HO HO HOOT!

The Toowoomba Quilter's Guild run a challenge every year. This year we were given two fabrics that had to be used in an Owl wallhanging 35" X 12". The entries were amazing and all so different. There are some very talented ladies in this group. I designed a Christmas wallhanging with cute owls sitting in a Christmas Tree. The two fabrics with the teardrops on them were the 'challenge' fabrics.
I didn't win but was happy with my effort! I will write this up as a pattern ready for Christmas.

'Big' Stitch Hand-Quilting

I have been looking around at sites that show 'Big' Stitch Hand-Quilting to see if it would suit my 60's quilt. There is a lot of difference in the size of the stitches that people use. Most of the quilting I saw would be better described as 'Medium' stitich quilting.
I've decided to do real big, 'Big' stitch quilting. I found a long, sharp strong needle and a ball of some perle cotton thread. I am making my stitches 'Big' and the quilting is moving along quickly. The main thing to do is keep the stitches as even as possible. I should be able to finish this one off quickly and then get back to a couple of quilts I am trying to 'Small' stitch hand -quilt!

Happy New Year!

I love the beginning of a new year. It is generally a quiet time for me so I usually pick a UFO to try and finish. This year I have got out my late MIL's doona cover and am giving it some new life. It is a poorly pieced top with no wadding or backing, bright florals that look like they're from the 60's or 70's.

An old Doona cover

Instead of unpicking each block (they are around 14" finished), I am just cutting all the pieces a little smaller than the original pieces. I drew the pattern up on graph paper and made two templates from templastic. The centre square is 4" square unfinished.
I have an assortment of old fabrics picked up from Op-shops to use as well.
My unfinished blocks are 10 1/2"

Op Shop Fabrics

The two templates placed, ready to cut...

Four blocks remade!

Antique Sampler by Patchwork with Busy Fingers

I have been cutting out fabrics for an Antique Sampler Block of the month, lots of fabrics are needed for this one.

My customer likes brown and pink so I have  included lots of beautiful fabrics in this colourway with a gorgeous paisley border fabric.

Block of the month $38.00 a month for 12 months

Contact anpv@ozemail.com.au for further imformation

Last Workshop for 2013!

I have finished my Quick Curve Medallion Quilt ready to send to Elaine at 'Quilting in the Vines' to put her finishing touches on before our Quilting workshop in Adelaide in a couple of weeks.

METRO MEDALLION

A 'Quick Curve Ruler' Pattern

Join Penny for one last workshop in 2013!

This is a workshop demonstrating the 'Quick Curve Ruler'
 that has so many uses

Go to Jenny Pedigo’s website to see all the beautiful quilts she makes from this one ruler!

'Sew Kind of Wonderful' Website: http://sewkindofwonderful.bigcartel.com/ 
 

Details of workshop : 
November 29^th, 9am to 3 pm

at the Lutheran Church Hall McLaren Vale, SA

Cost: $50 -includes the Ruler!

Bring your own lunch. Morning and afternoon tea supplied.

OR

Join Wendy and Mary for ‘Fininshing Off!’ any of the quilts you 

have started in a workshop with them for $25.00

To book in contact Penny at : anpv@ozemail.com.au

Or Wendy at : wdwhellum@iprimus.com.au

I will have most of Jenny's patterns for sale on the day! 

Another border and some circles!

Not a lot of sewing getting done lately. I have managed to put another border on my 'Liberated Medallion' quilt. This won't be the last border, the next one will need to bring some more red and orange in.

 

My Pies and Tarts top got some attention with some large circles (pies) being completed. 

Now to sew some of the smaller circles, (the tarts). I plan on adding a row at a time rather than laying them all out when they are finished, that way I can add the small circles over the joins as I go.

The top so far......

Some large circles completed.

Beautiful Handmade Gifts

Don't you love handmade gifts? I have some wonderful handcrafted items to show you, all of which have come my way in the last week or two!
Wendy knitted me some gorgeous socks. They are almost too nice to wear, but I will! Love the colours.

 
While in Toowoomba Wendy was taken on a 1/2 day outing by Vicki while I was back at the show. She bought me this beautiful little woodturned tapemeasure, made by Wayne Achilles. The tapemeasure pulls out, then you turn the handle at the top to wind it up again!

The next three items were made by clever ladies and purchased from the craft table at the Toowoomba quilt show. Such lovely stitching and sewing, the prices were too good, I had to buy them!

Christmas Purses to hang on the tree

Large pincushion or small pillow

Beautiful shoulder bag in my colours!

Lastly, today I was given this pretty pair of earrings by Tracey of 'Grace and Daisies' as a thankyou gift! Aren't they lovely!

Day One Toowoomba Quilt Show

 Ready for customers!

Wendy Demonstrating Backbasting Applique

Wendy surrounded by her beautiful quilts!

                  

Scrappy trip around the world number three!

I gave my lovely bright Scrappy Trip Around the World away to the flood victims of Queensland collection several months ago so decided to work on another one, this time in Reproduction Scraps.12 Blocks so far look good together, I might try making a few more blocks with some lighter fabrics in them.

Little Doll's Quilt made with scraps from my second Scrappy Trip Around The World Quilt

All Creatures Great and Small

My middle daughter has stitched the 12 designs from Natalie Birds book, 'All Creatures Great and Small' and done a beautiful job with her neat little stitches. I have selected the fabrics for the top and started cutting them out. I asked Sarah not to stitch the 'quiltlike' stitches around each picture as I will actually quilt these with coloured thread (or teach her to do it!), once the three layers are together.

Holiday time!

For the last 4 weeks my husband and I have been traveling around North Queensland. In each town I googled the local quilt shop and tried to visit as many as possible. Unfortunately many shops have closed down. Their details are still on the internet but when turning up at the address one finds a new business or just an empty shop. I did manage to add to my black, red and cream stash with some beautiful reproduction fabrics from various shops.

Gwen Marston

I have just spent two wonderful days doing two workshops with Gwen Marston. They were  hosted by a local quilt shop in Toowoomba, 'Precious Time'. I have been so excited about these workshops. Who would have thought Gwen would come to my new hometown, one of the few priveleged places in Australia she decided to visit. As time got closer she had troubles with her visa and nearly didn't make it.... but she did! She is so wonderful and talented and such a lovely lady.

Day one was a 'Liberated Medallion' class and I was the only one in the room to work with Repro's. The liberated style means you can just add borders and chop them off if they are too long, similar to what some quiltmakers did years ago without wonderful rulers and cutting equipment. You can work a lot quicker if you don't have to work out measurements for blocks and join your points perfectly.

The Applique Centre I started with

Will still need a few more borders

Day two was called 37 Sketches' and Gwen showed us techniques she used to make her wonderful miniatures. Solid fabrics were used with an occassional piece of a feature fabric. Once again not much precise sewing, just having fun creating sections and then putting them all together.
A very contemporary look, something new for me. I had a lot of fun making this one!

My first Sketch