Slow stitching - EPP progress & some Applique

I always have many EPP  projects on the go, that way I can switch between them usually on a fortnightly basis & never get bored of stitching the same thing. Here are some I'm currently focusing on.....

Back in August 2016 I started making some EPP Glitter blocks having drafted my own templates a little larger than those from Jen Kingwell's book Quilt Lovely

This is another great pattern for mixing up the fabric scraps

Where I'm at so far....

Then in October last year, inspired by some amazing vintage hexagon mosaic quilts, especially those of  Albert Small I decided to design my own mosaic. I started colouring in like mad & came up with this for a starting off point

Then the stitching began....

another round was added...

& another section

This is where I'm at today, the main centre pattern is nearly complete. I'm using 3/4" hexagons for this quilt

Next up we have EPP triangles. I had a quite a few redundant triangles cut for a border of another quilt which just didn't work out as I had planned.

One day I came across Linda Collins' Panama Pyramids FB group, (as you do) & finally found a use for these pieces & just had to join in!

These are so easy & quick to make up

Some more sets prepped & ready to stitch.

This is another great scrap project, I'm sticking to using Kaffe Fassett Collective prints & shot cottons for these

Finally, last week, inspired mainly by my love of blue & white china and images of Kaffe Fassett's collection as well as his fabulous mosaics, this design was born

Fabric mosaics using up even smaller scraps, each piece hand appliqued

Embellishing the ginger jar with some simple back stitch embroidery to give it a bit more dimension

A little contrast hand quilting added

This will be bound with the same darker blue spot fabric to add balance to the piece. I

already have more ideas developing on this theme.....watch this space!

More catch up

In my last post I forgot to include this quilt from the KF workshop which was also finished October last. Even had my first go at a little hand quilting.......... the hexagons in the centre of each tumbling block, but don't look too closely!The colours for this one were chosen with my son in mind using more graphic than floral prints, which was easy with the great choice in the Westminster range by Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably.

I enjoyed working with these warmer colours so much that this inspired the start of the red 'Hot Wheel' quilt shown in the previous post ( I was so tempted to keep this one for me!)

This Goes with That/Variahex

Remember seeing these pop up in blogland? Ages ago (late 2010 or early 2011) I read some of Sue Daley's This Goes with That posts, showing how to make up hexagons with various shapes. This link is a recent post as I'm struggling to find the original tutorials she posted. Anyway, cut a long story short, I got stuck into this EPP during the Christmas break as a treat for finishing 'Hot Wheel'

Struggled a bit with the initial layout due to 'you know who' above joining in, so resorted to the wall where she couldn't lay on them.

Once I had a few made I started joining them together and they have gradually grown into a fair size quilt but I still need to do quite a few more.......

It's been great fun trying to come up with different variations....knew my geometry lessons at school would come in handy one day!

Helen's Quilt

& finally for today here is the top that was strip pieced out of Civil war repros very quickly for my friends 50th birthday. (It's ok to post here as she doesn't read my blog) The last time she poped round for a visit she was eye balling my thimble quilt, so that gave me the idea for this one using the same fabrics in 3" squares making it quicker to put together.....it has since been quilted & bound but I didn't get round to taking a picture.

So, that all for today folks, next post will update you with more 2012 projects. See you soon, enjoy your week :)

Home Again - Klosjes & Flowers

We're back in Jersey having had a lovely break visiting Mum in France. She lives in rural Brittany which is very quiet & relaxing with beautiful countryside as in Bon Repos above. This is where the Daoulas river joins the canal which runs from Nantes to Brest & in the background you can see the ruins of the abbey gradually being restored having been destroyed by fire centuries ago.

I managed to finish the Klosjes quilt just in time, Mum was thrilled & surprised with her gift.

I had taken it to work at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust before we left & made the most of our beautiful grounds & granite buildings around the Manor house to have a little photo shoot.

The white door at the top of the above picture is the entrance to my office.

As I had been spending most of my time focusing on finishing the Klosjes quilt, my hexi flowers had been neglected ........

.........but I managed to make a few whilst on holiday

5 more were added to the pile

and a few clamshells were stitched too!

More to be revealed at the end of the month!

Clamshells, Hexagons & Klosjes

Remember these I was busy cutting & preparing a few weeks ago? Well they have gradually been stitched together to form this..........

I finally decided on the layout below........a clamshell trip around the world. I've nearly used up those previously prepared & will print out the next batch using the 3.5" Inklingo version which should really speed up the prep time. Thank you Linda, Cathi & Theresa for all your help & advice :)


Just one little flower produced for One Flower Wednesday nestling amongst the Lobelia. This variety is called Crystal Palace, my favourite as it's such a vibrant blue.

.......and finally all my Klosjes are now made, 192 in total (4.75" sq) & the last ones are being stitched together to add the final 3 rows to the bottom of the main piece, this top should be finished this week.

Hope you're all having a great week where ever you are in the world, the weather is glorious here in Jersey, it finally feels like summer!
Happy stitching :)

Step into my garden ..........

........and sit down to do a little stitching

It's quite a small garden, approximately 5.5 metres square & surrounded by a high wall which creates a micro-climate allowing me to grow some topical plants in this temperate zone.

As you can see I collect plants, especially ones that flower

The California lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus) is now in bloom & smells heavenly when you're sitting next to it, this variety is 'Skylark', a deeper blue & flowers a little later than other varieties.

3 days ago the jasmine was just in bud

.......and is now starting to bloom. This plant is just outside the lounge door & smells divine as it wafts into the living room in the evening.

This year my hardy orchid (Bletilla) has decided to flower again, it is a ground orchid which lives in my semi shady border & dies back in the winter, to re-emerge each spring.

Growing amongst the Cape leadwort (Plumbago auriculata) are the 3 new additions to my hexie flower garden. This plant produces the most beautiful sky blue flowers during the summer, here's a little sneak peek from last year as it is a little early yet.


Well I hope you've enjoyed the little tour of some of my plants, as others decide to come out of hiding, I'll introduce you to them one by one.Happy gardening & stitching of course!