HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL UK MUMS!

Not the kind we are normally used to; but - everything is different now, all our lives have changed very quickly. It is like those horror films we have watched over the years.

My flowers and cards were delivered yesterday, my children are keeping their distance, I am not able to give them a hug 😢

We are trying to keep away from others as much as possible, as we are in the "at risk" age group.

Just as well we have hobbies!

It is a beautiful day here in our part of the world, blue sky and wall to wall sunshine,

we were sitting outside earlier, enjoying a cuppa in the warm part of the garden. At least something is right.

Our garden is slowly waking up, the camellia is in flower,

and the miniature Japanese cherry is fully out.

About a week ago I managed to make a quick trip to Midsomer Quilting to spend my Christmas vouchers; not many people there.

The nice people at MQ said that they will carry on as long as they can, specially their online shop.

This is what I came back with,

aren't these colours a feast for eyes?

Yes, there was a plan for these fabrics.

I have been playing with a small Korak sampler. What is Korak?

It is possibly the most ancient form of patchwork. There isn't much know about is; I came across it some 9 years ago, when someone else was making a small sampler and I wrote a post about it here.

You will struggle to find much written information, the only very informative book I know about is this one (which is in both, German and English)

Koraks were made by nomads in Central Asia, along the Silk Route, which also explains the various fabrics used, including silks, in some of the Koraks which survived.

Korak is made very differently to patchwork as we know now; pieces of fabrics  (mainly squares and triangles) are stitched to a foundation fabric, so not unlike today's applique. It is an interesting technique, be it a bit fiddly, as the fabric pieces are very small.

I am following (very loosely) one of the designs in the book. 

This is where I am so far with my Korak sampler.

There is also some progress on the "Circle Play" top.

I must admit that I find very difficult to be creative when I am worried, and these are very worrying times.

I wish you well, keep safe!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2020

FNwF - another month gone - really?

Yes, really! Again - thank you to Cheryll for getting us together for another Friday Night with Friends!

For most of the day yesterday we had bits of blue sky - so welcome after what seems to be weeks and weeks of unrelentless rain, I even set outside in the sunshine for a while, just enjoying the warmth on my face. There are very small signs of spring in our garden. Buds on the crab apple tree are just waiting to burst open.

Pair of blue-tits have taken over repaired and clean nest box, I really hope it all means that spring is close.

I haven't been doing much sewing, it must be the time of year, I do feel tired.......

All inspiration is eluding me. 

This pretty pink hepatica  has been out for a while.

So, what was up to last night? I picked up somewhat forgotten Awakening quilt.

To be very honest, I am struggling with that one, and that is quite rare for me.

I can see now why Irene did not release this one as a stand alone pattern; she writes about it her collection of quilt patterns "Focus on Applique". It was her first quilt and it has a very personal meaning, it helped her through a very bad time in her life. 

So, why did I think I could somehow copy that and make it mine?

At this point I am stuck.

Too many (very small) blocks and angels, and angel quotes (which I decided right at the start I would not include).

I decided there is only one thing I can do, just carry on (it is a very difficult quilt to ignore and not finish, but I will simply "do my own thing" and finish it in my own way, ignoring the deeper meaning. I am using other ideas from other blocks and quilts in Irene's book.

Last night I finished this rather a large block (larger than most others). I liked making this one, this is more "me".

I have also been working on the crochet Arabian Nights blanket, and there is also another crochet project in making, a summer wrap (one has to look forward to something, right?); I will share that one soon.

I hope you are well and keeping out of the way of the horrid virus sweeping across the globe.

Enjoy your weekend!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2020