Orca Bay top completed

Many quilters are now doing Bonnie Hunter's new mystery quilt called Easy Street and as much as I wanted to join in, I decided instead to finish last year's mystery quilt called Orca Bay.
I had kept up with all the steps each week deligently but when it came to put it all together I found that the darker Ohio Star blocks lacked contrast and realised that unless I made new blocks the overall design of the quilt would not look as it was intended.  So, rather discouraged after putting so much work into the many blocks, I set it all aside.

Finally I pulled all the blocks out of the box and studied them carefully to see how I was going to tackle the task at hand. I tried to save as many of the completed blocks but I still had to make many blocks and re-piece some parts of other completed blocks.

And here it is !

 

The finished top is  not as large as the original one although I actually made all the blocks with the exception of the darker Ohio Star blocks. One day I'll use the leftover blocks and make something else.

 

The border blocks would not fit so I opted for a simple sashing for the border...

 

I guess at the end, it's better to have a completed quilt than to agonise over a quilt that was intended to be a fun way to use up some of my stash.

 

Wishing you all a creative 2013 !

Day 6 - Project 5 - Swoon Block #4

Five blocks to go ...

Day 7 - Project 4 - Mini Quilt

Last week I visited my favourite fabric store and I purchased some lovely fabrics they had just received. Lynne, store manager always inspires me with her projects and this is another of those mini quilts that I just completed using those new fabrics.
I have to live several lifetimes to use up all my fabrics but it's so hard to resist the new colours, designs and to make all the many projects I have in mind.

 

I haven't decided if it's going to be used as a wall hanging or a table topper of sorts...



Day 8 - Project 3 - Swoon Block #3

Didn't quite get a chance to finish this block yesterday as I was hoping but instead in between chores  I did a bunch of cutting scraps into useful shapes.  So I guess it's still quilting related and it will come handy when I used them up on a scrap quilt, which is one of my goals for 2013.

Today I managed to complete block 3 and here it is....

The gerberes were a gift from my daughter; they are so beautiful they almost look artificial.
We have had our Xmas lunch and I feel like sleeping now, but I rather go quilting and show you tomorrow what I have done.  Hope you are all having a lovely day !

Day 9 - Project 2 - Swoon Block #2

It has been a rather hot day today in Melbourne, around 38 ºC so I spend most of the day in my air conditioned studio, listening to podcasts, music and 'playing' with my fabrics.

Completed another block from the Swoon quilt.

 

This is a photo of my magnolia tree outside one of the window of my studio.
I planted it about 2 years ago and these are the first flowers that the tree has produced.
The flowers are very fragrant and when they open, they resemble a lotus flower.
I recently planted another magnolia tree in a different place in the garden but these will have pink/purple flowers. It will be a while until I get flowers on it.

Day 10 - Project 1 - Swoon Block #1

I've set myself a goal to make something every day from today to the first day of 2013 !

So here is the first block from the Swoon quilt designed by Camille Roskelley.
I have been admiring the various versions people have been doing, so I finally decided to do my own.


I purchased some fabrics (on the wagon wheel pictured above)  last week and will others from my stash.  I want it to be a bold and beautiful quilt.

Bit of a Xmas feel... Snowman Little Quilt

 

I am not a great fan of Christmas projects but when I saw my friend Lyn's quilt I had to make one. This is a free pattern from Henry Glass & Co fabrics designed by Kim Diehl.

 

Some of the fabrics are also Kim Diehl. Her style is so unique and the projects on her books are so appealing. 

 

For the hand applique, with the exception of the hat and the nose, I used wool. It was quick to apply and the snowman looks very authentic...

I added a few Xmas themed buttons...

I am having a few days off work and hope to tidy up my studio, finalise my 2013 Quilty goals and full steam ahead with the projects..

I wish you all a very happy festive season.

Bear Paw block

I have been working on a fairly large quilt in the past couple of weeks but the blocks are not in a state that I can blog about it just yet.

Now that Bonnie Hunter has started the new mystery quilt, I decided to resume last years Orca Bay quilt that I have completed 80% thus far. Once again I can't show it because it's just Ohio Start blocks at various stages of completion.

Over he weekend I made something small to use up some of my favourite fabrics and to have something finished.

Here it is  ! 

 Just a small quilt using the Bear Paw block.

I'm enjoying the garden at this time of year, and this is at a special corner in the garden..

 

The hydrangeas are showing great displays of flowers at the moment...

Most of these were cuttings I took from existing plants and this is the second year they have flowered...

And now for some music ....

Peabo Bryson always sings such romantic balads.... Too many to pick a favourite.

Final block (block 20) of Civil War Bride Quilt

Finally completed the last block of my quilt ! 

 



It has been nearly two years, although I have done many other projects at the same time.

I'm still planning to do an applique border and eventually will have it quilted.



 

  

I had some visitors in my garden to keep me company with their magnificient appearance...

 

Sometimes the dog scared them away so they still kept me company from the safety of the trees...

 



Now that the weather is so much better, I have been dividing my time between quilting and gardening. This past weekend, I planted some vegetables and other plants. 

Some more beautiful roses from my garden...

 

 

Corded Fabric Bowl

Something quick and fun I made today...
Based on the techniques from the books "It's a Wrap" by Susan Breier.
It starts with strips of fabric and cotton cord..

And it turns out like this....

I used just one piece of fabric.

 

The bowl below I made a couple of years ago with thinner coils.

I used a braid I purchased on my trip to Canada and I love the way it turned out.

It's full of charm pack squares.

 

 

  

More inspiration from my garden.... 

We can't beat nature on perfection !

Funky Quilt

When I completed this quilt top today, the word came into my head to name this quilt was ...

funk·y/ˈfəNGkē/

Adjective:

(of music) Having or using a strong dance rhythm, in particular that of funk: "some excellent funky beats". Modern and stylish in an unconventional or striking way: "she likes wearing funky clothes".



 

The fabrics and pattern came from a kit I ordered from Connecting Threads earlier in the year and this week I was in the mood for quick piecing...

 

One evening I cut up all the pieces...

 

Another time I arranged all the pieces that make up the blocks...



And this morning I was ready to sew them all together...
Being a public holiday today I'm giving myself a quilting day...

And this is the quilt top done !!!

 

And since I hear music in my head, here is a picture I recently took when I saw Dave Koz and Brian Culbertson performing live...



And this is a taste of their music.....

Civil War Bride - block 19

 

This is all I have completed to show for this week. The original pattern does not have a groom, so I designed my own.

I'm getting to the stage that all I want is to complete the top as soon as possible, which was the biggest goal I set for myself for 2012.



 

Civil War Bride - block 18

I haven't completed many projects, mainly due to work commitments and hand-applique is not something you can rush.

But I have completed my 18th block for the Civil War quilt.  Two more blocks and the border to go.  Would love to finish it by the end of the year... We'll see.

 

 

These are the blocks I have completed so far.  I am happy how they have turned out and when they get assembled it will make a beautiful heirloom quilt.

 For a bit of fun I cut out this wall hanging which need to be blanket stitched..
 

 I just love the beautiful roses blooming in the garden at the moment.  This one almost doesn't look real!

These flowers, commonly known as Pigface, are just about everywhere in people's garden including mine.

 

Signatures Quilt

After coming back from my cruise  I used up the signatures I gathered from the artists to make up this memory quilt for me.

 

 

All the fabrics are music themed, the same ones I used for Dave Koz quilt. 

 

 

 

This is a close-up of one of the blocks, Elan Trotman.

 

 

My first yellow rose for the season...

 

 

 

 And another of my favourite variegated roses ...
 

Double bloom ....

And now for some music...
I saw Paul Brown and Marc Antoine perform this song on the cruise...such fun.

Smooth Jazz and Quilting

For those who follow me on a regular basis, it's clear that Smooth Jazz and Quilting are my passions.  At every opportunity I get, I indulge on these two activities.

Recently I combined these two persuits. I made a quilt for Dave Koz to celebrate the cruise I attended with him and many other of my favourite smooth jazz artists.

 

 He was delighted with the quilt and agreed to have a photo taken with myself and the quilt.

This is a close-up of the quilt... I used a variety of techniques from machine applique, piecing and hand embroidery. I added fotos of Dave and the circular blocks are a representation of his released albums.

 All the fabrics used are music themed including the back of the quilt.

Before the cruise I visited Portugal and discovered this small shop called Loja do Sr Jacinto 
in Caldas da Rainha (appr. 80 kms north of Lisbon).

 It's an old fashion looking store and I believe it has been there for many, many years.

I was looking for "chitas de Alcobaca" which is a portuguese cotton fabric with bright and specific designs which include stripes.  These are the ones I purchased.

Silvia at the store, tempted me with some of her button collection and I could not resist....
  

 The foto also shows the thimbles and pins I managed to collect during this trip.

But the highlight of the quilting part of the holiday, was to meet face to face my quilting/blog friend Teresa Teresa in Lisbon. 

 

We spoke for hours and I promised to visit her again ....

Here are some photos of some of the places I visited in Italy, France and Spain...

Amalfi Coast:

The Vatican:

Pisa:

Palacio da Pena in Sintra, Portugal:

Monserrate Palace, near Sintra (Portugal) which was an exotic palatial villa, the traditional summer resort for the Portuguese court.