Anthea's quilting journey

2011-03-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

My friend Rachel and I have been creating a random sampler quilt in our class at Ozzy. We've both had enough of it now and are desperately trying to finish our quilts as soon as possible so that we can move on to other new stuff. I designed a block for this quilt on EQ7 and below are a few photos of my progress. The flying Geese are all foundation pieced and then I have built the units up just as you would with any curved block except for the middle circle which I put in when the 4 units were put together, using a neat trick which my old teacher Sue Propst taught us. Scroll down and you will see what I'm waffling on about!

I did the Geese in strips of 4 as my paper wasn't big enough to fit 8 on for the outer ring. Here I have joined two sets of 4 to make the strip of 8 blue and yellow geese.As you can see I have joined the 2 units together, which was easier said than done, I tried to match the points of the geese from each row. I have cut a few points off but on the whole I'm quite happy with it. At this stage I haven't ironed it as I didn't want to spoil any bias edges so it looks worse than it does in real life.

Cooking on gas now with the outer edge on. This was much easier than I expected. I cut all the outer edges generously so that I had room to rectify any mistakes.

And here we have the finished block! TaDah! I really like this and I wondered if it would make a workshop as the block is easily big enough to be a cushion. Any takers????? (Anyone mad enough?)

2011-03-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

At last another one is finished. This is another BOM that I bought from Patchwork Chicks. I really liked it at first and then near the end thought it was a bit chocolate boxxy but now it, sorry I should say they as I made 2, are finished I really like them again. I have one on my bed and can't help admire it every time I go in my bedroom. The other one is going to be raffled for charity in aid of 2 kids I sponsor in Sierra Leonne. I'm not ready to start the raffle yet as I want to time it with a visit there, as I'm not sure when I'll be going the raffle is on hold until I'm organised. If anyone is interested in buying tickets and finding out more I am happy to answer questions if I can.

2011-02-27T11:10:00.001-08:00

FINITO!

At last my quilt from Leanne's house is finished, yay! I've called it 'Annie's Garden' I am really pleased with it. It's a great quilt for using up scraps. I only bought fabtric for the borders and backing apart from that it is all remnants and even better, because the pieces are quite small I used up quite a lot of fabric that I didn't particularly like and got away with it.

'To do' pile is a bit smaller again... I'm getting nearer and nearer to starting on my new stuff, can't wait.

2011-02-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!

After being back at work a mere 3 days after his last injury; here are photo's of our latest disaster!!!!!!

The moral here is when your holding a fence post whilst your pal is hitting it with a sledge hammer, don't put your hand unexpectedly on top of it. Makes perfect sence to me, but it would seem not so to my little boy

2011-02-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

Today I have been to my quilt group at Oswaldtwistle. I am a good way through doing a random sampler quilt. This photo is of a Feathered Star... it was a pig to do! My first one was so far out on the seams that I have had to completely redo it from scratch. I started this one yesterday and have been so particular with the cutting and piecing it's untrue. Even so, once I had assembled the nine blocks putting them together was far from easy. The picture doesn't do the lime green and black justice but I was so excited about sharing this achievement with you I couldn't wait for natural light to do a better photo.

2011-01-30T08:47:00.000-08:00

My friend Rachel and I signed up to do this BOM, it is a Lynnette Hyland design called 'window to our garden.'

So Rach this blog is for you, so that you can see how I laid out months 3 and 4 on my piece of green fabric, which I had cut down to a 30" square. I had a good look on Lynette's blog and I think we will use the rest of the green to make leaves on a tree which is going to go up the left hand side of the quilt.

I just have to put the yellow centres on the flowers and then I will cut the piece diagonally in half along the ironed line. (No stretchy bias edge to spoil doing it this way.) As you can probably guess putting the pieces on at different angles took a bit of getting my head round so I hope this helps you. I have also decided that I'm not going to put the 2 walking ducks on yet as there is more applique to add between the boy in month 4 and the ducks; I may put mine on in reverse when the other applique is on as it will give more room.

Have fun can't wait to see yours.

2011-01-14T10:11:00.000-08:00

Wey hey she's at it again!!!

I am feeling very pleased with myself today. I have layered up 3 more quilts, so I'm getting nearer and nearer to meeting that completer finisher challenge I have given myself. Two of the quilts are the same and they are this BOM called Heart of the Home which I did through Patchwork Chicks at Barrowford it is a Hillary Lynn design. I really enjoyed doing the stitchery. When I've finished them I'd like to raffle one off for charity, but more about that when I've finished as I don't want to make on line promises that take me an age to meet.

This is the other quilt that I have layered. It's another BOM called Leannes House by Leanne Beasley. I wasn't sure about it when I first started making it but now its assembled with the green border I love it. I know a few other people who are doing this BOM and it is amazing how different it looks with other people's colour choices. I was a wimp as I tried to stick to the colours in the monthly block photos as we didn't have a photo of the whole thing until we assembled our own.

Only 3 (but maybe 4 or 5) quilts in the to complete quilt top pile now; I can't wait to get them done so that I can feel free to start designing my own stuff.

2010-12-31T15:30:00.000-08:00

IT'S OFFICIAL, I'M A COMPLETER FINISHER; WEY HEY GET THE FLAGS OUT!!!!!!!

After looking at my ever growing pile of UFO's for an increasingly long amount of time I decided that for my own sanity, the several years overdue birthday prezzies and promised quilts had to be finished and passed onto their new owners... get this people... before I started anymore projects.

Well I almost stuck to my word, I did manage to slip a few small projects into the mix but here are some of the main things that I got round to. I'll try and get round to adding the other smaller stuff in due course.

The first one you see here is one I slipped in, its a Leanne's House BOM and I've called it Annie's Garden. This is because I stitched some of it at my Grandma Annie's bedside this summer in the days before she passed away. She would have really loved it. Only the top is complete so far but as its not promised to anyone except me the rest can wait.

This quilt is the first one that I ever machine pieced and is a pattern I found in a book called Great American quilts, it was designed by Mary Anne Keathley. If you look closely it is an optical illusion, the flat squares look like 3D cubes. I made it for my dad it took me 5 years to make and was only 3 years late for a significant birthday. If anyone from the quilt police is reading this I would like to unashamedly admit that absolutely nothing is perfect on it but I am wonderfully proud of it... so there!

The next one is a Lynette Anderson design called 'Christmas Friend's' I made it this year for myself and it was surprise surprise ready for Christmas. Since this photo was taken I unpicked the quilting in the snowman block and replaced it with a lighter vermacelli which looks much nicer. I also embroidered a nose on the snowman. Loads of people have commented on it so I am really pleased with it.

The next one is not really a favourite of mine. I did it for my niece's baby, it was only 5 months late but then I don't think that 6 months was really enough notice to knock out a masterpiece was it? She wanted something beige and brown, as all the trendy mums seem to want nowadays. This was my attempt at introducing colour into the poor child's monotone nursery. The lesson I learned from this quilt was don't tell people your making them a quilt then a)they don't know when its late and b) they don't get any creative in put.

This next one is a favourite of mine though the photo doesn't do the colours any justice in reality it looks a lot fresher. It is a design by my old teacher Sue Taylor Propst who has since moved to Colorado USA. It is my first attempt at using all plain fabrics and I really like it. I presented it to my mother in law in October, a mere 2 years late for her significant birthday. It is called 'Madeira Wine' because all the 3D grapes were made and stuffed individually by the pool on holiday in Madeira. The centre block is a design by the Tinney family from Alabama in the same Great American Quilts book as my dad's quilt.

The next two quilts were made in a sampler class taught by Lesley Johnson at the Immanuel Hall in Oswaldtwistle. We were supposed to be making a double quilt but mine was for my Grandma's 90th birthday; so as we weren't sure if she'd get there or not I made her an oversized lap quilt and a matching single quilt for my mum's significant birthday (also this year.) Both were completed in plenty of time and Grandma's was given to her rather early which was a good call as sadly she didn't quite make it to 90, we lost her in June. Both quilts now belong to my mum. This one is in the same fabric as the one above but photographed in a different light it looks rather different.

In March I went to a workshop run by my friend at the shop where she worked. It is a design by Jenny Reyment. I enjoyed doing this wall hanging and really boosted my confidence in doing folded patchwork.

Well that's all for now but if I shape myself I will put some photos on of the smaller projects that I have been diddling about with this year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

2010-01-21T14:06:00.000-08:00

As you know I'm in various fabric postcard exchanges, well these two photos are from a fibre book page exchange that I did. The theme was secret garden so the blue part is a block called secret garden and the silk ribbon embroidery is my English country garden. I joined them together to form something like a birthday card, the blue one on top and when you opened the card up the flowers are inside. I sent it to Mandy Stokes in Texas.

2010-01-20T13:38:00.000-08:00

I have been considering buying a new machine for quite sometime now because the 'C' on mine is so pathetically small. No need to do it now because I have just inherrited this beauty from my Grandma. Look at the size of the 'C' its awesome. Not only that but isn't the machine georgous and it still works!!! By complete fluke I've got all the attachments too, pleating foot, hemming foot, ruffling foot the list just goes on and on.

This photo is a close up of one of the designs, I just love it. I thought that I'd use the machine as an ornament if I ever get a sewing room but on reflection its definitley going to be a working model, I can't wait to get time to play.

and as an added bonus the original instruction manual is with it too. The date on the manual is 1893 I'm not sure if that means its when the machine was patented or wether it reflects when this machine was made. I'd love to know.

2009-12-09T13:44:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-31T05:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-31T04:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-31T02:26:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

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...?

2009-09-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

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'

2009-09-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

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.'

2009-09-12T14:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

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

I see you!

2009-08-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-01T11:11:00.001-07:00

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...

2009-08-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-31T11:55:00.000-07:00

This is my Grandma, she's 88. I had to share this photo with the world as its such a good one of her. She's not that brill anymore but until last month kept an imaculately clean bungalow including garden.

2009-07-31T11:43:00.001-07:00

Now that I have put the great work on line I can start and show you some of the more current stuff but as we're going out for a meal to celebrate the girls birthday's in half an hour and I haven't begun to get ready yet, it will have to wait. Keep your fingers crossed, or not as your sense of humour may be, that I don't continue when I get home as lots of alcohol will have been involved so I can't guarantee the quality of the blogging tee hee x Bye for now x

2009-07-31T11:40:00.000-07:00

The unfinished article in full

2009-07-31T11:35:00.000-07:00

I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Its not finished but the gist of it is done. In one of my many books there is a picture of a quilt which has been worked on by 5 generations of the same family so perhaps when I'm a great great grandma this one will be finished!

2009-07-31T11:30:00.000-07:00

November is easy! The picture is my little man, my first born arrived on 1st November 1987. Perhaps its not such a good idea to point out to him the fashion sense!

2009-07-31T11:27:00.000-07:00

I struggled a bit to fit October to my life but as I do have a few funny stories in my cupboard I thought I'd link it to a wicked sense of humour.

2009-07-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

September is another of my own designs. The building which is on Oxford Road, used to be the logo for Manchester Uni. I thought it appropriate as the quilt was for my uni project.

2009-07-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

I like holidays by the sea, so this block shows me and Padman a little boy I sponsored in India playing boy the sea. I don't spopnsor him anymore but I do sponsor 2 little girls Susan and Musu in Sierra Leonne. I'd highly recommend it, and I do it instead of buying Christmas presents for people who don't need them. Action Aid sort it all out and the girls write to me a couple of times a year.

2009-07-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

Gemma and Natalie have birthdays in July; the 26th and the 28th. Nats had to be brought out undercooked. They could have shared the 26th, but I promised Gemma that I would be at her 4th birthday party so I hung on and had Nats 2 days later. Nats is the figure on the left, if you look she's got a white ribbon round her wrist and this is because around the time I made the block we went to Edinburgh for the 'make poverty history' campaign and we all wore white bracelets.

2009-07-31T11:02:00.000-07:00

This is my very own design! My birthday in June coincides with our local Gala and when I was small I always thought that it came specially for my birthday, so this is the big wheel and riding it is my mum dad brother, sister and me

2009-07-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

May represents my beloved babies, well they aren't really babies in the strictest sense of the word anymore. Chris is 21 Gemma is 20 and Natalie in 16

2009-07-31T10:55:00.000-07:00

I love this block and I really enjoyed doing it. If you look closely the rain is made out of tiny beads.

2009-07-31T10:49:00.000-07:00

I live in the Yorkshire Dales, and I'm really proud of my Yorkshire identity. The March block shows sheep, which are more prolific than people in my neck of the woods and I also wanted to represent that its often windy round here... no jokes please!

2009-07-31T10:41:00.000-07:00

This is my February block. It represents me and my old man Gary. The tree is the only part of the original quilt which made it to the final draft. Our special word is embroibered on the heart cushion

2009-07-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

This is the picture I did for January, its supposed to represent me flying off in the wrong direction. Anyone who knows me well will agree that I don't always get it right but hey ho its all part of the 'journey'. Serendipity here we come!

Anthea's quilting story

2009-06-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

Are you all sitting comfortably? Now I'll begin. This is my first blog in my story.
I've been married to Gary since 20th October 2001 and I have 3 children Chris, Gemma and Natalie.
I have had an interest in 'stitch' since I was at school but started muddling around trying to make quilts when my youngest Nats was a toddler. I bought a book called Through the year with SunBonnet Sue. To be honest I didn't have a clue what I was doing and just 'muddled along.' Instead of producing two quilts, one for each of my daughters, I produced a bag of attempts!
I kept the idea in the back of my mind for about 10 years until, when I enrolled at Manchester Uni as a mature student in 2004. We were told that in the second year we would have to make an accessible personal profile so that people who can't read could learn about us and so I resurrected the idea of through the year with SunBonnet Sue tailoring the blocks to represent my life. I put it together with about a minute to spare, I bound it in class on the hand in day! but didn't have time to quilt it, so it has stayed in that state, folded inwards to protect it from the sun and laid accross the bottom of my bed for the last 4 years.