Something!

Two weeks since the last post - I can't seem to get the hang of this posting business. I have lots of ideas of what I want to write and never seem to get round to doing it. Oh well, half term this week so not much going to be happening this week.

I had a machine applique workshop last week. I decided we would cover four methods of machine applique and then they would spend the rest of the day working on something. This was the something I decided to do:

This wall hanging has four blocks of petals and each block uses a different method of machine applique. I am not sure if you can make them out in the photos but I think if you click on them they should enlarge. This one is satin stitch:

A very bold look and not to my taste at all really. The following is blanket stitch:

I really like the look of this one and have used it a lot in previous projects. The next is raw edge:

Not quite as effective, especially in this situation, but I think it has a lot of uses. The final one is blind hem stitch.

I really like this stitch and have fallen in love with how effective it looks (or doesn't as the case maybe). I used a new Juki from work to do this and it worked great. I thought this stitch would be the strong winner on the day with my class, but no...... funnily enough most of them really liked the satin stitch and I had one who loved the raw edge - just goes to show doesn't it? I have got carried away with this pattern now and have also made a start on this:

This is a small table runner or wall hanging for a dear friend of mine who has turned 40. She turned 40 about two weeks ago, but in true Emma fashion it is taking me some time to finish it!! The fabric is Denyse Schmidt Hope Valley, which I love, love, love! I have also started another wall hanging using this pattern and stitch, more on that later. I have seen another blogger working on this pattern as well, but I can't remember where I have seen it.

Other big news: I roasted a duck for the first time in my life tonight and it was absolutely delicious - I need to get out more!

It's never been four weeks?!!!

Oh Blimey, I saw on another blog that I hadn't blogged in over four weeks!!! Four weeks people!!! I think I have lost some weeks somewhere, I am sure it can't have been that long! Where does the time go??

Well, my run on finishing things didn't last very long did it? I have finished some things though. This was a table runner made from left overs from a quilt (more on that another time) that made its way up to my mum's table. I am not showing any close ups as the quilting on it is abit of donkey!! That told you didn't it?



The next two following shots are of a wallhanging that is for a class on machine applique which I am running in a couple of weeks. Four panels each one using a different machine applique technique. This is the very badly lit version:

This is the horribly over exposed version:

Try as I might, I was unable to find a happy medium between the two - so I gave up!

Finally, I am probably the last person in the country to discover the joy of Converse shoes - maybe not quite the last person! I wanted some new trainers or shoes for knocking around in and these fit the bill. They make me feel a little bit trendy, without feeling like mutton (you know what I mean ladies!!):

I think I must be having a bit of a mid life thingy - what with these and my other purchase - a snazzy pair of purple shoes - but I'll save those for another day!!