Quilting Journals

Recently I bought this book which is all about reproduction quilts and journal entries from the 1800's. Its a beautiful book with projects to make and very interesting stories written by Lizzie the quilt maker. She talks about her life and everyday events plus her quilt making which is fascinating. This got me thinking about my quilt journals and how neglected they have been the last few months. So I decided to keep writing about the quilts I have made but also write about some things that were happening at the time. I'm going to save swatches of fabrics and write down points of history like the costs of things including fabrics and foods.

This is one quilt I made a couple of years ago, I wrote why I made the quilt and what the fabrics costs. I also wrote the cost of our mortgage at that time and the price of petrol. Its amazing that in just a few years how much the cost of living has increased.

I'm hoping that one day some one will come across my journals (thats if the boys haven't thrown them out) and read about my life and the quilts I made.

Do you have any suggestions as to what else I could include in my journal, I thought I could put in the odd pattern and lots of photos of my quilts and swatches of fabrics.. What else would make it interesting? If you keep a journal of your quilting I'd love to hear about it and the things you put in it.

Biscuits and blossoms

Our weather has been beautiful the last few days, last night was the first time we didn't light the fire for months. We are looking foreward to some warmer days after such a cold winter.
Last night Nicky and I made biscuits, they were so easy that I thought I would share the recipe with you. Do you see the rolling pin in the back ground? My friend Kim from the UK sent it to me for my birthday, its so cute and has some kitchen rules on it that definately apply in my house. Cherry biscuits recipe is as follows...
125g of butter
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of golden syrup
1 1/2 cups of plain flour
1 level teaspoon of baking powder
few drops of vanilla essence
60g of glace cherries, chopped

Preheat oven to 180 degrees, melt butter, sugar and golden syrup together in a saucepan. Sift the flour and baking powder.
Pour the melted mixture while hot into the dry ingredients and mix quickly. Add vanilla and cherry pieces and form into small balls.
Place on baking tray and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack,

Enjoy.

I had to show you a picture of our crab apple tree in blossom, its the highlight of our back garden right now, the scent is beautiful and the flowers are so pretty, I wish it stayed like this all year round.

Wrapped in Paisley

Kansas troubles fabrics are my most favourite fabrics, I have quite a few of the ranges now and I try to make something with each new range, here is my latest creation, its called Wrapped in paisley, its only a smallish quilt as I only had 2 charm packs to play with and a metre of border fabric. I thought it turned out nice.
I haven't done much sewing this week as Lillian had the week off so I ran the shop each day. It was a good week, I managed really well with no problems at all. I slept well each night I can tell you. Being on your feet all day wears you out. Now the weekend is here and its time to get my brand new machine out of the cupboard. I have missed it all week. I'm ready to sew.
Do you have a favourite range of fabrics? I'd love to hear about it.

Lucky me

Its taken a long time but I finally have the sewing machine of my dreams. On Friday I picked up my Janome Memory Craft 5200. Its beautiful to sew on, fully computerised and even comes with an extension table. This is why my wonderful family gave me money for my birthday. As you can imagine I have had a full on sewing weekend. I still need to sit down and learn how to use all the new stitches, there are so many to choose from. Its going to be such fun.
Until next time...... happy sewing.

Look what I made...

I have had a lovely week. Its the first week of school holidays for my boys so I have had the week off with them. Mostly I have been painting our new games room that my husband and I renovated, I really shouldn't say I as I didn't do much at all except paint the inside and make coffees. In between painting I have been sewing. I had to get a little bit done each done each day to keep me happy. This quilt is my most favourite so far, I was proud of myself to be able to do such a busy quilt. I usually stick to simple patterns. I used my favourite Kansas troubles fabrics in this quilt, a bit of Garden Inspirations and Bound to the Prairie. When this quilt is all quilted I plan to hang it in my bedroom. The borders really make this quilt, don't you think. They were fun to do. I can't wait to quilt it now.

Now I have finished one project its time to move onto another. I had a couple of 1930s charm packs so I decided to use them and make a quilt , The blocks come together really quickly. After working with such dark fabrics in my last quilt its fun to play with some pretty ones. I hope you found some sewing time today.

Happy Birthday to me

Yesterday was my birthday, I had a wonderful day. It was full of many phone calls from family and friends. My son made me this card and I just had to share it with you. I am saving up for something very special so I asked my husband for money for my birthday which I got. Well Nicky knew I wanted money so he kindly gave me 20 cents from his money box to put towards my collection, I can't tell you just yet what I'm getting as its on order so when I get it home all will be revealed. My wonderful in-laws sent me these beautiful gifts, Dawn you always know what I love. Thank you.

Lillian at work gave me the Farmers Wife cookie book, its full of beautiful recipes and my lovely friend Marina gave me these fabrics. She knows me so well and knows just the fabrics I would love to have.

My friends in Stitching group sent me these wonderful fabrics and pattern to make the 9 patch dolls quilt, the fabrics are beautiful, thankyou Jan. I will have fun playing with all my new fabrics.