Hand sewn LeMoyne star table runner

Hand sewn LeMoyne star table runner, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

All finished and on the table, its got stitch in the ditch with invisible thread around the stars and highlighted 1/4" in with green thread.

whooshing water wheel

whooshing water wheel, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

... a beautiful find near the cottage where we stayed last week. I took lots more of it!

Mystery project finish

I'm not sure anyone would have guessed what it was but let me know if you did!

Its a cabin clock case for my DD's present. I made it with a plane, balloon and ship showing as she is now a fully fledged Naval aviator. Well done hun.

Le Moyne progress and mini tutorial

I tried a few different way to assemble the stars

First making the star and then adding the outside pieces

and then making up sections and adding one on to another going round

and finally the most successful making up quarters and assembing. This led to the best seam placements.

Heres a few pics of it being made up to give you a guide, the best thing about this way is that you do all the white pieces together and its one continuous seam.

This photo shows how one seam goes one way and the other points out the other way, these can be sewn into position and so aid it being put together.

The two halves then sew together really easily. I made the final three this way and it was super quick to do, probably faster hand sewing the y seams rather than attempting to machine them.


Here's the final order all ready to be trimmed, sewn together and basted together.

ivy and twigs

ivy and twigs, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

It was a beautiful day yesterday so grabbed a few minutes to get snapping. The little snow we had was gong very soft and then was getting ready to refreeze as ice, it was very slippy later on.

Finished music stand bag and next project start

 

Managed to find a clear bit of floor to photograph it but its probably covered in dust as everywhere in the house has a white film over it.

The builders finished and everything is progressing well. Carpet ordered, tv has arrived, curtain pole has arrived, curtain lining material has arrived. We are going to pick a sofa tomorrow. Due to my back problems I have searched high and low to find one that I could sit on occassionally (I'm getting my own chair but would like to be able to cuddle up once in a while). I've found a local company who will fill with foam etc of your choice and have a narrow seat depth so legs will be on the floor and so less load on the sciatic nerve. Its a real blessing as my DH who is 5" taller than me has the same length legs so it will fit both of us.

Here is the next project, any guesses what it is?

lone leaf

lone leaf, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

I found the most beautiful leaf on a walk recently, came home and was looking for a good background. The car bonnet proved to be perfect and it had lovely water bobbles on it.

A necessity make

Had to take my lovely white music stand out to sing somewhere last week and had nothing to put it in so ......

 here is a bag in progress. I had the tiniest amount of material leftover from the amp cover I made for DH so I have eeked this out to make a strap and there is enough for a little pocket.

More on the lounge renovation. The wallpaper samples have arrived (of course the William Morris ones were our favourites as these are the most expensive), the carpets are down to a final three and I have the curtains. Painting starts tomorrow.

I have spent the day ordering things, a roman blind kit for the little window (its so little a remnant is enough material for it), a corded curtain pole and our new television. I had forgotten the joy of spending money of stuff you really like not just need.

Bridgewater canal fence

bridgewater fence, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

On a recent outing spotted this beautiful rusty fence. If only i could use a bit for a new curtain pole as all the new ones are shiny and horrible.

Final photos

 Before you get sick of seeing it.
Here is the completed reverse.

Finished cushion

My mega mixed media cushion is done.

I'm going to make a floral pad to match and it can go in the present cupboard ready for christmas.

Next project is a small case for a travel clock for eldest DD. She has got a big celebration at the start of December so I've got a couple of weeks to make something really special.


This is how my lounge looks at the moment -

... no walls, electric, heating, anything! Getting this done for Christmas is going to be my main priority.

I'm picking carpet to go down when its done at the moment but am having an uncharacteristic indecisiveness. I suppose its because I will be living with it for years and years so want to get it right.

here is the cushion front, couldn't find the picture earlier

 

.... close up of the name detail quilted in, it has all her four names though they are quite subtle so she may not notice ...

Here is the appliquéd, quilted and embroidered panel. I have done repairs in matching thread and added some more details. the quilting is done diagonally and I'm hoping it will wrinkle nicely when washed but won't do this until the whole cushion is made up.

Christmas decorations

 

14 done and decorated ready for her tree to go up on the 1st December. We have the builders starting work today so I don't think that ours will be up anytime before christmas eve. Lots of shopping to be done for sofas, carpets and curtain material before then.

doh!

I can be so forgetful. The quilting is done on the cushion cover and I meant to take a picture .... but didn't. Its going to be hard to give as a present as I love it and its got 10+ hours of hand sewing on it.

I've sewn some little decorations for DD's christmas tree so next post will be two pictures.

Have a safe and happy bonfire night. We are spending ours inside in the dry and warm. Friends are coming for a meal.

The patchwork strip attached

Its going to be a licorice allsorts kind of piece,

 

I'm pleased with the colour combination, DD doesn't want anymore blue in the flat as all my cast offs are that as its my default colour to buy anything in!

I've started the quilting on it now and a very fancy back so it can be used either way to ring in the changes. More soon!

BTW Happy November, one of my favourite months.

frosty morning ....

frosty morning, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

... it was beautiful yesterday morning and it enticed me out in my pj's to take this. It was worth the chill but it was best on top of the shed so took a bit of getting to.

Christmas Project

I'm having the occasional break from my hand quilting marathon to get on with this piece

 

The blocks are nearly ready to go together and be added to the rest of the piece, its going to basted and quilted. 

Next progress post tomorrow hopefully (as long as DD isn't reading this as its for her new flat).

arthog falls through the branches

arthog falls through the branches, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

Just back from a few days in wales, the local waterfalls were really in full flow even though there doesn't seem to have been that much rain.

This gave me a good chance to try and capture them.

I did lots more hand quilting and thinking about the christmas makes I have started.

dunstanborough castle gate

dunstanborough castle gate, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

I'm still chugging through my holiday photos, this one had a really ugly fence in front of it so I've taken that out and think you can see the full beauty of it now. I'm not sure if the National Trust try to ruin things on purpose.

Binding, binding, binding .....

.... but I am on the last side.

Note to self, remember to sew in the label now so that the top row of stitches don't show.

Last of the roses

last of the roses, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

This if from a photo shoot I did last week, the weather was beautiful and I am really pleased with some of the shots I got.

My hand sewn hexagon quilt is next on the "to be finished in 2010" list

I managed to bind a similar sized quilt in 3 days for DD so this will probably take a few weeks as its for me and there is no deadline!

Couldn't resist another pic of my lovely rug

 

It has taken me two months to do so I think two pictures of it is quite restrained. It looks alot different to how I though it would. I have lots of ideas for another one.

Here it is ....

The rug is nearly done

I think I'll get it done today, I'm very excited about finishing my first rug. I've got a spot picked out for it, so I'll picture it in its new home later.

I'm planning the design for my next one but that is going to have to wait until I've done my christmas projects. I've got enough old t shirts to do one the same size or bigger.

I'm going to do a table runner with some 8 point stars and some christmas decorations for DD's new home. I'm thinking of hand piecing the stars and making up on the machine as I am liking having some hand sewing to do.

2nd Pair of Patchwork Pillowcases

All done, they are being delivered tonight.

What are these going to morph into??

Yes something else for DD!

I would never run out of ideas if all the children just moved alot, I would have endless places to furnish ..... as long as they were happy with repurposed items

Here are the first results from the scraps

 

Two more are nearly finished ready for us to visit her new place tomorrow, they are a slightly different design. I'll post pictures when they are done.

three boats in craster harbour

three boats craster harbour, originally uploaded by ajj1001.

Had a blustery but lovely few days away in Northumberland. We will definitely go back for a longer explore but the tent had to be tied to the car in the 40 mph gusts so it was a bit hairy going.

There were lots of people painting these boats but I didn't have mine with me so I took quite a few pictures to pain it when I get home, not quite the same but it'll be fun as I have some new sable brushes to use.

The little birds wreath finished.

In my sewing frenzy for DD to move out I got the wreath finished. She is going for an eclectic, shabby style and this fits right in.

I am looking forward to seeing what she manages to pull together. Anything stainless steel or shiny isn't being allowed!

It finished and in its new home ....

I had a final push yesterday and got the binding done, a marathon of four hours of hand sewing but worth it as she moved in to her new flat today. (this pic is on my bed)

Really looking forward to seeing it with the new bedding that she has bought to go with it ( really beautiful white cotton, embroidered with pale blue flowers).

I even remembered to put a label on it in all the rush

Just a quick one ....

Summer is making one last effort to keep going

Its been lovely here but there has been a bit of peace and quiet descending so some photographing of latest makes has taken place.

I'm onto No 2 from "LIttle Birds" (previous make was the birds on a branch) -

Bird in a wreath (minus the bird until it is stuffed)

Will post a done picture of it soon ......

and the rug is growing and growing, think this will be pretty much finished, if I have enough material, whilst we go away next week. Its a very organic process as you aren't quite sure how much area the rags will cover. Different thickness vary alot and it is surprising the variation in amount of material produced by a t shirt.

DD's quilt is nearly quilted so that will being bound ready for her to take off to pastures new (home alone again, naturally)

Happy Making.