Quilting, a bag & other bits

When I contacted Ileen yesterday to say her quilt was finished, she couldn't get to my studio quick enough! I didn't even get time to take any decent photo's of the quilt! Ileen made this one........a HUGE quilt measuring 100" x 110" for her son, the starry border to represent Matariki . Matariki is the Maori name for a small cluster of stars............you can read more here .
Ileen is not alone in the problem of wavy borders, until I had pointed out the importance of measuring borders, she had no idea. I gave her the link to Bonnie Hunters tutorial on borders for some help, also telling her she was not alone, this is a problem I see all too often. So, much unpicking went on before any quilting could take place.
Illeen wanted simple all over quilting in the middle, then 'something' on the border. I know bad photo's, but I did an all over in the middle, then the first border straight lines, second border more straight lines framing stipple, third border, curling ribbon & finally the outside border I quilted  roaming, looping stars.

Just to give my arms a wee rest after that huge quilt I did two wall hangings from Ngaire. Ngaire has been making these hangings from patterns featured in the New Zealand Quilter magazine.

Ngaire told me exactly how she wanted both these hangings quilted.

Not sure of the birds in the first hanging, but I'm pretty sure these two are Moreporks?
To see more of the series she has been making you can go here & here.

In my last post I mentioned hoping I would have a productive Sunday, well the answer is yes & no. I wanted to do more the time just seem to run faster on the weekends. Anyhow I did get a Library bag made for on granddaughters 6th birthday. I used Leanne Beasley's lovely pattern. I spend way too much time fussing with what fabrics to use, I know my granddaughter is into fairies at the moment, so I chose the yellow background fabric as my starter.

I hope to make her a bunting for her bedroom too, but we will see, I have plenty of other goodies in my 'gift box' that can be popped into her parcel if I run out of time!
Also on the home front.....................

I have been slowly plodding away at my Dresden plates.

I am starting to think about how I want to put this together, sashings, on point or as is? Of course my mind goes off to 'how will I quilt this?' Then of course what will I use as my centres?

Also another project that gets some 'plodding' time is my Angel Story by Annie Downs. I  have completed all the applique, I just have two blocks left that need the stitchery to be completed, then I can start putting the top together!

Thanks for stopping by, wishing you all a happy rest of the week!

team playing......................

When a few friends come together to make a quilt for a special friend that is having what some call a milestone birthday, it is all about team work. The featured quilt was all about teamwork, a few secret meetings, some sneaky swaps of fabrics & conversations.........but all for a good cause. My part in this birthday quilt was the quilting, six other friends made the blocks, or 'rounds'.

The centre block was inspired by Leanne Beasley's block she designed for Breast of Friends for the Australian Homespun magazine then in a traditional manner the next 'rounds' were added by each friend. As you can see I 'doodled' to my hearts content!

A few feathers here & there, some micro-scribbling, some echoing. I used bobbin fill, Madeira poly neon's , Gunold & Glide threads.

 

 

More feathers for the border........then off for the binding to be attached.

So what do you do when you are left with scraps??????????
.........................Make a scrappy backing of course!

Now I'm off for a very special weekend..................I hope you all a great weekend too!