Saturday, November 30, 2013

My new (to me) craft

On an excellent craft camp a few months ago, my friend Lisa was working on a very cool needlepoint which is destined to be a cushion depicting Bill Hicks.

I loved it and decided that I would also try my hand at needlepoint with a cushion for my son's tenth birthday. He is a massive Harry Potter fan so the choice of subject was easy.

Here's my progress so far ....

Harry potter needlepoint


The actual face was fun to work on and I progressed quickly but once I got to the background (Gryffindor) colored stripes, it became very tedious. I am so bored with this project but have to finish it by January 6th.

And so I plod on!!

Have you tried your hand at any new crafts this year?

Happy stitching.

Andi xx

Friday, November 29, 2013

Houston loot!!!!

It has taken me a while to get around to photographing my Houston haul but here it is in all it's glory!

Of course, I bought fabric. Der!!

DSC_0037


DSC_0038


DSC_0039


DSC_0040


DSC_0041


I am extremely crap at recording the names of the fabrics as I go ... so there are some you will surely recognise and others you won't but they are all delicious, if slightly anonymous!

To my delight, there were a number of antique quilt dealers and I bought myself 3 quilt tops. 

Why only the tops and not finished quilts? 

Two reasons: 
1. This way, I get to quilt them myself and feel I have had some part in their restoration and 
2. They fitted more easily into my suitcase :P

DSC_0030

This one was very cheap due to the less than perfect (to say the least) stitching and piecing. It is very buckled in places and completely torn in others but I loved the colors and the general feel of it so she became mine. My plan is to cut out the good bits and re-use them in a new quilt. Not sure exactly how yet but my little brain is tick ticking away ....

DSC_0034

This one is a beautifully hand-stitched queen size Dresden Plate quilt top. I adore the original 1930's fabrics. Looking forward to quilting this one!!

DSC_0035

There are 4 x 4 blocks in this one. 

DSC_0036


DSC_0031

And my absolute favourite was this red and white beauty. A perfectly hand-stitched Drunkards Path ... also queen sized. This one was dated C.1900 - 1920.

DSC_0033

Would you have a look at those perfect little stitches!!!!!

And lastly I bought some books.

DSC_0042

To be perfectly honest, only Victoria's book on the left was actually purchased in Houston. The 2 books on Hawaiian quilting were purchased in Hawaii the following week. (I know .... I am extraordinarily lucky!!)

So that's it. My Houston haul!!

Back soon with some actual crafting!!

Andi xxx




Sunday, November 17, 2013

Houston Quilt Festival - Part 2

Thought I'd share a post about the people (and creatures) of Quilt Festival.

With only one day up my sleeve, I knew I had to be selective about how I spent my time in Houston. I spent an intense morning viewing the thousands of quilts on display and spent much of the afternoon shopping and perusing the thousands of stalls. Of course, I had to arrange a meeting with this gorgeous lady who I have developed a connection with via 'Blogland' but have never met IRL.

IMG_2008


She was so incredibly sweet and amazingly helpful and generous with her time. Thank you Victoria xx

Victoria introduced me to her wonderful friend Michele but I didn't get a chance to take a photo :(

I also got to attend a brief talk with Kaffe Fassett

IMG_2041

And snapped a quick selfie with Ricky Timms

IMG_2012


Apparently, Quilt Festival is a party!

IMG_1998


But no one told these folks.

IMG_2022


They were pooped after an exhausting day of shopping and perusing. I was too!!

But not too pooped to have an evening meal with this gorgeous bunch of Louisiana ladies that had adopted me the evening before in the hotel cafe.

IMG_2054


They were so friendly and welcoming. Quilters are good folk!! :-)

And as well as the flesh and blood people I got to meet, there were some wonderful quilts depicting people ...

IMG_1912


IMG_1995


IMG_1993


IMG_1992


IMG_1907


IMG_1870


IMG_1909


IMG_1913



And of course there were the creatures ...

IMG_1970


IMG_1940


IMG_1935


IMG_1933


IMG_1925


IMG_1918


IMG_1916


IMG_1914


We quilters certainly to love our creatures!!

IMG_1893

The only thing left to tell you about is the shopping I did in Houston. I'll be back VERY soon to show you the wonderful purchases I made. Yay!! Loot!!!!

Much crafty love to you.
Andi xx






Saturday, November 16, 2013

Houston Quilt Festival - Part 1

I know this is now OLD news by now but I have been away on a BIG family holiday to the USA and have been unable to upload my HUNDREDS of photos until now.

So anyway, after Dan and the kids flew to Hawaii, I took a brief detour to Houston to briefly attend the biggest quilt show I have ever seen. "What's that?" I hear you say. "You missed out on Hawaii to go and look at quilts?" How's THAT for crafty dedication!!! (I did actually make it to Hawaii but just for a slightly shorter time. Phew!!)

So here we go. Get ready for a whole lot of photos because there were a WHOLE lot of incredible quilts on display!

 First up ... some of the more traditional quilts:

IMG_1871
 

IMG_1885

IMG_1904

IMG_1905

IMG_1910

IMG_1923

IMG_1937

And some more contemporary ones .....

IMG_1988

IMG_1959

IMG_1957

IMG_1952
Quilt made by Chawne

IMG_1956

IMG_1948

IMG_1947

IMG_1894
Quilt made by Victoria Findlay Wolfe and Lisa Sipes

IMG_1884

IMG_1900

IMG_1920

I have to apologise for mostly not knowing the quilters' names. I had only 1 day to explore a bazillion quilts and stalls and I simply neglected to note down details. (Hangs head in shame). 

IMG_1944
Here I am in front of another of Victoria's amazing quilts
I might stop there and keep some more pics for Part 2 (and most likely Parts 3 and 4).

But suffice to say, it was one of the most inspirational (and exhausting) days I have had for quite some time. I'll be back in a few days to show you more.

Much crafty love,
Andi xx