Trying to Squeeze it all In

Some people I know go for month-long holidays four times a year, and are completely calm about it.

We go on holiday for one week a year and I'm absolutely frantic.  And it's only to Wales so we can drive home and back in a day if we want to!

I don't think it's just me who is at sixes and sevens though; I see this Barn Owl around our garden every morning and evening - maybe it's doing overtime to feed some chicks!

My main problem is the garden....everything is ready to be planted out and I'm trying to get it done before we go away on Saturday - mainly because I know George won't prioritise watering my flowers!

Today, yesterday, and last Sunday I was able to spend a good few hours at it, but otherwise there have been too many distractions.

last Thursday we had a brilliant day at the Malvern Quilt Show.  We saw lots of inspiring quilts, and here are some of my favourites:

 

Hand-pieced by Francis Meredith and Longarm quilted by her too.  A couple of my friends have sent their quilts to her at Fabadashery (www.fabadashery.co.uk) and I really loved the results - very different from the overall swirls that gets very samey.

 

I quite liked this one - Peony Ring (I think) by Sally Bramald

 

The baskets are so clever:

 

 
 

I thought Abigail Rose by Sue Watters was beautiful

 

 

and then this one: Knot Garden by Claire Scott

 

caught my eye - she used Canadian smocking for the knots and what she called a 'crashing' technique for the topiary.  No idea what that means!

Then Saturday we were dancing in the rain in Winchester.  Whilst sheltering under the trees Louise pointed out a Handkerchief tree (also known as a Ghost tree apparently) - it was really beautiful:

covered in all it's hankies

Tuesday morning Pitch and Stitch was busy and we were all very impressed by Lynn's cot quilt:

and floor mat made with Japanese Patches which she learnt with us:

Front and back below

 

Patches and Blocks

This week we have our Japanese Patches workshop - Japanese patches are great because each block is quilted as you sew it together, so very quick and easy.  Some of the ladies want to make bags with them, like mine

so it was lucky that Sheila came down from Nottingham last week to the Lynne Johnson day - using her Japanese patch bag to carry her quilt in!

And this is her lovely Antique Wedding Sampler quilt

Toni used the Quilt as you Go method for her Baltimore which is nearly finished now

And here is Jenny's stunning Di Ford quilt

The colours are so rich and it's so beautifully pieced - Jenny has a right to feel very proud of herself (and she is so grateful always to Lynne for all her help).

I also love the knitting bag Jacqui has made.  She realised that making the whole Yoko Saito Town quilt would be too much of a challenge for her, but completed the block she started in class and made it into this beautiful bag:

Everyone admires it.

I have started a new quilt.  Years ago I bought a lovely box of fabrics from the Petra Prins stand at the Malvern show,

and when I was buying another little kit the other day everyone kept going on about the Petra Prins that had never been made, so I thought I'd better make a start on it.

I have to say, it's not going to be easy - when I read the instructions I realised why it had been put away for so long:

That's it!  So I had to figure out how to actually make the nine blocks!!  Still, I've made a start and have nearly completed the first wheel - although it involved a lot of trial and particularly error.