Chocolate.

Posted on August 21, 2010 | Comments Off on Chocolate.

A few weeks ago we participated in a chocolate walking tour in the centre of Melbourne. It was organised by Chocoholic Tours and our guide was the lovely Suzie. We started off in the Block Arcade at Haigh’s Chocolates with samples and information about chocolate and its quality. Our next stop was Deva where we found out about their process for printing any message/text you wanted on their chocolates. Loved the mango and passionfruit flavours there.

At Chokolait we received delicious chocolate shots. Sooooo good!!

Our next stop was Koko Black where we watched chocolate making and sampled some champagne truffles – mmmmmmm!!!

Our tour wound up at Laurant Boulangerie Patisserie where we had the most divine afternoon tea – if you had any room left to fit it in!

It was great fun and only took two hours. And we now know a lot more about chocolate.

Category: Uncategorized

Can of Worms

Posted on August 20, 2010 | Comments Off on Can of Worms

This quilt was made using a technique from Debbie Caffrey’s book, Open a Can of Worms.

I was able to again use lots of fabric scraps that I already had. Only a few purchases were made to complete the quilt.It has been quilted with an overall autumn leaf pattern.

Category: Quilts

Winter Weather

Posted on August 19, 2010 | Comments Off on Winter Weather

Yesterday was cold, wet and windy. Just a perfect day for staying inside and sewing. I decided to share my time between two projects. The first is a snowball quilt I have been making with a variety of pink fabrics.

I did straight stitch quilting between the rows to secure the quilt. I am planning to free-motion quilt each snowball with a bubble pattern in pink variegated thread. Hope it works!

I had also spent some time playing with spots and dots. Iwanted to limit the colours to see if this worked effectively in a 4 patch pattern.

I have arrange them on the design wall and will wait a few days before sewing them together. I am thinking of separating each 4 patch with narrow white sashing.

Category: Quilts, Work in Progress

Blue Christmas

Posted on August 17, 2010 | Comments Off on Blue Christmas

A bit of a different colour for a traditional Christmas quilt. I bought the fabric from the Fat Quarter Shop back when they made up Jolly Packs! Each square has a basic border of either the light or dark blue crackle. Squares were then placed in a diamond pattern radiating out from the centre.

Many of the squares had Christmas scenes.

The fabric was called Toile Christmas. I used basic stitch in the ditch quilting.

Category: Quilts

In The Beginning.

Posted on August 16, 2010 | Comments Off on In The Beginning.

This is the one I consider to be my first real quilt. I used quality cotton fabric, followed a pattern and worked in a class.

The pattern is Garden Twist from a book by That Patchwork Place, called, quite appropriately, In The Beginning.

I worked on this in classes at Sewing Connection in Pakenham.

I did very simple straight line quilting to finish it off.

Category: Quilts

Circles

Posted on August 12, 2010 | Comments Off on Circles

This was a great quilt to use lots of scrap fabrics. It was made using the raw edge applique technique and came together quickly. The idea is to wash and tumble dry the quilt when it is finished so that the raw edges fluff up.

Quilting was simply stitch in the ditch.

Category: Quilts

Stitching Away

Posted on August 11, 2010 | Comments Off on Stitching Away

I have a group of friends who enjoy sewing stitcheries and also enjoy a social gathering. Between us we have attended quite a few retreats and full day workshops. One was called Stitching by the Bay and I think it was held at the Mordiallic Yacht Club. Great setting with a beautiful view of the bay, of course.

Many of the patterns were by Rickety Stitches and this wall hanging is the one I chose to work one.

I have since found several others that are now on my “to do ” list.

Category: Stitcheries

Northwind

Posted on August 8, 2010 | Comments Off on Northwind

A small piece of butterfly fabric was the starting point for this quilt. I had it tucked away in my stash just waiting for the right pattern to turn up.

I then bought the storybook, The Quiltmaker’s Gift, as well as the pattern book – Quilts from The Quiltmaker’s Gift. Both books are a delight. I wanted to try the Northwind pattern and the butterfly fabric was my first choice.

It is only a lap quilt but I really enjoyed the colours and the way the pattern came together. It was beautifully quilted by Victor at VicQuilt using a flower and butterfly design.