Monday 30 August 2010

The geese are gaggling

The geese are gaggling, these are the latest wave/bird pieces just made.

I can't help but think of them as geese, starting to gather in a gaggle.

Here are all the pieces I have made so far. They will be arranged something like this.

I have decided not to make them all into blocks yet, but to make all 24 half units, then audition fabrics for the large triangles.

Sunday 29 August 2010

What else?

What else have I been up to?

The outside edges of the cross-stitch are really coming along. Just one reindeer makes such a difference in the big scheme of the image.

I need to unpick all of the dark green in the bottom border. I now realise I made an error when repeating the border pattern. In the centre it varies slightly to allow for the vines meeting at the corners. That's okay, it won't take long to re-stitch it.

Saturday 28 August 2010

More itsy bitsies

I started a fresh miniature quilt. It's Birds In The Air, or Ocean Waves... or mine might even be Birds In The Waves!!

The complete blocks measure 3 inches finished.


I need to make 16 complete blocks and an additional 8 geese sections (without the bottom triangles).
I will just do a little bit at a time until I get there.

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Getting around to it

I've finally added another round to Lizzie Mae's Medallion. One more to go!! Then, quilting please Mum. VBG.
It's a bit too big to take an entire photo at the moment. Later, I promise.
Hmm.. that reminds me, I must hang some of this year's finished projects to take complete photos. Where's the ladder?
When I get around to it, I will let you know. LOL!!
Of course, I need to start another miniature quilt to keep up my one per month quota. Probably birds in the air blocks. Little ones. Lots of them!! LOL!!

Sunday 22 August 2010

baby quilt for Annameike Rose

Just finished tiny Annameike Rose's little baby quilt.
Check out the binding!! Two colours! I used leftover pieces, and these two sections were the perfect colours.

Soon to be given away, I am glad to be able to post another "finish" to my list for 2010.

Saturday 21 August 2010

Lil' Zippy Bags

Lool! Look! I just love fondling today's makings.
I made three Lil' Zipper Bags using the free tutorial on moda bakeshop website.

Each bag uses nine 9 1/2in x 1 1/2in strips and a 10in square of lining and pellon with an 8inch zipper.

I used a little piece of twill from the honeybun wrappings to add "labels" on the front. Adds a touch of professionalism if you ask me... LOL!!

Let me know if you try the pattern and like them too!!

Friday 20 August 2010

I like to sew

I just wanted to show you what I have been up to in the last few evenings when I need to sew for a few minutes before bed.
Some people like to read, I like to sew. It calms me.
The Christmas feel is really starting to become apparent now you can see the reindeer, some cherries, part of a Christmas tree, and some geese that will end up on the Christmas table!!
I will just keep enjoying the process of creating this little scene. Who knows? It might even be finished in time for Christmas!!

Wednesday 18 August 2010

I love decorating for Christmas

I guess I've been a little naughty, or is it carried away with my bundle of Kate Spain charm squares?



This is a close-up of the tablerunner I pieced together last night and quilted today.

I love the bright fizz of the fabrics together, and the texture of the chenille.

It's a little finish... I just loooove decorating for Christmas.

Tuesday 17 August 2010

Stacks and stacks

This is a stack of ten completed sawtooth stars each measuring 5 1/2 inches unfinished. Oh! I love sawtooth stars!!

What a pretty stack! Only two more stars to make before I add the next round onto Lizzie Mae's Medallion!! This is my new stack... 5 inch squares from the "12 Days of Christmas" range by Kate Spain. I also love the pom pom trim and the chenille.

I plan to have a little play on my day off tomorrow. Wish me luck!!

Monday 16 August 2010

Baby quilt # 2

This is baby quilt #2 for this year with the same fabrics (Whimsy charm squares) with chenille and some stitcheries from Bronwyn Hayes' book "Little Chicken Feather". The book is currently out of print, but is sure to be reprinted - it is so popular.

Just quilted by Mum (thanks Mum!!) with frogs hopping all over it!!

Now to trim the edges and add the binding.

Sunday 15 August 2010

Lonely stars

These little sawtooth stars looked lonely when I took this photo.So I took another photo with some of their friends from Lizzie Mae's Medallion...

The blocks won't actually be arranged like this. Gee, I like the way the stars look when slightly twisted off-centre. Hmm, that gives me an idea for a quilt. Yes, another idea for another quilt. LOL!!

Saturday 14 August 2010

Next time round

I am now working on the third round of Lizzie Mae's Medallion.

These sawtooth stars measure 5 inches finished. Only seventeen left to go! Actually, these blocks are really quick to make compared to the blocks in the previous border (Old Maid's Puzzle). It shouldn't take me too long to finish some more.
I find it difficult to find a slab of time to sit at the sewing machine at night. I need to do some handwork or listen to music for an unwind before bed. My machine-progress is never as swift as handwork. I have been working on my cross-stitch sampler for handwork. When I think I've done enough worth looking at I will post updated photos.

Friday 13 August 2010

Starry Eyed

I now have me a heckuvva lot of stars to make for the next round on Lizzie Mae's Medallion.


I love sawtooth stars. They always look good. You can use feature prints in the centre, or you can stitch another block as the centre.

I don't think these centres (finishing at 2 1/2 inch squares) will contain another block. No. That's for certain!! LOL!!

Thursday 12 August 2010

Round and er... around...

I finished the last 4 blocks for the next round of Lizzie Mae's medallion quilt, then joined them into strips. However, I have only stitched one side onto the centre yet.


I have been thinking of new things I would like to start (like this Oceanica fabric and the Gee's Bend quilt), and what I would like to finish this year. Let's have some goals.

Now that I have finished the 1950s quilt (including label!!), I would like to finish the 12 Days of Christmas (needs final applique and stitchery border), Alice In Wonderland, Lizzie Mae's Medallion, all nine Little Lori Smith quilts, I Believe wallhanging, Rural Jardin fat quarter quilt, the baby quilt for Mikey's prem baby, and something else Christmassy (I haven't even started it yet!!)...... and that's just what I can think of right now!! I am sure something else will come up.

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever become tired of making quilts and quilty things. But, no. There are just too many new things to try and start, that I could never become bored.

I would really like to make something from string pieced bits. Check out this photo from the new Kaffe Fasset book "Simple Shapes". I could really burn up some scraps on something like this!!


These are both string pieced, then cut and pieced again. I really like that idea.

Oh yes! And my new stitchery design... I haven't even started to stitch it yet!!

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Happy times two!!

I am so happy! I finished the 1950s quilt, including a label! I need to hang it to photograph it properly.

And... here is Simply Charming. The latest miniature quilt top.

This also makes me happy. Is that happy x 2?? My top centre flower is leaning over slightly to the right - like a sunflower...

These quilts are going to look great quilted. I must finish all 9 before I cut up the rest of the fabric to make quilt backs and bindings.

Monday 9 August 2010

Finding the centre

I have finished the centre of Simply Charming - one of the little quilts designed by Lori Smith. Just borders to go.

Tomorrow I plan to do all the borders, then finish a round on Lizzie Mae's Medallion, and maybe even finish sewing the buttons on the 1950s Collection.

Will I sleep? As long as I am not dreaming of the Gee's Bend quilt, I will sleep like a log. I feel exhausted!!!

Sunday 8 August 2010

I had a dream...

Last night I dreamt about these quilts... well, about making my own actually. I dreamt about the fabric - my LQS has the Gee's Bend Collective fabrics on the bolt.
I imagined it as a "one day" quilt. Not, I will make it one day, but I will make it in one day.

I dreamt that Mum basted the quilt for me on her longarm machine using soluble thread, and I quilted it on the machine.


I think I should use scissors, no rulers, no rotary cutters, just like the Gee's Bend women.



I would like to use fabrics in Amish tones from the Gee's Bend fabric range. Okay, maybe tomorrow night I will dream I have enough time to do it!!

This is what I sewed last night before I went to bed dreaming. A little bit of work on Lori Smith miniature "Simply Charming".
I am trying to finish this little quilt top before Wednesday. Wish me luck!!

Saturday 7 August 2010

Button-ing

The binding is now complete on my 1950s collection quilt. I am in the process of securing all porcelain buttons to the quilt. Gee, what a difference it makes. The quilt blocks look really dimensional.
I have attached around half of the buttons, I hope to finish button-ing tonight. That will be another finished project!!


After I add a label of course...
I can hardly believe this quilt has been nearly 2 years in the making!! tsk tsk I should have finished it sooner.
This is my own quilt design using Robyn Allen-Waters' stitchery designs, so I guess I shouldn't be too mad at myself.

Thursday 5 August 2010

Bonnet-ing

This is my convict bonnet so far. I made it for the "Roses From The Heart" project by Christina Henri. Christina is seeking volunteers to make and donate a bonnet (she provides a pattern) in order to obtain 25, 566 bonnets - one for each of the women transported to Australia during 1788-1853.Now I will email Christina to obtain the name of one woman (and name of her boat if known), the embroider the convict name, boat, and my name and town onto the bonnet and post it away.
I will also attach ribbons to the sides.
It's not yet finished, but I will add it to my finished list later!!
BTW, I am still working on the 1950s binding...

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Can you see the scallops

In this photo you can see the back of the 1950s collection quilt, ( I just looove the fabric) and the small section of binding I have stitched down so far.
It really is so 1950s chic!! I can't wait to stitch the entire binding down, so I can add the buttons.
But, we are starting to make convict bonnets tonight at Gisborne Friendship Quilters group. I probably won't get the binding finished then... perhaps tomorrow?
Sorry these posts are so short, but sometimes it is blogging or sewing, and this blog is intended to make me want to sew more...

Tuesday 3 August 2010

A day of rest and of thinking....

I worked hard today - my day off... Actually, I am designing a new stitchery quilt. I diligently designed, enlarged, and organised tracing paper, the light box etc (some of the designs will be symmetrical).
I am not going to show you anything of the designs as yet... but I can tell you they will be mainly black, with a little bit of colour added afterwards.

After that, I deserved a little treat, and here it is! Wow! The cross-stitch is really growing now!! I am using Threadworx threads - these change colour every 3 inches, so I really can only do 3 stitches at a time instead of the usual row. Some people actually stitch one cross-stitch at a time with variegated threads. What do you do?
I finished cutting around the 1950s quilt, and have started to attach the binding. Photos tomorrow perhaps?

Monday 2 August 2010

Lizzy Mae blocks


Another 4 blocks for the Lizzie Mae's medallion quilt (Hmm, I seem to keep changing the spelling...). These blocks will measure 5 inches finished.

Only 4 more to make for the border!!

Sunday 1 August 2010

Just a little bit...

Just a little bit to show you... some more on my cross-stitch sampler... And, this is a new Little Lori Smith mini quilt - it will be "Simply Charming".


I am using the back of the fabric as the background - I have shown a little bit of the front side of the fabric at the top of the photo.
I need to use the lightbox to trace on the rest of the applique design for placement purposes.