Free Motion Quilting - Machingers Gloves

The Machingers gloves have arrived from http://www.asding.com/ and are definitely useful in gripping and moving the fabric - I like them.  It's taking longer than I thought to tame my sewing machine and make it do what I want it to do with FMQ, but I think I'm getting there.  This sample is definitely the smoothest and best I've done so far.  The back looks as good as the front too.  If you like using YLI Soft Touch thread for piecing (I use the grey for piecing everything!) ASding have it at the great price of £3.50 and their P&P is next to nothing!!

Donna Nook Grey Seal Colony

WELLIES definitely required!

HAILSTONES on the sand dunes

What a great day out.  Heard about Donna Nook Grey Seal Colony from a friend at work.  It's on the NE Lincolnshire coast about 14 miles south of Grimsby, about 70 miles from my home.  We had a mix of weather, blue skies and sunshine, some rain, some violent hail stones, some strong wind, thunder and lightening and then back to blue skies and sunshine.  The seals come up onto the sand dunes to give birth and mate and are there during November and December.  There are hundreds of cows, bulls and pups.  Donna Nook is an RAF bombing range but the seals aren't bothered by either the planes or the thousands of people who come to look at them.  Click Here for the web page with more information about the nature reserve. 

Some people were saying that the numbers were peaking this weekend and this was the current count - 842 seal pups, 955 cows and 344 bulls which is updated on the website.

No dogs allowed near the seals, you need wellies as the car park is a bit muddy, waterproofs for the weather and warm clothing.  It costs £1 to park and entry to the reserve is free.  There are seal wardens around who were very friendly and informative and a good range of fresh vegetables available in the car park.  We came home with a 5 stone bag of potatoes, 4 large leeks, a huge green cabbage and two stalks of sprouts - all for £6 - everything was freshly picked and the potatoes look flawless.  We'll be enjoying all that this week.

If you live within travelling distance it's worth a trip before the seals go back out to sea again.

Aids to Free Motion Quilting

I've decided my Christmas/Birthday money will buy me some Machingers quilting gloves and a Supreme Slider  I might also get a pack of  Little Genie Magic Bobbin Washers 

I'm in two minds about investing in the Janome add ons free motion feet set (£25) and bobbin case (£39).  It seems like a lot of money to make your machine do something it's already supposed to be able to do, according to the manual........  Are they add ons for the sake of add ons?  Or will they really make life easier?  If anyone knows, please share.

Folding Christmas Tree napkins

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Here's a neat little idea for the Christmas table. Instructions for making the napkins are here Click on the link and a .pdf will open giving illustrated directions

Embellisher Swap from Jenny B

It's so long since I joined in a swap I'd forgotten how exciting it is to get these little parcels through the post. 
Here's my needlecase swap from Jenny B.  It's gorgeous - I've left the photo a higher quality than usual so the delicate details can be seen.  I love it!  Thank you Jenny B.

Christmas Magic Nine Patch Progress

What started out as this Original Nine Patch has now evolved to this.   The top is pieced, ready for borders.  I'm really pleased how the clours and the design have gone together.  The overcast sky has not allowed the camera to capture the true richness of these colours.

Yorkshire Puddings

I often see pictures of pale, insipid Yorkshire puddings in recipe books. These aren't perfect, but they beat the BeRo book ones hands down!

Clover Finger Presser

I've been watching Quilt in a Day on Sky channel 279 for several weeks now and noticed Eleanor Burns using a wooden finger presser which is a really convenient alternative to having a hot iron stood around, and particularly good for pressing seams sewn on the bias. I treated myself to one today as the new foot for my Janome 4900QC which I ordered a couple of weeks ago, has not arrived yet. Despite being advertised by Janome in their Summer 2009 newsletter, they aren't in stock yet. On a slow boat from Japan apparently............
Plenty of piecing to do on the Christmas quilt so the finger presser will get a good test drive.

New Gadget - Dual Rotary Blade Sharpener

I bought a new blade for my 45mm Olfa cutter a few weeks ago and paid just over £3.50. In the local sewing shop they are now £5.99 or thereabouts. So I bought one of these in Hobbycraft and I only need to sharpen three blades and the sharpener will have paid for itself. It's been tried out and the old blade it sharpened was like new. Definitely a good buy!

Popular Patchwork magazine

Treated myself to a subscription to Popular Patchwork magazine, starting with the December issue. The subscriber offer is first three mags for £1 just now. I've bought a few issues over the last year and enjoyed the read so I might as well save a bit and have them delivered. First one will be posted out around 6 November - postal strike permitting.