Block Number 4

I finally got the final block of my 4 block hand pieced sample done for classes at the Sewing Sanctuary  from February  http://kitsnpieces.com.au/

This block is called "Island Creek Hustler"  -  whatever that means!!  It is from Block Base and there is a little note about it being from a Maine, USA, Periodical called "Hearth and Home".

We will be doing one block a month for 4 months, then the next term it will be applique and hand quilting.  Anyone interested in joining in, please contact Karen Bennett info@kitsnpieces.com.au and she will take your name and give you more information.

In the next few weeks I plan to sash these blocks, and that will probably be in red.....first choice anyway.

I have to have a rest of my hands, arms, shoulders - today I had steroid injections for tendonitis in my elbow, and bursitis (how do you spell it?) in my shoulder.  I am feeling a bit sore and sorry for myself today.

Block of the Month - Stars in My Eyes

My Block of the Month - Stars in My Eyes - will be advertised in Australian Patchwork and Quilting Magazine in February http://www.apqmagazine.com.au/currentissue.php -
it is a FIRST for me in two ways - I have never advertsied in any magazine before, althrough many of my quilts have been commissioned and have been published in the magazine.  Secondly, this is my first BOM.  I based the design on an old favourite of mine, altered the borders to make them a little more simplified, and paid out money for FABRIC.  Most of the fabric used will be from the Moda Civil War ranges, with shirtings, and few other colours, from assorted fabrics on hand.  To sign up go to http://www.legendandlace.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=12

This is what the ad will look like in issue number 18/11.  The colour will be better of course!

I have been asked if I will do it as a "pattern only" which I will do once the BOM is finished, and also asked if I will do it as a "download" PDF.  To be perfectly honest, I am no computer expert, and even though I have the software for that, I can't work out how to do it.  I will have to call in an expert - read as clever BIL or nephew!

New Project - Block 3

This is Block Number 3 - a Pine Burr or Feathered World Without End or a Pineapple.  So many names!  Only one more to go now and I will have the 4 block sample quilt completed for the hand piecing workshop.

New Project - Block 2

I have now completed Block 2 in the hand pieced 4 block quilt.  This is a sunburst with 13 points.  I miscalculated the points, and made it with 15 points.  Not until I could not make the centre circle fit in, did I start recounting and realised I had made it too big.  No wonder it did not fit!  Luckily I could just remove 2 segemnts and joint it up.  Now it all fits nicely.  I plan to make one a week.

Curved Piecing by hand

Curved piecing can give some people a bit of a scare.  The way I do it works very well for me.  I mark the template shapes onto the back of the fabric, and cut around the shapes 1/4".  I just "eye ball" the 1/4", but you might like tomeasure it accurately.  I then mark the seam in halves, then halves again.  You can finger press the marks or pin mark them.

I then line up all the marks and place the pins in these spots, including the ends of the templates

I put two backstitches and a figure 8 knot at the beginning of the seam, and do running stitches from point to point.  The bigger curve is on the top.  I check front and back to make sure my stitches are on the back line, and adjust where necessary.  A backstitch after 5 or 6 stitches helps keep the seam stable.

At the end of the stitching I do another 2 little back stitches, and a figure 8 knot.  Do not stitch into the seam line.  Start and finish at the end of the template markings.  Press the seam with the small curve onto the top.

The curve is now complete.  The sample is finger pressed, but you can see how well it sits.  You can now iron it with the small curve on top.

Good luck with your pinwheels, fans and Drunkards Paths!

Little sister applique

I thought I had better get back to the Little Sister quilt.  I have been a bit sidetracked lately with other projects, and this got left aside.  If I don't do a little bit from time to time, then it will not happen.

I have started on the applique around the edges of the sunburst and feathers.  Two sides are done, and I have to make new drawings for the two opposite sides now.

There is another flower on the RHS of the main motif.  I still have to get 8 or 10 of the little sunburst finished.  They go between the legs of the fans.

New Project

I have started a new 4 block quilt.  The blocks are very traditional and handpieced - 18" each.  I am using my scraps, and a tea dyed toile I found in the back of my drawer.  The first blocks is a pinwheel.

Hollyhocks

Last week we had the hottest November on record.  On Thursday it was 43C - that is the sort of weather we usually get in January or February - not November, when it is still Spring.

The garden took a battering, but not the Hollyhocks - they seem to thrive on the heat.  I tried for years to grown them from seeds that I picked up and it was a waste of time.  Then I realised that they actually do not need nurturing.  I throw the seeds around, scrape them in a bit, don't water them, let them get accidentally rained on - and see what happens.

They are growing so large and close together we can hardly get down the path

John was so worried about his vegetable garden in the heat, espeically his precious tomatoes.  He build this very exotic shade arrangement.  I helped hold the poles in the blistering heat.  He put the cover on it, and you know what happened?  The next day the cool change and the rain came.  Anyway, it is ready to go when we need it again.

Trunk Show

Last night Penny Vanderwal from PennyLane Patchwork, and I did our first Trunk Show.  This was held at Karen Bennett's shop - the Sewing Sanctuary - at Aldinga Beach, in South Australia. http://www.kitsnpieces.com.au/

Karen sent out 50 invitations and they all turned up!  Amazing!  We had a drop of champers to calm the nerves and a few nibblies to keep us from getting drunk. 

It was a great success.  We had wonderful feedback, and got to meet heaps of new quilting ladies who love to get inspired by other quilters.

We plan to do this more often.  So, anyone reading this, if you want us to come to your quilting group or Guild, please email me and we can make some plans at Wendy@legendandlace.com, or visit the website http://www.legendandlace.com/

Penny on the left, Wendy right

Round Robin

I have just completed an International Mini Round Robin with girls from the USA, France, and Australia.  The centre is 6" and the rounds are 3" each.  The rules were first round to have triangles, second round stars, and third round applique.  This is the wonderful completed quilt top I recived back.  Beautiful! 

the next one belongs to Val in France.  I did the final border.  The next one down belongs to Marj in Sydney.  The stars were my addition.  The final photos is of Sheri's quilt just as it started.  I put the first round onto her centre piece.

Adelaide Quilt Show 2009

Irene's Dancing Dollies quilt was a big hit! Not only did she win first place in the Professional Traditional categery, but got an extra award - "Retaining the Tradition".

Irene has produced the pattern for this quilt. You can buy it directly from Irene Carrig by contacting her on 0419846930. It is also available from Legend and Lace Website. The cost is $24.95 plus postage.

Kim's Star quilt looks fabulous! This is a collection of Ohio Star blocks that were exchanged with our Sew Janes Group. I managed to find 4 of my blocks there. Kim won a Second prize in the Group Quilt category.

this is my Pom Pom tree quilt. I won a judges commendation in the Sydney Quilt show in June, but nothing this time :-( Too much competition.

The Adelaide Quilt show is on this week. I entered 2 quilts this year. the Feathered World Without End hangs really well, considering I had to wash it twice to get the marking lines out.

Little Sisters progress

I started working on the little sunbursts of this quilt. They are a bit fiddly, but a good project to take on travels. So far I have 4 made and 2 cut out ready for my trip to Sydney later this week. Apart from the flight, I have 2 hours each way on the train to Newcastle. maybe I had better cut out some more!

They will be placed between the legs of the feather/fans

The centre is now complete, and very pleased to have that applique all done! It was hard going, but I am happy with the result. Now I just have to get 3 more corner blocks made, and work out what to do with the bird/flower applique edges.

Churn Dash Block Swap

This is my latest completed quilt. It is a collection of Churn Dash blocks from the ReproFabricLovers block swap from last year. Love all the beautiful colours. Some blocks have 2 fabrics, and some have up to 5 fabrics - so strong in diversity.

The Editor of the Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine saw the photo and it is being published in the mag next year - about March. I got an email from them last week reminding me of the deadline, and I had to get it quilted real FAST - like in 2 days, then another day to do the binding. It is just simple machine quilting, but makes little difference for the photos, as the design will take centre stage.

Stars in My Eyes - new BOM

I have decided to create a block of the month, including fabrics, to add to my website. It is actually a Border of the Month, not a block. First month is the centre star, then each month, for another 5 months you get pattern and fabrics to make the next border. The final border you can have in either red as shown, or the same print in brown. The fabrics are Moda Civil War range. The finished quilt 52" square. I have used assorted shirtings as well. The design idea came from this very early Civil War cot quilt that I made a couple of years ago. It is a bit busy for a BOM, so I toned it down a little.

I will add it to the website to start in December, so please let me know if you would like to book a place. www.legendandlace.com

Bling Bling Workshop

The Bling Bling workshop at the weekend was a geat success. These girls are now convinced that they can tackle anything! Well done girls

Cathy's block

This is Glenys' block

This is Helen's block

Cathy with the beautiful smile, and only new to quilting. Helen who is a very experience quilter but has not done applique before.

The group working dilligently


This is part of one of the blocks of the quilt

This is the inside of Karen's shop - the Sewing Sanctuary at Aldinga Beach, in South Australia.

We did the applique workshop at the weekend. I don't know about the other girls, but I had a ball. Lots of food as well - and wine to finish off the last day.

These were very talented ladies - fun and enthusiastic.

What more could I ask for?!

Feathered World Without End - Finished

I finished the very last of the quilting on my Feathered World Without End last night. My hands are so sore and need a big rest. Today I washed it and my granddaughter, Skylar, came to "help Nanny" block the quilt.

I wash the quilt in mild detergent in the washing machine and lay it on the floor, with a sheet under it. I spread out the quilt and pull and pat it into shape, then pin all around the edges with straight pins. By doing this the quilt is flat and smooth and if there are in inconsistencies in the borders or piecing they disappear as the quilt dries. Leave it pinned as long as you can - a couple of days would do the trick. In colder months you could put a blow heather in the room and close the door. In the summer I leave the windows open to help with the drying.

By blocking quilts I have turned really wobbly quilts into very flat and square quilts. Try it - you will be surprised at the result.

Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine

This is the current issue of Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine. I have a quilt in this issue and so does my friend, Sharon Panagaris.

Sharon's quilt is named in honour of her Great Great Grandmother, Lucinda Brodie. It is all hand pieced and hand appliqued.

This is my "Basket Case". Named, as I found this heap of unused blocks from a swap about 7 years ago, and wondered what to do with them. I played about with some beautiful border fabrics, then put it aside. About the same time I got a request from the editor looking for projects for upcoming editions. I dragged out the "basket case" and sent her a photos. She said yes! So here it is.

Busy Thimble Quilt Shop

Meet Cyndi Black at Busy Thimble in the State of Maine, in the USA. Cyndi has a wonderful range of Reproduction fabrics, and has been very helpful to me. She helped in tracking down fabric that is no longer available, in order to match up with something in a current project. Thanks Cyndi!!

This link should take you to photos and contacts for Cyndi's shop http://www.mainelyfunquiltshophop.com/shop_bt.asp

This is what the inside of the shop looks like. Wow! Look at all those wonderful colours. I would love to go and have a look for myself.

Nine patch block discovery

I keep finding collections of blocks that I had forgotten about. I was having a search at home yesterday for a missing bit of a quilt, and found these ninepatch blocks. I got out one of my favourite books, "Small Endearments", about cot and doll quilts to see what I could make them into. I settle on this green and yellow setting. The quilt is 21" x 24" - not very big at all.

Little Sister - again

I got sick of applique so thought I would work on some other bits of the quilt. This is the Peony block that is in the outer corners of the main quilt. It is hand pieced, and will then be appliqued in place. At least, that is the current plan. The block still needs the final corner attached.

This is what it will look like when the centre is finished. It is a very large piece of work, and if i am lucky will only have to join on at the final border stage.

I managed to draw out long lines where the fans go. It is hard work with the applique, mainly because you have to hold great wads of fabric in one hand to be able to sew with the other. There are 5 finished, and only another 11 to go - that is kind of 1/3rd finished. it comforts me to have them counted.