One of my own....................

It's not often I finish one of my own quilts so I thought you might like to join me in celebration by reading this post about my recent finish. Started back in 2015.......................

That was my flimsy, so somewhat finished right? Well it sat tucked away with the label and pieced backing fabric until that magic day when I had time to quilt it in between paid quilting! A couple of weekends back I decided it was time to get this quilt really finished.

The Country Yard (where I used to work) often has mystery projects this was one such project. Those who participated were given a set of rules and a piece of fabric that had to be used in each 'round'. That piece of fabric was a tapemeasure print fabric by Sweetwater called 'Elementary'. I thought my stash of Kansas Troubles worked well together.

This was labour intensive quilting but I am really pleased with my efforts. I used two layers of batting which I have been wanting to try after reading time after time that my quilting idols in USA have been using so often. The results are pleasing, some extra texture...........and I love texture! Warm and Natural Cotton and Matilda's Own Wool batting as the top layer.

I decided to piece a backing starting with a panel then some other fabrics that worked in with the panel.

I made a flange binding which helps frame my quilt off nicely. So is my personal pile of quilts at zero? No! Will it ever be?............................

I am linking up with Linda and Julie for "Sew-Stitch-Snap-Share". If you want see the post I did about The Country Yard's sample of this medallion you can click *here* also if you fancy reading my progress from the start of my quilt click *here* and *here*. Thank you to Linda and Julie for the gentle push along by creating a fun link up.

Please keep popping back to my blog and also my Facebook and Instagram pages as I have some really fabulous quilts to share in the coming weeks and months, some I have to keep secret for what feels like a life time! There are some amazing quilt makers out there.

Veron's Garden................................

This has been what feels like to me a 'epic' quilting job! Some quilts seem to spend a long time on my machine, while others breeze through without so much as a blink of the eye! So without further a do........................perhaps a drum-roll would heighten the excitement!

The details to the best of my knowledge:

'Veron's Garden' - named by me as this was Veron's creation.
Machine Applique - batik fabrics
Matilda's Own polyester batting
Glide thread
90" x 102"
Free hand custom quilting by me.
Feather border inspired by Jamie Wallen

I felt the need to keep the quilting classic looking, feathers, cross-hatching - with a trellis look and micro stipple to help give some areas some 'pop'.

Veron once again gave me a creative licence over this quilt, for that I am ever so thankful to her for her trust and friendship.

Now a snippet of the delicious back!

So that marks the last of Veron's quilts ( for now), if you missed the last three please see *here* - *here* and *here*.

Last week I posted off a birthday present to my friend Julie, I had managed to make two small handmade items for her, one I forgot to take a photo of and this:

A freebie pattern from Moda Bakeshop called "Moda Love". I had made myself one over the Christmas period but in Kansas Troubles fabrics. They are both made with Mini Charms or 2 1/2" squares. The one for Julie was from the leftovers of my Angel Story quilt.

               Just thought I'd pin Julie's one up in the same spot mine hangs for the photo.
Simple straight lines for the quilting and machine sewn binding and just like that it's done!

Measuring : 12" x 12"

From the same pattern you have the choice to make the mini -from a mini charm pack( 2 1/2" squares), a medium sized one - from a charm pack (5" squares) and a nice large one, just like this one I made my sister last year using a Layer cake (10" squares).

Measuring :73" x 73"

           These past few weeks the love story continues aboard the Biscornu.................................

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!

Gossip in the Garden...................................

Hello! I'm back with much to share, I have had emails asking when I was doing a blog post again! Been busy quilting and helping out at The Country Yard's New Years Launch. I quilted several samples for the shop ( Facebook followers would have seen some sneak peeks) but had to wait to share the finished quilts until after the special event. So first up is Gossip in the Garden.

"Their friendship revolved around cups of tea and gossip in the garden". Does this sound like a friendship you have with someone?

This delightful quilt was designed by Annie Downs of Hatched & Patched if you pop over to her blog her blog header features Gossip in the Garden, but Annie's fabric selection is quite different from mine.

I chose Kansas Troubles fabric, "Token of Friendship" which is quite fitting for a quilt about friendship. A selection of background fabrics including a lovely rich muddy primitive muslin makes for a quilt that will blend in well in my home!

One feature that appealed to me to make me say I was keen to make the shop sample was the Dresden Plates. There are four in total and another 'stubby/chubby Dresden', each with a sweet stitchery in the center circle.
Baskets of posies............................

Some traditional pieced blocks...............................

Once again I enjoyed using the apliqick tools from Lynette Anderson for all the applique and English Paper piecing.

I kept my quilting fairly simple, using plenty of stitch in the ditch of course, what may surprise you my loyal followers there are no feathers! Quilted over wool/ poly batting.

This quilt is available as you see with all these fabrics through The Country Yard.
I will leave you with some photo's of the shop after we revamped and reshuffled to make room for all the new eye candy. See you soon with some more quilts.