Wednesday, May 11, 2016

First quilts, bedhead quilt, soap and a magic Mothers Day!



It's a wet Wednesday here in Whangarei ..............and quite humid.............Mmmmm summer sure is hanging on! Anyhow you are not here to read about the weather, you are here to checkout what I have been up to.
First is Lisa's first ever quilt! You can take it from me she has done a stella job of the construction.


This was a Mystery Stitchery by The Country Yard back in 2012, you may remember seeing this design as I have quilted a few of them. Lisa asked for light custom quilting.


I started out with twirly- whirly tendrils (oh I like the sound of that!) using the popular Glide thread, colour "Mocha" as well as ditch stitching. The quilt measures 48" x 48".


           The stitchery blocks had minimal quilting, the border was treated with a simple swag.
And for the back lovers...............................................



The next little cutie to share is Helen's granddaughter's bedhead quilt. The design is by Lesley McConnell of "Faeries in my Garden".


This photo is taken after I attached the binding and hanging sleeve.....please remind me to take a photo before I attach these, it makes the job of taking photo's much easier.


Helen was keen on cross hatching but not over her stitchery, so I marked my lines to be sure I got nice and straight, but I did spend the time stitching thinking "I sure hope this blue pen comes out".
But all went well. This quilt measures 21" x 34".


I decided a swag border would frame and 'stage' the stitchery quite nicely.............I think it did.


Glide thread again, this time the colour "Cool Mint". These swags have a dense filler on one side to give a bit more drama and oh so lovely texture.


Thank you to both Lisa and Helen, I hope your quilts bring you joy.

In the evenings I have been plodding away at my medallion dark and light quilt. I have been struggling with having enough light fabrics. Only one more quarter to make, so that means something by the way of progress. Just when I thought it would be nice to have my model (aka Simon) around to fill the missing corner, he was nowhere to be seen. Wouldn't he have looked cute laying in that blank spot?


I wish you could smell the next photo. I ordered some soaps off my sweet friend Julie (blog: http://mythreadbearlife.blogspot.co.nz/) and have displayed them in my pretty cake stand in the bathroom.


Last weekend I headed off for another tramp and I am sooooo pleased I went as the land is for sale and if it sells quickly it may only be seen by a few, which is a shame as it is incredibly beautiful.


We were guided to this magnificent Kauri tree deep in the bush in the Helena Bay area. Unsure if it was two trees that have been growing together or one that has split. I could stand inside it and to one side the tree was hallow inside. The next photo is taken looking up inside.


Isn't that incredible! These mighty trees have such a presence about them. Sadly many Kauri are dying, so we were asked that our boots were extra clean before setting out. After about two and half hours up hill through bush we came to a lovely spot to take a load off and eat our lunch.


We did get caught in some rain as we descended back to vehicles, but I couldn't have cared less, what a fabulous Mothers Day it was!

9 comments:

  1. A great blig Leeanne, but, a special mention to Lisa Congratulatins on your first quilt, well done to you. I am sure this will be the first of many quilts to come. I can higjly recommend any block of the month/project/kit from The Country Yard

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  2. As always, excellent quilting choices. Love seeing how your mind works--it helps my mind work. : )
    I can smell the soap--and it reminds me that it is almost time to make soap again.
    You have the most gorgeous views when you get out tramping!

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  3. Stunning first quilt for Lisa, and the swags, what a fantastic border finish.

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  4. Well Done Lisa on completing your first quilt. I think the tendrils really soften the overall look. What a sweet bedhead Helen has made. Love how the swag border accentuates the zig zag pattern of the fabric. Great quilting my friend.
    Oh I can smell those soaps. Love handmade soaps.
    Gorgeous photos while tramping. Do you belong to a tramping club?

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  5. More beautiful quilts and quilting. What a beautiful place for you to tramp...that kauri tree is amazing and the colour of the inside is beautiful. What is causing the kauri to die?

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  6. All gorgeous here today Leeanne. Loved the idea of the headboard quilt .. I saw those gorgeous teddies over on your facebk page. I think your soaps look amazing on your cake plate. Not to be used or eaten of course !! Just to be admired. Lovely kauri tree pics too. x x

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  7. what a great job she made of her first quilt can see amazing quilts being made by Lisa

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  8. Simon has turned into an unreliable model, you may have to re think his contract if this continues. I bet those soaps from Julie smell divine, what a great use of a cake stand! OMG I love that Kauri, so glad you took those photos. It looks amazing inside.

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  9. WoW, what a beautiful first quilt os Lisa! And the headhead quilt is so cute, I love the dense filler in the swags! Also without your model your quilt looks lovely, lol! What a nice picture of you in the Kauri tree!

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