Made a new bag....

I made one of Monica Poole's bags last week but just haven't had a chance to take a photo until now.

 

 

It's a nice size to use for various purposes, with two external pockets and a zipper closure at the top. It was quite easy to make it.

 

My scraps continue to increase so I decided to play with them by making this 7" block.

 

I got the pattern from the latest Quiltmaker magazine.  The block was presented by Bonnie Hunter and it's paper pieced/foundation.  It uses quite small pieces so unfortunately it has made no dent on the scrap bin.  But I enjoyed playing with the fabrics and making a big mess when cutting the pieces down to size.

 



I have participated in a pincushion swap, so this is one of the pincushions I received.  Very cool block and I love it in red.

I have been given a few tops to practice my quilting skills on and the quilt will then be given away to charity.  This is one of those I completed.

And this is what the entire quilt looks like....

I have started a new quilt using wool applique and pieced blocks in reproduction fabrics. I think it's going to be a while before I have something to show because work commitments and holiday preparations are taking a fair bit of my time.

Little Pouch

 

I was hoping to have spent a lot more time sewing this past week but it didn't happen.

I managed to finish this little pouch that will be a gift for my aunty when I see her in a few months time.

For the applique I used wool and felt from my stash. 

 

 

Still had some leftover fabric so I made a bag for the MELWAY (Street Directory book) I have in my car. 

 

 

I have a small quilt loaded on the HQ18 just waiting for me to start playing.  Hopefully tomorrow I will have some time to have fun.



 

Table Runner and African fabrics quilt and much more...

A lot has happened since I last blogged. 

My husband was involved in a car crash landing him in hospital with a sternal fracture and both cars involved in the collition at the scrap yard. I am grateful as we stand because it could have been a lot worse.  One of the positives is that I now have a brand new car and he's taken over the car I normally drive, which is about 3 years old with very low mileage.

So with having to sort out a few issues, the sewing has taken a back seat.

 

I am pleased to share in this posting what I had in progress is now completed.

 

This table runner started up as a wall hanging but once I had done the applique flowers, I didn't like the design on the pattern after all.

And given that I actually wanted a runner for this cabinet, I made it to fit.
The applique is wool but the centres are cotton.

In the past whenever I completed a quit top, it was considered done; not so now.

Since acquiring the Handi Quilter that definition has changed;  it's completed when the quilting and binding are done and I tend not to blog about it until it's at that stage.

All the fabrics for this quilt came from my African fabrics stash which I purchased in South Africa many years ago. I don't know what this block is called but I have seen it in many quilts but not the way I have arranged the blocks to form 'steps' hence I named it "Stairway to Heaven".

I made it for a relative who lives in Africa.

Recently I participated in a pincushion swap and received this cute pincushion.

My friend Lynne who often inspires me with her beautiful work gave me a book by Tula Pink and these lovely fabrics.   She knows that I have eclectic tastes in quilting so a twist of modern is something I am enjoying.

Just an aside, the little painted bird house on the right, I painted years ago when I was very involved in tole painting.  If time permited I would have love to still persue this hobby.

I follow Katheleen Tracy's blog and she has created a group with the aim of each participant completing each month, a small quilt from her books. Her work is so adorable that I decided to order her books and have a go.  Probably will start with the recent month's project and will try to catch up on the backdated projects.

And finally another couple books I received in the mail this week as part of educating myself and became a better quilter.
And of course a bit more fabric again...

Autumn is with us and my favourite season.... my garden is still showing off and I am loving it.

Sewing with my daughter and other fun things...

At every opportunity I get I try to entice my daughter to sew.  She wanted a bag for school so no better time than that, to get her onto the sewing machine.
She loves cats, so I had a cat fabric just 'purrfect' for the task at hand.

And this is what the bag looks like with it's on model to show it off.



My mate Stan come over to meet HQ18.  He was most impressed and totally got it ! He had a play with it and I was most impressed with his ability in handling the machine.
He is such a natural, but then again I am not at all surprised because several years ago I taught him and another girl make a small quilt and his quilt turned out a lot better than hers !

 

I had my blog printed by a company that turns the blogposts into a book.

 

I'll give you a peak preview of my next project.... I am very excited the way it's turning out so far.  I'll just say that I am using fabrics I have been collecting for a long time. 

Probably one particular print that you can see below gives the clue where I got the fabrics from.

You'll have to wait till next post to see what the quilt looks like...

 

And now for some music....

 

Boney James is another of the Smooth Jazz artists that I enjoy listening to. He has a new album coming out soon but this song is from a previously released album. 

Bowtie Block Quilt

The Bowtie block lends itself to so many desings and styles and it's so quick to make.
I have used it in so many quilts, I am beginning to think it's one of my favourite blocks.

I made this quilt for a male friend who loves browns and blues.  I think it will look fabulous in the decor of his study.

All the fabrics came from my stash and I have been keeping the brown background fabric for a long time; it's the perfect choice for this quilt.



The pattern was suggested by my friend Lynne who saw it at the Quilting Treasures website.

The photo below was taken indoors, so the fabrics look different with artificial lights.
It's been so great using the HQ18 ; having the option to quilt my own larger quilts has removed completly the hesitation in just starting a new project, knowing that it won't just sit as a UFO.

Because my friend lives outside Australia, I decided to do the back of the quilt with an Australian flavour. He'll certainly appreciate it as he has visited here before a couple of times and was very inpressed with this art.

So, what should I work on next ? Still have a few tops to be quited, Farmer's Wife Blocks to make into a top, Barbara Brackman's blocks from last year's blog to make into a top, want to make more bags, pincushions, other cushions, mini quilts, etc, etc.... Love it all !!!!

Bag and Cushions this week.

I haven't made a bag for a while, so picked up these fabrics recently and there you have it !

 

The pattern is a modified version of the pattern "Frenchy Bags" by Ami Butler I had purchased years ago.  The button is ceramic hand-made from my collection.

 

I also made a couple pincushions using a fabric folding technique I learnt many years ago; I want to try a few other blocks which resemble origami techniques.



When I completed my Swoon Quilt  recently I had lots of leftover blocks which I used to make up this cushion.  I have a lot more left to use on further projects.

Noddy wants to show you my newly purchased fabrics.

My friend Lynne who works at the fabric store enjoys tempting me when she gets new fabrics .  I got a lot of their perfect quality discounted fabric for backings and a selection of different styles from Riley Blake, to fresh modern, Reproduction and even non-traditional Christmas fabrics.   What can I say; I just love them all !

Fun weekend of sewing !

 I had a fun time this past weekend. No work commitments just sewing and socializing with other quilters. The group was small enough to get to know people and it was lovely to see girls I had not seen for a very long time and looking at everyone's projects. 

 

 

The girls from The Quilted Crow came down from Tasmania and organised a fun day they called "A Gathering in the Barn" at the home of the well known "Quilts in the Barn" exhibition, in Wonga Park, Victoria.

The shop specialises in Civil War Reproductions and wool applique. They brought along many of their quilts to display, fabrics, kits and other goodies to tempt us.  

We were given four patterns and a needlecase kit  and I ended up buying a large quilt kit and some wool pieces for my stash.


Most of the girls completed their needlecase kit but I had another wool project I had prepared at home.  I don't know if you can see it in front of me what it looks like ...

So here is a close up of the flowers after I completed them at home the next day..

 

Sunday was mostly another sewing day but this time in my studio. I had a well known quilter for company.  Can you tell who she was ?

This is Bonnie K Hunter from Quiltville, who does a Quit-Cam and links up via her blog with anyone who wants to see her sewing, giving tips and talking to us. This is the first time it's been recorded, so it's great to be able to view on demand for those who can't be online when she is live in her sewing room. So while she sewed and chatted to us,  I sewed these blocks and actually completed them and they are ready to go into my next quilt.

I guess it's fun to share our passion with a friend... that's what my daughter does with her kitty Noddy.... He looks like he's enjoying the practice session.

More Quilting and Kit Top Completed

Quilting, binding and label done on this quilt I made for my mom.
I'll be visiting her in a few months's time in Portugal and presenting it to her. These are her type of colours and will suit her home decor.

 

I freehand quilted these blocks and stitched in the ditch around the blocks.

 For the stripped border I did a freehand scallop but for the large floral border I used a continuous line pattern that I used with the stylus.
I have been going through my stash and setting aside large pieces of fabrics to use for backings and in spite of this one not being one of my favourites, it was  put to good use.

So, another quilt done, 10 more (and counting) still requiring quilting.
I am pleased that with each quilt that I complete, it has better workmanship than the previous one and I have increased my skills and techniques.
I have to accept that while I spend time on the Handi-Quilter, I can't be completing tops at the same rate and it's better to take my time and enjoy the process...

Having just said that, I did complete a quilt top;  the medallion is hand applique but the rest of the blocks were done on the machine.

I had purchased this kit years ago at the International Quilt Festival in Houston so it was about time I made it up.

I found that the triangle border did not quite match although the HST are exactly the way the instructions stipulate. It's not going to be a show quilt so I am not concerned about it. 

I have been meaning to show you a couple of areas in my studio so finally took some photos one evening.

I like being surrounded by things that inspire me.... my fabrics, my music, words....

And looking out to my garden and the sound of the birds....

Next time I am hoping to show you another top I have started and will have another quilt in the frame....
So until next time, be creative and feel free to comment...

More quilting on the HQ18 and a top

I have been very busy with work so I haven't done as much quilt playing as I was hoping.

I had Orca Bay on the machine for over two weeks and this time I used my rulers as well as some free motion quilting.

Because I quilted every block it has taken a fair bit of time and a lot of thread but it's all good experience to develop my skills... plus it's a lot of fun !

I choose stars as the main quilting design on each of the star blocks and smaller stars in the yellow blocks.

 

For the border I used another ruler to mark the scallops.
In some places I attempted to do straight lines without the ruler but at times the line was not too straight.
I much prefer guiding the machine with free motion quilting than ruler work as it is faster and more liberating but it all comes down to what you want to achieve.
Anyway Orca Bay is now finished and ready to be used. Had I not the HQ the top would have stayed folded away for many years to come.

Another quick project which I did recently was this quilt top.
This was a free pattern from Quilting Treasures  called  "Wild Horses" and the finished size is 61 1/2".