ALQS

When ever I put a card in the mail I get a little nervous - I don't know why, as the postal system here is fabulous. It's like waiting to hear that a plane has landed or something. I've been stalking Lisa Jo's blog waiting for my baby to arrive in her home, super nervously - there was a lot more work in this than any card - it's there - yeahh! - and she loves it (phew!) I'm not sure the size of each block - but around 3.5 inches, should have measured it before it went, hand applique, hand 'quilted' with saskiko thread, machine pieced. I enjoyed making it once I figured out that my idea of a pink Japanese mosaic with inset seams wasn't right. I still have it in my head, I need to make a test piece for a larger quilt. Another time. Perhaps I should finish off all my larger quilts in progress first - the again I have lots of other things to finish off.

Anyway - it's there in her log cabin - thanks Kate for all her hard work organising the ALQS trade!

Today (Wednesday) was busy with tree erecting and decorating this morning - with 2 slightly over enthusiastic helpers. Baby was napping - when I brought her downstairs she was mesmerised by the lights. We had a birthday party in the afternoon - one of baby's friends - 10 children, but just 4 that were 'birthday' age - the rest siblings. Quite noisy, but good noisy! With delicious home made cake. We're at the halfway point of the holiday - and thanks to the mutual despair of other friends there has been something for us to do nearly everyday this week - perfect. Just a pity the weather is cold as it makes playing out not so nice.

ALQS Quilt Done

When my Patient Partner lets me know it's arrived I'll post the a picture of the front - Hand appliqued, machine pieced, hand quilted. Escape hatch finished - neat technique, though I didn't do the fusing close as I forgot.... Posted Monday afternoon.

ALQS - it's here

I'm thrilled my ALQS quilt is here, it was a secret trade, I didn't know my partner and was having a peep around folks blogs just a couple of nights back - I made a mental note to myself that this was a sweet quilt and should it not be destined for me, to figure out the block - then I started questioning if I asked for a pink quilt after all - I had toyed with a blue one for the office...
I'm chuffed to bits - It'll go on the wall quietly or else T1, pink girl, will try and nab it.
Solidia, very generously send some Amy Butler (and others) charms, and some note cards. The note card she used to write to me reminds me of the tiles you see in British Victorian houses. I some how think they are made of concrete - have to check that one out.

We went to a birthday party today - the weather is beyond awful and the wind is ferocious. Baby is back to her usual carefree, laid back self. We discovered that she likes Tarkan -she was grooving away whilst the twins played musical statues - very cute. A good day - Banana chocolate birthday cake - delicious!

ALQS - 200

Finally some quilting to show - the little quilt for my partner is coming along swimmingly - baby is picking up and I sneaked an hour on this - OK not sneaked but I felt like I should be doing something else.... paperwork, laundry etc.

Plus - this is my 200th post, I've posted nearly every day since I started. I passed my 1000th visitor around teatime last Wednesday - all very exciting (though I'm not convinced that neo-counter is 'true') I need to think of some number goals to have a little give-away.....

ALQS

I had hoped to break the back of the ALQS quilt - alas it wasn't to be. Baby is getting better, but having to deal with a gas leak most of the afternoon nibbled into the time I had to applique - it's on it's way though - gas leak is fixed too.

ALQS Quilt En Route

My Quilt went out on the 30th to my partner - Anne R who was very gracious when I said I was going to be late with it - I've sent her some Turkish textile bits too - some pieces of fabric and oya. The quilt is densely quilted (FME) - I would have liked to have blocked it but figured it was going to get all squished in the squishy so it would make no difference - I now remember that I forgot to put a hanging sleeve on it...... duh - I do hope she likes it -her request was for 'something in blues and greens'. I got the notice about the 2nd round of ALQS, am toying with the idea.......

ALQS Arrived

My quilt arrived for the the trade, from Vermont - along with some maple syrup candies and note cards, my maker was Dorothy - my little quilt is still in progress...... unfortunately the flags I decided to 'whip up' have taken on a life of their own.

ALQS work in progress II

Lots of leaves FME on this baby inspired by Dijanne Cevaal's book - 72 Ways Not to Stipple or Meander. Binding to do and threads to bury

ALQS work in progress

Pieces cut and blocks being made......

ALQS fabric pulled

Some of these go back wayyy when - I got the 2 florals for a wedding quilt I made in 2000, or so - I'm not a green and blue type of gal......

Another little quilt swap

Kate invited me to join this group - I thought about it - then decided I wanted in. Last year I made this spotty quilt that went out to Kathy S in Illinois - hand applique, hand quilted, using shirting and with a wool bat - really great to work though it was a 'difficult' project as there were lots of other things happening at the time to deal with.

To Istanbul came the pink confection for T1 - she adores pink and big black cats - this time I've asked for a 'boy's quilt', no teasers yet on the ALQS blog, as for my quilt out - I'm thinking of trying a 'disaperaring 9 patch', applique is great for me to carry around and work while with the littles, but I really want to try this out - and given the size of the finished quilt I should only need to make 15 or so blocks that are 5.5 inches square - will figure out the maths when I make a trial block or two -