Tuesday, February 25, 2014

*Rabbits *Prefer * Chocolate*




How nice to be sharing a quilt with you, rather than sneak peeks! As has become the 'norm' in recent posts!.
Gaynor has made a lovely job of this Bunny Hill pattern called "Rabbits Prefer Chocolate". This will make a lovely addition to Gaynor's Easter display.
I remember assisting Gaynor last year at the shop to choose fabrics for this delightful quilt.
Ok enough talking, here's what you came for, the quilting!






Quilting over cotton batting, using a mix of Gunold, Madeira poly neon & glide threads. Some echoing, swirls, pebbles & even some hearts & flowers.

see the tulip I quilted?



A view of the back. For the border I quilted piano keys, if you missed how I did this see my previous post here.
So if you think Rabbits only ate grass, think again!!

Below is a gathering of gifts made & shared at a stitching group I belong to. A rather late Christmas swap & shared dinner. Another couple of months & we could have called it a 'mid winter Christmas'!!


Some gorgeous gifts received & given!
Below, a collage of what I made my swap friend. A pincushion made from one wooden coffee mug stand, one cake tin, wool felt & embellishments.
Fun time with paint, glue & of course the needle! But the best part, the giving!!!!


My gift was special, because my swap pal, really was listening one day when I mentioned in passing I would like to try the Bohin marking pens. My pal, then got her daughter living in London to send for these french designed pens. Also in my parcel a beautifully made wool felt needle case......thank you 'pal', you know who you are!



On a flying visit south, I visited my friend Julie & her lovely shop Threadbear Cottage. Look who wanted to come home with me?' Jack Cat! He is a heafty fellow that holds my door open when needed. Julie made his body with an old grey army blanket........love him! he should be cheap to keep too & hopefully won't go back to the old house!


The postie is back with another quilt, so back to it! Until next time, take care.





Tuesday, February 18, 2014

a short video.



Some months back I bought two rulers from Accents in Design. I have only recently had an opportunity to have a play!
Please watch my very short video. You will notice I put the ruler at the back of my hopping foot (darning foot), I found working toward myself down the border the best. In the past when I have done a piano key border I have used my walking foot for ease of accuracy, but this way there is no turning the quilt back & forth.


 I applied a reasonable amount of pressure so the foot 'runs' along the edge of the ruler. I used one end of the ruler lined up with the red sashing so I knew my lines were staying straight.
I hope you enjoy & I am interested in any questions you have.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

textures



This is what happens when a certain cat (featured on yesterdays blog post) is hell bent on catching a dragonfly who happens to come inside............................potpourri flung off the cupboard onto the carpet!


A peek of my next customer quilt......................maybe I should rename my blog, to "Sneak Peeks".
Enjoying the texture of the echoing, pebbles & swirls..........................until next time, enjoy the rest of your day!


Tuesday, February 11, 2014

sneak peeks & random thoughts................................................




Secrets & more secrets to show you readers..........hang in there at I will show you  all the wonderful, delightful projects I have been blissfully working away on soon.
 A sneak peak of two completed blocks from the Block of the month I am working on for The Country Yard. I am just loving this project & enjoying using the Apliquick tools Lynette sent me for the applique.


Three quilts & one table runner quilted, binding & labels attached, ready for a wee elf to hand stitch the binding in place all ready for our New Years Launch on the 8th of March. After this date I can show much much more!



The other day I had Simon sleeping at my feet in my sewing machine cover, he was so cute. One evening I couldn't resist taking a close up photo of his paws.

Remember just over a week ago I showed you my first customer quilt of the year, see here. Well Fleur emailed me some finished photo's, complete with matching cushions. What a lovely scene.





A quilt could mean you and your family survived the harsh winter.  Hand stitching a quilt was crucial for your families survival. Old quilts, were once 'new' quilts. Made from salvaged scraps of clothing, pondered over, thoughtfully cut & pieced, in many cases by candle light to make a quilt. Most likely not thought of as a keepsake, but a matter of means.
Thought provoking is the old quilt...............where did you come from, who snuggled under you, what were the tears for, and the joys, the celebrations life holds..........................old quilts do that, don't they? They get you thinking...........................................


Because we make quilts more for pleasure, rather then out of need, does that mean in years to come our quilts will not be thought of? Where did your quilt come from, who snuggled under your quilt?

Saturday, February 1, 2014

sneeky peek post




Blue sky's here in Northland New Zealand & look what I found on my trellis? Some secret blocks.


My next customer quilt. It will be some weeks before I can show you the finished job, so don't think I'm not working away, just that I am very good at keeping secrets when asked!


Our cat Brian (AKA 'Gypsy cat') has taken up sleeping in the garage of the old house, so we will deliver some food to the new tentants as they are happy to take care of him.
I love this photo of Brian, it was taken a few months after he moved in with us, he just arrived one day & blessed our life.

Thanks for stopping by..........................