A finished pilchard wheel and the next block

So here it is....my interpretation of a pilchard wheel. It will look much better on a light background as is my plan.

Not quite the same as the real thing but it is close enough!

So now I'm thinking about my next block for my Cornish quilt The Meadery. Another important aspect of the Cornish economy was tin. The landscape is dotted with engine houses where the mines are located. Cornish tin mines are thought to be the oldest mines in western England and they date back to prehistoric times. My plan is to create the Greenburrow Shaft engine house at Ding Dong Mine. It was built in 1865 at at its peak employed 230 men and boys. By 1879 the mine was shut. You can see the engine house in the distance underneath Lanyon Quoit.

Until I post again happy sewing!

Karen H

The pilchards have colour

I've added a little more colour to my pilchards. They are a oily fish and I wanted to give them some of that iridescent look that that type of fish often has. I added some ocher and violet to create the effect and am very pleased with how it turned out! I love how the print of the fabric shows through and creates the illusion of fish scales! In case you are new to my blog these pilchards will be a block in my Cornish quilt which I am calling The Meadery.

The pieces that will connect the fish were constructed and sewn to the fish.

All that's left is to decide what fabric I will use in the middle and then make a brown ring for the barrel.

I've also managed to stitch another block for my Road 66 quilt. These blocks are so much fun to make and they are big. The hexagons are 1 1/4" whereas my hexagons for The Meadery are 3/4"!

That's it for today. Time for a cuppa and a little sewing! Until I post again, happy sewing.

Karen H