It's official - Quilting is good for you!

Thanks to chittle chattle for sharing this link  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2002862/Why-quilting-uniquely-good-us.html#comments which confirms what we dedicated quilters, embroiderers etc have known all along.  Our art/craft or whatever we want to call it is good for us.

Here is my latest attempt.  I'm surrounded by the most wonderful landscape but often find it difficult to capture it in fabric.  This piece uses simple raw edge piecing and free machine embroidery to try and capture the feel of a dusky evening view.


I got a nice surprise when I looked at the back.  Seeing  the quilting in black and white has set me thinking about a winter version.  Before I get to that though I have others to finish - why is it always more tempting to start something new than to finish what is on the go?

Print and Stitch and a new use for the Aga

Visiting the local art shop with my daughter in search of paper for her I came across a printing material that was new to me.  It is a type of lino but much softer than the usual and finer and texture so that a more delicate line is possible.  I decided to cut a similar design in both of them so that I could compare them and  here are the results.  The picture below right shows the two blocks.I usually struggle to cut the traditional lino and find it a faff to keep heating it up but I had a brain wave this time and decided to do the cutting by the Aga.  I put the block on top of the hot plate from time to time and had no difficulty at all.  Why has it taken me so long to think of this?I also made a small flower block in the new lino and  after printing this with fabric paint and over painting it with silk paints I then machine stitched it and made two ATC's.

For some reason Google is refusing to put the photos where I want them and in the wrong order so apologies if this post looks rather odd.