Sunshine Award

We all Need some sunshine sometimes.

As I have a short while in between my Tablet Design lessons I need to accept the Sunshine award that Kay of Borderline quilters has so very kindly awarded to me.

Thank you so much Kay - I am honmoured. It really means a great deal to me. Kay and I are virtual friends and she lives in the most beauriful place.  I have visited her area some years ago - before I met Kay on the internet.  Its a wonderful way to meet hew friends and keep up with our many interests.

Now for how the Sunshine award works. There are a few rules and criteria to be followed.



You need to create a post with the following details:

Thank the person who nominated you for this Sunshine Award and link them back.
Then tell something about yourself.
Spread the joy by nominating your fellow bloggers and friends, its a way of appreciation.
Lastly but most important tell the bloggers about their nomination.

There you go, you're all done.

OK... I am a Wife,  Mother,  Grandmother  and quilter,  who used to really enjoy Patch working, but is now obsessed with my DMQ  on my Bernina 820.  I actually only started seriously quilting when I almost (it still not all sewn together - just all the rows to do) my Patchwork of the Crosses, as I couldn't bear to do more handwork on it with the amount of handworing already done on all the blocks)  Its going to be a challenge in itself when I finally get to it.

So I have done many classes with some wonderful quilters, by looking and learning 'how to' at videos of various top quilters and now the many online lessons I have had. ( At present doing another online class with Carla Barrett of Step on Pins. - which is why you haven't seen or heard from me in a while) I would love to nominate Kay - but she has the award already :)

As with Kay - I do love those feathers, and have many samples strewn round, of things I have done ...books that I draw in and now learning to design on the Tablet.

First......I would now like to nominate Kim at Sewnsewquilting I have learnt a lot by watching her video's and having her books. Its a great help too the she is such a great quilter.  She has been busy of late working in a quilt shop, but I see there are more quilts going up on her site.  More video's please Kim :)

Second... I would like to nominate Desley at Addicted to Quilts.  Desley is a beautiful Longarm quilter who is such an inspiration to me.  We met last year when she was over for a few days with her husband Paul.  and we all had a lovely day together.  Desley is a true artist!

Third.... I would like to nominate Judi Madsen of Green Fairy Quilts.  This young lady is inspiration indeed!  With four small children and a very supportive husband and partner, she make the most amazing things and her Longarm quilting is to die for.  Her work is exquisite, and her blog well worthy of a visit.

Fourth .... I would like to nominate Joanne of Threadhead  Joanne is a constant inspiration to many people She has the most amazing tutorials and a wide variety of accomplishment's.  We have become friends on the Internet and together with some two more of our Internet friends - we Skype and sew together as often as we are able to.  Its really fun .There are 2 in Canada, one in NZ and me here in Australia. Joanne also contributes to the Alzheimer's causes an has an amazing collection of quilts - large small and  mini. 

Fifth...... and lastly .....I would like to nominate Jenny's Doodling Needle.  I have learnt so much from just watching what Jenny does...she has such a variety of designs, I love to see what she is up to.  Again such an inspiring person!

The doesn't mean I have forgotten all you other lovely people out there... and you all do wonderful work and I am watching all I can,  I have such a thirst for knowledge, and am probably far too obsessed by all this craft work.

Off to do more of my lessons .

Awards

I am really honored to be given a Leibster award from  Kim from Seeing Stars

Thank you so much for this Kim, and my apologies for not getting back sooner.

I am so pleased to pass this on the 5 more quilters 

The Liebster award (German for favorite/dearest) is to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.  Upon accepting the award the recipient must then pass it on to five more blogs of note. A way of introducing other bloggers to the blogs they enjoy.

The Liebster Conventions says that :
1. Thank your award presenter on your blog and link back to him/her
2. Copy and paste the award to your blog
3. Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that you think deserve to be recognized
4. Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog
5. Have faith that your follower will spread the love too!

Not an easy choice picking 5 people - I think you all deserve one - however....

1.  Kathy at Tamarack Shack She is a great Longarm quilter and has a wonderful knack of displaying her quilts in the outside.  That in itself is so artistic. I have long been an admirer of her wor
2. Kathy at Quilt Hollow ia a Longarm quilter who started with her quilting in 1989  and whose quilting and work is one to watch and  she has been dying fabric too, which she has recently had in a quilt show for sale
3. Linda of The Quilted Pineapple is another longarm quilter who has actually come in just over 200 followers, but I have snuck her in, as she hasnt been a longarm quilter for that long and really deservrs the award too.  She quilts beautifully
4. Wendy  Koenig of Inky Threads.  She is an amazing person and very generous with her time making quilts for the Alzeimers Art Quilt initative.  Although she is working full time, she works hard and frequently at her quilting and patchworking and is very inspiring ia all she does
5. Ethne of Flaming Stitches. Is a great dyer of fabrics and inovative patchworking who like contempry work mainly and designs all of her quilts.  I am an admirer of hers and have been 'with' her for some time

I do hope you enjoy these peoples blogs

Whole cloth quilt

Took some photos today - which I will put up later...have decided to do the binding before I wash!

I couldn't resist just putting this photo up first

Our little poodle Sophie came with me while I took some photos ...

She was so good, and just sat there while I clicked away ...

Now I have to do some filing, as it is such a mess in my Study and of course I can't find things.

Not to mention my studio... and that's worse!

 I will then get the binding on and wash the quilt...

WCQ

Quilting completed on my WCQ.

( I am not really this tall - Andrea took the photo from the floor :)

This is the back of the quilt... taken at night - I will
take more photos tomorrow in the sunlight.

 I have some markings on the front which I need to soak out,  hopefully tomorrow

I took this photo a few days ago before I completed the quilt... Hopefully the sun will shine and I will take better photos tomorrow to show the various designs.

Now - I have some questions. 

I would really appreciate some advice.

Tomorrow I plan to soak the quilt to get the marks out!  I have never washed and blocked before!  

I guess I need to cut the edges where I can to get the quilt more in shape, but leave enough edges to make another cut for the binding...

Is that right?   ....BEFORE I put the binding on. 

I have read that I may need to ptu the quilt in the dryer to get half dry....I am not really sure of this and may leave this bit out!  

What do you think? I really world appreciate advice.before I start.

I have two batting - the lower  one is wool and the top cotton...and I think I have actually done this back to front and should have used the cotton on the bottom and the wool on the top - too late now - but perhaps another time.

So - wash before I bind??

Hopefully I will have enough of the fabric to cut on the bias...

OK  Tomorrow will be interesting.

I'll back soon.

Free-Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

I have done my April Free Motion Quilting Challenge 2012 , organised for us by SewCalGal and this month  kindly set for us all

by Don Linn.

 

The netting pinned on and the design drawn on with my purple Marvy marker.

Its not the design Don gave us, but I had actually done this one before and used it for a Quilt for Andrea a few years ago.  I thought is would be a good one to use, as I couldn't find any netting :(

 Showing the design drawn on

Here is the finished block sewn with the netting design at the side.

Now as my WCQ is getting close to the finish - I am off back to that now.

I REALLY want to finish it!

FMQ - Video

I am hoping you will get to see my FMQ on my WCQ

if the video works :)

Shortly after Andrea took this, the foot dropped off the machine and the needle broke - giving me an unholy fright!!

Thankfully Andrea also

 didn't catch what I said as she had stopped recording and left the room!  

FMQ

Just to be different - Andrea took a photo of me quilting my WCQ  FMQ too!!

I outlined where I wanted the feathers to finish..its so much easire than marking it all.

Hope it works.

Andrea did take a movie too and I was going to put it up here, but I cant work out how to make it an mp4 file - so I am playing  ...  bad me!!



WCQ

Whole Cloth Quilt once again.

I seen to have been a bit lost for a bit, but we have been busy with friends and family.

Today I have peen playing on my practice piece...and you will see where I have been using my photoshop on this photo.

Some spelling wrong here - and didnt have time to work our which layer I was on :(

I have  - on my REAL piece - finished sewing large circles on the actual border, and am FMQ feathers on the final spine...and nearly made the decision to sew 1/4 inch 'piano keys' on the final border..as you can wee in the photo above

These lines were freehand



The 1/4 line are sewn using my Carol Olson ( of Fine Line Rulers)

to help me with the lines.  I did mark the lines first

Its the begining of the April School Holidays here, and Easter too of course...so I may be a bit quiet again for a bit.

Andrea will be away for a few days in the second week with her Father and his family - so I will have a few days to myself... BUT I am also starting my Tablet Design Calss with Carla Barrett on Step on pins...and as I am slow to pick up these things...and its a 3 week online course... I may not get too much sewing in... but I can plod on with my WCQ now I ... almost... know what I will do to finishe it.

Then of course I need to catch up on the Free Motion Quilt Challenge too  with SewCalGal. 

A vey happy and blessed Easter to you all...dont eat too much Chocolate.

Please forgive me if I dont always answer all your comments...Please know that I so appriciate

your visits  ♥

Arrivals today.

Wonderful gifts arrived in the mail today from Wendy of Inky threads

I was so lucky to win the giveaway that Wendy had, and I so appreciate the

gift of Pathways from Quilt to Quilted by Sally Terry.  I KNOW it will come in very handy.

The two books are both written by Wendy herself, and I am so happy to see some of her other life of writing.  Wendy's books can all be seen here

Thank you so much Wendy :)

Wendy - it was so lucky I received them all safely as the envelope was open - when I got it from the letter box.

Well I have had enough of a break from my quilting, and really need to get back to that.

There will be 7 people here for the weekend, including myself my DH and Andrea,  so I wont get much done then...today I just may - hopefully.

Whole Cloth Quilt

Began a small whole Cloth quilt...yesterday

I am using gold silk on top and white Aurifil  50 in the bobbin.

Had a bit of a problem with tension, till I realised an error on my machine..silly me!

All sorted now.  

The coin you can see is a 5 cent piece ($Au) so you can get an idea that is quilted fairly small.

I have drawn over the right hand design and sewn with a blank needle, so I can reverse it and use the pounce pad to repeat the design on the Left hand triangle.

 I have reversed the design and used the pounce pad

Using white pounce powder, the design is now ready to sew.

Then I need to work out what I will do next.

I am in the middle of an online class through Carla Barret of Step On Pins

its called beginning Photoshop Elements 10.  Information can be found from Step on Pins.

Its the third time I have taken the class - yes ... slow learner :)  but I am finally getting it!.

Today I am registering with Step on Pins to do a Tablet class with Carla, so I can draw my design on my quilts to work out what I want to quilt on them using Photoshop... I have also done a Quilt Whispering Course with Carla .  The pre-requisite for the Tablet Class is that you know Photoshop 10 - that's the reason I am brushing up on that.... again

Now to do some sewing while I have a bit of time.

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!!

Whole cloth quilt

Very hot here today, so I am having a small break from the small circles ...

whic will complet them in all the hearts in the border,

having finished the micro-stippling last night.

I am attempting to square up the quilt before I do the final border...

and I am not really sure what that will be yet.

I am pinning it to a carpet square..and its hot there on the floor.

This is my practise piece,  where I tried out different things.

and yes - they are my toes :)

I tried the corner lines out last night but not sure I like them.

I may try to imitate the 'butterfly' curves near rhe centre

I was goig to do echo quilting as you can see...but went with the micro stippling

Small circles against microstippling - I went with the circles

Here is what I call my butterfly curves. some fine and some larger.  I stuck with the larger

So now back to squaring the quilt.

I really feel as though I have been doing this forever!!

A little of this and a little of that.

I have again not been sewing as Andrea has continued with her illness.

5 weeks ago she had an emergency appendectomy!  Then a severe migraine. Again into Emergency

Two more trips to hospital ....and now..

Now nasty abdominal pains !

More Doctors visits..

I hope she is back to school next week!! 

So I have had my Nurses hat on!

However...

I did manage a quick trip to the shops :)  and...

I bought some gold Dupioni silk and some grey 100% silk!

I plan to FMQ them for cushion covers for my daughters.

Thankfully Andrea felt well enough - after medication - and hungry enough - to cook this wonderful meal

The recipe was made up, which is her style.

It was scrumptious! and so nice to have her cook for us.

The table cloth that the plate is on is a cloth that belonged to my Grandmother...and I plan to

back it with a coloured fabric ..and FMQ it...sometime :)

It has some bits missing and I have to figure out how to 'fix' that.

I am sewing now!  My WCQ ...which would be great to get finished.

Whole cloth quilt

A close up sneak peek at my WCQ.

The edge oif the photo on the right will be the edges of the actual quilt -

It doesnt look much to do, but its a long way round and I have to make sure I can get the quilt squared. before I do the next lot of quilting.

Its a slow work, but I am really enjoying it.

I can see the end in sight...I think :)

  

Sketchbook Challenge -Up Close

Playing with my Up Close theme today ...

for the Sketch Book Challenge...and FMQ some of the leaves I drew yesterday.

Varigated Aurifil 50 on the top and Auriful 50 in the bobbin.

This is the first one painted - it really is a mess!

Its done some with Intense pencils and the leaf on the right ...

is done with Art Spectrum paints.

I like to plain quilting so much better.

Green silk thread in the top and Aurifil in the bobbin.

Wasnt going to show the painted one, but I just finished playing with it, and decided to put it up anyway.

Now I am back to my WCQ soon... I am hand sewing some of my Patchwork Of The Crosses...one more block to attach to the fifth row - YAY

Sketchbook Challenge -Up Close

A very brief moment of sketching some Wisteria leaves up close...

For the February Sketchbook Challenge

As I put this photo up, my thoughts were - Maybe I should sew this - and quilt it :)

Light bulb moment !!

Maybe I shall later today.

Health in the family is now great - fingers crossed for next week !!!



Home and Family

Still not getting sewing done 

 

But in a few quiet moments Andrea

wrote this on the new whiteboard I

bought to practice more feathers on. 

 

I thought it was really good, lots of hidden meanings.

Too good to just wipe off.

 

She did the drawings too.

 

 

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

More February FMQ Challenge today.

Plumed feather  -  learning from the February tutorial by Diane Gaudynski.  There is also great info on her blog This photo didn't come out blue - obviously the exposure was wrong..

This is sewn on satin fabric - a piece that was left over from making a Tutu for Andrea for her ballet.

I have never sewn on satin for quilting before - I really enjoyed it...

I must admit that this small piece - approximately 6" x 12"took me All day to sew - but I did have a few breaks between. 

My concentration left me a few times...hence some lines that were a bit skewd ..

There is one of my trademark ladybugs in amongst the stippling.

This was my practise piece :)

A close up of the top corner cection

and a close up of the lower corner.

This was my Practise Practise piece where I tried out some of what I wanted to do.

This lovely satin fabric was a different blue and is from the very first Tutu I made Andrea.

My Sample is sewn with a very pale greenish YLI #100 silk thread on the top, Aurifil 50 in the bobbin. 

I used a 70/10 Superior Topstitch Titanium needle and had no problems with it.

I used my 820 Bernina DSM,   (Nessie), quilting stitch  #1324,   the tension was set at 2.0 and the presser foot was at 15.

I do love my sewing machine!

Andrea is going well - and I hope to get back to my WCQ tomorrow.

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!