Seaside Themes

Here are some pictures of beach huts at Filey.  The blocks of  blues, creams, sand, greys and and greens giving images for a block design. I quite like the idea of making a quilt involving stripes of fabric, I would consider making it out of up cycled cotton shirts, leaving buttons and button holes scattered about like finds on the beach..

 I can see the quilt in a beach hut just waiting to wrap around your shoulders !

I like the blue hut

Another quilt in progress is a mixture of lines, and groupings as clusters of mussel shells, seaweed etc along with other bits and pieces washed up, which I have made into a sort of log cabin patchwork effect.

Below are some photos that suggest a quilt made of larger blocks with a linear effect with fabric and stitches 

Above photos also include a small kite/balloon display !

Back to the sewing board !

Sewing box find

vintage craft fair

Where does the time go ? Lots of piecing  of quilt tops together but must make a move on assembling the actual quilts.Went to a vintage and craft fair, and found a wooden concertina style sewing box underneath the stall just waiting to be discovered. Have lined it with pretty green paper, it just needs a couple of missing screws adding, and a little wooden handle. It came complete with lots of old buttons and some threads which I have been able to salvage. I do love a good find !

sewing box as I found it

Another useful find for my sewing bits and pieces was this small set of little drawers, great for spools, buttons and all the, odd things I seem to collect.

found in second hand shop on Anglesey

old letter press for storage

sea glass for my collection

 love to walk along the beaches collecting sea glass and shells.

Another 'find' to store seashells and glass

Back to some quilting. Happy hunting for the things you like to collect !

New birdcage quilt

love the birdcage fabric 

borders from material used on the pieced front

I pieced together the front of my latest quilt, and also made up the backing to it. Most of the back is a lovely birdcage fabric, with borders including fabric from the front. Still got to add the batting. I will blend a mixture of quilting by hand and machine. A two for one quilt ! 

front and back

quilts in the making

quilt on display wall

Currently working on two quilts at the moment, one I have already cut and pieced together, along the style of 1930's vintage quilts; this one fits nicely on the top of a double bed, and covers a single one.

I like the old fashioned look of these colours

rotating pattern

close up of materials

I will keep the quilting fairly simple following the squares, with maybe a chain pattern around the borders.

This is the other quilt I am working on, similar colours, modern in style. I will also be adding a lighter border, with lines of rick rack here and there.

colour inspiration from the garden.

Pictures from a walled garden, and bright beach huts in my next blog.
Putting up the hanging baskets next week. Better late than never !

Opening of my shop on Luulla

Just a short note to let you know that I have recently listed items, including quilts, bags and blankets on the Luulla web site.

Please take a look. It's a very friendly site, with lots of lovely goodies to look at, including these reversible japanese knot bags I have recently made.

I am looking forward to attending a quilt exhibition in Leyland next week, and hope to post my visit there of some wonderful quilts.

I have decided to look into having an outside sewing room, as the area I use now will be incorporated into a kitchen next year, so hopefully everything will be contained under one roof....for a while anyway. These things tend to spread don't they !  Any picture examples of sewing rooms, studios etc, would be helpful, Mollie Makes magazine have the last page of each edition inviting a peek into a home studio which is great for ideas !

Day in Grasmere

Noticed this roadside guardian

Made the most of last weeks' sunny weather,
and drove up to Grasmere, in the Lake District.
Got there early morning, went for a delicious coffee
and toasted teacake; then headed out a quarter of a mile
down the main road before following the path down into the
woods.

Grasmere

Last of the bluebells

blending into the background !

There were lots of places to dip your feet in the water

church door in the village

Here is a quilt I made recently, the colours remind me of stained glass

The walk took about two hours, or so, whilst we stopped to admire the views, then back into Grasmere where we  had a late lunch sat outside one of the hotels. Great food, and blue skies, a delicious combination!

Where do you sew ?

my trusty sewing machine

enjoying being outside ! 

I thought I would show a few pictures where I sew and create my quilts. The weather here in the North of England has been glorious this week, so I have been able to sew in the conservatory, and also in the garden.

I like to listen to the radio, usually woman's hour in the mornings, and world radio later on in the day.
We just have to make the most of the sunshine !

woods at the edge of the garden

I spent the day up at Grasmere in The Lakes, and took lots of pictures, which I will post over the next few days . Hope you too are having beautiful weather....