Another Block.

Posted on May 25, 2013 | 11 Comments

A busy week of sewing here but a quiet week for finishes.

I have completed Block 4 of Lynette Anderson’s Fernhill BOM. This is it, minus the cute button.

I have also had a few birthday cards to catch up on.

I am looking forward to lunch with friends and an afternoon of stitching.

I hope you have a good weekend planned, too.

Category: Cards, Stitcheries

Plates For The Blogger’s Quilt Festival.

Posted on May 17, 2013 | 21 Comments

It is once again that wonderful time of year to view all the amazing quilts featured in the Blogger’s Quilt Festival hosted by Amy at Amy’s Creative Side. There are hundreds of quilts and so much inspiration. And you get to meet quilters from all parts of the globe. I hope you have a great time. Click on the button above or this link for Amy’s Creative Side.

This time I am going to share my Dresden Plate Quilt that I have only finished quilting last week. It probably fits into several categories.

At the moment it is simply my favourite! And I will add it to the Throw Quilt section. I have used my Bernina 710 to do the Free Motion Quilting.

This quilt was started a couple of years back. The blocks were made and then it sat for a while, waiting for me to take it out of the UFO pile.

The fabric is from Moda and is called Maypole. Each blade is a different colour and pattern from the range. I originally hand stitched the full plate onto the block, but when I was planning the quilting I realised it needed to be top stitched onto the block. I used a variegated thread for all the stitching on the coloured fabric. I was surprised at how long it took to top stitch the blades!

( But it was worth it!)

I used the same multi-spot fabric for the centres of each plate. I did FMQ bubbles in the centres of each block.

I used white thread to FMQ the background of each block with tear drops.

A little meandering in the sashing.

And some spirals in the tiny squares.

I put some FMQ flowers in the borders and then used a blue floral for the binding.

Love it when I get the corners right.

And the end result is a colourful lap sized quilt.

I used a lot of the left over fat quarters to make a pieced backing.

I am very pleased with the way it turned out and am so glad it is no longer a UFO. The finished quilt is a 56 inch square.

I hope you enjoyed my quilt and I also hope you have a great time looking around the quilt festival.

QUILT STATS.

Size 56 inches

Section FAVOURITE THROW QUILT.

Home machine pieced and quilted.

Category: Quilts

Pink And Blue.

Posted on May 11, 2013 | 14 Comments

I have spent a week concentrating on free motion quilting for my Dresden quilt. I am surprised at how long it has taken to do all the stitching. But thankfully the end is near as I only have the binding to do and a few loose threads to trim.

I decided after all that work I needed something super easy so I decided to make this little donation cot quilt. All fabrics are from my stash and I also have backing in my stash to finish it off.

I do enjoy working on these little, easy projects in between the big ones.

We are having the most glorious Autumn weather at the moment. Beautiful sunny days and the nights have not been chilly. The garden is enjoying the sun, too, and the camellias are starting to flower.

We enjoyed a lovely day this week at the Melbourne Museum. We saw the special exhibit – Afghanistan Hidden Treasures. It was an amazing display of artifacts made thousands of years ago. Most were discovered last century but then thought to be lost again during the recent wars and turbulence inside the country. Some incredibly brave people had hidden them away for several decades to save them.

I loved the beautiful gold and turquoise jewellery. Much of it would look wonderful worn today. If this exhibit comes to your area, take the opportunity to see it.

Here’s the link for the display in Melbourne. Afghanistan Hidden Treasures.

And to wind up the week, we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. (Yes, I was a child bride.) :) Wonder if we will fit in another 40?

Happy Mother’s Day.

Category: Quilts, Work in Progress

Stitching And Stamping Away.

Posted on May 4, 2013 | 8 Comments

We have some lovely sunshine for today so it is worth making the most of it with some time in the garden and some photo taking. We have also been having a few hiccups with phone and Internet connections, but, fingers crossed, it all seems to be working properly now.

I am still working on quilting a few UFOs, but no completed quilts just yet.

I have, however, completed this little pillow for Christmas. It is about 12 by 12 inches (30cm). At this stage I will not add the stuffing. Much easier to store that way. I can fill it closer to Christmas.

It is from a book I purchased at the recent Quilt Convention.

The book, Pieces for Christmas, is by Australian designer, Jenelle Kent. This is her website.

I plan to make quite a few items from this book. Glad to have found a new to me Aussie designer.

Stitching is progressing on other items. The MERRY bunting is almost ready to be sewn together.

This is a Rosalie Quinlan design and can be seen here.

I joined some friends to make some cards. The end result is one to use for Mother’s Day.

And a gift tag.

These are both made with Stampin’Up products.

I am heading back out to enjoy the sun. Hope your day is “sunny”, too!

Category: Cards, Christmas, Stitcheries

Some Little Bits.

Posted on April 23, 2013 | 13 Comments

I am still getting used to the change back from daylight saving in that it gets dark in the evenings before I am ready. Give me another week and I should be back on track.

I have been very fortunate in that I have spent 3 days in at the Australasian Quilt Convention. As always the quilts were wonderful. And of course there was lots to see on the vendor stands, too. Here’s a link to some of the winning quilts at Punch With Judy.

I have not had a lot of sewing time, but have managed a few smaller items.

I started with a little monster for our youngest grandson. This one is based on a design from a Melly and Me book, Sewn Toy Tales. I didn’t use the actual pattern as it is not full size in the book and has to be enlarged. At the time I was not able to do that. So I improvised.

When we were away I was introduced to the American Girl Dolls. Our grand daughter received one for Christmas. So now I am embarking on a trip down memory lane with sewing doll clothes again. Thankfully all the major pattern companies provide patterns to clothe these dolls. I waited for Spotlight to have half price patterns and when I added some on-line coupons and discounts I bought three for just over $10. ( Much better than the original $45 full cost.)

So here is the start of the sewing for this doll.

I have continued to work on the quilting for the Dresden design. Not far off finished, thankfully.

In amongst the pattern shopping I did find a nice piece that I think will make up well into some new cushion covers.

One of the highlights of our recent trip was a visit to the Museum Of Modern Art (MoMA). We had a great time exploring all the displays and then also ventured out into the sculpture garden, even though it was freezing and snowing. Definitely worth it. I am always in awe when I can be standing so close to these amazing works of art.

Van Gogh.

Andy Warhol

Picasso

Max Ernst

Henry Moore

As much as I love all this wonderful artwork, I will stick to my sewing.

Some trivia to end on – Some time this evening Australia’s population will tick over to 23 million!! How about that!

Category: Dolls

Feeling Colourful.

Posted on April 12, 2013 | 14 Comments

I am making somewhat of an effort to work on a few UFOs. Just the bright and colourful ones.

This first one is the 3D bow tie quilt. I had the blocks made a while back and have only now put them together.

I have also started to quilt the Dresden that has been sitting and waiting for a year or two.

On the embroidery side I am stitching away at these festive banners from Rosalie Quinlan.

I think my need for colour comes from looking through holidays snaps …………..

Like these macaws in Honduras.

And the colour of the water in the Caribbean off Mexico.

Or the plumage of these incredible flamingos at good old Sea World.

The weather looks like being very pleasant over the weekend so some gardening is being planned. Lots of cutting and pruning and maybe a little planting.

Have a lovely weekend.

Category: Quilts, Work in Progress

A Little Birdie Or Two.

Posted on April 2, 2013 | 13 Comments

On our recent trip I made a point of taking some stitching with me. I made sure it was something easy that could be picked up and worked on without too much fuss.

These are two of the pieces from Teddlywinks. They are pre-printed stitcheries. I used a variegated Cottage Garden thread for both.

Very portable and good to work on.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in NYC.

After a little study we managed to master the subway system.

I really enjoyed the way many of the stations had decorative designs relating to the stop.

This one is the stop near the zoo in Central Park.

And these were near the Museum of Natural History – marine murals and fossil plaque.

I think these were great ways to identify stops. Good entertainment, too.

Category: Stitcheries

Animal Stack.

Posted on March 26, 2013 | 19 Comments

I am back at home after 4 weeks in the US and enjoying the last blast of Summer sunshine. I know it won’t last for long but it’s a change from the snow we have been experiencing while away.

We were home just in time for our grandson’s first birthday. How did that time go by so quickly?

I made him a wall hanging from an Amy Bradley pattern.

The original pattern had appliqued bees but I chose some great buttons instead.

And I snuck a few ladybirds in too.

Lots of character in these little creatures.

I am looking forward to catching up on my blog reading and returning to leaving comments on your posts.

And I think Easter is sneaking up too and is just around the corner.

Category: Quilts

Critters And Art…….And NYC.

Posted on February 28, 2013 | 10 Comments

I am so pleased to see our supermarkets moving away from the drab shopping bags. This is the great design on one of the grocery bags I found recently.

I hope we see a lot more branching out with their designs.