Flowery Four Patch Quilts

 Today i am showing you some pictures of the two flowery four patch quilts i was working on last year using many of my favourite floral fabric scraps (lots of pam kitty morning and lecien pretties in there)...........

 ............i began making a straight four patch quilt and then decided to make a floating four patch one as well so i was working on two co ordinating quilts at the same time......

 ............here they are together............

 ............i love the four patch block....such a timeless traditional one but it can look so different according to the fabrics, colours and arrangements.........i want to make a red and white one next for a christmas feel....

 ............below is the floating four patch on my sewing room wall..........

 .............and a close up....the gorgeous swirly quilting was done by talented longarm quilter debbie holland...........

 .............. i backed both quilts with polka dots on white..........and both had different stripy binding....

 ................a few crumpled quilty close ups....you know how much i love those....

 ..............they are very light and summery designs ...........ready to be put away in the quilt cupboard now for a little while.....

 .............meanwhile it's never too soon to get crafting for christmas and here is a cross stitch and patchwork festive cushion which is my project in the new issue of crafts beautiful here......

 ............there is also a little christmas houses cross stitch ornament to make too............

............thank you for visiting me here this week dear readers, it's so lovely to see you and to read your kind comments......i hope you are having a happy cheerful september and enjoying sunny crafty days......back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

September Times

 September days are special for me.....they always seems like the start of new and positive things and exciting possibilities.........september makes me feel nostalgic for schooldays and my first days at college..........

 ...........and my first baby was born in september ......quite a while ago now ;)......

 ...........i love these cosy days when we do lots of gardening and then come in for a cup of tea....and make some soup and a plum or apple crumble in the aga.....

 ........this is the little mushroom pillow i've been making this week....it is from the pattern in my book *modern vintage gifts*...........

 ..........this one is having lots of quilting and some extra embroidery too.........

..........sorting out some plates....sorting out some other kitchen bits and pieces....

 ..........lots of apples from friends and family......we don't grow many but i usually have enough for plenty of crumbles.....

 ..............some days have been cool and grey but some have that spectacular september sunshine and blue sky highlighting the berries on the rowan tree............

 .........i've started collecting my two older grandchildren from school again some days each week....it's so nice to have this time with them, to walk home together and hear about their day and all their news......

 ..............the pretty roses below were a gift from a lovely friend and the other flowers came from the garden......

 ..........here are some pictures of my version of the carousel quilt a pattern by sandra boyle for everyday quilts..........i really wanted to make a quilt with circles and i love this one....more about this coming soon......

 ............back to my kitchen now.....time to make some dinner ......

...........thank you for visiting me here dear readers and for your kind comments......i hope you are having a very happy sunny cosy september with lots of joys of the season and plenty of crafty inspiration too...............back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy Little Things

 Hello again lovely readers............here we are at the beginning of september already...not sure how that could happen so fast....lots of happy little things are being made here and i am so enjoying these crafty times.....

 .............first this little flower applique pincushion, made in a boxy shape and decorated with a liberty fabric covered button and a little stitchery..........

 .............next is another little fish for my shoal..........

 ............lots of people asked if there is a pattern for the little fish...there will be one soon...

 ............and here is one of my new favourites....a pentagon ball on a nautical theme....love these fabrics and adding little surface stitches to create extra interest and texture..........

 .........in the evenings i am happily hand quilting my heartstrings quilt.........

 ...........it's a nice one to hand quilt as the squares are fairly small and easy to work....

 ..............below is a little peek at a woodland creature...the little pastel deer is part of a set which is my project in this month's crafts beautiful magazine here...........you can make a deer, a mushroom, a tree, an owl, and a bunny to hang on the christmas tree or to add to gift bags......i'll show more pictures of them soon........

 ............plums from my friend for a delicious crumble...........

 ..............can't believe it's that time of year again already.....

 ..............and below are some beautiful flowers that my younger daughter and her family brought me

 .............my small grandson rhys chose them and when i thanked him especially for choosing such lovely ones he said 'i like all the colours'......me too!!................here they are in the studio with a flowery quilt and a string of flowery birds...........

.............thank you so much for visiting me here dear readers and for the kind comments you take the time to leave..........wishing you all a very happy september with cheerful autumn days and plenty of crafty inspirations............back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rockpool Quilt

 Hello dear readers...here i am to show you a new little quilt made with the gorgeous rockpool fabrics from the super talented jodie carleton at ric rac.............

 ............i was so inspired when i saw this collection and thrilled when jodie sent me some....this little play mat/quilt was made for my smallest grandson louis..............

 ............the patchwork is arranged as a trip around the world design and quilted in the clamshell pattern by my lovely longarm quilter debbie holland.....she suggested using variegated thread for this and i think it works really well.....

 .........a quilty close up.......wonderful textured prints and seaside images all in these clear coastal colours that i love.....

 ............the backing is a polka dot in apple green with a matching striped binding.....

 .............and i also made some big fish too, one for each of the little boys and one for me to keep as a pattern.........

 ............the family came to stay this weekend and we had a fun time with all the grandchildren together and even picked the right day to have our barbecue (luckily not the one where it poured with all the rain it's been saving up for the last few weeks!)...........

 ...............happy days with the little ones and seeing my dear older grandchildren with them too....

 ...........i just love looking at quilts up close.........

 ..............a bucket of fish........and some fish hanging up below.....this was a fun make .....

 ............today there is a nip of autumn in the air............the apples are ready for making crumble....these were on my friend's tree at my old home so this used to be my tree :).....

 ..............my older grandchildren have got their school supplies ready for next week's new term.....i collect them from school three days a week and so my new term is just about to start too..........

.............i love the different seasons and the way they change though it is always a wistful time as summer begins to leave.....we certainly had a good one this year though..... thank you for dropping in to see me here dear readers and i wish you a wonderful week ahead with sunny days and crafty inspirations...............back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx