Griffin Mill Lock

We went for a lovely walk down to the canal last weekend. I hadn't walked down there for months and I was very impressed by the progress made by the Cotswold Canal Trust at Griffin Mill Lock. 

The new lock gates are all in place....

The brickwork has all been restored.

Don't jump in, Spencer!

Just past the lock is the next stretch of canal to be restored....

There is a bench dedicated to Private Howard Pegler, a soldier who sadly died of his wounds in World War 1....

The next lock to be restored is Ham Mill Lock....

I've made a few more blocks for my Bright Stars quilt. It's now 6 blocks by 6. I'm going to try for 7 blocks by 7 to make it a good size for a double bed. This is quite a big quilt for me. I usually make lap or baby quilts.

I had to show you this next pic! 

Adorable Spencer with his Winnie the Pooh (a Christmas present from George)!

Thanks for visiting!

Maggie xx

My Scrappy Hexie Quilt Progress

I started this quilt last year on holiday in France (see Scrappy Crafting in Brittany)......

.....it's one of those projects that I love to pick up and do a bit and then put away again.

It's growing slowly but surely.... I'm making it with blue scraps but adding a bit of interest with contrasting hexie flowers

I like to make smaller more manageable pieces and then sew them onto the main piece....

It's hand stitched English paper piecing...I try to have a box of hexies ready for sewing....

It's great to do whilst watching the TV, travelling or listening to my French CDs cosy by the woodburner!! 

For my paper hexies, I found some really good printable templates at Geta's Quilting Studio. They save so much time...I can't believe I use to draw around a hexagon and cut them out individually!

I'm still working on my Bright Stars scrappy quilt but I have to use my sewing machine for that...I like to have different projects to suit my mood!

Here's Max....he's been a bit off colour recently and when I took something out of the kitchen cupboard, he went straight in and made himself comfortable....

Thanks for popping by!

Maggie xx

More Scrappy Quilt Progress

In the evenings, I've been loving working on my scrappy Bright Stars quilt.

I've sewn square and HST units.....

Sewn two of these together to make these squares....forming the stars!

And yesterday evening I made 20 blocks...I laid them out and I'm really pleased that the stars stand out and I can see a secondary pattern too.

I need to make about another 20 blocks. I'm thinking of a large lap quilt to snuggle up in or a topper for a double bed maybe.

I'm really enjoying making this quilt. If you want to make it, the pattern may be found here at Michele's Sew Along.

Thanks for popping by,

Maggie xx

Scrappy Quilt Progress and Uncle's Handwarmers

 I've been making some progress with my Bright Stars patchwork quilt.

I laid out a couple of blocks to make sure the star pattern works with so many light and dark scraps....and it does! 

See the half star at the top!

I've sewn lots of 4 patch units....

Lots of half square triangles using the Magic 8 Method (see here).....

......and I've made 5 blocks...laid out together here to show the pattern.....

On the knitting front, I've just finished some green handwarmers.....

...they're for my Uncle Brian's birthday......

The pattern is very easy...you can find it here.

Thanks for visiting!

Maggie xx

Just started a new scrappy quilt!

Just a quick post as I've become rather engrossed in a new patchwork quilt!

It's a Bright Stars Quilt from Michele Foster......It's a Quilt-Along....you can find the pattern here.

The quilt uses lots of 2.5" squares which I already have cut out....remember my holiday in Brittany last year where I took my Accuquilt and cut loads of squares from scraps!

I've been sorting them into lights and darks to make the bright stars quilt....

So far I've sewn some 2 patch units....

...and some 4 patch units.....

Next I'm making some HSTs so I can put a block together to make sure the pattern works with all my scrappy squares!

I'll be back soon to show you how it's going!

Thanks for popping by!

Maggie xx

Happy New Year!

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2015!

I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas and are still enjoying all your festive celebrations!

We've had lots of lovely family time over Christmas and of course lots of dog walks on Rodborough Common. The Doggy Christmas Tree is there...people pin photos of their dogs on the tree, some with very heart warming/tear jerking messages, and there is a donation box for a local animal charity.....here are a few pics!

  

We're having a quiet New Year's Day...Chris and I with Spencer, Max and our neighbour's pooch, Ozzie.

Have a lovely day!

Maggie xx