Catch up time!

Hello and welcome to the month of October. Someone said Christmas is only "X" amount of weeks away! What is that all about? I'm sure I have only just put my Christmas stuff away from last year! Anyhow with zipping over to Brisbane to meet my shiny new grandson I have a few quilts to share that I finished before I left.
First on the podium is Sue's "Lanterns" quilt made for her teenage granddaughter.

Sue asked for an all over quilting design - AKA: Edge to edge , E2E, panto. She left the quilting design choice up to me. I chose "Modern Squares" and used Fantastico thread in the colour "Unicorn" over the polyester batting Sue provided.

The quilt measures 67" x 85" the perfect size for a teenage bed! It doesn't show in the next photo but the backing Sue provided was a pretty mauve.

Next is Janet's bargello quilt made for her adult son, the design is called "X factor" by Chris Timms. Again I was requested to do E2E quilting. Janet chose "Gossamer" and also the thread "Pheasant" over her own batting.

                        This is a large quilt, measuring 96" x 103". Fantastic design isn't it?

No photo of the back this time, only a photo of the quilt on the machine along with the quilting pattern.

Last but certainly NOT least! Rachel's "Vintage Christmas" design by Kaaren Johnston and was published in the Primitive Quilts Magazine. Rachel wanted light custom quilting and only ditch stitching for the stitchery blocks as she wants to add some hand quilting.

 Rachel loves stipple and was also keen to try a swagged border for this quilt. I used Glide thread one called "Brownie" (guess what colour that is?? :-) and also the colour "Linen"......................

Measuring 69" x 75" Rachel supplied the batting and backing. I look forward to seeing this rustic charming quilt with it's binding and of course the hand quilting.

Thank you so much Sue, Janet and Rachel for letting me loose on your lovely creations!
Next blog post I will be sharing something very exciting that I have had to keep top secret for what seems like FOREVER!! I shall have to post over several 'episodes' as there's much to share! Stay tuned! Until then here's a photo of the new little man that has my heart all a fluttering!

Esther's Excellent Medallion

Hello and 'happy nearly mid week' time. We have had some crazy weather here in the winterless north. Hail the other night that turned our deck into a white winter wonderland! I was so excited!
Several times I have had to turn off and unplug my machine because of the thunderstorms, too scary for me to keep working my machine and possibly too risky.
Now I have an excellent quilt to share tonight, Esther's Medallion. Here's the photo I took when I took it out of the courier bag and lay it out.

Measuring 76" x 81" Esther wanted custom quilting and polyester batting. I emailed a few ideas through to Esther and we came up with a rough plan, she was happy for me to take over with what was going to look best for the quilt.

I quilted the swag border first then let the rest develop from there. Glide thread, Pro echo curve ruler, swag ruler, straight ruler were my guides the rest was free motion hand guided quilting.

When I created the diamonds on the inner border I was left with this strange shape that had me scratching my head for awhile wondering what to do with it?

But then I came up with just the right design.....................

Checkout the fabulous backing fabric...........................

I hope you enjoyed looking at Esther's lovely quilt. Here is a short 'swooping' video.

Thank you Esther and thanks to those you take the time to stop by.............
                                                Happy creative week!

Michelle's Snuggle Bugs quilt.....................

A thoroughly enjoyable quilting experience hanging out with these cute bugs for a few days!

Made by Michelle through the 'block-of-the-month system through her local quiltshop in the south island.

How adorable are these little faces? Michelle gave me free range to quilt how I thought would best suit the design which is both exhilarating and a nervous time with the constant words chattering in my head "I hope she likes it".....................

Anyhow, no need for me to worry Michelle was delighted..........whew! The quilt measures 60" x 84" and Michelle asked for cotton batting. I used a mix of threads mainly Glide in three different colours. After some time pondering the design for the large four- patches I was happy with the design, clean and uncluttered.

A swagged border and leafy vine for the inner and outer borders. I wonder what Michelle's choice for binding will be?

I hope you enjoyed seeing Michelle's beautiful quilt. My next blog post will be another of Michelle's creations too..............until then here are a couple of photo's of my failed attempt at climbing to the summit of Mt Taranaki...............The weather had other plans, but we did get one full days walk in doing the Kokowai Round trip, staying at the historical Camphouse.

One day of full tramping bush and experiencing the alpine then the next day off into the Len Lye gallery in New Plymouth, a cafe lunch then to the movies - 'Hidden Figures'......that was a fabulous movie! Even an evening of fancy dress..........I dressed as a carrot!

me outside the Len Lye gallery

Another Fabulous Friday!

Howdie, howdie all, the summery weather sure is setting sail here in New Zealand. It's indeed a fabulous Friday, but that is also the name of today's featured quilt. Made by Lois as a Mystery sampler through The Country Yard

Lois liked how I had quilted Noeline's Fabulous Friday (see this post) but wanted her's to be a little different. You will notice some similar quilting designs but with a few different features, which makes it more interesting for me when I get three quilts the same design.

Over the years I have quilted many times for Lois and there is always a common theme either in the quilting requests and /or the fabric and it is cat's.............she LOVES them!

Abother common feature in Lois' quilts is her love of Lynette Anderson Fabrics. This quilt fits that section nicely.

                            Lois chose a swagged border which frames her quilt beautifully.

Here is a before and after photo and to echo Lois' words when she picked her quilt up: "Quilting really does make the quilt"......thank you Lois!

The 'before quilting'

The 'after quilting"

The Simple Life and To Be Content.........................

  The Simple Life and To Be Content, doesn't everyone seek these 'things'?
I cannot offer any advice on how to get there, except that perhaps leading a simple life leads to contentment?
Anyhow, you are here to see quilts......glorious quilts! You will not be disappointed as I have two really beautiful ones to share with you.

First is Noeline's lovely quilt made for one of her lucky granddaughters, it's called 'The Simple Life'. This is an Anni Downs design. Meaningful and thought provoking stitchery and applique blocks sprinkled over a scrappy pieced background.

I have been fortunate to quilt several of Anni's designs over the years and they never disappoint. Noeline likes to add her personal touches to her quilts, through embroidery stitches to colour choices. One added touch on this quilt is the embroidery of a delicate vine on the inner border.

Noeline left the quilting designs up to me, I kept things fairly simple with a looping vine of leaves and flowers in the background. I framed the quilt off with a swag design on the border.

Thank you Noeline. If by some chance your granddaughter doesn't want this beautiful quilt I know of many people that will have their hands up for this one!

Next up is Lesley's quilt................................

Another lovely quilt with beautiful stitchery and applique. This quilt is a design by another Australian designer, Gail Pan , this one is called 'To Be Content'. Again I have also quilted several of Gail's designs over the years.

      Lesley carefully selected her fabric from The Country Yard specifically for this design.

                    Gail was telling me this was one of her earlier designs,  so sweet isn't it?

The back shows up the textures nicely, not that you will see them once Lesley has this hung on the wall, she bought a lovely wrought iron quilt hanger.
Thank you Lesley, enjoy your quilt!

While out mowing the lawn the other day, yes it has actually stopped raining for a spell! Long enough for the soggy lawn to dry out and the smiles creeping back on folks faces. Oh yes, while out mowing the lawn I had to take a photo of one of my Magnolia's in all it's glory.

These large graceful flowers open to the size of a small dinner plate. The tree is stripped of all it's leaves, then is swarming with these large elegant flowers.

Until next time, seek out the simple life.............................