Sewing at Home

I am happy to have a couple of days at home to do some stitching.

Whilst I love my hand applique, I mostly do this in the evenings.  My sewing machine is my friend during a day sewing at home!

I am making a new paper foundation pieced design from the "Pickle Dish" block.  This is a version of the Double Wedding Ring pattern but instead of plain or rectangular units in the arcs, the pickle dish has spikes: lots of spikes!

I am in production mode to make all the spikes in a colourwash of colours and fabrics using my favourite reproductions.  Nearly done...

These are already finished....

This is one completed block!  I am happy with how it looks.

I know summer is getting closer when all the roses are in bloom.  I found this gorgeous red rose outside Glenfield Uniting Church on Sunday.  Perfect.

I hope you get some stitching time.

Stunning Work on "Pemberley" Quilts

It is so wonderful to see the work being done by my students at The Stitchers Cupboard and as the classes progress, seeing the beautiful versions of "Pemberley" emerge.

Kathy has just received many deliveries of the most gorgeous reproduction fabrics which we all enjoyed patting and partaking of several metres!

Here is Kerry's gorgeous version in autumnal colours of orange, rust, brown, green, gold and some teal blue.  Today we were able to choose a fabulous stripe to use for the narrow border between her dresden flowers and the final blocks.  Very exciting as it comes together.

This is Lyn's version in soft shades of peach, purple,teal, green and brown.  Lyn has developed a very lacey, floral style to her quilt.

Looking forward to seeing more progress next time.

Visit to Threadbear in Castlemaine

I am very excited that I have been invited to attend the Catlemaine Applique Group as their guest speaker in August next year.  This fabulous group of quilters have become well known throughout Australia for their stunning applique quilts and magnificent exhibitions.

Corliss Searcey has invited me to teach for her wonderful store "Threadbear" on Sunday, 9 August, 2015 when I will present my "Longbourne" quilt.

The ladies at Threadbear specialise in fabrics and designs reproduced from quilts made in the 1800s, so you can imagine this is a mecca for reproduction fabric collectors, including myself!!

The store is taking expressions of interest for my class.  Take a look at their blog post here dated 23 September about my visit.

I am very much looking forward to travelling to beautiful Castlemaine in Victoria and to meeting all of the applique and reproduction quilt enthusiasts there.

Here are some photos of "Longbourne": 

Confetti Applique

I have received so many favourable comments on my "Tree of Knowledge" challenge quilt and requests to teach the technique, I have decided to make it into a new class.

(Just to let you know, this little quilt is only 8 inches wide by 13 inches long - some ladies have been surprised when they have seen it):

I have been very busy making a slightly larger and more ambitious project using the confetti applique technique.  I decided it would be perfect for an English cottage garden scene.

Some ladies already think I am crazy with some of the tiny hexagons and applique shapes I use - don't freak when you learn the squares on this piece are a quarter of an inch!

Here is a sneak peek of it so far.  More flowers and leaves on the hydrangea, I think....  Next is all the stitching.

Let me know if you are interested in this class.

Some Beautiful Work on "Longbourne"

Here are some photos from today's class at Pioneer Patchwork, the third in the series of my Jane Austen Quilt Collection, called  "Longbourne".

This quilt has an opportunity for lots of fussy cutting and English paper piecing.

Here is Shirley's very beautiful centre in rich reds, golds. blues, pinks and browns.

Here are some of Linda's one inch hexagon rosettes.  Yum.

This is Chris' gorgeous centre in reds, purples, golds and greens. 

This is Regina's glorious centre with the hexagon border on.  Wow, it looks fabulous.  Loe the fussy cutting of the pot.

Happy stitching, ladies.

Summer School at The Stitchers' Cupboard in Camden

New for next year will be the Summer School I will be teaching at Kathy's beautiful patchwork store in Camden.


The dates I will be teaching are Monday 5; Wednesday 7; Friday 9; Saturday 10 and Friday 30 January, 2015.  Class times will be 10am to 4pm.

Students can work on any of the quilts they have commenced in my previous classes during the year or choose a new project from my portfolio (please email me to discuss this as I will have to print notes for you).

I will also be offering all students a pattern for a new pieced and appliqued table runner I am in the process of making. Here is a glimpse of it.  I am up to the hand quilting stage which I really enjoy (I get to sit and watch TV!)

Please phone the girls at the shop to book in : 02 4655 8348. You can book into any or all of the dates, your choice.

The Richmond Stitchers

I had a lovely day yesterday spent with the ladies of the Richmond Stitchers.  I have taught this group of ladies for over ten years.  We have shared much over that time and always enjoy catching up, laughing, chatting, eating and sewing.

During this Thursday once a month class the ladies have made lots of smaller projects from my portfolio.  The ladies are also often my "pattern testers", which is very helpful.

Here are some pics from yesterday's class:

Judy started work on my "Marrakesh" whack and stack quilt design.  This takes about two hours to cut out but the fans are fairly quick to put together.  It is amazing what patterns emerge from different fabrics.  I was the "pinning slave" while Judy sewed - we got ten fans together!

Judy used a very gorgeous Japanese fabric in soft peach, green, blue with black and deep pink accents with pretty flowers, circles and some straight line elements.  Look what was created:  Wow!

This is Mary 2's pineapple block from her "Paddington" table runner with a lovely fussy cut pansy fabric in the centre. Hand quilting in progress.  Lovely.

This is Mary 1's version in some bright and beautiful colours of pink, green and a soft brown.  This also looks so beautiful.

This is Karol's bold and bright version of my "Fairy Floss" quilt made using a specialty X-Blocks ruler.

We were working on her border pieces made from the cut offs from the blocks.  Looks great.

Thanks for a great day, ladies!

Summer School at Hobbysew, Kings Park

I have been invited to participate in Summer School at Hobbysew again in January 2015.  Dates are a bit tricky as I am also teaching in New Zealand in mid-January!

I can offer four classes at Hobbysew on the following days: Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 January (which are still in the school holidays) and Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 January (when most schools have gone back).

All my students will receive a copy of a pattern for a new jelly roll quilt I have just made from the "Autumn Lily" fabric range by Moda.  This is a simple and quick quilt to make, perfect for a gift or if you just have lots of jelly rolls in the cupboard and don't know what to do with them (don't we all)!

There were some beautiful fabrics in soft peach, green and blue shades in this fabric range.  It has made a very pretty quilt with a striking red floral border.  It could look very different with the choice of another jelly roll.

Students can work on any of my quilts started in previous classes or contact me via email to discuss starting a new project or quilt from my portfolio.

Please phone Hobbysew on 9621 4000 to book in, as places are already filling up.  You can nominate to attend on any or all of the dates.  Class times are from 10am to 4pm.

Kylie's "Longbourne"

Kylie has been working hard on her "Longbourne" centre with one inch hexagon rosette border.  

She is using some very striking fabrics and colours and some lovely fussy cutting.  I love the soft teal and purple colours together.

I am looking forward to seeing more "Longbourne" quilts at class on Saturday.

Julie's Beautiful "Fleur" and Maria's "Pemberley"

Here are some photos of Julie's magnificent "Fleur", all finished.  It looks so gorgeous!

Here is an update on Maria's "Pemberley" with the corner pots and frames added.  Looking Great!

Lovely "Hunsford"s

Here is a look at Claudine's "Hunsford" centre.  She has achieved a very beautiful look with some smart fussy cutting and those extra fine mitred border stripes!

Here is Jeanne's "Hunsford" just off the quilting machine of Birgit Hoffman. What a magnificent quilt!  Both ladies have done a fabulous job.  Love the combination of the lighter blue with the red and navy.

 

"Heartstrings" at Hobbysew

Some of my ladies at Hobbysew, Kings Park, have been making my string pieced quilt called "Heartstrings".  This is an old technique that is really fun and quick to do. The design is based on a photo of an antique quilt.

I made my original quilt from lots of fabric scraps from my reproduction stash in mid values.  The quilt has a very mellow look to it.

Jill has made a completely different version in "sky blues" - from jelly roll batik strips.  Wow!  We decided to use one of my machine pieced star patterns (Pinwheel Star) for the centre block to complete the masculine look of the quilt.  Stunning!

Dru is making her quilt in lots of strips of Thimbleberries fabrics.  Her version has a very olde worlde romantic feel, with its paper pieced and applique centre block.

Anna has just started making her version from a collection of fat quarters of "Paris Flea Market" she bought in Canada.  These fabrics are so soft and delicate.  This will make a gorgeous quilt.

How amazing to get three TOTALLY different looks from the same pattern!  Great.

By the way, I have been booked to teach at Hobbysew Summer School in January.  The dates are Monday 12, Tuesday 13, Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 January, 2015.  You can book any or all of these dates.

I will be offering all my students a new jelly roll pattern I am making from a new beautiful Moda range called "Autumn Lilly" by 3 Sisters (more on this soon).  Ladies can choose to make this quick and yummy quilt in class or work on any of my other projects.  

Hope to see you there.