Designs, FMQ, Free motion Quilt Challenge 2015,

I have a big problem! I have this cushion cover...which I have had for some time

 I am keeping it for myself 

The front

 

So - I have made...with a zip.. a back for it.... quilted and measured it incorrectly... too late to change... 

( I have never done that before and don't think I will again! )

So my problem is...I need to cut some of the lower border of the cushion cover to fit the front...my DH says it OK...its only for me
Its got lots of filler designs that I want to keep on the front for reference... and no one else will see it...but I cant bring myself to make the cut and make it fit the front... so I am putting it aside for now... I will cut it tomorrow.
Any thoughts?

Too late for the Challenge I think!

I may just make another backing with just fabric and think about what to do with the back! BUT not for a while. I am afraid I have missed the boat so to speak.... and I am WAY too tired! Plus I don't think I really want to cut it

In the Mail Today,Free motion Quilt Challenge 2012,

Just received this wonderful box of goodies in the mail :)

This was quite a large box, and for a while

I was not really sure what it was.

However ... I was so overwhelmed when I opened it up.

There are so many stencils here.  

I won one of the prizes from SEWCALGAL'S

Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012.
 WOW

I have been so very fortunate here.

Thank you so much to SewCalGal for hosting the Challenge, and a very large thank you to
 The Stencil Company
 for giving me all these wonderful stencils... These stencils will be so treasured and well used!

Free Motion Quilt Challenge July 2012

July's Free Motion Quilt Challenge  2012 with SewCalGal

with many thanks to Angela Walters for providing us with this great tutorial

 

I have done this very quickly as I once more have a sore back and didn't want to sit for too long.

I did not like my choice of thread and hope to try variegated King Tut when it arrives.

Its been the school holidays here for the last two weeks, and Andrea myself, Andrea's friend Caroline, and Caroline's Canadian exchange student Roni, have been away for a week in the far South West of Western Australia.

They were good, and did all the cooking ...I did the dishes  :)  and the driving.  We drove just over 900kms.

I will put up some photos in a day or so of our trip away.

FNSI -Friday Night Sew In

FNSI and a big thank you to Hieidi for hosting!

I feel I am Really lucky as I get to be with friends on 2 Friday evenings.  

I started this on my Friday, and then did some more on 'the other' Friday

I really love Cindy Needams technique of quilting, so I am trying hard to see if I can do something as she does.  We are all so lucky that Cindy is our tutor for this Month for SewCalGals Free motion quilting Challenge.

As yet I have no idea where I am going with this, but hope to work on it tomorrow.

I have also managed to get another of the Grannies Hanky's blocks done and ready for sewing.

 

I am waiting - somewhat impatiently for my 820 machine to come home!

I Skyped with friends from New Zealand, Raewyn, and Canada, Joanne, today - only 

missed Wendy also from Canada 

That's it for now.

Free-Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

I have completed my first piece for SewCalGal's  The FMQ Challenge 2012.

 This month June - is Cindy Needham,  which I have REALLY been looking forward to.

How wonderful that she is able to freely pass on her knowledge to us all.

Thank you so much Cindy!

 First Sample - I have some photos of the steps I took to sandwich and draw on the chosen fabric.

The backing has been starched and ironed, I have used a wool batting and blue satin for the top.

All layers have been pinned together ready for fixing together

My piece has been zig zagged together and marked with a Marvy purple disappearing ink pen.
The only problem I have with this is you need to get it sewn fairly soon after marking, as it truley does disappear.
The large squares are 1" and the smaller ones are 1/2 "

Here is the back of my piece.
Only the squares were drawn - it was all FMQ on my DSM
I used a 70 Top Stich needle, Aurifil 50 thread top and bobbin.
The tension was 3.0 eventually!

Yesterday I got these fabrics ..

The grean is silk satin I think..
The gold is Dupioni
And the last two are some sort of satin that I will use to practis on.

I have had issures with tension as I am using the 440QE...but for the moment it is sorted, and I am off to work out some more.
I am SO looking forward to when my 820 comes back

Oh - I nearly forgot.  I have joined the Superior Thread University to learn more about threads...I have been preparing to do the first of the  monthly lessons.  I have some new thread a lovely folder and it really sounds so interesting...oh and a DVD.

Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

I am a bit sleep deprived as I was playing at feathers and fillers late last night - for the FMQ challenge that SewCalGal has on her blog for March by ... Ann Fahl....  here

Should never do that when the Nurses hat is on...Only had about 4 hours sleep.

This design I had drawn onin ink ... freehand on the fabric a month ago I think.., and thought it best to do something with it.

and then did some of the fillers. 

This is the page of my sketches I did before working on the fillers.

Pebble 'things'

McTavishing - my way :)

Swirls and flowers

And here are the three fillers together.

(May do some of the others tomorrow)

NOW - I am going to put my feet up, and hope all is well tomorrow..

I can but hope :)

I am Just...Too...Tired!!

Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

Havn't done a great deal of anything foe a while - for the Free Motion Quilt Challenge... due to issues of health with Andrea ... 

Did manage to get 2 small pieces sewn...and I was really a bit rusty.  I was using sik thread and playing with colours - not something I will keep.

Then I stared to play with a 3" square... then a feather and some filler.

Was happier with the feather... and worked well when I changed the needle and the thread stopped breaking.

I like the red on black too.

Andrea's health continues to be a problem.

Yesterday we went to Perth to see a specialist... away for the day so I took

my sketch book with me. This is what a

drew while we were travelling in the car :)

So .... I hope to get some sewing done  .... of something ....tonight as its Friday here in Oz...and its FNSI :)

We will see.

Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

February- Free Motion Quilt Challenge  with Diane Gaudynski's great tutorial.

Diane has also got some wonderful information on her blog that is really helpful.

First I did some drawings...

And then I did some quilting.

It didn't quite happen as I meant it to - but hey !! ....  it happened :)

I have been away from sewing for just over a week, as we had some health problems with Andrea, however she is on the mend... and I have been to school with her for 3 days  - the first days of the 2012  school term-  to make sure she was OK.  Next week it is just taking her to school and picking her up - so hopefully I will get back to the sewing then.

Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

This is my sample for Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

I forgot to put my Challenge sample up on my blog - so here it is

a day late as I got muddled and put it on my facebook page only  :)

This has been a wonderful tutorial from Frances Moore, and has been very inspirational for all those taking part I know - and a HUGE thankyou to

SewCalGal and Frances Moore. The Challenge site can be found on the link above.

A big thank you to Frances for her help and instructions.

Our next monthlyfree Challenge tutorial for the month of February is from Diane Gaudynski ...  who happens to be one of my favorite quilters, ...  I have both her books, and they are fantastic.

I have had a very quilt look at the tutorial and it looks wonderful - cant wait to get to it!

Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

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!

.