Maia's Quilt

One of my best friends just had another baby.  Her twin boys are aged six, and I think the question of whether to go for number three was thought about for most of those six years.  Happily her then unknown presence was finally deemed very much necessary, and now she is here in the world and how very exciting and pleasing this is for us all.  Unfortunately, I won't get to meet her right away as she lives in Italy... Oh, how I would like to zip over and see them!

So, I made a quilt for her.  I pieced the top in a weekend which is unheard of for me, I don't know how I did it really, I think I may have been neglecting my children and husband somewhat.  Then it took me a little longer to back and quilt and bind.  The fabric is American Jane Recess.  I bought a FQ stack of this line yonks ago, and sadly I think this will be the last quilt it makes, but it has served me well.  It did this one, and this one.  And clearly that duvet cover picked up in the charity shop has done me well too, as it backed the three Recess quilts and this one!  Gosh, I am predictable aren't I?

So, sewing is being slipped in between the rest of life.  Although this 'rest' of life is proving to be rather stressful.  We have sold our home and are in the process of buying a new one.  The new one being 200 miles away.  Eek.

And, I would like to thank Knotted Cotton for this post, by reminding me that I have a blog.

Mils Blue Quilt

I hadn't meant to blog this morning.  I logged on to look at my much neglected blog reader and realised I would rather write a post.

I have neglected this space and it distresses me so.  I wish I had the time to dedicate more to it... perhaps this will change in time.

Anyhow, want to see what I finished?  I'm not sure I even told you I had started it, but I made a quilt for Mil.  It's blue, it's a simple nine-patch, it is quilted in a very simple way, and actually I am really pleased with it.

And the best thing is that Mil likes it.  This is remarkable as he has an inherent dislike of all that is new.  But as I put it on his bed and started to take some photographs, he came upstairs and immediately got into bed and closed his eyes for a moment, then got back out and took great care in straightening it back out again.

Last night after bedtime he came back downstairs and said 'I really love my quilt mum, thank you for making it for me'.  I don't doubt for a moment that he knew how much that meant to me.

Speak to you all soon!

Next project: a quilt for the new blog

I've started on my next project... a quilt for the Backstitch blog (which will be up and running soon) I was basting it at the weekend which is a bit of a job with an expanding bump!

I'm hand quilting this one so some dedicated hours in front of the TV I think.

Just desperately in love with this fabric though, which will be in the shop once I go live.

Finally Finished!

I have finally finished my 'first' quilt that I started back in September 2008. Yes, I know, it's a miracle, it only took me 16 months! Truthfully, I am overjoyed and relieved to have completed this project. I have started quilting it twice, and unpicked it twice, started with one type of batting, and ended with another... basically changing tack many times before ending up here, at the end.

I completed the quilt top in October 2008 after joining a quilting and patchwork class. Then I had to figure out how to quilt it on my own. It sounds daft saying 'on my own' about a task that seems pretty straightforward to me now, but I just didn't have the confidence, or (dare I say it) experience, that I have now. This quilt really makes me realise how much I have been learning over the last year or so, not just in being able to finish it, but in the quality of my stitching.

I am VERY pleased to have it finished. I love that it is no longer in a pile under my desk. I love (most of) the fabrics and it's rich and playful colours. I love that it is for us, and I won't be wrapping it up and giving it away like so much that I make. And, I love that we have already been snuggling under it rather a lot.