 'The Beast'!!! :)

Archie always appreciates my quilts!

Just to warn you, I'm going to be making another bag!  My dear friend Jennifer has brought me back some beautiful fabric from Australia.  Jenny visited Material Obsession and Kathy Doughty herself picked out some of her own fabric designs for me!  Sue, I haven't forgotten the fabric that you brought me back from Sri Lanka or the fabric you brought me back from Tanzania Poppy! I do have ideas for all these wonderful fabrics ...

Fabric by Kathy Doughty

My next project at Cupcake Cottons is a "Little House on the Prairie" quilt.  Very twee I know!!!  Well my Mum bought me this book for my birthday and I already had some of the fabric from Andover fabrics ...

So I've made a start ... I'm designing my own medallion quilt using some ideas I like in the book and also some traditional blocks like flying geese, bears paw, log cabin and I'm hoping to edge the quilt with prairie points!

Can you see little Laura Ingalls running towards the cabin?

I turned up at Cupcake Cottons last time expecting to continue with this quilt but Steph decided that we would all make cushions instead ... which was absolutely fine with me as I've been wanting to make another of these 'quilt as you go' cushions for ages.  So we picked some fabrics and away we all went ...

Perfect colours for our dining room

Sadly, I have only managed to make two little houses for my scrap quilt this month ...

Oh and I wanted to show you my latest tapestry ...  I stitched this last year but it went terribly wonky and I struggled to find anyone able to frame it.  I ended up searching wonky tapestry framing on Google and it brought up a blog by Andy Parks at Petersfield Framing Studio. So I took it down to the Studio the next time I was visiting Poppy.  Andy said he had seen worse - think he was only being kind!  Anyway, this is the end result and I am absolutely thrilled  ...

And finally just wanted to share Poppy's beautiful crochet ... it's so neat!

That's all for now!

Vanessa x