Thursday 16 June 2011

Catching up Again

I seem to be doing this a lot lately, cramming everything from the last couple of weeks into one post.  To be honest I'm finding it hard to get round to blogging.  Don't get me wrong, I'm spending loads of time on the computer (too much!) and keeping up with all the blogs I follow but I can't seem to find the interest to blog myself.  I shall have to get a grip!

Well, what can I tell you?  Last Saturday was Region 10 of the Quilter's Guild Area Day which involved a bit of a journey up to Ludford in the north of Lincolnshire.  Sadly (and probably an indicator of my current state of mind) I didn't take any photos but it was an excellent meeting.  The guest speaker, who also held a workshop on the Sunday, was Gail Lawther who was talking about the inspiration behind the 35 quilts she has completed after spending time in New Zealand.  



I treated myself to Gail's book which features all the quilts she talked about and also instructions for making your own version of some of them.  I was amazed that this beautiful book was only £10!

Happily Lis, who blogs as Piece n Peace, has blogged about the day here and it was lovely to meet up with her on the day.  We have only been cyber friends before.   Lis had the forethought to get a photo of both of us together unlike me!  Lis also attended the workshop on the Sunday and has blogged about it here.  Gail was a very enthusiastic speaker and kept us all entertained and I know her workshop was excellent on the Sunday.  I have a Practical Project booked with Gail at the Festival of Quilts in August so I will get my chance to experience her teaching expertise then.  Keep your fingers crossed that nothing crops up this year to stop me going.

What else can I share with you?  On Sunday we had a lovely day with my Mum.  5, yes5, of her friends, all of whom are over 70, travelled up from Essex to see her and what a party we had! 




Doesn't my Mum look happy?




These are my Mum's special friends and I am so grateful to them for making the journey on a terrible rainy day.  We had an afternoon of laughter, 8 of us squashed into our tiny lounge but it was a fantastic uplifting afternoon all topped off by a cream tea and strawberries and cream :-)   Mum is thinking quite clearly at the moment so we have been able to have some proper conversation which is lovely.  Everyone commented on how much better she is looking, that vague look is not there so much.

While I haven't been doing much practical stitching I have been working on my quilt for Festival of Quilts and have been preparing some digital images. 


 This is a blend of a road map of West Penwith and a previously altered image of St Ives harbour beach.



I really like this, if I do say so myself!  I layered an image of a flooded dinghy over a manipulated photo of The Sloop pub in St Ives.

 
I think I applied an 'ink outlines' filter to this image of seaweed.

This image combines a photo of the Island in St Ives with an image captured of text on panelling at the Eden Project on our recent visit.  It is quite a simple manipulation but I really like it.

I don't think I've shown here the start point for my entry to Festival.  I actually started this quilt last year but didn't finish it as I had other inspiration and abandoned it.  I have committed myself to working with the blocks I made at that time and have to work to a finished size of 45x45cms!  Gulp!  That's huge!  What possessed me?!   (Amendment added Friday 17 June: I meant 45 inches!!! Help!)

Here's a look at the raw material


This is the top laid out on the bed.  My plan is to include digital images from my photos printed on   Extravorganza and possible other fabrics and then somehow to unite the whole thing with stitch and maybe embellishment.  The whole thing has to be with the organisers by the end of July and I'm away for a week before then and I've got a weekend at Contemporary Quilt Group Summer School which I am very excited about but which will probably lay me low for a week getting over it!  Either that or I'll come home with a completely different idea for my entry ;-)

Well, I'm really tired so it's time I went.  I'm rapidly approaching my 4th blogging anniversary, where did the time go?  The tradition is to have a giveaway so I will have to get my thinking cap on as I don't have a stock of anything.


13 comments:

Sarah Payne said...

Wow - I cant wait to see the finished item at the FoQ this year! I am entering for the first time and it is pretty nerve racking isn't it?

ju-north said...

Lots of great things happening for you! Your quilt will look first class when finished, whatever the design!

jan said...

Lovely pictures of your mam and her friends. I love your altered photos of St Ives, we are off to Cornwall in August and I can't wait!

Heather said...

Lovely post Julie. I love your layered images, especially the first one. At least your quilt dimensions are in cms and not inches! Your Mum looks so well in those photos - you'd never believe she had been so poorly. Good luck with your quilt. I love the colours and am sure it will be beautiful.

pam said...

Gosh you have been busy - those photos of your Mum and her friends are lovely - the move and having you nearby has obviously helped her. Can't wait to see the finished quilt. I loved the way you had layered the photos very clever.

Gina said...

Lovely photos of your Mum julie - she looks very happy. Looking forward to seeing your finished FOQ quilt.

Anonymous said...

Great inspiration for your quilt Julie, love seeing wht you are doing even if it's only once in a while. So glad Mum is with you a bit more right now. Hang on to these special times. She does look really happy! xox Corrine

Anonymous said...

I love the colours you are using in your quilt, I look forward to seeing it at FoQ :)

Julie said...

Heather, Oops!! I meant 45 inches square! Now you can see why I'm panicking! :-)

Anonymous said...

Kerrrrums that was an action packed posting Julie. Your mum does indeed look happy and I'm glad you had such a fab time with all her friends.

The digital images are fabulous...I especially like the one with the map transposed over the sea front; its beautiful.

Good luck with the foq quilt too!

Mrs Mac said...

WOW I can't wait to see the finished article!!!!

Don't worry about not blogging. When I haven't blogged for a few weeks I feel awful, really guilty, but I'm sure it's not meant ot be like this. In the end, what makes it easier to blog is to sign in and leave the screen sitting there so I can do a bit gradually over a few hours, say. I wish I could get Bob back to blogging more regularly. He used to make me laugh! LOL!

My mum is doing better too;l I know what you mean by the vague look.

Great that your mum had 5 friends who came to see her!!! Mum has never socialised so she doesn't have that, though we are talking about going down to Kent to see her old neighbour.

Fenland Textile Studio said...

Sounds like you had a great day, I'm sorry that I couldn't make it. I love your FoQ quilt. Luke is entering one again this year. It is much larger and he has had to learn how to foundation piece. I'm so pleased tp hear that your mum is happy and settled. Take care of yourself

Maggi said...

Lovely work Julie. I look forward to seeing your FOQ quilt on display in August. Your mum looks so happy.