my Janome girl

Hurrah! I've picked up my sewing machine, and it is sewing like a dream. I can hardly believe how well it's working!

The thread cutter is working! It has never really worked properly for very long. There used to be a time when I would specify it when I put it in for a service, but it only worked for a short time afterwards, so I didn't bother.

Well, my baby has had the supreme service now. It even has a piece of felt in the base to cut down on the clunk clunk noise. How precious! And... the original bobbin winder motor had burnt out. Yes. I have machine quilted many a quilt on the Janome 6500. So many bobbins used, that the motor blew up a few years ago! hahahahah. That was replaced about 8 years ago, and the auto turn off on the bobbin winder hasn't worked since then. The previous mechanic told me that it wouldn't work.  Now... Janome baby even turns off on auto bobbin fill! Ooooooh. It certainly makes a difference where you get your machine serviced.

So here is what I got up to on Diamond Hill today at sewcial sewing group .... not too much as we celebrated a 70th birthday, and I had to leave early for the children's sports carnival.

Joined long strips of diamonds to make the other two sides, and now the two halves are joined into one whole piece. That is all ... in over 2 hours! Goodness! I'll have to keep the newly massaged Janome baby on the kitchen table to sneak a bit more stitching over the next week, or I will feel like I cannot keep up.

Revisiting block 2 of Secret Garden

The evenings are pleasantly spent... including an hour or so each night, embellishing Secret Garden blocks I thought were already finished. Ha!

Once one starts embellishing, where does one stop?

There is a need to be careful ... because if too much embellishment occurs, there is a risk the quilt will be seen as "too precious" to use. And this quilt is for me! Ha!

The extra embroidery is making a big difference, especially when tying the different colours in a block all together.

And so, I hereby pronounce this block, finished. I even handwashed it to remove all of the green Artline fineliner.

Memo to self: make sure to adjust brightness when snapping photos of these blocks. With the darker background, the phone camera seems to automatically overexpose the photos.

And aren't the cameras in phones sensational? In the early blogging days we would take a photo on our digital cameras, then run it through various programs to reduce the pixels so the photos would load on screens around the world in a timely fashion.

A couple of days ago I made another 42 twinkly diamonds for Diamond Hill. That is enough to finish the centre when my machine comes back from it's big checkup. The next instructions are on Esther's blog for Diamond Hill part 6. The instructions are in 7 parts - we are almost finished the quilt top! At the moment it's a free pattern. But only for another month or so, then it will be available for purchase. Get onto it now if you think you might want to do it.

So... when my machine comes in, it will be time to finish the centre of Diamond Hill (part 5 finished). Then it will be time for me to start part 5 of Secret Garden, which is also mostly machine piecing.

Just have to keep going and going....

Have a great day everyone!

The F Quilt

Ta-da! The binding is stitched down, and the label is attached. The birthday quilt is officially finished!

Photos were taken in full sun, and are perhaps overexposed. But the quilt is now on its way to its new owner to be used and loved.

The F Quilt

Started in circa May 2005. This was an initial block swap with the SCQuilters. My intention was to finish it for my sister's 30th birthday in 2007. But that kinda didn't happen.

The quilt top was put together circa 2010. Then it sat and waited in Mum's studio for her to professionally quilt it for me. (Going around the beads etc is not her favourite thing to do).

Along with the quilt top and backing, there was a book with the quilt bits. The exercise book travelled around as each person signed their name, and wrote a message to me and my sister about their block. The book is still floating around her studio!!! Somewhere!

I am hoping that when the book is found I can add all the contributors information to this blog post, for posterity's sake.

The instructions were no pink, no frilly stuff, and no flowers please. I provided different colour fabrics for background.

And so, here are the blocks, with what I remember them being about...

I made the first block, F is for Feupie. That's the nickname I give my sister. She calls me Frainse. I wanted this block to set the tone for the rest of the quilt.

F is For Feupie by me

This block is the Feline Fleur De Lys.

Fraise (french for strawberry)

Friends- sisters by birth, friends by choice, dressed in French clothes

Friendly Frog

Fish

Feupie and Frainse

out of the Frying pan and into the Fire

Fruit

Fungi

Fall (Autumn)

Fish

I really love the detailed quilting Mum has done for me. There is water in the fish blocks, fire around the cooking block, rays of light and cross hatching...

The orange sashings have citrus halves quilted on, and the sea coloured border has seaweeds quilted in.... 

The finished result is exciting, and hardly pink or frilly.

I hope you love it Feupie. Happy 40th birthday from Me and my family. xoxoxo

Cheering myself on

I've been spending the last few nights hand stitching down binding, ready to post on Monday for my sister's 40th birthday which was 2 days ago.

 How is it possible to be late gifting a quilt I started 12 years ago? I first started it in a block swap planning to complete all the blocks in one year, then I would have a year to finish the quilt and gift it for her 30th birthday. Dear me.

My Mum has had it on a shelf in her studio to quilt for me on her longarm for 7 years. Hahahahahaha! I am not kidding! It has quite a bit of embellishment on it, so I guess she was putting it off, as it would be a pain to quilt.

But, I can't entirely blame her.... I've had it quilted, and the binding machined on since March! Three months and I still haven't finished it. Admittedly, I have been busy with the self imposed deadlines of keeping up with 3 BOMs (where ARE my Goblin King stitchery blocks???)....

Only one and a half sides left to hand stitch. And then add a label. Come on Rainey!! Go me!!

And so here is what I got up to at social sewing group this week....

Then I ran out of purple background.

I have more on layby, but I think I've already bought 3 metres now, and have another 2 on layby, but the foundation piecing wastes a bit. And I would like to put an extra 4 inch border around the outside... so I think I'll need to buy yet another metre! Gosh!

For now, I can keep making the diamonds as I have little bits of dark purple to use up, IF I have time.... Last night I was very busy at the Bunnings (hardware) Ladies Night making things and winning a lawnmower as a lucky door prize!!


we used an electric sander, we varnished and we screwed - to make a vase or herb sprig holder for the kitchen

we used Dulux waterbased enamel paint to create designs on a memo clipboard


we wrapped and glued rope, we used Seasol gel to repot herbs (this is thyme)

We ate, we listened, I patted the Dulux dog....

We went in the draw to win prizes!!



I won a victa lawn mower! Most toddlers have a plastic one, my lil boy is going to have a real one!


We went to bed late, without any stitching! heh heh

Tonight, it's back to the hand stitching of the binding. Hopefully tomorrow I can show you the finished birthday quilt!

Linking up to Whoop Whoop  and Esther's Blog.

Inspiration and achievements

Sometimes we are just stitching away, day after day... another 20 twinkly 2in blocks for Diamond Hill here,

another 42 there...



hand stitching away in the evenings on the Secret Garden blocks...

and suddenly! Wham! There is a big difference in the look of the quilt you are making! Yippee!



All four blocks now have the diamond border and baskets added around each one.


I've just been making twinkly blocks whenever I can.

Even with these block edges done, there are lots more to make - effectively two borders worth.


Then I found I had enough twinkly diamonds to make two edges around these.


At this point, I am pretty chuffed to see it all laying out.

There are strips of purple to go between the blocks as sashing, and around the outside of that.

And I am not quite through making half of the diamond for the entire quilt. It is certainly a fitting name "Diamond Hill".

And as I stitch away at the mystery BOM Secret Garden by hand in the evenings, I am now contemplating the next set of instructions for it, which are pieced blocks with applique. And I am thinking of doing something 3 dimensional. I have set my quilt in Wonderland after all.

Tomorrow at social sewing group, I am keen to sash this quilt centre, and maybe even make a start on machine piecing the Secret Garden blocks. It's a good idea to try out something new and different when I'm not running after my darling 20 month old treasure.

Ooh, and we dropped into one of our local Botanic Gardens, and enjoyed the divine inspiration.

Plants breathing fresh air into us, and fresh ideas into us.

Check out young man's cactus shirt and frondy hat...

Ahhh.... deep breath in... the serenity!



.

Balancing homelife and stitching

Spending quality time with Young Mister is always the priority. Sometimes I can take some time out to sew, and other times, he needs his Mummy full on!



Yesterday he had a play date with 3 little girls. They all played well, shared everything, and all 3 mothers provided the same types of snacks, so they were all able to share food and toys. It was such a delight, despite being chilly enough here in the morning for long sleeves and long pants.

Such a visit also inspired me to redecorate the kitchen and living area which is kid friendly. Thoughts are whirling around my head for how to bling up on a budget. Nobody with toddlers expects to keep fine finishes immaculate anyway...



This morning was also cool. Check us out at the "Airing of the Quilts". 50 quilts on display at our local shop, and $5 per metre fabrics!! We were out with the sparrows (Bub gets us up at 7am or earlier, anyway), and as we were birds, we sure picked some good bargains at $5 per metre. I can feel some cushions for the living area coming on!



We don't really have quilt shows or exhibitions here in our town of about 190,000 people. So this was a little reminder of the quilty heaven I experienced living near Melbourne.



I was particularly taken with the stitchery designs in this one. I found the link to the pattern by smee.



These blocks were stitched by local quiltmaker Nikki.



I admire the humour in them, and would enjoy stitching them. Looks like a great handwork project for travelling where you only need one colour thread and the block traced off.



And I am inspired to make more humorous quilts. I just love humour and whimsy!



After all, I am creating for the enjoyment, why not enjoy the finished item?

Centre stage

Yesterday at the LQS Social Sewing class I put my head down and bum up, as we say here in Australia.

All 4 photos taken separately, and so vary in sizes in the pictures

Finally! All four centre blocks have their baskets on, the baskets were placed carefully, then each block was trimmed.

Then two edges of twinkles were added to each block.

Hurrah! They are all up to the same stage now.

I also made a prototype block to go next to the basket, and I am happy with those... And so, onto the next part!

Today I machine foundation pieced 27 more twinkles, and 36 half square triangle pairs. These need ironing and cutting down (trimming) before photography. I am hoping to get stuck into them tomorrow!

I am still happily hand embroidering the Secret Garden blocks in the evenings....

And today Secret Garden pattern part 5 came out. We are to make 40 4in blocks. Having no idea where they go, as it is a Mystery Quilt, I am enjoying the fresh ideas that are coming as to whether I reverse the background and contrast fabrics, or what to use for fabric fabrics, or whether to replace the background fabric (I purchased 3 different fabrics to use as the background). However. It makes no big difference insofar, as I am nowhere near finished block 4, and am back at the embellishing stage on the first 3! Oh! It brings me joy to keep nearing my goals on these two huge projects!

Linking up to Esther's blog (designer of this quilt).