FOQ part two, Chookshed Challenge and my week.

 First up my Chookshed Challenge for August is to fill these little frames.

We bought them many years ago from a Brocante in France and they have patiently been waiting for a use. The oval 'holes' are aprox. 3" x 2.5" so not big. I am planning to embroider a different flower from our garden in each but have only got as far as cutting one piece of fabric from this old pillowcase and ironing it onto freezer paper before I paint a background. Hopefully more this week. Keep in mind that fancy edge on the pillowcase for later.

Here is my Stitch Journal for the first week of August.

We seem to have had a busy week so not much to show. I have been busy crocheting in the evenings and only one granny square left to make.

Moving on to FOQ and here are some pictures of  the Quilt Creations section of the competition quilts. As last year some really stunning and inventive work.

These were amazing! Love the co-ordination.

I shall be back tomorrow with some of the winning quilts and a few other bits that interested me.

I was, I think, very restrained with my purchasing! These gorgeous Japanese fabrics had to come home with me.

These lovely hand dyed threads and the gorgeous wool and viscose felt - so soft!

I spotted this reel which will hold a 5" strip of fabric - perfect for next years Stitch Journal - maybe. Well I have already torn a 5" strip from that pillowcase I showed you earlier including the fancy edging.

And then because I needed!! something to read in the coach on the way home I HAD to buy a book so it was this one which has been on my wish list since it was published.

I am about haflway through and love it.

So, that is enough from me for one day, back soon and in the meantime enjoy your weekend.

Festival of Quilts part one

 I took such a lot of photographs on Saturday that I am splitting this into two posts. These pictures are of quilts that caught my eye as I walked round the competition aisles but not the winners - I will put those in my next post plus some of the other exhibits that interested me.

Loved this one by Irina

The construction of this one was strange - looks woven but according to the notes the tiny pieces are ironed onto a backing!

Some miniatures

and a close up of top right

Loved this one for its gorgeous embroidered flowers

Just look at all those bullions!

Blogger decided to have a blip so some of my pics are not where they should be but hopefully you will find something in the above to enjoy - well that is if you have made it so far.

May need to do three posts but we shall see how we go next time. Back tomorrow.

Chookshed Challenge July

 I have made good progress on this over the last week and have got further than expected which is a nice surprise.

This is where I was at the beginning of the month.

And this is where I am now.

I completed the round that was started and added the outer round. I have some hexie flowers left - 2 where the colouring does not fit, 2 blue ones left from a previous project and 3 yellow. I will probably combine the blue and yellows (5) and either add to the backing or make a table topper. A decision for next time. For now it has been put away and added to next years list when I will add extra blue hexies to the edge to straighten things a litlle, face and back it. For now though, I am very happy. Thank you Deana.

I can also share some pictures of my Stitch Journal for the month.

And as expected the rain prediction turned out to be a damp squib! Yesterday we had dampness and a bit of drizzle but not enought to wet the paths or wash the dust off. Maybe next week. |Meanwhile we are now officially in a drought w ith everywhere looking very brown and crisp.

I am off to Festival of Quilts tomorrow so brace yourselves for a picture heavy post next time!

Happy stitching and have a great weekend.