Photo of our house for Debby,and below, the design of the William Morris (Heritage) quilt. Debby - that is the weekend after we moved in, 4 yrs ago. I still hate that chocolate brown paint. This is the year to change it to something brighter. There is an awful lot more in pots and planted there now. Below, a couple of years later, in summer, taken from up on the bank.
Now I can't find these photos again. This computer's driving me nuts!
It's very windy today, so I haven't gardened either, but I DID go to the Tip with a big boot load of rubbish, and drove on to the small garden centre near X-gates, looking for rose supports, but nothing doing and so I just bought two half price terracotta pots and a red Saxifrage.
After lunch I fell asleep for the length of 2 Time Team programmes. Not enough water drunken today, plus a carby lunch, and I woke at 4.50 a.m. and didn't sleep after that. Now I feel groggy.
Work in the garden has gone well, though I can't share photos as they've not been loaded. I discovered that this is because the port on the left side has now died and must have been dodgy when loading the holiday ones. I will try again with the new computer.
I've nearly finished edging and weeding the gravel arc by the Rhododendrons, and planted the Armeria (Sea Thrift) there. I've just about finished weeding and de-leafing the main bed and will plant the new rose tomorrow. I'm going to put the Hollyhocks in the new and one older terracotta pot out in a little group in the yard, where they will appreciate the sun.
Then I shall get my stitch ripper out . . .
What colour are you thinking of painting the window frames. A Brittany blue would be lovely. I need/want to buy more plants as I still have gaps. You can never have enough plants. Xx
ReplyDeleteI've seen, on the way to Ludlow, a deep turquoisey -teal? - blue used on houses belonging to some Estate up that way. Perhaps it's not the right term for the colour (checking on line - so much variation!) but it's not too bright and it would suit the house. I think Brittany blue is a little grey for my taste. Keith, on the other hand, would have chosen the brightest blue going!!
DeleteIf that quilt block was to be up-sized to a finished 12" then each pieced unit would finish at 4". The plain center square would be cut at 4 1/2 inches. A 12 inch block is standard in many patterns and helps a quilt to work up fairly quickly. I like the more intricate look of the 9" particularly when laid out with an alternate block.
ReplyDeleteNo idea why some designers go for odd increments of measurement--it complicates the process!
Did you try starting over with the 9 Inch? Quandaries such as you are experiencing do take the fun and relaxation out of creating!
I remember starting a quilt project many years ago and finding the directions so mind-boggling that i put it away for a long time. When I took it out again I had learned better ways of making the blocks and successfully finished the quilt --which was immediately claimed by daughter Gina.
Thank you for that. I am fast reaching the stage of choosing another pattern, tbh! I really don't want to be fighting a battle with every block. I just want something fetching in the WM fabrics I have. Perhaps I will have one try of the 9 inch block you sent me the drawings of and see how it goes. Thank you for that and the encouragement.
DeleteYour house is so pretty. I love how it snuggles into the foilage. You may not like the brown trim but in the picture it looks black which is very on trend now. Personally I have never been on trend in anything so I will love any colour you pick. We are going to look at a small cottage for sale tomorrow. Fingers crossed it has nothing insurmountable wrong with it, because I am quite excited about it. It is very small but has a long front garden which gets south and west sun. I'm rambling on because you mentioned sea thrift and I immediately thought I would love to plant some in the, as yet, unbought cottage. Down an internet rabbit hole I went and found a subspecies native to the west coast all the way up to where I live. Now I have to find where to buy it. So like me to think about buying a plant for a garden I may never own!
ReplyDeleteI love the photo taken from the bank, which softens it nicely. I've never been on trend in my life either! Colourwise - I have an absolute hatred of lemon yellow front doors - don't know why!
DeleteOooh - I had such a good feeling about the cottage you mentioned. Tell me all about it once you've been to view. Fingers x'd nothing wrong with it.
Your house is storybook beautiful. I don t rem ever seeing a simple shot like the first. I can see why you love it. The brown trim gives that traditional Tudor wood beam/ white stucco look, I think.
ReplyDeleteDeep breaths, w quilt. Set aside and come back in a few days? I'm happy to help w pattern if you want to send me the pages. It IS complex, I think you must approach each block as a solo challenge. Like other commentor wrote, the 9" block is so intricate, but 12" will be nice too. Remind me if you usually use inches etc for sewing? And if not, did you double check your seam allowance/ footspace.
You can email me anytime w quilt issues/ for help! [ usually, but Friday I have a medical treatment all day and will not be really awake til late Saturday, sorry.] lizzzz.d@gmail.com
There are prettier ones around, but we liked the dimensions of the rooms, the big windows, South facing, the inside charm and it was set into the land at the back, so the lawn comes up to my kitchen window. Plus the setting - trees all round and lovely views, plus proximity to town - and the old Victorian stable block for storage.
DeleteI have set aside the quilt regularly these past few weeks. I always sew in inches. Using 1/4" seam all round, and opening out the seams to lessen bulk. I will mail you to check the addy, then remove the address for privacy (if I can go back and do that).
I ll watch for email. You can just delete my post but no worries.
DeleteI think your house is lovely! I well remember your searching, during later Covid times I think.
I noticed the photo of the quilt is much easier to ''see'' the block patterns. But as I reread I think that is not the problem you're having. As for 7/8" that gives the exact diagonals [?] but as a quilter who has always struggled to make blocks come out the right size I admit I cut to the full inch, ie 2 7/8 as 3''. I once made an intricate stuffed work applique project that also involved piecing. I d sew by hand at at sports practices, much to my son's embarrassment. It never occurred to me to measure--but when I did, NOTHING fit. All those hours, years! of hockey and nagging, wasted. And, remember every seam turn uses between 1/16- 1/32' in the folds, so what is annoying called ''scant quarter inch'' seams is esp important.
If the quilt isn't as big as needed, just add an extra border on!!
ReplyDeleteThere is a double border to it, but it's the blocks not matching in size!
DeleteAnd be mindful of color values/ darks-lights, to create the Star patterning.
ReplyDeleteThe instructions call for you to have light/medium/dark in each block.
DeleteI think that you are extremely brave to start that quilt. I will stick to four patch, chair rail, brick, nine patch and disappearing 9 patch. I have enough trouble with those.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Hmmm-not so much brave as stupid! Overwhelmed now too. One last try - then if that doesn't work, something simpler.
DeleteI like your house and the views are lovely. I'd change the chocolate brown trim also. The quilt looks pretty. I'm not a quilter so don't understand the problem but good luck solving it! I see Mornings Minion has more advice.
ReplyDeleteI love it here, although it has sad memories of Keith's illness, more than happy memories, which is a shame. One last try with this quilt ...
DeleteRe your quilt, what are the ironing instructions in the pattern as ironing seams flat as opposed to ironing to one side usually to the dark side does make a difference because of the fold. Hope this will be of some help. From Shirley in Perth Australia.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shirley - I have ironed them open and it's what I normally do. It's the design of the quilt - make a 4 7/8" square and cut into 4 triangles corner to corner. 2 7/8" square, cut in half corner to corner. Why 7/8"?
DeleteAre you sure this quilt is a good idea!!??
ReplyDeleteNope!
DeleteYou must have so much patience, I'm afraid that quilt would have driven me completely mad and I would have sold it as a WIP to some poor unsuspecting quilter. There, now you know I have NO staying power!! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is meant to be my last big quilt. Think it'll be my last cushion right now!
DeleteWhat a pretty house in such a beautiful setting. I think my seam ripper is my most used sewing tool! Best wishes, Lisa
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it too Lisa. It's lovely in the spring and summer, but then nowhere is that wonderful in winter.
DeleteIt is a very pretty house. Does it have a history you could write about please? As for difficult quilting, I am sticking to squares within squares, logically easy ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, that was the first thing I did when we arrived - how to survive February! I will share some of it with you without naming names!
ReplyDeleteGrrrrr. Lost my comment! Thank you for the pictures of your 'space'. It's always fun to see where people are blogging from. I love the windows. Your house has it all...light, a panoramic view, and a yard/garden to keep you busy.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt looks so very complicated.
Hi Shirley here again. The 7/8 measurement comes in when you are cutting triangles, you cut 2 squares of say 4and 7/8" sew them face together draw a line corner to corner then sew a 1/4" seam either side then cut on the drawn line then open them up and it should finish at the right size. Say you start with two 4 and 7/8" squares they should finish at 4/12" I always work in inches with 1/4" seams as well and always press to the side I was taught that it made the seam stronger Happy quilting don't give up it's a terrific hobby. we make friends all over the world through it.
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