Friday, October 25, 2013

Chateau Hexagon, stories, 1 xmas item & a win



Having a spot of down time meant I got on with another Chateau Hexagon block. These blocks are relatively quick to finish........well so far, maybe I am 'jumping the gun' & speaking too soon :-/
I am enjoying putting a small amount of felted wool in each block.


Can you spot the felted wool?
No doubt you have guessed I use a hoop for my stitching.............I wonder how I guessed you knew??



My quilting hours are pleasantly filled with the sound of someone reading me a story. I really enjoy talking books, as I love to read books, but struggle to fit everything into my day, this is a great way to 'read' a book. I can quilt & 'read' a book. Two things at once......fantastic invention.
I particularly enjoyed "Those Faraday  Girls", a great full story, with many twists & turns. All about a Dad & his five daugthers through the years....................


1 xmas item...........hosted by Narelle..................A Gail Pan design..... I love her stuff!



I used Cottage Garden Thread called 'Waratah' & a Lynette Anderson fabric for the border & binding.


Some weeks back while visiting a most enjoyable blog Brynwood Needleworks I commented on a giveaway Donna was having...........would you believe it.......I WON! look at my lovely prize.


Thank you Donna!




Tuesday, October 22, 2013

ABC's, pinwheels & a Chateau............................


First is a cot quilt made by Meg. Cute applique, all blanket stitch done by hand. A great quilt for the young ones to learn their ABC's. Cotton batting & Madeira poly neon thread for the stipple, swirl & the straight lines on the border. I used variegated Gunold thread for the cross hatching.




And a soft sunny flannel backing fabric.


Next is Barbara's pinwheel quilt. Barbara was part of a group of 'swappers'...........oh sounds interesting doesn't it? Check out more pinwheel 'swapper' quilts here & here & here.
Barbara has made this quilt to give as a gift for some special family members, Barbara asked to keep the quilt very simple with no fancy frilly bits......ask & Ye receive!




Thanks Meg & Barbara, I hope the recipients of your lovely quilts enjoy them.

Some months back I started getting Lynette Anderson's Chateau Hexagon button mystery from my favourite quilt shop. I collected but didn't start, I waited to see if the fabrics I wanted to use would work with Lynette's lovely hand painted buttons. I am happy with my choice.


The birdhouses look black in this photo, but they aren't, they are deep red & purple. I have used a mini charm pack of Kansas Troubles fabrics. For the topiary tree I cut a circle of felted wool then covered the wool with French knots & lazy daisy stitches to give depth & texture.


Spring has sprung here in Northland, a wee walk in the garden with the camera was a pleasure.



Tuesday, October 15, 2013

road trip



From time to time it's good to hit the road & feel the wind in your hair..............................................

 but when you don't own a convertible, the feeling of the wind in one's hair is to be experienced when you stop for a coffee, or a stretch of the legs! It's handy to stretch your legs in towns that have cute wee shops, such as 'Oops - A- Daisy' in TeKuiti ( said 'tea koo whity')


A sweet little shop crammed with new Shabby Chic/vintage goodies as well as recycled goods.
Another shop that was lovely.........................................



The Crafty Pigeon in Piopio. There were some lovely treasures in here too. I bought some lovely long red candles & a wire basket- see further down in the post. I loved the wallpaper, it looked like old weather board. A few doors up, the Café - 'The Fat Pigeon Cafe', (owned by the same women) also sports the same wallpaper & rather nice Mochacinno's too!

A visit to my granddaughter was just what the doctor ordered for her & me!.......................................


She is stitching!!! Squeal, how cool is that! She said 'Granny, I love doing this'. Two Hundred Christmas' were bestowed on me at that moment!! But with a trip to the movies, a wild west coast beach romp, running at the park, loosing the ice cream from your cone ( don't ya hate that when that happens?) the stitching didn't get finished, so I will safely store it away until next visit.




Check out the snow on Mt Taranaki. October, spring here in New Zealand & snow on the mountains.

Of course a visit to one of my favourite shops Threadbear Cottage is always on the cards when I am in the Waikato district.


Each visit to Julie's shop had me stopping every time at the most beautiful rabbit, hand made from linen, cross stitched leg & ear, hand knitted cardigan, beautiful clothing, this time I could not leave her behind.






Julie was in the middle of making the sweetest bird feeders, I would have loved to add one to my purchase. See Julie's post here.

I received a lovely gift from my daughter, she made me these 3 tea cup candles.



Last week I bought a table & two chairs from Trademe ( like Ebay, for overseas readers) & decided to copy my friend & go from white....................................

to RED..........................................................


I love them! Thank you to two special friends for your paint & advice, you know who you are :-)

Well after that lovely little break, it's back to quilting for me.
Thanks for stopping by, may the wind be in your hair from time to time!


























Thursday, October 10, 2013

customer quilts


A busy day of deliveries of finished quilts today...................................


Made by Rachel for her niece, who is turning 21. Pattern by Annie Downs, called 'Some Kind of Wonderful' with a few added personal details by Rachel. Warm & Bright poly batting, with Gunold variegated cream/mocha thread.
( I quilted another one back here )



Look at this lovely cake, complete with a bunting with the recipients name.






And just because.............................

who took this photo?

the back
Thanks Rachel!


Lois has completed last years mystery stitchery from The Country Yard, YoYo's to be added. Cotton batting & Gunold & Madeira poly threads. Simple quilting. Stitchery/embroideries stitched with Auriful 12 weight thread. See here for the shop sample.



Well done Lois, we look forward to seeing this on display at our annual exhibition.

Next is a lovely simplistic quilt made by Norma for her adult son.


Made from a couple of French General fabric ranges, quilted simply using Gunold & Madeira poly threads over cotton batting.



the back

 
Thank you ladies for your custom :-)

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

and the winner is..............................



Thank you for your comments from my last post. Drum roll please...................

 I would like to congratulate Nicky! you are the lucky winner of the stack of 'H&F Wagtime' pattern's by Lynette Anderson!
Just email me your snail mail address Nicky & I will send these patterns off to you.

Now customer quilts...................................


Break out the sunshine & smiles!
 This quilt has been lovingly made by Kathy for her friend Adele. Kathy's tastes are more Primitive than this sunny explosion, but Kathy's friend Adele loves bright contemporary & Sarah Fielke designs. With that in mind & a long friendship to think about while cutting & piecing of Kaffe Fasset fabrics, Kathy did a great job, beautifully pieced to boot!
The name of this pattern is 'Botanical Garden' by Sarah Fielke, fabric's: Kaffe Fasset, over cotton/bamboo batting, I used two Madeira poly neon threads in the colours that Adele loves.
This was one of the quilts I gave the 'full Quiltme service'.......making, attaching binding & label & hand stitch in place. And the quilting!


Kathy & I decided on simple straight stitching through the middle of the quilt & a free flowing muster of flowers, tendrils & leaves for the border.




I sure hope Adele loves this quilt. Kathy now has to send it to Australia where Adele lives, wouldn't it be amazing if Kathy could do a personal delivery!

My niece had her second daughter on Sunday, so I send her off a quilt that I quilted a while ago knowing there was a new baby coming. I bought this lovely, ever soooo soft flannel panel from our retreat 's suitcase sale earlier in the year. I also bought & made these from the suitcase sale too, thanks Rachel!


Binding & backing is soft flannel as well.


Thanks for stopping by!