Sunday 27 April 2014

Coffee and a Catch Up ~ April 2014

It’s that time of the month, when Abi invites us all to sit and have a cup of tea with her. Come in out of the rain. I’ve got a treat for you today.

IMG_20140427_090033

I was talking pancakes on Friday. It occurred to me then, that they are very similar to the drop scones my Mum used to make sometimes for Sunday tea so I rustled up a batch in time for your visit. We mostly like syrup on ours, maple or golden?

IMG_20140425_160928

I can’t believe we are now half way through the Friendship Quilt project. Are you taking part? It’s been such fun choosing fabrics, to suit each recipient’s chosen colour scheme. Those *might* be the trimmings from Deb’s block, which went in the post on Friday. I’m hoping that the postal system will get it to the USA a bit quicker than the one I sent to Australia, which is still out there somewhere after a month. 

IMG_20140426_140316

I’ve stuck with a log cabin block for everyone, although I’ve been changing up the design a bit. I have a stack of strips and squares cut, ready to make duplicate blocks for myself. I love the thought of having a little piece of fabric in my quilt, that will also be in another, somewhere else around the world. I’m already thinking ahead to May and chose this fabric as the starting point for (the other) Deb’s Springtime colour scheme. I’ve set up a Pinterest board with all the blog posts, I’ve noticed, sharing blocks for the Friendship Quilt. If I’ve missed any, please let me know.

IMG_20140415_162520

In other sewing news, the dress is coming along slowly but surely. Some hand sewing is the next job, which is not really my forte, slipstitching the waistband in place on the inside. The alternative is to stitch “in the ditch” so that the stitches disappear into the waistband seam on the outside, but they would show on the inside and (in my opinion) spoil the neat finish I’ve managed so far. Do you sew your clothes, or have plans to start? I commented on the Sewaholic blog the other day and that resulted in Linda visiting me. She has recently begun dressmaking and made her first dress a few months again. By some strange coincidence Linda chose exactly the same fabric as me! How I love the connections in the blogging world.

IMG_20140419_111756

The first issue of a brand new magazine arrived last weekend. Among the many lovely projects and patterns in there, I came across this mini art wrap, which I’d previously pinned with the idea of making one for my girl. Next on the dressmaking list, is this cute sixties shift dress. It’s a reprinted vintage pattern and I’ll be making a plain version to begin with, but I think it would look good with the peter pan collar.

20140419_152040

The children are back at school now after the Easter holidays, but it wasn’t much of a break for them this time. My girl has her art mock all day on Thursday and the rest of her exams the following week. My boy starts his AS Level exams soon too. Lots of revision, but we did manage to get out for an afternoon, over the Easter weekend. A walk in the sunshine, by the canal at Bradford On Avon.

IMG_20140427_123348

Ah, its time for you to go now. Mind you don’t step on any of these as you leave. They are out in force after the heavy rain we had earlier. What news will you be sharing over our afternoon cuppa? I’m off to Abi’s place to find out.

21 comments:

my cup of tea said...

Hello! Very nice post! You have made me hungry for pancakes! I love to quilt & sew! The friendship quilt thing sounds interesting....
Donna

Abi said...

mmm, drop pancakes are perfect! We have them on a saturday for breakfast. I love your idea of including a piece of the fabric you have sent in your own quilt. Such a beautiful idea. Thanks for the heads up on that magazine too! I loved having tea with you today Fiona.

scrappyjacky said...

Pancakes and patchwork....a winning combination!!

Maria Ontiveros said...

I'm definitely not a seamstress. It's too bad your kids had to work so hard during their break. Ours was pretty mellow.
Rinda

furrypig said...

the pancakes look great and really interesting to read all about your sewing projects.

debs14 said...

That dress is going to look amazing once you get those last little bits finished!
I'm so excited that this is my month for the quilt squares. This is such a fun project.
I will definitely be avoiding those snails, I'm sure there's some superstition about making it rain for a week if you squash one!

Sian said...

For years I thought drop scones were the only kind of pancakes you could get, because my Mum made them and called them pancakes! They are still a favourite.

The post to Australia seems to take ages - the last swap I sent Amy took about six weeks I think

I've just got time to wish you all the best with those exams before I'm on my way again

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

I thought of you yesterday morning when I made banana pancakes for Doug. :o) LOVE the look of those fun fabric scraps, and I can't wait to receive my block in the mail. I have been making two blocks each month - one to send and one to keep. I'm also holding scraps aside to fill in spaces once I assemble the quilt top - thinking that might tie things together a bit better.

Lovely catch-up post today, Fiona! xo

Virginia said...

Oh drop scones - nom nom and the quilting looks fab!

Amy said...

Oh blast it ... I forgot to tell you that it had arrived and was waiting here when I got home from the little holiday ... so sorry Fiona!
Those pancakes look more than delicious! :)

Lou said...

It sounds like your dress will be the first of many more sewing projects x lush pancakes x

Jane said...

I had a sewing machine for my birthday but we don't get on very well!

Jo said...

Sounds like you're busy over there. I got that magazine but haven't had a chance to look at it yet! x

Susanne said...

What a lovely catchup. Pancakes with maple syrup suits me fine. It seems you have your projects lined up one after another and making good progress. Kudos on that. I like the looks of the mini art wrap - will wait to see how yours turns out.

Carin McDonough said...

Oh dear now I want drop scones, they look yum! I can't wait to see the finished quilt, it is such a lovely idea. I can sew a bit and have made a few things but I don't really enjoy sewing and with the price of fabric these days I think it is actually cheaper to buy clothes than make your own! (especially now with hubby's new job working for a manufacturer and getting 50% off everything ;))

Haddock said...

Love that second last picture. Well framed.

Linda said...

Lovely catch up! Can't wait to see the finished friendship quilts:) I looked for the new magazine in WHS yesterday, but they didn't have it:( Thanks for mentioning my dressmaking:)

Missus Wookie said...

Such a lovely crafty post plus pancakes! Ewok mentioned that due to the chaos around here we've not yet had pancakes and it is nearly Pentecost :sigh: Lovely sixties dresses too, looks comfortable.

Clair said...

Oh my - those drop scones look so tasty. I almost couldn't concentrate on all the other, amazing things that you've been doing!

Loving the quilting - I really must haul out my sewing machine :)

Prairie Jill said...

Ooh, maple syrup for me, please! What a lovely get-together. I really enjoyed seeing all your sewing projects. Can't wait to get together again next month!

Alison said...

What a lovely catch up, Fiona..you really are into sewing at the moment!
Alison xx