A Merry Christmas indeed

I spent Christmas morn opening my swaps.  It truly was a delight that only Christmas can bring!

A feast for the eyes surely.  There was little, little packages in the big box that Merilyn sent.  I was amazed by my good fortune.  Everything resonated Merilyn and Australia!  The mug rug done with paper piecing was just perfect and Merilyn's signature ;) pincushion on ceramic is so pretty with it's crazy piecing.  The little purse sewn by Merilyn with needle rest and to carry the beautiful Scissoroo embroidery scissors native to Australia! I love it all!  Thank you Merilyn.

My swap to Merilyn. Partridge.  Designer: Prairie Schooler.  Floss: DMC.  Fabric: Linen Scrap.  Finished as pin pillow.   The tatted ornament StarChic is a free design by Jon Yusoff.

And then there's Elyte's swap. A lovely pouch purse with a flexible metal closure.  Lovingly embroidered in red.  I adore it.  And the wooden bird brooch by Elk, so cute.  It'll be great on my grey scarf!  Can you see the red & white and bird theme going on?  Love, love,love it!  Thanks again Elyte. 

My swap for Elyte.  Two by Two Deer.  Designer: Prairie Schooler.  Floss: DMC.  Fabric: Linen scrap.  Finished as pin pillow.  The tatted ornament StarChic is a free design by Jon Yusoff.

 I also sewed up my Little Apples embroidery into a cushion cover.  It's for a 16" pillow form.  I need to sew some press buttons at the back and maybe make some fabric covered buttons to pretty it up.

Design: Aneela Hoey.  Fabric:  Little Apples by Aneela Hoey for Moda

Block #43 Right Hand of Friendship

The Civil War Quilt Blocks will come to an end this coming Saturday.  I am quite behind but I do intend to catch up.  Barbara Brackman received a thank you quilt from some of us that partook in the QAL.  My block is the first row, 4th from the left.  Becky Brown did an amazing job putting the quilt together.  It's a wonderful feeling to be a part of this project.  Although many lives were lost during the war 150 years ago, the cause is a great one.  Human slavery in all it's form should be abolished but sadly that is not the case in the world right to this day. 

Christmas Gift and Needle Keep

Lillie sent me a lovely Christmas pin pillow yesterday.  It's really cute.

I finished my needle keep complete with pockets, wool felt pages, button and loop.

Size: 4-1/4" x 5-3/4".  Cotton batting, hand quilted.

 

Preparing for Build Houses from Scraps that will begin in 2012.  I've cut out the templates, gosh their really small. I may enlarge the block to a 4" ... let me have a go at 3" and see if I'm okay with it.

 Over the weekend I sewed a sleeveless blouse and a pair of shorts for home wear. 

Got a bit of a headache figuring out the inseam pockets!

 It's been raining here most days hence the darkish pics.  I've received two packages from my swap pals Elyte and Merilyn in Australia.  The deal is to only open it on Christmas day ... So glad that it's just 3 more days otherwise I am not sure if I will keep to our agreement! :)

Merry Christmas one and all!

Quilting away ...

The Depression blocks quilt has been 2 1/2 years in the making.  I was quite determined to not let it get into 2012!  So here it is all quilted, bound, washed and on my bed!

Depression blocks quilt.  Size: 58 1/2" x 76 1/2". Batting: Polyester (Soft & Bright).  Fabric: Harvest Home charm packs and brushed woven for backing by BBD for Moda.  Scrappy binding  (actually only two, interspersed). Quilting: Hand quilted (big stitch) with Pearl No. 8.

 

Am now quilting on Lori's Cheddar Cheese & Crackers and a needle keep for myself.  I find I am using many different type of needles lately and wool felt pages will separate them nicely.

Auditioning some lace for the needle keep pockets

And a little Christmas stitchery for my toaster cover!

Designer: Bird Brain (freebie).  Floss: DMC

Thanks everyone for coming by.  The year is closing so very soon, time to sit and reflect on the year and list out some 2012 stitchy goals.  Speaking of which Jeanneke will be running a QAL on Building Houses from Scraps.  I've signed up but I just intend to make enough houses for a doll quilt.

Quilting a plenty

The quilts pin basted.  I used a hera marker to mark the quilting lines for the red and white quilt.

The binding all sewn together.  I am using a single layer binding.

Designer: Cheri Payne (freebie)

 I finally tried free motion quilting.  It was really scary but interesting at the same time.  The stitches are not perfect and their some jagged edges too if you look closely.  But I hope with practice the meanders will truly meander :)

Designer: Ann Hermes

I used the same colour scheme in the magazine instead of those in the instructions.  Straight line machine quilting in the form of a chevron.

Broken dishes block, straight line machine quilted.

The X-Quisite blocks quilt and Little Star blocks quilt (both are challenges on SQT) are all hand quilted and now for the binding.

It looks like I'm trying to clear all the WIP quilt tops that I have before I embark on a new one.  I've not done any piecing for some days now :p  But I think I need to pull out some fabric for some test Jacob Ladder blocks as done by Lucy.  

Peahen's Valentine. Designer: Appleseed Prim (freebie)

Tutorial for zipper bag found here.

  It's Margaret W's birthday today.  She messaged me to say she has opened her package.  It's a needlecase similar to the one I made for a swap recently but in semi-prim fabric Beach House by Blackbird Designs.  The zipper bag was easy to tackle but the bulk caused by the fusible batting was a concern.  I think I shall use regular interface the next time.  I made another zipper bag for Jackie W too.  Quite fun really!

The curtain is finally up but I think I need to swap the panels, too much red side by side.  A little busy if I may say so but I hope to get used to it.

I'll leave you with some tin whistle music.  Still working on Silver Spear :(  This is a basic The Foggy Dew but I hope to learn the ornaments and incorporate it into this lovely melody.

Bloggers’ Quilt Festival :: Spring 2011

 This is Grand Slam Quilt.  My first quilt that I made in March 2008.  The pattern is from Quilts & More Magazine Summer 2007.  It's finished at 60-1/2" x 84-1/2".  

 I made this quilt for my dad after his by-pass surgery.  It really was a rather big task for a quilting ignoramus like me to undertake.  I didn't know what I was getting into, in terms of the work involved, the frustration, the cost (yikes!) and eventually the quilting addiction I was about to suffer ;)  

 The rectangles were cut indiscriminately, seams were pressed anyway I fancied, blocks were not aligned, the machine quilting in the ditch were wonky at best, the backing fabric (a flat sheet) were folded at some places!   Because it was for my dad ... I kept at it ...

I think or at least I hope I've come a long way from that first quilt!  There's no turning back now.

Thanks to Lori for mentioning about Amy's Spring Bloggers' Quilt Festival.  A big thank you to Amy for hosting it.

1800's Vintage Quilt QAL - WIP & More

It is all pieced but not too well I am afraid.  If you look closely a number of seams don't match.  Definitely not my best work.  But it's a nice pattern no doubt and measures 21" square.  In time I hope to grow attached to it :)

Chose 2 coordinating fabric for some stuffing fun.  This is a Strawberry pouf.  A free design by Impie, Hattie & Bea by Mary Kathryn. If you'd like a kit for this Strawberry pouf you can get it from Mary's spanking new webshop here.

My friend Kalawathi promised me a painting some years back.  I got it last Friday all framed for me.  It's beautiful and it's called Renoir's Roses, definitely worth the wait.  She's a wonderful painter and her colours are exuberant!  I designed a website for her amazing works which you can visit here.

1800's Vintage Quilt QAL

I am organizing a QAL on Small Quilt Talk Yahoo! Group of a pattern by Sheryl Johnson posted on Moda Bake Shop.

The details are on the SQT group and open to it's members.

Kathy the owner of SQT is also issuing a challenge called Romance Stars for it's members at the same time.

House Warming Gift

I've washed the table topper and now it's ready for it's new home.

Gobble Gobble Table Topper - Completed

Quilted Table Topper.  Designed by Nicole for Moda Bake Shop.  Fabric is Gobble Gobble charm pack and yardage by Sandy Gervais for Moda.  Calico for backing.  Size 37" x  37".  Polyester batting for filler and machine quilted.

It needs to be washed and packed for my cousin's house warming this Sunday. 

Log Cabin Lane Block

Completed the 3 log cabins and now for 20 flying geese.

Placemat - Completed

It's washed and ironed and it's gonna be a lovely placemat, if I say so myself.  The quilting stitches turned out to be fine. The hand quilting wasn't very enjoyable as it would be with cotton batting.  However, I think machine quilting with a flannel filler would be quite ideal if you're aiming for a very flat quilt.

Flannel for filler, muslin, calico and homespun.  Hand quilted with perle cotton no. 8.  Size: 15" x 11-1/2"

I think I should gather some courage and machine quilt this Gobble Gobble table topper in a meandering pattern next.  I just need to sit down to quilt and bind this baby.

Roses from the Heart Project - Completed

The bonnet is all sewn up.  I've used satin ribbons for the ties.  This will be packed and mailed out to Christina in Tasmania, Australia.  In time for her trip to Ireland.

Merry Christmas One and All

Design: Emmanuel
Designer: Plum Street Samplers (Freebie)
Fabric: 40ct Newcastle Dirty Linen
Threads: DMC

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

PS Ornaments & a Pinkeep

2 Prairie Schooler ornaments finished, since I had the felt colours available.

This was a long WIP. A freebie from Deborah of Midsummer Night Designs.

Design: Lovebird
Designer: Midsummer Night Designs (freebie)
Fabric: 32ct White Belfast
Threads: DMC