Well here we are at last, the long long long overdue City and Guilds course work. (teacher is still waiting for the artwork but thats another matter)

On the left is my wall hanging its very small yet perfectly formed. In desperation to get it done, I used a combination of a greetings card which was a reproduction of a silk painting of Ingleborough and a flyer which showed the 3 peaks Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent, which are near my house. I drafted the 3 peaks on the flyer into the style of the silk painting and diddled it up using Cathedral windows. I've got to admit I was pleasantly surprised by the result. I may even give it houseroom!!!

This beauty is making its second appearance on my blog tho probably looked better the first time with the freezer paper still on. Using reverse trapunto I have written 'for the journey' and 'serendipity' I also drew footprints on the bag. Stuff the picky the pockets inside are well good and just right for my extensive collection of rulers!

(all hand dyed fabric)

Proof of my commitment to seeing things through (don't know when I aquired that skill or where I've stored it since i got it) but get a load of the clam shells... yes all sewn by hand the cushion and the fish with it's loose flippy flappy fins. Oh and I forgot to mention it's all dyed by my own fair hand.

This is my box with its lovely plush red interior and below is the foundation pieced lid... impressed? I was very impressed, I designed, drafted and turned my lovely rounded picture into a foundation piecing pattern. Again all hand dyed fabric (all of it) It was going to become a stable for a nativity scene but I didn't have the time so now its a box for keeping something in. Whats the something? I have no idea.

Finally here is the famous kite quilt, all hand dyed, designed and created by me
and now being snuggled into everynight by the lovely Leon. The quilt is being displayed by the lovely Natalie who will no doubt have something very unpleasant to say about my flashing her preety mug on my bloggy

Oh what a busy blogger I am today. It's my friend you see, she's having a competition and part of the entry conditions are that I post a link to her blog on my site, so here goes http://cottoncocktails.blogspot.com/ I'm quite excited about it all, can't wait to see who wins. Nice 1 Hazel x

Anyone for pumpkin pie? this has got to be the cutest pumpkin I have ever seen.

I'm dedicating this blog to my mother-in-law Muriel who is hiding behind Leon. Its a good job she can't even switch a computer on or I might be in trouble for this one tee hee!

Hello, happy halloween! or is that a bit American for a British blog?
This week has been really frought, we have survived a dose of Chicken Pox, Leon got them and then just to really make sure we weren't slacking he got a secondary infection, bless him, he was in a right old pickle. Grandad and I were beginning to think we would never get a full nights sleep ever again :( anyway he slept for 11 hours last night and even though he had me up at 6.30 life is looking a little brighter today :)

What has kept me chipper this week is all the lovely cards I have received, starting with this one by Ruthie Bishop in Clarendon Texas, its from the 'fall' exchange I did.





Check this beauty out, its from Sally Burke in Illinois for the 'halloween' swap, isn't it spooky?












Then I got this lovely chocolate boxy one from Trudy Soura in New York (my first from the big apple) I don't know if she made the embroidered flowers herself but I bet the tucks took ages to do. What a super idea!








This card came from Sarah Ellis-Steinbomer from Sevenoaks in the UK. I wonder if they still have seven oaks... didn't one blow down in a gale? Anyway she's used bleach to discharge some of the colour. I liked it so much I asked her how she did it because I might use the idea for my City and Guilds theme which is outer space, it reminds me of space clouds.

Last but not least, Pam Crawford in Maine, USA sent this one, without a cover on and it got all the way here without being damaged, that is incredible.

Thank you ladies for the lovely cards.

I've been busy finishing my City and Guilds work from last year, I had the hard word from the teacher last lesson so am pulling my socks up a bit! I've finished 4 of my 5 projects now and as soon as I've done the last one I will post all the pictures for you to see.

Once I've done that I will be able to start working on this years stuff lol. I'm only 2 months behind!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk more next time bye bye x

As promised here is the new stuff that Rachel and I are doing at Oswaldtwistle (Ozzy) its for a random quilt. This one is a seminole design. That means fabric sewn in strips then chopped up and put back together to make a pattern

The next two are mariners compass designs

Today's blog is dedicated to my sewing al Davina because she always used to tell me to save all my scratty bits of fabric. So after I did the seminole I used all the spare bits to make these strips. I don't think you can tell but the small bits of colour are only 1/4 inch wide, really fiddly.

well I'm off up the wooden hill now, talk again soon.

Bye x

Hi Everyone! Today I am going to dedicate my blog to my husband Gary as it was our wedding anniversary this week. We went out for tea, it was a bit of a disater as my meal was burnt and had to go back to the kitchen and Gary who has allergies to practically everything you can shake a stick at must have had something he's allergic to in his and has been a bit under the weather ever since.

Anyway onto nice news now, this wonderful hedgehog arrived this week from Jeanette de Vries who lives in the Netherlands. Its ace, I love it and its so ingenious don't you think?

Breaking news I think Leon (16 month old grandson who is living with us) has got chicken pox!!!!!!

I also received this card from Jan Rice in Georgia Atlanta. It was from the halloween swap I did the other week. I would have never thought of doing this design and its ace, I love it. So simple but so good.

It's an Ozzy weekend this weekend, I have finished my homework (more than I can say for my City and Guilds stuff (oops) and I'm really looking forward to it. I will post pictures of my work so far when I get round to it. I think you'll like it as its quite good even if I do say so myself.

Well thats all for now I'm dripping in cold, in fact its so awful I even think it could be man flu tee hee, so me and my cold are going to have a glass of whiskey (for medicinal purposes only) and go to bed. Na night sleep tight xxx

Hi Everyone!Today's blog is dedicated to Rachel Mellor who has reached the big 4-0 today so

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear Rachel
happy birthday to you.

she is a very lucky lady and has been given a weekend away in Paris with husband and NO kidz. Nice one!


Before I forget this card is one I got from Erma Johson in Chicago and is called Sophisticat, its very cute don't you think?






I did the next 3 cards for a halloween themed swap I am really pleased with them see what you think?

This one is callede 'bubble bubble, toil and trouble'










And this one is called 'Jeepers creepers'













last but not least 'Pendle hill' after a hill near me that is famous for its witches!

That's all for now folks, I'll be in touch again soon cos I've got some more stuff to share really soon.

Na night sleep tight x

Today's blog is dedicated to my friend and sewing buddy Anne-Marie as she was on the phone to me whilst I was uploading this blog
3 cards so far this week, very exciting stuff

this card arrived today from Barbara Linzey in Virginia

and this one from Sue Singer in California... very autumny

this came yesterday from Carol Hansen in Nashville Tenessee... wonder if she knows Dolly... humm?

Right now followers, I want you to leave comments... lets have a poll, how wonderful! tell me which of these 3 cards is your favourite and why

Today's blog is dedicated to my dad, Ken, he tries really hard, mum hasn't been that gr8 lately as I told you yesterday and father cops for the lot! on top of that Grandma (his mum) isn't doing too gr8, she's still in hospital after breaking her femur the other week. Poor dad he's not having much luck with the ladies in his life. Good job he's got me and my sister. Tee Hee. Oh and don't 4get Gemma, Amy, Nats and Sarah (the grandaughters) come to think of it he's in danger of having too many ladies in his life... poor dad.

And another postcard, I love this one, it came today, its from Sue Singer in California and is part of the art deco swap I did, remember I posted my ladies the other day? Anyway I like this one.

Today I have introduced my mum Syl to the world of blogging. I have set my blog as one of her favourites and showed her around. Then jigger me if she didn't complain that I hadn't put her photo on. So mother, stick this in your pipe and smoke it!!!
Actually I'm teasing I love this pic and I'm proud to show off my mum to the world.

Now then, who will be next...?

Today's blog is dedicated to my mum Sylvia as shes not in gr8 form at the moment. So mum if you've managed to get on this site - I love you x

Cooking on gas today!

These two cards are part of a postcard swap with the theme 'monochromatic' that means you can only use the same colours but different values of it. As you can see I used blue. The picture or pattern was up to us.

This one is called 'night beams'

and this one is called 'moon boat'.

I still haven't managed to get any nearer with my college work (term starts this weekend! oops) but my excuse is having the little fella to live with us for a while. Going back to having a baby in the house was/is a bit of a shock.

Well as they say... 'that's all folks'

In my excitement I almost 4got to add this creation by Joan Levin from Maryland USA, its called 'Lava Flow' and actually up close does resemble a lava flow its quite clever really.

My latest postcard has arrived from Sally Burke in Illinois, its the final one from the mermaid theme.

These are my finished Art Deco postcards, in the absence of any suggestions I did glitter and a border. I'm feeling a bit peculiar at the moment because these cards are scarily sophisticated compared to my usual offerings. Oh well I'll have to double my attempts to return to humour or risque productions in the future. LOL.

Oh and by the way for any of you who keep fish tanks on facebook (rachel) I cleaned my tank flushed my dead fish and bought some more (but they were due to die at 2am this morning) then out of curiosity logged onto your aquarium for a nosey... and the algae was unbelievable ooooo people in glass tanks... so I cleaned your mess, and abigails and gemma's. Am I now 4given for my attack of sophistication? xxxx

Today this postcard arrived, its from Diana Hale in California, the theme is monochromatic, this card is very calming don't you think?

This is one of my postcards I made for a swap with the theme of mermaids. I am quite pleased with it but was a bit shy about doing mermaid faces and so this one is called 'spot the mermaid' gone for a swim back in 5 minutes.

After the first few I started to feel brave and developed the mer 'maid'

...and by the time I got to this one I was getting really carried away. This one is called 'rush hour.'

Get a load of this beauty! My very good friend Rachel made it for me. It arrived in the post today I'm well chuffed with it.

Today's blog is dedicated to Helen from the quilting group I go to at Ostletwistle, she told me today that she checks my blog regularly and has noticed that I haven't blogged for a while so ta dah! This blog is especially 4 U!

Not only do I think that Ostletwistle is a fab name for a town but get a load of this, our quilting group is in the Immanuel Hall. I don't know about you but to me, the name conjours up the finest images of Lancashire.

This card arrived earlier this week its from Diana Hale in Auburn, California.

And here's another! This one is from Barbara Lockwood, Brookdale, California. It was from a swap I did with the theme of Mermaids.

I posted my cards out to people yesterday and I will post pictures of them here in a few days. I wanted to give people time to receive them before I show the world. I thought that if I posted them now it would be like giving people their presents before Christmas.

What do you think to this little number? I joined an Art Deco fabric postcard swap, so far I have made a freezer paper stencil, ironed it onto my black fabric and then rubbed a brown Markal paintstick over the top. When I've cut the card to size there won't be any space left top and bottom and only a small amount to each side. I'm stuck now, I don't know what to do as regards finishing it, so any suggestions are gratefully received. Ideas so far are; stitch a tall, Art Deco vertical line pattern up each side, put a little glitter on, overlay with a sheer fabric, do some quilting around the spaces within the design. If anyone has any preferences or new ideas please feel free to share them.

Well that's all for tonight folks, we have our grandson living with us at the moment (he's 15 months old and beautiful) but I know we'll be on the go by about 6.30 am so I'm off for an early night. Na night, sleep tight x

Today is a monumentus day, because today, I have received my first fabric postcard ta dah! It is from an American lady called Deb Martin. We signed up to do a mermaid fabric post card swap and this is hers, it shows her mermaid which has just dropped its comb and mirror and gone to hide behind a rock. Best pull my finger out and finish my cards now!!!!!

It doesn't take much to make me happy these days!

well what do you think to this piece? tee hee. It's the beginning of a bag for my cutting mat and ruler. Aren't the colours FAB? I dyed them myself!

It would appear that I'm full of cliche sayings as my friends often remind me. One of them being my excuse for being behind with my college work; "Its not the end product its the journey to get there."

So I thought I'd use my saying while I'm out and about travelling with my kit! When its finished the writing and feet will hopefully become trapunto. Failing that 'll resort back to the old faithful applique... watch this space, ha ha ha, chuckle chuckle chuckle.

What a bundle of cuteness this is my grandson Leon, isn't he georgous!

I see you!

my friend Janet put me onto this Noah's Ark quilt, it was designed by Lynette Anderson. Its taken me 6 weeks to backstitch. I started it for my niece who is due to have a baby in November but when I showed it to her I don't think that it is her cup of tea. Hey ho not to worry its just a good excuse to do another... and I am! I have started a foundation pieced farm animals one, I've almost finished 12 blocks; one good rainy day should see it finished. Then all I need to do is finish my City and Guilds work ready for September ha ha ha there goes another rib!

I bought this groovy little gizmo from a quilting shop in Scarborough, its a fab bit of kit. It works like a kaliedoscope, you look through the small end and whatever you're looking at is transformed by the prism end. This means that if you look at one quilt block through it you can see what a whole quilt would look like. More exciting though from a City and Guilds perspective just look at ramdom things and get zillions of ideas for new squares. I got a really good effect by looking at someone's cardigan sleeve, unfortunately I couldn't draw the idea as I was in a meeting at work...

I thought that I'd add the wrapper picture so that you can all see what the effect is supposed to be like.