FMQ, Using the Bernina Quilting Frame,

I made this a little while ago.

 Its a beautiful design by Sherry Rogers-Harrison  I bought from Digi-Tech Designs  You can find this design here.

I still need to get it painted...Another UFO

In the meantime I have been working at getting to know my Bernina Quilt Frame a little better

I spent about 12 hours yesterday - with many breaks in between... trying to get a different leder system going...BUT have gone back to the original instructions...

as you do!

Got this up at about midnight... Lots of trials and tribulations

BUT lots of learning.

I was trying to get leaders and side leaders made as per Sharon Schamber... and watched her video on YouTube such a lot ( There are 3 videos on this  ) .. but it didn't work..so far!

I have abandoned that for the present!

I joined two bits of fabric for the quilt top..not well as you can probably see, attempted to get the batting and the top sewn on along the top of the backing... that in itself was difficult... 

I am still trying to work out how I can get the machine lower to see if I can actually sit at it...in the meantime the kitchen stool is working some...but not good on neck and back.

I will either need to increase the height to stand, or decrease it to sit!

A least I have managed to get ti all on the frame...and actually understand how the leders and the loiading works!

So - My second time on the Frame...and by 1.00am I had this much done...using the BSR which I NEVER use and am most uncomfortable with...however I couldn't manage the foot pedal as the connection to the machine kept disconecting as the cord was not long enough... or the box on the floor not big enough or high enough :(

I also tried putting the table top of the 820 on the machine...

which seemed OK for now...

I still need the table top to be more level as in the middle of the 'piece' the machine keeps moving forward on its own...not good if the BSR is on!

So there you have it...quite a saga.. and ready for lots of practise sewing.

However I now have to do a major clean up in my studio.. and get some more pieces cut out for my Double Wedding ring quilt. Not to mention all the other UFO's and some binding on a certain quilt.

It was quite early in the morning by the time I finally got to bed!

Quilting Frame,

My Bernina quilting Frame arrived on Friday.

It was brought down from Perth - about 180kms away, and put together for me!   

Well - I think I must have been really tired and a little tipsy.. we had a visitor, and it was that time of the evening.

On Friday I watched the Bernina video on YouTube several times before I worked out how to just put put the fabic on !

As you can see I have a real mess in my studio!

On Saturday I finally got all the fabric and batting worked out.

Did some very strange quilting on Saturday .. and thought - my gaad what have I done.

  This is the last thing I did yesterday - which was also my first day at the quiltingon the frame

I wrote to one of my online friends Rhianon Taylor

who also has one of these frames...and she was REALLY helpful.

She made me feel loads better! Also suggested a stool to sit on.

I now have a kitchen stool in place to sit on and my DH found a box for me to put my foot pedal on.  I really have not been able to use the BSR - 1 or 2.  

I have a stop start button coming soon.

 This was my effort today... and now I will have a bit of a break and come back to it later.

We have an overseas visitor arriving tomorrow and I need to get some other things done. 

So - sore neck sore back and lots of work ahead of me!!

Home and Designs, Piecing, Using my Go-cutter,

Busy two days... using my new Go-cutter.

(Which I loved)

An easy design this one... I only wanted to do the 2.5" squares

so designed an easy quilt in EQ7 and cut it all out

Always hoped to do a red and white quilt.

Plus - I get to use up some of my stash... which I really need to do.

Well here is my project... those small squares were so easy and quick to get done.

I have one block sewn  as you can see on the design board.. and all the mostly white blocks are sewn

I visited Cristy Fincher 's blog.  Her blog is Sew Much Like Mom

Had a bit of a revalation.  I watched her video on Glue basting... and made the blocks you see on my board with this method....

 I listened to the Outlander series of books by Diana Gabaldon for the 4th time!!

The blocks were so easy to sew together with the glue basting..no pins and I had practised perfecting my 1/4' seams.

which is something I have been having trouble with..

It worked a treat!

Time passed very quickly too as I listend to my audiobooks.

Now I have ALL my blocks prepared and ready to sew... it didn't really take me long.

I may have to wait till after ther weekend though, to get them together

I am trying to get some easy projects done so I can have something ready when/if my Bernina quilt frame arrives in the very near future.
That's my excuse anyway :)

Oh and I did some cooking.  Two quiches and an all in one apple cake 

from a recipe that I saved from facebook last week...

This is the second one I have made in a week...so easy .. and very yummy!

Till next time

Painting on fabric.,

Well here I am again  - playing with my paints.

I used my Inktense pencils - tried out all the different colours first.. and then tried some that I fancied on  the reverse side of the feathers I painted on the other day

Feeling brave - I put pencil to fabric!  I have watched some beautiful videos that

Sherry Roggers-Harrison has made,  showing how she does her fabulous painting on her quilts.

It looks so easy - but of course its is SUCH  skill,  and she does it so well

Didnt think I put enough pencil on at first..

So redid some of the pencils colour..

Not easy to get all that colour ( not  a large space really) to go on very evenly.

So this is it so far and I wish I knew what to do next :)  Probably go round the design with a black ink Gel pen, which I also got from Sherry...

Now I am going to clean up my studio and start some other thing ... and wait for inspiration to call again.

Not sure how I will finish this up... the background ??  The fabric Sherry has supplied with her quilting sample on is really beautiful and so easy to paint on...

I guess this is one more thing that needs PPP :)

Painting on fabric.,

Had a break from piecing today and did some playing 

with paint on fabric for a change.

Made a mess, which I need to clean up now.

Not really quite sure what I am doing... but enjoying the process

Played with this .. found in a box with things I have quilted in the past.  

Two toned leaf is painted with Inktense pencils. 

the other two leaves are with dry paints from Sherry Rogers Harrison

 and the mediaum I used to use the paint and the pencils was Paintfusion, also from Sherry.. 

some with glitter and some without.

 This is my sample piece... not very neat...but that's OK

And this is another play piece I found tin the box..

All practising for some lovely pieces - prepared for me by Sherry... 

You can see what she offers on her blog - all terrific!

Off to clean up now.

Mysteries, Painting on fabric.

I am a little late with Bonnie Hunters Celtic Solstice, but am having a go with it nevertheless.

However - I mad a boo-boo and ended up with this

200 or so blocks all the wrong size!  

Should have checked!

 These ones I wont be using...

Maybe one day I will unpick them.. lol

Making the next lot - Clue #1with Inklingo 

 Working on Clue #2

and doing just 20 at a time...no hurry :)

and HERE is my play time.

I was lucky to get some wonderful goodies when I sent away to Sherry Rogers Harrison

 and got a starter kit and some other scrumptious things to work on.

SO ... here it is all ready for me to start..

And I found lots of things of my own to play on too...

More later

Carpenter Star, FMQ,

The end is in sight!

Last night I finally completed the quilting on the borders.

Only the binding to go now...so I have a decision to make for the binding  fabric.....and then the hand sewing

Not something I love.

The last borders I did were the small dark blue ones.. I was going to add something to the one between the dark blue and the green, as there are many puckers...but decided to stop and hope they are better when the quilt is washed. 

 I also thought - enough is enough!

One of my two trademark ladybugs

And the second, which took me quite a while to find.  I did think I had a third, but must have decided that was enough!

SO - now for the binding ...pheww!

Oh ... and the quilt measured 105" by 88" I thought it was King size, but maybe not quite!

Carpenter Star, FMQ,

Moving along.

Slowly but surly I am getting there.

This is my third corner, and am getting a little more comfortable with this design!

However... I do scribble, with my purple vanishing pen,  registration marks as

I go along... just to guide me on my way.

I do still watch the Curling Amish Feathers on YouTube from Jamie Wallen and I am still picking up hints along the way

So not far to go and then the binding - Ha!

Oh and I am learning how to do video too... may take a while but I am trying :) Not good at talking through them though.. so they may be accompanied by some classical music...if I can work that out too..

Did it before... but you know what they say..... if you don't use it - you lose it!

Hopefully it will get done by this weekend.... the quilting at least.

Carpenter Star, FMQ,

Onto the last wide border,..

I have been watching Jamie Wallen's YouTube video. as I decided to do the Curling Amish feathers for this wide border... Hoping the curves allow for the wonkiness.

I drew the design spines as per Jamies tute..in chalk.. and decided I needed to practice this before i started...as some of the feathers seemed to be sewn 'backward' to me anyway ..

Rough Drawing first..

Corner on the right was the first - then I changed tread to variegated and did the second one.  

Didn't quite get the upside down/back to front ones..

Drew with purple vanishing pencil where I thought I should have gone!

Finished up with these two corners.  The top smaller one was ther first..

Now I think I have the confidence to start the border on the quilt.  

Thanks to Jamie's video of course :)
Had to stretch the feathers a bit much on the last bit..need to watch more of the video to see haow Jamie did the 'stretch feathers :)

Design Wall, Home,

some things that have distracted me - in a good way.

I thought this picture below was rather special :)

 I never thought my DH would use my quilting rulers...he was looking for a straight edge long enough ... and I said - my rulers were very accurate! 

He did doubt me..ha!! 

I am pleased to say that all went well and the cut outs in the design board were in perfect place.

The power plug and the gas bayonet were in perfect position :)

Of course he is also very clever too!!

I am really so lucky to have such a supportive husband.. 

I have been working hard to have this space cleared.. and the cupboards tidy...and there is another design wall on the wall at the end of the space... which was also re-positioned

.

Of course some things have again to be shifted fro one place to another :)

BUT this (below ) is what will fit i this space!

 My Bernina 820 ,Nessie,will be perfect there... and what another huge learning curve I will have now...or at least when its delivered.

I was hoping to get the Carpenters Star completed before it arrived, but can still work on it and THEN move to the frame.
As iIwas going from one thing to another.. I found a small quilt sandwich - that called me to play...so I had a few minutes of time to do this:-

Thats it from me.. tomorrow is another day..

and back to trying to get the house work done and some food cooked 

Carpenter Star, Designs,

Slowly slowly ..

Other things need to get done too unfortunately :)

This is what I am up to currently..

There are two lots of borders like these at the top and the bottom of the quilt.  I still have the middle border to do, and the other set at the bottom of the quilt..

As you can see - its has been badly pinned together ..by me.. and the only thing I can work out is to put circles or some sort of curves in to take up the slack

This is red the first outer border... and there are a few boo-boos when I started it.. However... it stays..remember its an Amish quilt...

and I need to get this finished!

The only thing I can think of doing in the row with just the row of feathers... is to put circle in the borders of that row... It will take time and I may do this when other borders are completed.

The one inch Dark blue borders may need something too... but its getting a bit too heavily quilted I think... if I do that!

Now unfortunately I have some housework to do...Not a choice I like much :(

Designs, Carpenter Star,

More of the same ole same ole...  

with some workings.

Thanks to Photoshop and Carla Barrets  lessons.. I have got as far as straightening the picture - sort of and after many layers...I have got this far...

and the day is almost gone!!

Still not sure what I am going to do!

Wanting to put some piano keys somewhere...

It needs something plain I think.

This is actually a quilt for one of my Grandsons.. for his 18th Birthday - which has been and gone :(

I told him he had to have feathers, as I was feather deprived... This one should take him through till after he is married ..lol

Carpenters Star

Daylight photo of the quilt on the floor so far.

It really is a big quilt.

Trying to work out the borders now.

Revisiting my QW classes from Carla Barrett.

After looking at this picture on the floor - I realize what other things I might have done :)  

however..... I'm happy with it 

Carpenter Star, Designs, FMQ,

After Midnight.. and time to stop for the day .

Here is what I am up to now..
Not taken with good lighting, but just wished to post what I am up to..

I will take some more distinct photos in the morning.

I am now up to the borders... and have my thinking cap on..

All feathers are freehand.. didn't mark them at all..
At least they are easier now, after a bit of a prolonged absence from all things quilted..

I had to complete the triangles by tonight , otherwise the purple lines would have disappeared.

So - things are progressing slowly.

Carpenter Star, Designs,

At my desk today

Do you like my table on the right ?

Boxes can always come in handy...

As I had broken  my design tool.. the large pavlova dish... I found a pizza cooking tin to replace the plate.. 

and this is how the design started out

Now to the triangles.

Carpenter Star, Designs,

Today's achievements

I am also calling this my wonky quilt...and maybe its even an Amish Quilt... as nothing is meant to be perfect.

When I took this photo below,,, I noticed I have a line of feathers in the wrong direction!.. now I cant bear to think of frogging it as the quilting stitch is fairly small.... however... maybe .. maybe not!

I was trying to keep some of the same things repeating in these blocks.. just hoping I havnt over done this

The lines surrounding the block are not equal enough... and as its after midnight here.. I think I am done for the night. ....I need sleep!

I have almost completed the 4 corner blocks... Next are the large triangles.. then the large borders..

Carpenter Star, FMQ,

Another update

I have now worked out and sewn, the design on the next small block

As you may guess - the plate is still in use. 

I am actually liking how the design is working...it surprised me to too, how the part circle continues in the small block.

So three more of the small blocks to do..

Then to work out how to do the outer white patches...... continue with the same theme or do something a bit different

Probably something similar..different feathers.

Off to get us some food and then to do some more :)

Carpenter Star, Projects,

Time for a progress report

Have just completed the four blocks shown below..

As you may be able to see - I have been trying out my new Jamie Wallen 

Ruler from Quilters Apothecary .

I must admit to having problems at first... and kept going back to freehand ... the freehand didn't really look good, and finally after a light bulb moment ... I changed the open toe quilting foot...  to my darning foot.. and.. Voila .. had so much better control with Jamie's ruler.

It ONLY took me till the last of the four block were nearly completed.

 I think I mastered it! 

All the feathers were FMQ

 This was the third block last night.. using a blue water erasable marker.

I also used the purple vanishing eraser pen...and then lastly some blue chalk.

Mostly done freehand on the drawn lines

And the 'tool' I used for the half circles...

 I dropped the plate last night but salvaged enough to draw the last circle.  

My DH has taped up the edges of two of the pieces..in case I need it again :)

Some of the planning... which I didnt use ..

More to follow soon.