New Beginnings
We’re at the beginning of a new month.
I’ve begun my new job.
And summer is just around the corner.
I am also going to start a new quilt.
Today is cutting-out day!
It’s going to be a wedding present for a niece.
We’ve decided on a simple design of strips and squares in a variety of batik fabrics.
Now to actually make it.
Check back to see how I’m doing.
Festival of Quilts 2011
Went to the Festival of Quilts at NEC Birmingham yesterday (Thursday 11th August)
Wow!!!!
Hundreds of fantastic quilts
Truly overwhelming.
I spent about 5 hours wandering around but really needed another day!
I thoroughly recommend that you visit.
And take a camera
You’ll need it.
I decided not to take my heavy camera with me
What a terrible mistake!
I did have my phone but can’t retrieve the pictures at this stage.
(Never bothered to load my laptop with the phone programme and have now packed the disc!)
The show is on until Sunday 14th August
Also take lots of money to buy all those wonderful fabrics, books, notions, etc from the stalls 
Live and Learn
Bright Box - Top
Things I learnt making this quilt top:
I like bright colours
I need to know more about my camera to get the colours right in a photo.
I get seams to match better when I eyeball them and don’t pin them.
Not to be too fussy about getting the seams to match.
I really like this pattern but …
I really do hate ironing!
I need to finish what I’m doing before starting something new.
(This has taken longer than I thought and I have other things I need to do!!!)
I can waste a whole day looking at a quilt.
I do more sewing when the weather is cooler or wet.
I cannot vacuum the lounge floor with a quilt laying on it!!
I really, really want a place where I can have a design wall, a cutting table, shelves for fabric, etc …
I Want A Sewing Room !!!!!
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Good luck to Mark Webber in the British Grand Prix.
No One’s Perfect
The Bright Box quilt top is progressing slowly.
I have still to sew half of the columns together.
Mind you I’ve sewn the first half about three times.
The seams are just not matching up!
After sewing and unpicking three times I give up.
It’s better to finish than be perfect 
P.S. The quilt colours are more like the previous photos but thought this photo shows the progress even if it isn’t perfect
Half of Bright Box
Bright Idea
Bright Box
Photo Flipped
It’s bright …
It’s fun …
It’s what I’m working on.
Yeah I know I’m suppose to be making some Mug Rugs for a friend.
I have the Mug Rugs cut out and ready to go but I’ve been hijacked.
I saw these colours all together when I moved my stash recently.
As the weather has been bright and sunny recently the fabrics called out to me
I had to make them into something!
Okay so it was also given me a reason to procrastinate about other things I need to do.
I really like this design and plan to use it again.
I’ve used the method described by Maxine Rosenthal and Joy Pelzmann in their book
What Will Today Bring
It seems to have been a week of doing a lot and achieving little.
Attended a 10 minute interview on Monday that took 45 minutes.
Hopefully that has been sorted out!
Have tried to get my haircut, twice, but salon has been closed.
Will try again today!
Layered quilt but need more safety pins before taking it off the wall.
Went to get some but shop needs to reorder them!
Applied for more jobs
At least I have done that but it has taken hours!
On the positive side.
Went to Wimbledon, for the first time, on Tuesday afternoon and had a great time.
Thanks to all those concerned.
Including the stranger who gave us two tickets for Court 1.
Great seats which some of us took turns using.
Wimbledon Courts
Court 1 From Free Seat
Made and Delivered
A's UK Quilt - Back
A's UK Quilt - Top
A’s UK quilt completed and delivered.
The patchwork on the top of the quilt certainly brightens his room.
But I like the colour contrasts in the patchwork back!
(The photo is of the single quilt on my double bed)
He seemed to genuinely like the quilt so I’m happy.
Now to finish Bali Squared – I need to order some wadding.
I’ve been filling in applications for jobs and that’s kept me busy.
Fingers-crossed that I get a job soon (or win Lotto.)
Hail the Quilt
Yes the white lawn is hail.
A's UK Quilt
England is in a drought???
But it snowed on Snowdon (mountain in Wales) yesterday!!!
And there was a hailstorm in East London.
It just made me want to curl up under a quilt.
So that is what I did.
Mind you I was hand sewing the binding on A’s quilt.
And watching Formula 1 practice at the same time.
I’ll have the quilt finished by the end of the weekend.
Who knows when the weird weather will end.
Technology
I love technology when it works!!!
But I’ve had some problems lately with bureaucracy and technology that doesn’t work!!
To the point of tears!
Sewing can be very therapeutic
I’ve released my frustration and stress by sewing.
So the quit for A is nearing completion. Yay.
And to restore my faith in technology I’ve joined Flickr and Twitter.
Don’t expect anything from them at this stage.
I love technology but that doesn’t mean that I know how to use it
A Meeting and Progress Has Been Made
UK Coasters
A couple of days ago I met up with Sandy and her husband, Dennis.
Sandy made me a basket in the basket swap
Sandy and Dennis were/are in London for several days.
It’s amazing how quilting can bring people from around the world together.
As a reminder of their visit and our meeting I made some coasters.
I’m pleased how they came out.
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I’ve also cut out, sewn and layered the quilt for ‘A’
(Yes the fabric finally arrived!)
And the Bali Squared quilt top is sewn.
Now to finish everything!!!
Photos on Flickr
More Photos
My Etsy Shop
Birdie Block of the Month
The Pledge
