Last custom quilts for the year......................

Hello pretty people! Time to share the last two custom quilts of 2015. Both have been made by Pam and both are for two of her grandchildren...........lucky grandkids!

The first quilt was made especially for Pam's 16 year old grandson, a pattern by Cosy Quilts, called "Colour Fall." Pam chose black batting as the bulk of the quilt is black as well as the backing fabric.

I used Glide thread in black for all the quilting of straight lines and continuous curves (aka: orange peel) and of course the stipple on the borders.

The next quilt is for Pam's granddaughter. Pam used Hugs and Kisses  pre - cut hexie shapes for the hexagon flowers.

               I just adore the whimsical layout of the hexagon blocks, fun, fresh and interesting!

The sprinkling of white thread for the machine embroidery flower middles adds a nice touch. I quilted a 1/4" in from the edge of each block ( I did no ditch stitching here as the seams were pressed open) then I stitched in the ditch around the flowers, then 1/4" away from the flowers then I pebbled with the odd swirl to add some interest for the eye to roam over, using Madeira thread.

The cream sashing was the perfect space for some more swirls and the continuation of the leaves from the applique helps pull all the quilting into a lovely cohesion. Pam loves her stipple, so I did so on the sashings and borders, this time using Glide thread in a light olive colour.

Isn't this quilt lovely and cheerful. I'm sure Pam's grandchildren with love these quilts and all the love and care she has stitched into both of them is a treasure in it's self!

Back soon with the very last customer quilts for 2015!!

Helen Stubbings & Kathy Schmitz fabrics

                                                 
                                                    Hello and welcome good people!
    Today I am sharing with you Fleur's pretty baby quilt and one of my own quilts finished.

Isn't this a  pretty little quilt, so soft and sweet, made from Helen Stubbings fabrics, simple piecing and simple quilting.

                         Fleur asked for simple ditch stitching and cross hatching.............done!
A photo of the back shows off the simplicity, the use of wool batting has worked well.

I am excited to share a finish of my own, my Wendy Briggs stitcheries using a fat quarter bundle by Kathy Schmitz , her fabric range "Piecemakers".

I really like the traditional style of cross hatching across the stitcheries, to do this I always used a fine blending thread. The stitcheries themselves were completed using Cottage Garden Threads and Aurifil threads.

Throw in a funky feather, orange peel, swirls, straight lines, curling ribbon and a swagged border and you have a nicely textured quilt.

        Part of the fabric bundle was a panel that I thought worked well as part of the backing.

     A photograph in front of my Wisteria bush on a warm fine spring day was pleasing.
I have had a florist friend staying for a couple of days and I thought it would be nice to have a vase of freshly "'picked & plonked in a vase" display in the guest bedroom.

         A pretty sad attempt when you see the lovely bunch my friend made me from her garden!

I love the white Protea (which she grows) nestled in some other pretty flowers and wrapped up with some grapevine.

Happy spring days to you!

"A Merry Christmas Garden"

I have finished quilting my BOM sample for the shop. This is a lovely design, it was a delight to make with simple straight forward instructions. Gail Pan is the designer of this Christmas quilt.
I gave myself one week to attach the last two blocks, two borders, quilt, label, hanging sleeve & bind.................remind me next time to give myself more time please! Never mind a few day & night shifts got this finished, it has now gone to it temporary home at The Country Yard.

My new fav thing at the moment is boxed feathers. You see there is a touch of stitchery in this quilt, the odd 'Christmasy' word...........'Love'..........'Believe'............'Blessings'.......................

I set about ditch stitching, orange peel, echos, dense background fillers of 'Mctavishing', pebbles & swirls. Did I say ditch stitching?? lol!!

Are you loving this quilt so far? We still have a few spaces available, pop over to The Country Yard website & sign up!

            I took the following photo as the light was fading, but it is probably my fav photo.

So there you go, a bit of Christmas as the month of March drifts away from us for another year. H I am off to work in our temporary shop at the Whangarei Quilt show at the Forum North tomorrow, if you are in my neck of the woods I'd love you to stop by & say hi.

Wishing you a happy weekend!

quilted mysteries

For all the years worked part time at The Country Yard there has been a mystery BOM running. For all that time I have been fortunate to quilt the samples. This year was a lovely stitchery designed by my boss/store owner & friend Kerryn, called "Friends". Every year these mysteries are a huge success! See why...........................................

2013 mystery stitchery "Friends"

Starting with one stitchery pattern, background fabric, thread & some instructions, the mystery starts. Our regular customers know to get in quick as these are a limited edition & places sell as quick as you can say 'Lickityspickitydodarh'........twelve times!!

The following months the packs have more stitchery patterns, background fabric & the slow introduction of the fabrics, in this case a lovely French General range, just to keep the girls guessing.

Kerryn wanted the quilting kept fairly simple, so we came with up with never fail cross hatching, orange peel & a few feathers thrown in for a wee traditional splash.
Using Glide thread, Madeira poly neon threads over 90/10 wool/poly batting.

If you are interested in seeing some previous mysteries go here , here & here for some.

It's all systems go here, quilts, quilts & more quilts, Christmas is coming in case you didn't know!
I have more to show you but it will have to wait a couple of days until the owners have received their quilts in the mail.
Until then I will leave you will a little sneaky peek of something I am working away on & nearly finished.

Gardeners Journal

This is great timing with Anni having just posted about gardening & her new range of fabrics & patterns........................

I finished this quilt, designed by Anni Downs, called "Gardeners Journal" last week, but it took a week to get to Nicky  by snail mail, in the deep south!! Shame we can't send parcels via email.....wham.....instant!!!

Nicky was happy for me to do what I thought was best, her only request, not too much quilting on the stitchery blocks.

Nicky does the most beautiful stitching, soooooo neat, sooooooo tiny! Maybe if you click on the photo's you will see.
For the stitchery blocks I used a bobbin fill thread, in this case, Invisifil by Wonderfil threads. The bobbin threads are fine & used sparingly can be non intrusive, which was my plan & I think I have pulled off.

There were a few larger plain blocks that needed to be filled. I didn't have the right stencils, so I made my own designs up.
The filler blocks of 1 1/2" squares & larger I did a mix of orange peel & cross hatching.

Where would a quilt like this be without a feather border!
Enjoy Nicky & thanks for a lovely quilt to work with.