FMQ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.