Lady Docker

Christmas Cake

2010-11-14T22:31:00.006Z

Today I have finally got around to making my Christmas cake. I have made a momentous decision to change my usual recipe that I have used for the past 30 years and go withDelia Smith's classic Christmas Cake. It has been cooking all evening, about 4 hours, and is now ready for me to take it out of the tin. It certainly smells good so hopefully it will be as tasty as my old receipe. I use Delia's almond paste and mincemeat recipes and they are both good so I'm sure this cake will be equally delicious.

Applique Tutorial

2010-11-08T22:41:00.010Z

Firstly having chosen your design make a card template of all the pieces.

Next select the fabric you are going to use and cut a piece slightly larger than the design. Cut a piece of Wonder Web (Bondaweb in the UK) slightly smaller than your fabric.
Press the Wonder Web to the fabric sandwiching it between two pieces of baking parchment, this will prevent your iron and ironing board from becoming sticky.
Place your template onto the right side of the fabric and draw around the template. Cut this out. Peel off the backing and place the piece onto the fabric on which you are making your applique.
Again sandwich between the baking parchment and press with the iron. The piece of your design is now attached to the fabric of your block.
I find it easier to make all the pieces and then assemble the design before pressing into place but it depends on how complicated your design is - it may be easier to do it in stages.

You can now sew around the edges of the pieces with a decorative stitch, either by machine or hand, which neatens the edges and prevents fraying and also secures the design. This can be done at this stage or later at the quilting stage.

There are several methods of applique but this is one I learnt at a recent workshop and I found it simple to do.

October Bee for Modern Tradition

2010-10-31T16:15:00.008Z

October was my turn to choose a block and send the fabric to the rest of the girls in my bee, but alas I was running late and have only just got around to getting this done. I am happy to say that the fabric is all packaged and waiting to go tomorrow so here are the instructions.

I have used a Jelly Roll from Moda Verna by Kate Spain to make my blocks using a log cabin type construction. The centre block is a floral applique which I would like you to choose your own design and please use your own fabrics from your stash to co-ordinate with the fabric I have sent to you. I don't mind what design as long as it is something floral, and any type of technique is fine. I used bondaweb and then I will stitch the appliqued pieces on when I quilt it later. The centre square is 6.5 ins and the pieces around it are all 2.5ins wide and the required length.

You will need to cut the following strips from the Jelly Roll as follows:

1 x 6.5" x 2.5"
2 x 8.5" x 2.5"
2 x 10.5" x 2.5"
2 x 12.5" x 2.5"
1 x 14.5" x 2.5"

Firstly sew using 0.25" seams through out the 6.5" strip to the top of the centre block.

Working in a clockwise direction around the centre block next sew on the 2 8.5" strips.

The block will finally be completed with the last strip 14.5" making a complete block 14.5" square.

Can I ask if you have any fabric of a reasonable size left over that you return it to me as I am hoping there will be enough scraps to make the binding. If anybody is taking part in the Hexagon Charm quilt along, I know Leanne and Greta are, please feel free to keep a 2.5" square of any of the fabrics you like.

Hope you enjoy making the block. I can't wait to see what you all make for me.

Birthday Card

2010-10-22T22:13:00.002+01:00

This is a birthday card I have designed using Serif Scrapbook Artist 2. I plan to decoupage the flowers and embellish them with gems

Catchup Time

2010-10-03T22:36:00.003+01:00

At last I have finally finished the blocks for the Modern Tradition Quilt Bee for August and September. I really enjoyed making both of these blocks which were so different from each other. Just hope that Rebecca likes her August block and Heather her September blocks. Heather asked us to make two blocks each as the Churn Dash blocks are very quick to make and she sent the fabric precut so even quicker.

Hexi Madness

2010-05-25T09:19:00.004+01:00

I must be mad!! After seeing Greta's post about the hexagon charm quiltalong over on Flickr I decided to join the group and start by using my Moda Bakeshop Samples which gives me fabric for my first 480 hexies and after that I may have built up my stash for the next 693!!!. It's a nice little?? project to do whilst sitting in the garden during the summer. Watch this space to see how many hexies I have completed.

April Mojo in May

2010-05-17T12:41:00.007+01:00

Greta was a little behind in sending out her block for April for the Modern Tradition Quilt Bee so she asked us to use fabric for our stash to make the Arkansas Crossing.

If we had time she asked if we could make 4 blocks which as you can see this is exactly what I did. I enjoyed making this block and I hope that Greta approves of my choice of fabric.

Can't decide if this is my favourite or .....

is it this one?!

or maybe this one?!!

Tulips for Norma

2010-05-17T12:34:00.004+01:00

This is the block Norma asked us to make for May for the Modern Tradition Quilt Bee. Unfortunately she did not send enough fabric for the background and I had to use some of the sashing fabric in order to complete the block. As you can see it is now short of sashing on one side. The block was designed by Norma and when she has completed the quilt she will let the rest of us have a copy of the pattern for helping her create the quilt. How cool is that?!

In The Pink

2010-04-21T08:19:00.003+01:00

This is a quilt that I have just finished. It was started about 6 years ago when I knew nothing about quilts at all. As you can see the blocks are not really constructed in the true sense of a block but I wanted to finish it so that is was one down of my WIPs which meant I could start something new. I used it as a practice for free motion quilting which is something I haven't done before and I learnt lots on the way so I definitely need more practice with that before I do it on a quilt that I would be giving away. Anyway it will make a spare blanket should we ever need it.

Latest Project

2010-04-12T22:37:00.004+01:00

My sister, Gwen, asked if I would make her a quilt after seeing the one I made for our other sister, Hazel. I really liked the idea of using a jelly roll and I have now received the fabric.

To give me some inspiration on how to use the jelly roll I also purchased these two books, trouble is I like nearly all the quilts in them so it looks like I will be ordering more jelly rolls and layer cakes. Yummy, scrummy !!!!

I have chosen the pattern I am going to make and I have started cutting my fabric - just can't wait to get stitching. Watch this space.

March On For Lesly

2010-04-04T12:50:00.003+01:00

At last I have got around to sewing my blocks for the March Modern Tradition Qulit Bee. I was way behind due to the family's accident but hopefully will be on track for the next months.

I really enjoyed making these blocks and Lesly gave us a free rein in how we chose to make up the block as long as we had the green centre of the Granny's flower garden and also kept the colour scheme monochromatic.

The background fabric was linen which I had not worked with before but I found it really nice to sew.

Hope Lesly likes them as much as I do. Just longing to see the finished quilt.

It's Arrived

2010-02-28T12:57:00.003Z

This is my long awaited rare item and I am so excited with it. All those lovely little squares of fabric. Now for the best bit. What shall I do with them? I might use them for my turn in October for the Modern Tradition Quilt Bee but I bet I can't wait that long!! Oh what a lovely dilemma!!!

I Can't Wait

2010-02-24T22:18:00.002Z

I have just placed on order on an online fabric shop for a very rare item!! What can this be I hear you ask. I will let you know when it arrives. I'm like a child waiting for Christmas. Ooohh lovely jubbly!!!

February Blocks

2010-02-20T14:58:00.008Z

These are the 2 blocks for February for my quilting bee Modern Tradition Quilt Bee that Leanne asked us to make. She sent us 12 differnt fabrics which we could use any way we liked using a 3.5 ins square for the centre and the strips were all 2.5ins wide.

The fabric was really lovely to work with and I especially liked the vibrant and bright colours. Just what is needed on a cold, grey, February day.

I'm looking forward to seeing the quilt finished.

I can't wait to receive my March fabric. I am just loving this quilting bee!!!:)

Melissa's Block

2010-01-25T22:22:00.001Z

I have finally finished the first block of my first quilting bee for Modern Tradition Quilt. Melissa sent the instructions for her traditional saw tooth block togther with 2 solids. She asked that we then used a fabric from our own stash for the third colour as long as it was a pink, yellow, orange or white. I used a pink with a small flowery print from my stash. After making a complete mess of my practice block I was worried about cutting and sewing Melissa's fabric but after some helpful advice from the others in our group I was quite pleased with my finished block. I will be off to the Post Office bright and early tomorrow to get it in the post to America for Melissa. Can't wait to see it in the finished quilt together with all the other blocks.

Here is a close up of my seams which didn't turn out too badly I hope!

New Year New Look

2010-01-23T22:54:00.000Z

I have been catching up on the blogs of my fellow quilters over on Modern Tradition Quilt Bee and really loved Greta's new look blog and noticed the button for the blog design website so I thought I would have an update for the New Year. Now all I need to do is keep on blogging!

Phew Cards Finished At Last

2009-12-09T16:18:00.000Z

I have finally finished making, writing, posting and hand delivering my 90 hand made Christmas Cards. Quite a task but it means I can now get on with Christmas food - my favourite bit of the Christmas preparations. Not long left now but luckily I am on leave from work next week so I am planning a jolly festive time of shopping, wrapping and cooking and then I can get my head round to lots of lovely quilting without feeling guilty!! Oh bliss!!!

Oh Boy!

2009-11-15T21:30:00.001Z

My little grandson will be 2 years old on 28th. November so I thought I would show you that card I have made for him. I used Jolly Nation's Messy Boy decoupage for the middle panel and the co-ordinating paper on a royal blue card stock. I also covered the wooden #2 with the same card stock. As the decoupage is 6 layers deep I also made a box to hold the card as it would not fit into an envelope and decorated the box with co-ordinating elements. (See below). Hope he likes it!

My First Quilt

2009-11-11T21:22:00.001Z

My first quilt was completed at 00:30 on Friday 6.11.09. It is a birthday present for my sister's 50th. birthday which was on 6.11.09 - hence the late night finish. She is really pleased with it although I am rather critical and can find lots of things that I will do differently next time. I designed it using EQ6 which I found helpful as I didn't really know where to start. I would love to attend a class but anything locally is during the day and alas work prevents me from joining. I used Quilting for Dummies as my reference and guide and found it really helpful. We don't have any local quilt fabric stores so I sourced my materials on-line.

I am a member of the Block Party and thought this would help me get some experience and inspiration by making their quarterly blocks.

I am really looking forward to starting the quilting bee and can't wait for my first packet in the post.

Sandra