Log Cabin Quilt

This log cabin quilt was started in May last year. It's completely hand quilted and has been sewn a block at a time. The best part is ... you can do it anywhere. I keep my fabrics, sewing box, cutting mat, ruler and pencils in a basket which sits next to my seat in the lounge. There have been times when I haven't touched it for months and other times when I've sewn every day. Knowing that I now only have four blocks left to make has motivated me to sew more often :)

 I pulled all the blocks out on Monday night and lay them on the floor to see what the finished quilt will look like and I have to say, I LOVE IT!  This one will definitely not be going anywhere and I can't wait for it to be finished.

 However, having said that, it could take me another 9 months before I finish sewing it all together. I have no idea how long it'll take OR how fiddly it'll be OR how patient I will be OR whether I'll get fed up and it'll take even longer. Who knows!! I'm just hoping the fact that I want it complete is enough to motivate me to keep going :)

 I love that this quilt has used up so many of the fabrics I had in my stash that I didn't know if I would ever use. That it doesn't matter how much or how little on any one fabric you have, it can all be included.  I love looking at all the fabrics and colours and seeing that it doesn't matter if the colours I put next to each other didn't go because at the end of the day the main thing is that you have the light and the dark sides which form the pattern.  How cool is that!

And finally, Emily thought she'd give you an idea of how big the quilt will be. She's 5'4" so I'd say it's definitely longer than 6' and about 6' wide. As she says, big enough for both of us to snuggle under when it's finished :)

xx

46:365(+1)

• The fabric was washed and tumble dried after I got back from Puddleducks yesterday.
• This morning I ironed it and cut it out.
• Arranging the fabric and seeing the layout come together is always fun.
• And finally, sewing them together and
• Adding the border.

The quilt top is complete and, if I get a chance, I hope to layer and baste the top, wadding and backing together, ready to start quilting tomorrow.  It's come together much quicker than I expected - which means I now know that it will be ready well in advance of when it is required for.

That feels good!
xx

45:365(+1)

I really haven't been doing very well with my photo taking this week :(

Mum and I went to Puddleducks in Sevenoaks today so that I could get some fabric for the next quilt I'm going to be making. It takes us about 40 minutes to get there (and now that I've been a few times ;o) I no longer need to use the Satnav) and it's normally quite a pleasant drive. Today, however, we seemed to get every lorry possible pulling out of side roads in front of us or stopping at the side of the road so we'd have to wait to overtake. It wasn't the most relaxing drive!

Getting to Puddleducks soon makes up for that though as they have a lovely selection of fabrics. Today was a bit trickier as I was looking for fabrics in a colour that I don't normally choose and had decided on a different design for this quilt. Let's just say, after an hour or more of looking and discarding fabric, I finally decided to revert back to a simple block quilt and after being shown one fabric I really liked, the rest finally fell in to place.  I know I'm being a bit secretive but I don't want to give anything away.

This leads me back to the lack of photo taking. I had put my camera in my bag to take photos while we were there but I got so involved in the whole fabric process I forgot totally! It was only when we got to Otford (the next village along) where we normally stop for lunch before heading home, that I realised I hadn't taken any photos. I snapped a couple of the main street in Otford but that was it.

This then is my photo for today & we didn't even eat at that pub ;o) but a couple came out in front of me just as I was taking the photo and obscured the view of where we do have lunch, so this will have to do, lol!

Despite all that, Mum and I had a good time and I got my fabric, so it was a good day after all.

xx

44:365(+1)

 A trip to the South African shop at Redhill is never a cheap outing ;)!  Emily and I took a drive out there today and came home with three carrier bags full. The spoils had to be divided for each family member so that no one was left out and everyone got what they had requested.  Unfortunately, I didn't do very well at taking photos - forgot at the shop itself so said I'd take some when I got home. Got home and divided everything up and promptly forgot to take a photo again! This is a very small selection of some of the goodies we got - biltong - so more-ish; Black Cat peanut butter (the best peanut butter I've ever tried!); condensed milk rusks for dipping in coffee ;o); Top Deck chocolate for Mum & Dad and Peppermint Crisps for a caramel pudding I make.  Also bought today were curry powder (again, my favourite and only from SA) and Cream Soda squash - which both Hugh and Claire grew up on when they were little and we lived in SA, they still both love it! There was more but I won't mention everything :)

 We go the back way to get to Redhill and this involves driving along some country roads.  On the way there I noticed the snow in the fields and it looked so pretty. Driving home, there were no cars behind me so I pulled off the road slightly and jumped out to take a couple of photos.  It was so pretty!

Thank you for all the well wishes for Alice.  I saw her this afternoon and she was still quite poorly and only wanted her Mummy. However, Claire text me this evening to say that Alice had started eating a little bit and seemed much brighter after having had something. Her temp seems to be staying down, though she has now got a very snuffly nose.  Hopefully the worst is over now and she'll start feeling better day by day. 

xx