Inspiration from fabric and a not very random quilt top.

Does anyone else find their inspiration in the fabric? Colour and print tickle my brain more than anything else and leave me feeling energised and wanting to create.

This fabric stack made its way oh so slowly from the states only to be held hostage by HMRC for an eye wateringly large sum (does anyone else think they actively look for our fabric orders?) Once I had freed the pretties and got them home I wanted to start cutting straight away!

Beaches and ice creams and sunsets and I think I need Spring to make an appearance! 

These stripes have made their way into a patchwork pillowcase that is nearly finished, well truth be told I *could* say it's finished but I'm deciding if I want to add any embellishments before its ticked off the list. 

The second half of the fabric stack shows my appreciation for Anna Maria Horner's designs. When some of the lines came out I just didn't have the fabric funds to get them so I swooped on them like a hawk this time around :)

The next 2 photos are ones that I wasn't intending to show on the blog (So please do excuse the clutter, creases and general lack of photographic quality!)  I photograph my quilts as I make them for a few different reasons, I took these so I could refer back to them for fabric placement while I sew.  

I am so pleased I took this photo then called it a night. I took my phone downstairs and got myself a snack then had a look at my photos and all I could see were Biohazard signs! I Really dislike this layout with these fabrics! 

The next morning I went into salvage mode, chopped up some more of the pretties from the stack and went with a "random layout"...Never has a quilt top been less randomly laid out! If I put the fabrics in a paper bag and pull them randomly I WILL end up with the same prints side by side, every blinking time! So as only another quilter can truly appreciate this is "a not very random at all, random quilt lay out"

Again please excuse the above photo it was taken as a reference photo, you know incase the random muddles its self up while I move it form the wall to the sewing machine. 

And this is where we are at now. I am very happy with how this one is coming along, it's my first equilateral triangle quilt top and I already have another in mind as I like this one that much! I have my eyes on a spool of Aurifil 12wt in a lilac variegated for some machine quilting so I will let you know how that goes soon! 

Pretty pillowcase update

Over the last week I have had great fun making more pillowcases.

Matching up pretty fabrics to yarns is possibly as much fun as pulling fabrics for quilts! 

I loved working this raspberry pink yarn with the rose print fabric 

All of these pillowcases are now listed in my Etsy Shop if you fancy treating yourself to some pretty bedding :) 

Wordless Wednesday

Pillowcases

Half term trip to Cragside

So truth be told I've always had a soft spot for Cragside with its giant rock gardens, rhododendrons and lakes so I was over the moon when Him in Doors suggested a trip there over the school half term holidays. 

As you pull into the visitors centre the first thing you see is the tree line with these lovely little buildings nestled into the rocks below the trees. 

Once Madam realised the size of the forest we would be adventuring in she thought supplies were in order so pots of tea and cakes all round were the best possible preparation! 

I managed to not help madam devour the above chocolate, choux pastry and cream delight instead shared a bakewell tart (That was no where near as photogenic as the above pastry goodness) with Him in Doors.

Once the tea pots were empty we were off looking at pine cones, playing with branches and marvelling at all the different moss colours.

This time of year the grounds are bleak but still beautiful in a very stark way.

 The thatched roof boat house was fun to have a run around on our way to the labyrinth.

And then a spot more tea with some cherries to snack on

I loved the entrance to the labyrinth.

Our guide was the strong silent type! 

I will say I have never seen mud like it! Given the weather we have had I am not surprised but be warned if you head into the labyrinth at Cragside I nearly lost a boot more than once to the muddy walkways! 

We made it to the centre and called tag then turned round without a clue how to get back to the start :D 

If I had been left to my own devices there is a fair chance I'd still be wandering around the trying to find the exit!  Thankfully Him in Doors has a much better sense of direction than I do so we all made it out in one piece!

I can't wait to go back to Cragside in the summer when all of the flowers are in bloom and we can enjoy the formal gardens too. 

I hope you enjoyed the little excursion as much as we did!