Works in progress are slowly moving foward

This is a table runner l started and finished without showing you progress, to use up some left over charm squares.

I have been working on my Scrappy sprouts and got them all pieced into rows.

Sew now to make some flowers for the top of the plants!

Happy quilting Sue.

Modern Curved Ruler Workshop

My friend and owner of Periwinkle Patchwork Ann, came up for a weekend to teach us how to use the modern curved ruler.  Now you have to appreciate that I always avoid curved piecing, so I made these pieces, with fifteen years experience as a quilter BUT with NO previous curved piecing experience.

On the Saturday we all made this table runner to practise the technique.  I don't think it went too badly, certainly the cutting was a bit trickier to get use to them the piecing.  And the bonus is no borders!  Well that's my take on modern pieces, I feel quite liberated not having to add borders!

On Sunday we were free to make other patterns with Ann's help, and many of the ladies had started quilt blocks using the ruler. I was sharing a ruler with Mum (my error didn't tell Ann to bring enough rulers) AND talking too much, so just stuck with making a second table runner.  I think it turned out well enough, but this "flower" pattern was a bit trickier.  

 

So when I browsed the patterns Ann had for sale, I chose this "Urban Abacus" by Sew Kind of Wonderful.  Ann had a sample made up with a gorgeous raspberry background and colorful fun prints, it was so pretty and a great way to showcase a range of fabrics, such as a layer cake.

 Ann is an awesome teacher and everyone said what a fun workshop it was!  And I conquered my fears of curves!

Work in Progress, Churn dash wall hanging

So this wall hanging, was waiting on a border.  

Then when I found a piece of fabric that suited it...that was large enough, we (Lisa and I) decided that another border of flying geese was a good idea.

But then I ran out of raspberry toned prints. 

Why of why do I only buy small pieces of reproduction fabrics??!  

So we went on a road trip to buy more fabric!

Disclaimer: The brown leaf print is just because and the brown stripe is the background I need to finish the Dresden's. ; )

Happy quilting Sue

Colourful Tumblers

I started a kids tumbler quilt at camp in August.

I thought it would be a good way to use up some novelty fabric scraps.  And it turns out also some bright scraps.  Unfortunately the bright green border only stretched to two sides, but I kind of like it like this.

I was thinking of snuggle factor (and finances) when I decided to back it with flannel - which was cheaper the cotton!  Then I decided to use cotton wadding, when I usually use wool/poly.  It was so easy to quilt and to pin with the cotton wadding I think I am a convert.

So here it is finished with a pop of orange binding!
It was such a easy quilt to quilt, due to the lovely cotton wadding (sticks to your fabrics and did not shift as much as wool) and the tumblers were the perfect shape to stitch in the ditch, without needing to quilt the centres.
I have lots more novelty scraps to use up, so going to make another one, but perhaps with a more colour co-ordinated look, I will see what happens ; )
Happy quilting Sue

Two new projects commenced and one flimsy finish!

I need new projects like a hole in the head, but here we are!

The mini bears paw that has been on my wish list.  I am calling it a mini bears paw, but it has just occurred to me that the pattern is not titled that and it might not be that block.  Still it was a pattern I wanted to make.  Now just contemplating if I will take out that yellow, as the pattern calls for medium and dark prints...not sure what I was thinking adding yellow!

This is another new project, but not for me...so that makes it OK?!.

This fabric has been in my stash for a long time (red and diggers), it was picked out by DS1 who had reluctantly come with me to the patchwork shop (eg you come to Hettie's Patch with me, then I will take you to your favorite shop!) at the time.  It is such a large print I never got around to finding a good pattern to fit.  This pattern is an oldie but goodie, from one of Ursula Reikes book of cot quilts.

It would have been cheaper to buy him a new box of Lego rather then let him pick out fabric!  Still this fabric is finally out of the stash and now a cute quilt top.  

Now a finish!  Well at least a flimsy finish.  

I have pieced a backing, so it is waiting to be pinned : )

Happy quilting Sue.

Spring has sprung some beautiful fabric

Spring has sprung in my garden.  

And some new beautiful fabric has sprung up in my sewing room.

  The dainty sweet purple and white alyssum flowers are very pretty.

These array of browns and purples are calling my name.  It's not a combination I have used before, but it suddenly makes total sense.

 Grape hyacinths are a favorite of mine, for that true blue colour.

 And now I have a whole lot more blue fabric to play with, so many I am not sure where to start!

I have always preferred pink to red flowers in the garden, but these long floral spikes on the Hakea shrubs are new to me and I am a happy convert.

 Red fabric on the other hand has always been a favorite of mine, and reproduction red is no exception.  There are plans afoot for these gorgeous beauties.

 I have no idea what this flower is, but I love its cheery orange/yellow petals against the different greens.

 And funnily enough I now have some pretty fabric that matches:)

 A true sign of spring is seeing the daffodils bloom.

 A true friend is someone who GIVES you her stash of reproduction fabrics.

What could I say, my reaction was a bit understated, I am claiming shock!  

Thank you Lisa, your generosity has made my fabric collection bulge at the seams, my creative energy flow and my heart sing!

I didn't quite roll around the floor amongst my new collection, but I have been lovingly petting it, rearranging it, playing with combinations and looking at new pattern ideas... a lot!

Happy quilting Sue.

Flowers and fruit in my stitching

I have been enjoying the new globes DH installed in the lounge room, they make it bright enough to hand sew at night with ease.  So I have a few finishes to share!

This little door hanger is by Kim Diehl from her book Simple Graces' and is called Welcome Wagon.  It is suppose to have "Welcome" embroidered onto the top, but my yo yos are too big and there wasn't room!

 I finished my appliqued Pears by Gail Pan Designs, with some echo machine quilting.  I changed the dimensions of the pattern by trimming the blocks back and making them rectangle, its now 16.5" x 19.5".  I left off the leaves on two pears on purpose.  I couldn't find a leaf colour I liked and thought it looked fine without them.

Happy quilting Sue.

September is Orange

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge colour for September is Orange, yippee!  

I have a limited amount of orange in my stash and done a limited amount of sewing this week.

I was glad September would be orange so I could finish the final colour I needed in leaves. I forgot to take a picture of the leaves on their own, but I think I have the required number of blocks now, so just need to get time to start sewing them together.

This is the flannel backing for a cot quilt panel I started recently.   

So there is a bit of orange in this border and the binding.  I had to steal bits of orange off Lisa and my Mum to get enough variety to make my leaves.  Then when I thought orange binding was required I brought more fabric then I needed....which would have been fine, except now we all live in the same town with the same fabric shops....I already had this fabric from Mum to use in my leaves!  Oh well! 

I am not convinced there is enough quilting in this cot quilt, so have left a few pins in it and therefore I am not calling it a finish just yet :)

Happy quilting, Sue.

Blue sails away - a finished mini quilt

Ta dah, a mini finish, using bonus triangles! 

Its ironic I have used the bonus triangles and not yet finished the wall hanging they have come from!

I stitched in the ditch around the triangles but borrowed a lovely narrow cable template to machine quilt into the borders, 

I just thought it deserved something a bit special in the borders and I am very much in love with this design.  I will be using it again, as it was super easy to do using my walking foot.

Happy quilting Sue.