Easter Baskets

Yes, I know it's not Easter but this was originally intended as a spring and Easter quilt. I started it in January intending to get it finished but then I broke my wrist and all plans were delayed. I've now finished it, so it will be ready for next year.

This started as a Craftsy class project, the crosses are part of Elizabeth Hartman's class Modern Quilts. But when I put them on my design wall they just didn't look right, so I added some blank squares and a few more crosses. That looked better, but then the blank squares needed something extra, so I added the baskets. Then of course, the blank areas around the large crosses looked wrong, so I appliqued some flowers. Finally, I was happy with it.

Generally I'm pretty pleased with this quilt; I like the mix of modern with the old fashioned baskets and flowers. It's densely quilted, which took ages as I can only do a bit at a time since my wrist is still quite sort. I had planned to enter it into an exhibition, but there's a problem. It's not hanging straight. I measured it carefully and adjusted it before putting the binding on, but there's still a wave at the bottom. I don't imagine there's anything I can do to improve it this time, short of taking it apart which I'm not inclined to do. 

But, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can avoid this another time?

Blocks 13, 14 and 15

Apron

The next Zakka project in the book is an apron. It's a cute little thing, but I've never seen the point of a tiddley little thing like that for cooking. Okay for gardening or crafting, but I never wear an apron for either of those. And if I'm cooking I'm going to splash the front of myself for sure. So I decided to make  what I've always called a pinafore, rather than an apron.

I used three orphan blocks that were about the right size for the pockets, two reds and a green. The main fabric was a piece that I'd cut down from something else, linen I think. The binding was made up of three different scraps that just fitted perfectly. The only yardage I had to cut into was for the waist straps. It's now hanging in my kitchen and will be used a lot.

A few finishes

 My son's partner has asked me to make a baby quilt for his soon-to-be niece. I decided to use the first six blocks from the Sugar Block Club as they have the right sort of colours. I added a cute border with Russian dolls. I quilted it with flowers and hearts joined by meanders and will deliver it to them in a couple of week's time when we visit them. This photograph was taken yesterday which was wonderfully warm and sunny, a really perfect summer's day. Today it's raining and chilly again. And tomorrow is the longest day, so I do hope that's not the end of summer!

I've made this pouch for C to keep his cables and chargers in when we're away from home. I just hope it's big enough as he seems to take load of them with him!

Blocks 10, 11 and 12

Zakka 3

This is my third Zakka project, a tea cosy, which luckily fits one of my teapots. I rarely use a big teapot, so it's not going to get much use. But I may try to make a smaller one to fit my single cup size teapot which I use every day.

Zakka 4 is a teabag pouch, very useful for me as I always carry Roibos and peppermint teabags, just in case. They don't get used very often these days though as most cafes in the UK have peppermint tea at the very least. Even in France I was able to get a 'tisane' - which made me think of Hercule Poirot - mostly a verbena tea which was very refreshing.

City sampler

Here are blocks 7, 8 and 9. I love the fabrics but wonder if they are a little too busy? Perhaps they'll look better with a plain sashing? I'm really enjoying making these little blocks, and am thinking that I might make another set in solids. What do you think?

Zakka 2

I've just finished these two tea towels for the Zakka Along challenge. I'm planning to use scraps where I can, but had to buy the fabric for these. It's a 60% linen, 40% cotton fabric and I was able to get two out of the width, so no wastage. It looks as if I'll be able to use scraps for most of the projects, though I'll have to buy yardage for a few of them.

My younger son sent me this link - and how he came across it I have no idea. The knitters among you might find it a bit of fun.

World Knitting in Public Day

More steps!

This morning a friend and I took our dogs out for a walk together. Boris and Ruby are great friends and walks together are good fun. We went to Cranmore Tower a few miles away. The woods surrounding it were good walking territory and the dogs had a wonderful time running around. Sadly Ruby found a really wet, muddy puddle and got absolutely filthy. I had to get the hose out when we got home, poor thing. Luckily Boris was a little more sensible.

Cranmore Tower is a Folly built in the 1860s by a local landowner who wanted to have a view of the land around him. The views from the top are spectacular and we'll definitely return on a less cloudy day to get a better view. We, and the dogs, walked up the 184 steps to the top and then down again. After that we felt that we really deserved a cup of tea and a piece of cake in the tea room.

You can see how sensible Boris was, hardly a mark on him! But Ruby was filthy right up and including her undercarriage, and she even managed to get mud on her nose.

City Sampler Sew Along

These are blocks 4, 5 and 6

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Bloglovin'

I've just started using(being forced to use by Google) Bloglovin'. Has anyone else found the occasional problem with leaving comments. On some blogs I click on Comments but nothing happens. The strange thing is that is only on some blogs, not all of them. Is it something to do with the way those people have set up their blogs do you think, or a Bloglovin' problem?

Glastonbury Tor

A few days ago we took Ruby for a walk up Glastonbury Tor. We live in the Mendip Hills and as you drive to Wells, our nearest town, you drop down from 483 feet above sea level to 108 feet above sea level in just a few miles. Wells is on a plateau called the Somerset Levels, and Glastonbury Tor is right in the middle.

It sometimes looks quite magical if we are driving down into Wells from above the cloud level, and the Tor is also standing out above the cloud level; it looks like an island in a sea of mist.

The area is known as Avalon, a place of myths and magic, and is believed by many to be the Avalon of Arthurian Legend. Glastonbury Tor is known as being one of the most spiritual sites in the country. Its pagan beliefs are still very much celebrated. If you saw the London Olympic Opening Ceremony you will have seen a model of the Tor, though the Holy Thorn is actually in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey, not on the top of the Tor.

Because it's such a popular walk the path up to the top has been laid out as steps, hundreds of them!

Part of the way up we stopped to give Ruby a drink of water and a rest - we were quite happy for a short stop too! The views from here were fantastic.

And then we carried on trudging up to the top. The views from here were even better. I took a video walking all the way around the tower, but haven't been able to work out how to upload it.

By the time we'd walked all the way down again my legs were trembling from all of the steps. And Ruby slept well when we got home.

Zakka

I'm joining in the Zakka 2.0 Sew Along, hosted by LRStitched using the book Patchwork Please by Ayumi Takahashi and for the first week I've sewn these cute Bell Pepper Coasters.

I'm planning to use scraps for most of the projects as I've still got way too much fabric sitting on my shelves.