Joan at Leschenault

Sketchbook Challenge - Doodling

2012-01-27T02:00:00.000-08:00

More doodling while I was away in Perth, and WAY too hot to do any sewing.
I have added some things for The Sketchbook Challenge as its nearly the end of the January theme..

First I did this in black and white, and then, as my good firend Liz had lots of lovely paints....

like the ones she very kindly gave me for Christmas.....

I got to play with the colours on it......

'Fraid the poor lady bug is about to be eaten :)

Then.....

I made a quick sketch of one of the bays we have stayed at on Rottnest Island...

This time using some of Liz's water colour pencils, which I have never used before...

that was a bit different...

Then just to finish off my time in Perth... I did another Zentangle/Zendoodle

The whale was the last thing I drew, as it just seemed to pop out at me... and it was a bit of a giggle.

Must have had fish on my mind..

Its still terribly hot here with 42C forecast for Perth tomorrow - mercifully it will hopefully be a degree or two cooler here.

I am going to go in the main bedroom and set up some hand sewing there- as the refridgerated air con is in there.

Till next time.

Doodling

2012-01-24T05:33:00.000-08:00

Too hot here to quilt.

We have forecasts of nearly every day being 40C ( about 104F) and on Saturday 42C (107.6F)

Longest hottest run of temperatures for 47 years! A cyclone is seeming to form off the West Australian coast west of Exmouth....

Definitely NOT sewing weather...and sadly I have to go to Perth tomorrow with Andrea as she has a Doctors appointment. We have her younger brother Patrick with us, and will go back to their father's after that for a couple of days - earlier than the 42C I hope.

Because of no sewing, I ran up a quick drawing of some feathers on fabric and hope to get it sewn and maybe painted on later.

Its drawn with a fine permanent black pen.

Will think about what to do with it when I get back

I am onto the last couple of borders with my WCQ, but it really is way too hot to work on!

Hopefully I will post some photos when it is near completion - if the weather would get cooler!

FNSI

2012-01-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

FNSI with Joanne

Mostly my Friday night comes earlier than most ,

so my FNSI was Friday morning for Joanne in Canada

As its near midnight for me here, I did some playing with FMQ

feathers...

As I look at this photo now, I can see where I missed a double line in the nestled feathers.

Was early in the morning at that stage!

There is Joanne in Canada and I am in Western Australia.

Isn't technology amazing?

Whole cloth quilt

2012-01-19T23:46:00.000-08:00

I am still working away at my WCQ.

Not good in the heat we have at present!

Am now well into the borders being filled.

Front

Back

You may be able to see my trade mark lady bug in one of the stippled borders :)

I did small circles in the centre - which took me a week to do...

Micro stippling in the next border.... not so long.

Today I am going to start on some echo quilting, then maybe back to micro stippling on the final filler before the outer border

I think the outer border will be piano keys with a double line - I think... waiting till I get there.

I am sorry not to be able to show you much else, but I need to get this finished.

Its a heavy quilt as it has double batting - one of wool and one of cotton!

Quilted in silk YLI 100 and Aurifil 50 in the bobbin. I am not having problems with this and it is quilting well with the tension I have.

Using my DSM Nessie - a Bernina 820. The bobbin is set with the inside bobbin case dot slightly to the right of the dot on the bobbin...the top tension is on 2. and the pressure foot is set on Zero. Took me a while to get the pressure right but its all working fantastically now.

Now back to my quilt till I get too hot again!

Whole cloth quilt

2012-01-14T20:11:00.000-08:00

Slowly a little at a time getting sewn.

The front view - these small circles take a bit of time - especially in the heat we have here at present.

The back view.

Off to have a game of tennis on the Wii with Andrea :)

Then back to some sewing for a bit. I still have a heap of those small circles to do.

Doodling

2012-01-12T23:27:00.000-08:00

To have a small break from my WCQ I have done some doodling .

Long time since I have done any, and I really enjoyed it.

This is for the Sketchbook Challenge - which this month is Doodling!

Now I will get back to my WCQ for a bit and may do some different doodling later :)

Whole cloth quilt

2012-01-08T04:25:00.000-08:00

I have almost completedall the borders of my WCQ but went back to my practise piece to try to work out which filler to do.

It was quite interesting, as the quilting in the lower left hand quarter is the very first practise I did monthe ago when I first started the actual quilting. Most of the rest of this piece of quilting I have done tonight. feathers circles and fillers.

I have still to work out what to do in the centre ( this is just part of 1/4 of the quilt)

I think I may concentrate on the micro stippling for the fillers.

I took the photo tonight so the exposure isn't the best.

I will take some more photos tomorrow and put up...of the actual quilt ...maybe.

Sketchbook Challenge 2012

2012-01-04T21:40:00.000-08:00

I have decided to also go in the Sketchbook Challenge.

Not quite sure how it all works, but it sounds good, especially as my very good friend Liz of

Lizard of Oz gave me some coloured inks for Christmas.

You can find out about the challenge by checking out the link above.

had thought I may use these for Mug Rugs...

This one I may use my new paints on to see what happens.

Apparently these are OK on fabric.

Whan I draw on fabric directly - I iron it to freezer paper... it is so much easier to draw on.

Now - back to my whole Cloth quilting.

Some doodling or Zentangling I have done before

Now I have a reson to do some more.

Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

2012-01-03T22:28:00.000-08:00

FIRSTLY - A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

My first post for the New Year is my sample of the new Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

Our First Month's challenge is from Frances Moore

The top.

I have used a Silk YLI thread in the top and a varigatedAurifil 50 in the bobbin.

The needle is a gold Schmetz Stick Nadel

Embroidery neede 75/11

I had no trouble with the thread,

This is the reverse side - and I di however have an incorrect tension - which I should have tried out more than I did

I am using my Nessie - a Bernina 820 DSM

This is some drawings I did of the design in my sketch book I keep all my designs in.

The top desings here was some practise I was doing for my last quilt - the Labyrinth quilt.

Below is a photos of our family Christmas Dinner , which was held at my Younger DD house on the 25th. It was really wonderful to haveus all together :)

I think there were 19 of us. The only ones missing were our eldest Grandson and his partner.

It was a very happy time for us all.

Then we went back to our eldest sons house and had another lovely meal.

A great Christmas all round!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2011-12-21T01:50:00.000-08:00

Hoping every one has a merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.

Merry Christmas

Some hand felted Christmas decorations I made some time ago

Top of this larger one

and the base.

These next two are smaller

Some Christmas beading - also did these some time ago.

Have a safe and prosperous New Year

Friday Night Sew in

2011-12-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Heidi for hosting the Friday Night Sew In.

I did nearly forget about it, but made it in time...my Friday night comes a bit sooner than most countries

so I am lucky and can do two :)

So - I have done some more work on my WCQ

I need to keep going on this as some of the markings are really fading.

I am nearly round another section.

This is the top of course

and this is from the back.

Also ....

I have also sewn around another block ...Row 5 block 7 - so I can now sew this to the fifth row and I will have only one more blockto go for that row.

Then a heap of sewing to get the 4th row to the third row..Lots of hand sewing there...

Once those 5 rows are all together, I think I will add the bocks one by one to those rows

It won't seem such a lot to do that way. I hope.

Only another 32 of the white surrounds, small squares and the smaller of the blocks to go.

Andrea has kindly said she will sew some of the 'threesies' of the white for me.

She has done this lots for me before and it is such a help.

Now I am off to sew some more of the WCQ

My Labyrinth quilt is soaking :)

Patchwork Of The Crosses (POTC)

2011-12-14T21:47:00.000-08:00

Last night I Skyped with Joanne and Wendy - both in Canada - the marvels of our computer world.

We were all sewing our different things and chatting. Its lovely to catch up with them each week :)

I actually got one of my POTC blocks joined to the 5th row.

I keep track of the main blocks and the small corner blocks with masking tape as you can see.

I have two more blocks in this row to put on...the blocks are all done - I just put the outside cream ones on and then join them.

I have the first three rows sewn together, and when I have done the 4th and 5th - which as you can see are joined - then I will sew those rows together before I put more rows together.

Now ... back to my
WCQ which is slow going :)

Labyrinth Quilt - FMQ

2011-12-12T23:42:00.000-08:00

At last - a finish!!

Just over a month from start to finish - not bad for me !!!

and some photos to follow showing some more of the details....

The second border row is why I will have to wash and soak now to get the blue lines out.

No other marks anywhere :)

Can you see my trademark Ladybug ? Nestled in the corner?

Its not really very big, and hard to find when looking for it on the whole quilt - but that is the fun part.

Swirls to match the fabric - sort of..

I unpicked the border I mentioned earlier and "Leafed it"

Thank you again to Kim Stotsenburg for her book 'just Leaf It'

It worked a treat Kim and I also did some on the outer border

Blogger turned the one above and below sideways :(

Some of the back

The lower section of the back - as you can see my backing didnt work too well and I have a couple of 'gathered sections'

I need to starch a little more for the nwxt big quilt.

As I didnt have enough of the cream fabric for the backing - I added some more batic - the brown and some of the same one in the outer border.

The outer border was done with green on the back as wlell as a darker shade on the top.

The leafed border I re=-did...is sewn with blue at the back as in the fromt.

I used Aurifil 50 weight on the top and bobbin, and for the dark blue Guttermans 50...but this was not nearly as good as the Aurifil I only used up what I had.

I used mostly Microtex 70 needles but the best where the 70 titanium needles.

Now I think thats more than enough of this quilt!!

I am weary.... so today I will rest and then...

start again on my WCQ.

Labyrinth Quilt - FMQ

2011-12-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

I am actually onto the last border.

Yes!! I have decided to do some feathers... I have also included my trademark Ladybug - somewhere in the quilting.

I have 'sewn' a design onto some paper - no cotton in the machine - and pounced the design on. I . wont stick to that ( doesn't it look a mess ), but it will guide me.

I might add I am covered in chalk as I had to keep patting the design so I could change some places.

Large cream border

The blue here has large circles in the middle to fill the extra space.... The borders are all odd sizes.

First time I have attempted this one...all large circles in a line - to match the fabrics a bit.

More lines - and I may put some circles in the centre of this one too.

The small border i really loved doing -

If I have time I will undo this border and do it again.... its a bit too shakey for my liking... and I think I need to fill in some of the space with some thing like feathers of leaves...like I have done the small border. I just don't feel it goes. My DH thinks I am mad !! :)

The larger border of the 'circles' this was the first I did and was a bit of a challenge.

So there it is at the present.

11.30pm and I am off to sleep as I can get onto it again in the morning.

I guess the feathers will take me some time, and I also have to decide which thread I will use.

Also think I will use a different colour on the backing.

The backing is pieces of fabric I had, as I couldn't find any big enough for the whole quilt!

I will show it again when I finish... maybe before I do the binding .. or after if time permits!

Giveaway from Carla Barrett

2011-12-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

Do go and check out Carla Barrett's Blog.

She is having a fantastic 'giveway' of some of her wonderful beadwork.

Plus her next Quilt whisperer class starts in January on her StepOnPins.com site.

It s creative class on quilting designs for all levels of quilters.

I have done this previously and its really fantastic!

Labyrinth Quilt - FMQ

2011-12-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

I have been quiet but busy.

I am working on some of the last few borders - working things out as I go along.

This is what I have done so far...so still a way to go.

I am not doing anything feathery or leafy, as I want all the borders to show up, and feathers and/or leaves didn't seem to go. All mostly lines and fillers.

I was fortunate to get some more tables and rearranged my sewing area -

As you can see it really worked out wonderfully.

Now I am surrounded by tables!

Nessie is performing so well - she runs like a dream. I am actually managing the tension so much better...lots of learning!

Before I brought the extra tables in, I had some mess transference to do :)

As you can see I have a heap of sorting out to do here in the shelves !!

Back to my quilting now.

FMQ

2011-11-25T20:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I sewed together some pieces of fabric that were left over from the Labyrinth Quilt.
Last night I did some FMQ on the sample to see what I may do on the quilt

I was trying different thread, and different designs thinking I would use some of the 'Just Leaf It' book I got from Kim Stotsenberg - thank you Kim, its a great book!

This is the front view

This is the back

Showing the front with my leaves

.....and a close up of the back.

It all seemed a bit much, so I have decided to do all the ditch sewing first

( and there is a HEAP of that) and work out which way I will go from there.

The fabrics are a bit busy, so maybe it will be easier to 'see' when that's done..I have also ordered more thread too.

I did love doing the PPP though :)

I had a lovely Skype time with Joanne in Canada, who was busy as we chatted, quilting on her Dresdon Plate quilt. Its looking wonderful!

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.

Labyrinth Quilt and a giveaway

2011-11-23T17:01:00.000-08:00

Firstly, Wendy at Inky Threads is having a giveaway of Jennifer Chiaverini’s

newest book: The Wedding Quilt. Wonderful givaway!

And

I am a bit further along with Pin-basting.

I am using Harriet Hargraves book and pining as per her instructions for the first time...SO much easier this way. I should have tired it before!

I am thankful I actually remembered where the book was!

Labyrinth Quilt

2011-11-21T05:19:00.000-08:00

Labyrinth quilt top has been completed.

Its on my design wall now - floor to ceiling!

It is I think 85" x 105"

Now I need to work out how I am going to quilt it.

No idea why I made such a big quilt.... and as its for a GS

I dont think feathers would be right...so this one wont be easy.

Now I need to get my cutting table cleared so I can put this on there to layer it together - with clamps if I can. Its too big on the floor.

No thread basting here - back to the safely pins!!

Friday Night Sew in

2011-11-18T20:04:00.000-08:00

More of the Labyrinth Quilt for the FNSI.

The rows are being sewn together two at a time. The bottom half are all sewn 2 x 2 rows and the top ones are sewn singly. I was worried if a sudden gust of wind would come along and mess up the plan, so I have been working hard.

Andrea was able to help me immensely with getting the design in order...otherwise I would have taken so much longer.

This is as far as got with the Friday Night Sew in.

A big thanks for Heidie for hosting it.

Labyrinth Quilt

2011-11-16T22:30:00.000-08:00

I am going cross-eyed!!

The jig-saw so far.

I cut it all out in the last couple of days...and I am begining to think I am dyslectic as I find it difficult to see where the pieces go on the diagram!... I guess it will work out.

I have something wrong on the right side of the plan and cant work it out.

The squares are mostly 4 1/4 inches and will finish at 3 3/4 inches..

The quilt will be 90 x 110 inches..

Think I need my head read!!

I think I need to go do some FMQ to soothe my soul

Time to walk away from it for a while.

Labyrinth Quilt

2011-11-15T05:40:00.000-08:00

Things may slow down again - Health issues in the family again which tends to take a toll of me too...and any free time I may have.

However I have accomplished some things!

I have made a start on my Labyrinth Quilt !!

As I need to concentrate to make sure I don't cut some pieces incorrectly - it is taking some time.

It also took me time to actually work out which fabric was for which part...but as you may notice I have the fabric numbered and pinned now in order on the design board.

I have taken my POTC quilt ( as far as it is done) off the design board, as I think I will need to use a large area for putting the pieces of the Labyrinth quilt together in order.

I really did have to clear fabric and other stuff off my cutting table - to actually DO the cutting out)

Also on the go is...

The next block I am putting together - also slowly - of my Grannies Hanky

And ...

A very grateful thank you to Denise for this great tip of marking the ruler...and to Joanne for reminding me of it.

All the borders are completed on my Quilt Along, and its ready to be put together...WHEN the Labyrinth quilt is cut ...and I can put the layers together on the cutting table...sigh!!

Now I am off to bed as I feel I may be required to get up early in the morning for Andrea...and I hate getting up early :)

Joannes Quilt Along

2011-11-12T02:28:00.000-08:00

I have been concentrating on clearing my cutting table ( so I can actually SEE it ) and get the last 2 or 3 borders of my Quilt Along cut out. Joanne of Threadhead Quilt Along BOM

I didnt get to get it finished, as I wanted get some squares done for the second border...
then change my mind and put it in the too hard basket!

I did get as far as trying to work out how to do the quilting - and of course I cant remember how I actually did draw the design in used Photoshop - so need to go back and re-do the lessons :(
All a time thing isnt it!

However this is what I have come up with last year ... before I got to trying to work out how to finish with the borders.

This is actually the one I like as I can try to work out a nice feathered border and maybe go into the triangles....

This is what I was going to do before I had the thought for the top photo

Of course the dark borders would be 1" finished...the light border is 5" finished and the binding will hopefully finish at 1"

As I said I do like just the outer dark border, but any thoughts would be appreciated before I cut out the 1" inner border.... or not :)

I have also been ironing and starching fabic ... have a bit more to do of that yet.

Having wasted WAY too much time over the last two days... sadly... I have now got lots to do.

Arrivals today.

2011-11-07T00:56:00.000-08:00

Another quilt to get done....

Had almost forgotten I had ordered this.

Now I really do have to start and clear my cutting table.

I wish the fabric didn't need to be washed...Ahhhh ....but I need to get it done I guess!

I also need to get my Quilt Along borders done... among other things.

Guess who is a fan of these guys ?

Amazing isn't it :)

Hop To It BOM

2011-11-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Today I have managed to get this block put together.

Hop To It #10.

Now I have 3 to sew... and I hope to get some fabrics picked out during the week.

I think Block # 11 is next - then I believe Raewyn has picked Block #4 for this month ....

I am still a way behind :)

I have also done some of my WCQ so things are progressing slowly.

After searching for my 1" hexagons - for my One Flower Wednesday - fianlly found the box today ( has taken me at least 2 week ) so hope to get one flower at least this Wednesday.
Found all my cut out Insanity Quilt hexies... and my 'Almost' Insane hexies... ( no not Nearly Insane ) they are also looking at me - as are my POTC blocks... too much to do and not enough time !!

Whole cloth quilt

2011-11-03T23:55:00.000-07:00

Some progress!

While the Nurses cap is somewhat askew :) I have expanded the sewing circle. I will probably frog ( unpick)

the curved lines near where the red circle is. The section above the sewn feathers and below the triangle of circles. I am not sure yet.

I will keep going on the quilt ... I am actually begining to enjoy the process ...and think about alternatives.

Maybe echo quilting there ..Mmmm or lines closer together

Any suggestions welcomed.

My eldest DD - who visited last night AND who the quilt is for...loved ti! Phoned me after she left this morning to ask if I could get it done for Christmas - OR her Birthday is in January.....

WELL - I just said a big HMPH and laughed !!

Hop To It BOM

2011-11-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Have been busy with my Nurses cap on again here, for several days now ....

and will be for a few days more..

I have only done a little of the prep for my HTI BOM.

This has come to a bit of a stand still!

The WCQ has stopped once more for the time being. No time for concentration for very long.

I have also started a PSE course - with Carla Barret of Feathered Fibers ... on-line...but I am not getting a long way fast with that either.

I sometimes think someone is playing funny people with me....

Whole cloth quilt

2011-10-29T20:28:00.000-07:00

A little more done!

I did a small amount more...the straight lines on the left hand side above the feathers will be frogged soon as I am not happy with them...but they will keep a bit.

I tried some different things last night. I used this to see if I could manage...but the wieght was a bit much (the quilt was too heavy and I am not really happy with the fabric I am actually using) It would work well with practise I am sure.

I also tried the BSR on a practise piece, but I really manage better on my own.

Its PPP for me to get my stitches more even.

Hop To It BOM

2011-10-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hop To It Block # 9 ready to sew!!

This photo took me a while as I put in the text in Photoshop ... took me a while to remember what to do :)

Not too keen on the colours - hope to make the next one brighter.

Andrea helped ... I drew the small templates - and she cut them out for me!

What a wonderful help.

Now I have 5 more blocks prepped.

I have decided to get the blocks all prepred and then sew them when they are alkl completed. That way I may get them done quicker.... hopefully

... and while I have the fabric mess - I may as well go with the flo

Hop To It BOM

2011-10-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

First Hop To It Block - Block - # 12 ready to sew..

Will keep for a while - as we have some more issues with health here :(

I will get some more together before I sew them

Check out Joanne's and Wendy's and see what they have done :)

Whole cloth quilt

2011-10-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

Whole Cloth Quilt - next step.

Front

and back.

SO - I have done a small amount more. Gradually getting the center done!

Slowly but surely!

Friday Night Sew in

2011-10-22T03:34:00.000-07:00

I made the FNSI at last.

Spent some time frogging before I got there though - and had to almost relearn my machine.

So here is what I have done so far on my WCQ.

Two and a half more of the center motifs to go and then I hope to do the centeral lines!

I was not happy with the way my 1st Hop To It block (#12) was coming along, so have changed the backgroound fabric and am re-doing my small pieces.

I hope to get some applique done before and during the next FNSI.... or mabe the WCQ??

Or ..... shock horror ... both!!

Home and Family

2011-10-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

The Adventures of 'Arbie'

Arbie was a stuffed toy of Andrea's mother... and much loved.

Andrea couldn't say Rabbit and the name evolved to Arbie once she first started speaking :)

So here is the story of Arbie - Mark 1.

Andrea's mother died when she was a baby - so we gave Arbie to Andrea when she was about 8 months old. He was her constant companion and went everywhere with her, she wouldnt sleep without him! He was so very much loved!

As you can see by his photo - he is well worn.

He had some special adventures, especially when we went on our annual holidays to Rottnest Island - off the coast of Western Australia. He was accidently dropped off our push bike and fell between the chain - got covered in grease and of course then was delicately washed!

He got lost on the road at Rottnest on the way home from a fishing adventure... my eldest DD, who was staying with us, rode off and found him in the middle of the road some way from the settlement ( quite an effort for her as she was 8 months pregnant at the time) So he was brought home to us again.

Then he was just missing after a shopping adventure!! and it was evening before we discovered this. So for one dreadful night we went without him... it was very stressful!!

Next day we went to the police station on the island to tell the nice policeman we had lost our rabbit :)

No one had handed him in.

We went to all the shops in the settlement... then one of the kind ladies there told us there was a rabbit in the Rottnest Island Authority office...so off we went again - and there, sitting on the top of the counter, was Andrea's precious Arbie. You can imagine how thankful we were to have him back with us.

As you may be able to see by his photo...he was very squashed especially around his waist - which is where is was held where ever Andrea went!

In time he had many other adventures...and was occasionally sicked on too.

Then he lost an eye! Time to make a new one.

This is Arbie Mark 2!

I very carefully drafted a pattern from the original - and came up with this one.

As you can see he too is well worn! And much loved!

Time for another Arbie - at least this one lasted from aged 3 to 15 :)

The making of Arbie 3.

Sadly I couldnt find the right fur this time - and had almost forgotten how I made him!

Made his nose wrongly and his eyes are a bit crooked!

And I got the ear colours the wrong way round!

Here is Arbie Mark 3 - waiting for Andrea to love him again .

I was not too happy with this one... and will probably do another to make it smaller and softer...

with some fur I found that I had for the second one.

Here are the three together :)

A bit like the 3 Muskateers

So I guess there is an Arbie Mark 4 around the corner... and maybe even another one for Andrea to give to her child when she is grown with a family of her own.

I am still struggling with getting things sewn! I am doing lots of frogging...

Hop To It BOM

2011-10-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

I have made a start with this BOM - at last.

My First block in the Hop To It BOM - Block #12 - with the pieces cut out.

Hoping to get some ot these pieces completed ready to set up the block and sew .tomorrow.

Whole Cloth Quilt and a bit more play.

2011-10-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

Pleased to say things are becoming good again!

I have come off my happy pills and have come back to life!!

Have been playing for the last week or so.

Here is my practise piece on the left and the quilting beginning of my Whole Cloth Quilt.

So that is what I will do first...the center, then it will be back to the practise piece, which is 1/4 of the WCQ, and work out what section for the next bit - huge way to go - and I have already been frogging some.

I have a problem with one corner not being square - not quite sure what to do - maybe I will undo some of the basting and try sorting it a bit ... still thinking on that one.

The beginning of my Hop To It BOM that Joanne of Thread Head and Wendy of Inky Threads are doing - I am a long way behind.

I started off being very organised

And then ... this is my studio cutting table tonight.

Wouldnt you think that picking fabrics would be easy :)

If you look closely in the foreground is what I have been making today .... more on that later

A few things I have managed

2011-09-28T04:50:00.000-07:00

I have made the February block for Granny's Hankie.

I am really very slow.

I have had my computer down for a bit as my Modem collapsed and I had to get another, so I have been without internet for a while.

Just as well, as I am not comfortable sitting here for long.

Mal is doing remarkably well and apart from being a bit tired and unable to do the things he used to do without effort -he is back to his normal self :)

His operation was completely successful and the tumor is not expected to return!!

However it has all worn me out!

Mal relaxing at home after his time in Perth with our eldest daughter Fiona.

Andrea is more or less well - home with another nasty cold. at present.

I have also put together my whole cloth quilt - hand basted it!

Rolling up the front and backing prior to basting

Progressing accross the front lower section of the quilt.

This curved needle was REALLY helpful as I couldnt manage it with a straight needle.

Miracle it that I was able to find it :)

All hand basting completed.

I began to sew with a cream silk on top and a beige aurofil in the bobbin.

I hadnt sewn for a while...and need to do a hepa more practise.

I frogged all that I had sewn...didnt like it at all and thought it was best to do that before much more was done. THAT took a while as the stitches were tiny!

Then I looked at it for another day...nearly ready to throw it all in the too hard basket.

However....

I have now got some of the design drawn - trying out some markers that I have

and this will be my practise piece.

Just have to put that together now ... and will spend some time getting back to to hopefully where I was.

I have been watching everyones blogs...sometimes trying to make comments - and having problems with Blogger...

So I have been a silent lurker.

Hope to be back to normal soon.

Lots of resting between times. I seem to be sleeping a lot!

To complete my blogging after soooo long

here is a photo of our Wisteria in bloom.

A give away from Melody.

2011-09-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

I have just visited Melody's blog ....

http://thehouseonthesideofthehill.blogspot.com/ and she is

having a wonderful giveaway.

She has been blogging for just over a year...

and this is to thank all her wonderful blogging friends :)

Practice piece and Zentangling

2011-08-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

I did a small piece for practise on my Granny's Hankie BOM

and have managed to get most of the February block done.

Cant finish it at present as my back is still not good and I guess I realy shouldnt have been sitting and sewing.

So now I am back to reading -

and not doing much

and here are some more Doodlings

My DH is improving daily :)

Andrea had only one migraine last week-

Now I need to improve or something,

Have a great week.

FNSI, Designs and family

2011-08-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

I managed to get a small (tiny ) bit of FMQ done for FNSI

Was not able to sit for long...but its a start.

As I said - just a tiny bit :)

some drawings I did while sitting with Mal in hospital

My younger DD claimed this one to frame...

I call this one my sea monster

Elder DD wants this one

and maybe this one.

I actually did this on Wednesday ...and this is the carpet that was in the hospital...

It makes a great filler design for quilting.

And Andrea, in her new dress.... and shoes

Amazingly she is now 15!!

Thats it from me.

Pleased to say Mal is improving somewhat slowly .. has good and bad days

but we struggle on :) and keep positive.

Designs

2011-08-07T18:26:00.000-07:00

This is some of what I have been doing while keeping my DH company.

Playing at quilting.

Zentangling

Some more play.

I have also finished another scarf which has already gone to one DD.. and have started another.

The good news is that my DH has recovered from surgery..results are all benign and gone!! He should be back to normal and just needs to gothrough his recovery and be good when he gets home!

What a relief!!!!

Home and Family

2011-08-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

Last post for a while...

Forgot I had made this a week or so ago...

Before Andrea had her current illness she made up some recipes and we had some lovely meals.

            We loved what she cooked ...hopefully she will do some more when she is better.
                                       It was so nice to have someone else do that cooking :)
                                                  Hoping she is well again soon.

Playing with FMQ

2011-08-02T00:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got some more of this done.

Its my own designed feather Piece.

I havent been able to sit for long to do this... so it was great to actually get some done.

A lot of it is more micro-quilting, which I love.

I did get a bit muddled in a couple of places, but I think thats OK. I still have a long way to go, and it takes quite a while to do.

I am using a batting I have never used before and I think its a bit soft

Time will tell I guess.

It is pouring with rain outside and the wind is about gale force...

We have had one front after another roll by us here

and the wind has been dreadful. It always seems to happen at night. and that seems worse.

Well I am off to get some things done now.

Maybe I will get some more of this done later - if I am lucky :)

FMQ

2011-07-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

I have actually managed to get some sewing done today - a small amount. I completed the samples I had started for the Free Motion Challenge.

First was the drawing I did

Then the sewing

Sample fillers which I had done previously

The completed sample piece

Including my practise sashing

Its all sewn on 'Nessie', my Bernina 820, with the top thread silk and the back one Aurifil.

The tension was 1.75 for the bobbin, the needle was a 75 Microtec

I used a wool wadding and a cotton one to see what the double batting would be like.

The border one I used a lights greenish beige...as I was thinking of doing that colour on my Whole Cloth Quilt - if I ever get it together

Thats my days quilting - not much, but a start.

Now I will be off to bed soon.

FNSI

2011-07-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

A little bit of sewing for FNSI

Goodness - another sideways photo!

I did a very small amount on the border of one of my POTC blocks - am up to the fourth and fifth rows...am sewing those ones together in a double line - then I will sew the third row onto that....... there

are 9 rows altogether.

2011-07-22T09:15:00.001-07:00

Family

2011-07-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Some photos of the past weekend

Andrea and her brother Patrick busy in the kitchen

Andrea cooking Monday nights dinner...she did a great job!

The wine was mine - not hers :)

Good news and bad.
The good news is Mal at last has an answer to his pain problem...the bad news is - it is a benign tumor in his spine. The Doctor doesnt think its malignant as he would have been paralized by now...

but he needs an operation ASAP to prevent that happening, so that is in the very near future.

As the tumour is growing - the pain is worse each day.

So ... sewing time is still a mystery to me as I still have my Nurses hat on ..but I am intending to try to get to the FNSI at least.

On a lighter note....

When Andrew was here over the weekend, we were telling him about our frog that spent any sunshine during the day sitting on the rocks...

So he named it Vodka - on the rocks :) :)

Vodka is very timid and jumps in the pond if he sees us coming.

Also doing an online QW couse , which is again time.

My apologies if I have not answered some comments...

Catch up again if I actually get something done :)

Family and Friends

2011-07-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Having fun together.

Part of of what we did today..

No sewing as yet!!

Andrew, Andrea's father ( and my eldest DS ) Andrea , Patrick ( Andrea's brother) and Mal watching the performance of Andrew's radio controlled plane, which he brought up with him for the weekend. The video is also one of its flightsover and around our house. It was such a beautiful day!

I have also been doing some of my homework for the Quiltwhispering classes - and playing with Photoshop.

Designs

2011-07-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

Working on the Border

Still not quite sure which way to go - here is what I have doen so far.

In the middle is the first one I drew ...and I was happy with that till I put it up next to the cloth...looked like too many feathers, and the curve was going the wrong way....

So I did the second one - the far right one. Wasnt sure about that one either..

So did the third one. the one now next to the main design.

I thought one side of feathers only and maybe some 1/2 inch piano keys along the edge...and Dianeshiko or apple cores in the corner, but not sure about the corner bits.

So now I am just looking at them all and wondering if I should draw some more.

OR just stick to the original drawing! OR the one with lots of feathers and make the center stems a bit smaller..

Decisions decisions.

Designing in progress

2011-07-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

Second time round with this!

I have completed the main part of the design.

Fortunately my back allows me to stand easier than sit...so I have been able to do this at times.

Now I have ironed a 6" border of freezer paper- under the fabric to try to work out how and what to add in that 6"s

I need to work out which part of the design to use as a repeat.

Will take a while to think out and to put it on the fabric - IF I can work it out.

DH still has his pain problem, but does small things as he can.

Andrea has been off sick for a week...so we are a household of people looking out for each other :) and doing what we can.

My DH and I slowly got some wood, canvas and cotton wadding together ..plus invested in a staple gun... and I have made a nice firm ironing surface - with many thanks to Sharon Schamber's very informative video on how to make one.

The next one :) :) the wood will be thicker.

But really this one works a treat.

Now I am off to think about more of a design for my whole cloth, while I rest some more.

Please forgive me for not appearing to visit many blogs - but Blogger still is mostly being awkward.

I am visiting when I can and love to see and read what everyone is doing.

Designing in progress

2011-06-25T04:43:00.000-07:00

My printing has been done for me today, and I have stuck the pieces together...the whole design is now larger. Which is good ........... I think!

Trouble is that I cant seem to get the design quite square, so have done the best I can for the moment. I do need to do something with the centre but think I can do that as I draw.

The outside far corners also need something different as the circles dont quite match.

Anyhow - thats it for me just now - back to the couch go I :)

Designing in progress

2011-06-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

Starting again!!

Going!

Gone!!

Even the water went clear!

I am having the design Printed for me and will then glue the 4 pieces together...trouble is thay were not able to print it onto Freezer paper...so I may need to transfer it to that by physically drawing it... or another thought - I wonder if I iron the Freezer paper to the fabric blank and THEN draw the design with my light box.

Even while resting the mind still works!

The drawings took a day to go, but go they did.Its all a time thing isnt it, and I am a bit frustrated that I have done no sewing in a while.

On the good side - my DH is a little better .. we are still waiting for a diagnosis...2 weeks to wait!

Now I am the one resting :(

We take it in turns :)

Today

2011-06-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

Blogger wont let me add the selected photo

Today was my Birthday - and I spent it resting ....

I have hurt my back putting a piece of heavy wood on the fire yesterday.

Andrea 's Migraines returned - one last week and another on Monday

Between us all - we are not travelling very well.

To add to that - I messed up the drawing of my whole cloth quilt - I should NOT have touched it!!

and it is destined to be washed .

I will need to start again - when I feel better.

We did manage to go and do some shopping...

Some frozen meals so I dont have to cook for a day or so :)

I will be missing again for a while..

Friday Night Sew in

2011-06-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Long time between posts , as I have been busy looking after my DH, I have managed to do some sewing for the FNSI.

My heart is not really in sewing at present, but its nice to get even a small bit done.

I have also managed to get almost half the central design of my whole cloth drawn out.

I have no idea how I am going to do the rest - probably draw as I go..or rather do the plan and draw from there.

Sorry I have not been writing comments much on other blogs, but blogger is being a bit silly and I cant enter comments on a lot of sites.

I am also trying hard to get my Photoshop Elements classes done and am behind on that too.

I catch up on sleep when I can and the sewing and other things just have to wait :)

FMQ completed on this one

2011-06-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

Another small time limit and I have completed the quilting on this

Most of this I had done for the FMQ Challenge...just needed to finish the fillings on the border feather, so - another few moments and its completed.

Here is the back...some threads showing :(

Some detail of the border - and the lady-bug :)

Now to soak it, then get the piping on , the zip in the back and put it together...maybe next time you see this it will be complete.

It may take a while...but I have some other things to sew if I cant get to this...

Big belated thankyou to Paul, Desley's ( of Addicted to Quilts ) husband , who very kindly worked out this logo on my photo's for me!!

More Small Moments of time

2011-06-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

A small window of time and I did 5 minutes of the fillers in the small quilt ....

still some spaces to do more fillers... Nessie waits patiently :)

... and also managed a few Pin Cushions.

No time for anything bigger just now.

A little of this and a little of that

2011-05-25T20:49:00.000-07:00

Small things started

I now have two feathers sewn and tried the Inktense paints with a drawn feather first.

I need more brushes...I am not sure I like what I have done...

Luckily I had some Josonja's Textile Medium...

I will wait to do one of the feathers that are quilted when I have a better selection of brushes!

I lost my finger thimble - made another - and found the one I lost :)

Lucky me! I now have two!

Oh - and half of a Zentangle on fabric!

Playing with FMQ

2011-05-23T00:57:00.000-07:00

Between my DH sleeping I played a bit :)

Feather is a bit different.. I was trying out a new pink ceramic pencil that my friend Liz got for me at Quiltwest.

Luckily I have several pieces of fabric ready to sew on when I get some minutes free.

I am wanting to try to use my Inktense water-colour pencils to paint on my fabric, so may have a go on this piece to see what happens.

This is with a single layer of wool wadding.

FMQ - Last one of this quilt!!

2011-05-22T01:03:00.000-07:00

Julia of Julia's Place went back to the show and took this photo...thank you Julia...

I so appreciate this, as I was unable to go the show myself!

Its great to see it as it was !

Now it can go back to Jean :)

Machine quilting

2011-05-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

I am so delighted -
I won a Special Best Domestic Machine Quilting at the WAQA QUILTWEST Show that is currently on in Perth at the Perth Convention Center in Western Australia.

How very wonderful is that!!!!
This could not have come at a better time :)

This is my winning quilt - Jean's Birthday Celebration. You may see more photos and details of this quilt here .

Isn't that wonderful - I would like to thank Carla Barret of Feathered Fibers for encouraging me to enter.
This was something I had never considered.
Also Jean kindly let me have the quilt back to enter, so no doublt she will be pleased to know her quilt has had a fantastic win for me - and to have it back :)
I had done one of Carla's classes with Quilt Whispering late last year, and this really encouraged me
to keep practising with my Machine quilting and the designing!!

FMQ

2011-05-18T04:42:00.000-07:00

I have finished this quilt a while ago, but didn't show it before as Wendy of Ivory Springs was so kind and let me use her quilt design which can be seen here

They are fairly similar, but different :)

So - here is my quilt Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dogs tails - Thats what Little Boys Are Made Of

Its all FMQ and I quilted around the design in the border

Frogs

and Snails

And Puppy Dogs Tails

Made for William Henry John O'Hara -

Now doesn't he have a wonderful name?

Thank you to Wendy :)

And yes!! There is a ladybug in there somewhere :)

Home

2011-05-17T00:06:00.000-07:00

Just a brief note.

As my Dh is quite unwell - and has been so for a while....

I am not actually getting a great deal done sewing wise as he needs my TLC :)

However here is what came in the post for me today

Now I just need time to get this done - never mind all the rest of the UPO's...

Will catch up again soon.

FMQ

2011-05-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

Having a problem working out my pages cant get them to link properly...check out the Family and Friends pages to see the visitors I had here on Saturday.

This is what I got to do in the (way too early) hours of this morning ..

Just the outline.
I also want to make a page for FMQ... but that will have to wait!!

Playing

2011-05-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

Did a small piece today - started to do a Zentangle - but the feathers got me...again!!

So I quilted the drawing!

Cream silk thread on the top and ...

Varigated Aurifil in the bobbin

No more now till Friday - if I am lucky!!

Free Motion Quilting

2011-05-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

Black piece completed apart from the binding.

My camera is playing up, so the photos are not crash hot...and its night which doesnt help!

The piece measures 20" x 20"

I changed to a dark brown Aurafil thread for the fillers on the back.

Silk thread for all the fillers on the top

Silver gold burgundy and deep purple.

These colours are more the ones...but the exposures were not at all good.

Hope that gives some idea of what I have done.

I am VERY thankful that this is finished - the binding can keep!

May have a day of nothing tomorrow... ha!!

Free Motion Quilting

2011-05-07T00:21:00.000-07:00

I have added to my sampler piece

I took this photo in the sun so its a bit bright.

You can see my leaf samples - the circle and the rectangle.

I took this wonderful book I have from Kim Stotsenberg

of sewnsewquilting and I took the book, a book to draw in and a few pencils and drew most of the designs in the leaf it book, while I watied for my DH to have his appointment, and thought I would have a go with what I had learnt.

Its a great book and I know I will use it lots. Thank you Kim :)

So I am still experimenting with coloured silk thread

and will do some more of my feather later today/tonight

FMC Challenge Day 14 Thursday

2011-05-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

Day 14...the last dayof the FMQ

Photos didn't work out last night, so here is what I actually completed yesterday.

There is still a lot to do and I am experimenting with different colours

I am using a brown Aurafil thread in the back now

Some of the samples of colour - silk thread - I need to do some more of these later today.

Its really cold here and I am off to light the fire, so the house can get warm!

I apologise for not visiting all my favorite blogs - I have lots of issues going on here, and will visit when I can

FMC Challenge Day 13 Wednesday

2011-05-04T00:41:00.000-07:00

Day 13!

Nearly there - one more day to go.

I think there are now 4 lots of echoing round the feather, The circles in the spine are done, the sun was shining as you can see .... and after much trial and error

I am using a deep purple silk thread...and have changed to a dark brown on the back. Not too thrilled with it, but there you are.

I may do some more tonight as its way too bright in the Studio for now.

I am working out the filling as I go!

Thread Basting

2011-05-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

This is what I was up to last night.

I watched Sharon Schambers video on Thread basting and decided to go back to it...

I have used a polyester wadding in this, that I have not tried before.

Another blogger sideways photo :)

Showing the basting completed .... it didnt take long.

Difference between thread and pins.

Showing the back.

I am going to unpin the lefthand quilt and do the thread basting there too.

I think when I did this before I used the opentoe hopping foot to quilt - which is the one I prefer...but the hook bits kept getting caught up in the thread, so I will try this time with the closed hopping foot .

Then I can get some more quilting done... today I have some choices.

FMQ Challenge Day 12 Tuesday

2011-05-03T06:51:00.000-07:00

Day 12

I started this piece tonight ... May continue with it tomorrow - or start another one.

I started to echo round the edge...and wondered what to do the fill with...

Not sure!

maybe I will stick with the same varigated thread to see what it looks like - I can always make another cushion .... I guess.

I did draw the feathers roughly to give me a guide where to quilt, and changed them as I was sewing. Curved the centres into the stem more than I had drawn. It seems to be easier to sew than draw at times.

This is black homespun cotton on a Kona beige cotton backing , it has a cotton wadding, and I am using Aurifil thread top and bobbin. The tension is set on 2.0

FMC Challenge Day 11

2011-05-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

Almost done now, just the echoing to do.

Front.

For some reason or other the photo has turned sideways .

Taken in the evening and not good light.

Showing the back - sideways again - no idea why this happens.

I may try to finish this sometime tomorrow, and/or start something else.

You can check out the other FMQ's in the Challenge ... here

I am off for an early night - for me.

FMQ Challenge Day 9 and something Completed

2011-04-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

I finished this a while ago, and as it was a gift - I couldnt show. Now the gift is given and here it is.

and some photos of it being made

Washing out the blue Berol washable ink.

As you can see - I have drawn on this as I wanted it to balance.

It was all drawn freehand , though I did mark the curves with rulers.

Yes - there is a ladybug in there :)

The reverse.

As it was such a long day yesterday - this was all I got sewn for Day 9. Trying out some Aurofil varigated thread, and some bouncing bananas inspired by Diane Gaudynski.. not too good with these yet.

Back to my cushion now.

FMQ Challenge Day 8

2011-04-29T00:32:00.000-07:00

Working along on Day 8 - into the second week now...

I was so lucky - the frame to strengthen my SewEzy table and the new clear top to go with the 820 came today, so I am back sewing in my lovely corner looking out at the world :) My sewing is level and I am about halfway with the feathers of the border. I started to mark with my invisible purple pen...but it just kept disappearing before I got to it... - good thing ..cause now I am 'winging' it Whoopie

Here is a photo of Andrea with her young brother at her fathers place yesterday. Its a nice happy photo I thought!!

I dont think they were pulling faces for once :)

Wasn't THAT wedding wonderful!!

FMQ Challenge Day 7

2011-04-28T20:09:00.000-07:00

Thursday Day 7

Practising different feathers, threads and tension.

I am not really too sure of varigated threads!

Applecores.

A quiet day today - so back to my cushion.

Have a happy day.

FMQ Challenge Day 5 and Day 6

2011-04-28T04:23:00.000-07:00

Day 5 ... Tuesday I managed to get done during the day when all was quiet for a bit.

I have been watching a video of Sharon Schambers video on the Spirit of Mother Earth: Episode 8 for Longarm... but it works just as well for DSM

This was done in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday as I had to go to Perth for an appointment.

I forgot to put these up before I left.

Its Thursday and I have not been back from Perth for long, so need to get my next FMQ done soon.

Anzac Day and Free Motion Quilt Challenge

2011-04-25T23:43:00.000-07:00

Anzac day is always special for us!

My husband Mals father fought and was wounded at Galippoli, and our younger son Stuart is a Major in the Army reserves.

He is in front of two flags which I believe commemorate two local soldiers who lost their lives fighting and lived near here.

Some of the marching with Stuart in the front.

My DH, Stuart, Heather, their children and Andrea.

We had a lovely evening.

Now you know why I couldn't concentrate :)

DAY 4 FMQ Challenge

I have put my cushion to the side - as there was a bit too much chat and a lot of lovely company for me to concentrate, so for the next few day I will be doing some 6" samples.

I will get back to the cushion Thursday or Friday.

I can actually see the points a which I was being asked a question :)

At least I am nibbling in dry bickies now and drinking a bit too ..

Free Motion Quilt Challenge

2011-04-24T00:56:00.000-07:00

Day 3 and a bit more done.

More tomrorrow if I can!

Free Motion Quilt Challenge

2011-04-23T01:10:00.000-07:00

A bit more done - showing front and back

Finished the triangle I had forgotten, and did the small border. That was quite interesting as I have not done one like that before...

Now I need to work out the large border.

What I forgot to say is that I have starched this fabric much more than I have previously done. The backing particularly. It crackles like paper. Not quite how I meant to do it - but it is working so much better.

I was tired of using the spray starch, and made up an amount in a bucket and dunked the whole piece of fabric in there...and then rinsed it afterwards, as I found if I didn't rinse it, the starch was in lumps when I ironed it.

It will be quieter this evening ♥

Free Motion Quilt Challenge

2011-04-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

My FMQ for the Challenge that I did yesterday

I missed one triangle which I will get done soon. Still to do the border.

We have visitors, so sewing will be start/stop!

Freezer Paper Applique

2011-04-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

Back of January Block

Should have cut it square - but didnt have time :)

Always seems wrong to do this, but I guess its OK

Showing my stitching. I used Sulky Monofiliment and Aurifil in the blobbin.

I set Nessie to .95 for the top tension and 1.75 in the bobbin...I actually worked out how to do it - Fabulous!! I love this machine!

My feather drawing and the sewn together feather on the white fabric.

I need to get it put together and then I can do this for the Free Motion Quilting Challenge too.

In the meantime - we have had some visitors. My eldest daughter Fiona and her two children Thomas and Emma. We have all had a great time together...and I sewed and prepared things between times :)

My daughter Fion and me...yes she is tall :)

My DH with Fiona and the children... Andrea is looking sad as they off back home tody.

Thomas Emma and Andrea.

Things I have beeen preparing for the Challenge

Its Friday - and I have started!!

Back to sewing ...

Designs

2011-04-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

Its early in the evening for me to be posting...but I would love to show you what I have been doing today .....ALL day

As you can quess - I am very taken with the freezer Paper way of applique!

I drew this up earlier today - this was the second design - the first had a few too many small feather pieces.

I didnt really take long to draw... was more torouble cutting it out and choosing the colours.

I was intending to put this on a black background...but may just do it on the white...

Here it is on the black

The colours in the white one are more correct.

Let me know what you think?

I think I really like the white. Maybe make a feature of it on a larger piece of white and go mad with the quilting :)

There I was really getting ready for the FMQ challenge...and this is the path I have taken

I hope to do a bit of quilting on this too - soon HA!

Just for fun - I took a photo of my sutdio...

from this mess!!!! not to mention utter chaos!!! I played - all day.

I had great trouble finding things (wonder why)

Now I really need to straighten things out and put fabric away...

And tonight - there was this beautiful sunset!

So you see - I did have time to notice a little around our house today.

It actually tried to rain today ..amazing, but not enough to even wet the ground.

I am going to try to sew the Granny's Hankies together tomorrow if I can.

School holidays have taken over

Now - just for a change - I am off to watch some TV - and just hope I don't get side-tracked- again!

Granny's Hankies BOM

2011-04-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well - the first block of Granny's Hankies is done, but I may re-do it.

Its black - which is what I like...but I don't have much of the fabric - so I shall see how it works out.

I should have remembered that the FP was enough to stick all the pieces.

I got halfway through placing the pieces and remembered that this was on FP - silly me!

I glued the edges with Elmers Glue...and now have no idea how all the paper will come out - so you can see how it has turned out to be a bit of an experiment!

I really had fun with this - now I need to try to remember how I am to sew with the Sulky Monofiliment thread.

I need to work on the settings of the machine again.

I am working on another black block that I have tried to work out...will see what happens to that tomorrow.

I would like to have them ready for the FMQ Challenge

Midnight seems to come round so quickly!!

Freezer Paper Applique

2011-04-16T02:21:00.000-07:00

Not something I have done before - and I am enjoyig this.

Thanks to the great tutorial from Joanne at Threadhead, this has kept me busy...

You can find the link here

I still have a way to go.

Not sure if I will put it together yet, as I am undecided on the background fabric.

I have had another finish today - but cant show you that yet...its a gift for later in the month. I now have two projects completed that I am unable to show just yet.

Last night - FNSI - I really was sewing - labels and sleeves on two quilts I am entering in a quilt show. Nearly finished that too.

So many ufos' ..... which way to go .... sigh

Free Motion Quilt Challenge

2011-04-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

Some of the 'sandwiches' I am preparing for the FMQ Challenge

from Joanne ... Threadhead and Wendy from Inky threads.

The black design I have drawn on myself (couldnt help myself)

and the other is from a video I watched of Sharon Schamber's some time ago.

I thought this one may be good for FMQ. I am trying to get another similar one done of my own.... but this takes me time of course.

There are smaller pieces to do, and I will get some more ready to start on also, and to have handy to get my brain in focus before I start on the actual projects..

School holidays are here at the end of the week - and I need to have myself a bit organised.

The Challenge starts on Good Friday and goes daily for 2 weeks...

Threadhead Quilt Along

2011-04-13T01:24:00.000-07:00

Frogging !!

Well, only I could do this!!

I had 2 of the alternating blocks on my THQA quilt turned the wrong way.

Thankfully they were close to the same edge - not in the centre

I was NOT a happy chappie!!

All sorted now, and one the matching alternating block border is done - I need to thnk about the others...maybe a 1" then some scrap squares and then the binding.... will take a while.

Designs

2011-04-09T22:34:00.000-07:00

Took a quick break between sewing and Lessons

Inspired by reading Carla Barrett's blog, Feathered Fibers about her new Doodling lessons

which are coming up soon.

Wish I could be there !!

Back to some sewing - and some more lessons.

Older projects

2011-04-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

A beautiful change in weather today - Its been raining!!! AND blowing a gale...

so much cooler!

So - in between my lessons and having a small break -

I was looking for something - as you do - not sure now what it was now ... LOL..

But I found this tucked away in a box with all my skeins of embroidery wool

Another UFO

Some wool embroidery for a pin cushion, using some of my felting of my very own' home grown' sheeps wool - I even remember his name .

Raymondo and he was a Moorit Corriadale sheep and a lovely light faun colour.

The wool is felted onto some gauze.

I guess I should put it together and finish the other one too

Makes me want to felt some more - I still have bags of my sheeps wool in the container at the back of our block.

The lovey pottery sheep I brought back from Scotland...my favorite place in all the world..

Back to my lessons

Older quilts

2011-04-04T07:26:00.000-07:00

As I am busy sewing the Borders of my Threadhead Quilt Along with Joanne. and doing some of my online lessons with Photoshop, I thought I would show a quilt I did some years ago.

Its called Our Home in the Bush.

As we lived in the bush on 25 acres in the Darling Ranges above Perth at the time and its all 1" and 2" squares...I thought it seemed appropriate to represent the bush on our block.....In the centre of the quilt - is our house :)

There was no land cleared when we got there...so the name seemed appropriate!

Then of course we put up fences, cleared the paddocks, planted some oats, and introduced our sheep cows and horse...so it did look very different by the time we left for our Sea Change a few years later.

At that time I was not able to quilt much - so this one is all quilted in the ditch.

The quilt is all sewn on my DSM, King sized and my Husband loved it ( still does )...

so of course - it is his.

Have a great week !

Threadhead Quilt Along

2011-03-31T07:07:00.000-07:00

At last - I have the border blocks cut, pinned and ready to sew.
I have had to use a different fabric for the light strips as I had run out of the one I used.

Hopefully this will get sewn during next week.

Still thinking about what to do for the last border..

Designs

2011-03-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

Same old - same old!

At least this part is completed for the moment... I need a larger pair of mirrors!

I am working very hard on my Photoshop lessons...and doing lots of mind planning, not much else!

Most of my time is working at the computer on the lessons.

I have Andrea's cushion to complete... and my Threadhead Quilt along to finish ( still waiting on my fabric to arrive so I can complete the top)

We have visitors arriving tomorrow for the weekend, which we are looking forward to.

Have an good weekend.

Sorry I am not getting to many blogs - but will do so when I can...

I miss you all!

Designing in progress

2011-03-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

Have had a busy weekend, but mostly non-quilting...and some lessons - still heaps to catch up there.

in between other things I am slowly re-doing a small wholecloth I did some time ago, with the thought I may add something like borders and then more borders...as I cant quite work out how to exactly do a large whole cloth quilt.

I wish I could work out how to get nice fine black lines...and I am hoping to see if I take this to a printing place I can get it all together neatly.

Sadly I cant remember how exactly I go it all together for the last one...but if I get one square - it will be easy to put on the fabric - I think !! Maybe just the pencil lines will be enough for me to copy as it is.

Then I will need to design the various borders!!

I am also waiting for fabric to arrive to get my Thread Head BOM borders on, and get that one all put together - and work on my feathered star block - which I am doing by hand ...slowly!

Completions

2011-03-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

Some success today - Nessie has been busy!!

Finished the piping and backing ( also yellow)- with a zip in...( which I am not comfortable doing ) of a cushion which has been wating to be completed for some time.

Unfortunately I am unable to show it with the cushion inside as I dont have one that fits...:)- BUT the cushion is finished

I have Andrea's cushion to do maybe tomorrow or the weekend - while I am on a roll.

She was looking for the ladybug on her one - sadly I had forgotten to put one on... so I will get that small thing done tomorrow too.

I am working hard at my Photshop class through Carla Barrett of Feathered Fibers - and the Pixel Ladies but I have lots to do yet!!

Machine quilting with 'Nessie'

2011-03-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

My solution to feeling a bit flat :)

...was to play on a practise piece ... and do some of my background fillers.

This was an experimental applique piece. I may do it differently next time.

Luckily Andrea said she would like a pillow :)

Now to do some of my lessons in Photoshop.

Inklingo

2011-03-20T02:31:00.000-07:00

Have fallen a bit flat in the last couple of days...after some tests done on Thursday..

all is well, but I havn't felt like doing much.

However today I have finally worked out which pieces to cut, and have my one Inklingo Feathered Star cut and ready to sew.

I hope to make this one block for the centre of a white ( not quite whole cloth) quilt.

I have a couple of other things to complete, and heaps more in my mind ...not sure thats a good thing...but more things during the busy week I have ahead! I hope!

My appologies for not visiting all my favorite blogs.

I hope to catch up on these during the week.

Threadheads Quilt Along

2011-03-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

My design board is fairly clear now - the blocks are all together!

As its Joanne's Quilt Along, I , like her, thought I would have a peek at it on the bed. Thanks to Crispy - I didnt put in the block with the blue cross, but substituted the appliqe block that Joanne did for her tutorial Crow on a berry Bush.

Its getting on to 12.30am - and thats it from me for a bit.

I have a lesson or two to get going on... and work tomorrow - so the borders will wait for a bit .

Threadheads Quilt Along

2011-03-11T22:19:00.000-08:00

Here are all the blocks together for my Threadhead Quilt Along
with Joanne.

Still to sort them into order and get them sewn together.

They are not in order yet, and are a bit crooked as they are simply 'stuck' there

on the design board waiting for me to put them in some sort of order.

I need my design board, so I hope to have it blank again at the end of the day.

I also made and added these blocks tthis morning as I had made a couple of VERY bad blocks...

and they have been replaced!

Its called Grecian Square - and I got it from EQ7

in two different colourways.

I would just like to thank Joanne

for all her wonderful work getting this Quilt along to us all.

I for one would never have made this if it hadnt been for her and her wonderful instructions

I look forward to seeing how it all finishes up :)

Oh dear - and what I forgot to say is that Carla Barrett of Feathered Fibers has put me in her Newsletter at Quilt Whipsper.Com for this month's featured Quilt -

Hope this link works for you.

I have been doing the Happy dance!!

Threadheads Quilt Along

2011-03-11T09:41:00.000-08:00

TA DAHHHHH

All the blocks - Finished !! and its only 1.30am !!

Block #19

Block #20

So many tiny pieces - this one was a marathon and you see the unpicker there... dont need to say more :(

And replacing the one I 'lost'

This was way back - Block #5 I could only find one of them !

Thats what happens when I tidy up...

Will put up a picture of the design board tomorrow, actually later today.

Threadheads Quilt Along

2011-03-11T00:12:00.000-08:00

Still on a roll...

Blocks #18

I dont know why blogger put some photos on their side.

I still havnt worked out how to do the pages and link them...

Blocks #19

You may be able to see where I got muddled up with the colours ... having two blocks cut and

ready to sew at the same time got a bit confusing :(

I have Blocks 20 cut and ready to go...and sadly I will need to do 1 other block as ... I have lost it somewhere in the studio ...

I did say it was a mess....so 3 more blocks in total to do!!

Nearly there!!!!

Threadheads Quilt Along

2011-03-10T00:31:00.000-08:00

Threadheads Quilt Along

Block #17

3 sets to go!!

I have SUCH an unbelievable mess in my studio - I need to get the next 3 blocks done.

(doubled up of course - thats really 6!!

Fabrics everywhere!!

I am having FMQ withdrawal symptoms :)

AND I want to make a Feathered Star!!!

Threadhead Quilt Along

2011-03-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

I am on a roll!! need to keep going on this...

Block #15

The pincushion in view is one I made some years ago. We had a 25 acre property in the hills above Perth. I had a flock of coloured sheep, brown, grey, black and some spotted...Corrieadales...all coated so I could have nice clean wool. I felted some onto gauze, and did wool embroidery onto it...

In those days I spun and dyed my own wool, and wove it too...

Dont do that any more :) a good friend of mine - Liz, introduced me to quilting

and the rest is history!!

Block #16

Now to see what Block #17 is like ... easier I hope :)

Threadhead Quilt Along

2011-03-08T06:34:00.000-08:00

Blocks #14 of Threadheads Quilt Along with Joanne.

As you can see I managed to get some sewing done.

Andrea had a really bad Migraine today - so hopefully it will be school tomorrow and all will be well.

Off to try to get #15 cut out now.