Tuesday 31 May 2011

Satisfaction

I'm feeling quite satisfied with the bit-by-bit quilting of these mini quilts.






How good is it to finish 3 little quilts, then hang them all together??? Well, I can tell you. It IS good. *grin*



Especially after going through a dry spell (the blog has been a bit light-on hasn't it??). The quilt above is Delightful Four-patch - started November 2009, completed May 2010.


I'm rearing to sew at home, but the heater is on the fritz, and it's the coldest we can remember for June. So, if I am at home, I am in bed with the electric blanket and a beanie on, with a book. It's not quite right for the sewing machine... *grin*


Of course I'm also working on a mystery BOM for my LQS that I can't show my progress on... so that's another reason the blog looks a bit forlorn.


Still, I hope to keep you updated soon with another mini-quilt completed. (I do so love seeing these hang on the wall!!)...

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Simply Charming - a mini quilt

Aha! I told you the next one finished would also be a mini quilt!! This is Simply Charming designed by Lori Smith.



I do enjoy free-motion quilting.... then I've used geometric machine quilting on the borders.


I love this backing fabric - that's George Washington.


The quilt measures 16in x 20in. I can't wait to have a wall of miniature quilts... I have another 6 just waiting to be quilted.. ("Pick me! Pick me!" They are calling...)

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Counting every LITTLE finish

When I look at the very small list of finishes for this year, I need to count every LITTLE finish...

So, let's celebrate this little quilt, which is now quilted and bound. I would like to have a wall of miniatures to post at some time...


It's time to start quilting another mini. There is something about finishing a piece isn't there? I'm just raring to go onto something else!!

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Stimulating the Senses at Quilt Camp

It was a special time for me over the Mother's Day weekend. I went on the Phillip Island Patches Weekend away - it's Quilt Camp really. We stay in a school camp, our meals are prepared for us... we relax, chat, socialise, and sometimes even sew!!

Upon arrival Friday afternoon, we unpacked the hugely overloaded car (poor little Kermit) into our sleeping quarters, and moved our sewing supplies into our designated workshop areas. After fish and chips on the beach for tea I finished quilting this little mini quilt - remember this??? It's been a heckuvva long time in between stitches!!! The binding was ready to hand-stitch down.

The next day we settled into our workshops. I enrolled in the Caroline Sharkey "thread and painted landscape" class.



Basically, we chop perfectly good fabric into little pieces. Like so...


This (above) will be the greenery in front of the water - I am using a photo as a guide to "build" my landscape. I've included lots of tulle pieces to add texture and depth. Actually, this photo isn't very accurate. It's much more green than blue.



These little bits of fabric will be used on the water. The little pink scissors are what we use to cut all the little snippets or confetti pieces.


With so much snipping it was necessary to take a break - numerous walks were required, and enjoyed... breathing in the seaside air.


The smell of spray glue and hot sewing machine oil made stimulated us all... but conversations couldn't be sustained while sewing machines were making zoom zoom noises... Music filtering into the ears surely assisted the creative process.



The R-rated coffee machine (adults only) sure was a hit with a lot of campers. Personally, I thought the drinks from the machine tasted disgusting. But, I'm a kid, and I'm not supposed to use it anyway...


Different people were constructing different parts of the scenic landscape. This is how a tree went together.Saturday night dress -up. The theme for the weekend was flowers - these are the flower children.




Every now and then I glean a little inspiration from somewhere... like these toadstools growing in the kiddy playground.




Olga Walters (legendary quilter and quilt teacher) have some sort of bond... we really only see each other on these weekends each other.




But as you can see, we are kindred spirits...



Not sisters... but sisters... :)
My dear friend Rosie introduced me to these weekends away.... They bring such blessings and joy.
Show and tell from everyone in my workshop.
Of course we stopped at a cafe while journeying home... and because it was Mother's Day we were treated to special cookies.
Jocelyn said this cookie was meant for me because the swirls matched my Maori koru pendant.


Blessings, blessings, blessings.


And now, I feel inspired to keep sewing!!