This is the week leading up to the half-term break.  Although only our youngest child is in education now, these week long holidays do still provide a break to routine which can often be restorative, relaxing and gloriously undemanding (written as a mum of three grown children – I know these breaks in the school term can mean a whole lot of other things to families with young children!).  I am really looking forward to applying myself to patchwork and quilting projects as well as catching up with friends and family!

In the meantime I will be going to one of my local quilt groups, Roundabout Quilters, this evening.  Our guest speaker is Gail Lawther who makes the most beautiful stained glass effect quilt pictures.  I’m so looking forward to seeing her work up close, hearing her speak and gaining from her wisdom.  No doubt more about the evening in my next post…

Gail and her husband surrounded by some of her lovely patchwork. And do I spy some patterns for sale? Hehe!

Three completed 24″ multiblocks and one in the ‘design wall’ (carpet) phase.

And just a quick update on my puzzle quilt:  three 24″ ‘multiblocks’ are now completed and the linking blocks for the fourth are almost done.  I need to decide just how much bigger to make the quilt top and, as the fat quarter packs begin to shrink, to think about the fabrics I might conserve for use in the borders.

Nuthatch. (I hasten to add I didn’t take this lovely photo!).

Finally, a picture of a sweet little bird I spotted on a tree outside our Church kitchen this morning. Spring is beginning to spring – delicate snowdrops are in flower and our neighbourhood, raucous, Magpies are repairing last years enormous nest (it must be over 3′ deep!).

Hoping you can enjoy the benefits of a local quilt group as well as the pleasure of sharing our wonderful craft through blogs.

Allison