Archies Diggers

My boys love their quilts for snuggling under while watching TV.  They also have quilts on their beds to keep them warm.  And our oldest son has some "extra" special quilts that live in the linen press!  But many years ago he picked out some digger fabric while at Hettie's Patch with me.  

When I realised that this special digger fabric was still unused I decided that another special boy was a better age to appreciate it.  I used a Ursula Reikes pattern, which made good use of the large print.  There was enough red to make the border but not the binding.  There is still digger fabric left over, so DS1 might get his own digger quilt yet!  I think Archie and his brothers will have fun finding the different machines in the pattern and that the snuggling flannel backing will make it a fun cuddly quilt for years to come.

Happy quilting Sue.

There has been an unexplained break in transmission

 There has been an break in transmission from this blog, which is too boring to explain, but needless to say it involved kids, life and priorities.  

While I have been off air I have hand stitched a few of my Dresden's down to the lovely mocha striped background I brought at Quilters Harvest in Warracknabeal.  Three down, nine to go!

 I also quilted this child's quilt with snugly flannel backing.  I am just sewing the binding down.  The biggest delay on this project was finding the perfect red for the binding...it's not perfect, but it will do and I don't think one small boy will care...so long as he gets it this weekend!

I have been waiting on a parcel from Ann at Periwinkle Patchwork.  What I didn't expect was these lovely fabrics, scraps from her own scrap bag.  I have dived in and started using them already as some of the colours were perfect for a WIP that needed a small push to finish.

 I found this half started wall hanging (Reproduction Print Table Topper from American Patchwork Quilting website go HERE) when I was looking for something else.  And because I wasn't in a mad rush/panic, I was able to calmly evaluate the problem (ignore the three extra flying geese made, just cut four rectangles and four squares) and get on with finishing the top.  I am not so sure about the border print (only because I have used it on so many things)  but it did need a dark colour and I have lots of this sweet brown Jo Morton print.  

It took a while but I actually found the project I was looking for.  It is 3/4's quilted now...now that I have had a chance to spend some time in the sewing room.  But I will show you that on another post. 

Happy quilting Sue.

LIttle red houses

My friend Ann helped me pick out some fabrics to get these house blocks together.  They have been orphaned for quite some time and I could not get them to look right in different settings. I don't think the contrast between the red houses and red star is ideal, but I am happy. 

I like the fact that it makes a nice wall hanging at this size.  There is a small temptation to make a pieced border.  I am still contemplating that.  With my "new" enlarged reproduction stash I could certainly find some nice reds to make a half square triangle border.  

There are still four houses to deal with - they are in the "negative" colour combination.  I think they will make a nice pillow.
Happy quilting, Sue. 

  

Spring Workshop in Warracknabeal

On Saturday I spent the day stitching in Warracknabeal at the Harvest Quilters Vintage Retreat.

The tutors were (from left) Marg Low, Shelley Kelly, Leonie Bateman and we were hosted by the Quilters Harvest owners, Dell and Shirley.

I started this wool applique door stop, by Leonie Bateman.

 I don't own a light box, so I made use of the numerous light boxes available to participants to trace off this stitchery by Marg Low.

I stitched tiny hexies and started the applique for a sweet needle roll, by Shelley Kelly, which is in the bottom middle of the below photo, which shows all the finished patterns we got in our goodie bag.  

I fell in love with applique all over again.  Shelley showed me how to needle turn, so I thought it only fair I brought one of her patterns...how beautiful is this pillow!

Shelley does wonderful work, this is her naive tulip quilt.

 But her miniatures in reproduction fabrics were just stunning.  I would love to do a class with her, but Shelley lives over near Albury/Wodonga, it's at least a five hour drive!

 Log Cabin miniature by Shelley Kelly. Hand sewn and quilted.

 Lone Star by Shelley Kelly.  Machine pieced, hand quilted.

 Gather your Baskets by Shelley Kelly, I had to have a picture of it, as I love basket quilts so much!

Brookfield by Leonie Bateman..  The baskets and top border are all wool and appliqued on.  Leonie loves hand applique and helped me improve my blanket stitch.  As well as demonstrated her technique for preparing wool work, which was very helpful as she uses woven wool which is too thick for fuse web.

Last but not least a stunning red and white quilt by Marg Low, Sarah's Sampler (1855).  This was available as a pattern and I was very tempted, but thought I am going to be busy enough making all the lovely patterns I had in my goody bag. 

It was lovely day out, with lovely friends.....and I came home to a roast dinner and three happy chappies cos their footy team won, yeah!

Happy quilting Sue.