Back to basics... again!

Here at textile towers the mood is relaxed now that the party frock has been done, the dressing gown delivered and presents and cards ready to be written/ wrapped. So, I decided, rather late in the day, to have a go at the Chirstmas challenge at my local quilting group.

The brief was to make an item using at least three fabrics that were striped. Earlier in the year, we had a very interesting talk on the subject of incorporating striped fabrics into our work, but as I am not an accomplished patchworker, and don't consider using striped fabric anyway, I didn't pay much attention.

Of late, I have found that my lack of expertise in the patchwork department is something I would like to address, so nothing daunted and with very little time, I decided to have a go. A friend recommended a super book which could have been designed for reluctant patchworkers like me, called Thinking Outside the Block written by Sandi Cummings. I have been trying to find time to make a start  for a while, and now seemed to be as good a time as any,.

So here are the first few blocks.

 Yes, I used three different striped fabrics, but I'm not sure about the result. Next up is to make some of the blocks using thin strips, appliqued spirals and the like and no doubt, there will be a finished quilt in the fullness of time! Sadly not in time for the challenge, but we enjoyed our meeting today and Margaret won the prize.

A rare group photo requested by Chris who sadly is leaving us and moving to pastures new. Although I am also planning to move away, I know I will miss the friendships I have made among these kind and generous people.

Still for now, it's back to the wrapping paper!

Sewing frenzy

I am in the middle of a sewing frenzy and loving my new sewing machine. Having made the school trousers for the GDD  I was commissioned to make a party dress! My DD and her family have been invited to a Christmas party at Braham park and so a new party dress is compulsory!

Not a very good photo, but she was pleased with the result and once she gets some sparkly shoes and has her hair done, I'm sure she'll look lovely.

Now all I have to do is finish the surpise gilet for the DH, the dressing gown for madame and a post card for a friend who's moving! So this weekend will be a busy one, and next week there's a lot on so it will be good to get down to Cornwall for Christmas and get some time to relax.

It's a good job the weather is so awful so we can't get out into the garden and I don't need to feel guilty about it. I hope all the poor souls who were without power yesterday will soon be reconnected.

Back to the grindstone!