Inspired by Kaffe Fassett...but not as good!

I have long been inspired by Kaffe Fassett and his wonderful colourful designs, and while on holiday this year I picked up a book of his in a second hand shop called 'Glorious Interiors'. There is a chapter about mosaics and I had an old garden table that was crying out for something to revamp it. I had a great time doing it...but I think I have made it into a useless piece of furniture!

It's not grouted yet but it's so bumpy and uneven you will never balance a cup or plate on it again! I have even put cup handles upright on it...click on the pictures for a better look!

My son's girlfriend suggested I saw the legs off and hang it on the wall as a piece of art, and I might just do that!

If you click on the label 'mosaic ' on the side of the blog you can see the original I was inspired by!

Finger painting

Last week we had a "Family Fun Day" at our Church. About 90 children and their families turned up and I was hosting a table doing finger painting. I had done a few sample ideas but once the children started there was no stopping their creativity......I loved the dinosaur above!

I had done a catapillar as an idea but isn't it funny how children leave gaps between each red fingerprint where the original was joined to each other!

Mum's had a go too and as you can see face painting was also on the menu! There was chess for the adults, a quiz, musical instruments, origami, skipping contests, and tea and home-made cake for the adults to enjoy.

Windmill flower cot quilt

Here's a picture of a cot quilt that I completed last night. It's an order for a baby due in September, I was given a free rein on what to do so here it is. I am trying to make sure I take a photo of all completed items now so I can keep them for posterity!

In the past I have made and given away alot of stuff that I have made and have forgotton what they were like!

I didn't enjoy this pattern very much and probably wouldn't do it again, I think my favourites are strippy quilts.

Here , is the little kingfisher I had for my birthday this year. It's hand made by a man who lives on Purbeck. He made the bird from Yew and the base from Oak, my two favourite woods. We went to pick him up from Knitson where he carves them and he looks very handsome in our lounge I think. (the bird, not the man!)

Next to his famhouse is this old barn and it just shows that creativity can anywhere, even in a rural working enviroment. The cows, cat and churn are all painted on the wall. Click on the picture for a better look.
This is just a peek at the latest quilt I am making, it's an order for a new baby that is due in September.

Stained glass in a old fashioned shop

There is a shop in the small town of Portmadog in North Wales called Kerfoots. It's an old-fashioned type shop with a bit of everything in it. For the millennium they commissioned this stunning stained glass dome in the center of the shop which you see as you climb up the stairs, if you look up and try not to fall back down the suspended staircase! It depicts the local area and shows the cottages, mountains and landscapes of Wales....Oh...and they serve a very good meal at lunchtimes too.

We have just had 2 weeks holiday and the first week was spent in North Wales, partly to visit the Welsh side of the family who are Welsh speaking and partly just to have a break. Fantastic weather and a cottage to stay in that was OK but not as good as we had hoped. The second week in Derbyshire, however was much better, cottagewise!

Spent a bit of time sewing, alot of time reading and walking too.

Little house cards

This is one of the cards mid way through it's making, some done on the machine and some hand embroidered. If you look in the bottom left hand card in the next picture you will see I had added roses round the door and a window in the next-door house.

Click on the picture if you want a detailed look.

This wool is so nice and just right for it's earthy colours and will be used on the landscape cards and pictures, it's mohair so it feels very soft. I have used the white bit of it for smoke coming out of the chimney pots.

Finished after 5 years!

This quilt was finished this morning. I cut it out about 5 years ago for no particular reason except I liked the colours! Recently I remembered it and have just the person to give it to, so I got on with it.

It's quite basic and just the few 9 patch squares to give it some softness.

Now I need to start on a cot quilt which I have been commissioned to make.
This is how the next lot of 6 cards start, I haven't embellished them yet. I will add smoke from chimneys, nests on chimneys, flowers and pots, doors and windows, birds and anything else that enters my head! One of my family has suggested making it into a long picture which I must admit would be quite nice.