Vintage Linen Revival Quilt 2017 - Block 2

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Vintage Linen Revival Quilt 2017 - Block 2

Having had a large box of old linens stashed in my cupboard for a long time, I am finally recycling and repairing and cutting and embroidering and attempting to make a new quilt old of old and very beautifully worked pieces of needlework. After being rather pleased with my first block, this next block is a different challenge. I have no plan for any of this, so I literally just pulled a piece out of box randomly and then thought about what to do. This time, it is a very lovely, very fine cushion cover that has a large tear in the middle of it. I have absolutely no idea where this came from or who might have made it originally, but I think it must have been an enormous amount of work.

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Faberge, Mosaic Eggs and Fabric Bundles

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Faberge, Mosaic Eggs and Fabric Bundles

I thought it might be a rather nice idea to follow in Carl Faberge's footsteps and each Easter, create an egg quilt block design that perhaps one day might turn into an epic quilt. Meanwhile, the patterns can be used for smaller, quicker projects that hail the arrival of Spring.......I am not sure it is quite up to Carl Faberge's standards, but it is fun and cheerful and will herald the arrival of Spring in just the same way as his eggs once did, long ago and far away.

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This one is for us!

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This one is for us!

This has been an epic project and last week it was finished! As always, with a big quilt project, it feels like it has been a long and colourful and exhilarating journey and once it is done, you feel a little bereft. It is worse when the quilt is for someone else, but let's be clear - THIS ONE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE - it is for me and my gorgeous new Chaise Long (Christmas pressie from my Sweetheart!) and my books. What could be more wonderful than languishing on this, under this with a good read on a chilly winter Sunday afternoon?!

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Vintage Linen Revival Quilt 2017 - Block 1

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Vintage Linen Revival Quilt 2017 - Block 1

'JANUARY IS FULL OF POSSIBILITIES' - at least that is what is says on the opening page of my 'Simple Things' mag this month and I like that idea. I am so excited to begin this project and as I have absolutely no plan at all, it will be winding and colourful journey.

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2017 VINTAGE LINEN REVIVAL PROJECT

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2017 VINTAGE LINEN REVIVAL PROJECT

SOOOooooo with the new year upon us, I decided that it might be fun to do a month on month project to make a 'revival quilt' out of all these wonderful textiles. It will be a total adventure in needlework and I am already imagining that I will have to find innovative ways to rescue some of these textiles and enhance others. I have a feeling that I when I actually start to look really closely at this handiwork, I will be absolutely in awe of the needlewomen who made these things. They are from a lost time really and I don't want them to be lost anymore.

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The Elves Stockings

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The Elves Stockings

When I was a little girl, my father's work sometimes took him to London. He would travel by train from Yorkshire and on the way home he often brought a small gift for me. He told me that there was a magic barrel situated in Kings Cross Station and he would put in his hand in to see if there was something for me, if I had been good enough.

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I think Miss Austen would approve!

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I think Miss Austen would approve!

I am always in awe of the fine travelling accessories the ladies of Miss Austen's time had and remember especially going to visit Josephine Bonaparte's house in Rueil Malmaision, in the suburbs of Paris and seeing the most wonderful collection of absolutely beautiful accessories with little embroidered bags and embossed leather carrying cases. Somehow, chucking everything in a zip up holdall doesn't quite have the same feel....?

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Ruby's first Mini Quilt Kit and a reorganisation in the SewingRoom!

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Ruby's first Mini Quilt Kit and a reorganisation in the SewingRoom!

I'm up early this morning, so thought I would blog away with all my news.   First of all, I have had a bit of a reorganisation in the sewing room to accommodate all my plans.    Like most quilters and fabric junkies, I seemed to have endless ikea trays and boxes full of bits and pieces, odd fat quarters, offcuts and precuts, fabrics that have been given to me along the way and fabrics that I have bought with plans in mind, that somehow have never quite come to fruition.  Being organised seems like a small thing, but I know from friends, that quilters are notoriously not so good at this.  Hoarding, stashing and making a mess are bywords for our species.  Trying to start a small business though means addressing this and a little more order is called for. Time to get to grips with this addiction and I have to say...it is totally liberating!!!  

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Adventures in Dressmaking, Episode 2 - An Applique Cardigan

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Adventures in Dressmaking, Episode 2 - An Applique Cardigan

I am not a dressmaker and these projects are massive learning curves and really just a beginning. What is amazing to me, is that so far, both projects have turned out to be wearable and perhaps a little bit more even... amazing. I put this down to the fact that the garments are made in 100% soft cotton jersey. It is more forgiving and yields to your body shape however many curves you have and I do have curves.....

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