pondlife

 They say that water is a great way to attract wildlife to your garden.

So a couple of weekends ago we began to dig.

Now that I have an allotment I've actually been redesigning the old veg patch,

so where the strawberries and gooseberries once lived we now have a pond!

Before you tut...we used mainly water butt water and now rain water to fill it up.

We also don't have a hose pipe ban and due to all the rain the water butt is now full up again!

 It's a fun thing...we are like proud parents!

 If you know my garden you might notice the shed has moved..now that's another story!

 I love the view from the shed, it's like a hide.

I have spent a few minutes waiting for wildlife, but nothing has turned up yet!

 This corner is my new favourite place to sit.

We had our breakfast here on Sunday morning.

Water gardening is a whole new world to me...I like how I can take beach style photos in my back garden.

I'm learning about water plants, a department I've never looked at.

We bought some elodea for oxygenation and a bull rush to start.

Because I know you will ask I will try and answer your ponderings.

pond size is approx 2.5m x 1.5m

it's mainly shallow, with the deepest part approx 1.5ft

we bought a cheap pvc 3m x 4m  from B&Q

(as we were unsure, we went for cheapness as opposed to correctness)

a bog garden was created around the pond with the extra liner

the pond was lined with 6 bags of soft sand

a shallow end was created to allow creatures to escape

this is a wildlife pond so no fish

It's a work in progress...

it's all about the pond right now,

I even sat out there in the rain yesterday.

Now we need some ground cover water plants to hide the liner edge

and a few more rocks.

The old sleeper is quite hollow, I have plans to fill it with ferns.

I can see this is going to be an exciting development for summer...

have you got any plans for your patch?

Water can be squeezed into the smallest corner, or maybe even in a tub.

ahhh water lily research needed....

basic english paper piecing tutorial

 Thought it was about time I did a basic tutorial on English paper piecing.

I'm sure most of you know by now how to do it,

so this tutorial is for those who are unsure and unaware

 just how simple the technique is.

 I'm using hexagons as they are the most common shape for epp

(english paper piecing)

Firstly you need to either make a template out of card to draw around or

find a multiple hexagon printout online.

A hexagon with 1 inch sides is a nice size to work with.

(or if these are a stretch..you can buy ready cut hexagons online)

 Pin your paper template to your chosen fabric and cut leaving approx 1/4 inch allowance.

 There are two ways to tack your fabric to your template.

The above is the correct way according to the 'quilt police'.

Never punching through the paper with the needle.

I find this way time consuming and not secure enough

especially with larger pieces.

 I tack my fabric onto the paper by passing my needle through the fabric and the paper.

 Like so.

 Make a few hexagons so you can begin sewing them together.

 Take two hexagons good sides together,

starting at one corner 

stitch over the ends

(whip stitch)

taking care not to catch the paper.

 To join the next one repeat the same as before.

 To finish sewing these three together start a new thread,

and sew from the centre out, 

I find it helpful to bend or fold the piece to the right.

So there are the three sewn together.

When you are sewing multiple hexagons

 make a longer thread and sew as many as you can in one go.

Things I have learnt.

I always tack in a coloured thread,

so when you come to cut out the papers the knots are easier to spot,

and therefore you are not likely to cut the wrong ones!

You can remove the papers as you go as long as you leave the leading edge intact.

paper piecing is flexible,

you may find that some sides don't quite match up,

don't worry,

with a little coaxing you can adjust as you sew.

I prefer to use a long fine quilters needle, 

but any needle will be okay to practice with.

I will update with answers to any of your questions.

I am currently working on a large hexagon piece.

If you would like to join in then hop over to my flickr group

The hexagons I'm using are 2 inches per side,

which is a really speedy way to see your creation grow.

If you are feeling even braver then join my patchwork planet flickr group,

to show where you do it...

allotment chic

Today's post comes to you from my new allotment!

 I am insane I know...but gardening is my one weakness??

that and starting up flickr groups it seems!

I love it when I see your patchwork photos taken outdoors,

so thought I'd start a group for some renegade quilting.

If you have any interesting snaps please pop 

over here and join in the weirdness!
ps. the stranger the better! 
pps. tales from the allotment will be featuring on my blog..

spring clean...

 that was the intention..I even put my pinny on..

 but I'm an easily distracted kind of girl..

 large hexagons give such a speedy satisfaction

oo-err missus

 okay back to it..spring cleaning the garden that is!

If you are wanting to do a spot of paper piecing then why not join my flickr group

to show and share?

It's a fun carefree project...

make whatever you like..just make it jumbo!

piece and love hexathon

Thanks for the love my friends.

My self esteem ebbs and flows...

your nice comments keep me buoyant. 

I've been feeling so uplifted with all this sunshine,

I want to bottle it up in a cheerful patchwork project.
This is a non quilt project ie. it can be a tablecloth, curtains or whatever needs a splash of patchwork!

 I know though... not another hex-a-long right?

After the success of the rose star block party

(which is still going strong)

I wanted to keep things simple, so more people might be snared enticed!

Plus these hexagons are biggies man!

(see the normal sized hexagons on the right)

 I've been wanting to make a pretty table cloth

ever since I displayed my quilt on the dining room table last year.

 This was my next to do project,

so why not make it a friendly group of piece and love.

The idea is to keep this as carefree as possible.

You will not need 

wadding

designer fabrics

(but if you have a stash use it!)

binding

You will need 

some vintage/old bedding/old fabrics

(try charity/thrift shops)

paper hexagons

(mine are 2" each side)

a backing fabric

a table to cover
elbow grease

and

some captured moments in your week..

..be it, sat on a train, in your lunch break or in the park.

I'd love to see your progress,

if you would like to join in or just follow

pop over here

I will be posting the basic technique of paper piecing again next week...

as if you don't already know!!!

piece out

xxx

the instigator
ps. feel free to copy and paste my button to your blog.

a quilt story

As promised my mini quilt from start to finish.

I'm calling it french window...

This is my first quilt designed from scratch.

It originates from this chateau in Josselin France.

I immediately thought of patchwork as I peered through the lovely lead windows.

I made a quick sketch of the block...

...and then put together a design for a quilt,

I do love the 3D aspect of the one on the left.

I must say at this point with my shoulder already sore

I had thoughts of machining this quilt.

And it is quite possible by using half square triangles and rectangles.

That said I much prefer my shapes to be one solid piece of fabric,

so as not to spoil the design.

As this was also a mini quilt I thought I'd English paper piece it

I am a sucker for it!

So one evening I sat on the floor and with the help from my husbands mathematical skills
I scaled the design up to the size I wanted keeping the same ratio.

Choosing the right balance of colours was a bit tricky as so many had to meet.

I tried out a few until I found the balance I liked.

I knew that I wanted to keep the blocks all the same,

and not just mix them up.

After stitching them to their templates I still had a couple of days switching them about,

with the help of my digital camera!

Now you may remember how I thought it resembled a cream egg colour scheme,

tempting as it is to call it creme egg,

the theme actually grew from my anthropologie bowl.

With my shoulder in mind I did a little stitching every few days,

and soon I had sewn the top, with great satisfaction.

Woo hoo naked of it's papers!

When it came to the backing I was at a stand still,

I knew that I wanted to do some red hand quilting 

so I needed the backing to work with that.

Then as per usual 'eureka'

I found this piece which seemed perfectly made just for this project.

It's part of a pillowcase that I bought just for patchwork,

and the red stitching works too...JOY!

To tie in the navy from the front I've used Joel Dewberrys modern meadow

(my all time favourite design and excellent blender)

Before I hand quilted,

 I machine quilted inside each piece,

I like how it looks more like the original window,

when the light catches it just right.

So there you are the makings of my french window.
I can say hand on heart I loved every bit of this quilt.
I think the fact that because it's a mini (23'x 17')
I could see the end in sight within a month.
I realise this quilt isn't going to appeal to some..
I do prefer to inspire with my quilts than to make something pretty for pretty sake!
Now that said I have a new quilt-along up my sleeve
for beginners...
 and probably very pretty!!

 One anonymous comment

Surely you can't actively decide to inspire? Inspiration is something that either hits the viewer or not. I like pretty things so am likely to be inspired by them. I don't like geometrical shapes much and prefer very simple shapes or applique. Colour and fabric choices matter more than any design as the less the design the more likely I am to like it aesthetically. Piecing is of course clever but I like the look less as it takes away from the fabrics and colours.

Edited in response to the above comment

 Of course I don't make quilts just to inspire others.

I make quilts that challenge me and if they inspire when they are finished then thats a bonus,

If you had read my last sentence then you would have realised that.

Why are the quilt police always anonymous?

ps. piecing is not clever it's actually quite simple,

maybe you should join in my next quilt along

it's for beginners?