ABC Applique Kickback Friday

I've been quiet I know.

My D.H. is on holidays this week and next week.
But
We are having a stay at home holiday
Sew
I have had time to stitch - just been having a break from 'tinternet.

I've been working on

'The Baby Quilt'

All the stitching on these is now finished.

If you want to see how I machine applique

 check out my Machine Applique Video part 1

and

Machine Applique Video part 2

to view

click on the pink links

The Strippy Quilt

I'm lovin the purple

Top is now finished ready for quilting.

And yesterday I started making samples for our next Monday Class Project.

More details on this one soooon.....

Meanwhile take a look at my other

Social Media Links

Well that's all from me tonight folks,

Yours in Stitches, Joy

Strips, Stitcheries, & Kickback Friday - Any Dream Will Do.

Well my Quilty Friends I've started on my Strip Quilt.

It's a brilliant way to use up the fabric left over from a finished project.

If you use fabrics left over from a project they will obviously go together so the added bonus is you don't have to worry about matching colours.

Also it could make a quick and easy matching accessory for said project.


Other than that. Pick a piece of fabric and choose fabric from the colours that are in it.

The striped fabric was my starting point.

The pink on the right didn't make it into the final cut!

I cut my strips 5" in length

&

between one and a quarter and two and a half inches in width

just to add some variety.

BUT

one and a quarter was a bit to thin 

I wouldn't go below one and a half inches in future.

OR

You can cut your strips all the same width. 

I've been looking at strippy quilts on-line and the one above took my fancy.
It's by Cluck Cluck Sew  
If you click on the Pink Link above it will take you to her web-site, where you will find more pictures and a
Strip & Flip tutorial.  Well worth a look at.

And in a complete change of subject, here is a link to Lorna's blog, Sew Fresh Quilts and a lovely post she made about her mom's embroidered quilts from the 1960's. They are beautiful quilts and well worth taking a peak at.

And finally, music - ummm...how do I feel tonight.

Well, Daisy's been a bit naughty today, nibbling at the wallpaper and while I was in the room too!
So I was thinking Puppy Love, but then I saw Any Dream Will Do from Joseph. Now there are a number of suspects for this particular song, but for me it has to be....good old Donny - well, he's a year younger than me actually.  But still, good old Donny Osmond.

Well, that's it from me and Daisy today,

Remember to click on the Pink Links

& Enjoy

Yours in Stitches, Joy

Daisy stitches – Kickback Friday

Well my Quilty Friends, it's still hot, hot, hot in Wales.

So I was up, dressed and down the beach nice and early this morning before the day had a chance to heat up.

And it was glorious down there this morning.

I wanted to introduce Daisy to the beach.

At first she was afraid.

She was pretrified

And after ten minutes of trying, I had to pick her up and carry her onto the beach.

At first she stuck by me like glue.
But then she thought the wet sand was pretty cool to lay in.

What, me roll around in the wet sand.

No it wasn't me - I'm not sure I like the beach.

Stay with me this does involve stitching - eventually.

Now she's getting into it - ears all akimbo -

She looks a bit like a gremlin - maybe that's what happens to her for ten minutes every evening when she goes wild. Um.. must remember not to get her wet.

Ah yes, this is the life - just call me
Daisy Digger or Digger Daisy










Using camera timer now - quick Daisy, we have 10 seconds to strike a pose.
The eagle eyed among you may have noticed the railings in the sand. - yes the sand has completely covered the steps and most of the railings too!

After her first visit to the beach this morning Daisy has spent the rest of the day like this - with occasional re-positioning for comfort.

I think it's what you call 'Dog Tired'.

Here are some shells we collected this morning for future inspiration.

And finally, here comes the stitching bit.
Do you remember in my last post I showed you my work in progress.

Well, here it is all finished, except for the edging - not sure what I'm going to do there.
Any suggestions?

Above the original picture with my interpratation.

And this is a close up of Daisy all finished.

I'm absolutely thrilled with it - I had a few wobbles along the way, wasn't sure it was going to turn out how I envisaged it.
But the finished piece is just how I wanted it to look. Yippy!

Might try another one soon - watch this space....

Meanwhile, you might enjoy browsing my other Social Media Links

So, that's it from me today,

Yours in Stitches, Joy

Kickback Friday

It's been another busy week for me. I'm learning all the time about blogging and followers and networks and circles. Still finding it all a bit confusing. Just when I think I fully understand one thing another crops up. Never mind it's all good fun. But if any of you are having problems with anything on the blog. Please let me know. Because I might be blissfully unaware.

I'd love to see any logcabin blocks/quilts you may have started work on. You can post pictures now on my Joyofquilting facebook page. Click the link on the right hand side or even the red bit of writing here to take you to my facebook page.

It's Easter this weekend. I have given my hubby a hint of what egg I'd like and even where to buy it, so fingers crossed. Mind you it doesn't feel like Easter - it's still freezing here in Wales. And all the spring flowers are still hiding underground from the frost.

I have also picked up my wavy crocheting this week. I don't think I've touched it since before Christmas. I did one row last night, and it certainly keeps you warm while your crocheting.          

What do you think - do you like.

When it grows up it's going to be a blanket.
I was inspired to get this piece of crocheting back out when I saw Dorien's fabulous work on her blog. Click on this link to visit Dorien's blog  

And this is this link to Attic 24 where you will find the pattern for this wavy blanket
and see lots of fabulous crochet work

Well, I've finished my 24 half log cabin blocks and I've been playing around with the placement.

Not sure which one I will make up. Does anyone have any favorites?
Well that's about it from me for today. Have a wonderful Easter, hope you find lots of eggs. And I'll talk to you all again on Monday. With my 'factory or chain piecing' video.

Yours in stitches, Joy

Kickback Friday.

Ahhhh...and relax.  I just got back in after battling through wind and rain and roadworks to get home. The weather outside is horrendous. I think this has been the longest winter - certainly since my records began;).  One good think - it's perfect stitching weather.

Looking back over the last week I had a wonderful start. Last Saturday Ros, one of our 'actual group' members showed me a copy of April's British Patchwork & Quilting magazine. I was surprised and delighted to see that Ros had nominated me as their 'Threaducation Star of the Month'.  Thank you so much Ros, I am quite thrilled that you felt the need to publicly thank me. And for doing what I love. As an added bonus, both Ros and I should soon receive a box of Mettler sewing threads.

Monday I took a few pictures in class of some of our Logcabin Quilts
First we have Peggy's Barn Raising Logcabin Quilt top. I'll have to get a close up next week. Because this picture doesn't show up the beautiful purply/lavender silk Peggy has put in this quilt. It give her quilt a wonderful opulent feel.

 Then Joan's Wavy Log Cabin. I've put in the close-up picture to show you the quilting. Joan is in the middle of hand quilting her Wavy Log Cabin. And soon we will be looking at ideas for quilting your Logcabins. So I thought this would whett your appetite.

Then on Tuesday I went to a 'sit and sew' day. Where I started making more logcabin blocks.

Remember my wonky logcabin blocks? Well I have stitched them together to make a quilt top. And I have decided to use a second jelly roll to make another logcabin top. My plan is to have a double sided logcabin quilt. Pictures soon.

On Monday I will show you the last of our Logcabin blocks. A Half Logcabin block.  Meanwhile enjoy your weekend wherever you are. And for those of us in the U.K. best you batten down the hatches and quilt through the wind and rain.

Yours in Stitches, Joy  

Kickback Friday

I'm sitting down, feet up, cup of tea at the ready. I hope you have had a good stitching week.  And sometimes a good stitching week is a plotting and planning week rather than actual stitching week. I know I spend a considerable amount of time thinking about and planning projects. It's all part of the fun.
Have you had a chance to watch  this weeks Video Lesson on making up a basic logcabin sample block?
If you are quite new to logcabin it's worthwhile watching my first two videos. Rotary Cutting and making a Basic Logcabin sample block. It doesn't take long to make up and will serve as a visual reminder to you whenever you want to make logcabin blocks.
A little heads up here, cut a few extra strips. They will come in handy over the next few weeks as we make Courthouse Steps and Half Square Logcabin samples.
While you have been busy learning about logcabin. I have been busy learning the ins and outs of blogging.  Today I have been reading about having a Facebook page for my blog. I'm going to do a bit more research but it seems like a good idea.
I know from your comments that some of you are confused (don't feel alone in that. I've been confused many times over the last week trying to understand the finer details of blogging. But the more I read the more the fog begins to lift.) Anyway I digress - I know that some of you are confused as to how to find my blog for future visits. Clicking on the follow my blog link is a good start. But as many of you are on facebook - a facebook page for JoyofQuilting may be helpful, so I'm looking into that.

OK enough babbling from me. Let's focus. I promised you that today I would talk about the different effects you can achieve in a quilt just using the basic Logcabin Block.


If you made 36 basic logcabin blocks like this.
















                                                                           By playing around with the placement of your 36 blocks you could make.....this design

Or this design....or keep playing...

This design....keep moving those blocks  around and.....

You could choose this design...or even

This rather splendid design...the possibilities are endless - well there's lot's of possibilities.  

I think your getting the idea now.

And that's just a few examples with just one type of logcabin block!
I hope this has whetted your appetite and your fingers are itching to get stitching.
I have used Quilt-Pro Version 5 (Quilt design software) to show these quilt designs.
My next post will be on Monday when I will show you how to make a Courthouse Steps Logcabin Block.....meanwhile, yours in stitches, Joy

Kickback Friday

Kickback Fridays are going to be posts looking back over the week and  chatting about whatever takes my fancy. I'm going to sit down with a cup of tea and just chill with you all.

This last week has been incredible for me. My revamping of this blog has really hit the ground running.  I've learnt so much in the last seven days. And I am thrilled that my followers have reached double figures. I've gone from one to ten followers this week. Although I must confess one of those followers is me. I still don't know how I did that - it's a mystery to me how I managed to follow myself.

Anyway, I really appreciate all your support. And please keep on making comments I really do want to know what you think and how your getting on with your projects, especially so if your making a logcabin quilt at the moment.

I've been making next Monday's logcabin sample video today. I'm so enjoying sharing with you all. And although the video is to help beginners, or those of you who haven't tried log cabin. I am hoping that those of you who are more experienced will still join in and share whatever logcabin blocks you decide to make. That way it's more of a group experience and we can also bounce of each other.

Monday class log cabins are coming along nicely.

These block are mine. I'm making a 'wonky' Log Cabin. The blocks are straight at the moment but will soon be cut 'wonky'

This is Gaynor's log cabin laid out with large corner triangles  ready to stitch on.

Well that's it from me at the moment. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. My next blog will be Monday's group when I'll show you how to put together a basic log cabin sample block. 

                 Yours in stitches, Joy x