Florence's Attic

Frustration and a peek into the past

The return to routine round here has been delayed by Mister J being ill last night.  He is much better today, and will be at school 15 minutes early tomorrow!  Bizzie is going through the "why should I go to bed when the two of you are still up" phase, so I still haven't had that much sewing time.  She is so sweet, really really sweet, but boy does she have determination. 

I did get a little bit of sewing done on Saturday night when I went to babysit for friends.  I turned up with a big bowling bag full of notes and fabric and my hand sewing box and looked as if I was moving in for the night.  I had a lovely time, the children didn't wake up, and I sewed whilst watching rubbish tv including a Carry On film.  There is something about being at someone else's house which means you aren't thinking about all the other things you should be doing, like you would at home.  I feel I am in a bit of a rut and have lots of projects going on, so my aim this week is to get some of them finished.

To get a bit of inspiration last night, I turned to two vintage sewing books I recently bought in charity shops.  One is dated 1948, and the other doesn't have a date, but must be from the same period.  They make me realise how far we have come.  Both books have chapters on dressmaking, mending and reusing items, and a few crochet and knitting patterns.  The patterns in both books have no pictures, or diagrams, so you only find out what the project looks like as you are making it.  It is almost like making a mystery quilt.  I had to call my mum to find out what "stays" are, as one of the crochet patterns is for "Baby's Stays".  It seems a bit harsh to put a baby in a crochet corset, but when I am having to deal with a tantrum and having to get somewhere on time I can see the attraction!  It is the same with the embroidery patterns, with a description of the stitch and how to sew it, but no diagrams. Here are a few scans of the books, and a couple of the patterns.  Each book has about 10 crochet patterns in it, for shawls, a dolly and bedroom slippers.  My favourite is the "Brassiere (for a medium figure)", imagine sitting on the bus crocheting yourself a bra!  If anyone would like a photocopy  of the patterns (knitting as well as crochet) just let me know.  If you are having trouble reading some of the scans, just click on the picture to enlarge it)

I also got this in the post today, my Wee Wonderfuls Quilting Bee pattern.  I love it, and it is a lot bigger than the other Stitchettes, so when once I sewn it I want to make it into a cover for one of my ring binders with my patterns - perfect eh!

Finally, thank you to Louise for nominating me for a "You make my Day" award.  I would like to pass this on to some of my old favourite blogs, as well as a couple of new ones I have found.  So, in grand Oscar style speech, I would like to give this award to
Hillary whose blog was one of the first I found and is still a favourite
Jo whose blog I have just found.  I love the button jewellery she has done recently. 
Sarah the only blog person I have met.  Love the descriptions of her working process, and her cat is called Florence!
Michelle, my partner from the first doll quilt swap.  Her blog is a really good mix of quilting and crafting with kids
Kate, another Brit quilt blogger
Marisa, another blog I found through the doll quilt swap, full of lovely quiltyness
Quilt Whilst You're Ahead - I have only just found this one and am already a fan.  Crochet, quilting and humour - a fab mix
Amanda at Treefall (who has just introduced her gorgeous new baby on her blog - go and say hello)
Lynne - I love the work, and love the humour

and Louise, please accept this back from me - I love reading your blog.

Night Night x 

Half Term

Children to entertain - 2
Child who ate lego star mans head - 1
Trip to a and e- 1
Time at a and e - 3 hours
Child who does not want lego bit back when it, er comes out - 1
Children who have today ransacked house in the name of "playing" - 5
Visits to the park - 1
Weight gained this week - 1 1/2 lbs
Sewing/Crocheting time - 0 hours grrr

Roll on the Easter holidays!

x

Australian Quilters Companion - mmm nice quilts

I love magazines so much, and would almost liken my addiction to them to my addiction to fabric.  However, eventually I think you get so many, that you slow down a bit.  I also started thinking that this money may be better spent on actual books!  I have got my magazine fix down to Embroidery, Selvedge, Quiltings Arts and Crochet Today (which is proving hard to get hold of).

Back in January someone bought a pile of old patchwork magazines into college to pass on.  I grabbed a copy of Australian Qullters Companion, and am so chuffed with it.  I don't really buy British patchwork magazines any more as I find them very safe.  They are good to read, but I get through them in about an hour and a lot of the patterns don't really speak to me.  This may be a bit unfair as I haven't read one for a while, but it is also one of the reasons I would love to finally get my Zine off the ground.

Anyway, back to Australian Quilters Companion.  I have never read this before, but m so impressed with it.  I have just got a scanner, and it is the first time I have used it so I apologise for the bad scanning, but how delicious are these quilts?  The photography in the magazine is really good, with a picture of the quilt in a "setting", such as over a chair, and then a clear picture of the quilt laid out flat.  The articles about the fabric and quilt designers are good too - really informative. 

I rarely want to copy a quilt pattern from start to finish, but love this one so much.  Also, the pattern is very free, in that the directions tell you how to make it, but it is up to you what size, where you want to blocks and so on.  It would just look so perfect on Bizzies bed.   

These other two quilts I just loved.  They are quite traditional, but just look a bit more modern than some of the quilts you see featured in magazines.  I will definitely be looking out for this magazine at quilt shows later this year. 

In case you are interested, it is issue 25, from last summer.

I have noticed today, that this is my 100th post.  I haven't been organised enough to sort out a giveaway, but will have a think and probably do it for a random post, say number 111!

x

Rail Fence Quilt sent

Phew, this one is in the post.  It measures 38" by 48", so is a perfect size lap quilt.  The quilting is so lazy, but I had to get this done quickly.  I usually use one piece of fabric for the back, but didn't have enough for this so used the offcuts.  I am so happy with how this looks, and will definately make the back more interesting in future.  I do love this block, it looks so complicated, but us quilters know it isn't..!

We have had a really busy couple of days.  Yesterday we went to an event celebrating the Chinese New Year at the Dome in Brighton.  The day ended with a lantern procession and dragon dancers in the grounds of the Royal Pavilion.  The palace was designed with an eastern theme, so it was the perfect place for the events to be held.  Here is a photo of the building last night - the events were behind where I was standing when I took this.

Today we went up to London at Mister J's request to see the dinosaur bones at the Natural History Museum.  Oh my, it was so busy.  Thankfully Bizzie slept whilst we were being herded through the dinosaur exhibits along with half the population of London.  He was impressed with what he saw

and I took some sneaky pics for quilting inspiration

We dived out from the mayhem of the Natural History Museum to the V and A next door.  I love this museum, it gives me that Tiffany feeling.  We had a fab lunch and then the kids did some of the free crafts in the Asia gallery.  It was good as they had cushions scattered around so you could sit and craft for as long as you liked.  I think my mum enjoyed the sit down (oh yes, I don't think I could have coped with the two of them on my own today)!  I then got a quick look in the textiles gallery.  It is a bit embarrassing as I knew the item I wanted to photograph in the textiles gallery as I know the exhibits so well.  They can't have been changed for a very long time, and even have hand typed labels still.  We then went into the shop where I showed a lot of restraint and travelled home via tube and train.
I hope the rest of half term isn't a let down after these two fun filled days!

x

Happy Valentine's Day

What a lovely sunny Spring week we have been having here.  Loads of sewing has been going on here.

It looks like a box of chocolates...

but no, I am teasing myself.  It is a box containing my bloomin fiddly 6 inch blocks for my disco bag for college.  The photo has dulled down the brightness - you are lucky...

I have also been binding this quilt (don't you think quilts look a bit naked when they are trimmed down ready for quilting?)  It needs to go in the post tomorow so has one more side to be hand sewn down and will then be in the washing machine.

and here is my sweet Valentines card, with my favourite kitty's on the front.

Now, it is 6.15, too early to get the kids in bed and settle down with wine and a take away?

Happy Valentines x

Creative Stitches

I had a good afternoon out with my mum today at Creative Stitches at the Brighton Centre.  The last time I went there my opinion of it was the same.  There are some gems, but also some really awful stands.  The gems were embroideries from the WI archive, and quilts from the Quilters Guild Stitch in Time exhibition.   From the stands I loved the work of Sue Allan who makes dolls and embroideries.  She was lovely to chat to and had used lot of Liberty fabrics so I was taken with her work immediately!  My mum bought me a doll pattern from her stand, which rather cheekily I am planning to make for her for mothers day (she doesn't know this and she loved the dolls as they are filled with lavender).  From other stands I bought buttons, paper, thread and some fabric, however the range is rather dissapointing considering the show calls itself Creative Stitches.  When I went before three years ago I remember being rather dissapointed at the quality of some of the stands as there are far too many of the gimmicky demonstation type stands selling tat.  They seem to be using forcefull marketing techniques and are nothing to do with stitches and it is very debatable how creative they are.  I know the organisers can't please everyone (the card making and cross stitch isn't my cup of tea), but if they kept true to the name of the show it would be much better.  Also the workshops and talks could be improved - grr there is so much more they could do with it.  Still, it is very local to me, and worth going to see things such as the amazing knitted gingerbread house.  The stall next to it was even selling knitted gingerbread men and sweets to raise money.  I was so pleased I didn't have the children with me as it would have been very hard to stop them getting in it. 

The tree growing next to the house (wonder if you could knit one out of plastic bags and have it in the garden..?)

Check out all these goodies on the roof

A bit blurry, but I love the detail on this box of matches.

Now, I am going on a wine search in the kitchen.  I am quite pleased as I haven't fancied a glass since I was ill last week, so it shoes I am getting better!

Chin chin x

Rail Fence Quilt WIP

Another male quilt, this one for a relative on my husbands side who has been very poorly recently.  I hope this lap quilt is happily recieved.  I can see two blocks which have been pieced the wrongway round, so the unpicker will be out yet again!  Also, it is coming up a bit small, so will have a big fat border round it, and then quilted in lines on the machine as I need it finished for next week.  I have also thought about tie quilting it, but I'm not sure.  I'll get the backing on and then decide. 

I love the rail fence block as it is so straightforward (when you pay attention and sew it together properly...) and looks wonderfully graphic.

Just in case you haven't heard...

Sew Mam Sew have declared February quilting month.  Check out their blog for lots of fab posts on quilts and quilting. x

Half Log Cabin Baby Quilt

Here are some photos of the baby quilt I made for my friend before Christmas.  The only quilt I had made for a boy before was a denim scruffy quilt for Mister J so it was new to me to use mainly boyish colours.  I really enjoyed making this.  I put cotton flannel on the back which made it extra snuggly, although I used Quilters Dream wadding which is quite thin so it wouldn't make him too hot.  I can't remember the exact measurements, but I made it to fit a cot.  My friend uses it to put him on when he lies on the floor - I was so relieved she loved it!

The front (with my pink Converse getting in on the picture)

The back

A close up, it was quilted in straight lines across.  As well as being quick to do, I really like the effect.

 

Blowing the cobwebs away

After being in quarantine for a few days, we decided to go for a walk along the seafront today.  With the high winds it definitely refreshed us all!  The beach was still full of wood from this ship which went down off the coast of Dorset (for those of you not from the South of England quite a distance away from Brighton).  We did have a chuckle to ourselves when it was in the news, that it must have been terrifying if you were swimming in the sea when it started coming in.  Although it is cold at this time of year, when the conditions are alright people still swim.  I often look at the ladies in their 70's (and older) who swim in the sea everyday and wonder if they are onto something...they all look so full of vitality. 

Here are some pictures:

This one is from Hove, towards Brighton.  I just love the colours of the beach huts.  The kids and I love playing hide and seek behind them, but we saw a rat trap behind one today which had me getting them right away from there!

This was taken with the zoom lense, I certainly did not step onto the pebbles today.

Here is just some of the wood - there is so much of it. 

Bet you are happy you are in the middle of your summer eh Louise and everyone else in Australia/New Zealand!