May

 I first started this post at the beginning of May ……

It’s the beginning of May and the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla has happened yesterday. A second bank holiday in the UK to come tomorrow.

The Monthly Marker is a bit of a cheat as I’ve folded up a cushion cover made to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee back in 2002! It’s was a challenge when I was a member of Quarterjack Quilters. I didn’t win and it has never been used, so stores away in my cupboard. I was really pleased with these Suffolk Puffs into which I poked a bit of gold fabric in the middles. 

We didn’t celebrate with a party but quietly watched the ceremony, which was amazing. Using the old traditions

of coronations past and incorporating modern features which reflect the diversity of the United Kingdom of today was really well thought out. 

Last week I had been practicing on a fairly new to me craft of Iris folding and making a card. 

It doesn’t have anything to do with Iris flowers, but the Iris of an eye. It’s really like foundation piecing but in paper instead of fabric and working from the outside in. There is a paper pattern underneath the cut out to show the placing of the papers. The kit showed one shade of yellow for the top wing and another shad for the bottom, but I decided to add this patterned yellow instead (as butterflies have patterns on their wings). The kit I bought at the Craft 4 Crafters show last month and is by Pretty in Paper by B . The card above is off cuts of paper strips which were woven together (but yet to put a greeting on.

May has its ups and downs and each days has had different weather, but I managed to get out in the garden and pick a few flowers on Sunday. Finding a small vase wasn’t easy so I used a small wine glass, this one is on display in our cabinet and was to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee (gosh, that was a long time ago).

Today is now 20 May - over half of this month gone! I don’t appear to have made much, and done no sewing at all!  I will have to get my digit out soon (next week) and start making blocks for Siblings Together again.  One lady has asked for some cross  blocks like these, below, which I made last year. I can make some more to fill the large envelope.

I’ve done a bit more paper crafting with another butterfly card and a front for another card. The butterflies are from the same kit, but I cut out the red card so I can keep the last template.  I’ve enjoyed the Iris folding, it is a little like foundation piecing in patchwork.  Perhaps I could learn to like FPP a bit more.

I have dug out an old UFO.  This is a redwork calendar designed by Mandy Shaw from 2002. This was when the late Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee, over 20 years ago!  I started this to celebrate a significant event (birthdays, anniversary?) but that time has long since gone! I completed most of the redwork embroidery bar 2 blocks and have backed with red and white gingham fabrics.

The blocks in question are November, David’s and my birthday month (and didn’t fancy Guy Fawkes as suggested in the pattern). June was replaced with August, August’s was another design (not sure of the source). September is another one I’ve not made and December is only part done.  I thought of doing autumn leaves for September instead of the US flag, and it has been suggested to sew a birthday cake for November.  Then the blocks are backed with the edges folded round to the front and slip stitched. That’s not been too easy given that the gingham is poly cotton.  What I will do with it when it’s finished I’m not really sure, but it will be good to get this done.

It is great to see the days are getting warmer and drier, and we’ve been trying to sort out the garden. There has been a splash of colour with the little azalea plant

And a rose peeping out through the foliage

Really lovely to see.