Lists............

Why lists? Because I have just looked at my "to do" list and felt that I have achieved nothing today so I thought about what I have actually achieved  and I have -

1. Made 60 Tudor ruffs and attended a Tudor banquet with some Y3/4 children (and taught all day)
2. Written and sent off items for my magazine pages
3. Done some smocking samples for a course I am teaching in September
4. Dyed some pale browns for my City and Guilds quilt
5. Done 100 bounces on my trampoline (in the interest of lowering my BMI)
6. Done lots of "mum" stuff with washing etc as DS had his last day of school today. DS2 doesn't finish until next Wednesday though
7. Fed my children swede lasagna (OK it was actually butternut squash but they didn't know that!)
8. Taken possession of a new (to me) fridge
9. Made two jars of gooseberry jam
10. Managed to have ten minutes with DH

Maybe I have achievd something today after all.

I am really hoping to start making up my final City and Guilds quilt soon as time is ticking away. This is a sample of possible stitches in my sky. The top varigated thread just isn't right for this but it is quite hard to see. This is actually a scanned image but it's still hard to see the layers of sheers.

Lastly a confession. I rushed out to the Post Office yesterday, I got half way down my lane when the people picking cabbages started to shout and wave at me. I slowed down and then stopped only to discover this on the roof of my car.

Simba must have been on the roof as I got in and drove away. He wouldn't come down for me so I turned round and drove home, went inside for the camera and took this photo. It was much harder to get him off the car so that I could actually go and post my parcels. I just have to remember to check my car roof before driving off anywhere now. This is the look he gave me once finally off the car - need I say more?

Sun, sea, sand and quilt patterns

On Saturday evening (yes I'm a bit behind) it was so hot so we made a sudden decision to go to the beach (we only live 20 minute drive away from Skegness) but City and Guilds work had to come too so -

I took my sketchbook and drew whilst DS's built a channel to the sea. The tide was being very obliging and coming in so it did fill with water quite quickly.

When I got bored I made quilt patterns in the sand which allowed me to try out ideas for my quilt. DH said like it looked like I was doing a children's television programme.

  

If you have ever been to Skegness recently you will know that just off the beach are these wind turbines,

You can see just how close they are in this picture of DS's digging.One day (after C&G) I will include them in a quilt as I have been doodling ideas for sometime.

After getting home and showering everyone I managed to get lots of samples completed and worked in my sketchbook but I haven't photographed them yet. I even managed to sew on a hanging sleeve for a small quilt that is going to the Quilters Guild exhibition at Rufford Craft Centre in Nottinghamshire. I am also teaching there in July and August so I need to finish off my workshop packs. Life's always busy but interesting!!

Busy, busy, busy

So much has happened around here in the past few weeks that I don't really know where to start. I think I do need to say thank you to all my new followers and promise my sporadic blogging is just a temporary blip due to my City and Guilds diploma. Anyway to news, my LQG had a fantastic show a few weeks ago, there was so much beautiful work on display. Living in such a big county such as Lincolnshire it was also a chance to meet up with friends not seen for several months.

This was a favourite made by Frances (our chairlady).

My zebra quilt also had an outing. The week after the quilt show I was at The Deep, the sub aquarium in Hull

It was a fantastic place with the most amazing Rays and Sharks. I loved the building which it is housed in which was designed by Sir Terry Farrell. According to the brochure it had over 3,500 fish and and both DS had a fantastic time. I have lots of photos for future inspiration. A quiz, do you know what these are called, they were such amazing, delicate creatures?

Last night I went with Sweetiepie and others from my LQG to hear Kaffe Fassett talk in Spalding.

He was talking about how he got started and also his books. I had a quick peek at his latest book, Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts.It is basically about how simple geometric shapes have influenced his quilt making. He encourages us to use those big, beautiful bold patterns with simple shapes for stunning quilts. I was very tempted to buy it but was very disciplined but I just loved the images inside it. It might well find it's way into my bag at FoQ. He brought swatches of fabrics from his latest collections, as we drooled over them we made a mental note to go and look at Cotton Patch during Festival of Quilts as they will have all his range of fabrics.  He brought both quilts and knitting for us to look at. Despite it being so hot it was a really good evening and I came away feeling inspired which cxan only be good for my City and Guilds Diploma.

Just to prove I am still busy I have been working on samples for my sketchbook which will form the basis for my main quilt. This has a minimum size of 60" square, did I say it was to be completed by September 6th?? My DH is being fantastically supportive though and trying to give me as much time as possible.

My inspiration is the fens around my house and the crops that grow. We have just had the fields at the top of the lane which had peas in them cut by the huge machines. When the crop is cut the air smells like peas for several days. If you have washing hanging outside, that also smells of peas. The above was a sample experimenting with perspective and different materials. Below a page from my sketchbook showing work from rapeseed and cow parsley.