Monday 29 July 2013

3 Sleeps...

....left and then we're out of this there hot house and somewhere a little more comfortable.

As Julys in Marrakech go, this month has been 'exceptionnelle' with temperatures hovering comfortably around the mid thirties most of the time but the Sahara Chergui wind is on its way and over the next few days, temps will will hit the mid forties (around 115°F).

So to say the least, very little sewing has been done round here. However, Zaki and I are off to my mum's and she has been sewing and has just finished her first quilt!

No, no...not this...this isn't a quilt, silly!


My mum loves to paint but it has been a while since she has done so as a couple of years ago she rediscovered sewing.  Growing up, I remember her making clothes - they were run up in an afternoon and you never inspected the inside, she screen painted silk and made lampshades, did needlepoint, knitted and embroidered.

She is good at whatever she turns her hand to and is incredibly creative. Recently, she has been doing these fusions of cross stitch needlepoint and appliqued fabric The amazing Dodo up there (I love that bit of Amy Butler Lark fabric in the centre) and these are her waterlilies inspired by The Majorelle Gardens here in Marrakech.


But a few *ahem* months ago (think the gestational period of a dolphin), she decided to make a quilt and this week, after much badgering motivation from across the seas, she finally finished it!


She used a pattern from Jane Brocket's The Gentle Art of Quilt Making and I think she has done an amazing job. Look at the lovely wrinkly texture the quilting gives it...


...she hand stitched the vertical lines and FMQd in the focus fabric - go her!


Why then is she saying this will be her last quilt? Despite having reserved a couple of very clever stitchy blog names, she hasn't ever blogged - pleading time and technology constraints yada yada yada which I think is just downright selfish ;) So if you like what you see, leave a suitably motivational comment (she'll be reading alright) and perhaps she might make another! And anyway, she can share her other stitchy creations  :)

I shall try and share with you before I leave what little stitching I have done...unless that Chergui gets me first!

29 comments:

elsy said...

wow the stitching is really creative....i can copy till the cows come home, but am not truely creative.....and that quilt is way too good to be the last....the quilting is fantastic.....

heart of charnwood said...

Looks fab to me, way to go A's Mum!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Seriously this is amazing! Hand quilting and fmq?! Brilliant job A's Mum!! I love that Dodo too!

Diane-crewe said...

have a wonderful holiday xx

Charlotte said...

that really is amazing!!! I had a feeling you might be coming over soon - I saw a package with your name on it at Annie's :-D

Isisjem said...

The Dodo is fab and so is the quilt. Mum can't stop with one quilt with all that talent it would be a waste. Is this where you get your creative streak from?

Deborah said...

You are so right about your mother's creative gifts! Her first quilt is AMAZING! I would LOVE it if your mom started a blog. You can help her during your visit!! Have a great cool down visit. I have been hot ALL summer!

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

your mom did a superb job on her first quilt and her cross stitch fusion projects are really lovely.

Canadian Abroad said...

Go mum!!! FMQd her first quilt. Seriously?!

linda said...

She cannot stop now after such a beauty !!

busybusybeejay said...

I quite honestly think your Mum's quilt is one of the nicest I have ever seen.The choice of fabrics is perfect.She has obviously taken lots of tips from you.She must carry on.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I adore your mam's quilt - I think that tonight I'll be dreaming about making my own version! (Without the FMQ 'cos I'm useless at that!)

CJ said...

Wow, wonderful stitching and wonderful quilting. It would be criminal not to share more of this stuff with the world! She is very talented I think.

Catherine said...

Oh no, your mum needs to keep going! The temperatures out there sound awful

Katy Cameron said...

Oooh, fabulous job on the stitching there Mrs A Sr!

Nat at Made in Home said...

Go Mum! She needs to carry on! Have a great holiday in Britain!

Anonymous said...

First quilt and both FMQ and handquilting?!! It's gorgeous and surely not the only one she'll be making!

Mary said...

FMQ and hand stitching in her first quilt - she can't stop now! Whatever the weather is here, it's bound to be cooler than where you are now :)

Leanne said...

Your mum sounds like a wonderfully creative person and I would read her blog if she were willing to make one. I love the collages. And stay out of that hot wind.

Lisa said...

What a delightful quilt and I like the Dodo very much such orginality!

Sarah said...

Enjoy your cool change! The temps sound like when we lived in inland Australia, but we had air conditioning. Do you? Do you get a sea breeze at night? Sorry, I don't know the geography, if you're inland or on the coast. Go Mum! Has she retired? My Mum retired in July last year and is starting to feel the creative urge returning now.

Catherine said...

Lovely quilt, Annabella's mum! How about another one:-)?

Dianne Neale said...

I love the fusion stuff - that truly is creative. and she's made a cracking job of her first quilt. She definitely needs to carry on.

Dasha said...

Congrats to your mum Annabella. Lovely quilt & the quilting is fabulous. BTW you can tell her there's a wrinkly or two out there blogging (grin). I started blogging earlier this year, and love the blog community. Love seeing all the inspirational things that you all do.

Di said...

Beautiful quilt. Di x

Anonymous said...

just love your Mum's quilt, you'll love the cooler air over here. x

Indianna said...

That hand quilting looks amazing. Hope to read about it on your mums blog soon!

Chez Roo said...

Wow, the hand quilting is gorgeous!

Zizophora said...

Love the crinkly texture!