feathers live here...................

             Hi there! This is the place to be today if you love feathers, I have them in abundance!

This beauty is a class sample for The Country Yard called 'Star Mastery'. Featuring several different stars. The class is focused on making the stars, the layout is simply an idea, but a lovely idea!

For something a little different I quilted straight lines on the central star blocks treating them separate from the outer stars, there by giving the illusion that the outer stars were 'floating' out to the border.

I enjoyed this concept and I am sure I can used this idea again. Now did I say something about feathers???

I used my curved rulers from Lisa Calle for the arcs,  I then echoed which gave me a nice pocket to place some pebbles in, I used a soft smokey/blue grey poly neon thread by Madeira, this created a soft contrast. Because I went down the road of wanting the feathers to look like they were floating, I had to quilt feathers right up to the striped sashings.

For a touch of continuity from the inner stars to the outer stars I quilted pebbles on the blocks with the primitive muslin background fabrics.

The next quilt features more feathers. Made by Gaynor at a class last year at The Country Yard.

I have quilted several of these lacey antique heirlooms. They can be tricky due to all the open crocheted doilies, you have to be careful to not get your hopping foot caught.

                     The sashings got a treatment of 'curling ribbon', the borders...........guess???

                    Thank you so much ladies for letting me loose on your beautiful quilts!

I am looking forward to a small break in quilting while I have my granddaughter to stay, here's hoping she will be keen to spend time with granny in her sewing space!

                            I still have three more quilts to share with you, so watch this space!

creamy delights & Christmas in July???

Joanne signed up for a class at The Country Yard some months back to make the Antique Lace Patchwork Quilt , you will remember I made the class sample back here. Joanne asked for hers to be quilted the same.

Ever so sorry for the substandard photo's, but we are having the most incredible relentless rain & wind here in Northland,  there was no way I could take any outside photo's of this pretty quilt!
Joanne tells me she now has a new found addiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . .collecting doilies! I can join her on that addiction, they are hard to say no to. What better way to use some of them though, in a stunning heirloom for generations to enjoy.

Joanne chose Matilda's Own 50%wool 50%cotton batting. The quilt measures : 62" x 62". I used a soft taupe Maderia poly neon thread, that just seemed to blend nicely into the fabulous linen & cotton fabrics. Honestly I wish you could see some of the fabrics better, the colours & textures made this quilt dreamy to work with.

Of course I had a few 'interesting' times with the quilting foot getting caught in the doilies! I had to take things real slow. I like the choice of sashing, a tone on tone, old world look brown, which Joanne says she will bind the quilt with also. Now that the quilting is completed, Joanne will add some of her collection of antique buttons, no doubt that is another addiction!!

                                                     Thank you Joanne, enjoy your quilt.

More cream to share, not a quilt, but a pincushion. I made this for my friend Raewyn, who had a wee birthday last week.

Made from a wooden coffee tree stand ( saw some rungs off & the top) & an old round cake tin, a dash of paint, then sand some paint off for that 'well-loved-vintage-chic' look. My total inspiration must & does go to my dear friend Julie, over at My Threadbear  Life, so much inspiration is she!
 Backtrack a few months to here where I made another one for a friend for Christmas. Then I bought this awesome one from Julie at my last visit. fun to make, but much easier to buy from her!!
Anyway, I used felted cream wools from up-cycled woollen clothing, & a small doiley all bought from OpShops (thriftshops). I made a flower for the top. I called Raewyn's pincushion "The Pin House".

It's always fun making handmade gifts for friends & of course receiving them! I wonder how well my handmade gifts will be received this month, as I signed up for a 'Christmas in July Swap'. I had to make three handmade gifts. We got to choose from a Christmasy themed list. I have no idea who I will receive from, but of course I know who I am giving to!! Here they are wrapped & ready to post.

I hope other Northland readers are all OK & of course anyone else out there in the firing line of this amazing, relentless wild weather.

Christmas Fun and a new / old love........

Lynette Anderson's Christmas Fun month 5 finished, the next one will be here soon!

After a visit to Bay of Islands/Pahia last weekend I found this old 1930's beauty from a antique store.It hails from America. No label unfortunately. It has a white muslin backing and cotton batting  and all hand pieced and hand quilted.
I like this one flower with the black fraying fabric.

I will need to give it a wash....very gently of course!

I think I am in love !!!! I have a real appreciation for English paper pieced quilts and they make me smile.

Who made this quilt? Was she/he a happy content person? Was the maker new to patchwork or a seasoned quilter? Was the maker a mother,father, daughter,lover, friend? What ever this makers story was I am so happy she/he made it :-)