sashiko progress

Almost finished the sashiko panel I bought at the Craft Alive fair. I am enjoying this. The markings do start to wear off, I am grateful this is only a small panel.

The plan is to make a cushion gift. 

My question is: where am I going to find some Indigo fabric to go with the centre?

 

Angel wings

I love freemotion stitching to embellish, enhance, quilt, machine embroider, and embed energy into the altar cloths I sell in my etsy store.

Archangel Michael sold straight away.

SewIntuitiveByRainey.etsy.com

He is rather striking!

A sale here and there, funds my sewing addiction! Thank you!

 

Batik tiles

This is another one of those hand pieced pieces I've wanted to make. 

I'm planning this as a decorative throw pillow, as compared to a cushion. But I don't think I can stop the boys in my family from using it, squashing it, getting it dirty....

I've tossed around ideas whether to have the white in the very edge as well to create a flush edge, or whether to trim the block back to the straight point and then put a border.

I've decided to cut it flush.

I think it looks great! Next for the border.

This is the border print, I just love these colours together. It's a fresh tropical feel!

Ooh? What am I baking? A bit of food crafting....

Delicious! I wonder if I can buy spelt flour in bulk. I would like to start using it for all of my baking.

 

My spoils from the show

As promised, I'm sharing my shop spoils from the Craft Alive fair.

I was looking for bargains, things to go with patterns I have at home, and things that I don't see in my local patchwork shops.

This jelly roll and roll of batting were absolute bargain. $15 for the bag batting, and only about $20 for the jelly. I chose red and green as those are my favourite colours.

I already have a pattern that uses this style of make, and it won't cost me two arms and legs to have a go at it. Score!!

Next, a sashiko panel and thread. I'd like to make a cushion as a special gift.

Next, some candlewick threads. I've never been interested in making it for my own bedding, but I think it's pretty, and I'd like to have a go, then gift it.

And a bargain purse embroidery kit, including the metal clasps. It's so danged pretty!

I'd best put it away with this hoop that appears to be the perfect size.

I feel like I made some fun choices, with an interesting variety. I honestly have so much fabric, it's great to have some little choices and a day out.

BTW, I didn't stay long at the Craft Alive venue. They had sold out of food by 11am. Crazy to think that they would sell out before lunch! Obviously more quilters and crafters here than anyone expected! I will remember that for next time, it's not necessarily a whole day event here.

 

Bernina Travelling Suitcase 2022

I miss the huge Quilt and Craft fairs in Melbourne. Such an inspiring see and shop. I miss the exhibitions and the quilt ins. I guess, I was lucky to have experienced them for so long.

I've made it to my first time at the local Craft Alive experience in Townsville.

I happened across the Bernina Travelling Suitcase Exhibition. Such a great idea to have an exhibition to inspire everyone. These were the only quilts displayed, except for some at the shop stands.

I must start with the Ruby Slippers piece, which means so much to me.

I hope you enjoy the view here.  I will make another post with my shopping show and tell.

 

Itty Bitty Progress

Oh! I adore these French General mini charm square quilts!

So soft and pretty, but they don't go with my home colour scheme at all here in the tropics.

So I am very happy to be creating itty bitty quilts from these mini charm packs as special gifts.

One is a house warming as my cousin bought her first house.

One is to celebrate my Mum's 70th birthday.

I find the mix of fast and slow so appealing. Fast machine piecing. Slow hand quilting with perle 8. Fast binding attachment. Slow hand turning the binding.

And always texture and the way it feels.

I am using a special soft batting I bought from one of the local quilt shops. Just Country Quilts (even though they're not just that), seem to have all the specialty items, including all the types of batting. 

 

Itty Bitty quilts

An auspicious day.

Today I got to pick up my new car! The car accident had created something FOR me, and was making way for my new car to come in.

Look at that smile. 

While I was driving home, I dropped into a local quilt ship and bought this little fabric pack to make a mini quilt as a gift. I have a few special big 0 birthdays coming up, and I wont'be able to make them big quilts, but I can make small ones to go on the table or hang on a wall.

I laid out these 2.5 inch squares, then chain pieced to create rows joined with threads so that i could just stitch across the columns.

Can you see what I'm saying? It's more clear in the picture above.

And I've started hand quilting with big stitches another itty bitty.

I've made these in colours for the recipients, and just love to try making something with the cute new fabric, but don't have to spend a whole lot of money to enjoy the feel.

Beep beep yeah!!