Patchwork Progress

I began this quilt way back in the summer last year.  It has been a slow process but a pleasurable one.  

I love sorting through my fabric stash and selecting the prettiest colours.  I love cutting out the paper templates and then the fabric itself.  I love putting two designs together for each block, even though it can take a while to decide what looks right.

And then there is the stitching which I love the best, sitting somewhere quiet maybe under the apple tree when it is warm and listening to the birds or in the playhouse when it is raining listening to the raindrops on the roof. 

I love laying out all the beautiful coloured rows and deciding on what goes where.  Getting an idea of how it will look when it is finished. Sometimes it's tricky when similar designs are closer together than I would like, it can take a while to sort it all out into a pleasing effect that feels just right.

Then the most exciting bit of all, sewing the strips together to create something beautiful and unique.  That is where I am right now.........


Dev x

Woods

We walked in the woods today, it didn't feel like a happy place to be. It was cold and damp and strangely silent. No birdsong, no creatures buzzing, no squirrels. Just a sense of foreboding...

The trees were motionless, holding their breathe..watching us. The light was dull, the foliage muted despite the autumnal finery.

Dark clouds were gathering, the temperature dropping with each step we took. We found ourselves almost creeping along, treading softly, anxious not to disturb.

We didn't venture very far, it felt like we were intruding. I was glad not to be on my own....the woods have never felt like this before.

It was a relief to get back home, to see a friendly light in a neighbours window and tfeel the warmth of the fire as we opened the door and shut the darkness out. A very unsettling experience.

Tonight we are cosy under the ripply blanket, hot chocolate in hand whilst the rain beats down hard.

Much crafting has been done over the past few weeks. Christmas is just around the corner and lists have been drawn up and pretties allocated to those who will appreciate them most. Lots and lots of xmas tree garlands in soft green alpaca wool....

Lots and lots of sparkly snowflake garlands from Peter Pan DK.

And last, but by no means least, my gorgeous, heart flutteringly beautiful hexagon quilt top is almost finished. There have been one or two glitches. A whole row sewn on out of sequence and another sewn on upside down! A few choice words have been muttered under my breathe and through clenched teeth, but I am now on the last straight...want to see some?

Isn't it splendid?

Dev x

How's Things?

Look at that sky, is there anything more beautiful than that blueness? Is that a proper word do you think...blueness.?

So how is everybody, has the snow gone where you are? We are virtually clear now, although there are some stubborn patches that refuse to melt on the higher ground and beneath the hedges that get the least sun.

There was a brief spell of warmth on Sunday which has been overtaken by fog and mist and dampness and cold. But Sunday morning you could have almost convinced yourself that it was spring. The light was very harsh though casting strange long shadows and making us squint, but the sun had a little warmth in the shelter of the gazebo. Warm enough to take a few photos and have a cup of coffee outdoors, albeit with a woolly wrap

A few brave plants have lifted their weary head and turned towards the sunlight, but mostly they sleep on, biding their time..waiting........

Everything is just waiting...............

I have struggled a little to get back on track with my crafting after the mammoth efforts that I made before Christmas. I have run out of wool in some of my favourite colours, there are knitting patterns that I want to do, but can't understand some of the instruction, which is frustrating to say the least. I want to start another patchwork, but already have 2 unfinished projects peeping out from my craft cupboard. What about you ladies, how many unfinshed projects do you have lurking in bags and cupboards?

My last post was a plea for help in finding a copy of the new Art of Crochet magazine and you did not disappoint me. I am now in possession of said magazine and the crochet throw is more gorgeous than I first thought.

However, 120 issues at £2.99 a piece, adds up to a hefty outlay and sadly, I am not sure that I can justify such a sum. It would buy an awful lot of other more essential but less cheering things don't you think? Besides which, as was the problem with the first episode, I have yet to see it on the shelves of any of my local shops and supermarkets. Has anyone else seen it anywhere? Very illusive!

I decided to have a go at the first square, just to see...I made a mistake somewhere (as per usual) and had to pull it out again, but all is good now and I like it very much.

I

If you look closely you can see that the pattern is wrong and doesn't flow properly.

I now have a mind to make up my own squares using a book of crochet stitches to devise my own squares. Watch this space...........

I also thought that I would give the hexagon a go, it has been on my "to do list" for quite a while now. What do you think...do you like?. I seem to lean towards the pinks and purples but think in the case of the throw, I will try and make it as colourful as the one in the picture.

I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head, but it is a confidence thing.. can I make it, will people like it...am I clever enough? I need to stretch myself a bit I think.

So girls, what are you up to at the moment, what new projects have you started and what projects have you dug out of the cupboards to finish off?

Dev X