Ann's Craft Album
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January - March
1996
This Nine Patch quilt was designed using the computer quilting programme that David bought me for Christmas. I designed, cut and pieced the quilt in only 2 days - unfortunately it took me another 3 months to get the quilting done on it! I was pleased with the results and use it often. It goes well with our lounge decor, as you can see. |
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December 1996
These cute little mice were the result of workshop I took in Red Cottage Crafts. They are made from felt and fabric and were such fun to make. They are time-consuming but the end result is worth the effort. I made six, but my little Godson, Scott, claimed the other four for himself! David made the tiny spectacles and the music stand out of fuse wire. (They are singing "Good Christian Mice Rejoice" by the way)! |
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November 1997
My friend Sharon and I decided to try and sell some of our various creations on our own craft stall. We call ourselves "Patches and Posies" - I am the patchwork side of the operation and Sharon is the posy side, as she specialises in gorgeous dried floral arrangements. Anyhow, this is me, on our first stall at the Ballynahinch Craft Fair. What fun we had. |
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This is Sharon (in the striped top) holding up the first money we made!! Yes, we were excited! The girl in the middle is my cousin, Jane, who came along to purchase a few things (in case nobody else did!) and lend us moral support. The lady in black was our very first customer. She thought we were crazy taking this photo, but was a good sport about it. She was an artist herself. |
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December 1997
I learnt to make this Christmas Garland at a workshop in The Silver Thimble. They are quite easy to make. Stuffing the three "tubes" of the plait with wadding was the most time-consuming part. I made quite a few of these in various Christmas fabrics and gave them to friends and family as gifts. This is the one I gave to my Mum. |
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1998
This beautiful lap quilt was NOT made by me but is very precious to me. I have been diagnosed with relapsing/remitting Multiple Sclerosis, one sympton of which is duplopia (double vision). Due to impaired sight I was unable (amongst many other things) to sew for 16 months. Naturally, I found this very frustrating. However, throughout this time my dear friends on the National Online Quilters website kept my spirits up and secretly organised themselves to sew a Friendship Quilt for me. Each block in this Friendship Quilt was made by someone I have never met, but who was caring enough to take the time and make the effort to create a special surprise gift to cheer me up. "Momakat" organised the sewing together of all the blocks and the quilting and I shall never be able to thank all those who made me this wonderful gift and encouraged me during some dark days. |
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August 2000
Eyesight recovered once more, I was finally able to see to sew again and my first project was this cot quilt, made for our newly arrived baby niece, Kathryn Allen. I call it "Hugs and Kisses XOX" and I really enjoyed making this little quilt for Kathryn. Kathryn's nursery is decorated in shades of lemon and pale blue, hence the colours of the quilt. I also embroidered her name and date of birth on the centre block. The pattern came from the UK magazine "Fabrications". |
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July 2001
David's 40th Birthday Quilt. I made this wallhanging as a surprise birthday present for David. Each block depicts an interest or hobby of his. From the top left hand corner:- Star Trek; Methodism (to represent his preaching); Sailing; Music/ Guitars (12 string); Computers; Amateur Radio (the Radio Society of Great Britain's logo);Skiing; Cats; and finally Stage Lighting. Apart from the cat block (see "Kitty Love" by Piece by Number), I designed the blocks myself. They are mostly appliqued, with some decorative embroidery added as well. I made this quilt in 10 days while David was out at work. It was hard keeping it all a secret, but David's delight at the end result made it all worthwhile. |
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December 2001
I knew when I saw this pattern in Debbie Mumm's book "Quick Country Quilts" that it was exactly the wallhanging to make for my dear friend, Lisa. She just loves sheep and, as she celebrated a "milestone" birthday in February 2001, this quilt seemed to be the ideal surprise birthday present for her. Unfortunately, I wasn't as quick as the book title, and I only managed to get this quilt finished in time for Christmas - only 10 months late!!! Belated Happy Baaa-rthday Lisa! |