Finish #1 for 2009

The French Collection quilt

I actually finished this quilt 2 days ago... but haven't been able to get onto the computer!! LOL!!

The close-up above gives a better idea of how good the quilt looks in real life. When the images is smaller (as below) it loses a little bit.





This last picture shows the overall look before binding and buttons.

Now I am working on a new series of stitcheries with buttons "The 1950's collection". I am nearly finished the stitching!!

French button countdown 114 down - 2 to go

I have almost finished sewing the buttons onto my French Collection quilt. Here are some more of the blocks.

Pont d'eglise - Church bridge

Cafe

Grapes

Shutters

Lavender

Patisserie

Centreville - village centre

I have loved every part of the process of making this quilt... Even though sewing the buttons on is time-consuming, what better way is there to appreciate each one in it's detail?

A challenge to you

I added a "translate" gadget to my blog (it's on the bottom right). It shouldn't surprise me that people all over the world read each other's blogs (it is the World Wide Web afterall), but it does. I went to visit a few people's blogs and I just couldn't read them, although the pictures were nice. VBG.

It took me a few tries to find the gadget I liked. Here is how I found it: go to layout and select add gadget, then search for the word translate in the search box at the top. Scroll down to the bottom until you see the pictures of the flags and add that to your blog.

Now that you have the tool on your blog you won't need to look for it. It won't matter if the blog you are trying to read does not have a translate tool on it, just copy their blog address and paste it into the tool on your blog. It will translate it! How great is that? Okay, syntax may not be exactly right.. but you get the general idea of what is being said.

I encourage you, dear reader, to put the tool on your blog too, and let someone in an exotic part of the world into your blog!!

Awww.. did you want to see my French Collection blocks? It was 39 degrees Celcius here yesterday and the same again today... it's too hot to sit under a quilt (yes, I do need it all over me) to sew on the buttons. I did do some late last night in the air-conditioning... but I still have 4 blocks left to go.

Okay, here is a sneak peek!! Remember the gaps I showed you on this one?

I attached the little flowers with only one hole using a bead to secure the stitches.

116 buttons

I am on my way to my first finish for 2009... and what a finish!

The binding and hanging sleeve are on the French Collection quilt...

Sewing the buttons on is taking quite some time. There are a lot of buttons. 116 actually.

I need some small beads to finish sewing on the small buttons with only one hole.

You can really see the gaps where the buttons need to go.

This is my night-time project. I am flat out painting shelves and what-not.

Thanks Mum!

Well, here is the French Collection quilt now that Mum has long-armed the most complementary designs onto it.

I asked for cross-hatching all over each of the stitcheries, a twirly grapevine along the sashings, and cross-hatching behind the applique.

My DH wasn't sure about the cross-hatching all over the stitcheries - he worries that it detracts from the stitched pictures. But, he couldn't come up with any other way for the stitchery blocks to be quilted as there is just no space for outlining in the pictures.

The quilt will look really different with its hand-painted buttons attached. This will happen after the binding.

I guess I had better add a hanging sleeve. It will probably hang more often than sit on the bed.

I can't wait to finish it! But I've barely had time to post!!

Hallelujah!

I planned to post yesterday, but Hallelujah! there was a storm with lightening, thunder and that wet stuff, what's it called again? Oh yeah, rain.

We have been on tight water restrictions for the last four years and it still hasn't rained at least the average expected rainfall in our district.

We lost a modem and answering machine another time during a storm - lightening hit the phone connection at the pole on our naturestrip!!! So, we make sure we turn as much as possible off during a storm.

I have nearly finished all the applique for the French Collection quilt. I have leaves for one corner to go, and the blue parts of the fleur de lys for another 3 corners. I should get that done tonight. The stems took a while, but I am really pleased with the contrasting colour when compared to the leaf fabric.

This is the corner I have completely finished.

I've got a virus - I've had the sore throat, headache and some nausea over the last few days. Now it is the congestion. I need something to make me feel good. Is it chocolate? (Yes, but not this time...) Know what? I just have to start making something new!! I'll show you what I get up to tomorrow!!!

My favourite things...

I got a really funny email. It had a picture of Julie Andrews (she is around aged 70 now, I can't remember exactly). She had sang an alternate version of My Favourite Things - it was all about ageing.

Well, borders on stitchery could easily be added. It's one of my favourite things, at the moment, because it's all the quilt-making I have achieved in the last few days!

I have finished the last embroidered stitch on the final center stitchery block. I hadn't done it because I ran out of that colour. It's done now!

These poor blocks look a little bit funny without their buttons, especially the lavendar.

I can't wait until I finish the whole quilt!! I will work on it all day Monday (holiday)...

The walrus said...

"The time has come."

I have dug out my machine again.. can you tell??? (It was a little bit buried, or should I say, the pathway to the machine was under siege).

I know these blocks are The French Collection, but that's enough collecting. I want my quilt! Actually, with all the hand-made buttons, it is going to be a wallhanging.

Wouldn't you know it? I got them out and one block needs a little bit of stitching. Ergh! I thought I was finished the stitching. It won't take long, but it did hinder my progress.

First, I taped on some template plastic to centre the stitchery before cutting out the block. I used the rotary cutter to cut 1/4 inch out from the plastic, so I didn't wreck my blade and it didn't matter if my plastic wasn't perfectly straight.

Then, borders around each block. Doesn't the butchers look a little empty without the buttons???

Then, piecing the centre blocks into rows.

Joining the rows together. It's a little tricky to go farther until I have completed the last centre block.

Stay tuned! I am keen to get this quilt together so I can work on the applique.

The French Collection

This is one of the four projects I am currently focussed on. I have completely stitched 14 out of 15 blocks, with just a smidgeon left to do on the last one. I am waiting for the fabric to arrive, then I need to work out the setting to place them all in a quilt, well... wallhanging really. It would be just my luck to roll over in bed and break a porcelain button... wouldn't that be much worse than toast crumbs in the bed?

It's been really cold here and I have had 3 quilts on the bed as well as a doona (yes, we have central heating now, but we don't set it onto "sweaty" and we turn it off at night). My DH only has one quilt on his side - that's where quilts of different sizes really come in handy!

I have been using: my suprise wedding quilt, luxembourg, and the kaffe and liberty UFO that still needs binding.. tee hee.

That reminds me of a couple of years ago when Rosie and I spent an afternoon spray-basting quilts ready for quilting. Rosie went out that evening and when she got home her grown-up daughter was using the quilt intended for her quilt already. "It's not quilted yet" said Rosie to her daughter... like that would stop her using it!