"Chopsticks"......................................

Hello and welcome on this winter Wednesday. The wind is howling throwing fallen leaves into mini tornado's! Enough of the weather, time to share Chopstick's a Jaybird Quilts design.
Kerryn, owner of The Country Yard asked me to custom quilt her sample, yippie this quilt is super nice! Here is the 'before-quilting' photo......................

Kerryn supplied the cotton/poly batting. The quilt measures 62" x 83" and is made using Moda fabric by Sweetwater called "Sunday Supper".

Using Glide thread in the colours 'Linen' and 'Ocean' I set to work play!! Using a straight edge ruler and one of my ProEcho rulers and free hand quilting.

Kerryn requested the "Full Quiltmekiwi Binding Service", which is to attach pre-made binding (or I can make it) to the back and bring forward to the front of the quilt top stitching in place, or attach the binding to the front the quilt and hand stitch the binding to the back of the quilt. In this case Kerryn wanted the binding completely attached by machine.

The whole quilt, quilted and binding attached ready to hang in the shop along with fabrics, patterns and kits.

                 Last week I celebrated another birthday and I was treated to some lovely presents!

Thank you my friends and loved ones. Last weekends tramping was a treat also, after a short drive to Sandy Bay we had a lovely walk through farm land, forest, beaches and Whananaki where we stopped at the local country school to share in a Mid winter Christmas lunch.

           Every single time I am out exploring I feel so lucky to be apart of all the beauty.

The last couple of weeks has been very slow progress on my Running Zebra quilt, but I do have a neck and mane!

Linking up with the lovely Linda and Julie for "Sew-Stitch-Snap-Share". Thanks ladies, you are keeping me somewhat motivated!

Thank you for stopping by, happy creating and take time to enjoy the paradise you live in!

Custom quilting for Lesley

Hello June! Winter is finally arriving to the 'winterless' north of Northland! A chilly start this morning but a lovely sunny day. I know some of my overseas followers are starting summer.
Today I can share with you the quilt Lesley has made for her sister.
Lesley asked for custom quilting, cotton batting and a nice mustard backing fabric. Included were two cushion tops to be quilted the same as the quilt to make a nice set. This system works well as I just loaded the cushion tops on to the same batting and backing, saving time and money.

Here you can see I chose the wrong time of the day for outdoor photo's! This is my best spot for getting the whole quilt in the frame of the photo.

I enjoyed working out a design for these large nine patch blocks. using my Proecho (Lisa Calle) curved rulers I divided up the area and added some curved cross-hatching.

Swirl/feather design for the red sashing and a loose flowing feather for the border. I have used Glide threads. The mustard sashings were quilted with a simple diamond design, I will admit I would have loved to fill in each side with a heavy filler to make more of a 'diamond', sometimes I just have to pull the handbrake on!

When I gave Lesley some options for the stitchery blocks she chose cross-hatching over the stitchery but not over the applique. I decided straight line cross-hatching would look pleasing to the eye rather diagonal cross-hatching that I often quilt. Do you see Lesley has coloured in some of her stitchery?

Lesley came up with the design of this quilt, clever women! I'm sure Vi - Lesley's sister will be over the moon at such a lovely and thoughtful gift.

There are the two cushions, ready to be trimmed and made into cushions ready to adorn Vi's bed!
I received this email from Lesley which was very humbling to me: Thank you!

Hi Leeanne,

I received my quilt early this morning and I just cried when I saw it. It is so beautiful, love all what you have done. The backing is stunning. I am sure Vi is going to love it. I am going to Perth in October so will take it with me.

thank you so much. Until next time

Cheers Lesley

Over the last month or so I have been working on a new exciting project for myself . In the evenings and weekends when the mood strikes it's nice to have something to potter with in my sewing nook. Last year when I quilted Juliet's Running Zebra quilt (see here) it was love at first sight for me! I promptly purchased Juliet's pattern. Cute to read in the pattern Juliet gives credit to her quilter.......me!

I then set about trying to source the same fabrics Juliet had used..........not so easy! Here in New Zealand we are months behind the eight ball and so often don't even get half of the yummy fabrics on offer from the American designers. I did manage to get one small bundle of fat quarters but that was not going to be enough, so I 'bit the bullet' and purchased from America, I do like to support local, but I had my heart set on this fabric........and when it arrived I wasn't disappointed.

Please don't sit at your computer waiting to see the finished quilt............it may take awhile!
Linking up with Linda and Julie for 'Sew-Stitch-Snap-Share" Thanks creative ladies!
A little more self indulgence sharing, my over night tramping trip on the weekend to Cape Brett..............here a few photo's. Have I said I live in paradise?

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and thank you to those who leave lovely comments!

More from Marcelle......................

Today I am happy to share with you two more quilts I have quilted for Marcelle. The first is called 'Somerhill House' a Gail Pan Design. 

         Marcelle asked for custom quilting on this chic quilt, all the applique is hand done.

did anyone spot the blocks missing the second pass of cross-hatching? These have since been fixed!

                          Stitch in the ditch, curved cross-hatching and feathers.

I had left the background of the appliqued house block unquilted and Marcelle and I both agreed it needed more, so more I did.............................

     Better don't you agree? Now for a photo of the backing and in true Marcelle style it is pieced.

The next quilt of Marcelle's is cooling and soothing in blue's and creams. All over quilting was requested by Marcelle, I used 'Modern Squares'.

                                   Another pieced backing.................................................

                                                           Thank you Marcelle!

Over the Easter period we have had family visiting, one has been one of my granddaughters. Checkout the fabulous arty looking chocolate muffins she made.............and they were yummy!!

"Autumn Vases"

Hello again, some of you will have seen the sneak peeks of a lovely autumny, cinnamon sprinklings, falling leaves, put your cosy socks on type of quilt on my Facebook page, well I can now share the whole quilt with you.
             Welcome................... "Autumn Vases" one of the Northern Shop Hop quilts.

          Do you think of Autumn when you look at this pretty quilt?
Made by Kerryn, owner of The Country Yard  for the shops contribution to this years Northern Shop Hop.

  Four 'Autumn' stitched displays framed with some scrummy fabrics and clever block placement.
       I enjoyed some playtime in the cream logs, curve cross-hatching and blunt ended feathers.

Quilts that have secondary designs are always pleasing to my eye, that coupled with some fancy quilting your eyes are never bored!

For more details about The Northern Shop Hop and how you can join in with a car load of friends hopping around various shops see the blog *here*.

Dresden time!

                        Heart fluttering and a love affair going on for this beautiful quilt!

Pretend the shadows aren't there............this was taken the same day I took photo's of The Crinoline Ladies. ( remember in between the showers day!) Another beautifully made quilt by Veron.

            Hours of custom quilting went into this quilt, but I enjoyed every delicious moment!

This is a large quilt: 85" x 100" each Dresden block is 15" square. I SID (stitched in the ditch) around each Dresden then echoed a 1/4". Pebbles and the odd swirl was the background fill. I then quilted using my ruler star points alternating with a swirl.

                 The mini Dresdens were sort 'corner stones,' had their own special quilting.

                             The soft green sashing was treated to swirls and a feather vine.

Designing the shapely border was fun, breaking the area up appealed as did some curved cross-hatching and feathers.

The outer border received the same breaking up method, this time a cross-hatch, then a pattern meander to create some nice texture.

                        For the back lovers out there...................................................................

         
                     Thank you so much Veron, it is ALWAYS a pleasure working with you!

Over the past few weekends when I had a few hours available I worked on my Star Mastery quilt. I attached the borders and all the applique shapes in place, just needing to blanket stitch then to quilt it.

Another 'finish'..........not really a finish' finish', but another round of The Country Yard's Mystery Medallion, my version.

                  Both of my projects are scrappy with a strong blend of Kansas Troubles fabrics.

                                        Liz and Sue...............that ones for you!