Homespun Profile

For Jane Austen Fans

I am looking forward to seeing the December issue of Homespun magazine published by Universal Magazines.

This issue will be a Jane Austen special.  2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of "Pride and Prejudice" so Catherine Sanchez, the editor, who is also a great Austen fan, has asked me to make a special project for that issue.

I have made an oversized cushion called "Jane" (images under wraps) and the magazine will include a profile of myself and my "Jane Austen Collection" of quilts and a shopping special as well.

Can't wait to see it!

Katrina

Keep Talking

Love Your Comments

Thank you to everyone who has sent me emails and made comments on my blog.  It is great to hear that you are enjoying my blog and show and tell of photographs. 

Sometimes it is hard to know whether anyone out their in cyberspace is reading what I have to say!

I have had many requests to sell the patterns to my Jane Austen quilts.  I regret that at this stage they are not for sale as I do not feel this is fair to the shops I am teaching at and the girls who pay for lessons.  The quilts are also quite complicated so it is best to tackle them in a classroom environment.

I am trying to expand the places where I teach.  2013 will see me teaching Rosings and Pemberley at Pioneer Patchwork (Narellan); Rosings at Quiltsmith (Annandale); Pemberley at Lyn's Fine Needlework (Baulkham Hills); Longbourne for the Misty Mountains Quilters (Wentworth Falls) and Longbourne at Carolyn's Quilting Room (Wodonga).  Probably more to follow.

Let me know if you have a group that wishes me to come and teach them and I will see what I can fit in the diary.

Regards and please keep the comments coming...

Katrina x

Quiltsmith Classes

Classes at Quiltsmith

I have two more classes this year at the fabric mecca that is Quiltsmith in Annandale, Sydney.  I have been teaching my machine pieced and appliqued quilts on the fourth Thursday of the month.  The final two classes for the year will be 25 October and 22 November, 2012.

I will be continuing this class in 2013 starting on 28 February, 2013.

I will also be starting a new class at Quiltsmith to teach my "Jane Austen Collection" of quilts.  The first one to be taught will be "Rosings" on the first Monday of the month commencing on Monday 4 February.  Classes run from 10am to 3pm.  Contact the shop directly to book in on phone 02 9550 4947.

 

Here are some photos of Anne's "Spikes and Specks" laid out on the floor of the classroom.  Anne is planning to make the quilt larger - lots more blocks, of course!

They are looking great.  The blue is the carpet by the way.  We picked a lovely fabric for the cornerstones and chose one of my favourite repro colours for the vines - what I call "kacky gold".  Will give the quilt a zing!

Regards,

Katrina x

Tuesday Class at Narellan

More Lovely Quilts

Here are some more photos of quilts in progress from my Tuesday classes at Pioneer Patchwork.

First are Jean's magnificent blocks for her "Spikes and Specks" quilt.  They are all laid out on the floor of the shop to be auditioned for placement in the final quilt.

Jean is fairly new to patchwork and has worked very hard to get all these blocks done in some very rich colours of orange, blue, green and gold:

Next is Julie's wonderful "Longbourne" centre.  The rich red and brown are glorious together and her hexagons are so lovely.  Well done, Julie!

Here is an update on Pauline's soft and lacy "Longbourne":

Regards from Katrina x

More Pemberley Pics

Photos of Different "Pemberley" Quilts

For those of you who have enrolled to make Pemberley in class next year, here are some photos of different versions made by my students over the past few years, as requested.

Here are some of the girls at Narellan from a coupld of years ago holding up their centre oval medallion in front of my original quilt.  Back row from left: Robyn, Julie, Debbie, Veronica, Cheryl and front row from left: Inge, Sally, Sharon and Gloria.  How many have finished their quilt, I wonder???

This one was made by "fussy cutting" large flowers from a black and gold Japanese print.

This one has a dramatic purple "Wiggly" border:

This one is by Ingrid, owner of Pioneer Patchwork:

This one has a beautiful lacy looking "wiggly" in black floral.



This is a beautiful soft muted version.

This one is made from many fabrics in lovely colours:

This one is by my fabulous friend Julie.  Her favourite colour is teal, can you tell?



This one is made completely from creams and browns - cappacino anyone?

This one has a lovely pink pot and very pretty blue and cream "wiggly".

This is another very pretty version in a variety of beautiful colours:

Here is Veronica Appleyard's finished "Pemberley" hanging at the Camden Quilt Show.  Her quilt won 4th place in the Professional Applique Category at the 2011 NSW Quilters' Guild Darling Harbour Quilt Show.  It is a stunning quilt.

I hope you have enjoyed the "Pemberley" Quilt Show!  Please let me know your comments.

Katrina x



Longbourne from AQC Class

Jenni's Gorgy "Longbourne"

Here is a photo I was recently sent showing Jenni's "Longbourne" centre.  I taught Jenni at the Australasian Quilt Convention in April this year.  She has worked hard since then.

She purchased all the fabric at Hancock's of Paducah when she visited.  Lucky girl.

It looks beautiful Jenni, congratulations!



Quilters Companion Number 57

Second History Article



I am delighted that my second history article is now on sale in the latest Quilters' Companion magazine (Issue Number 57).

This includes my instructions for a trio of sewing accessories including a needle book, scissor keeper and pin cushion.

Happy stitching x

"Pemberley" Revisited

More "Pemberley" Classes

I have been asked many times whether I will teach "Pemberley" again.  This was the first quilt I made in the Jane Austen collection and it is still my favourite (only I am allowed to say that)!

I have allocated two sets of workshops to teach "Pemberley" again at Pioneer Patchwork next year.  Phone number is 02 4647 3555.

Places are filling fast so you had best book in and pay your deposit if you want in.

Here are the dates:

Saturdays 10am to 4pm:

16 February

16 March

20 April and

18 May, 2013

OR

Tuesdays 10am to 4pm:

4 June

2 July

13 August and

10 September, 2013

Here is a reminder of my quilt:

More "Longbourne" Centres

Wow!  It's Multiplying!

Another "Longbourne" class today with lots of show and tell.

Here is Elaine holding up her centre - love the red pomegranites and red borders!:

Here is a closeup:

The other girls gathered together in front of my "Longbourne" to hold up their centres.  These belong to (from left to right) Sue, Teresa, Chris and Kelly.   Why are they hiding? They are so beautiful (and the quilts look pretty good too):

Here they are again:  Jeanne this time, Sue, Teresa and Chris.

Don't they look totally different.  Which one is your favourite?

Katrina x

Diane's "Spikes and Specks" Blocks

Spikey Blocks

Even Diane calls herself the "over achiever"!

She came back to class today with all of these beautiful blocks pieced and finished for her "Spikes and Specks" quilt.

Would you believe Diane has no unfinished projects.  She works on one quilt at a time until she finishes it.  Now, that is discipline.

Her great stash of reproduction fabrics came to the fore for these blocks.  Fantastic work, Diane.

Another Gorgeous Longbourne

Elaine's "Longbourne"

It is delightful to see my quilt designs made in different colours and to see how everyone uses fabrics differently.

Here are some photos of Elaine's beautiful "Longbourne", recently finished.  Wow!  Please excuse the class mess around it!

Here is a close up:

Return to Carolyn's Quilting Room

Return to Wodonga

My trip to Carolyn's Quilting Room was such a success I have been invited back next year.

Veronica and I will be making the trip again in February 2013.

I will be teaching two quilts during our stay.

The first class I will be teaching "Pennsylvania" which is a machine pieced sampler quilt of different blocks with interesting sashing and a pieced border.  The quilt is great to use up a favourite collection or some of those scraps from the stash.  Of course it always works out that you have to buy more because you never have just the right fabric for every piece - but that is half the fun.

"Pennsylvania": Friday, 22 February, 2013

The other quilt I will be teaching is "Longbourne", the third in the Jane Austen series.  This is an extravaganza of applique with lots of scope for "fussy cutting" and English paper piecing.

"Longbourne": Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 February, 2013

Don't forget to check out the photos of other girls' "Longbourne" on this blog.

Please convey any enquiries about these classes direct to Carolyn's Quilting Room on 02 6059 1702.

Hope to see you there!

Katrina x

Upcoming Projects

Recent Sewing

Here are some of the projects I have been working on lately.

This is a lovely cushion featuring a paper foundation pieced pineapple block.

Would look great as a whole quilt of pineapple blocks - must make that one day!

Here are two projects I made for a Melbourne Cup Day workshop (sold out straight away).  Christmas decorations - a cushion of trees using a fabulous jar of mixed red buttons and a lovely little wall hanging of a Christmas bauble featuring beading:

I love Christmas!

Katrina x

Happenings at Pioneer Patchwork, Narellan

Class Success

The girls at Pioneer Patchwork classes have been working really hard on their quilts lately.

Here is Faye with her first completed block of "Spikes and Specks".  She was so excited to come in and show us.  Looks great!

Here are the girls in Tuesday afternoon class having a laugh and working on their quilts:



Auditioning Backgrounds

What a Difference a Background Makes

Here is Leanne's first block for her "Spikes and Specks" quilt, made in class at Pioneer Patchwork.  We were trying out different backgrounds and centres for her two paper pieced rings:

 

Which one do you like?

Pioneer Patchwork Class

"Spikes and Specks" Class

We had a lovely class at Pioneer Patchwork today where I was teaching my "Spikey" Quilt.

Here are all the girls in class: Dot, Elaine, Leanne, Fay, Kelly and Julie wielding a rotary cutter!  Ingrid is in the red shirt sewing a sample for an upcoming class of hers.

Here is Kelly and Julie hiding behind their first "Spikey" rings:

We always have lots of fun.