Veron's Garden................................

This has been what feels like to me a 'epic' quilting job! Some quilts seem to spend a long time on my machine, while others breeze through without so much as a blink of the eye! So without further a do........................perhaps a drum-roll would heighten the excitement!

The details to the best of my knowledge:

'Veron's Garden' - named by me as this was Veron's creation.
Machine Applique - batik fabrics
Matilda's Own polyester batting
Glide thread
90" x 102"
Free hand custom quilting by me.
Feather border inspired by Jamie Wallen

I felt the need to keep the quilting classic looking, feathers, cross-hatching - with a trellis look and micro stipple to help give some areas some 'pop'.

Veron once again gave me a creative licence over this quilt, for that I am ever so thankful to her for her trust and friendship.

Now a snippet of the delicious back!

So that marks the last of Veron's quilts ( for now), if you missed the last three please see *here* - *here* and *here*.

Last week I posted off a birthday present to my friend Julie, I had managed to make two small handmade items for her, one I forgot to take a photo of and this:

A freebie pattern from Moda Bakeshop called "Moda Love". I had made myself one over the Christmas period but in Kansas Troubles fabrics. They are both made with Mini Charms or 2 1/2" squares. The one for Julie was from the leftovers of my Angel Story quilt.

               Just thought I'd pin Julie's one up in the same spot mine hangs for the photo.
Simple straight lines for the quilting and machine sewn binding and just like that it's done!

Measuring : 12" x 12"

From the same pattern you have the choice to make the mini -from a mini charm pack( 2 1/2" squares), a medium sized one - from a charm pack (5" squares) and a nice large one, just like this one I made my sister last year using a Layer cake (10" squares).

Measuring :73" x 73"

           These past few weeks the love story continues aboard the Biscornu.................................

2014.......hello!

Hi all! I hope your holiday period is going peacefully & you have been enjoying the company of friends, family & your needle & thread!
Just wanted to share a couple of things I have made & some photo's of my spare room, this is for you Julia.
There is a couple of secret things I have been working on too, but I will have to wait to show you those.
First is some new oven mitts, that I have procrastinated about making for some time.
A couple of fat quarters, some Insul-bright & a couple of hours. ( btw.....this project can be started while you wait for the plumber to fix a burst pipe in your toilet wall!! :-/)

When I opened these fat quarters up to iron them I noticed they were both Debbie Mumm fabrics, but of two different lines.

Next are two cushions made from left over 2.5" squares from my Angel Story quilt. I think they look nice in my spare room. I still have 2.5" squares left...................:-)

The doll on the bed is "Kathleen-Rose' my doll from childhood, now wearing my sons Peter Rabbit jumpsuit.

My Heirloom Romance quilt hanging here next to my grandmothers 1934 singer treadle sewing machine.

 A cross stitch I made for my youngest daughter back in 2001. I remember the task not being a quick one as this particular design is stitched over linen rather than the Adia cloth I was use to.
I have a few Cross stitches in this room, ones I have stitched for my kids. I guess when they are settled in their own homes they will want them back.

Have you met Beth? I blogged about her 'birth' back here. She hangs to keep watch.

While we are talking all things pretty, I will leave you with the flowers I picked this morning & wish you all a magical 2014, with peace, happiness & thanks for your sweet comments & support.

can you smell the Tiny white Gardenia? & my friend Julie's lovely potpourri?

A story to tell

Sometimes you just have to face things head on..............................................
For many years I coveted The Angel Story quilt, two friends had both made the quilt. One friend photocopied the patterns for me. Then I had the opportunity to meet Anni Downs ( Hatched & Patched designer ).....who is the designer of Angel Story. That's when some wires got fused in my brain...........................
 All designers are real people, with bills to pay, families, taxes, mortgages etc. So if I photocopy one of their designs surely that is a type of theft? I had all the a patterns at my finger tips, the 3 Sisters jelly roll, matching charm pack, a few fat 1/4's now all I needed to do was get to work. But I couldn't I had one more thing to purchase.......yes purchase....... The book.
 So long story over, I bought the book & set to work!  P.S Anni is a really lovely person.

Needle turn Applique, stitchery, piecing & quilting by me. I used my favourite threads, Madeira & Gunold over Warm & Natural cotton batting.

My appliqued label, the backing fabric is the same as I used for my Heirloom Romance quilt.
I hope you enjoyed my show & tell........now for somewhere to put it????

Customer quilts & a sneaky peek

Di finished her pinwheel quilt & commissioned me to do the quilting. Don't you think to dog tooth border looks like giant Ricrac??
Anyway last year several ladies participated in a pinwheel block swap, remember Jacki's?? massive pinwheel quilt? & my quilt?
Di wanted large cross hatching in the 'nine patch' pinwheel blocks & what ever else I thought best for the rest of the quilt. Using Maderia poly neon threads over cotton/bamboo batting here are some close ups.................................

While we are looking at feathers..........................................here is your sneaky peek.................

More on that soon!

Customer quilts & one of mine!

Glenda's very first quilt! This is no baby or beginner quilt, look at all those points & triangles..........................triangles mean bias edges too. This quilt measures 90" x 104" & Glenda has made a most excellent job of the piecing, all the points are there! This quilt was delightful to quilt, no wavy borders or cut off points.

I did a large open stipple/meander through the middle, then ditch stitching on the border, orange peel & curling ribbon.

Next is Jill's pretty table runner, made as a gift. Jill finds these table runners perfect for posting overseas.

The Country Yard had a fun class on Friday night called 'Whirlwind Scraps'. I quilted the sample with all over Baptist fan ( I like to call it 'horse hooves'......see my explanation here ) using a  Auriful variegated poly thread.

This is the back, you can see the lovely texture.

Today I finished my Angel Story quilt top! Whoopwhoop!! Did you hear me? You didn't? Well I was doing it! This was another long term project...................could be another long term project to hold down the quilter to quilt it too!

I learnt how to do English daisies from the Crabapple Hill Studio, I was going to give you the link but they don't have the tutorial there anymore? Basically an English daisy is a small circle of wool felt covered with masses of lazy daisy stitches.

click on the photo

a wool felt star

some lace

and French knots.

 

My great Nephew is now 3kgs & nearly ready to go home......where have the months gone?