Thursday 30 January 2014

Compass Quilt Class at Jukejema Quilting Barn in Nowra

I will be teaching my compass quilt called "The Way Ahead" at Jukejema Quilting Barn in Nowra commencing on Thursday, 6 February and continuing 6 March and 3 April.

This will be a great class to learn lots of paper foundation piecing techniques and an excellent method to insert circle blocks within a square.

We will spend lots of time discussing the fabrics and colours suitable for each quilt and there are several options for setting the blocks.

It is always a lovely atmosphere in Kim's shop and we get lots done!

If you would like to join this class, please phone the shop directly on 44212577.

Here is my quilt:




Here is Tracey's version made with my compass blocks but set straight with a great dogtooth border.  Custom Quilted beautifully by Veronica Appleyard. Tracey received a Judges Commendation at the 2013 Camden Quilt Show for her stunning quilt "My Way Ahead".



Here is a close up of one of the blocks - yummy!


Mid Week Retreat for Me!

Hi everyone,

I have been having a fabulous time being away for a couple of days with friends sewing like crazy!

I am a very lucky girl to have such great friends who enjoy the same things as myself: sewing, eating and a little champagne here and there, not to mention the occasional laughing.

Here is our room set up for work!!!!!!?



I have been working very hard preparing an elaborate appliqué border for a new quilt and have now almost finished doing the machine appliqué on two of the border pieces.  I am giving you a sneak peek.


I have been testing out my new threads from my Aurifil Thread Club box.  They are so beautiful to use!


Veronica has been flat out sewing a new quilt sample for her business which she will kit up very soon.  It is really lovely in soft colours of blue and orange.  Here it is laid out on the floor ready for piecing together.

                               

Veronica was also working on her blocks for her version of my "Gold Rush" Block of the Month quilt in fabulous black, red and mustard.  Here are two just completed.


Tracey has been working on a bold and beautiful quilt made from large half square triangle units.
Looks gorgy arranged here in diamonds of different colours.


What fun to just spend some time on your favourite hobby!

Monday 27 January 2014

Drum Roll, Please Bollywood Has Arrived!

I know lots of my blog readers have been following progress on Natalie's (Fussy Cutting Queen) Bollywood version of my "Longbourne" quilt.

Well, she finished the quilt top today. Hooray!!!

This is a really stunning quilt with LOTS of fussy cutting from a gorgeous range of fabric called "A Passage to India" by Leesa Chandler.  Natalie admits to liking the odd bit of bling!

We fussy cut the final striped border fabric down the length of the fabric and mitred the corners.  Looks fabulous!









Saturday 25 January 2014

Final Day of Jane Austen Finishing School

Today I held the last of my Finishing School days.  We had a particularly funny day with Miss Julie, Kelly and Michelle in fine form!

I am very pleased that lots of ladies were able to make significant progress on their Jane Austen quilts, with a little help here and there!  Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the past three weeks by attending these classes.  I hope you have enjoyed them as much as I have!

Here is a report from today.

First is Theresa's lovely "Rosings" centre.  Her pieced Georgetown Circle block is really gorgeous and she is working away on all four corners of her appliqué as she decides which colour to do each flower and leaf. Wonderful!


Here is Julie's centre of "Rosings". The brown spot background looks great.  The centre circle is cut from her border fabric.


Here is Julie's first urn in place, or should I say "vase" as she has decided not to do the handles! Design modification.


Here is Kelly's centre to "Netherfield". Wow, she worked hard to get this far so quickly.  Her colours are fabulous in shades of pink, brown and purple.



Now I have some lovely photos of Michelle's "Florentine" centre.  Did she really only start two weeks ago?  This is a fun quilt to do with its combination of machine piecing and machine appliqué.  I love it.



Thanks ladies.  K x

Thursday 23 January 2014

New Kits Available From Appleyard Cottage

Veronica and I have been very busy organising new patterns for her Internet business.

The first kit to be made available is to make a delightful child's quilt called "Giraffe Jubilee".

The piecing is quite simple to take advantage of the gorgeous prints from Riley Blake's fabric range called "Giraffe Crossing".  

                       

Giraffes have always been one of my favourite animals - I remember feeding them carrots at the Dubbo Zoo with my son James when he was little.  Giraffes have very big purple tongues!

Here is a photo of the quilt.  Veronica and I designed the quilt, I wrote the pattern and she made the quilt - a joint effort.  Very cute!


For more information click here.

Veronica also has some new fabric packs available in a variety of reproduction fabrics in tones of black, red and mustard.  They are available as either fat eights or fat quarters packets. For more information, click here.


This is a stunning colour combination and would be fabulous for the girls starting my "Hunsford" quilt soon.



Have fun shopping!

Wednesday 22 January 2014

First Ever Class at Kings Park Hobbysew

I held my first workshop in the January Summer School held at Kings Park Hobbysew.

It was great to meet some new ladies and renew acquaintances with some old friends!  We were working on a variety of projects including my Jelly Mosaic pattern.

This bed sized quilt features a set of identical blocks with all the pieces cut from jelly roll strips.

Here are the first blocks made by Bev in batiks and Caroline in a range called Vin du Jour.






Thank you for the lovely welcome Rosemary, Lynn and Denise.  I look forward to many more classes in your lovely store.

Katrina x

Day 7 of Jane Austen Finishing School

Another lovely day of sewing progress on many Jane Austen quilts.

Whilst I was rushing from one lady to the next helping with many questions (and a lot of measuring), I think all of the ladies enjoyed the day hand sewing and chatting together.

Here are some photos of quilts we were working on....

Natalie was very excited (and rather tired from burning the midnight oil!) that she is almost finished her amazing "Bollywood" version of my Longbourne quilt.  Natalie has used a lot of fabrics from a range called "A Passage to India" by Leesa Chandler. She is my "fussy cutting queen" so this quilt is really stunning!  Just a couple of appliqué pieces in the corners, one more orange border and then the stripe border to go.  Stay tuned.



Here is Jean's "Pemberley" centre.  Looks great with its sage green border and wavy appliqué.


Here are some photos of "Pemberley" by Chris.  Wow!  Very stunning.






Finally, here is a series of photos of Julie's most beautiful elongated hexagon frames and "baby" 3/8 inch hexagon flowers for her "Longbourne".  I am very impressed with them.







Just fabulous!