Catching up

So here we are having gone past the middle of January already and I have lots to catch up on. I now have a new computer and am trying to find all the lovely things I used to find so easily and trying to find passwords for some of the sites I use.

So the first thing I need to tell you about is the wonderful giveaway that I won back at the end of November.

I have been following Christina Erickson on Instagram for a little while now - she does the most amazing embroidery - so when this popped up on her feed I entered.

And, lucky me, I won! Now, Christina lives in Washington and I live in France. But during the course of our email conversations it turned out that not only were we both going to be in UK at the same time but actually going to the same exhibition on the same day! How much of a co-incidence is that. So we arranged to meet outside the V&A and Christina handed over the package which was this beautifully framed piece of embroidery.

The embroidery is aprox  8" x 3.5" and covered in beautiful stitch. Many thanks Christina

it was good to meet you and your Mum and the chocolates were delicious!

The exhibition we had gone to see at the V&A was Opus Anglicanum and what a treat that was.

Do click on the link and scroll down the page - there is a video of how some of the embroidery was worked which is fascinating.

And now a finish for 2017 - four of my CQJP2015 blocks framed, bound, labelled and with a hanging tube.

All I had to do was complete the black feather stitch around the sashing but for some reason perle thread is not available in my neck of the woods so I had to wait for my Christmas trip to UK to buy some more.
The quality of my pics is not good - I think the black sashing must affect things.

So just a reminder of my original four blocks before framing.

So that's it for now - but lots more to show you so I will be back soon!

FNSI for July

FNSI has come around again - and so quickly! even though it is a week late! Many thanks to Wendy for inviting us round again and thank you so much for your lovely 'Share the Love' design. Unfortunately as I write, there is more horror going on in the world, this time in Germany. Will it ever end.

I have spent this afternoon working on another 2016 UFO. This time it is some of the blocks I made last year for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project. I have eleven blocks that I made last year (somehow I missed December!). Four of my blocks work together because they are all black and another colour. Here they are trimmed and ready to go.

I felt that they needed framing with black and so rummaging through my recycling box I found a black velvet skirt that was perfect. I cut it apart and gave it a wash this morning.

So this afternoon was spent putting the blocks together and this is the result.

I have to say that I have not done so much reverse stitching in a long time! Even using my trusty Bernina walking foot I found this velvet very difficult to work with. I am not totally pleased with the result, just hope that quilting and extra stitching will even everything out. Any imperfections do not show up in this picture so please do not be fooled!

Hope everyone had a great FNSI and I look forward to seeing what everyone did here. Looks like there were 34 of us!
Have a great weekend.

CQJP block for March

Here is my turquoise block which is my Crazy Quilt Journal Project block for March!

And a few details

We are now in UK for Easter. The crossing on Tuesday afternoon was not very pleasant - we had very strong winds the night before and the sea was still quite rough. However, arrived at Plymouth safe, sound and on time so all was well.
So far the weather has been grey and damp but we are staying in a warm and cosy thatched house and hoping for a dry day tomorrow!