Show and Tell at Kim Bradley Creations

Kim has invited me to conduct a "show and tell" event at her lovely shop on Sunday, 4th May, 2014 commencing at 11am (Unit 7, 9 Packard Avenue, Castle Hill).

I will be showcasing many of my quilts, describing the techniques used and discussing the various options for making my different quilt designs in classes offered at Kim's shop.

If you have not paid Kim's shop a visit yet, this would be the perfect opportunity to come and have a chat, see some quilts and do some shopping! I really hope you can make it.

Please phone the shop directly to let them know you will be coming (phone number is 96592912).

I Love Designing Whack and Stack Quilts

I have really enjoyed the challenges presented when designing whack and stack quilts.

I have now made four of these designs taking different fabrics and cutting a different shape each time from a pile of identical pieces of fabric.

These are always such fun classes as everyone uses a different fabric and it is such a surprise to see the beautiful patterns created once we cut the pieces and arrange them into the block formation.

This is number four which I have now called "Marrakesh" (thanks to my blog correspondent, Kim, for the name!).

I have cut wedges from my stack and created Dresden fan blocks.

I will be teaching this new quilt at The Stitchers Cupboard in Camden over the weekend of Saturday 30 August and Sunday 31 August, 2014. Please phone Kathy to make a booking on 4655 8348.

Here are some blocks Mary made for one of my other whack and stack designs "Rococo", this time cutting eight diamonds to make a Le Moyne star block.  Mary used a bright Kaffe Fassett fabric to make a modern, funky quilt which has been claimed by one of her children.

Looks great, Mary.

"Meryton" is Complete!

I have worked all day to finally sew all of the pieces of my sixth quilt in the Jane Austen Quilt Collection together.  Hooray!

I am very pleased to have it finally together.  I started working on this quilt on the plane to Houston in 2011.  I thought I was going to get lots of hexagons made and put together while sitting still all that time on the plane.  I think I covered about four before I dropped my thimble and the thread came out of the needle!  I had to put it away.

So it has been two and a half years in the making.  "Meryton" is entered in the Sydney Quilt Show this July, so I will keep a photo of the whole quilt until then.

Here is another little peek.  Now it is off to Veronica to quilt!  

ANZAC Day

I was very proud of my son David today, marching in the Sydney ANZAC Day march.

He is a Navy Cadet and volunteered to be a banner bearer.

Here he is holding the banner for the US Army Small Ships Section.

There was a great atmosphere in the city, despite the rain.

Lest we forget.

Brilliant "Hunsford" Quilts!

I taught the third group making my "Hunsford" quilt today at Pioneer Patchwork.

The ladies have been working very hard on their quilts and it was magic to see all of the different colours and ideas for 'fussy cutting'.

Take a look at these beauties.

The first one was made by Janine in the perennial favourite colour combination of pink and brown with a stunning border stripe.

I had to take some close ups of her stars.  Very very clever.

Here is Jan's quilt in red and blue, also stunning:

This is Jeanne's lovely version, also in red and blue.

Here is Julie's gorgeous centre:

And here it is with the next border on:

This is Anne's beautiful centre.  It is gorgeous!

This is Chris' magnificent centre - look at her beautiful stars and special border.

Here are some of Chris' beautiful blocks:

Fabulous work ladies!

Beautiful Bright Colours!

While I worked in my sewing room today I could see a pair of beautiful rainbow lorikeets eating the red berries in my Lilly Pilly trees in the back garden.

I managed to take a photo through the window. They are so bright and colourful.

I was working in some bright fabrics for a sample to demonstrate machine appliqué techniques.  I always enjoy using different stitches on my machine.  We often do not take the time to "play" with stitch settings and sizes, so this little project will be a fun chance to experiment with your machine.

I will be teaching a class on machine applique at Pioneer Patchwork on Saturday, 21 June.  I will cover all sorts of machine applique techniques including buttonhole stitching, zig zag stitching, invisible blind hem stitching, fused raw edge appliqué and turned seam allowance machine applique. Please phone the shop on 02 46473555 to make a booking.

Easter Saturday UFO Class

Ladies spent a very lovely day chatting and sewing at Pioneer Patchwork today.

Here are some photos of work in progress.

These are a couple of blocks Leanne has made for her "Hunsford" quilt from the range called "Josephine" in red and brown:

This is Lynne's version of "Blue Lotus" - not blue but a very striking red background with soft shades of the original "Paris Flea Market" range in pale pink, lemon, real and green.  Wow!

We worked on the heart scrolls today:

Here is another of Natalie's "Hunsford" blocks from "Little Black Dress 2". Yum!

Sue spent the day cutting lots of diamonds from William Morris fabrics for her "Hunsford":

Leanne also worked on more rings for her version of "Spikes and Specks" in soft colours:

Great work, ladies.  Now I feel like sewing.  Happy stitching over the rest of Easter - hope the Easter bunny calls in to your house!

Easter Sewing

I have done lots of sewing this Easter already!

I have finished the whack and stack Dresden fan quilt I started recently and am very pleased with how it turned out.  I am thinking I might have a bit of a "bright" colour phase!  Don't faint, I will always love my repros.  Still thinking of a name for this one - any ideas?

Stay tuned for when I will be teaching this quilt.

I also finished a cushion I have been working on using the Moda range "Little Black Dress 2".   I have used two packets of the little candy squares with some English paper piecing and ric rac. It will be available as a pattern soon.

Teaching class tomorrow and then hopefully getting more sewing done.  Yay!