Tablet design with Carla Barrett 2013,

I have drawn a couple of Zen hearts tonight.

The first one was a bit difficult...its all about learning how to draw again.

This one was actually a bit easier, as I have worked out how to use my pen a little
more confidently.

Now I am up to lesson 6...

and also finished some binding on a quilt... and sewed together some more blocks.

Off for a break till tomorrow.

There is a severe Cyclone (Rusty) Category 4 - and I think its has been downgraded to a 3...hitting the North west coastal towns as I type.  with winds up to 

200 kms an hour and flooding too.  

I hope the people keep safe.

Here the weather continues hot with strong Easterly winds here...and more heat tomorrow.

There are some nasty fires in and around Perth.

Tablet design with Carla Barrett February 2013

Tablet design with Carla Barrett February 2013

Yes!  I am again doing this class - I enjoyed it so much and I need to learn it again.

 This was with Carla's instructions and is done in sections.  

I have drawn them in Photoshop Elements 10...

I just love Carl's classes - she is a great teacher and such a lovely person too.

It takes me ages... I think this has taken me a couple of days.  It still need some cleaning up, but so far it will do as my hand gets a bit of an ache.  I can see lots of spots that will annoy me.

I am also putting together another quilt... cant show you that yet as I am just wanting to piece it all.

House and Family

ALL IS WELL AGAIN

After this :-
taken as the fire really began to take hold before the planes and helicopters got there!

Thankfully all quiet on the home front - this has all been sorted!!

Thank God for the Firefightsers and the Volunteers,

Had a wonderful quick chat to our Four Corner Skype Group - in the early hours of the morning for me.  

We had a great tme and lots of laughs!

Off to work now

Bush Fire alert today..scary!

Al the neighbours received a pone text to tell us of the fire and to prepare to evacuate, as there was some danger to life and homes   The fire was 6 kms from us, and there were 2 fixed wing yellow water bombers and two large water bombing helicopters flying through the dense smoke - flying really low above the trees,  as it was out of control for a while.  the highway near us was diverted for a while, and we just watched and tried to work out what we would do.

We were all notified on our mobiles of the danger and told what we should do if the fires remained out of control.

I did get some photos of about an hour after is began, and the smoke was really dense and black ...but my battery in the camera was low and it didn't work out

The situation now is that the fire is contained, but the fie fighters will patrol the area tonight,

A few people were evacuated along Marriott Road, and between there and  Treasure road ...and close to Dunn Road.  Cars were diverted from the highway for a while, and some roads  were closed and people were not allowed in.  There was an evacuation area ready at the Leschenault Leisure Centre... just in case.

Fortunately for us, it was just on the other sire of the highway, so all the neighbours gathered in our street to observe the fires.  There are planes still flying over at times - I guess they are keeping an eye on the fire, as there is still some bush in the centre of the containment that needs to be watched.

We are off to bed now.. with phones close just in case.

Its still really hot in the house.

FMQ Challenge 2013

SewCalGals FMQ Challenge 2013

Well - I have actually finished this challenge for January!

I did have difficulty with the thread and tension...but I persevered!

 I am running my computer in Safe Mode, as I have some problems, which will hopefully be fixed soon...so please forgive the order these photos are in. The screen is so large - I am finding it difficult.

And its HOT!

 Very bad tension in a lot of places...but hey - I will work on that.

 

YLI 100 silk thread in the centre and Sulky thread - dark greyish in the feathers...different threads tried around the feathers...

afraid I didn't keep track of them. 

I have a completion  WhoooHooo

FMQ Challenge 2013 with SewCalGal

SewCalGal has another FMQ going for 2013...

So of course I watched the video, which was free for a short time only... a video on The Quilt show.. with guest Libby Lehman and have been working on a small sample to practise what i remembered.

I didn't use the Freezer paper as Libby said to do, but drew my design on with chalk...in hindsight it was obviously better to use the freezer paper as it would have acted as a stabilizer.  Should always listen to the teacher :(

I actually remembered as I had it all pinned on - that I was meant to SEW the ribbon design on 

BEFORE I sandwiched the layers...sigh - so it all came off...

 Libby also had a lot to say about threads and needles...and tension.  oh and using the BSR on a Bernina.

Libby Lehman,s video on the Quilt show can be found here

I did use the BSR - #1 for this,  for the first time,  but I am never comfortable with it. - I stuck to it this time though!

I have never scribbled before either...and don't think I did it large enough   When Libby did it, it looked like lace and .. she used some beautiful shimmery Superior thread.

This is now partly quilted.  I did try to experiment with threads, but after a LOT of trials - I gave up on the metallic .. for now.

Not sure what the treads I used were exactly - but I did you special thread in the bobbin - I actually had ONE.  I used a very pale blue polyester for the outside highlight - a darker blue in the middle and a royal blue to.  I outlined it all in a polyester variegated yellow  shimmery thread.  

I have a huge problem with my machine telling me that the tread was broken - repeatedly - and it was NOT.

Then I remembered Cindy Needham saying in her class that you have to think of the thread direction.  So I used a thread holder at the back of my machine...and I didn't have a problem after that.

I am using YLI silk thread -which I love -  for the small circles in the centre,  with a Bernina 70 needle as I kept trying new needles - all kinds and sizes... because of the "query ' thread alerts.

and I was toying with the idea of FMQ feathers around the ribbon using them as a spine, but that my not happen yet.  

I am too tired to do more...  my eyes keep wandering,  and I have work tomorrow..and may not get back to this till late tomorrow evening...maybe!

Have a great day/night.. and I will catch up again soon.

More photos when I can take them in the daylight.

Have a few things I am working on now..

One uncompleted piece- sneak peaks

Ripped off the binding as I wasn't happy with the 

one that was there...

 

Putting a new one on - different technique 

 Ran out of thread in the bobbin

 

Cleaned all the rubbish out

and oiled the machine.  I do this each time I finish a bobbin .

Now I am ready to sew again. 

I had a movie I made - but it vanished in my computer somewhere..

Net time.

Pinning nearly completed here

And now Joannes quilt along for 2011 is ready to start quilltig on...

( I know - better late than never )

I have some blocks to sew...

some blocks to make...
and a pillow case to finish the quilting on - 

Decisions, decisions. 
 Which to do next.
Think I will do the pillowcase next as I feel the urge to quilt!

BOM 2011

Better late than never.

I have been watching Cindy Needham's Craftsy lesson and have almost got my BOM from 2011 all pin basted..

Photos follow in stages.

Cindy was with me all the way :) 

You can see the screws my DH put into my table a la Cindy ..and one in the centre too...my lines are drawn and my quilt backing  was divided and is now half on the table

Lots of backing on the floor, but I did as was taught :)

Backing centred clamped and firm, 

batting draped over and smoothed

Half the top was centred quartered and halved

Next side smoothed ready to pin ... and ....

That's what I am doing today.

Cindy's Craftsy lesson is really great.  Now I am up to the thread chapter, but I want to get the quilt basted first.

Have a great day.