TOYS themed postcard swap

Hi All

In our last PP Postcard swap of the year, with the theme of 'Toys' from childhood, I sent mine to Jytte. I used to make my nieces and nephews teddy bears so here is my postcard -

Lammy with Love X

My birthday gift from NN & Reb

Hi All

Today I received a gorgeous wall-hanging from NN & Reb and cards from them and Jan too which are a lovely surprise.


Here's my lovely wall-hanging which will go perfectly in my hall when it's decorated....





I love it NN, Reb, and Jan thanks for the birthday cards too!
Lammy with Love xxx

2012 Olympic Quilt block

Hi All

On PP we have decided to make a 2012 Quilt for a country taking part in the Olympics. The theme chosen was very British - the good old 'cup of tea'. Each of the participants will make a single block using the 'Teacup' which was sent to us by another member. We were to set the 'teacup into a star using fabric and design of our choice....and here is mine!

'Tea in the Rose Garden'

All ready to go into the post when the postal strikes end....

Lammy with Love X

Harvest themed PP postcard

Hi All

This is the postcard I made for Angela H from PP. The theme was 'Harvest' and I struggled a bit with this one but managed to cobble it together in the end.

And here it is.....

And this is my lovely Harvest Moon postcard from Angela F

Thank you Angela - it's lovely and tactile too.

Lammy with Love X

Jingly Jester Bag

Hi All
I've made a sample Jester Bag from PP Irene's pattern that she sent me, and it turned out really good. May think about using a heavier fabric next time but it only took 10 mins to sew up and add the jingle bells - and then fill it with gift goodies........

Here is my first attempt -


Lammy with Love X

My 'Lost' Postcard from Jytte

Hi All

I got a surprise yesterday when my 'lost' Under the Sea themed postcard from PP Jytte arrived in the post. It appeared that part of my address was missing so I have to say thank you to the Post Office who redirected it to me safely. And here it is -

The postcard has the tiniest pearly seed beads stitched on to represent the bubbles frm the fishes mouths, and a 'pearl' in the oyster at the bottom.

Thank you again Jytte, it's lovely.

Lammy with Love X

October

Hi All
WOW! This month has passed in a blur....of work, work, work...... I haven't had any time to work on any projects as it's been full-on.

I was in (well ½ of me was!) the local newspaper when I supported a student at Graduation Evening at the beginning of the month and have managed to catch up with my children and grandchildren together, only once when we all went out for a meal.

I was v disappointed as I got a real bargain (99p + P&P) on eBay of some great fabric for a quilt at the beginning of September but it still hasn't arrived so I guess that's gone for good! Flippin' postal service strikes are so annoying. I also had a 'Under the Sea' themed postcard made for me by one of my PP group buddies Jytte, who posted it over a week and a half ago, and it has still not arrived, so again....looks like I've lost that too! So annoyed! but still hope it eventually reaches me....

That's all for now except to say that I hope to be able to get some projects done during Half term - only one more week to go! Yay!

Lammy with Love X

My own B&W in the making.....

Hi All,

After making my daughter's B&W quilt, I wanted one of my own. I found this block design and have now completed the quilt top ready for layering. I really love the effect it gives of the interlocking blocks throughout, and I can't wait to start echo-quilting it.

Lammy with Love X

My Colourful Batik Quilt

Hi All,

This quilt has attracted some interest for the pattern, so I'm going to add the pattern here. I don't know the official name of the pattern but I saw the picture of the quilt in a quilting magazine many, many years ago and kept it as I loved the design. I've coloured in the sample to show how the colourways alternate, Eg. one square has purple in the centre and lime on the outer pieces of the block; and the other has lime in the centre and purple on the outer pieces. To make it easier to track, I used the same colour (yellow) for one direction of the chevron/arrow on my quilt.

The pattern in 3rd pic above is a square - place the point in one corner (ie. the bottom left) and take your line on graph paper to exactly the middle of the square, for example in a 6 inch square, the line would meet at 3 ins on the sides. So the pattern consists of 2 pieces, the centre is pattern 1 and you cut one and the outer is pattern 2 and you cut 2. (Please also remember to add your 1/4 in seam allowance around all edges).

Hope I haven't made it too confusing...let me know if any problems and I'll do my best to help.

Lammy with Love x

Postcard Swap

Hi

This is the lovely 'Hearts' theme postcard I received from Francoise. It has a small canvas embroidered heart in the centre. Thanks Francoise, it is great.

Lammy with Love x

Back to work!

Hi All,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my grandaughter Jet-Leoni...A big 6 yesterday Yeh! She's been so difficult to buy for so I let her choose this year. She had a lovely day at school and got loads of, (as she calls it) soooo coooool presents! A Batman suit was a big hit with her! Haha! She's a tomboy and has never taken to dolls and prams etc. so you can see our problem when we have to think of something. Dreading Christmas as we'll all be struggling again for her presents. But she's a happy girl and has more presents to get today.

I worked 44 hrs this week (10 more than I should) as we're really busy and I'm exhausted but when things settle back down I will hopefully have Tuesday off as I'm needed to work Wednesdays...
so BAD NEWS! (NN & Jan) no more foraging trips to the market for fabrics on a Wednesday....
but GOOD NEWS! I'll still be checking for new fabrics we don't have on Saturdays...wahey!!!!!
no real change there then..........

Due to work being mega-busy, I haven't had much time to PP or do any quilting since I went back. I'm glad I got a fair bit done in the summer break and will have to get used to just having Sunday to rest & quilt. I still owe a PC to Angela F which I will have to focus on and I've agreed to join in the Block for one 2012 Olympics Quilt project we are doing on PP which is good, and won't take too long to do.

I've just got to add the borders to my Black & White 'Geometric' quilt top and still need to finish the Soldier quilt top as well.

I haven't started my hand appliqued quilt yet as I'm practicing on getting the curved stems to lie flat so I won't have to keep doing 'rippit' stitch. I have a bias tape making tool that works really well and my practice of getting the applique to lie flat is improving ...but any advice on this would be appreciated. As it's a long-term project, I'm in no rush to start this until I'm confident I can do it justice as the whole quilt top is covered in stems and off-shoot stems.

That's all for now...off out to see the birthday girl.
Lammy with Love XXX

My colourful Batik

Hi All

This is the quilt that I made from hand-dyed Batik fabrics. I have bordered it with some lovely fabric I bought from Abakhan's in Liverpool as I love the combination. All basted and ready to quilt now so just need time..............and it is a keeper!

Lammy with love XXXX

PP Ice Cream Strip Swap

This is the quilt top thus far....maybe another border to expand it to single quilt size but not sure at the moment....

This is the swap of 14 strips of Ice Cream themed fabric with PP quilt site members. Each strip was approx. 42"/44" long by 2½" deep. I added white fabric and pink with tiny white spots as a border.

Lammy with Love x

Quilt top going to new home...

Log Cabin quilt top for Sis-in-Law, C.

Made approx. 20 years ago so I can't wait to see this finished and being used...it's been a long time coming, and I know it's gone to a good home C....

Lammy with Love xxxx

Summer Break's over....

Hi All
Well I'm back at work now after a long summer break and it's so busy....getting everyone settled in and organised. My decking project has begun again now that K & A and kiddies are settled into new home. Will post pics when finished as only half-decked at moment....watch this space...............!

I had a really nice break and was able to start and finish my daughter & partner's quilt; make a quilt top from a Ice-cream themed PP Strip Swap; sandwich and baste my 'huge' Batik quilt and almost finished my own Black'nWhite geometric quilt top. I also made my youngest granddaughter a HaaHoo cushion for her new bedroom which she loves.
I will post photos of the ones not already shown after this posting.

Last night my sis B Skyped me and I talked to my brother C and sis-in-law (SIL) C for the first time in many years. I have decided to give SIL, C my Log Cabin quilt top as she likes it and will make good use of it for a throw....but she have to finish it first....hahahaha...she's happy to do it so it will go to a good home and after waiting for approx 20 years to be finished...I know I'll never do it. Can't wait to see it complete!

Lammy with Love XXX

Postcard I made for PP member

Hi All

This is the postcard I made for a PP member in the theme of 'Hearts'. There are some lovely creations on the website from other members and I'm awaiting my own Postcard to arrive from a fellow member so really looking forward to adding that to my growing collection.

Lammy with Love x

Summer's holiday's are over

Hi All
Well, the summer break from work is well and truly over and it's back to the grind....very busy time for us.
Since last posting...I've recently made a huge floor cushion for Eden's bedroom of a Haahoo from In the Night Garden. She loves it and here's the picture of her with it.

I have enjoyed lots of rest during the summer as well as lots of quilting time and have finally decided on the border on my larger than expected Batik quilt using fabrics I bought in Abakhan's in Liverpool, last October. It's all basted now so I'm really pleased with how it looks ...just got the quilting to do and it's all mine. People who know me know that I usually make quilts for other people but I need to build a stock for myself now so that one, and a Black & (wip) will be my quilts.

I also have a long-term project quilt that I will be starting soon and that is mostly hand applique so it will be ongoing.....for however long it takes, so with that lot and my Ice Cream strip Swap with my PP group members, it's all go......

Lammy with Love X

K & A's Quilt

Hi All

I have finished K and A's quilt.... they wanted a B&W 60's/70's style look to the quilt and for the pattern to be quite 'busy'. I finished it yesterday and they love it.

It has a mixture of the Beatles, different flower prints, swirls, zig-zags, office print, toile print, chequer board, dog and cat prints in the centre blocks with matching borders on each block and is finished off with a floral border.

And here it is...

Lammy with Love X

Quilts I've made in the past

These are just some of the quilts I've made in the past from the 80's to present....

Lammy with Love x

Postcard I made for Ros in Swap

And again....

This is the postcard I made for Ros in the theme of Art & Artists.

Lammy with Love X

Postcard I made for Angela F

Hi again..

This is the postcard in the theme of 'Gardens' that I made for the swap with Angela F. I hope she likes it...

Lammy with Love X

Postcard swap from Pam J

Hi All

Just want to show you my new postcard I received from PP Pam in the theme of 'Gardens'.

Pam has made me this Water Garden with added dragonflies and embroidery as embellishments. Thanks Pam, it's lovely.

Lammy with Love X

Eden aged 14 months

Hi All

I've had a busy few weeks and it's going to get even busier as K is moving house next week. I'll be having my 3 eldest grandchildren for a few days while mum and dad get them moved in then it's off to their new home.We'll be doing Felt-making which will keep them busy and they're looking forward to designing their own pieces.

As you can see from the photo, Eden is now walking everywhere, and talking all the time. She's so cute!

My garden project has been put on hold while we focus on the house move but we've had quite a lot of rain over the past few days down here, so little opportunity to do anything....

That's all the news for now...except to say Skype is great - met new relatives and caught up with others...technology can be great......when it works!

Lammy with Love X

Eden aged 13 months

Hi All

Today I was determined to get some photos of my granddaughter Eden.

All of my grandchildren have loved the camera from birth but - shock - horror, Eden cried each time I took a photo and was angrily brushing her cheek...a grandchild that hates having her photo taken. I think from now on, I'll have to take her pics when she's asleep but she has beautiful blue eyes which we won't see on photos for a while. Maybe she has an exclusive magazine deal we don't know about. Anyway, here is one I got today...but she is clearly not impressed so I couldn't get her lovely smile either.

Lammy with Love x

Link-up to long-lost family in Canada

Hi All,

Well what can I say but WOW! I finally got started with Skype last week and by chance, I typed in our long lost cousins' names in Canada, and they have Skype too and they Skype-called me last night. I think it's amazing...and to think that we could chat like that for the first time was mind-blowing....and have video link-up too.... and it was free.....

We had a lovely chat about family and quilting and shopping and cows in the back yard and it was fantastic. It's amazing that the separation of the family line happened some generations ago and to look at my cousin, she is so like my Auntie P in Liverpool. Quite weird really - but great.

My sis is also getting her Skype sorted out so we can conference call together - looking forward to that.
Isn't technology just great! And I've had lots of on-line chats with my quilting buddies where we've put the world to rights!
All power to the Quilters!!!! including the nutty ones....x
Lammy with Love x

INTO JULY ALREADY!

Hi All

I can't believe that we are in July now....only 10 days for my daughter's birthday. I'm making her & A, a retro Black and White Quilt as she's been waiting a long time. The top is now complete so just got to sort out the wadding and backing fabrics and get quilting.....

We've had a week of hot..hot..hot weather (too hot for me, day and night) but today it is quite bland with a good breeze to cool us. We've also lost the sunshine but we haven't had any rain or floods as other parts of the UK have so we've been lucky.

The local town festival is on this weekend so I may go and meet family there if the weathers not too hot....
Lammy with Love x

Art themed Postcard from PP Swap Mom, Jan

Today I received my fantastic Postcard in the PP - Art & Artists theme from Jan. It's a work of art alright!

So much thread and time involved, and I love it. Another 'cracker' to add to my collection. Can't upload it on PP website because of gliches so putting it on here instead for now until the gliches are sorted out.

Thanks Jan

Lammy with Love XXX

Work and holidays

Hi All,

I am on the final wind down of the last semester at work. I should begin my Annual Leave from Monday next week, though may have to pop in for a couple of hours to support someone, I will be off until late August. One more day to go...............love my job, but I'm really looking forward to the extended break to recharge my energy.

Lammy with Love X

Garden progress

Hi all

Just an update on the garden project... most of the framework is now in and cemented into place...hope to have the decking sorted soon....can't wait then onto the rest of the messy garden.

Lammy with Love x

Granddaughter Eden's Cats quilt

I've finally finished Eden's quilt, Yay! I hope she likes the cats on it and the bright colours don't keep her awake...oops!

Lammy with Love x

New Postcards made for friends on my course. Thanks Jan and NN for your help with the 'W' postcards

TC's quilt finished

Hi All
The quilt is finally finished along with my Counselling course YAY! Both the quilt and our group were successful so I'm really pleased.

Photos attached...of the quilt of course....not my certificate! That would be just plain daft...haha!

Lammy with Love x

Georgia's birthday + A's too

It's my eldest granddaughter's birthday tomorrow 4th June 2009 and she'll be a teenager... Have a happy birthday Georg...Lots of love from Lammy x

And a Happy birthday on Friday 5th June 2009 to A. He's not a teenager. Hope you have a good birthday and the pressies arrive in time.... Love from Lammy x

Hope there'll be lots of singing because Eden loves the whole birthday song thing...talking of Eden - she's repeating so many words now - she's really picking them up quick. She can say Jet's name so clearly and Geo Geo for Georgia. She's a bit stumped with Brennan's at the moment, but she was only 1 year old, 3 weeks ago...
Lammy with Love x

Garden Project update

Today I went to order all the wood for the foundation frame under the decking. Quite expensive but necessary for a solid base. It's being delivered on Saturday so work should start soon I hope. My daughter planted up lots of seeds and bulbs for me and they are doing well with the warmer weather we've been having.
Hope to see some changes very soon. Will post a photo when something begans to take shape...
Lammy with Love x

Garden Project

News on the garden project - my garden is alive with red ant nest mounds so we'll have to deal with that as we go as can't risk the children being bitten by the pesky mites. There are zillions of them in each nest in all stages of development. What with them and the occassional Slow worm (urgh!) which I hate, my garden is like the local country park.
It has rained for 2 days now and looks like more on the way - today was very cold and windy...felt quite wintery, but I bet the red ants don't take up residence and move!
No work done due to nasty weather.

Lammy with Love x
(but not for the ants or slow worms!) Anyone want some visitors????

Jet's Bravery Gifts

Jet received her present for being brave when she had her operation, from PP member Jan McE. Jan has made her a gorgeous bag with lots of 'treasures' stitched into the outside detail and finshed each handle with lovely dolls. She loves it Jan, thanks from her and me....and she also received 3 postcards that Jan had made her of Jet at the sewing machine making her baby sister Eden's quilt and the other two of her pictures she drew while poorly in hospital....doubly-lucky Jet!

I must add that she went in to have her MMR booster on Monday and was very stoic again when having it...reminds me of her mum Kim, she's just the same. Brennan was very brave too as he had to have 2 injections and baby Eden had one injection and she was very brave also. Thankfully they're all fine and will now be protected from the Measles epidemic that's going around.

Lammy with Love X

Gazebo hunt

The hunt was on today for a Gazebo that looked like it wouldn't break or collapse if a breeze blew on it...It took me a while but I reluctantly settled for a green covered Gazebo (not what I wanted but as you can see from the pics, it'll be the only green in the garden) but had to be sensible and go for strong frame before colour or fabric. Not a lost cause though as I can make a cover in the colour of my choice in the future....so that's another project to add to the long, long list of things to do.

Oooh...I wonder if the garden comes with it...well maybe not the lake, but the lawn would be good!

Lammy with Love x

Garden Project - Day two

Today started with the new Gazebo going up to plot out the size of the decking.... sounds exciting but we didn't realise that the Gazebo's 'steel' frame would break...OMG! The corner upright separated at the welded joint and snapped. So after all that...it was packed away to be returned to the shop tomorrow....and I have to go on the hunt for a stronger framed Gazebo again.

It took a while with the unpacking, erecting and subsequent repacking of the Gazebo which meant that time had got away with us and there was enough time only to start the dig... This said, I'm happy with the work done today as it has also given us enough time to source the decking and timber. So roll on next week...slowly but surely...and we'll get there.

Lammy with Love x

Garden Project - Day One

My back garden (shown on the right) is long and narrow and has always been a mess of trailing roots, vines, thorn bushes and brambles etc. for as long as I've lived here, and this caused a couple of strimmers and a lawn mower to break. Even when the whole lot was sprayed with weedkiller several times, it still came back with a vengence and renewed strength year after year. With the help of family, I've barely managed to keep the grass under control until I got a gardener that was, but now at last, I am able to plan more. This is the beginning of my garden project to make it more inviting and useable.

I'm having a decking area and a brick barbeque area built and hopefully that will gradually happen over the coming months. My grandchildren will have somewhere safe to play and I will be able to relax under a gazebo.

I can't wait....I will keep updating this as it is transformed....

Brennan in his 'Hulk' suit

Hi All

Just have to post about Brennan as I don't want him to feel left out. Brennan will be 7 years old on 21st August and this is the reason I won't go to the FOQ as it's on at same time. I wouldn't be able to cope with travelling there and back in one day so my grandson comes first...

Hope you all have a great time...and maybe next year I'll be free to go as well as Tessa.

Lammy with Love

Jet's recovery

It has been 5 weeks since Jet had her relapse and she is now starting to put on a little weight which is great. It's great not having to see her ill with tonsilitis and recurring infections.

The photograph is Jet ready to eat a piece of Eden's birthday cake. Still need more pounds on her yet though.

My Granddaughter's first birthday

Eden was one year old on 15th May 2009. She's beautiful with her blond hair and blue eyes, and she's just started to walk and talk...arrhh -and she's got teeth too - beautiful and talented.

She's gonna break hearts......

One birthday down and zillions to go... Georgia's next and she is going to be a teenager...Oh Joy for her parents!

Lammy with Love xxxx