Basket Blocks

Things are about to start getting busy around here before the end of the year, so I am working ahead as best I can.  Grabbing a half day here and there.  I have made a few more blocks for the Baskets Galore Block of the month.

This month it is a Grape Basket, and I am sorry to say, that it is another 5 patch block, so the cutting instructions are a bit hairy!  You can get the pattern HERE.

I was delighted to see the baskets that Lori at Humble Quilts has made.  It is always a treat to see what other people have made of your instructions....did I write it correctly? does it make sense? etc.  Please let me know if there is anything not quite right, and I will rework it.  I was surprised to see Lori describe the blocks as "Challenging".  I was so wanting to keep them simple!  I think they are easier to make by hand than by machine.  Mine are all done by hand.  I cut them out, and then sit and sew of a night time while (sort of) watching TV.  I made another one last night.

Do you want to see the blocks in advance, or are you happy to get a little surprise when they arrive?

If you are using template plastic, keep the templates you have made, as you will find that you can use some of the triangles, squares and rectangles again.  Also be sure to cut them so that the straight grain is along the outside of the blocks.  This is why in some instances i say to cut a square, then cut twice on the diagonal (for rotary cutting), so that the triangles long side is on the outer edge.  You will only use 2 of the 4 triangles this produces (as in the block above) , but it will give you a much nicer finish.

So, in the next 7 to 10 days, I will have the next Pom Pom Tree block ready, and part 2 of the centre of the Tiptoe Through the Tulips.  Thanks so much for the great support for this one.  I was really surprised by the interest.  All the other Block of the Month quilts are still there, so if you have missed anything in the past you can still get them.

I did it!

Yesterday I said I was going to do it, and today I actually did!  The Tiptoe Through the Tulips quilt is now ready as a Block of the Month - starting in the centre and working out.  As the first 2 months are a little less stitching, but more drawing for me, I am going to do one today, and have another ready on 15th.  After that they all should be ready on the 15th of the month.

They are digital patterns, at $4.50 each. So once you pay the amount you will receive a link where you can download the instructions.  If you pay by Pay Pal you get the link straight away - and please tell me if you don't! - and if you pay by credit card I will process the payment, and send you the email link. Go to the Legend and Lace website to get the pattern click HERE

The requirements list is included in month 1, but I will repeat it here for you.  It is listed in centimetres and metres.  So, if you live in Australia, New Zealand or Europe you will follow it ok.  If you live in the USA or anywhere else you might have to get your calculator out.  The cutting etc is inches, but the fabric lengths are metric - just to keep you on your toes!

Requirements

Cream Background fabric – 3.9metres

Brown check fabric for the centre star – 1 metre

Pink print for the centre star and final border -  30cm

Blue floral print for the star centre and border stars – 10cm

Dark blue fabric for final border star points – 10cm

Fat quarter each of pink checked print and blue/brown print for centre shapes

Fat quarter each of 4 striped prints for tree shapes

Fat eighth each of red and green  print for tulips and birds

50cm of brown checked prints for 2^nd border

1 metre each of brown print and pink checked print for final border

60cm brown print for binding

Left over fabrics from other borders and appliqué will be used for the puss in the corner blocks, plus any other scraps of blue, brown or pink fabrics

Let me know if you have any questions, as I would love you to make this quilt and enjoy it as my family do.

TipToe Through the Tulips

I made this quilt several years ago, and printed the pattern for a while.  Just recently people have been talking about it on a couple of blogs - Humble Quilts and Log Cabin Quilter.  Also, I have had a few recent requests for the pattern.  I have had in my mind the idea of recreating it as a Block of the Month, and in fact have written all the parts, I just have not done it.

With all this renewed interest, I have decided to press ahead with it.  So, if you are interested, I am going to get a wriggle in with it, and find all the notes that I wrote and put them into a PDF so that you can you it as a downloadable digital pattern.

Keep an eye out for it very shortly

BTW, there was some speculation on one of the blogs about the original quilt.  This is it

I saw it in an old Quilt Engagement Calendar, and loved it.  There is no maker's name only a date.  I can not put my hand on the book right now, but had saved this copy in my computer.  Once I find it I will show it to you.  I did change it a little, but kept pretty solidly to the charming naive design.

 Last weekend was the Australian Quilt Market in Melbourne.  I packed the bags and boxes and took along my Legend and Lace business, and stock of Karen Kay Buckley products.  This is a Wholesale/Trade market where business set up to sell to retailers.

 We set up on the Friday afternoon, after an eventful taxi ride from the airport.  The driver took us some place across the other side of town.....that is another story.

It was a huge event, and I am so pleased I went after all.  It had been touch and go if I went or not, as it is a huge undertaking, both financially and physically.  I was thrilled that people were actually coming to find me, instead of me having to entice customers into my booth.  There were a heap of new customers, and some old familiar faces.

 At the end of Sunday, I started taking things off the wall and selling them, instead of taking them home with me.  All I had left was this plastic bag full!  

When I got home I had to start filling the orders of those shop owners who did not take them home.  I ran out of a few things!  There are no more large Perfect Scissors, and no more of the small Perfect Scissors.  A very few of the Perfect Circles .......yes, pretty much cleaned me out!  Which is good from one point of view, but not so good that I have had to send incomplete orders. 

There is more stock on the way, and I should be all topped up within 2 weeks.  So, please be patient if you want products - it will be worth waiting for!

This is my treat for myself.  How beautiful are these fabrics?  They are the Merchants Wife range by Terry Clothier Thompson.  How about that blue??!!  just love it.  Now I have to find something nice to use it in.

one down, and 15 more to go!

 I have always been a big fan of red and black.  When I went to work I remember "power dressing" to impress, with a black suit, and a touch of red.  My fabric and clothes cupboard are still full of red and black.  Sooooo.....I went and bought some more red and black.  These are a selection of the fabrics from the Scarlet Evening range, byt Judie Rothermel.

I wanted to make the quilt for Penny's workshop on the 29th November, at McLaren Vale.  I was thinking I would use Kaffe fabrics, but thought I would see how these looked.  I am happy with it. The background is Moda Bella "Figtree Cream" and the cheddar is also Moda Bella.  I had these both in the cupboard left over from previous projects.  Yes, I have a little way to go yet, and might get another one made today.

If you would like to join us on the 29th, please contact Penny and book your place.

Or, if you have done a workshop with me in the past, and would like some help to finish it off, then you can also come along.  Morning and afternoon tea is provided, and bring you own lunch.

Ok,. now back to the sewing machine, and packing!  Of course, nearly forgot......tomorrow I am off to Melbourne for the Aust Quilt Market.  I am taking along all my Karen Kay Buckley products, and hope to meet some new customers.

Will post some photos once we get set up.

Edit - I just made another block, and this time I timed myself - 45 minutes to cut, sew and press.  Pretty good really.  it is nice to know how long it will take to make the whole quilt.  I used black with a red print this time.  photo is not clear, and I took it several times.  must be time for a new camera!

Pom Pom Tree Block of the Month

I am really on a roll here.  3 Days, and 3 new things to write about!

Finally, after much procrastinating, I have started to write the pattern for my Pom Pom Tree.  I made the quilt a few years back, and could not quite bring myself to writing the pattern.  One of the easy ways to do it is a block at a time, and that is what I have done.  I made it into a digital Block of the Month.  Block one is shown at the top.

There are 6 pages in the first month as there are some fabric requirements as well.  The blocks print out at 15" so you get 4 pages, that you have to stick together.  The are available as a digital download from the Legend and Lace website.  The cost is $4.95 per month.

The finished quilt size is 60" x 78" .

The original quilt I saw as a photo and loved it so much.  I depicted the trees accurately I think, but I zoomed up the sashing and border.  I saw it in one of my all time favourite books, Treasury of American Quilts.  By the way, the quilt on the cover of the book is also in the making, and has been for many years.  I have all the blocks made, and some of the border blocks, and the corners.  It has been resting for a while:-))

Time for some unfinished projects

Now that my entry to the Adelaide Quilt show is done, and entered, and the show is over, I can now get back to some neglected projects, and see what I can finish for next year.  No there are no blue ribbons, (or even red or green) to go with the Mrs Vigors, but it is on my bed already and I love it.  Will add some photos of that later.

 It does look a bit odd with the bits of leaves scattered about, but once the tree gets attached is will make more sense

 There are some lovely birds in this quilt - 2 in each corner to start with

 This is one of the side tree/bird motifs

.

First thing to come out of the box is the lovely Calico Paradise from Dawn at Collector with a Needle.  I got a lot of the centre done last year, but it is now time to start working on the rest of the quilt.  You can see older posts about the progress Here and here. 

BTW, anyone asking about the Little Sisters progress - the top is now FINISHED!  I kid you not!  I was stumped for a while, as the side bird/flower motifs were not central, so I had to work out what to do. My options were to unpick, and move them (!), put it back in the box for another year, or add a little something to balance it out.  I added an extra bird on two of the sides

This is the next quilt that will be finished.  I bought a wide back for it on the weekend, and plan to have it machine basted soon as I can.

Strawberry Jam

The other thing I like to do, as well as my sewing and knitting, is cooking.  I love to make jam.  This week it was strawberry jam.  In Australia, it is just the beginning of the strawberry season.  You can buy them pretty cheaply at the farmers markets.  I bought 3 x500g punnets for $8.  They will get cheaper.  You do not have to buy the fancy ones, the smaller ones are good for jam.

This how you make Strawberry Jam.

To each kilo of fruit, add 1 kilo of sugar.  Weigh the fruit after you cut off the green stalks.  If they are large fruit, cut in half, otherwise leave whole.  You can leave in the pot overnight and cook the next day.   The sugar will melt in the strawberry juice.  You will also need to add the juice of 1/2 a lemon or lime.

Start cooking slowly, and stirring constantly until the sugar is all melted, and it starts to boil.  Let it boil fairly rapidly for about 20 minutes.  Stir from time to time - don't let it stick. After 15 minutes, test to see if the jam is setting.  Put a teaspoon on a saucer in the fridge, and if it crinkles when you run your finger though it then it is done.  Turn off the stove.

Throw in a dob of butter, and stir it through.  You will notice that there is a scum all over the top of the jam. Yuk!  you can eat it, no problems, it just does not look so good.  Scoop it off with a spoon.

Let the jam cool about 10 minutes, and it will thicken.  Also, if you bottle it too soon the fruit will rise to the top.  So, when you are ready, ladle it into jars, put on the lids while it is still hot, and add some labels.

Yummo!  home made strawberry jam.  Something you will notice about the jam you make yourself, compared to the shop bought jam - the colour!  My jam looks scarlet, the shop jam is kind of a dark red.  Also it is a slightly different consistency.  I use no "jam setta" or added pectin, that is what the lemon juice is for.

If you come to my house we can scones, and jam and cream!

New Basket Block - Grandmother's Basket

 How organised am I??!!  I have actually had this block made for several weeks, but thought I would not put you under pressure by releasing it too soon.  I am all up to date with my commitments, so thought it time to write up the pattern for this basket.  It is now on the Legend and Lace website to be downloaded.

This is how it looks square on.  The name is Grandmother's Basket.  It is a 5 patch block, which measures 8" finished.  For those of you who do hand piecing, this is not really an issue, as you just join the templates, but for the "rotary cutting" machine girls I have had to adjust the measuremements.  They came out to odd sized which included 1/16", so I rounded these up to the next 1/8th inch, and you just have to measure the bits once you have pieced them, and cut back if necessary.  You can applique the handle in place as I have done, or you can piece it, which I did not cover in the pattern.  If you are clever enough to attempt to do that, then you won't need instructions!

If you are new to this BOM - it is FREE - but you need to register on my website as a customer.  You then "purchase" the block, but there is no charge.  Once you go through the checkout, the link will be emailed to you, and you can download the pattern.  

Happy stitching - hope you like this little basket.  I have already chosen the next one.

I wanted to make a quilt with a dark background.  This is about as dark as I could manage - it is a dark-ish shirting.  Then I wanted to just put my hand into my scrap bag and use what ever fabric I found, and use that, regardless of the colour.  I managed that ok, but I really did have to find that fabric right in the centre, as this quilt is about Feathers, Flowers and Fruit.  My hope is that I can do a feather (bird) print or shape in each block, and the same with the flowers and fruit - either a print or a shape.  I also want to make it kind of quirky and traditional all at the same time.  The inspiration once again, is my collection of books on antique quilts, and Folk Art designs.  So far I am very pleased with what has happened.  These blocks are quite large 18", and I think I will aim for 4.but it might be 6.  Will see how it goes.  I love starting something new!

This coming week is the South Australian Quilters Guild annual Exhibition.  I have entered my hand pieced and hand quilted Mrs Vigors, renamed as "Out of the Closet".  We don't enter just to win, do we? but it is nice if that happens.  I have entered something every year since I have been a member, and I almost did not make it this year.  It was right down to the wire.  I was still working on it on the Thursday before I had to hand it in on the Friday.  Also, I had a slight disaster with this quilt.  There is a colour run right in the middle.

You can not see it from a distance, but I know it is there.  A close up proves it.  I washed it again after this photo, and used the Colour Catchers again, but it is still there a bit.

Too bad, can't do any more about it, and maybe no one but me will know it is there!

Baskets Galore BOM

This block is called Cactus Basket.  There are lots of variations to this block, and I expect to have another one before I am finished.

It is a very simple block to make, either by hand or machine.  You are given instructions to make both.  When sewing by machine, and making the "flower" part of the block, be sure to stop sewing at the seam line, and do not sew into the seam allowance.  This will help you add the background pieces, as they need to be pivoted at the point.  You get a nice point that way.

The block is now ready to be downloaded on the Legend and Lace website.  Just remember that you have to put it into your shopping cart, and proceed to the checkout, but there is no charge.

As always, please let me know if you have a problem, and I will try and fix it (with my limited computer skills!)

Thanks for stopping by!

making hand quilting easy

When I set myself up at the Toowoomba quilt show last month, I had all my hand quilting gadgets with me.  Obviously not everyone knows about things to make the job easier. 

this is a Clover Domed needle holder.  People have told me that they have seen them in the shops, but had no idea what they were used for.  When I working on a hand quilting project, each night before I got to bed I thread up 10 needles with my YLI quilting thread.  The needles are slotted into the holes around the edge of the holder, you then wind the holder, so that all the threads disappear.  The needles are still threaded, but you only see the tips of them.  Put the lid on, it locks in place, then you can throw it into your sewing bag, and be ready for the next time you need it. 

Pull out the threads as you need them, and they come out without tangles.  I stick the needles back in when I have used up the length of thread, then start all over again.  Better than a pin cushion as they don't disappear.

Run the thread through a block of Thread Heaven. 

Run your thread through this little block of conditioner, and it makes the thread stronger, and helps prevent knotting. 

It is great for hand applique and piecing.  Can't work without it.

Next gadget is the Needle Puller

 This strange looking thing is also known as a Hedgehog.  A friend sent it to me, and I could not work out how or why I would use it.  It sat in the box for a while until I started having problems with my index finger, and it was painful in the winter to pull the needle.

 You have the thimble on the middle finger, and the needle puller on the index finger.

fill your needle up with stitches, slip the end over the point of the needle, clamp down with your thumb and pull through the needle with no pain.

There is also a little Youtude video of how to use it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rbs470emYU

People always ask me about these things when they see me using them, so I thought I would add them to the Notions section of the Legend and Lace website.  I have a few more new things come, so will add them as I get them.

Toowoomba Quilt Show and Carnival

This past week I have been staying with Penny in the beautiful Queensland city of Toowoomba.  The primary purpose of my visit was to attend the Toowoomba quilt show, and lend Penny a hand on her stand.  I was invited to be the Guest Artist for the exhibition, so that was the icing on the cake.  I got to sit around and quilt and talk to people all day.

I was surrounded by my quilts and did mini workshop/demos on hand quilting and applique.

The Toowoomba quilters put on a great exhibition, and these are some of their community quilts.

Sheila is the head of the organising committee, and did a fabulous job.  She was there every day for 7 days, plus the set and take down day.  Lots of hard work.  She also played great music - songs I remember - like the "Mama and the Papas".  Great Job!

You can see more photos of the exhibition on their Blog

I love poppies.  My grandfather use to grow them. Fond memories

As well as the quilt show, it was Carnival time.  I did escape from the quit show and visit some of the wonderful gardens.

One of the highlights of my visit was meeting the lovely and talented Robyn Ginn.  I have long admired her work, but never had the chance to talk with her.  Robyn is a member of the Toowoomba quilters, and was at the exo nearly every day.  She also had a private exhibition at a heritage building on the edge of town.

These are just a snippet of the quilts she has made.  Visit her website and you will see many more.  I came home all inspired to get cracking on a new project.  I just have to finish the quilting on one for the Adelaide Quilt show by the end of October.

Next time I go to Toowoomba it will probably be to teach!  I was approached by a couple of local shops owners, and guilds about teaching.  So, once I catch up at home, will start talking to these people about the future arrangements.  Very exciting!