Sewing in Coalville

Today Paula, Julie, Maria and I went over to 'Hannah's Room' in Coalville for a Linus sewing day.  With four people and four sewing machines in the car, plus fabrics, we were a bit snug, but my trusty Fiesta can cope with more than that, and did so, as on the way back we had three of my quilts which had been exhibited at Coalville plus four completed Linus quilts!  

Lovely Alison had brought her Sizzix cutter and happily cut tumblers from Linus fabric.  Here is Roxana doing what quilters do best and scrabbling around on the floor laying them out! 

Julie brought her Acuquilt and cut more dogs and cats etc. which Paula and I put together with 9-patches.  Gorgeous. 

Here you can see the dog + 9-patch quilt in the foreground with Maria and Julie beavering away behind a donated bag of scraps.  Julie was first in there to pull out some fabulous batik pinwheels and fabric to make more.  

Paula was 'nose to the grindstone as usual.  She told me off for talking as she was waiting for me to finish applique in the dogs before she could join them up!  Quite right too! 

Alison was sorting and cutting.  Check out that hoodie.  Father Christmas, please take note and make sure there is one like that in my stocking. Please. 

And here is a view of the whole proceedings.  Roxana's Mum Claire was making fleece backed prem quilts.  Cute.  We had a lovely day, with lots of laughter, chocolate biscuits and sewing.  Many thanks to Roxana for opening her shop specially and keeping us all well supplied with tea and coffee all day.  There will be another day on December 6th, so put it in your diary. 

Overwhelmed

Today Paula and I drove over to Bingham to meet Judy from Fostering Futures to give some more lovely quilts to children who are being Looked After.  It's always lovely to see Judy, and she brought the evidence of the crochet tuition Paula gave her when we last caught up.  She's definitely got the basics, but life has been a bit hectic for her recently, so the crocheted bedspread is yet to be finished (and started!). 

Here she is with her glamorous new hairstyle holding up one of the lovely quilts I fetched from Nether Broughton recently.  She took 30 quilts, which I'm sure will be used to brighten a foster child's day.  As we were leaving, she loaded a box into my car and said it was a bit of appreciation from the children's families.  I had a quick glance, and there were chocolate biscuits and other treats which we will all be able to share. 

How's that for a bit of appreciation!  We're having a sewing day in Coalville on Monday, so will certainly enjoy the sugar rush.  Then I looked further inside the box and there was more!

Pins, safety pins and twenty spools of Gutermann cotton thread!  How did they know that's my personally preferred thread?  That too will be shared out on Monday, and be put yo good use.  There was also an envelope which Judy had pointed out, which I was hoping contained cards from the children.  We always love reading thank you cards, and are very grateful for them.  It wasn't cards, just one card. 

One of Judy's beautiful hand painted card, a letter and a bag with some pictures of the queen in!  To say I was overwhelmed was an understatement!  Such generosity!  Judy suggests we use the money to pay the rent for 2016!  So thoughtful.  The money will definitely be put to very good use, Judy, have no fear! 

And again, many, many thanks! 

 

 

Quilts delivered

The pile of quilts waiting to be delivered has been growing recently, so I have been contacting possible recipients with great success.  Everyone likes a hug you can keep! 

Today I went to the Leicester LGBT centre to deliver some quilts for their young people and some children living with HIV.  

Here is proof of the fact that I'd never make a living as a photographer - fancy posing next to a window!  Never mind, you can at least see me and Project Worker Dennis holding a quilt he had chosen.  It's Maria's Scrappy String as it happens.  Dennis was lovely and made all the right noises and comments about the quilts.  Hope they have the desired effect. 

Nether Broughton

When I mentioned to my daughter that I was off to Nether Broughton, she said it sounded like somewhere in Middle Earth!  It certainly sounds quite old fashioned, but I was going to a quilting group, so was very confident that it would be lovely!  And indeed it was.  I gave a short talk about Linus, and met some lovely ladies, including the fabulous Margaret (who is another Bonnie Hunter fan - must be a lady of discernment and talent!) who leads the group.  She had had an unexpected windfall, and had spent the money on fabric to teach the group Split Nine Patch!  So generous!  

Here she is with a beautiful strippy quilt.  It was made by layering the backing and wadding, then sewing the strips on to the wadding by stitching and flipping, then all is quilted, and ready for sewing together quilt as you go!  How clever is that!  

Here is the pile of quilts I brought back from the meeting.  There were thirty lovely quilts altogether!  Thank you so much ladies, I had a fun evening.  See you again soon? 

Last week we were lucky to be invited to The Big a Textile Show in Great Glen, Leicester.  If you haven't been to this show, then put it in your diary, as it's quite different - in a good way.  There are a variety of exhibitors and traders, from spinners and weavers, dyers, printers, quilters, embroiderers and all kinds of other textile people. 

Here is our stall, which was manned by myself, Maria (pictured), Julie, Eileen and Emily.  Many thanks to these stalwarts, and all the people who came along to say hello and find out about Project Linus.  We'll look forward to seeing you next year! 

Rutland Quilters

Things have been fairly quiet over the summer, Linus-wise, but no sooner have the children gone back to school, than we're off!  Jenny, from Rutland Quilters contacted me, as they had some quilts to donate. She wanted to meet somewhere and do a handover, but I suggested it would be nice for me to come to a meeting, meet the quilters and have a chinwag!  They meet in Uppingham, so yesterday I set my trusty satnav and set off.  It was a beautiful run from Lutterworth, through the villages, Gilmorton,  Kibworth Harcourt, Hallerton, Cranoe etc. and just when I was beginning to think I was going to end up in the middle of nowhere, there was Uppingham!  Good route. 

They are a small group, but have assembled a gorgeous set of quilts. I was particularly impressed that they had been careful to make sure there were some quilts for boys - look at the lovely aeroplane and sky one on the left. Perfect.  We had a cuppa and they had a look through my pattern folder, and then I had an opportunity to admire their work. 

Look at the tiny hexagons!  I think they were half an inch! The colours were more brown than green, and it will be made into a table runner, eventually.  Did you notice the wrist pincushion?  Great idea!

These were all ladies after my own heart.  This one was using leftovers in black, white and pink to make enough fabric for a bag.  It will look stunning. 

And these ladies were sorting scrap squares into sizes, for ease of use.  It's the only way to do it. 

Then, just as I was going, out came these fabulous cushions! 

Cats!  They were an excercise in positive and negative. 

And here are the two together.  Thank you very much for inviting me over, and for the lovely quilts.  I look forward to seeing you again.m

Coffee and quilts

My friend Jane has recently decided to stop teaching patchwork.  This is a shame, as she's a talented, patient and understanding teacher, but it was the right decision for her.  So, what to do with all the blocks, Blue Peters and samples she had amassed?  Make them into Linus quilts, of course!  We met for a coffee and a catch up, and she handed over a total of ten beautiful quilts!

Here she is with a gorgeous ribbon quilt.  You can see the bag with the other quilts in her boot.  If you want to see all the quilts, look on Jane's blog, www.janeweston.blogspot.com where she has photos of them.  Thank you so much, Jane, you're a star! 

Quilts to Cambridge

My daughter Gemma works for a charity in Cambridge which supports young people struggling with their sexuality.  She contacted her local Linus rep to see if there were any hugs to spare, to find there weren't!  Shame!  Luckily I had some, so I was able to deliver some today.  Here she is with a gorgeous quilt.

Having been involved with Linus for several years, and helped with fabric choices, layouts, label sewing and delivery, she was thrilled to be able to be on the other side of the counter (as it were) and be able to receive the love.  And here are some of the young people supported by Sexyouality, enjoying their hugs.

Interesting to see they have chosen a green quilt donated by Hazel, a scrappy windmill, a rail fence sashed in pink, and the red and black quilt which was made by members of Sew Sociable!  

Apparently they were really touched that " some old ladies" we're prepared to make such beautiful things especially for them!  Well, less of the "old ladies" thank you, and maybe we'll send some more!