Gee, thanks.

Gee, thanks for all the reponses to my last 2 posts (Barns and Lizzie Mae's Medallion).

You inspired me to keep working on the Barns (that, and of course, now I have some more colours for machine appliqueing). It does become tedious though. I have spent about six hours sewing the blocks over the last week, and one cannot see a lot of difference in them. Yet.

Of course, I have a little update on my cross-stitch Christmas decorations...

I wasn't even going to stitch the curly one. However, I started it, and really liked it. It took longer than "Noel"... There are four decorations in the set, perhaps I will make one of each.

Should I make an entire set for me, and a set for my sister? I think they would suit the European (read: Swedish) Christmas decorations she puts out each year.

Oh well, it's something to pick up isn't it?

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.

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!!

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?

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.

I am plugging away at these little blocks for Lizzie Mae's Medallion. Half way through these particular ones now, I have made eight.

Eight more of these to go, then another 20 small blocks for the next border.

The colours look warm and cosy when you see the blocks all together.

Of course, I rewarded myself with a bit of cross-stitch after that... which may be causing me to stay up too late at night. I found myself dreadfully tired this morning...

Woo hoo! The letters look good. I still need to fill in some of the house, but that's boring white, and best left when I am talking to others at the same time!! e.g. at sewing group!!

This is another non-fattening treat. Oceanica panel and border panel with a couple of prints from the Oceanica range, some from the Folklorica range and others I liked. I have no idea what I am going to do with this yet... it's officially a PIG (Project In Grocery Sack) and is sitting in the bag I bought it in.

Oh yes, and I have trimmed the outside scallops of the 1950s quilt. Now I need to cut binding on the bias and machine it on.

Where do all the hours go?

Another 3 blocks for Lizzie Mae's. I need to make 16 of these blocks - so that's still 11 to go. I think three or four in one night after work is about my limit though - I almost feel too tired to blog, let alone think and sew!!
One of the fabrics is a bit light, but I might let it go, as it adds an antique-sort-of quality to the medallion.
Then a little bit more on the cross stitch sampler (this is the Christmas one).

Before I can work on the cross stitch next time, I need to finish trimming the scallop shapes on the 1950s quilt which has been beautifully quilted. (Thanks Mum!!)
Where do all the hours go? I just want to sew!!

A little bit of homework... then...

Two little blocks for Lizzie Mae's medallion, then I felt absolutely brain dead!! Then I settled down to watch some Monk episodes on DVD and worked on this roof.

Sawtooth stars in the roof!! Okay, I have so many things to do that I am only allowing myself to cross-stitch after I've done some "serious homework"!! LOL!!

Hand sewing

I've been hand sewing only for 2 nights in a row (2 quilt groups this week!!), and I didn't quilt in either of them!

This is one of the vintage-look cross-stitch samplers I bought last week.

I just love the way the Threadwork threads are slightly variegated. Are you meant to complete one cross at a time with such variegated thread?

I wonder why..

I'm not entirely sure why I took photos of these quilts... there were other stunning, striking and interesting quilts on display at the VicQuilter's Showcase in Melbourne this weekend.
Maybe they are examples or reminders of things I liked about the quilts, or maybe I am making it myself, or maybe I don't think I would ever make a quilt like that. Whatever the reason, these are the quilts I took photos of.

All those hand-pieced clamshells!! I particularly like the way these were quilted. Both around the curve, and in a geometric pattern.

I think I have seen this quilt (pattern by Kim McLean) in traditional fabrics. What a wow with the Kaffe Fassets.

This is Ronnie's Civil War Bride Quilt. Talk about quick!! Made in less than one year!! Now this one I am making myself.

Once again, I am not sure what I like about this one. Lots of things. I like the colours, the quilting, the mixture of blocks and the applique afterwards.

Is that broderie perse applique in the outer triangles? I can't remember. It sure looks soft and pretty. Some very precise blocks in there.

This quilt is a reminder for me: it's a round robin where you work on your own quilt. The next month's instructions were drawn out of a hat, you couldn't plan far ahead.

I have on
I have one of these centre panels, not sure what to make with mine....

From a distance, this quilt was striking (it won awards actually)....

but when I looked at the fabric close-up, there is no way I would have teemed them together. The spots seemed to fuzz away the wonderfully pointed triangles.
There's a lesson in there for me.

Carolyn Konig of course. I like the way there are different background fabrics used within the quilt.

Would you believe this one was made from "leftovers"? Yes, leftover blocks from a BOM. So gorgeous in this quilt.

Striking colour choices.

Oh and what's this?

A little bit of my own show and tell... an addition to the cross-stitch. LOL!!

I have been granting myself a little bit of cross-stitch if I do something else I didn't feel like. What did I sew? I will show you tomorrow!!

Shopping

You know, I didn't actually need to buy anything at the Stitches and Craft Fair in Melbourne... but I did manage to find some vintage-looking cross-stitch sampler patterns to buy.

I also enjoyed buying the linens and AIDA cloth to stitch onto - also in vintage natural colours.

And... I now have Threadworx threads to stitch them in.

Look at the way the Threadworx changes colour slightly as I stitch. It definitely gives a vintage hue. Beautiful.

VicQuilter's showcase photos tomorrow. I promise!!