Friday 1 January 2010

Best wishes for 2010



















I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and send my best wishes for a happy, safe and healthy 2010. We had a quiet evening last night, just the two of us, but I did manage to stay awake until midnight to toast the new year (with camomile tea!). Today we followed the usual tradition in our household of having a lazy morning, watching the New Year's Day Concert from Vienna. And I'm now having a lazy afternoon too!

This was actually my very final finish for 2009, as I finished sewing on the binding and hanging sleeve during the evening. I used Anne Sutton's BOM A Tisket, A Tasket, shrinking the design by 50%. I kept the sashing and bordering very simple, and quilted it using one of the fancy stitches on my machine.

So, what plans have I for 2010? I'm not actually planning very much, as I know that my time will soon get filled up with whatever comes along. I will of course be finishing the BOM that I'm currently doing, Natalie Lymer's Tail Feathers; I have a waistcoat to make for Number Two Son; various birthday presents to make; etcetera, etcetera.

But I am planning one thing. I was really inspired by a quilt that I saw at the American Museum in Bath. This teatowel shows just part of it.
The quilt maker clearly used it as a diary for things she saw around her and happenings in her
life. She couldn't draw very well, and neither can I, but I just love the idea. So I'm going to be doing something similar, using redwork stitching to document part of my life over the next year or so. Does anyone else fancy this idea?

13 comments:

Gretchen said...

Happy New Year to you and yours! I love the idea of a redwork diary. Sounds wonderful! Your Bunny Hill BOM is fantastic also.

Amelia said...

Amanda, I love the idea for you to draw something and then do it in red embroidery...a journal for the people to see in a way. Be sure to show us (your loyal fans) how this project progresses.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Hugs from Oklahoma
Amelia

scraphappy said...

What a lovely idea. I saw something similar at a museum here, but it was based around chemical elements. It will be fun to see what you came up with.

Julie said...

I love the idea! I look forward to seeing it. Happy New Year!

Heckety said...

I think an embroidered journal is a lovely idea! And the redwork you finished last night is gorgeous! I love Claverton Manor and all there is to see, although I wasn't there often. I tended to go over and over again to The Assembly Rooms and The Roman Baths when it was Resident's Week.

Lynn said...

The bunny hill is just beautiful! And you did it in redwork! I think that may be at the top of my must finish soon list. I got a few months behind. A journal is a terrific idea. Should we join in? Maybe one a month?

Tanya said...

I had to smile at your A Tisket a Tasket redwork because I think I found that website through you and have been putting away the PDFs in case I ever wanted to do this. Well, I guess I decided because I am working on a January block. One year late but better than nothing!

Kay said...

These are just beautiful, Amanda! I've not gotten much accomplished lately. My cold totally sapped by strength. I felt like I was on a roller coaster. I'd feel like walking any distance would lay me up, then I'd be energetic for a bit and then down again. Then my stomach starting acting up. Sheesh! I think I'm getting better now. It's taken a bit of time though.

I don't have a ton of plans for 2010 yet. I'm not great at resolutions. However... I'll try that exercising more resolution that I do every year.

Happy New Year, Amanda! I've never had camomile tea. Now I'm curious. :-)

Quilter Kathy said...

I loved these blocks and wish I would've done them, but I already have 2 stitcheries in progress, so showed great self restraint in not starting another!
Yours is wonderful!

Karen said...

I think it is a wonderful idea!

Your Bunny Hill finish is a good one. I like the idea of shrinking the design for the redwork.

Jo-Anne said...

I think you have a fine idea there! I can't wait to see what you come up with.
BEst wishes to you and yours for a wonderful new year.
Take care-
JO-Anne

Candace said...

Happy New Year to you and your family. What a nice way to start the New Year, another great finish. You are much better at the finishes than I am. Your new project sounds wonderful. It will be uniquely you, almost a diary.

Melissa ;-) said...

I really love this quilt! I think it is a great idea and I find the fact that she couldn't draw well very endearing. That may be because I can't, either, but I prefer to believe it is because it makes the quilt seem so much more personal!