More vintage fat quarters for an Autumn/Winter patchwork quilt

We headed out to The Ribble Valley, along the A59, towards Skipton. After an hours drive amongst beautiful Autumn scenery, we stopped off at the little hamlet of East Marton, by the canal where we had a delicious cooked breakfast at the Abbot's harbour restaurant and cafe.

Abbot's Harbour

The building is over 850 years old, and believed to have been a monks byre. This breakfast sets us up for the day. We went for a walk along the nearby canal, which is a popular mooring spot for the canal barges.
    

view from the canal bridge

view from the other side of the bridge

We headed into Skipton, an old market town,  where I bought these beautiful pieces of fabric from The Fent Shop. The place is brimming with materials and haberdashery! I finally chose these vintage style fabrics. I can't wait to start making some patchwork with them!

I just love theses pieces!

I made up another bag from a thrifty find, it was a skirt, but  now has a new life as an Autumn  tote bag complete with  a  seasonal lining.

Autumn tote bag

seasonal lining

Autumn flowers

What have you been making for Autumn/Fall and Winter.  I am now going to read  the posts for Handmade Monday to find out what everyone else has been up to. Please join in. 

Handmade, aprons, cardigans,and hexagons

Well I was too late to post on Handmade Monday, although I did manage to take a peek at all the handmade gorgeous makes from some very talented people. Please take a look, you'll be glad you did!


I put the stripey fabric I bought at the vintage fair to good use as two large pockets on  a child's apron.

child's apron

The apron is reversible, with the flower pattern  repeated all over on the other side.

reverse side of apron

I really enjoyed making this and have already got a request for an apron with rainbows and cars on!  So I am now on another fabric hunt.

Since I included photos of seasonal apples last week, here is a  recipe for "apple crisp" a long time favourite from an old La Leche league cookbook titled "Whole foods for the Whole Family"

6 to 8 apples sliced
1/2 cup of raisins (optional)
1/3 cup of water
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup butter or oil
1/2 cup brown sugar or honey
2 tablespoons of cinnamon

Put sliced apples in buttered 9 x 13 " baking pan, or oven proof dish. Sprinkle with raisins and water Combine the rest of the ingredients. Sprinkle evenly over the apples. Bake at 350 degrees electric, or 180 gas oven, for 30 to 40 minutes, until apples are soft,  and topping is golden brown. Sere hot or cold. Delicious with ice-cream, cream, yogurt, or custard or on its own. Keeps for a couple of days in the fridge.


I finished the bright pink cardie,
and was quite pleased with the result. I added a fabric rectangle on the inside back, including a handmade with love label from Mollie Makes, then machine stitched the name. I always seem to do more knitting in the Winter.
I feel another cardie coming on, or at least a pair of fingerless mittens!

Finished cardie


I visited another exhibition at the Harris Museum and Art gallery in town, where a textile display consisting of hexagons was pieced together using fabric of importance to the maker. This was done to join in celebrations for The Preston Guild, held once every 20 years.

Pieced Hexagons

Celebrating Preston Guild

I took  the above two photos in a slightly  darkened room, on my mobile,  where  the piece was behind glass,  hence the slightly yellow appearence.

I am thinking of making a hexi cushion for the shed.
It will be delivered during the first week of November, and I am so looking forward to "doing it up". I shall be sat inside it on the first night with an oil lamp, deckchair and glass of bubbly to celebrate.. or cup of coffee and cake depending on the weather!  But that's for another post.

Thank you for reading this, I appreciate your comments, and hello to fellow followers!

Vintage fairs and apple pie

Who knows where the time goes....(the title of one of my favourite Sandy Denny songs...Fairport Convention). The signs of  Autumn are all around us,

Apple crumble

I see an apple pie..

Postcard of vintage fair

I went to a local vintage fair, and found some pretty pieces of material

Another  quilt

I like these abstract leaves

An apron I think

We had a delicious lunch at the pub where the fair took place, I had a potato, fennel, and blue cheese bake, with parsnip curls, and a drizzle of  a herb tomato  sauce. It looked beautiful on the plate, but unfortunately I was half way through my meal when I thought about taking a photo!
Instead I took  photos of a textile work displayed on the wall.  

Isn't this amazing stitching

life like birds head

Lace hung from the birds' beaks, and the lace was interwoven with  words.
This was made by Morwenna Cats.

My head is spinning with  possible ideas using my latest finds.
Hope you all have a very creative week!
I am going to take a look at what else has been happening over at Handmade Monday.

Recycled charity shop finds

It's been quite a busy week, however I managed to get several more rows of hand quilting done,

pinks and greens

Found a vintage Rowan knitting book, 

first charity shop bargain



This is the cardigan I am knitting, in a rather bright pink, requested by the little girl who will be wearing it!

The cardigan I am knitting





My eyes lit up at the possibilities of a gorgeous piece of fabric,   with rows of tea cup style roses  on a black background. Sent to the charity shop and  hung up in the children's skirt rack,

as a child's skirt



I got my scissors and pins out, and an hour later the skirt became a lovely retro style tote bag.

retro style tote bag



I love it when something I'd pictured in my head  turns out  just the way I imagined it. I had seen the skirt a couple of times in the shop, and decided I could do something with it.

This week has also included my birthday, so the tote bag will go just fine with a pretty tea style dress from Fat Face, along with a rather fine pair of brown boots, The whole outfit will look ok I think with a brilliant charity shop  find of an above the knee coat in a pale mink brown colour.
I am now going to add this blog to Handmade Monday, where you will find lots of wonderful makes from some very busy people!   

Vintage quilt part two

The patchwork quilt I have been working on with the brick style pattern, in vintage greens, pinks and blues has now been pieced together. The backing is  made up using a white fabric printed with roses, and an outer border consists of a lovely pale blue with pink flowers pinned and ready to quilt.

backing fabrics

front of the quilt

hand stitching

Hand quilting in colours to match. Tomorrow I will have lots of stitching to do!

I went to the Harris Museum and Art gallery today, and unexpectedly came across a work shop in progress  entitled
4 The Love Of Cotton.

Various pieces of cotton fabrics were suspended in mid air, including shirts, hand painted intricate designs, tie dye,  cross stitch traditional dress, and a hand stitched quilt, with a cream background, and central motif. The backing was in a deep red colour.

Part of the workshop included using stamps of blue dye onto cotton fabric, in the tradition of  stamps depicting references to where the cotton design came from. Here's mine. Drop in events are also at Manchester and Burnley.
Please go to Twitter@Cotton_Exchange
I would love to read about any exhibitions and creative activities you have attended.
Take a look at some of the creative people on Handemade Monday  

Vintage green quilt

I've been cutting up the fabrics I bought at a vintage fair last week and decided to start a design in a brick pattern.

rescued fabrics

detail of lace mat

pinks coming out of the greens

rose print border

green centre

narrow border fabrics

border sewn in zig-zag stitch
I've not decided yet if I will include the lace mat.  It looks so  delicate on its' own, but I can also see it on the quilt too...

Thank you for all your comments, views and hello to all of you following my blog.  I will add more photos as this quilt progresses. Stopping now to watch the last of Coldplay, one of my favourite bands !  I have just started to take part in Handmade Monday, so click on the link  in the sidebar to read about lots of talented people ! 

retro rose quilt

Here are some photos of my finished retro roses quilt.

Patchwork roses

Showing border  and quilting details

Here is the rose sprig backing fabric

Front and reverse of the quilt

I am pleased with the way this quilt has come together. During September I will be selling this quilt on its' own, or in combination with the other roses quilt at a reduced price.

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Today I went to a vintage and craft fair  in Preston as part of the Guild celebrations ,  and  came across a  gorgeous yellow  tea set

Tea for two ?

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A splitie selling divine cakes

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cakes and camper vans


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And knitted pieces in unexpected places !

Plus I just could not resist the call of fabric bits and pieces saying "take me home, you know you want to !" So I did, but that's for another day .... and another quilt....
It's handmade Monday, an opportunity to look at other lovely blogs and this is my first contribution!