tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12472901186004504092024-03-05T09:43:07.188-08:00My Quilts and Other StoriesMy life as a quilter, allotment grower and single mumJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-49132963859377262722018-04-17T06:45:00.000-07:002018-04-17T06:45:50.257-07:00Story of a Quilt - Ripples in the Sand<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This quilt has been in the making for quite some time. The fabrics arrived in stock in my quilt shop in July 2017. I even started making the quilt that same month and had the finished quilt top on display on my stand at the Festival of Quilts last year.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbADnavoetzk60hhIdEumWbAQ_cqi1RbdamOrEiUo7041Kul0k0gr9MqGsTyB8DPcvcFr_B6Aiklj6zzPlRv4_pu1TWy4veMx8FZePGJLurDHPc3MnqB4cBwPxhN7dqjVnMr4zL3dwlDA/s1600/IMG_9539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbADnavoetzk60hhIdEumWbAQ_cqi1RbdamOrEiUo7041Kul0k0gr9MqGsTyB8DPcvcFr_B6Aiklj6zzPlRv4_pu1TWy4veMx8FZePGJLurDHPc3MnqB4cBwPxhN7dqjVnMr4zL3dwlDA/s320/IMG_9539.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />But for some reason, I didn't get around to quilting it. Until a couple of months ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think the impetus to finish came about because I decided to use it as a filler project for the magazine. And I'm so glad I have finished it as I love it. I haven't quilted it as densely as I usually do, with the result that it's a lot softer and snugglier than some of my other recent quilts. A lesson to self there maybe? It's still quilted enough to create dimension and interest though.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjrA-uoSXv128g9hIw7VlWAgEdolvk_o_z1VCkXIFO0-Tsv8zLmxg26WGKQbIQfO80liCAu9lZezOnggwmeCSsexWEpuMVkNoYulPTg5ZP3b-OJB53mh-XH5kRjWdUzBO83dqgj2yyK-5/s1600/IMG_1365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="906" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjrA-uoSXv128g9hIw7VlWAgEdolvk_o_z1VCkXIFO0-Tsv8zLmxg26WGKQbIQfO80liCAu9lZezOnggwmeCSsexWEpuMVkNoYulPTg5ZP3b-OJB53mh-XH5kRjWdUzBO83dqgj2yyK-5/s320/IMG_1365.JPG" width="255" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The fabrics are from a collection called Sand in my Shoes designed by McKenna Ryan for Robert Kaufman. I love how they seem to blend with each other so I wanted to create a block that would reflect that and allow the colours to flow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A mixture of different sized HSTs and I had the design I wanted. Something fairly simple but looked a lot more interesting once the fabrics played their part, which is my raison d'etre when it comes to designing quilts for my shop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mirror image blocks in alternate rows helped create that flow.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3MVZkVlFF-VuRjNAqiC9F57HIWKIdvwkvSNyiDLweC5IU0aURiRHmFnRLF8U3FdebU_i9NmXLNA8hbK1p_yJnbPa07FcksRm7QeuSf6JpvVjFCGRc0gf3LZsWGSJuHv2ORu8NG2i61A4/s1600/Quilts+Feb-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="384" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3MVZkVlFF-VuRjNAqiC9F57HIWKIdvwkvSNyiDLweC5IU0aURiRHmFnRLF8U3FdebU_i9NmXLNA8hbK1p_yJnbPa07FcksRm7QeuSf6JpvVjFCGRc0gf3LZsWGSJuHv2ORu8NG2i61A4/s320/Quilts+Feb-23.jpg" width="249" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I like to use most of the fabrics from a collection if I can as hopefully that will mean they sell more evenly so this quilt used 17 of the 27 fabrics in the collection. The ones I didn't use were the ombres and a couple of other scene-type fabrics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I auditioned several of the ombre prints for the inner border in a post you can read about <a href="http://craftyquilter.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/the-importance-of-auditioning-fabrics.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and plumped for the bright green ombre which is the Meadow colour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To echo the flow of the quilt, I quilted it in freehand wavy parallel lines, like ripples in the water. This may end up being the last quilt I quilt on my trusty old New Home Janome. It's served me well over the years, but thanks to a recent big birthday, I've upgraded to a Janome Atelier 3 which has a much bigger throat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I backed the quilt with one of the fabrics from the collection. Quilting thread was King Tut #905, Baby Blankets and the wadding, Hobbs Heirloom 80/20. The binding is the same green (Meadow) ombre used in the inner border.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The quilt was featured in the April 2018 issue of P&Q.</span></div>
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Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-57651535665668754522018-02-03T08:32:00.000-08:002018-02-03T08:32:08.176-08:00Story of a Quilt - Chroma<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Chroma is the latest collection of handcrafted batiks designed by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics. I often see fabric collections online and slowly fall in love with them. Such was the case with Chroma.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was quite a slow burn in fact and the quilt I've loved the most that Alison designed with the fabrics was a simple one of squares joined together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I finally took the plunge and ordered the whole collection, all 27 bolts! They're listed in my <a href="http://www.craftyquilter.co.uk/acatalog/Chroma.html" target="_blank">online shop</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I felt that a quilt made from this collection needed to use most, if not all, of them so I decided to make a really quick quilt which used all but one of them. I also felt the fabrics needed to be able to speak for themselves so decided on a large-scale HST quilt harking back to that favourite Alison Glass design. I would have made the quilt in a matter of days if it weren't for feline helpers!</span></div>
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Helping with the layout</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpHuJhLXJ-RzTsa21Oxywyuitv7MXoSu0W-YOKn2vD4ULyUVnVzEr8CslDfdxlUG2NTdnnUxZKf3lU_krP5U6euCzk9cakq0wOsiC3WX3djCfU4zN3-pq1oOtzy2Tb-0LtaD1uJCla4C8/s1600/IMG_0494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpHuJhLXJ-RzTsa21Oxywyuitv7MXoSu0W-YOKn2vD4ULyUVnVzEr8CslDfdxlUG2NTdnnUxZKf3lU_krP5U6euCzk9cakq0wOsiC3WX3djCfU4zN3-pq1oOtzy2Tb-0LtaD1uJCla4C8/s320/IMG_0494.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Helping press the backing</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsIYGw8HAjBSuv7bcuUXkXs01_LtnYAd_6WPijeolQd3YSNV-UblkwBXi_nvXcN7tLxSE4Z-VxmW9vFRjCEIxQ34C80Ka6zewuW4PWVSaeL9jgsf90VLiI7606crhedHFwghrgKXx0WMq/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsIYGw8HAjBSuv7bcuUXkXs01_LtnYAd_6WPijeolQd3YSNV-UblkwBXi_nvXcN7tLxSE4Z-VxmW9vFRjCEIxQ34C80Ka6zewuW4PWVSaeL9jgsf90VLiI7606crhedHFwghrgKXx0WMq/s320/IMG_0500.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Double trouble helping with the quilting</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I<span style="font-size: medium;">'m really happy with the finished quilt; it's got a lovely glow about it. The finished size is 63" square. The HSTs are 9" square. I backed it with an AG Sunprint I had on the shelves and quilted it using King Tut 918, Joseph's Coat. The wadding is Hobbs Heirloom 80/20.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLJl9det-62rGklb1Kk99rkwL_zjJgqK-y0v8jVnMX30W5ebQCfd29CKJNvoeVoUdgSA0OBskIBRZydFtqFlM5qN7atk4BLiNJiLmasS8xk1XWCP8jWXPA5SCA0qZ0CVEPwSpqgyvsWIG/s1600/IMG_1123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="470" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLJl9det-62rGklb1Kk99rkwL_zjJgqK-y0v8jVnMX30W5ebQCfd29CKJNvoeVoUdgSA0OBskIBRZydFtqFlM5qN7atk4BLiNJiLmasS8xk1XWCP8jWXPA5SCA0qZ0CVEPwSpqgyvsWIG/s320/IMG_1123.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The quilt will appear as a project in the February 2018 issue of P&Q. It's my current favourite quilt, of course!</span></div>
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Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-36631331882404173682017-12-31T12:16:00.000-08:002017-12-31T12:16:07.480-08:002017 - A Review in Quilts<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, as the year draws to a close, did I stick to those New Year's Resolutions?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When you set yourself goals in a specific area, such as your hobby, it's probably easier to stick to them. So taking a quick peak at my review of 2016 (which you can read <a href="http://myquiltsetal.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/2016-view-from-my-sewing-room.html" target="_blank">here</a>), it looks like my aim as usual was to be more prolific and make more quilts. I feel like I have been more productive this year but looking back to last year, I've completed the same number of quilts (five) which is funny! Although all of these quilts have been made for the magazine when a deadline is a keen incentive to finish something on time! If you scroll back through my posts you can read my 'Story of a Quilt' series of posts where I've written about each quilt as I've finished it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My last finish of the year is this quick pieced quilt using the Chroma collection of fabrics from Alison Glass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think my main goal from a year ago was to do more quilting for me and that's the main area I have fallen down. I don't think I have even touched my long term projects of Tula Pink's City Sampler, or my Splendid Sampler blocks. I might have done a little bit of sewing on my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler quilt which is a hand sewing project and I think I got my longest WIP out once a month or so ago when I did a bit of hand quilting one evening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I participated in a hexie sewalong this year making one, yes just one, hexagon a day for 100 days and believe it or not I managed not to stay completely up to date with this! Although I did finish all 100 hexies and have been sewing them into flowers as I go. I used fabrics dyed by Heidi Stoll Weber and have just started making a scrappy low volume background to applique them onto. I'd really like to make progress on that over the winter.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pile o' hexies</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm going to be 50 next year which is a scary prospect. It suddenly feels like half my life is over and yet you feel the same inside as you did twenty, thirty years ago. I think I need to make it my main New Year's resolution for 2018 to finish my longest WIP which is a kaleidoscope-style quilt inspired by the work of Paula Nadelstern. I think I probably started it over a decade ago having been inspired by an annual quilt competition at the Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky 'New Quilts from Old Favourites'. Whichever year was the year for using the Kaleidoscope block was probably the year I started this quilt! I think it would be fitting if I managed to finish this quilt during my 50th year, don't you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Check back with me in a year's time to see if I managed it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Joanna</i></b></span></div>
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Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-46868861174199629082017-10-05T02:31:00.000-07:002017-10-05T02:31:08.078-07:00Story of a Quilt - Magnolia Metallics<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is another quilt I've been busy working on for the magazine. The fabrics were very kindly donated by Winbourne Fabrics who are the UK distributors for Moda. The collection is called Magnolia Metallics and is a classic Christmas-style collection, but not overly so.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUOt1gZQfZDElRuuQUSx6FXNj7b2wiPl6WrS0rsJCQlnlK-JpefmyzF-xr-wenmuVJC0RecE6lGfj4oQoJQLSsq_pih40-eAyRQucdKq0KYmCAvQfAtvDbyJwPlK2y3tjt_7rTKO-49gn/s1600/IMG_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUOt1gZQfZDElRuuQUSx6FXNj7b2wiPl6WrS0rsJCQlnlK-JpefmyzF-xr-wenmuVJC0RecE6lGfj4oQoJQLSsq_pih40-eAyRQucdKq0KYmCAvQfAtvDbyJwPlK2y3tjt_7rTKO-49gn/s320/IMG_0052.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnolia Metallics aka Cactus Flower Quilt</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Designing a quilt using a Layer Cake or Jelly Roll is always an extra challenge as you usually need to tweak any designs to suit cutting the finite amount of fabric that you have. With this block I needed to use half square triangles to create the 'spikes' of the flower instead of a Flying Geese unit as there wasn't quite enough fabric to do this with the 10" squares.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I made a test block for this quilt as I couldn't afford to make any mistakes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHsBCGY_DkY5o7u2b2hDZODony_AGEzxqtn53xoo1i_Kdu3BI8JI1wxTB0I3fhHTqk2gVe41HvIdi3nuRhU_uUbZMxwDEBWN5tANik5Edvd6ePC7Dn8skdIZfE_WCYzbzKoQKiI1coBDI/s1600/IMG_9342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHsBCGY_DkY5o7u2b2hDZODony_AGEzxqtn53xoo1i_Kdu3BI8JI1wxTB0I3fhHTqk2gVe41HvIdi3nuRhU_uUbZMxwDEBWN5tANik5Edvd6ePC7Dn8skdIZfE_WCYzbzKoQKiI1coBDI/s200/IMG_9342.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I finally found the time to get piecing. It was a struggle to get going for a bit and I had to delay the project going in the mag by an issue. I think I also didn't twig how big it was going to get! Forty two, 12" blocks makes for a big quilt! The finished size of the quilt is 76" x 88".</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic090r6LBNgMJi5_UH8OfJfRyVoP_PZQfCzKhAbyywHpuMmveV5Cbh0C4tBirQuWlgXn0nNXkuR_gpo6HQTP9vyXbgMwr1YHGH0bggoD5r8SH1khgsNPotfHUDoa6fzao_mYF-IugzEe60/s1600/September+Quilts+shoot-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic090r6LBNgMJi5_UH8OfJfRyVoP_PZQfCzKhAbyywHpuMmveV5Cbh0C4tBirQuWlgXn0nNXkuR_gpo6HQTP9vyXbgMwr1YHGH0bggoD5r8SH1khgsNPotfHUDoa6fzao_mYF-IugzEe60/s320/September+Quilts+shoot-18.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credit Sharon Cooper Photography</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The additional fabrics in the quilt were three fabrics from Moda's awesome Grunge range and a couple of prints from the Magnolia Metallics collection for the Four Patch units.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4GI437ZjoalDE3S3RbqQ5jKV8cqgefhFu7DaB6ec1bOu9wQotpfV48BBuFRcYGz-7Yu0zvDG8YjCJVtpQlUvJ1jePuf_RdNubiBAiqLuqEyV81mqp2PWfsdYkzYroOpbhXsetKGUuyIS/s1600/IMG_9642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4GI437ZjoalDE3S3RbqQ5jKV8cqgefhFu7DaB6ec1bOu9wQotpfV48BBuFRcYGz-7Yu0zvDG8YjCJVtpQlUvJ1jePuf_RdNubiBAiqLuqEyV81mqp2PWfsdYkzYroOpbhXsetKGUuyIS/s200/IMG_9642.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I used Hobbs 80/20 wadding and backed the quilt with the Cream Grunge. It took me a little while to decide how best to quilt it. I find it hard to even <i>think</i> about doing an all-over pattern so I settled for my usual wiggle using King Tut thread no. 936 which is called Pharoah's Treasures. It was an ideal match as it's red, green and gold. The binding was the green holly print used in the Four Patch units.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6rmxpEg2BUKUjA6EOhirOvX1tVfqD6taruueZ-_fjbMZBSR8h0DgWm8Z6C8lKio8I4EqEwsQ1dLZv-5OQW1-RywrFQVHxgkg0nsWgYD_PO2HvEySPd4YMoIsFwHKRQQ5gy0Do1m78Hy2/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6rmxpEg2BUKUjA6EOhirOvX1tVfqD6taruueZ-_fjbMZBSR8h0DgWm8Z6C8lKio8I4EqEwsQ1dLZv-5OQW1-RywrFQVHxgkg0nsWgYD_PO2HvEySPd4YMoIsFwHKRQQ5gy0Do1m78Hy2/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The great thing about this design is that it lends itself to be made with any Layer Cake so the pattern I'll be selling of it is called Cactus Flower.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The quilt will be appearing in the November 2017 issue of British Patchwork & Quilting magazine which is out on 20 October 2017.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Joanna</i></b></span></div>
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Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-21009358176364094632017-05-31T12:47:00.000-07:002017-05-31T12:47:45.762-07:00Story of a Quilt - Blue Sky over Ohio<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I thought it was about time I started making proper 'journal' type records of my quilts as I finish them. I used to keep a paper record with the date a quilt was finished, it's size together with a photo of the quilt. Sometimes I'd stick scraps of the fabrics used in the quilt too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, this fell by the wayside a long LONG time ago!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And really this blog was supposed to be a digital record of my quilt making, amongst other things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, here goes. A new set of blog posts titled 'Story of a Quilt'. And first up is Blue Sky over Ohio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A lot of my quilt designs evolve as I make them. I was sent these Blue Sky fabrics from Makower so I could make a project for the magazine. I originally intended to create a shaded basket weave type design with the prints, and arranged them in a shaded order.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJre3EhOMQgb-ImUQapeb7VzjV9feX_1OcA5WGpwxtaJWogwqhp62LyG72S5_Sx4yYu-YClJXUovL3Nb7t0sI8unOe_-RRCaBDm-ldBpgH4b7ydmDducTLxEI5_BIKZZJcCpSks1gAcD-r/s1600/illust+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJre3EhOMQgb-ImUQapeb7VzjV9feX_1OcA5WGpwxtaJWogwqhp62LyG72S5_Sx4yYu-YClJXUovL3Nb7t0sI8unOe_-RRCaBDm-ldBpgH4b7ydmDducTLxEI5_BIKZZJcCpSks1gAcD-r/s320/illust+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, I saw a strippy design online and decided on a rethink. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can't quite remember how I fell upon the Ohio Star block as the block to use; I think it was because it was a traditional block that we hadn't featured for a while. It also happens to be one of my favourite blocks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I figured I could still create a shaded effect with the blocks by using the lighter fabrics at the centre, shading outwards towards the darker fabrics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so the design was born. The blocks are 6" square and are machine pieced using quick piecing quarter square triangle units for the star shapes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aON_2K8d1ssq6lBOMhp-4t1w0nLnSZbH8HZtluWWie_ZJf8rps1pqmDjvj3bwYQQULzYWG5xYK7jHw4z8fHkN1WKM_CCcGfEYcDJaor9RdQgCJYE8pMKgC7y9TcXLdmUT2JlCSxN64gn/s1600/illust+2e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aON_2K8d1ssq6lBOMhp-4t1w0nLnSZbH8HZtluWWie_ZJf8rps1pqmDjvj3bwYQQULzYWG5xYK7jHw4z8fHkN1WKM_CCcGfEYcDJaor9RdQgCJYE8pMKgC7y9TcXLdmUT2JlCSxN64gn/s320/illust+2e.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The quilt was made bigger by alternating the blocks with 6" squares, still following the shaded effect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The background of the quilt was machine quilted for speed in a stipple pattern leaving the stars to 'pop'. If I'd had more time and was hand quilting it, I would have quilted it differently. The thread was King Tut quilting thread Brooklet (951). Wadding is Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 and the backing was Duck Egg Linea from Makower. The edges were bound with strips cut from the cream star fabrics.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4Nn5fXQfSymlB7-Pib_lJB0ra7czysKFKRfupXzkMYRs_gmIyXOr90ZSOmsDFom1qsPB0v4PH5z2LoQX9Pm-p2kVyRA22L7Lglz-ECcunXtwGzt7sPXO5mTQFdZkvIdzZyTYJ_-ms-RE/s1600/IMG_8525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4Nn5fXQfSymlB7-Pib_lJB0ra7czysKFKRfupXzkMYRs_gmIyXOr90ZSOmsDFom1qsPB0v4PH5z2LoQX9Pm-p2kVyRA22L7Lglz-ECcunXtwGzt7sPXO5mTQFdZkvIdzZyTYJ_-ms-RE/s320/IMG_8525.JPG" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished size: 66" square</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I have to say, I'm pretty please with it!</span></div>
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Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-71443505471831224012017-04-21T00:13:00.000-07:002017-04-21T00:13:10.456-07:00Quilting.......MIA?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Looking through my Instagram account and the lack of a blog post, you'd think I hadn't been doing any quilt making in recent months! Very few images of quilts or WIP have been posted. Really not sure why as I have been piecing and quilting most days. It's possibly because the quilts I've finished so far this year have been for the magazine.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First up was a quick little quilt featuring some fabrics from Makower and the Very Hungry Caterpillar.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqAHKHLPhHYMbpcAOGO_1Sb8yesMKsnTG8WndiW6p3kNQNthgzVlCJhmM5c-izCB3v5-GsL5UfSt_cs5p8cy2lsTzUew9SybONDSxaVPBkW3i-VYSDAZicdHEqIApN2zzfwFYZZOHsvYr/s1600/IMG_7433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqAHKHLPhHYMbpcAOGO_1Sb8yesMKsnTG8WndiW6p3kNQNthgzVlCJhmM5c-izCB3v5-GsL5UfSt_cs5p8cy2lsTzUew9SybONDSxaVPBkW3i-VYSDAZicdHEqIApN2zzfwFYZZOHsvYr/s320/IMG_7433.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's not my usual thing by any means but it was fun to make and use ideas I'd picked up elsewhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next finish was another quilt for the mag, Galaxy Stars. This used another collection from Makower. They've been kind enough to supply the fabrics so I can make the quilts but I've also ordered them so I can sell kits.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dHzwYglH1hr5zh3F0dtWRiCX7cA9NXzAX-2wl-xoxqSVu2xJaAdqcGGhU6K7G3n_2coei5l-b-OyBA_VuASG7ZmEZ_R7vYEe2QGqJgWVnPv7w6sKB-gq1dEfWOj_5ia29BtU7dPSj0W0/s1600/Galaxy+Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dHzwYglH1hr5zh3F0dtWRiCX7cA9NXzAX-2wl-xoxqSVu2xJaAdqcGGhU6K7G3n_2coei5l-b-OyBA_VuASG7ZmEZ_R7vYEe2QGqJgWVnPv7w6sKB-gq1dEfWOj_5ia29BtU7dPSj0W0/s320/Galaxy+Stars.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another fairly easy and quick quilt to make. I ran out of time and would have liked to have done a bit more quilting on it, but magazine deadlines wait for no man!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've been working on a couple of other design ideas too, one using the V&Co ombres that I love. I've had to put this to one side for the time being as I'm working on another project for the magazine using the Blue Sky collection of fabrics from Makower.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So not exactly missing in action but doing stuff that I can't show for a time!</span></div>
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Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-70350313049414937392017-01-14T00:38:00.000-08:002017-01-14T00:38:00.707-08:00The Promotion of Me?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just a little musing....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Self promotion and being a success. Why are some people better at it and get a lot of recognition? Is it just about who can shout about themselves the longest and loudest?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Where does being a shy introvert fit into promoting yourself?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I often see people getting recognition and feel, but I can design better quilts than that. Is it just because they have the confidence to go out there and shout about themselves? When you are shy and introverted, you try and shout about yourself, but no one seems to hear or listen. Is an introvert's shout just a loud whisper?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know I design great quilts. I know I have the talent. But what I lack is the confidence to shout about myself loud enough for others to hear. Maybe my New Year's resolution should be to learn to shout about myself a little bit louder?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Joanna</i></b></span></div>
<br />Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-42632419662615217662017-01-03T09:21:00.000-08:002017-01-03T09:21:00.486-08:002016 - The View from the Plot<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I think it can safely be said 2016 was an interesting year on the plot. Weather-wise it took a long time to get going with several of my 'early' sowings of carrots and beetroot either not germinating, or getting eaten by the dreaded slug patrol. Yep, thanks to last winter being a mild one, there were plenty of the pesky things around all looking for a tasty morsel to munch on, however small!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Saying that though, things did improve. There wasn't a late frost like 2015 and the summer was quite long and warm in the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As my son had finished working on our new half plot as part of his DofE, I've been slowly digging it over. It has been a slow job as I try and keep on top of my half of the plot at the same time but I think I'm gradually getting there. This half of the plot will be mainly for fruit, with a few veg which need a bit of space like squash.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The new half plot - early 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'll remember 2016 as the year of the trials. I was lucky enough to take part in a seed trial of heritage veg from Rob Smith of the Big Allotment Challenge and also got to try some new varieties of sweet potatoes as well as growing oca and yacon courtesy of Pat Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Nurseries in Ireland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oIRk0udmudq_OhB6lQ1taT0dp9yTgH1KABW2R5T-tgI4l5aPQs-40TCVqqhljIvLi-K_4QVQ8Dv1pcGEBxL9b1FtaHcEwYx9GJrYHUUwr6rrl2tG55HZyDaKLlqiO2YipeltqJEifIh9/s640/blogger-image--1611092468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oIRk0udmudq_OhB6lQ1taT0dp9yTgH1KABW2R5T-tgI4l5aPQs-40TCVqqhljIvLi-K_4QVQ8Dv1pcGEBxL9b1FtaHcEwYx9GJrYHUUwr6rrl2tG55HZyDaKLlqiO2YipeltqJEifIh9/s400/blogger-image--1611092468.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Oca</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8e3mOgKUGsKBO2evT4yYAz7_Lzlzp6uPWFYOWr6LwklVYtdG5W7kBhmC98fb0pk328X5wXdDLiGg7ashpw2rzZVPV8OXBQjTtng7MEPajEf4k4nZ2zimVXdNw53b94p2H8dgDwyjiRCQ/s640/blogger-image--1808541818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8e3mOgKUGsKBO2evT4yYAz7_Lzlzp6uPWFYOWr6LwklVYtdG5W7kBhmC98fb0pk328X5wXdDLiGg7ashpw2rzZVPV8OXBQjTtng7MEPajEf4k4nZ2zimVXdNw53b94p2H8dgDwyjiRCQ/s640/blogger-image--1808541818.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Yacon</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think my favourite seed from Rob's trial was what was called Chill B, which turned out to be a fish pepper chilli. I loved the variegated leaves on this one so I'll definitely be growing that again.</span></div>
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Fish Pepper Chilli aka Chilli B</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've set up a new blog for my sweet potato growing adventures. You can read more about it <a href="http://thesweetpotatoqueen.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>. I'm up to 7 different varieties now! As for the oca and yacon. My yacon were a disaster but I'm hoping I've saved the tubers to try again this year. Likewise, it wasn't a good year for oca, so I might have another go at growing those this year too as they are quite low maintenance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Successes and failures this year? The sweet potatoes were much better this year and there were gluts of raspberries and runner beans as usual, despite losing some of the plants early on. We also got to harvest out first asparagus spears this year! Failure again was my sweetcorn; that's two years in a row now so not sure what is going wrong. I think I need to help them a bit more soil quality-wise adding blood, fish and bone etc. Fingers crossed for a better harvest this year!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmyv8gEInkhNdLK5czhdSy_SpyjzJfHFKtIr_CXRqy9BCprwVRfeAL5-VxUGFM7VjcYRy2LsE57l06vp9sxw5c8Ou3hA-DgJpi2XtULPiOTcR1vBArxQHJtflNCO1wJ6kjHciCRNtOaFm/s640/blogger-image-1387315938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmyv8gEInkhNdLK5czhdSy_SpyjzJfHFKtIr_CXRqy9BCprwVRfeAL5-VxUGFM7VjcYRy2LsE57l06vp9sxw5c8Ou3hA-DgJpi2XtULPiOTcR1vBArxQHJtflNCO1wJ6kjHciCRNtOaFm/s640/blogger-image-1387315938.jpg" /></a></div>
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The plot in early summer</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Preserving successes included an excellent strawberry jam this year and a raspberry and vanilla syrup that is to die for when added to a glass of cava! It's my new favourite tipple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other main success on the plot this year was the scoring of some paving slabs for free and a nearly new shed, which was moved across five plots with the help of some willing volunteers on the site. Allotment folk are lovely!</span></div>
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The new shed in position</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pT6Vi1sc9MBg3oxtCZpy5QmmVWHyB5hNnI60bJjkYywMBT8SQyT3nCsGumaeEum9NNRP-nD1ikqZ_bCthk-92zHh0ieejg9vkiKw7ucq3TZ3SpUqRdFrV7_IbLIIkWO_pPvXHb7m100_/s640/blogger-image-973686620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyic6W8z2mV51_gmA4G6jiP6xZffDk7JMOUVl1e9Vfo7LJmR7VjpOWhRajddBZlTAiAOuWgS3WKXlhZUAZTZQlBleVzlnKs56Dn5ZjBbMTCqJzPgT2jB80TkKYkbXgaA47K8-N-ZeZ_XSQ/s640/blogger-image-1153475850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyic6W8z2mV51_gmA4G6jiP6xZffDk7JMOUVl1e9Vfo7LJmR7VjpOWhRajddBZlTAiAOuWgS3WKXlhZUAZTZQlBleVzlnKs56Dn5ZjBbMTCqJzPgT2jB80TkKYkbXgaA47K8-N-ZeZ_XSQ/s400/blogger-image-1153475850.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Both half plots - December 2016</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think this year I need to try and do a monthly update on the plot as it's not easy to sum it all up in one post. Well that's my allotment New Year's resolution sorted!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Joanna</i></b></span></div>
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Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-32865455234756873062017-01-02T08:07:00.000-08:002017-01-02T08:07:05.679-08:002016 - The View from My Sewing Room<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As each year draws to a close, it's traditional to look back to see what you have achieved in the year. So my first review of the year is from my sewing room and what I've managed to create in 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking back through the photos on my phone, I'm quite amazed to see that I finished FIVE quilts last year! That's actually quite productive for me! And to some extent I might have made a few more but I've been distracted this year by a couple of quilt-alongs. More about those in another post. Let's focus on the finished quilts!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First finishes were the Ombre Geese and Ombre Chevron quilts.</span></div>
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Ombre Geese</div>
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Ombre Chevron</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Both these quilts were made using ombre prints from the Enchanted Pines collection designed by McKenna Ryan for Robert Kaufman. In fact, the Chevron quilt is made from the leftovers of the Geese quilt, so it's a twofer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My next finish was a quilt using the Eden collection of fabrics from Tula Pink. I really love some of the prints in this collection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Shortly followed by my Ombre Squares quilt using Ombre fabrics from V&Co from Moda. I think this is one of my fave quilts ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the last finish was a quick little quilt I made using the latest Very Hungry Caterpillar fabrics from Makower. This one is going in the Feb issue of P&Q, so no pic for now...</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As usual, I had lots of WIP quilts where I try out a design idea, usually until I get bored. The first one is called the Economy Plus Quilt. I made a load of Economy blocks using the Nature Trail collection from Dashwood Studio together with one of their basic prints, Flurry and have added some Plus blocks in the sashing. I think I'll remake this as a scrap quilt.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm also working on a medallion style quilt using the China Red and China Blue fabrics from Dutch Heritage as well as another quilt using the V&Co Ombres. I'll share those at a later date once they are more complete.</span><br />
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So 2017. I definitely need to keep this productivity going. Less time on social media equals more time being creative and productive. That's my New Year's resolution!</div>
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<b><i>Joanna</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-84106414468319947502016-07-01T23:50:00.001-07:002016-07-01T23:50:09.021-07:00The Frustrations of Being CreativeIt's hard being a creative person. You get inspired by things around you all the time. Sometimes the urge to make something is so strong, you can't think about anything else. <div><br></div><div>But being creative takes time. You need to factor in the creative design process for all these ideas popping into your head. It can be really frustrating as sometimes all you want to do is SEW!</div><div><br></div><div>And that's my current predicament. I've got a couple of small projects I want to make; both mini challenges for fun. The first involves using this fabric from The City Quilter in NYC to make a quilt on the theme 'Window on New York'.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffCSlXHk8kE_bVIwWCxIepPINj9Nn_PZ5MQQikPDHKzET0nqph3Do_6Y_ey5Np2E_FyUdnbACbKzH5txvRJeQW9u9nGGBbyc42SnmUxCfJ3SwCMcL7VVGFR2XrPeXO_Y3fsSZYfG9l0zI/s640/blogger-image-132730334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffCSlXHk8kE_bVIwWCxIepPINj9Nn_PZ5MQQikPDHKzET0nqph3Do_6Y_ey5Np2E_FyUdnbACbKzH5txvRJeQW9u9nGGBbyc42SnmUxCfJ3SwCMcL7VVGFR2XrPeXO_Y3fsSZYfG9l0zI/s640/blogger-image-132730334.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>It's not an easy fabric to use and I have an idea of what I want to make, but not sure how I can incorporate the fabric into the design. </div><div><br></div><div>The second mini challenge is between my mum, sister and myself to use this fabric which we bought in a shop in Switzerland to make something as a momento for my mum's 80th birthday. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiCbwpC9MQcuaOlG4czSaJnqO2GWfPKqy2IXOU8MR1UFWwa0eGkghc7GADzTfkZV1-JeH4hzZlCn6VQyjrfjLylkJWxQKgzNwYEyO3A6zqdx57Qpd-gITz99h_AcJocWOnWivHLWfdcPG/s640/blogger-image--1868483872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiCbwpC9MQcuaOlG4czSaJnqO2GWfPKqy2IXOU8MR1UFWwa0eGkghc7GADzTfkZV1-JeH4hzZlCn6VQyjrfjLylkJWxQKgzNwYEyO3A6zqdx57Qpd-gITz99h_AcJocWOnWivHLWfdcPG/s640/blogger-image--1868483872.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Again I have an idea of what I want to do but need to sit down and design it.</div><div><br></div><div>But right now all I want to do is some relatively mindless sewing which doesn't involve too much thinking.</div><div><br></div><div>It's a hard life being creative </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-89583710589962158322016-06-08T22:25:00.001-07:002016-06-08T22:25:11.781-07:00I have a problem....<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm addicted to my allotment!</span></div><div><br></div><div>There! I said it! Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery isn't it?</div><div><br></div><div>Except I don't want to recover. </div><div><br></div><div>I love spending time on my plot. Yes it's hard work and a constant battle with Mother Nature and her plans. Yes I get all grubby and hot and sweaty, but it's just so calm and peaceful when you are there; somewhere to escape to when the endless demands and deadlines of working on a magazine get you down. Well that's how it is for me anyway. </div><div><br></div><div>But it's more than that too. When I'm not on my plot, I have this need; an urge that I need to go and visit it. I feel guilty if I haven't been able to pop over for a day or two. I feel guilty if I sneak over to it during the working day which is silly as I'm freelance, I can work when I want to. It calls to me. </div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps it's the fact that something always needs doing? A bed to clear; something to plant out; the endless weeding. There can't be any plot holder out there that doesn't get a bit of satisfaction when pulling a bindweed root gently out....and not hearing it snap! Maybe it's the creating something out of virtually nothing; from seed to plot to plate. </div><div><br></div><div>Whatever it is, I can't get enough of it. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic2jG-b8xX28ZN6zgiIUVOaYxpWcG2s-k1vrTjVm6HI-7KrEv-HrWMNZvvRzQPchNZFSKVTyU4WUO9qlG37uQS79BzD5Srut2FAPZsMoohYwAAM0Ff5bryFe2Z3CBtLCh71pzLeREuhnO/s640/blogger-image-143402810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic2jG-b8xX28ZN6zgiIUVOaYxpWcG2s-k1vrTjVm6HI-7KrEv-HrWMNZvvRzQPchNZFSKVTyU4WUO9qlG37uQS79BzD5Srut2FAPZsMoohYwAAM0Ff5bryFe2Z3CBtLCh71pzLeREuhnO/s640/blogger-image-143402810.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-KBwzrQccEZcdF3Dq9LKRmrdwCUxgG3sYmyBc094m7_F4iex1abkhIOSg6OhyTXEaM9AxyOHs5VKEQ1t05yvEiTUa6nNNwrO-NeyqWZElum0K8NaXp7L-f1SYamNJzKzcXm6wPJSHG67/s640/blogger-image--1050666700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-KBwzrQccEZcdF3Dq9LKRmrdwCUxgG3sYmyBc094m7_F4iex1abkhIOSg6OhyTXEaM9AxyOHs5VKEQ1t05yvEiTUa6nNNwrO-NeyqWZElum0K8NaXp7L-f1SYamNJzKzcXm6wPJSHG67/s640/blogger-image--1050666700.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-36564224744053280812016-06-02T23:04:00.001-07:002016-06-02T23:04:40.224-07:00My Blogging MojoThe trouble with blogging, well for me anyway, is that I struggle to find the time to write a post. Weeks go by and all of a sudden I have loads to write about which puts me off writing something...<div><br></div><div>And then I wonder should I even bother as I doubt many people read my posts anyway and maybe I should just stick to micro-blogging on Twitter and Instagram?</div><div><br></div><div>But then I think, maybe I'll give it another go...a monthly update on my creative life and another on my allotment life?</div><div><br></div><div>Maybe </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b> <br><div><br></div></div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-72717434239296576442016-03-26T00:05:00.001-07:002016-03-26T00:05:57.130-07:00Spring Cleaning Allotment StyleA beautiful spring day with warm sunshine plus advance notice that our allotment association are going to get a skip for the site sometime in the next six weeks to clear rubbish off the site, was enough to persuade me it was time to tackle the collapsing shed on our plot. <div><br></div><div>One of the reasons we took on this extra half plot last year, was because it had a shed on it, albeit one in a dire state of repair. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFv1PrN41Vm0uPtCKw8m8M-x3VdJm-pAGkGUFza4M6L0WWJlqDj9wOnGBvps-8YTAjxdUJdHhVZ7GxlTfA6obKasrGiHK67Huoz5MMpiLuZ8lnTMHwc7m51nxe3x3ITcoPeiNf3p8_45h/s640/blogger-image--1912651558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFv1PrN41Vm0uPtCKw8m8M-x3VdJm-pAGkGUFza4M6L0WWJlqDj9wOnGBvps-8YTAjxdUJdHhVZ7GxlTfA6obKasrGiHK67Huoz5MMpiLuZ8lnTMHwc7m51nxe3x3ITcoPeiNf3p8_45h/s640/blogger-image--1912651558.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnZpFOM5DJ9A8XCUm-PmN0JnBbC46kSetobB_znOTEk5RDW1LvzGlSDTFI47RUN5ZQ7IRxBj0zKVdzZabHBStThQaQGW8TrIo5h3uce8oCGOqtnlHuz4UxAiNCfxXgQULNLPNiS6nMTel/s640/blogger-image--680049119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnZpFOM5DJ9A8XCUm-PmN0JnBbC46kSetobB_znOTEk5RDW1LvzGlSDTFI47RUN5ZQ7IRxBj0zKVdzZabHBStThQaQGW8TrIo5h3uce8oCGOqtnlHuz4UxAiNCfxXgQULNLPNiS6nMTel/s640/blogger-image--680049119.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ug2OsPVVOfnTTPFGQ2YaUYOaluXfUBOtDVu-UMm4V8U36frjL_ebzqjD1LUff4szwO6MQvfpON0HvMk3FWVC0fWYGkT4P4e7ivGihW1crECJvSwryNYeKT-HDEUe6rDag7PGDjF6XiOa/s640/blogger-image--1312638270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ug2OsPVVOfnTTPFGQ2YaUYOaluXfUBOtDVu-UMm4V8U36frjL_ebzqjD1LUff4szwO6MQvfpON0HvMk3FWVC0fWYGkT4P4e7ivGihW1crECJvSwryNYeKT-HDEUe6rDag7PGDjF6XiOa/s640/blogger-image--1312638270.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwL_3fUMcK2vR81gRLSY2be3Qqz6iSyWciVBf8dGZ5aFAkJZg08wFfgz02YUyw6srZ__msphyDT5_sD9XwBB-4OViy-FqsctE4qmHYvXm9HBSfDJ2TigBV6t-JFvoefX-0EWuhkPHH2Mu/s640/blogger-image--942754348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwL_3fUMcK2vR81gRLSY2be3Qqz6iSyWciVBf8dGZ5aFAkJZg08wFfgz02YUyw6srZ__msphyDT5_sD9XwBB-4OViy-FqsctE4qmHYvXm9HBSfDJ2TigBV6t-JFvoefX-0EWuhkPHH2Mu/s640/blogger-image--942754348.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>There were several reasons why I hadn't tackled it previously, mainly because I wasn't sure I could! I was worried that the upright posts of the lean-to would be really hard to dig out and then there was that huge mound of earth piled against one side of it. Who knows what horrors lay beneath it!</div><div><br></div><div>I needn't have worried of course. It did take a bit of effort but once I'd managed to jemmy the roof sections off, the posts came out quite quickly as they were old and rotting. </div><div><br></div><div>That side section of corrugated iron took a bit longer to remove as I needed to dig away some of the earth piled up against it and then jemmy it off from the side of the shed, but the pile of earth itself is a lovely bit of soil! Unfortunately there was some horseradish growing it in, but I'm pleased with our efforts at the end of the day. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnXNdtjS5XhXuvL460EpIJyMhLQCTCWZIR_Ypm7PKQVNlm7DU02zUZRIcIVcwZKnYiMVZSZvBWQJX_Z10yNrvpP4junjPXkMu8_E3K1ae3z2MKp5zXk06LvUImCkPNzKOUdJrrDJom-r5/s640/blogger-image-1848798091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnXNdtjS5XhXuvL460EpIJyMhLQCTCWZIR_Ypm7PKQVNlm7DU02zUZRIcIVcwZKnYiMVZSZvBWQJX_Z10yNrvpP4junjPXkMu8_E3K1ae3z2MKp5zXk06LvUImCkPNzKOUdJrrDJom-r5/s640/blogger-image-1848798091.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40Kmdft8g3f_UqhG6HiYqrAbZcqy0-xBoHunjdT0VFDRsZrIljrF1U_S9WkBqvxj4FbYE7X7Ns-Kl8yzvF7KOd1Djc4eAfLua5PWyIu7a2KX0rPHG6mOaMavF6DRrx8TdvoJePbEw6lgD/s640/blogger-image--1354092142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40Kmdft8g3f_UqhG6HiYqrAbZcqy0-xBoHunjdT0VFDRsZrIljrF1U_S9WkBqvxj4FbYE7X7Ns-Kl8yzvF7KOd1Djc4eAfLua5PWyIu7a2KX0rPHG6mOaMavF6DRrx8TdvoJePbEw6lgD/s640/blogger-image--1354092142.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHCoXniR1zm2qatAkLwUQqA-PthrfQlhY946W9Jiu6ofHif3jm6pvdGSuVigkFP6dET1xPRNMJ_7ygSqFnJMi3HT8YiBDtNtbf_cpfYgz1C8jMycTMlKbWGghRdZX8v1y-cTgWwDGiFUb/s640/blogger-image-411445520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHCoXniR1zm2qatAkLwUQqA-PthrfQlhY946W9Jiu6ofHif3jm6pvdGSuVigkFP6dET1xPRNMJ_7ygSqFnJMi3HT8YiBDtNtbf_cpfYgz1C8jMycTMlKbWGghRdZX8v1y-cTgWwDGiFUb/s640/blogger-image-411445520.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbpekHPJe_qCeiliN29G3Bho7wDXzdixyNMeFeJujeHKmOH7lHfOBuf2yIOvJNfCTu8vY1qBu-J0pRzDlRZJ-6nHk1pPazOn3VEofuX6e8U6w9FCSLVHbV4b2Cs8dyKTuEmF47etC7xn3/s640/blogger-image-587710239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbpekHPJe_qCeiliN29G3Bho7wDXzdixyNMeFeJujeHKmOH7lHfOBuf2yIOvJNfCTu8vY1qBu-J0pRzDlRZJ-6nHk1pPazOn3VEofuX6e8U6w9FCSLVHbV4b2Cs8dyKTuEmF47etC7xn3/s640/blogger-image-587710239.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And our reward when we got into the shed for the first time?</div><div><br></div><div>An old rotary mower!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANxR-yCCvr5rZldmm1OxRgom5O3TAlC0Fsw2QaxlJWLo_s9WUul4m9etG0B1UOJFsIvOyWIIH8ThbFMWlr97DF7spL3Xhjjv_xlYXV2qs-WOgKUIG0rdalwrQSU7tecchFb9BEGHKmT-y/s640/blogger-image-976280039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANxR-yCCvr5rZldmm1OxRgom5O3TAlC0Fsw2QaxlJWLo_s9WUul4m9etG0B1UOJFsIvOyWIIH8ThbFMWlr97DF7spL3Xhjjv_xlYXV2qs-WOgKUIG0rdalwrQSU7tecchFb9BEGHKmT-y/s640/blogger-image-976280039.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>It seems to work ok, just needs a bit of tlc</div><div><br></div><div>So the shed as it is now will do temporarily, but at least we have the room to put a new one up. And all the rubbish on the plot is now collected together ready for when the skip arrives</div><div><br></div><div>Definitely a Good Friday!</div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-33276697669830549832016-03-20T00:31:00.001-07:002016-03-20T00:31:18.953-07:00Ello - a new app to play withI've used Instagram for quite a few years now and I love it. You post a nice photo, say what you want about it and people say nice things in return. It has a few annoying things like not being able to post links so you have to add [LINK IN BIO] at the end of a post if you want people to read a blog post or visit your website. <div><br></div><div>But in the main, I love it. </div><div><br></div><div>Or I did, until I was one of the 'lucky' few who Instagram decided would like to try out their new algorithmic method of deciding which posts might be important to me and instead of my feed being in chronological order, my posts were all over the place. I hated it. Here was Facebook all over again deciding what I wanted to see and in what order. </div><div><br></div><div>I took part in the 24 hour boycott. I've left feedback with the company in the hope they might change their mind about this. </div><div><br></div><div>But now I've just discovered a new app called Ello and I'm warming to it already. It seems to combine the best of all the other social media apps. You can post just text and interestingly you can add <b>bold</b> or <i>italics</i> and you can also add a link to some text so each post is like a mini blog post in effect</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FCjDdJ4Rt6_rcu-3Oiv4ctyzVa-DPW3-FdnrKyKfc6zgx4bFfmqSqZe-OM2s5dbpxaAbCgbsEDCv5mjmyXU5rHcaV3SpBlgvx1jxmOHcLvuo1kQ5ZJkZRLzpaIqYJwWXv0DmeJHGXXhY/s640/blogger-image--357347324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FCjDdJ4Rt6_rcu-3Oiv4ctyzVa-DPW3-FdnrKyKfc6zgx4bFfmqSqZe-OM2s5dbpxaAbCgbsEDCv5mjmyXU5rHcaV3SpBlgvx1jxmOHcLvuo1kQ5ZJkZRLzpaIqYJwWXv0DmeJHGXXhY/s640/blogger-image--357347324.jpg"></a></div>You can add a photo and then continue typing, again like a blog post </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspOGDCVUVgVphmbc5FxzZUfcu8a4Q0zdudyiIytg5PJ94WnRSPLaxMcqyIgoWHBek07kBZ8q12pBUto7aGY0i6m7BFFZP5GwuS_Dcm37JfE0TX4W00PgwCWvLmmlbGVTZ_kA9OG9lVCDf/s640/blogger-image--2136738474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspOGDCVUVgVphmbc5FxzZUfcu8a4Q0zdudyiIytg5PJ94WnRSPLaxMcqyIgoWHBek07kBZ8q12pBUto7aGY0i6m7BFFZP5GwuS_Dcm37JfE0TX4W00PgwCWvLmmlbGVTZ_kA9OG9lVCDf/s640/blogger-image--2136738474.jpg"></a></div>Each post has stats at the bottom telling you how many times it's been seen, comments, loved, you can repost and pull up the interactive menu for sharing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnr0076zUYHSBcamJGNtFQydgpucB01I_yOesOUHKZ4fDNf9N56rAxPZqfpyuLYWGsKNL6RLedHRzon-LFOdQilwzwl0pGazrnqEGiaGL8GWKMqm4phHbTjiJSFp01g0dN3LSA9fg4N4J/s640/blogger-image--279977937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnr0076zUYHSBcamJGNtFQydgpucB01I_yOesOUHKZ4fDNf9N56rAxPZqfpyuLYWGsKNL6RLedHRzon-LFOdQilwzwl0pGazrnqEGiaGL8GWKMqm4phHbTjiJSFp01g0dN3LSA9fg4N4J/s640/blogger-image--279977937.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When you post a photo </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOTtDvmYSmwS2zfMprIXf8feczR5XuE_s72oyJChGhKsRneJ-B4A1fscBHfcGgXLV5z5XMlyxDSGrN6_ciQObIGE3qq7HbEZC3IxLJfw_RHWseSof0NH-YjY7tQafagvqw2eG2W9K65ay/s640/blogger-image--1795561569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOTtDvmYSmwS2zfMprIXf8feczR5XuE_s72oyJChGhKsRneJ-B4A1fscBHfcGgXLV5z5XMlyxDSGrN6_ciQObIGE3qq7HbEZC3IxLJfw_RHWseSof0NH-YjY7tQafagvqw2eG2W9K65ay/s640/blogger-image--1795561569.jpg"></a></div>You can tap on the photo and it fills your screen </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnIS26dGaZcffTopCW_vdT8a8CiarziqnnS_cChggOoPYKd0sflSFgzpM3_6XVMhn8PTroGcvFnvjihkBmMwF1923x39-TQlx4m8BAULbhUHGR7a7ynd-Lk4A8jCwjSRS5SHKUtBG8hUe/s640/blogger-image--739646380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnIS26dGaZcffTopCW_vdT8a8CiarziqnnS_cChggOoPYKd0sflSFgzpM3_6XVMhn8PTroGcvFnvjihkBmMwF1923x39-TQlx4m8BAULbhUHGR7a7ynd-Lk4A8jCwjSRS5SHKUtBG8hUe/s640/blogger-image--739646380.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And better still, you can zoom in on the image which is one thing that's always frustrated me on Instagram if I'm trying to spot some detail in an image </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TyU0hfzbi5X_zTk-3SEAdW9DarstfV1UPI0kWfhUveot9gw_Gq5TXvURqNydKrE7uUX6l8Q0umqki-SkssLb5Y6YfInCV2OyKm-EuJCS7d_2zj2LC3YzQr38Cz_UBeCpWbjFbBi1EPrH/s640/blogger-image--250509806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TyU0hfzbi5X_zTk-3SEAdW9DarstfV1UPI0kWfhUveot9gw_Gq5TXvURqNydKrE7uUX6l8Q0umqki-SkssLb5Y6YfInCV2OyKm-EuJCS7d_2zj2LC3YzQr38Cz_UBeCpWbjFbBi1EPrH/s640/blogger-image--250509806.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can choose to have a traditional layout for your feed </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYGKRBAJFBBb4mi1xxU6Fa_LkkMpiZJG5xGa_4zRTM_znkU_ofMDaIZVshYDBFeoN0uwynMN-Fvid-XoHEdsXivjJmxO-rVEJFLCD7JI0i3rij8xhrh9b_SP530_iRI_PVjXE2yDK3mcw/s640/blogger-image--332893932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYGKRBAJFBBb4mi1xxU6Fa_LkkMpiZJG5xGa_4zRTM_znkU_ofMDaIZVshYDBFeoN0uwynMN-Fvid-XoHEdsXivjJmxO-rVEJFLCD7JI0i3rij8xhrh9b_SP530_iRI_PVjXE2yDK3mcw/s640/blogger-image--332893932.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Or you can choose a Pinterest style of feed </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD33di65yeN5ZhxinpNH0nhlUV5CAmQz3i3q-jycsBfdVmpE_aebWhwAqB2QDaPLa1ZeMxmDJB9vDXTuMrgydRZPpQ-XojHdK5vQsJZ6v6SKvzcJFTzVjF5gEvsrShNKtthW6HYsrdCl-x/s640/blogger-image--15890561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD33di65yeN5ZhxinpNH0nhlUV5CAmQz3i3q-jycsBfdVmpE_aebWhwAqB2QDaPLa1ZeMxmDJB9vDXTuMrgydRZPpQ-XojHdK5vQsJZ6v6SKvzcJFTzVjF5gEvsrShNKtthW6HYsrdCl-x/s640/blogger-image--15890561.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can also 'star' people you follow and their posts will then appear in a second feed so you can make sure you don't miss posts of certain people, or friends/family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That's what I've discovered so far in less than 24 hours! And I'm liking it. It may be goodbye Instagram. Ello is branding itself as 'the creators' network' so it might be that I can't move my business Instagram over, but at the moment that is still in chronological order anyway</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Let's see how it goes. You can find me on Ello @joannakent where I'll be showing my quilting and quilt inspiration </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-23374206422911434202016-03-19T06:50:00.001-07:002016-03-19T06:50:37.088-07:00The Splendid Sampler - week 5Wow 10% of the quilt is made already! This sampler quiltalong is whizzing by....<div><br></div><div>Block 9 was designed by Jane Davidson and is called Local Quilt Shop. I personalised my taupe version </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdvEOaXYpM1isal5dSdmGWIHDm-EA-EcpZ-JRTDQPeDcUYEEmFbX8IvMrhiCvyzazkrAjWaXnQkKkyDZIZqsb4Ll6e_b28VDojOPuZ3i7UeS91ZFo31tpXl1PxRZUH6JEwmsWE7SCbV-F/s640/blogger-image--1185144846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdvEOaXYpM1isal5dSdmGWIHDm-EA-EcpZ-JRTDQPeDcUYEEmFbX8IvMrhiCvyzazkrAjWaXnQkKkyDZIZqsb4Ll6e_b28VDojOPuZ3i7UeS91ZFo31tpXl1PxRZUH6JEwmsWE7SCbV-F/s640/blogger-image--1185144846.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And my Tula version is a Tula quilt shop of course! Which reminds me I need to embroider that </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh709Wfe32sF9Iltt5q6jDCD_hzkct1U0i6chF563ECX6X_09M39LVVALGgzCxVadOzEhH2RkOcQgbAyGND5WryGv949GF2lYjQYoq-xK_yq8Y8Z4K3FJ4gilQG1_yGGptFihhAzW8Y_aA5/s640/blogger-image-44620598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh709Wfe32sF9Iltt5q6jDCD_hzkct1U0i6chF563ECX6X_09M39LVVALGgzCxVadOzEhH2RkOcQgbAyGND5WryGv949GF2lYjQYoq-xK_yq8Y8Z4K3FJ4gilQG1_yGGptFihhAzW8Y_aA5/s640/blogger-image-44620598.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Block 10 is called Iowa and was designed by Sherri McConnell, a nice quick and easy one to do</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUphia2Purm1fYEDV-QQLFBJUHTwmQiA78J1bdmrZear2DeeI2cesFCJc8SkChn3rpA4NTt6alY632eUZtsAi7j2bRfy0w-YNYyQhOk8_hvfRbNc3tCG5Oi0X0qJyJYfYcQEgsHX-8qTj/s640/blogger-image--934162552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUphia2Purm1fYEDV-QQLFBJUHTwmQiA78J1bdmrZear2DeeI2cesFCJc8SkChn3rpA4NTt6alY632eUZtsAi7j2bRfy0w-YNYyQhOk8_hvfRbNc3tCG5Oi0X0qJyJYfYcQEgsHX-8qTj/s640/blogger-image--934162552.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtz_4H3ux3NddagfmvVjZOtHyNfYp9V9shVvMnr4D6KXvVwvl-ck3OXEqBVONOeBuTi24IVtBmMRPqVaHqtXQrc1ioIEMFLUpAQy0UnTEAo_9acNA6wqTIGphhqKzdSCAaV5o7rMK3OCc/s640/blogger-image-2053591304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtz_4H3ux3NddagfmvVjZOtHyNfYp9V9shVvMnr4D6KXvVwvl-ck3OXEqBVONOeBuTi24IVtBmMRPqVaHqtXQrc1ioIEMFLUpAQy0UnTEAo_9acNA6wqTIGphhqKzdSCAaV5o7rMK3OCc/s640/blogger-image-2053591304.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And here are each set so far </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNw_W_-80kMhQmeGCOY0yydMkTdtxgRwgbRvkeDEw425GFg-Jb08QOwU3r7-WFlKY_LEHVVbv574zovfYgIghAQC-jRaYlK2pAUymZeJlue6MPNhSI0WJAuABiwZbSFfoHzkd-CZAn4c4/s640/blogger-image--294012993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNw_W_-80kMhQmeGCOY0yydMkTdtxgRwgbRvkeDEw425GFg-Jb08QOwU3r7-WFlKY_LEHVVbv574zovfYgIghAQC-jRaYlK2pAUymZeJlue6MPNhSI0WJAuABiwZbSFfoHzkd-CZAn4c4/s640/blogger-image--294012993.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7nL31x0X3vy08pJHFtqhLC7r6OP5dlW_5wpfsUk_SRZ8UqtADywUGQcYO6lIPZBH2YNy4dOdRwkyeuXmYLj0KQK507sL7SP0PjssLbHeAvu8ZfI-sfpnuAzwpGW6oGPy7F6_5ENs39Ka/s640/blogger-image--1165499152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7nL31x0X3vy08pJHFtqhLC7r6OP5dlW_5wpfsUk_SRZ8UqtADywUGQcYO6lIPZBH2YNy4dOdRwkyeuXmYLj0KQK507sL7SP0PjssLbHeAvu8ZfI-sfpnuAzwpGW6oGPy7F6_5ENs39Ka/s640/blogger-image--1165499152.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Block 7 still isn't sitting well with me in either version so I might replace it with the bonus block </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-46966640259639159492016-03-12T23:44:00.001-08:002016-03-12T23:44:43.323-08:00The Splendid Sampler - week 4It was bound to happen. The chances of liking all 100 blocks was not high. I've reckoned on not liking 10% of them. <div><br></div><div>And so we came to block 7, Snug as a Bug. I knew there was going to be some embroidery in the quilt and wasn't that averse to it. But.....</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div>Well this <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">is the original block</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZNfkMgTXTWluV6bOQ2wB4knbSdDjZqu7AgN2DIm2EpGAEwT7_ST3Nt5divm0o2UWlFmPgWhdfawjJZ4j6BLhfZ6ycIkceHXmZzNFovHjdXbopBJB-XvB4s3xDq4km2Gt3cAlRLcz5edJ/s640/blogger-image-1099260424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZNfkMgTXTWluV6bOQ2wB4knbSdDjZqu7AgN2DIm2EpGAEwT7_ST3Nt5divm0o2UWlFmPgWhdfawjJZ4j6BLhfZ6ycIkceHXmZzNFovHjdXbopBJB-XvB4s3xDq4km2Gt3cAlRLcz5edJ/s640/blogger-image-1099260424.jpg"></a></div>It's just way to cutesy for me. </div><div><br></div><div>I had a think about what I could do that would vaguely stay true to the block and came up with this for my taupe quilt. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_uWcNWC7mmeQIPk4Y9LzOeXrw4MWRjJSxxQlG1I_FhfIVvNHpJBR5j1qvxbGdU5210HYSacR85gS20bd0gvJ8_NkzNHpZxkbwHAWzm4vEyz1go9bRKHn7UM2ElGZ3sJdnCpanbZxnOsb/s640/blogger-image--1803960541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_uWcNWC7mmeQIPk4Y9LzOeXrw4MWRjJSxxQlG1I_FhfIVvNHpJBR5j1qvxbGdU5210HYSacR85gS20bd0gvJ8_NkzNHpZxkbwHAWzm4vEyz1go9bRKHn7UM2ElGZ3sJdnCpanbZxnOsb/s640/blogger-image--1803960541.jpg"></a></div><br></div>While making it I remembered why I'm a quilter not an embroiderer. </div><div><br></div><div>I tweaked the design a little for the Tula quilt and may redo the taupe block at a later date. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HGCwqd4b3V3El5-8inHEg-iT2ktQwSGmTU9EMcWvxFRLX64bgoP5ly57JkHfOhiHA7ALAZHMVHx4X0dkR1oWLXwEmtKykJGq9kfjcUldXd3Xt4WXLCuANgD7gNHbbnqaGJfzyDYUqvWv/s640/blogger-image--175959334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HGCwqd4b3V3El5-8inHEg-iT2ktQwSGmTU9EMcWvxFRLX64bgoP5ly57JkHfOhiHA7ALAZHMVHx4X0dkR1oWLXwEmtKykJGq9kfjcUldXd3Xt4WXLCuANgD7gNHbbnqaGJfzyDYUqvWv/s640/blogger-image--175959334.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div>Back to the normality of piecing for block 8, Friends Around the Square</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5vDprdiQxhorJZGMOqfsPsjf7wytDPK9m65Oa8zBErAJHT1cW__5eZk2A2zDWjGEPdVpOeuFo1C-UVGbFP2pa2YtVyDlMKvqCAr1t1AwYmHyjCOpDxf1K3x76qEmeug733Z_LaiMLOQJ/s640/blogger-image-199229653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5vDprdiQxhorJZGMOqfsPsjf7wytDPK9m65Oa8zBErAJHT1cW__5eZk2A2zDWjGEPdVpOeuFo1C-UVGbFP2pa2YtVyDlMKvqCAr1t1AwYmHyjCOpDxf1K3x76qEmeug733Z_LaiMLOQJ/s640/blogger-image-199229653.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I fussy cut the outer triangles so I could cut across the stripe in the Tula block </div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKrqKzq6c0dxfqHomUOhik32scQ47H0keP1ftoRWs5S-BnvaZ6SGp732pkNvthCpOGH8tSEoXRey4x-WWektdZ_Ol5nfQS5eahZcsNyiDbVn_jv1QUWAInuCQBfkfCmHkONkeealIy0Z6/s640/blogger-image-761732328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKrqKzq6c0dxfqHomUOhik32scQ47H0keP1ftoRWs5S-BnvaZ6SGp732pkNvthCpOGH8tSEoXRey4x-WWektdZ_Ol5nfQS5eahZcsNyiDbVn_jv1QUWAInuCQBfkfCmHkONkeealIy0Z6/s640/blogger-image-761732328.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Amazingly I am still up to date although I will fall behind in a few weeks when I am away from my machine </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-39187039443469989942016-03-05T22:53:00.001-08:002016-03-05T22:53:08.263-08:00The Splendid Sampler - week 3Playing catch up and rounding off week 3 before today's block is released! <div><br></div><div>Block 5, Simple Simon, was designed by Celine Perkins. This was quite a quick simple block to do, although it would have been easy for the seams to not match up if a little care wasn't taken </div><div><br></div><div>The taupe block</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18Vv-Adt346FFVS8rHpNNbuulDf0oFr6l02lGwLbqW9r1OhBYz-ixUwyk4lK2-FDCBIUZ2IAKUMynEJhSseSpAl8Xw4j-OwSWzWSkrFhkymjo33dncode3hU9cWF2TaxcqTfrlnUqGctb/s640/blogger-image-1984376515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18Vv-Adt346FFVS8rHpNNbuulDf0oFr6l02lGwLbqW9r1OhBYz-ixUwyk4lK2-FDCBIUZ2IAKUMynEJhSseSpAl8Xw4j-OwSWzWSkrFhkymjo33dncode3hU9cWF2TaxcqTfrlnUqGctb/s640/blogger-image-1984376515.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And the Tula version </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3a-gKb9S64iyLlo0quJRsfrwQOTgQIDRJ8mQdpe9oIIviAc_-6yDA00SgT8dDdIuvsR_8Hbe4MyjWWdqPm5uS6DJR4uirVpe1uySFzLmX4tfQdcjcObGbzOL3FN-wXyIeDsGepd2_JxO/s640/blogger-image-10452796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3a-gKb9S64iyLlo0quJRsfrwQOTgQIDRJ8mQdpe9oIIviAc_-6yDA00SgT8dDdIuvsR_8Hbe4MyjWWdqPm5uS6DJR4uirVpe1uySFzLmX4tfQdcjcObGbzOL3FN-wXyIeDsGepd2_JxO/s640/blogger-image-10452796.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Block 6 was designed by Natalia Bonner and is called Focal Point. Intricate piecing again but I've found not trimming all the excess on units like those mini Flying Geese and pressing seams open, is helping with my accuracy. </div><div><br></div><div>The taupe version </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5a4LMFuCuIeWOI1Db6b98ncBMC0Atz37jXiK9t4U-LdE8sFNxXuV6aj402k6ezI1_Novux9WVSO6ks0nA_yiHZt5oWQ9JzB8AsGrZUnQvFpmzy2wAQEZG9g0QL_lxsXbCYBymTq2X58u/s640/blogger-image--754514677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5a4LMFuCuIeWOI1Db6b98ncBMC0Atz37jXiK9t4U-LdE8sFNxXuV6aj402k6ezI1_Novux9WVSO6ks0nA_yiHZt5oWQ9JzB8AsGrZUnQvFpmzy2wAQEZG9g0QL_lxsXbCYBymTq2X58u/s640/blogger-image--754514677.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And my Tula block </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwfFqOoYJ3vsSZ07nT2Qoz_35-gqEYWCjh8-kjMATsjTcerKmYmh8Rwg3deLd4g5rfQjwbrPTVAgHxdjsRsDhMnTD_GYPAzTKfAyYOztge9Y7J5OSeDHmmr8hS3YYUVGhRL8_3YiRyvpu/s640/blogger-image-1698095610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwfFqOoYJ3vsSZ07nT2Qoz_35-gqEYWCjh8-kjMATsjTcerKmYmh8Rwg3deLd4g5rfQjwbrPTVAgHxdjsRsDhMnTD_GYPAzTKfAyYOztge9Y7J5OSeDHmmr8hS3YYUVGhRL8_3YiRyvpu/s640/blogger-image-1698095610.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I'm really loving the yellow print again here. Adds so much movement</div><div><br></div><div>Block 7 is due for release later today. I can't wait!</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div><div><br></div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-16077875708499901332016-03-05T08:06:00.001-08:002016-03-05T08:06:43.351-08:00The Splendid Sampler - week 2I'm a little late with my week 2 blocks as my mum has been keeping them all together at her place for inspiration. She has a design board in her bedroom and likes to see them when she wakes each morning....<div><br></div><div>She is very kindly releasing them back to me four at a time! </div><div><br></div><div>So here are blocks 3 and 4 from week 2. </div><div><br></div><div>Block 3 was called Lots of Love and was designed by Melissa Corry. This was a tricky block to piece; some of the squares were 1" square. Still, I think my blocks came out quite well </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48YNIjRrlDxPPWe3WiYLv12TwEUYSXkr1MKu1guBo-lZZZxX2lJ_1teeQmBXWwl5XYcPwSrCTrEFFYAGQxtJKzVxw9Xls_GEeDgt8Pjt9hLwvhFfEqW_ZCUJUgY8a0rh3h_NFF8FGdnw-/s640/blogger-image--1448412843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48YNIjRrlDxPPWe3WiYLv12TwEUYSXkr1MKu1guBo-lZZZxX2lJ_1teeQmBXWwl5XYcPwSrCTrEFFYAGQxtJKzVxw9Xls_GEeDgt8Pjt9hLwvhFfEqW_ZCUJUgY8a0rh3h_NFF8FGdnw-/s640/blogger-image--1448412843.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaYA3qIJTHdOhIz0P10uW1UXH_kIlyAmStPT0QZ_xm4HCmQA5oqJOlvgAzsFQbams9PnXCH7T5t52ZWGzXdkt4sWBagW2hgczw1JuDMxxmIrKIxym8Ng7NfWkgfpEVfSG2MpGV5J2L6TI/s640/blogger-image--1960948769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaYA3qIJTHdOhIz0P10uW1UXH_kIlyAmStPT0QZ_xm4HCmQA5oqJOlvgAzsFQbams9PnXCH7T5t52ZWGzXdkt4sWBagW2hgczw1JuDMxxmIrKIxym8Ng7NfWkgfpEVfSG2MpGV5J2L6TI/s640/blogger-image--1960948769.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Don't forget the blocks are 6" square when finished so there's a lot of pieces in this block!</div><div><br></div><div>Block 4 was a bit more appliqué. Happy Hsppy was designed by Jen Kingwell and boy were those little circles fiddly to make! </div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WEHma6o76l7RZjIMpn4zJw15KrpfmrRSrPteijSW8ylOwL5wU2CimastSMDFoxoFYDZj3TwQ5GtRH3kU9w9_TrrCSPHb2Ez62o0ZE_taPQIN00OXs3dXrkDvxKfNnk7-ry-6DPWR6A-2/s640/blogger-image--1859436631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WEHma6o76l7RZjIMpn4zJw15KrpfmrRSrPteijSW8ylOwL5wU2CimastSMDFoxoFYDZj3TwQ5GtRH3kU9w9_TrrCSPHb2Ez62o0ZE_taPQIN00OXs3dXrkDvxKfNnk7-ry-6DPWR6A-2/s640/blogger-image--1859436631.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I used a card template to make Suffolk Puffs and then pressed them before removing the card and appliquéing to the background. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4Q56soVP5fYc2vcBe0Tbtkks28LZvL6nRl0EV6dlqs66IIxdL1YDYbXhgieghvgDr9XakOepDNySeJ0j8uACS0kG8b_nUdLQF-3inZO0YLFT47z-qeaEuREpcGPdcjo6Eykpr5nB6k71/s640/blogger-image--1795848014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4Q56soVP5fYc2vcBe0Tbtkks28LZvL6nRl0EV6dlqs66IIxdL1YDYbXhgieghvgDr9XakOepDNySeJ0j8uACS0kG8b_nUdLQF-3inZO0YLFT47z-qeaEuREpcGPdcjo6Eykpr5nB6k71/s640/blogger-image--1795848014.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwX1S0DTuYc9ysEtI9IefL3fDiD4kE-w0GOK0_cMtk7_WQiTfdeOu5nncQarbTQE7FueO7KTANJVnBOMREYJbcXhyphenhyphen6TaaFZGJzp9AeRqYMiD7ywcuxVKxBc9K0bF-4MZ9GWvD5eTVnNc3B/s640/blogger-image--688624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwX1S0DTuYc9ysEtI9IefL3fDiD4kE-w0GOK0_cMtk7_WQiTfdeOu5nncQarbTQE7FueO7KTANJVnBOMREYJbcXhyphenhyphen6TaaFZGJzp9AeRqYMiD7ywcuxVKxBc9K0bF-4MZ9GWvD5eTVnNc3B/s640/blogger-image--688624.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I alternate between loving the taupe or Tula version of each block more. I think it was the taupe version for block 4. I love the vase fabric. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And here are the first four blocks of each colourway together </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwkq1W8MjtcAYZPA7z8QtRItRzB4uDKd2H1coKv_k7Uvm5uHn-Hd4dk0b1lVbCpd1oPA1g2qT4d0zGqc7Qm7Z1nZdhx7OWDe8PKsrjNwUH2-Ve99KtsZgZNUdhJm_718hljuJftUbo80I/s640/blogger-image-2020861326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwkq1W8MjtcAYZPA7z8QtRItRzB4uDKd2H1coKv_k7Uvm5uHn-Hd4dk0b1lVbCpd1oPA1g2qT4d0zGqc7Qm7Z1nZdhx7OWDe8PKsrjNwUH2-Ve99KtsZgZNUdhJm_718hljuJftUbo80I/s640/blogger-image-2020861326.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iILdxHlJMwxqBgNCZIyWaA6a0nr9FRE4f1r_4xTaJskA4BLk22FHQx_3t8AdWaug4ASVvVepzre-wEAfWLyRJzqmWqA5Do8JJo-Yi47AxwvFLxSaeqn90WxP_-Nu8N-7S9RCpdfW32M1/s640/blogger-image--1813967503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iILdxHlJMwxqBgNCZIyWaA6a0nr9FRE4f1r_4xTaJskA4BLk22FHQx_3t8AdWaug4ASVvVepzre-wEAfWLyRJzqmWqA5Do8JJo-Yi47AxwvFLxSaeqn90WxP_-Nu8N-7S9RCpdfW32M1/s640/blogger-image--1813967503.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-33382937503266703312016-02-20T14:28:00.001-08:002016-02-20T14:28:12.243-08:00The Splendid Sampler - week 1I'm becoming a bit of a sucker for sampler quilts with 100 or so blocks. First there was Dear Jane, although admittedly I haven't got very far with this one. <div><br></div><div>Then there was Sylvia's Bridal Sampler which I'm making in pink, purple and peach batiks. I've done around 35 blocks on this quilt which is a bit of a family affair as my mum, sister and son are all making versions too. </div><div><br></div><div>Next it was Tula Pink's City Sampler which I'm making with bright solids and a stripe from Robert Kaufman in each block. Again I've made around 35 blocks for this quilt. </div><div><br></div><div>These three long term projects are very long term as I'm making them at my own pace. </div><div><br></div><div>And then the other month, along came The Splendid Sampler. This is a mystery sampler quilt. I don't know what the blocks or the finished quilt looks like but I do know there are 100 blocks altogether designed by 80 odd different quilters using a variety of techniques. It is an online quiltalong with a Facebook group. I debated with myself (very briefly) about whether to sign up for it, but hey it was free so there was nothing to lose!</div><div><br></div><div>The first block was released on Valentine's Day and of course it was a heart block! Hearts Aflutter was designed by Pat Sloan, one of the ladies who has organised this quiltalong. At the moment I'm making the blocks in two colourways. My first choice fabrics were taupes I've been collecting </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UVprVseV0UBqxM5aVo0d9BUnTKVAzwIn8-7MgU96rot6bVC2g9NBF0r46tN0ZtcaqAN1_4gsA8_pLW9dPeTyS6i2T2C4QmvEMbnG6u17iN4XFsC8PD94BJLqVdxGYOx4N0uvWXFo0mQS/s640/blogger-image-1179604955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UVprVseV0UBqxM5aVo0d9BUnTKVAzwIn8-7MgU96rot6bVC2g9NBF0r46tN0ZtcaqAN1_4gsA8_pLW9dPeTyS6i2T2C4QmvEMbnG6u17iN4XFsC8PD94BJLqVdxGYOx4N0uvWXFo0mQS/s640/blogger-image-1179604955.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>But when it came to appliquéing the heart, I didn't have the right colour thread. So I made a second version in Tula Pink fabrics </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBiZjVekqZExNeePe_s5ouLwL4GkN5ZT9qDpsLcd8jCjO-VYq3QMO_4P2LocIRyX6hVI18-sNQjXlMM57wzJb5JYBxZCBqmjFCM1DHBRa5gLGvZkSFZwnjrdDyzoUG8MY4cQ7psxxJWuA/s640/blogger-image--1015783389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBiZjVekqZExNeePe_s5ouLwL4GkN5ZT9qDpsLcd8jCjO-VYq3QMO_4P2LocIRyX6hVI18-sNQjXlMM57wzJb5JYBxZCBqmjFCM1DHBRa5gLGvZkSFZwnjrdDyzoUG8MY4cQ7psxxJWuA/s640/blogger-image--1015783389.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Block 2 was released during the week (they are released on Sunday and Thursday each week)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wings was designed by Jane Davidson, the second organiser of the quilt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My taupes version</div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY8ODDjiFZ4ejHHzIom0POiKL18xFTnLR_9ku2WgJ-E9_WNlbRw_mDnqRMekfbKFVnBk9D9rXv5sylCRziQ5qxeFeTpdZ_yTKM9SWX9fPKgvQKXKDc81bY_Er6aNaUM28r4J-R-b6WRya/s640/blogger-image-1111469949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY8ODDjiFZ4ejHHzIom0POiKL18xFTnLR_9ku2WgJ-E9_WNlbRw_mDnqRMekfbKFVnBk9D9rXv5sylCRziQ5qxeFeTpdZ_yTKM9SWX9fPKgvQKXKDc81bY_Er6aNaUM28r4J-R-b6WRya/s640/blogger-image-1111469949.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And my Tula version</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN79oyDx6pwkKkwBCsAHfABLHU4UmSESR-B9slmFXyyyn4A-u2BHKsHTsHeeGP4l0A-yX_dlENIiopVy6Hp-v-xI0094kHdtNM8-BS75_50PQjXTY9bxlZQBOr_Z5_2o3eoDaEYt7FNKAr/s640/blogger-image--1924023184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN79oyDx6pwkKkwBCsAHfABLHU4UmSESR-B9slmFXyyyn4A-u2BHKsHTsHeeGP4l0A-yX_dlENIiopVy6Hp-v-xI0094kHdtNM8-BS75_50PQjXTY9bxlZQBOr_Z5_2o3eoDaEYt7FNKAr/s640/blogger-image--1924023184.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The more I look at this Tula version, the more I love it!</div><div><br></div><div>Week 2 starts tomorrow with block 3. I can't wait!</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-61880767508452786422016-02-13T13:55:00.001-08:002016-02-13T13:55:10.638-08:00Potatoes!This weekend my allotment association is holding it's potato weekend. The association don't bring in many varieties but the prices are very good so I don't mind. One day I'd like to go to a bigger potato day or something like Seedy Sunday in Brighton where I can maybe try some different types. <div><br></div><div>This year I have stuck with what I know. First early - Rocket</div><div>Second early - Charlotte </div><div>And two main crops Desiree and Cara</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Cd0HuPtte3CdgPhrd5zdMWtEN-6AyfyhFynsGV2Oj8s6JaNy_iFm6MV9i0KiD6qkQluwJ7MlwRtckMpVJKjSlg0UqCWTiZyAPQ5OV8zmodGcuh5MhesOeuAM0RuPh6mNkbiAHZYHgDjB/s640/blogger-image-2037405369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Cd0HuPtte3CdgPhrd5zdMWtEN-6AyfyhFynsGV2Oj8s6JaNy_iFm6MV9i0KiD6qkQluwJ7MlwRtckMpVJKjSlg0UqCWTiZyAPQ5OV8zmodGcuh5MhesOeuAM0RuPh6mNkbiAHZYHgDjB/s640/blogger-image-2037405369.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9rGfe75yIxtlFrkGIfJ1j3RR9h4ii1IFDL7rgOqNZQGfhQL9J7v76WQMYV15277rBbeRcueXY2V6iGQQ8M0WkJhTKzxAcYofYe4mUKS8tYy14AEVKopsqtcyCAEBekiGLZhfqipy-zCr/s640/blogger-image--923948826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9rGfe75yIxtlFrkGIfJ1j3RR9h4ii1IFDL7rgOqNZQGfhQL9J7v76WQMYV15277rBbeRcueXY2V6iGQQ8M0WkJhTKzxAcYofYe4mUKS8tYy14AEVKopsqtcyCAEBekiGLZhfqipy-zCr/s640/blogger-image--923948826.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I'm trying Cara for the first time as a neighbouring plot holder has said it always does well in our soil. I usually grow Picasso which is similar but last year's crop wasn't the best; lots of scabs </div><div><br></div><div>He has also given me four Swift tubers to try as he was really pleased with his last year</div><div><br></div><div>I also bought some Sturon onion sets and Pink Pikant shallots</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGEgcbR-61NOn43jPfU4lfbnGfi5AXWO36bFoEWLLtF0rOIvd-HC7dIl4K0hrar5t1IVA5dewdYS2OvfjmTSmBy8abBwMZYeBsuY9eyLTtwcjnJcZ12P-9Cj1vvPluiJH3IKmGDYIrWmX/s640/blogger-image-1369089463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGEgcbR-61NOn43jPfU4lfbnGfi5AXWO36bFoEWLLtF0rOIvd-HC7dIl4K0hrar5t1IVA5dewdYS2OvfjmTSmBy8abBwMZYeBsuY9eyLTtwcjnJcZ12P-9Cj1vvPluiJH3IKmGDYIrWmX/s640/blogger-image-1369089463.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Not bad for about £7!</div><div><br></div><div>It's always a bit chaotic in the allotment shed shop. It's a dark lock up garage but it's packed to the rafters and the prices are ridiculously low compared to shop prices.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyCBkP2P7ePG6cr9LUF6lR5EGeVjk1eaS4KwMUJdbaNM7GvbFfZ8lA0F9X_hIRrM4UzbkXfnW6dYP9DCn7FWk39383_ILIbCv_VYCNpUaRBjtwEyJ1tiQUuQM_mlqtUXWX_bROZzEq5yr/s640/blogger-image-338754113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyCBkP2P7ePG6cr9LUF6lR5EGeVjk1eaS4KwMUJdbaNM7GvbFfZ8lA0F9X_hIRrM4UzbkXfnW6dYP9DCn7FWk39383_ILIbCv_VYCNpUaRBjtwEyJ1tiQUuQM_mlqtUXWX_bROZzEq5yr/s640/blogger-image-338754113.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We are lucky to have it </div><div><br></div><div>I put the tubers in egg boxes straight away so they could start chitting. Didn't take long for one of the cats to guard them for me....</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRJAF7cNHGkC_DRmvpbTj2526vOQfOK5ozpB8EMMsvIlRVGYbqXWhdgrXvg-DwRCQREfvFT6jAtU6tATasta48Ug8S-lr5vf5Vhgd2YbqEfoqnt_r4_H5sHxg-qGigBGTWATp2YNyoby-/s640/blogger-image--671831594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRJAF7cNHGkC_DRmvpbTj2526vOQfOK5ozpB8EMMsvIlRVGYbqXWhdgrXvg-DwRCQREfvFT6jAtU6tATasta48Ug8S-lr5vf5Vhgd2YbqEfoqnt_r4_H5sHxg-qGigBGTWATp2YNyoby-/s640/blogger-image--671831594.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-17382093869565421412016-01-31T02:15:00.001-08:002016-01-31T09:35:39.143-08:00Taupes and Me...I'm not quite sure why but I seem to have a fixation with making long term quilts or quiltalongs in taupes.<br />
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I don't have many taupe fabrics in my stash nor do I sell them in my quilt shop. And yet something draws me to them when a big project is on the horizon. Maybe it's because I love Japanese taupe quilts when I see them at quilt shows and kid myself into thinking my quilt will look just as wonderful?</div>
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I've signed up for two quiltalongs this year. Not quite sure why as I don't have much free sewing time. And of course I'm contemplating making them in taupes!</div>
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The first project is the block a day quilt by Gourmet Quilter. I treated myself to this pattern. I also looked upon it as future class potential. The original is made in batiks </div>
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And yes it's made up of 365 different blocks which are released weekly during 2016. </div>
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For my quilt I imagined a cute Japanese taupe version reminiscent of all those perfectly made in minute detail quilts I've seen. These are my backgrounds.</div>
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I <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">knew I would struggle to keep up but thought I would do a bit better then this....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7K7cMOOOUYlfwPotTeq9r0ORwFo3ZUcu7H4he_itQJuj0je32Iuy35ytu9MVW_ViS6dYn_tu06yKkfglXd5lnXb8PL41C999W1-VRG72vUZcwzsv_d5kkukNnAhZmxn1MG_XVuoYQSzh/s640/blogger-image--471177564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7K7cMOOOUYlfwPotTeq9r0ORwFo3ZUcu7H4he_itQJuj0je32Iuy35ytu9MVW_ViS6dYn_tu06yKkfglXd5lnXb8PL41C999W1-VRG72vUZcwzsv_d5kkukNnAhZmxn1MG_XVuoYQSzh/s400/blogger-image--471177564.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've got frustrated with it as my fusible web is playing up. But hey it's not a race is it?!</div>
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I've also signed up for the free Splendid Sampler which starts in a couple of weeks and is 2 blocks a week, 100 in total.</div>
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I know, I thought, I'll do it in taupes! This is my fabric pull. We need approx. 30 to 35 fat quarters</div>
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While searching for these fabrics, I found my Tula Pink City Sampler blocks which seem to be made using the same fabric pull</div>
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To be honest I had no idea I'd done that many blocks! I've since abandoned these colours for my City Sampler for a bright solids and stripe version. And also looking at these blocks, I think I'll want to do something brighter for my Splendid Sampler too.</div>
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The taupe quilt I've made the most progress with is the Chinese Heirloom quilt designed by Lynne Edwards which I featured in P&Q a couple of years ago. I really need to get on with this one </div>
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I've even started a Dear Jane quilt in taupes, kind of</div>
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And then I found this appliqué block which is an Esther Aliu BOM</div>
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Do I need help with this addiction?!</div>
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<b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-77990053345985197572016-01-01T15:51:00.001-08:002016-01-29T04:26:48.775-08:002015 - My Year in Quilts<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">really must do blog posts whenever I finish a quilt. I just had to look back through my photos to see how many (if any) quilts I finished last year. </span></div><div><br></div><div>I'm actually quite surprised to count four! Well almost four! </div><div><br></div><div>A lot of my quilting life is blurred between quilting for myself and quilts I've made for my business and I'm slightly ashamed to say all of the quilts I finished were display quilts. </div><div><br></div><div>First finish was this small wall hanging which I've called 'Glow'. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtBX8OZn37S4sqFPRNO-D0dMmRkOcZbDG59ne4CrDmEMPqlMZgcmTwgRMsR_bfGro6cC8FeBa6pqkWi0ZIyoWnpQHSD9Id5tQ4J2TwbdWE60aruQCkt6IC6IkLiF92c2iibcdn5LkP2xj/s640/blogger-image-685288095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtBX8OZn37S4sqFPRNO-D0dMmRkOcZbDG59ne4CrDmEMPqlMZgcmTwgRMsR_bfGro6cC8FeBa6pqkWi0ZIyoWnpQHSD9Id5tQ4J2TwbdWE60aruQCkt6IC6IkLiF92c2iibcdn5LkP2xj/s640/blogger-image-685288095.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>It's made from a couple of batik charm packs and was made to sell the rest of these that I had in stock. Needless to say I had a feline helper as soon as I laid the quilt out!</div><div><br></div><div>Next up was my big finish of the year and it's a quilt I'm really proud of as I designed it to use a couple of precut packs and it's not always easy designing something with a finite amount of fabric. And here it is the Precut Medallion. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhyphenhyphenBPScBFsNNSRW6AsajaS6faUJaKu8ucaHdL3-HO4v8T4yprDgysIuJQaeqWjL287dD1dkocoZHv2P1F33Kdiy1Hiro7uU_erXsIk_TSC9JBBdx54gGNSRatzIMgHuUYVBy26bRuXaUE/s640/blogger-image--444373858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhyphenhyphenBPScBFsNNSRW6AsajaS6faUJaKu8ucaHdL3-HO4v8T4yprDgysIuJQaeqWjL287dD1dkocoZHv2P1F33Kdiy1Hiro7uU_erXsIk_TSC9JBBdx54gGNSRatzIMgHuUYVBy26bRuXaUE/s640/blogger-image--444373858.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>My last two finishes are linked and will be new pattern I'll be selling using ombré fabrics. I finished the Ombré Chevron quilt first </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZGoZgZhL7gn3y18ADEC2g5AESTdbInbetkzfblGC3uJfEvym7RwsIuPhZRI4U-DdPlpD1gRJ68KKasp6OTx2-AmM2MePVir4SThTiXeWUDtOC-BLoihOWEocXUINLI-TyQZPr5M2OkZe/s640/blogger-image--1481664563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZGoZgZhL7gn3y18ADEC2g5AESTdbInbetkzfblGC3uJfEvym7RwsIuPhZRI4U-DdPlpD1gRJ68KKasp6OTx2-AmM2MePVir4SThTiXeWUDtOC-BLoihOWEocXUINLI-TyQZPr5M2OkZe/s640/blogger-image--1481664563.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>And then Ombré Geese. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXZPykeR-nrLrx8JPOiL5w7hLnaEEiO1LmyCk14X0dMv5XCYPPqV-aL0ufLFq3L8aI7VvSsOJ_8Ga5zlbULkE9S5st9i9diqzyPF1cthiYwVb_laY78uAS1mcmOHPb9YwI50Sg6iTvn19/s640/blogger-image-805158312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXZPykeR-nrLrx8JPOiL5w7hLnaEEiO1LmyCk14X0dMv5XCYPPqV-aL0ufLFq3L8aI7VvSsOJ_8Ga5zlbULkE9S5st9i9diqzyPF1cthiYwVb_laY78uAS1mcmOHPb9YwI50Sg6iTvn19/s640/blogger-image-805158312.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Ombré Geese was pieced first as Ombré Chevron is made from the leftovers!</div><div><br></div><div>I just wish I could be more productive with my quilting. Have a feeling I say this every year! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-73524354456853552042015-11-29T01:01:00.000-08:002015-11-29T01:01:20.013-08:00My Allotment<div style="text-align: justify;">
I did something for the first time this week, I went to a meeting of my allotment association. It wasn't just any old meeting though. It was an EGM to discuss accepting the terms of new leases for both allotment sites in the town where I live and to also vote on the association changing its constitution so we could self manage the sites.</div>
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Important stuff.</div>
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It's been a long process to get this far; over four years in fact. The other site in the town is relatively straightforward, although it still took numerous draft leases before the association committee received one that they felt was good enough to accept the terms of.</div>
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My site however is a different kettle of fish.</div>
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Apparently my site has been an allotment site for over 100 years yet despite this it hasn't been designated what is known as 'statutory allotment land'. When a site is designated as such, it has additional protection under the Allotments Act of 1925. Section 8 of the act states that local authorities cannot dispose of allotment land without the Secretary of State's consent. </div>
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And why hasn't my site been designated as statutory allotment land? Because the actual land is owned by the county council. County councils cannot be allotment authorities so they can't lease it directly to us. Only district or local authorities can be allotment authorities. And so the county council lease the land to the district council who then rent the plots to the tenants of each plot. </div>
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A simple solution would be for the county council to sell the land to the district council so we could then become a statutory site. But they refuse to do this.</div>
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Currently, when our tenancy agreements are up for renewal on 1 April each year, the district council could just say they won't be renewing them i.e. we have no protection at all. The new 25 year lease will give us 12 months notice that they wish to evict us and while this is far from ideal, it is more protection from what we have now. So that is why I voted to accept the new leases.</div>
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The extra complication and perhaps why it was better to accept a slightly more protected position, is the councils are currently still in discussion about the local plan for the town. Supposedly they need to build nearly 3,500 homes in my little market town which has a current population of around 10,000 people. And guess what? My site, which is bordered by farmland on two sides and roads on the others (one an A road) is one of the areas that will possibly be allocated for development.....so everything may all change in 18 months time.</div>
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Self management will hopefully put us in a stronger position should we have a fight on our hands, as well as bring our extortionate rents down in a few years time.</div>
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I guess only time will tell.</div>
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<strong><em>Joanna</em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-81052832096402638772015-11-06T23:30:00.001-08:002015-11-06T23:30:41.660-08:00Job PerksWhen you're self employed and also work freelance, there aren't too many perks that get offered to you, apart from the perk of working when you want to of course. <div><br></div><div>Although saying that, quite a few invitations and offers do arrive in my inbox at the magazine. But I think, being the type of person that I am, I don't usually take them up. </div><div><br></div><div>I have, however, taken up two invitations/offers this year and I'm glad that I did. The first was an invitation to attend a little get together for a designer called Kaffe Fassett as he celebrated 50 years of working in the textile industry; first as a knitwear and tapestry designer and latterly as a fabric designer. The event was being held at the Gardens of the Rose not far from me so this was my main reason for finally saying yes to an invitation. </div><div><br></div><div>The gardens are wonderful. Sadly the event was being held just before the roses were out in all their glory, but there was plenty of colour and inspiration to behold still. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4x3KZ6T2LlYG2u1sn9CEHaogII-qcdop_90XNzQN1saYZPdOFhL0Xw72xSxdYN-jfYl8y46h1algWfOEpgLraqXUM4l0LWhswb3cF9Ie-7-tV5iSkPcCGV7g3ljTtuLZbV1ReNsepZf5p/s640/blogger-image--748891934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4x3KZ6T2LlYG2u1sn9CEHaogII-qcdop_90XNzQN1saYZPdOFhL0Xw72xSxdYN-jfYl8y46h1algWfOEpgLraqXUM4l0LWhswb3cF9Ie-7-tV5iSkPcCGV7g3ljTtuLZbV1ReNsepZf5p/s640/blogger-image--748891934.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8kQoCiqjcQWeH2MSWSFOZcIonD45498SGKDY7rnRb5AjXvaJSWdPatMqsvAi9noDSOozjZQQBU5ujRDCX1Hp-ZuwNSEcenWLmFkKcH6DJ-ylQDd2QePG65z3YenEg61vAJf3knhY0_ya/s640/blogger-image-406111484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8kQoCiqjcQWeH2MSWSFOZcIonD45498SGKDY7rnRb5AjXvaJSWdPatMqsvAi9noDSOozjZQQBU5ujRDCX1Hp-ZuwNSEcenWLmFkKcH6DJ-ylQDd2QePG65z3YenEg61vAJf3knhY0_ya/s640/blogger-image-406111484.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ivxt-xUCD90nOQT0Mhn-4kIOxLZtluHP-mfRkXIkXiCbQ7c-uP6shGLUXREMXLYeZMJOwxVGfBumBVNMSQ5ovoJ7ZPZf8prQNGLa2uR6aR3TkBpl5C6c5fItoPou9RXvlv21Uq0mW9FF/s640/blogger-image-908180383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ivxt-xUCD90nOQT0Mhn-4kIOxLZtluHP-mfRkXIkXiCbQ7c-uP6shGLUXREMXLYeZMJOwxVGfBumBVNMSQ5ovoJ7ZPZf8prQNGLa2uR6aR3TkBpl5C6c5fItoPou9RXvlv21Uq0mW9FF/s640/blogger-image-908180383.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmvo6eOolQ5oY2sqp7oula8DR-HetqnhykjPP3BtJexFpB5eUoCV2hIQblxgJ2ErYcotR10_7vzX7cTECEj8zErcxvfFjtuC7xt142U3x8FlqDr5jGFe91t4uXob6B8iASUd7bn9l00V_/s640/blogger-image-495507781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmvo6eOolQ5oY2sqp7oula8DR-HetqnhykjPP3BtJexFpB5eUoCV2hIQblxgJ2ErYcotR10_7vzX7cTECEj8zErcxvfFjtuC7xt142U3x8FlqDr5jGFe91t4uXob6B8iASUd7bn9l00V_/s640/blogger-image-495507781.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And the colours of Kaffe's quilts...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfwrbwQW-HrujFDAJbnjbIuguXmkoMXhccmdblsRBjxGbD6ahvqYq39Pl07t_kftpEwq9zCI_rkMkU6VJ1A3cYgN15SkGwDeIwonTW-nwwveCj__p4nhFX40Dxuq_XUa_OwSD0rDxU3oN/s640/blogger-image-265913097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfwrbwQW-HrujFDAJbnjbIuguXmkoMXhccmdblsRBjxGbD6ahvqYq39Pl07t_kftpEwq9zCI_rkMkU6VJ1A3cYgN15SkGwDeIwonTW-nwwveCj__p4nhFX40Dxuq_XUa_OwSD0rDxU3oN/s640/blogger-image-265913097.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUTV1lTyE_HaHtNbltkgIKTxLWNjJQsbw_02ya0ZdSZ-Qq74fMohCDGAJXEzheG5YSEPEAcvGVCdoLiHxrKS_NiSsz2KSGtBJ38QfIU0skdfw1dWrMqbmcZCfSL64-uMTaaFsBa5UCN0k/s640/blogger-image-1763240463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUTV1lTyE_HaHtNbltkgIKTxLWNjJQsbw_02ya0ZdSZ-Qq74fMohCDGAJXEzheG5YSEPEAcvGVCdoLiHxrKS_NiSsz2KSGtBJ38QfIU0skdfw1dWrMqbmcZCfSL64-uMTaaFsBa5UCN0k/s640/blogger-image-1763240463.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And then there are the offers. An press release email popped into my inbox a couple of weeks ago. I read it briefly as I usually do and then moved on to the next one. I returned to the email a couple of days later and reread it. It was from a PR company asking if they could send me a new iron from Phillips. The iron was so great, they said, I'd love ironing!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DYZefdMbUXIWVDj5P310ofrLYGysGRh1CgOj6RU1rNlMnSrbuK8mNS12CIUPGVq0m2Qsc0TNnBJn49FkK0YNW339da1qXGERdnwd1szs3TCsTXZNXOk4GIsgXvo7L18mRbFWtGo4lbi6/s640/blogger-image-837284399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DYZefdMbUXIWVDj5P310ofrLYGysGRh1CgOj6RU1rNlMnSrbuK8mNS12CIUPGVq0m2Qsc0TNnBJn49FkK0YNW339da1qXGERdnwd1szs3TCsTXZNXOk4GIsgXvo7L18mRbFWtGo4lbi6/s640/blogger-image-837284399.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>I ummed and ahhed and finally decided to accept their offer. It was only then I looked at the spec of it....it's RRP is more than £300! I'm currently using a basic iron I bought from Tesco for a fiver...!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiziBGA-mGi5hEjpSYTl4S0K9pab6QQ8BIg9vX4Nqd6ekDICSOzXLtnaQfOqLFcb3fN_hHTYxCtDvSOr-Ezz7JLM-7o7ZBIRi6S_YoZ282OxL1PfYUvDPnBO3QsYfQyTA1oCTu8_YVNR5g/s640/blogger-image-905033614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiziBGA-mGi5hEjpSYTl4S0K9pab6QQ8BIg9vX4Nqd6ekDICSOzXLtnaQfOqLFcb3fN_hHTYxCtDvSOr-Ezz7JLM-7o7ZBIRi6S_YoZ282OxL1PfYUvDPnBO3QsYfQyTA1oCTu8_YVNR5g/s640/blogger-image-905033614.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>The iron arrived this week. It's huge. I've had a little play and I have to say I think I might learn to like ironing after all....</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuGGUObppXweOnaZz6-QT8xrOmZWABVRS8IbNwr39BjpAl0OQLIkj7fG9RnOrHhz9ks0TND1r9EiNoAU5tOl9byMIt4U2HX0s-6tqRf2Sicj3DoiCthv7OhOPYFnme938gObURQ4sZzBo/s640/blogger-image--1634568043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuGGUObppXweOnaZz6-QT8xrOmZWABVRS8IbNwr39BjpAl0OQLIkj7fG9RnOrHhz9ks0TND1r9EiNoAU5tOl9byMIt4U2HX0s-6tqRf2Sicj3DoiCthv7OhOPYFnme938gObURQ4sZzBo/s640/blogger-image--1634568043.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Cat for scale </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoR9gxZvlbw9hxe2_MttyHO7S6rAt2HJKLLPqWYupmq-RTgr2JkheIRJGo0gtXSgxPxMkBSF465a4nlcH23lAInEFCmtdCVfSFXc3cZUMGZ3abjDkjQ34U21jYANrL_6bAmfC9PXGeKuI/s640/blogger-image-1557273745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoR9gxZvlbw9hxe2_MttyHO7S6rAt2HJKLLPqWYupmq-RTgr2JkheIRJGo0gtXSgxPxMkBSF465a4nlcH23lAInEFCmtdCVfSFXc3cZUMGZ3abjDkjQ34U21jYANrL_6bAmfC9PXGeKuI/s640/blogger-image-1557273745.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b> </div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247290118600450409.post-17108908057627271812015-10-26T12:06:00.001-07:002015-10-26T12:06:36.234-07:00Sweet Potato Harvest 2015Earlier in the year I wrote a post about growing sweet potato slips yourself from tubers. It was a successful experiment and I managed to grow over a dozen slips for myself from tubers I grew last year as well as send some to a friend on twitter. She sent me four slips of different sweet potato varieties in exchange.<div><br></div><div>I planted out my first Beauregard slips in the first week of May, having assumed the risk of frost had passed. They were planted in open ground on my allotment. </div><div><br></div><div>I was wrong. </div><div><br></div><div>We had a patchy air frost the first week of June which obviously set the plants back a bit. I did think I was going to lose the plants for a time, but thankfully they survived.</div><div><br></div><div>At the end of June I planted out my remaining Beauregard slips together with an evangeline plant. The Murasaki, Bonita and burgundy slips were planted out in the first week of July. All were planted in open ground on my allotment. </div><div><br></div><div>It's been a difficult growing year this year, with that late frost setting things back plus it was never particularly warm apart from one short period. So I had a feeling this year's sweet potato harvest wasn't going to be the best. As late summer turned to early autumn, it was clear the plants were still behind schedule so I covered them with plastic to make a polytunnel of sorts to give them a bit of warmth for longer</div><div><br></div><div>Today, I dug the plants up. It wasn't good, but also not a complete disaster as I think I have tubers of each variety that I can use to grow next year's slips, hopefully! </div><div><br></div><div>So here goes....</div><div><br></div><div>Beauregard. The first plants yielded a few decent sized tubers but only about a kilo in total. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrxXaH-MW98-TGMMRaLlkzJl95-1MH2z2zHY5E7Kvap9DRJboL73YcNXM4pcA0gPhwcJL4JKJVjt4M6TcjSSMupVdjndT29gFjKfnpzG1DvtkW5mywdPXavMeEGdVr963BPRBiaylGyCR/s640/blogger-image-1732594038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrxXaH-MW98-TGMMRaLlkzJl95-1MH2z2zHY5E7Kvap9DRJboL73YcNXM4pcA0gPhwcJL4JKJVjt4M6TcjSSMupVdjndT29gFjKfnpzG1DvtkW5mywdPXavMeEGdVr963BPRBiaylGyCR/s640/blogger-image-1732594038.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The ones I planted a bit later were all skinny</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnGpnBbnWjA0AVD28hgFEKQBoE8UmHGqVngZfYSyoMPAYwhKSau6VtdpoHk3MqmiVQf5C5TqrstJYCUL7lmrvRIOu5q77lKdIpUjtJrbffk-mxXvyF2mVIpFH_4JhzEKHDlASuRUdYdIo/s640/blogger-image-1788696010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnGpnBbnWjA0AVD28hgFEKQBoE8UmHGqVngZfYSyoMPAYwhKSau6VtdpoHk3MqmiVQf5C5TqrstJYCUL7lmrvRIOu5q77lKdIpUjtJrbffk-mxXvyF2mVIpFH_4JhzEKHDlASuRUdYdIo/s640/blogger-image-1788696010.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The remaining plants from my twitter friend had come from Suttons Seeds but as they were delivered late, I think they had little chance of success</div><div><br></div><div>Evangeline</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipntYtout3rNXzg6BLmA-B5qiIOLZ63cUYkUKpsGsmelEJ5awMOSd9FN5YUdQf-vmEQItMmp6Isgr_LNo2USxM41oVM0yW8FFyQXoY7Jck1znpOBLEF3C_51-x2nwKY4tU6einkBwERDAY/s640/blogger-image--1522031733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipntYtout3rNXzg6BLmA-B5qiIOLZ63cUYkUKpsGsmelEJ5awMOSd9FN5YUdQf-vmEQItMmp6Isgr_LNo2USxM41oVM0yW8FFyQXoY7Jck1znpOBLEF3C_51-x2nwKY4tU6einkBwERDAY/s640/blogger-image--1522031733.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Bonita</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMSKnqASkWOPDEFtcGddh4rrY82PSOCNHfBbgoWVrPBoBTvTc2VjRYjWrEXYhKupsC4oqOrdR8rB8kJ3_5DhgSgJOARUGL_oEmj6huhIENg6sOVydPe516PPdbCcpQIg_0sKpK4_TrcJ6/s640/blogger-image-1570571097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMSKnqASkWOPDEFtcGddh4rrY82PSOCNHfBbgoWVrPBoBTvTc2VjRYjWrEXYhKupsC4oqOrdR8rB8kJ3_5DhgSgJOARUGL_oEmj6huhIENg6sOVydPe516PPdbCcpQIg_0sKpK4_TrcJ6/s640/blogger-image-1570571097.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Murasaki </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Q5KDnSx-FVJnAZkZXaWhfe2i4RRd08yPXVtRseI4xrIKA5njMsN2WTOVtnRw_WqSx_UJbODhkux-tnjmYB6m5xQDI-nARFvfpl1hALGjOVRi6_MMcnwurah1JiglzaB_SbPGSPpFiQ8C/s640/blogger-image-1052610350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Q5KDnSx-FVJnAZkZXaWhfe2i4RRd08yPXVtRseI4xrIKA5njMsN2WTOVtnRw_WqSx_UJbODhkux-tnjmYB6m5xQDI-nARFvfpl1hALGjOVRi6_MMcnwurah1JiglzaB_SbPGSPpFiQ8C/s640/blogger-image-1052610350.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And finally Burgundy which was a failure </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1huuDUhUWUGx1oRZKbM5sMahfe5z1k1umTRHA9DsTQxNBPci47zfpkCU5yIOzLPbxDOl8bYwhLzGsymRtspsTb6sYIfOB8GWOt0nBaky-ebPHhdGThr8IiL3tUnpeUKR0IrvzyRAc9sB/s640/blogger-image--1543342104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1huuDUhUWUGx1oRZKbM5sMahfe5z1k1umTRHA9DsTQxNBPci47zfpkCU5yIOzLPbxDOl8bYwhLzGsymRtspsTb6sYIfOB8GWOt0nBaky-ebPHhdGThr8IiL3tUnpeUKR0IrvzyRAc9sB/s640/blogger-image--1543342104.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>But look what I also dug up, a tuber that was already regrowing!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64bxdFYE8OTmEKkO1hxqzWQxhdAZi4oW9AE0GfZjPCaBmsZbJwvTbxfioqsUp4BthT7XinQ9ljUaYz6aHP5Kqz4eeorG6MZv74j6GFBZ_OTF7euAUvtqvYtTnPLPJBaMtcxwTvfGq98xv/s640/blogger-image--922504119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64bxdFYE8OTmEKkO1hxqzWQxhdAZi4oW9AE0GfZjPCaBmsZbJwvTbxfioqsUp4BthT7XinQ9ljUaYz6aHP5Kqz4eeorG6MZv74j6GFBZ_OTF7euAUvtqvYtTnPLPJBaMtcxwTvfGq98xv/s640/blogger-image--922504119.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>So what did I learn this year?</div><div><br></div><div>For starters they need their long growing season and they need warmth if the summer isn't a scorcher like last year. So I think next year I'll cover them early on. Covering them will also protect them from a rogue late frost!</div><div><br></div><div>But as I said earlier, all is not lost as I'll try and grow slips from each variety. Even that tiny Burgurndy one, assuming it survives the winter!</div><div><br></div><div>Here's to the 2016 growing season!</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Joanna</i></b></div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436254730361648110noreply@blogger.com2