Beginner blocks.......................

Hello poppets, there is plenty to comment about today due to the worlds tragedies and local sad news, but I won't as I am reminded this is a quilting blog. But know this, the mind does struggle at times.

Quilts!...............Marilyn, owner of Ounuwhoa Guest Lodge in Russell  sent me two quilts to "work my magic on". One to share today, the other when she has received it back. You have seen sneak peeks on Facebook of both lovely quilts. The first is a quilt pieced from blocks made as samples for Marilyn's beginner classes.

Marilyn came up with the idea to piece all the 'beginner blocks' together to create a backdrop for her trapunto flower.
  Take a closer look behind the large trapunto flower, you will notice pieced blocks. Marilyn not only operates a lovely B&B (please check out the link) she is a skilled patchwork teacher.

Did you see the blocks? Marilyn wanted open wavy lines as a background filler, around the traunpto flower and leaves stitched in the ditch then stippled to make the flower pop! I used Glide thread, one called Willow & the other Cool Mints.

For the soft blue sashing I quilted my leaf swirl which seemed to family up with the botanical theme of this quilt. Marilyn asked for the large flowers on the border to be quilted around then a stipple in the background, again to help the flowers pop, which have no trapunto.

             You can see the thickness and texture of the stipple with the trapunto, very effective!

Marilyn has done some surface machine embroidery which add an extra design element.
See the photo of the back.........................

Marilyn tells me a very special friend will be receiving this large quilt (81" x 81") for Christmas!

Wishing you a peaceful and enjoyable weekend..................................

A week long road trip, part one.

                         Hello poppets! I have much to share with all who are willing.
 I have been on a week long trip having an adventure. The first part of my journey sees me delivering a stunning quilt to it's maker and owner, through to climbing mountains and visiting friends and family. If you are only interested in the quilting side just read the first part of this post, then forget the rest!
Facebook followers and stalkers have seen a few teasing sneak peeks of Raewyn's Mountmellick Quilt. Here you will enjoy not only the 'before quilting took place' photo's but Raewyn's lovely blog.

What a treat to meet Raewyn in person and be greeted with open arms! After a tour of her amazing home (a converted church) and a yummy coffee I presented Raewyn with her finished quilt. I was commissioned by Raewyn to custom quilt and make and attach the binding ready for Raewyn to hand stitch in place.

Raewyn purchased the quilt as a Block of the Month from USA as she loved the same fabric's Di Ford used.

After several phone calls and emails we sorted what could be done to give the centre piece more 'poof'. See Raewyn's post about her dilemma over her flat applique block.
Now we have texture! I pebbled, "LeeanneMcDoodled" and feathered to bring more texture to this stunning quilt!

I ditched stitched until the cows came home, or at least until I was really over ditch stitching, with so much applique and detail that needed to be bought into the lime light ditch stitching was the foundation to create that.

The choosing of red thread for the border.......................On Di Ford's original featured in the Quiltmania magazine the quilter (unknown to me) used a fawny/ beige thread on the red borders which just didn't 'sit' with me. Thankfully Raewyn was over the moon I had chosen a deep red thread for the feathered border. I chalked a rough spine for the feather and went to town playing with my beloved feathers!

Raewyn chose Matilda's Own wool/poly batting for some added softeness and loft, this helped create the desired texture.

As well as custom quilting, making and attach the binding I was asked to pattern match the lovely backing fabric.

What a treat this has been working on a beautifully made quilt, I am sure Raewyn will find a magical spot in her amazing home to display her handy work, thanks again Raewyn for entrusting me with your work of art!
From Raewyn's I headed to Hamilton to have lunch with a dear family friend, then on to meet another blogger friend..........................................

This photo was stolen from Sue's blog without her permisson!! Yikes naughty me! My hand is out ready for the whack Sue! No doubt with your humour, friendship and love of life you will forgive me! We shared a lovely swing in the garden chatting with a cuppa in hand sorting the worlds problems with her collection of chicken's and two dogs Sheba and Oscar wanting in on the action. Great visiting new friends! The jug is on ready for you to visit me Sue!

From Sue's I travelled to spend the night with my friend Julie. A visit I always look forward to. The arms of a welcoming friend is always a welcomed one.

I could have bought every item in Julie's wee cottage, but I still needed my money to stretch out for the rest of my journey. (on my return visit I may have bought one or two treats!)
We shared a coffee at a fabulous cafe ( I forgot the name!), below are a few photo's which once housed an electrician's workshop.
This photo is of the mural that greets you upon entering.

A piano for those wanting to twinkle their fingers or a bike to take a spin on!

 The art work...........................................................

I loved the artwork and eclectic collection of furniture, we had cheerful service, which seems to becoming a rare treasure these days and of course great coffee.
From Julie's I headed to Omori where I was meeting with a group to take on the Tongariro Crossing. This is coming up in my 'part two' blog post post, in the meantime enjoy the photo of the moon shining on Lake Taupo.

 
Back soon.............................................

First Quilt

                                                 Hi there friends, followers & readers! 

            Today the quilt I am featuring is Donna's first & I think you will agree is beautiful!!

Taken here in dappled light, measuring 84" square, Matilda's Own 60% cotton 40% poly batting, throughout I used a ecru Maderia poly neon thread.

Donna asked me to follow her stitched lines on the petals & leaves, then quilting a stipple for the background of the flowers, which will 'rag & soften up' as washed.
The pattern is called: "French Roses" by Heather French.

After ditch stitching the borders, next came the pieced first border. Donna really liked the double orange peel I sometimes quilt on smaller pieced squares.
When Donna came to for a consultation, I showed her several samples of border ideas. What really rang true for her was the trapunto border I had on this quilt.  This technique takes a fair amount of time, which of course costs more. So I suggested some alternatives which would give similar results.

An echo of the feather, then a medium sized stipple gives a similar look, without hurting your wallet too much! Two layers of batting would have also helped, but again it is an added cost.

Here again in different lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This is one beautiful romantic quilt. And. . . . . . . .pretty darn good for a first quilt! Thank you Donna & enjoy!

This & that..................................

First up a finish from The Country Yard 'Sewing Essentials Project' club. This month a pouch for my rotary cutter & a thimble/ thread/ earing keeper thingie.

Next a cushion I made for a friend who is going through a rather tough time at the moment. You will notice from the photo's how different light can change the look of the fabrics.

Trapunto on the front & an all over loopy/paisley for the back.

It is winter here in New Zealand, so it is hard to believe this next photo. They have a divine scent!

This weekend I celebrated my birthday, I got a very special gift, my youngest granddaughter to visit. Here she is helping do the dishes.

back to work.....................

First customer quilt of the year.

Lois made this for her young friend who has just had a baby boy. I did very simple quilting, meander & a few straight lines using cream bobbin fill top & bottom.

Next quilt is also a baby quilt, made by a new customer Sue.

Again, fairly simple quilting, meander, some swirls, writing,  these quilts will no doubt spend some of their life in the washing machine, no sense doing fancy custom quilting.
Sue supplied a soft blue minky for the backing.

Next on the list is one from a regular customer, Ngaire............

A simple nine patch with appliqued butterflies. I used Madeira poly neon threads, a really nice variegated on for the cross hatch & loopy meander.

Before I head off to continue with the next quilt, I thought I would share with you the last Advent swap present I gave Dawn.

I made a Trapunto table runner, Dawn said she loved it, I am happy that she did. I must make myself one, I tend to give them away!