Di Ford's New Beauties!

I was on the way home from the hairdresser with my DD on Saturday when I decided to pop into Somerset Patchwork & Quilting store. It was on our way home anyway, and although I hadn't been planning on any more fabric shopping this year, I was hoping that some of Di Ford's beautiful new range would be available. Strictly just so I could have a look for myself. Well, once I'd set eyes on it, it was mine.

I went for this minty colour, it just spoke to me. I thought I would swoon for the red (and it's just as beautiful) but I feel that I have too many red projects on at the moment, and none in mint, so I opted for a whole new scheme to freshen up my ideas.

I have no idea what to do with this selection. At the moment I have it spread across a table and just lovingly look at it each time I pass. I know I didn't need more fabric, but sometimes I feel that a range comes out that must be had. I feel that way about this range.

And another thing, is it just me or are 'second prints' just not the same? I know I've purchased ranges on the second print and I've never thought they were as good as the first. What is that about?! This time around, I wasn't taking any chances.

Some stash busting rules are made to be broken, that's all I can say.

WOW: Oma's Blues Quilting Ideas

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I'm drawing up a design plan for quilting my Oma's Blues quilt. I don't actually mark my quilts when I quilt them, I prefer freestyle quilting my own work. But with Oma, things feel more complicated. I need a plan mapped out on the styles I want to use.I wasn't sure I wanted to 'finish' Oma with quilting. I had an idea to make my quilts and leave them at the 'top' stage so I could easily cart them around to workshops and show and tells. But every time I need to set them aside, I feel I 'must' carry on and quilt them, so it looks like my quilting load will just keep increasing at this point.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

I Forgot Father's Day

With one thing and another I've been in a bit of a spin. On Saturday, my DH and I took one of those long meandering drives in the country. I really needed some fresh air and country 'switch off' time. In our house I have been trying to aim towards 3 screen free days a week. It's going really well except for the emails that back up. And another thing - I keep losing track of what day it is. So on Saturday I was blissfully unaware that it was in fact Saturday. And that the following day was in fact Sunday and not just any Sunday, but Father's Day as well. Of course I was unprepared. And when my DDs showed up, I was still in my dressing gown and hadn't even ironed the table cloth yet.

at over 3 metres length, it's a real chore to have to get it done last minute

I mean really. You know you're getting old when your own children tutt tutt at you. Luckily my DDs had gone ahead and organised Father's Day all on their own. All we had to do was be there, fully dressed. But sometimes, even that feels like too much work. I should probably be embarrassed that all 'events' now involve photographs of me, not yet dressed, running around doing something I should have done days before. Perhaps the advantage of age is that I no longer care as much as I once did about this? Is it just me? What about you? I'd love to know that I'm not alone...

WOW: Basting Oma's Blues

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

I told you I was serious! Here I am, getting Oma ready for basting, and I don't have much more to say than that, as I have plenty to be getting on with. Can't wait to update you all after WOW...

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

WOW: Oma's Blues WOW

 WOW=WIPs On Wednesdays

Oma's Blues is coming together, I'll have my entire top done this week. Talk about a WOW! I'm really keen to get this quilt finished as I knew that if I didn't get it done now... I wouldn't find any time later this year or in 2016. It's so satisfying to be going back and forth to my ironing board as I stitch down my borders...

I'm really looking forward to showing you my entire top and of course, to having another quilt DONE! Well, almost done. I'm still deciding whether I will quilt this quilt or keep it as a quilt top only (easier to transport and show at workshops). I had thought very seriously about making tops only, but I think that with Oma, it needs to go up on my walls and give my other quilts a rest. 

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Oma's Blues: My Centre Plate

I suddenly realized as I photographed my centre, that I inversed my diamond plate edge. 

The white area should be dark and vice versa! How did I get that the wrong way around?!

I do think a dark plate edge would be more effective, but I've already decided that I'm not going to re-do it, so I will think about outlining it with a dark blue stitch - possibly. When I get the borders on, I'll look at it for a while and decide on the overall feel. Right now, I can't get over it, and my eyes are glued to the ring of white which should be blue. What a strange oversight. I just don't know what to say...

Even so, I am so in love with Oma's Blues that this error doesn't bother me as much as it possibly should! My Delft inspired quilt is really taking shape now and I can't wait to finish and show you my quilt top!

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Blues: Making the Decorative Flourishes

Although these plate flourishes were in Part 1 of the pattern, I took much longer to finally get mine done! Here is the finished flourish, I opted for fussy cutting and contrasting blues. Later I'll hand embroider the swirls that you can see peeking through the background fabric. 

 You can see my fusible method here, with my pieces ready and prepped 

often I use a light box to layer my applique shapes, but this pattern is simple so I just layered it visually by referring to the pattern sheet

 I use basting glue to keep my completed applique shape in position on the background fabric until I'm ready to sew it down

  I use 'just enough' glue to firmly keep my applique in position

even so, I sometimes find that 'lumps' can occur, so I have a trusty little quilting hammer which I use to bash unruly fabric soft again. My banging has sent my poor DH to answer to door quite a few times whilst hammering tough applique so I think I must get quite carried away at the end of a hard days applique-ing!

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.