Seeing Stars

I have spent the past week trying to use up all the odds and ends left from the larger quilt. The stars and hearts were in existence so I added to those, taught myself how to make 'migrating geese' and made strings of 'flying geese' for the edges.  The corners were finished using up scraps of fabric made into a 'nine patch' square, one for each corner.  Just need to add the backing and wadding now and get it quilted. I had honestly forgotten how much I enjoyed doing patchwork, which is just as well as I still have plenty of fabric to use up!!

The Sunshine in My Life

How can you not feel happy when you have a patch of sunlight in the garden like this to brighten up your day.

My Easter Egg

A very nice person sent me this picture of a small Betty's praline egg.  I thought it was very jolly.  I bet it did not last long as they are delicious!!

Fossils or What?

Well NOT as it happens .... these images are carved into the concrete surface on one of the piers at Whitby. I thought they might give me some ideas for putting in my sketchbook.

 The sea was very rough and this is the cliff face next to the pier with the sea lashing the rocks. I think the tide was just about to turn.

Seeing Stars

For the past few weeks I have been trying to finish piecing a large quilt so that it can be long arm quilted.  I have almost completed it today, apart from having to replace two small pieces I accidentally clipped with some very sharp embroidery scissors whilst removing hanging threads. They are tiny, tiny snips but not worth the risk of leaving them to develop into larger holes so I shall have to unpick and replace the two pieces.

 This is the basic block ....

and this corner has been my 'stumbling block' because I made up the design as I went along and could not get the corners to line up without a lot of 'fiddling' ....

I incorporated 5 appliqued hearts and 44 maple leaves (which are 9 patch and measure 4.5 inches each) around three edges of the quilt.

Relaxation by the Sea

Just had a few nights up in Yorkshire (again!).  This time for a birthday party.  We added a couple of nights on to our stay and found a lovely B&B in Egton Bridge which enabled us to visit the seaside.

A Whitby seagull enjoying the view ....

Seaweed at Runswick Bay ....

The stepping stones at Egton Bridge over the River Esk ....

The fabulous Thomas Denny stained glass window in Egton Bridge Catholic Church depicting Father Nicholas Postgate who was born in 1596 and executed on Knavesmire York in 1679.

A Bit of Rust

When we were 'Up North' we went to Salts Mill and I came across this lovely gate (shame about the Biffa bin!)

I thought it might make a nice design element for something so I will keep it in my stash of things to use, however, I was also fascinated by the shadows behind this part of the fence