Kaffe Fassett and some of my flimsys................

Marilyn attended a class on making these interesting nine patch blocks, she used her stash of Kaffe Fassett shot cottons.

Unfortunately the lemon border turned out washed out in the photos, but one close up photo shows off the quilting. In this photo you can also see my new fancy quilt hanging method.......skirt hangers!

Marilyn and I both agreed cross hatching would work really nicely for the nine patch blocks, she was keen for variegated thread, I used a lovely orangey/tealy/pinky one from Madeira.

              The cross hatching continued out to one of the borders, this helps with continuity.
The final border is black and Marilyn loves a contrast of the variegated threads, the swirls look nice.

Here you can see the feathered border, this lemon border is quite vibrant, not that the photo is telling you that! Thank you Marilyn, enjoy your quilt.

Another month has passed so I have another 'round' of The Country Yard's Mystery Medallion. Not very fancy as I wanted a blank canvas for quilting. A simple appliqued vine, all ready for feathers etc.

I think we have two more rounds to go, then this flimsy will head over to the quilting pile to keep my Star Mastery flimsy company........................

Another flimsy in my pile is my Classic Strippy, which is a Bonnie Hunter design from one of her Leaders and Ender books.

There are others in the 'nearly finished pile'.............but Rome was not not built in a day was it! I think I need to give myself a quilting weekend working on getting some of my flimsy's into actual quilts!

Simon thinks this is a fabulous idea, he said he will do the washing, cooking, cleaning, answering emails etc.................but first he might need to rest!

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!

"Oh my Stars" and two customer quilts.

It's a very dark wet day here in Whangarei, one of those days where I feel like lighting the fire and cuddling up with a good book (reading for the second time Barry Crump's 'Wild Pork & Watercress').....................but that won't get the quilting pile shrunk will it!
I delivered Pauline's two quilts this morning and she was delighted to have them home ready to attach the binding.
The first is a panel that she asked if I could custom quilt using a gold thread.

Pauline loves black and has this colour as a fairly main feature in her home, as well as creams, browns and golds.

I quilted some straight lines, diamonds and filled the larger diamond with a pattern meander or ribbon candy. I 'ditch stitched' around the printed panels then using black thread pebbled to give a 3D effect.
Facebook followers and stalkers would have seen the next photo featured there.

                   Back lovers you are about to have a treat..............this is a cool back!

The second quilt for Pauline was a very simple quilt made using up the last of her brown fabrics. Pauline asked for simple cross hatching.

                                                             Thank you Pauline.

Sunday was Mothers Day and I thought working on my Star blocks would be a nice gift to myself.
I came up with an on point/zig zag setting.

I was working on these blocks at retreat. I have made 25, but the lighter background fabric was in short supply so I had to alter my plans to make a smaller quilt. I can make another quilt with the other stars. I would like to have a border with applique featured, so I have been auditioning a few suitable partners for the border.

   While enjoying my day I had two kinds of help, one wanted, the other was really no help at all!!

I'm not a pin in your mouth kind of person, but I found when piecing these stars together that's just where I went to put my pins! Thankfully I remembered my wee finger mouse pin keep.

I know a friend who needs one of these as she gets bombarded with scoldings for putting her pins in her mouth! You know who you are!!
My other helper..................................................

                                            Thanks Simon, you were a fabulous help!

The other bit of my sewing I have done is The Country Yard's Tuesday Mystery Medallion.

Waiting to see what the next round brings. I have used Kansas Troubles fabric and scrappy creams that work in harmony with these fabrics and the fawny/taupe tape measure fabric that must be used in each round.

Next up for quilting........................................

Appliqued crinoline ladies and hand embroidery, this is a very pretty quilt and it is large, wish me luck! Thanks for stopping by, all forms are accepted and appreciated publicly and privately  stalking!

Stars, stars & more stars!

Marcelle made this quilt using up her scraps.Very effective setting.

Please click on any of the photo's for a better look.

A wee close up of the 'wind & stars'............

Just because someone is expecting their own baby, doesn't mean you can't make one for your friend who is expecting too...that's just what Marcelle has done.
 

loopy stars in a variegated thread on a flannel quilt....oh to be a baby again!