Picture heavy catch up. :o)

 It has been quite a year with one thing and another and I am afraid my blog has suffered because of it. Thanks to everyone for all the nudges to get posting again!
Things are really looking up now and a lot of loose odds and ends should be resolved soon. :o)
 So it's time for a catch up!

 

It was our Golden Wedding Anniversary in August and on the day itself we just went up to Crummock Water and had a picnic. We have been so fortunate to have had a happy,whole half century together.  

The weather was kind and there was a "glass on the water"------pure magic!

The fantastic summer we have had this year was just what was needed to get things growing again along our river wall after the rebuilding work.

 

Because of the weather we have been outside a lot but I have still been sewing, knitting and crocheting.

 

 

In July an anxiously awaited grandson arrived! All well. :o)

 

This was my contribution to the P&Q magazine's 250 Shades of Red competition. It is pictured in this month's magazine. 

 

This is a clothesline basket made just to prove to myself that my Bernina really can sew rope! Would you believe there are 25 yards of rope in it?

 

 

 Came across some white sweat shirting fabric in my stash so used some of the lovely Paisley patterns in my Bernina 830 on the fronts and back of a jacket.

 

When it was done I popped it in the washer and dyed it a sort of dark dusky pink so that the embroidery is now tone on tone.

  

 

I rarely use patterns for quilts but Love Entwined caught my imagination as it is based on an C18 coverlet. Our house is at least as old as that so I thought it would fit right in even done in more modern colours. The pattern is all still freely available thanks to Esther's generosity.

 

 I am amazed that I have nearly finished it and also how big it is! Would you believe there is a three seater sofa hidden under it on the above picture!

 

 

 

Last corners ready to add.

 

 

 

Last border ready.

 

 

Also downloaded a pattern for Bionic Gear Bag from Craftsy. It gave me opportunity to use fabric on which I had tried out one of my own applique designs that was just the right size!

 

It gave plenty of practice on inserting zips as well as making inroads into my stash!

Remember that silk quilt---?

Well I have just heard that it has won Third Prize ! What a great start to the year.
:o)

Now the judging is over I can show the full quilt. Unfortunately the crystals aren't showing up too well. I think when it comes home I might add more beading to it?

I made it to enter into a Machine Embroidered Quilt competition that was run by Flair magazine. My prize is Madeira threads which is great as I am a self confessed thread junkie.

I particularly enjoyed making this quilt. I think the combination of working with silk,favourite colours and patterns may have had something to do with it


I called it Crazy Paisley!

Finished

The silk quilt is finished :o) The last entry date is in another week so for once I am finished in reasonable time. Usually I am really up against the deadline and posting the day before.

I have used quite a lot of hot fix crystals on this one. I usually bead and don't know which effect I prefer now. It is certainly twinkly!!! I got around the lack of fabrics by piecing several colours to do the binding and made a scalloped/prairie points sort of finish at the bottom to give me the extra length I needed.

A lot of the quilt is paisley type designs so I thought this shape of bottom border fitted in quite well?

Those silk bits!

Remember those silk snips that I had left over? Well this is what they were left over from!This is still a WIP (Work in Progress) and the deadline for the competition is looming very close. It is mainly silk applique and embroidery all done on on the Bernina 200e.

The shot silk used as the main fabric is lovely to work with and is really coming into its own as I begin to quilt. At some angles it is raspberry pink and at others a really deep purple so the relationship with the colour of the appliqued shapes changes constantlyThe Paisley patterned shapes have extra wadding behind them and initially I will just quilt around them.

I am not sure yet what the rest of the quilting will be like. I have an idea but will need to test it out first.

Embroidery

I have been collecting different coloured silk fabric for some time with the vague intention of making a machine embroidered silk quilt. Over the years since I got my Bernina software I have digitised quite a lot of designs and I am wondering if I can adapt some of these into patterns for a quilt or whether I it will be better to start from scratch with some totally new ones.

Apparently if the silk is washed gently in shampoo, or mild detergent ,before use the finished item will be washable too.

I hope that is true!!!!