This week i have been working on lots of flower patches, both real ones in the garden, and fabric ones for my patchwork quilt...............
..............i am machine piecing lots of pretty squares together using plenty of floral fabrics from my stash, and including some text ones for a garden catalogue feel............
..............then i am adding applique and embroidery to the quilt top..........i am loving making this...
...............the first applique is a strawberry............i will show you more as this wip progresses....this week i have sent off the star quilt top to be longarm quilted..........and while looking at the farmer's wife quilt which was folded showing this dotty churndash block (below, top right) i was inspired to begin an english paper pieced quilt too...........
.............i have made churn dash quilts before, in red and white and love this old, traditional block....
..........now i am gathering up all the spotty dotty fabrics in my quilt cupboard to use for this idea.....as well as some small ditsy florals too........this will be another ongoing wip to show you...............
..............besides working on my fabric flower patches i've been in the garden a lot, planting, tidying, weeding, sowing and taking time to enjoy the beauty of these spring days.......the sound of birdsong, warm sunshine, tall old trees, the scent of bluebells.............i have been trimming the box hedging near the potting shed, and the air was filled with the scent of lavender, lemon thyme, bay and boxwood as i brushed against them.............mr p was fixing broken brickwork here and there around the garden and every now and then we would stop for a cup of tea............
................the pink clematis is blooming on a trellis against the back wall of the house...............
.............i am often inspired to make pretty floral decorative designs at this time of year, like the little tag here.......
.............and my other great pleasure is reading.........this week i have been engrossed in a wonderful new book called toast and marmalade by the pottery designer emma bridgewater............
........a fascinating read.......i liked reading about her trip to stoke on trent to have pottery samples made up when she first began........and how the pottery is still made in england..............it also reminded me of my own early work as the first commercial designs i sold were floral ones to a pottery in stoke on trent.........i went there by train with my large black portfolio..............
..............here is some of the emma bridgewater pottery that we use all the time.........i have had these a long time and they are still a pleasure to use.............i have a polka dot lasagne dish too but couldn't take a picture of it as it was in the oven at the time, with lasagne in it :)..........below is a picture of the first little mug i bought from the company many years ago.....................
........thank you for visiting today, lovely readers, and for all your sweet comments........i hope you are having a wonderful week enjoying the spring (or autumn if you are on the other side of the world)....wishing you sunshine and happy days......................back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
52 comments:
Hallo Helen,
das wird sicher ein wunderschöner Quilt, ich liebe es auch wenn so Kleinigkeiten aufgestickt oder appliziert werden. Bei uns ist zur Zeit auch viel Gartenarbeit, dadurch komme ich nicht so viel zum nähen, aber ein wenige muss immer sein. Es ist eine schöne Jahreszeit, der Frühling, wenn alles zu blühen beginnt und die Farben so toll sind.
Ich wünsche dir noch eine schöne Zeit und viel Spaß bei deinen Pausen mit dieser wundervollen Tasse.
Liebe Grüße Annerose
I also like the churn dash quilt pattern and have made a few. I love you patchy quilt with the applique.
That book looks like a good read. I've admired her pottery from afar for many years. Have a great day!
Love the new quilt Helen with the little strawberry and seed packet prints...lovely! :)
You paint a beautiful picture of gardening, the sounds, the smells and the essential cups of tea!
That sounds like a very interesting read, I do love to read about the lives of creative people.
Have a great week,
V xxx
Beautiful sewing, I can't wait to see your pretty quilt when it is finished. Thank you particularly for mentioning the book, it looks like something I would love to read. x
lovely floral quilt.....I do like the use of text. Looking forward to see how all your projects progress.
lovely floral quilt.....I do like the use of text. Looking forward to see how all your projects progress.
Your quilt squares look lovely, but terrifyingly complicated! Love all your spring floralyness - and your Emma Bridgewater too! xx
Your writing always lifts me up into your beautiful world. I know I would enjoy that book and love to see the pretty pottery you have. And the quilts and the pretty polka dots? So much fun! Enjoy your beautiful day my friend!
I love flowers, birds,spring weather and it's a pleasure read your post full of sensibility and cheerful colors. Your new floral quilt is beautiful and I love the appliques and embroidery details. I love your polka dots pottery and the forget-me-not on first pic.
Wishing you a lovely week!
Love Filfrom Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com
So many pretty fabrics. So many WIPs. I wish I had as much creative energy as you. That book sounds like an interesting read. Wishing you a wonderful day and rest of the week. Tammy
Hello Helen,
I look forward to each new blog post you write. I love all your photos and your descriptions. You make such beautiful things! Dawn
What pretty WIPs you have Helen, it's lovely to see some flower inspiration here. I love the catalogue fabric too, it gives such a vintage feel to your quilt. Enjoy your gardening...everything is coming to life now isn't it xx
Essa colcha está ficando maravilhosa.Cores alegres e suaves!
E as flores do jardim também estão lindas quanta beleza vem da natureza bjs.
I love your applique addition....so pretty.I think applique or embroidery really adds something to a stitched item.
It's so good to see all the plants starting to grow and flower.....though I only have a couple of flowers on my clematis at the moment.
Lovely little patchwork there, and I really like the addition of the typed fabric. Glad you're getting out in the garden, listening to the birds and feeling the sun! :) x
Crumbs, you've been busy, Helen! I love all the summery colours. Thanks for sharing xx
Love the addition of embroidery work to the quilt. Can't wait to see the polka dot quilt. As usual, beautiful and cheerful.
Judy
Your quilt work is so beautiful! Gorgeous vintage patterns with such a lovely fresh look to them. So beautiful! You are definitely making me want to pick up a new skill.... :)
Debbie x
I always feel inspired when I read your blog Helen. You certainly have an enthusiasm for life and for appreciating the beauty around you. I wish some of your good nature and productivity would wear off on me! x
your blog is always such a rainbow of colours Helen, I love it x
I saw that book at the weekend, it looks lovely x
I am making a hand pieced hexagon quilt in some of the same delicious fabrics. Now I would love to make one just like your one with the text prints and appliqué. Yes, we are in autumn down here, and the sun has appeared after rainy days. There is fresh snow on the mountains. xxxx
Such beautiful contrasts of fabrics; you always achieve such amazing eye-catching results.
Hello my friend from across the sea! As usual I enjoyed each and every photos of your colorful life and also enjoyed reading your story, too. I'm resting up from our trip to the ocean for a week.. but I will be going out into the garden soon to pick some lilacs for a bouquet. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Beautiful patchwork. I love your chair and pillow so much too. I have four Emma Bridgewater mugs and they are my favorites.
Love the Emma Bridgewater pottery. Of course, I don't have any but I still love it! I commented on some of your items on the post below. I guess it's time for me to get a "keeper" for myself. What yarns do you use for your blankets? I love the shades of your colors...vibrant yet not too bright just glorious color!
Oh how you inspire me, Helen! I just love that adorable little strawberry applique on your quilt block, and I would love to try my hand at the churn dash quilt blocks! So fun to see a simple design that looks complicated until you study the parts. Always lovely to see a post from you in my reader!
lovely patchwork ideas Helen!!!!
xxxxx ale
Ah Helen, another delightful post filled with beauty and poetic charm, transporting me into another world - you really inspire me to keep learning and working with gorgeous fabrics! I hadn't heard of
'churn dash' blocks till now, as I am relatively new to quilting, so am really enjoying seeing your lovely fresh work and having my curiosity and impetus aroused somewhat, thank you!
Congratulations on your wonderful blog!
Love, Joy x
I love the fabric and the tag !
Have a nice day
Maddy
Your quilts are always so very pretty, love the choice of polka dots for the churn dash, will be gorgeous.
Oh my I have so much to do in my garden, def need a push to get going on it or maybe this inspiration might just do the trick
Karen x
Lovely Helen, I love everything in this post. The patchwork quilt is going to be exquisite! Love the way you add your touch of appliqué. The fabrics as always are so colorful and pretty. I use to do churn dash squares a looong time ago, it was one of the first sampler squares I did. Love the clematis vine ,great shade we have mostly purple clematis here in the states in my area. I'm a big fan of Emma Bridgewater, I order direct from the shop in the UK for mugs, bowls and plates. I love the designs and quality. I will have to have a look at that book.
Enjoy your week, xoRobin
Hi Helen,
Oh, I love your sweet flower and strawberry appliques! So sweet and what a beautiful quilt it is going to be! Your churn dash blocks are so pretty! Wishing you a lovely and creative week! xo Heather
Oh how I love spotty fabric! Those quilt blocks are just lovely! And the garden catalogue quilt is going to be a stunner, too, the text blocks really do give it a special 'English gardener's shed' appeal...and I smiled at your first Emma mug, I have a little violet flowered one in the same shape, I do wish they'd bring back the violets! Have a happy week and weekend! Cxxx
Dear Helen,
We have the same flowers in our garden :-) It's a joy to see those pretty bouquets on your blog!
Emma Bridgwater does have some lovely pottery. I have a few half pint cups, from the floral collection. It's always a joy to drink my tea out of on of those cups.
Love the colours of your quilt!
Have a lovely evening!
Madelief x
Another lovely Spring post with such pretty stitched fabrics and flowers. Love your label as well. And, a homely scene in your garden stopping for tea. Thank you for sharing. Love Pat x
Lovely post Helen. I have the cup with the hearts on so pretty aren't they. Your flower patches are lovely really colourful x
There's nothing like a pretty flower patch, Helen, in the garden or in a piece of your gorgeous handiwork!
The April rains have come to my area, so things will be greening up more and more.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Karen
Your work is amazing asalways , love to pop by ans see your latest ,akes xxx
Helen, it was a pleasure to see your patchworking, both machine and especially the handsewn patching. The fabrics are great and your mix of color and pattern make for a visual feast.
Think you might know by now that I am also an Emma Bridgewater fan. I think that I'd also love to read her book and find out more about how she has been able to feed the shrinking English pottery trade. I am the proud owner of a EB mug featuring her husband's tribute to The Lost City of Stoke on Trent. I love that mug.
xo
Loving the pretty flower patches quilt, and the churn dash blocks are gorgeous!
Such a colourful post full of prettiness, thanks for sharing Helen!
Gill xx
I love flowers of any kind real and on fabric!! Your quilts are so pretty, I especially love the english paper pieced churn dash blocks, lovely idea. I always look forward to seeing what you are making!! Have a great day!
Such a lovely post Helen and I love all your 'spotty dotty' fabrics today! and definitely the text with your florals too :-)
I'm so looking forward to seeing how your 'Star' quilt looks on its return...it must be so exciting...x
How pretty is your old Emma Bridgewater mug...I haven't seen this design before (I do have some EB cake tins which I love) and must put the book on my 'to read' list too!
Fingers crossed for sunshine and time in the garden over the long weekend,
Susan x
Helen, thank you for sharing about the pottery and the book - I just love English pottery, and at the moment I'm quite taken with the canal art used by Julie Dodsworth. Not easily sourced in Australia, but I love all the eye candy of British pottery designers.
Oh my how I love your dotty fabric...so so much fun! I would love to take a peek at that book...may have to run over to Amazon and put it on my wish list. Hope you are very very well my friend. xox
Being a complete novice in the quilting craft, I just had to google 'churn dash quilt block' and I love it! If only I could finish all my crochet wip's I could do more qulting, I just know I will be hooked!
So much wonderful colour here as always.
Hope you're enjoying your garden this weekend. We have been trying to tidy ours up a bit but I keep getting distracted by my knitting.
Lovely Helen, many apologies for my lateness in catching up with you, life has been frantic as usual! As always Helen your wonderful posts fill me with admiration and inspiration. I love Emma Bridgewater and hadn't realised that she had written a book so will be looking out for this one. Your creations are mouth wateringly gorgeous and I get so many ideas from each post you do. It is a treat to call over to see you Helen, thank you. Have a fabulous weekend. Big hugs and loves
Dorothyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Only just discovered your blog Helen, you are wonderfully creative and so talented. I shall be popping by often for inspiration and a spot oooh-ing and arr-ing! X
All just lovely Helen, but I particularly like the paper template pieces. Your little floral tag is sweet and I love your early piece of Emma Bridgewater. I had seen the book on Pinterest and wasn't sure if it was a book or just a pretty notebook. I will have to look out for that as I love her designs. Hope you have a lovely bank holiday monday. With much love, Linda xx
It's always a great pleasure to scroll down through your colorful page Helen!Everything smiles by you.I'm also trying to decorate some boxes for my daughter's room, thanks for the inspiration!
Olympia
I read your name at Alessandra's blog and thaught: The same Helen Philipps from the book? Yes you are!:-) I love your book and hope I will start sewing again (I did so much years before). In recent years I am mainly working on other creative pursuits.
Greetings from Marijke
Muchas gracias por su comentario en mi blog. A mi me encanta visitar el suyo es muy inspirador y dulce con unas fotografias preciosas y unos trabajos maravillosos... siempre paso,me gusta mucho!!!! Un cariñoso saludo desde España.
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