The Apley Hall vine leaves are looking magnificent in their autumnal hues!

The Hall and vineyard as seen from across the River Severn, from the old railway track which is now National Cycle route 45.  

Another hand-pieced Tumbling Blocks quilt is on its way!  For this one I'm using mainly Batiks in a multitude of colours.  

Hooray, finally completed my latest hand-pieced 

Tumbling Blocks wallhanging.

Finished size 63" high x 49" wide.

I've used 'Peacock Meandering' Longarm panto pattern in a cream thread for the quilting.  
It's one of my favourites!

It started off as hand-pieced blocks in a mix of Batiks, hand-dyes and commercial fabrics.

The careful placement of light, medium and dark
values gives a 3D effect.  

I've added borders in the same fabrics.

Squared off & ready for layering and quilting on the
longarm machine.

Family fun printing day!

Acrylic paint onto commercial and hand-dyed fabrics using a selection of hand-made printing blocks. 

Always a must - lizard prints.
Ideal to make quilted pockets for aprons.

For the leaves I carefully applied paint to the actual leaf and printed directly to fabric.

What an exciting selection to add to my stash.
Laura, thanks for a lovely day at The Wooden House!

Thanks also for my very attractive table display of 'blooms from around the word' from last weekend's wedding.  The brand new Mr. & Mrs. Sheridan went to Wales for the logs, cleaned them up & levelled the bottom, applied varnish and inserted a receptacle to hold the oasis for the display.  It worked beautifully!

Here are some Longarm quilting jobs I've recently completed for the lovely Nicola Dodd (CakeStand Quilts) who designs Patchwork and Quilting patterns for Moda fabrics:

Stars and Loops pantograph quilting pattern for this
'Make Sail' quilt. 

Texas Fan panto quilting pattern for the 'Heartsease' quilt.

Texas Fan panto pattern for the 'Christmas Houses' quilt.

Feather Meandering panto quilting pattern
for the 'Speedwell' quilt.

Feather Meandering panto pattern for the 'Stepping Stones' quilt.

Texas Fan panto pattern for 'Keep Calm and Carry On' and Peacock Meandering for 'Mr. McGregor's Garden' in the background.

Nicola washes the quilts to achieve that gorgeous aged
 vintage look.

Apley Hall Update

It's great to see our new balustrades now in place.  

I'm sure they'll soon blend in after some English weather.

The vines planted a couple of months ago are  growing well.
In 2 or 3 years there should be some good fun wine sampling!

 Warner break at Alvaston Hall
near Nantwich.
And very enjoyable it was too!

This is Hazel the resident Harrier Hawk.

Her handler, Dan, encouraged her to perch on my wrist.

The food is invariably delicious with a wide choice.

And the cocktails aren't bad either!
This is a French Martini -
Chambord, vodka and pineapple juice - yummy.