Friendship Star Quilt

Tonight I want to tell you about and show you a quilt that I made a while ago.

I found the pattern in the fabulous quilting book 'Scrap Quilt Sensation' by Katharine Guerrier.

Katharine calls the pattern 'Galaxy of Stars and Scraps' and it consists of Friendship Star blocks.........

 and Eight-Pointed Star Blocks.......

One of the reasons I am drawn to this pattern is that I love the secondary diamond pattern that forms when the blocks are sewn together.........

I also loved choosing all the different fabrics and sorting them into lights, brights and darks :)

My quilt is made from 16 blocks altogether ....much smaller than Katharine's.......but it's a handy lap quilt size.....

When I made this quilt I didn't have any particular plans for it.

I wasn't sure if it was a keeper or if I would sell it. It wasn't a quick quilt to make taking many (very enjoyable) hours over several weeks.

I chose four colourful Batik fabrics for the backing......

 

When the quilt was completed, I made the decision to sell it.

I received lots of lovely compliments and some offers for my quilt but the right nice new home just didn't materialise :(

 

Well, until now that is...:)

 

It's funny and it's almost as if it was meant to be...... I had always pictured it laid across our little sofa by the woodburner. I knew it would look good here as I had tried it there before and loved it!

This morning I thought I would try it again....and again I loved it!

So now it's there to stay :)

Spencer seems to approve although he kind of looks like he's thinking...'Oh no, Mum's rearranging things again'.......

A bit later on, I decided to give some of my (rather flat) cushions a new lease of life with some nice new cushion pads...

It wasn't long before Max had rearranged the cushions to his own design and had obviously decided that this was a very comfortable and cosy place to sleep....

He's slept there all afternoon....

And is still there now.......he looks like a little prince on that cushion!

See you next time!

 

Maggie xx

Spencer's Sunday Hat - well sort of........

A beautiful sunny day today...

Very hot but we've managed to get some gardening done.... I say gardening.....it's been more of a clearing vegetation sort of job.....a Russian vine that's been clinging to our back wall and getting larger and more intrusive by the minute.

So clearing job done, I thought I'd show you some of the flowers in my garden today.....

Pretty nemesias....gorgeous colour...

One of my favourites.....London Pride.....such sweet little pink flowers...

 

Pretty clematis.....I planted this a couple of years ago and I'm so pleased as this is the first year it's flowered...

Our Poached Egg Plant is spreading everywhere but it's a stunning display.....

 

Unfortunately I can't say the same about our little veggie patch. I planted carrots, parsnips and leeks....trouble is we can't work out which are the vegetables and which are the weeds!

We're hoping time will tell and we'll be able to recognise something!.......

Doesn't look good does it?!

I haven't had too much success in my greenhouse either...so sad :( .....I was so excited about growing seeds again......never mind though, the courgettes, tomatoes and butternut squash grew... here they are waiting to be planted in the veggie patch.....You can see how hot it's been here...some of the leaves have been scorched..

We've had a little helper in the garden today.....Max appeared on the wall (he likes to sunbathe and have a bit of peace and quiet in our neighbour's garden)......

I'm sure he was asking if he could help ;)

Trying to help with the weeding?

Or just wanting a bit of fuss?.....

He soon found a nice cool block to supervise from!

In the meantime, Spencer hasn't been enjoying the heat much...he's been indoors keeping cool most of the day but when he did come out to keep us company, we thought we'd better help him out.......

Especially for Spencer....

Not exactly a hat...

More a hankie....

A knotted hankie to keep him cool.......

 

Hope you've had a great weekend :)

See you soon.

Maggie xx

My Mum's Knitted Tea Cosies

Gosh I just can't believe it's April already!

 Where is the year going? Slow down!

Today I just had to show you some of the lovely knitted tea cosies that my Mum makes......

I think I mentioned before that my Mum is a very crafty lady. She is always making something -  sewing, knitting, tapestry.......tea cosies, aprons, bags, bunting, knitted cardigans and jumpers.....

So here is a selection of her lovely knitted tea cosies...

Some are my Mum's own design, some are from or adapted from patterns....

Here they are....

Enjoy!

For lovers of Cornishware, a blue and white striped cosy with a sweet little cup on top!

A Cosy Country Cottage cosy..... such lovely detail...

I love the little horse shoe on the door :)

and the beautiful hand embroidered detail....

This Cute Tabby Cat cosy is a real character.....

.......bit of a rough diamond?

I seem to remember he objected to sitting on that pink rose fabric...

 An adorable and a little posh White Cat cosy......

This Laundry Day cosy is so pretty...

soooo sweet baby clothes on the line.....

Tea in the garden? with this lovely Strawberries and Cream cosy...

Those strawberries look good enough to eat.....

A cuppa on a sunny day with this wonderful Sunflower cosy...

And I just love this cosy!

Because I love tea!

A piece of Battenberg cake with your cuppa?

And this is Max's favourite - he thinks it was designed with him in mind ;)

They're all lovely aren't they?

Enjoy the rest of the week - we might get snow!!

Maggie xx

The Sun is Shining!

What a lovely sunny day it's been here today!

The bulbs are all flowering......

Pretty Crocus........

........ daffodils....

And aubretia, my favourite spring time flower, is just starting to bloom - I love the way it tumbles over the wall...

And Max has been enjoying some peace and quiet, sunbathing....



On Thursday we were so excited as we were able to take Spencer for his first walk....

The little pup was a bit apprehensive at first....

But he seemed to get the idea after a while.....

We only went down the lane for a few minutes....and he had to have a sit down....

It was just too much for the little pup....

So we headed for home......

Today we've spent a lovely afternoon in the garden, digging and weeding our little veggie patch, sweeping and tidying......

Of course, Spencer joined in :)

Max was supervising......

 

Hope it's been sunny where you are....

Have a lovely weekend :)

Maggie xx