Calling All Birds

Suddenly our summer arrived, pulling the hot air from the continental part of Europe. It is HOT, 31C today in my part of the world (yes, I know, it is probably much hotter where you are, but for us - it's just hot). 

It is too hot to sew, my fingers just don't want to hold a needle of any kind.  

I am spending my days looking for a shade; good time to catch up with some reading.

But last week, before the thermometer went wild, it was just right, 

a proper "in the garden stitching weather", 

and I finished the binding on my quilt.

It has been ready to blog about for a week now, but I felt my quilt is rather insignificant; I felt and feel a great sadness about so many lives lost - in Manchester bombing, Grenfell Tower fire in London, forest fires in Portugal............

So here it is, "Calling All Birds", designed by Linda Guy, published in Quiltmania's "Simply Moderne"" magazine.

I really enjoyed making this one; easy and not too large to be get tired of.

I love the bright fabrics, and of course, I love applique.

I hand quilted it, using Finca cotton thread no16.

I loved stitching the birds and I was tempted to put some more on, 

but in the end I decided that Linda got it just right.

It is hot sitting here in front of the computer, so I am going back outside to the shade of the tree.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2017

birds coming together

Just a quick post to show you the main part of Calling All Birds quilt, 

only borders left to do.

This weekend baking was quick too; 

this is something our Scandinavian friends know well, I think.

Buttery pastry filled with jam, quick and easy,

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2017

"I tell myself sometimes that I am truly childish, gushing like a madwoman over these bits of fabric that, placed next to each other, can generate so much pleasure, but I know that many of you know what I am talking about..."

This is a quote from the Editorial of the latest issue of Quiltmania magazine, 

and that's exactly what I was thinking when getting my "bits of fabric" ready for Friday, for FNwF , hosted by Cheryll, who had a real houseful this time! Well done Cheryll, you even managed to do some stitching yourself 😃

So, what was I up to?

Last week I was concentrating on "Calling All Birds" quilt, and finished 2 more blocks, this time Log Cabins.

For Friday I prepared a couple of smaller blocks, and finished them on the night.

I now have all the main blocks ready, so this week I will join them together and start on the borders.

I like this quilt 😀

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2017

A long weekend here in UK; we had some rain (yes, it would come over the weekend), very welcome, our garden took a deep breath and soaked up as much as it could,
because the rest of the week will probably be dry again 😞.

I had a productive weekend - four more Courthouse Steps blocks, some hexies and yoyo's, both for Calling All Birds quilt.

And at last I have started working on the Scheepjes CAL 2017 - 

the first week, well behind, of course.

It took me a little while to workout how to make the bobbles to "pop", but I got there in the end.

Earlier today was jut the right morning for a walk in the local park.

I don't know if anyone of you here in UK watched recent TV "Spring Watch"  program, this time from Japan, all about the "cherry flowers" season, spectacular pictures.

In our old garden we also had a flowering Japanese cherry tree, so it was very tempting, watching the programme, to get another one for our new garden. Unfortunately our tiny garden just can't accommodate another large tree, but not all is lost. 

Few days ago a new addition arrived into our garden, 

a dwarf variety, more a shrub then a tree - "Kojo-no-mai"; if not pruned, it will grow only up to about 2 meters.  It has found a new home in our shrub corner.  

It has masses of tiny flowers, and a spectacular autumn leaf colours.

This very healthy plant arrived from Ashwood Nurseries ( a regular Chelsea exhibitor).

It is worth mentioning here, that I feel very confident about buying plants on-line these days.

I find that local nurseries are good for the run of the mill stuff, but if I am looking for something specific, I look for it on the Internet.

Most of our larger plants, including new trees, have come from on-line shops, places like, Trees On-line , Ornamental Trees , Keepers Nursery , to name just few.

Even some perennials, and annuals, I buy from Sarah Raven , violas from Wildegoose Nursery .

There are many more, of course, but the above are the ones I can recommend personally.

They all supplied very healthy plants; in the rare event of a problem, it was put right very quickly. After some initial teething problems, the packaging now is first rate, sturdy and recyclable, and all our plants (and trees) have arrived quickly and in a good condition.  

Many of the above are regular Chelsea exhibitors, and they have their reputation to protect.

There is one nursery, another Chelsea regular, which we are lucky to have within a driving distance - 

Kelways Nursery  in Langport, on the Somerset Levels. They specialise in peonies and irises; when looking for ornamental grasses for our garden, we also found a large selection at Kelways. 

I wish you all a very productive week; here in UK we might at last get some warmer weather, to be enjoyed outside.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2017

that's April,

during past 48 hours we had it all - sun, rain, snow, rainbow, hail storm..........

These are not flower petals on the ground, they are hail stones.

And I have been playing with more blocks for Calling All Birds quilt, sewing Courthouse Steps blocks. They look little wonky in this picture, I rushed the "photo shoot" and did not pin them out properly.

I will need 8 of these in total.

I hope April has been more kind to you!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2017

My granddaughter finished her miniature quilt/wall hanging, which she also designed.

 I think she has done such a wonderful job.

You can read about the method she used in my post 

"Easy miniature quilts" on 5th March.

Unfortunately we have lost the lovely warm weather; it has turned cold today, with some more frost yet to come. The weekend was still pleasantly warm and sunny, good enough for stitching outside. 

 I finished another bird block, the largest one so far, for "Calling All Birds" quilt.

I am enjoying playing with these bright fabrics.

I just want to show you this beautiful clematis 

which is growing through the fence from our next door neighbour .

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2017

three new blocks

After a long dry spell our garden is enjoying some soft rain today.

two new blocks for Calling All Birds quilt

and block no 5 for Quilters Patch quilt

sidewalk and log cabin roses

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2017

first Calling All Birds block

Sunday turned out to be just as promised, and yes, we managed BBQ, even the sunshade was needed.

Luckily we had our BBQ early, it got colder as the afternoon went on.

I took my sewing in the garden with me and carried on with the new block; I love stitching outside, the light is so much better then anything inside. 

Later in the evening I finished the first block of the Calling All Birds quilt.

I love doing applique, I like the freedom of it.

Baking Monday - 

I like making bread, I find it very satisfying; although we do buy some, most of our bread is home made.

I like experimenting, mixing various kinds of flour together.

Lately I have been making mainly sourdough types, so I keep a starter in the fridge most of the time.

Today I made a rye bread, similar to German Landbrot.

Thank you for stopping by; I wish you all a very good week, whatever your plans are.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2017

FNwF - Calling All Birds

Firstly - thank you to Cheryll for letting us use her blog again to meet and stitch last night.

I will make the rounds later to see what everyone was up to.

I have been enjoying making Quilters Patch blocks, but I must admit that I am missing applique.

So, last night I started a new project, to run along side the Quilters Patch Quilt.

The forecast for the weekend was really good and I wanted to have something ready to stitch outside.

"Calling All Birds" is a quilt from the latest issue of Quiltmania Simply Moderne magazine; it got my attention the minute I open it.

That's what I was doing last night. Out came my collection of bright fabrics,

and I prepared the first block.

Today was a glorious day right from the start and up to dizzy heights of 19 - 20 C by midday; 

we even had our breakfast outside, first this year!

I took my block into the garden and stitched the prepared applique pieces.

We are expecting another great day tomorrow, so hopefully more stitching and even BBQ!

I hope you too are having a great weekend!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2017