FOQ Masterpieces!

Well - as always the Festival of Quilts lived up to expectations - wonderful quilts on display, there is so much talent within the quilting world, it is a joy to behold. There were many great stalls full of tempting fabric - I was fairly restrained and limited myself to a handful (large) of fabric which I knew would bring me joy and fun!  With a wee extra bit here and there......!

The first quilt I must show you is "Scandinavian Journey" from the Cowslip Workshop Team in St. Stephans, just outside Launceston in Cornwall - as some of you will know who follow my blog, Jo at Cowslip is a dear friend and this is the quilt she made for her niece Henrietta who lives in Norway:  the organic wool wadding was made from the wool of Jo's own sheep and it was quilted by Sandy Chandler who lives just down the road from Jo:

There were so many different quilts that caught my eye - so I will try and give a varied selection here for you to see: 

This Hawaiian style quilt was made by Pippa Moss, and is called Piilani after the greatest and best known King of Maui.  The hand applique and hand quilting are fantastic.  I just loved it.

I have many more to show you, but this will do for now - too many at once is overwhelming!

I left Birmingham late Saturday afternoon and drove on up to Nottingham to spend the next 3 days with my dear old Mum.  She has become very frail and confused, even more so than when I visited with her 10 days ago after her fall.  My sister and I have managed to get some care organised for her and someone will come in every morning now to help her get dressed etc.  She is not at all happy about this, but hopefully - fingers crossed - she will get used to the help and begin to accept it.  I realise it must be so difficult for her, she is a proud lady and has valued her independence.  But at 92 the time has come to let others who care help her.  It is very sad and stressful for us, her family, we just hope she can carry on living in her flat for some time yet.
I drove home yesterday evening through torrental rain - and the forecast is not good for the Bank Holiday weekend - typical!  My son Robbie and his girlfriend Nisha are coming down from London, so I am really looking forward to that. 

I will update with more FOQ pictures later - thank you for all your recent comments, all so encouraging - and a big Hello to the new followers of my Blog!

FOQ - here I come!

Hello everyone:  this is just a quick blog to say I am off up to Birmingham for the Festival of Quilts later today -  2 days of pure inspiration and fun, and lots of tempting fabric!
I shall take many photos to share with you so will Blog again next week on my return.

My current cross-stitch WIP is the "Stitch Me Club 2012" sampler  - www.atelierperdu.fr - it is such fun.  Part 2 arrived a few days ago and I have saved this to sew when I am in Nottingham with my Mum for a few days after the FOQ.  This is how it is looking so far - I am sewing on 32 count over 2 - the colours of the variagated threads are just lovely: 

I would just like to say how much I appreciate the comments that are left on my Blog - and a big Hello to new followers!

What a wonderful hobby we all have in common!

Looking forward.....

Well what a wonderful 2 weeks of sport - I have so enjoyed watching the Olympics and feel quite lost this morning with no rowing, swimming/diving, athletics or gymnastics to watch!  Although I am not normally what one would call a "sporty person" I became totally absorbed and addicted.  I feel so proud of what we as a country produced, and amazed at the dedication and committment of all the participants from around the world.  Congratulations to everyone.

Sadly 10 days ago my dear Mum had a fall and had to have stitches in her head.  Her confidence has been shattered and she really does seem extremely frail bless her.  I went off up to Nottingham and spent 4 days looking after her.  We watched the Olympics together, and I took my cross stitch and managed to complete this:

The majority of this is from the Shakespeare's Peddler design "Spring at Bean Family Farm" but I have personalised it and moved things around:  I have sewn this for my friend Jo who runs Cowslip Workshops - she has been so thoughtful and generous to me these past months when I have been so low, and it is a small gift to say "thank you".  Instead of a red brick house it is a blue/grey cornish stone farmhouse, and I added a row of quilts on a washing line plus some extra lambs - all this gives it the "Cowslip" feel.  It is now off to the framers - something rustic I think!

In my last blog  told you about the problems I was experiencing tryng to make a strip quilt from a jelly roll - well in the end I unpicked the whole quilt - it was over 2 ins out from one side to another, and I also found that the quarter-square triangle borders I was trying to make from a Layer Cake also caused me problems as some of the pre-cut squares were up to a quarter inch out from others.
So I made log cabin squares - and by doing this was able to square up every round and then I squared up the quarter-square triangles - and this is the end result:

It took me a lot of unpicking, but I got there in the end - and the result is fresh and bright.  I shall be VERY careful when using jelly rolls/layer cakes in the future - perhaps I was just unlucky this time.  When this has been quilted it is going to be a 70th birthday gift for a friend who loves pink!

My youngest daughter Dot paid us a flying visit at the end of July as she went to a wedding reception very close by - it was a bonus to see her as she has just started a new job as "Manager" of "Opening Ceremony" - a shop in Covent Garden.  OC had only previously been in the USA and Japan, but wanted to come to London.  She is loving it - and seems really happy which is great.

Off to the wedding looking gorgeous in a dress previously modelled by Kate Moss.  Then back up to London, still looking gorgeous!:

The weather was kind, and our home and garden looks so lovely when the sun shines - such a rare occurance this summer:

And now it is that time of year again:  the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham!  I am so excited!  A wonderful source of inspiration.............. and so much fabric!  Of course I DO NOT NEED ANY FABRIC!!  Watch this space...............I shall come back with many photos to share with you.
I will spend 2 days at the show, and then I will drive on up to Nottngham and spend another 4 days with my Mum.  I can hardly believe a whole year has passed since the last FOQ - such a difficult year for us where so much has changed.  But my love of quilting and sewing continues - long may it do so.

Here comes Summer

What a difference, the sun is shining, the sky is blue and it is 27 degrees on our porch this afternoon. 
But I have two finishes to show you, so I have come into the cool of the study so I can post these:
First of all I have finished the "Seeds of Time" quilt and it is now with Carole at Butterfly Quilters so she can cover it with a close vermacelli design:

Our black cat Bosun loves this quilt!

And I have today collected my latest framed cross-stitch:  I am delighted, it is so pretty and I feel the dark rustic wooden frame sets it off perfectly:  not sure where to put it yet, but I'll find room somewhere!

On one of my previous blogs I showed the little fieldmouse eating from the bird feeder outside my kitchen window:  well we now have another frequent uninvited guest:

I wondered why the nuts were disappearing so quickly!  He must think his luck's changed!

Well, I am off back to sit on the porch, and shall do some unpicking of that quilt - not my favourite pastime, but will pour myself a large glass of ginger beer with lime cordial and put on some music - I have just purchased a great CD by Carlos Bonell, Magical Mystery Guitar Tour - he is playing Beatles songs on the classical guitar, it is great!  Perfect for a sunny summer's day!
Cheers everybody - thank you for visiting my Devon Life.

A finish and more Noah's Ark - hence the rain?!

Well, what a weekend -  more rain, floods, Wimbledon Tennis - almost too much to cope with.  I just love "Wimbledon Fortnight", it is such a good excuse - as if the continuing rain isn't enough - to sit and sew whilst watching fantastic tennis.  Despite the outcome I have loved every minute and feel quite lost this afternoon without it!
I have a finished cross-stitch to show you:

I am so pleased with this, and it was fun to sew.  It is now with the framers -  I have chosen a dark rustic wooden frame which I hope will look in keeping.  And I have collected my two latest Noah's Ark pictures:

When I was up in Surrey last week taking care of my friend Lise after her 3rd hip operation, she gave me this fantastic Noah's Ark as a Thank You for being such a good nurse!:

Our kitchen dresser just keeps filling up:  the beautiful soup tureen to the left of The Ark was a present from Stella, one Lise's friends, so roll on winter then I can fill it with delicious home made soups:

I also managed to see my friends Tim and Helen for coffee Sunday morning, and meet their grandson Otto:

Here is Otto on the "Cheese Quilt" I made for them, he is utterly gorgeous!

So all in all I had a lovely time in Cobham, the kids all came down to see us which was fantastic and I managed to see old neighbours and friends.  Lise is one of those rare girlfriends who always manages to raise my mood, and she tries to keep me focused on what really matters in life. I love spending time with her. I know I have lost that optimistic feeling over the last year due to being badly let down by someone we trusted - and it has been hard for me to "bounce back".  I am still struggling as everything has changed so much, but with three terrific kids and a few true friends "things can only get better" - the rain has matched my mood recently.  Never mind - onwards and upwards!  The sun has to shine again soon.

I am now off to work on my patchwork which has taken a back seat during my trip away and the tennis.  Now I have no excuse, nor do I want one - I only have two rows left to do plus the border and I am excited about finishing it. 

So I hope to show you the finished article in my next Blog, plus I have a baby quilt to sew for little Emily who was born in the early hours of Saturday morning - and I need to start another cross-stitch project - I really want to sew this Shakespeare's Peddler pattern:

I'm feeling more cheerful already! 

Sunny Sewing Sunday

Today it has not rained:  but despite the sun shining I have been sewing away in my studio.  I am so enjoying my latest project:  I am on the last lap and I think it will look just lovely!:

The cross-stitch panel in the middle gives it a lovely soft country feel and I am loving the soft pinks and blues..
I am also getting on well with my latest cross-stitch (Needle & Thread - Sampler of the Season:  Spring) - I started this in Nottingham last week whilst visiting my Mum: so I am pleased with the progress, it is going to be about 15 ins square:

To the right of the house there is a washing line of patchwork quilts, cannot wait to sew those!
Mum was fine, no worse (or better) than on my last visit, which is fine - she struggles to walk but uses her zimmer frame.  At 92 years old "every day is a blessing - every meal a feast" - especially when I am there to cook for her!  We had a lovely few days together.
I have finished another baby quilt for one of Fran's friends - she liked the previous one so much - which is great - that she asked me to do one for a little girl born last November:  hence I chose Flower Fairies!:

Fingers crossed that this one hits the mark too.
After days of cold wet windy weather, today has been dry and this evening the sun made an appearance.  There was even the tourist boat on the River - it goes from Plymouth to Calstock where it stops by the pub:  we can often hear everyone singing on their way back home, all very jolly:

The roses are beginning to flower, and look lovely - they are all ones with an old fashioned smell:

I picked a few, and added some herbs and put them in a vase in our living room:  every time I walk through there is the most delicious smell!

I am off up to Cobham in Surrey on Thursday for a few days staying with my very special friend Lise, she has just come out of hospital having had her hip replacement fixed - for the 3rd time.  I am the designated Nurse:  which mainly involves organising visitors for Happy Hour!  Hopefully youngest daughter Dot will come and visit us, and maybe my son Robbie too - Fran will be in Paris and then goes onto New York, so sadly won't see her this time but I am hoping to catch up with a few friends too, so all in all a fun few days ahead.
I have seen some wonderful photos that my blogging friends have put up recently of the wild life in their gardens:  we love feeding the birds here, there are so many wonderful species that visit us - but at dusk, and sometimes really early in the morning the bird-feeder has an unexpected visitor:

A little field mouse enjoying his supper!  He must think he's the luckiest mouse in Devon!
I will blog again when I return from Surrey - I hope you all have a good week.

Keeping Calm - just!

I will start this Blog with one of the best cards ever:

I just absolutely love it - what more can one say, it totally sums up my life!  Thank you Elsie!
I have wanted to update my Blog for a while but somehow life has just got in the way, but this morning is all peaceful and quiet so I am able to show you what I have been doing.
First of all here are some cross-stitch finishes - we are fast running out of wall space!

I love the long shape of this one and it fits perfectly under the window.

I also just love samplers with houses, and this one was just gorgeous to sew and the end result is very pleasing.  I also love alphabets, and of course Noah's Ark!:  here is a little one I have just finished which will be added to my collection after framing:

I have been busy with my patchwork too:  two baby quilts and a fun small lap quilt:

This one is double sided:  Fran asked me to make this for one of her friends whose baby is due soon - I just love making baby quilts, they are extra special:

And this one is for Freddie who was born in February - running late again, but Mother and Son just love it which is all that matters!

It was my birthday last month and some friends who live in Surrey sent me a box of wonderful different delicious cheeses - such a thoughtful treat:  so I have just finished making this little quilt for them - I saw this fantastic fabric at Cowslip, it has cows and milk churns and CHEESE on it:  what could be better!  Their kindness deserves a kindness:  thanks Tim and Helen - hope you will like!

On my birthday my dear friend Lyn took me to Buckland Abbey, a NT property only about 5 miles from us here:  it was a glorious hot and sunny day:

They have a wonderful old Cider Press in the huge barn: 

And we have had some visitors too which is always fun: friends from Sussex were down in Cornwall fishing, and came over for a day with us:  here is Tori with a lap quilt I made especially for her:

 Michelle Tino and Siena have been over from Australia and they spent the Jubilee Weekend with us:  here they are with one of my quilts which is now winging its way to a new home with them! 

Three weeks ago the weather was glorious - the clematis, which grows over an old school bell which hangs in an archway, and the wisteria were just magnificent:

Now sadly the weather is not good, but the monkey puzzle tree is growing faster than ever, it must like the rain:

Work in progress in an applique Noah's Ark quilt (surprise surprise) so I am now off to the studio to continue with some more animals - it is Big Fun!

Will keep you updated as to my progress!