Easter Greetings and a Catch Up

Hoping you have all had a wonderful Easter, I know I have. I have been totally spoilt with this divine chocolate egg from very special friends.( I am savouring it , it is far too nice to devour just yet I am enjoying the continual temptation)
As usual we have spent Easter at our holiday Humpy and we have had some wonderful times shared with friends. Aren't these just the best times, sharing and making memories with people you enjoy being with.

It has been some time since my last post and as usual I have been stitching a few projects, I am sure you all know how it is.
Firstly my sheet now has the two side borders sewen onto the centre,so I can finally see an end to this epic.

It is going to be plenty big enough to cover the top of our bed

I had quite a time deciding on the centre, the branches were bereft of leaves and flowers for far too long.Thanks to a wonderful tutor Marg Sampson-George for her expert guidance this is what we came up with.

This is my first attempt at Broderie Perse, far from perfect but fitting for the quirkiness of this quilt.

I am sure you must all be tired of seeing this cos I certainly am.

These are the corner blocks I still have to complete a couple

Hopefully next post I will be able to reveal a completed top. Fingers crossed.
















The whirligig quilt top is also completed ready for quilting. This is a Brigitte Giblin pattern. I hand pieced it and thoroughly enjoyed every stitch.

In my hoop at the moment is the Blooms quilt that I started last year when I visited Broderie

I am using Perle thread in a few different colours to quilt this one. I have never used Perle thread before and it took a little getting used to but I like it.

I really like the backing but feel I should have used the version that was more subtle, paler pinks and mauve's, too late now though.

The girls in class at Material Obsession are still madly creating masterpieces , quite often the input from the other girls is invaluable
Here Maree was trying to make a decision on a border fabric.

Many hands make light work and the winner is

not this one lol, it is the stripe one that Marg has her hand on in the top picture.

Well I think that is enough from around the traps for now.

I'm off to play with my mate for the last evening of our Easter break, there is a chilled bottle of Champagne that needs to be consumed and I may even share some of my choccies with her.

Until next time


Happy Sewing and Happy Times.

j

Good Wishes for 2013

I thought it was high time I checked in to wish all my followers and readers much good health, happiness and sewing in 2013
Lucky for me I am still on holidays , I haven't really picked up a needle for the past couple of weeks so today I am indulging in a little sewing time.



I need to complete the centre on my sheet, I have been stalling for far too long. I find that if I am not happy with something I tend to put it down, it just becomes too hard to move on, anyway I took it to class just prior to Christmas and got Marg to give me a hand so this is my task today, I have a had a talk to myself , I cannot return to class without this being completed.

I have been doing a couple of other things in between , I have made this whirligig quilt that was a Brigitte Giblin pattern published in an past Quilters Companion magazine.






I had cut this quilt out many moons ago, I was going to machine piece it but after trialling one block I put it aside as I wasn't keen on that method. I needed a little hand piecing project that didn't require too much brain power so out this came again, after adding a few more current fabrics to it I became hooked. I just need to add the final border with is scrappy diamonds alternated with a white one. I am happy with the way it has turned out, nice and fresh looking.
I must go and get on with my ' today ' task so I will have something to show you very soon.

I hope you are enjoying or have enjoyed your holiday.

Until next time
Happy Sewing

j

The Love of Hexies Continues

I'm still in love with covering paper hexagons and Brigitte Giblin still manages to fulfil my need with her wonderful patterns.
Those of you that read my blog will remember the small hexagon purse that I made using Brigitte's pattern, now there is a pattern for a larger bag using 1 inch hexies. (You could really use any size however the larger the better for showcasing fabric)

a fussycut rosette on one side

and some wacky lining

must be wacky as this image does not want to load the right way up. You get the general idea though.

I haven't decided on the handle as yet but there is plenty of inspiration here.
The pattern has full easy to follow instructions and you can also purchase the handle and papers.

I know I am a little late in posting about Brigitte's new book as I have read on many of your blogs that you have by now your copy, in case you don't Brigitte has launched a new book full of patterns that you too can make especially for those of you that are not here in Australia to be able to join in on one of her classes.

You can purchase online, it is a great coffee table book also, and just to whet your appetite a couple of page views.

Just to finish off while we are talking Brigitte, Brigitte also has a new Blog, this blog gives tips for constructing and images about quilts in her book.

In between covering paper I have also been working on my sheet. I have been helped with the expert guidance of another wonderful teacher Marg Sampson-George. Marg doesn't have a blog unfortunately , I don't think she would have time for that she is so busy fulfilling her class commitments. Who knows one day Marg may publish a book of her quilts, we certainly hope so.

I am onto the final borders of my sheet and it looks like blogger is going to play havoc with my images now, I just don't get its logic sometimes :-(

This border goes on the top and bottom, sorry the pics aren't great and the border has folds as it has been put away ready for the day to be constructed. I have just placed so hopefully you get the idea.

This is the start of the side borders , obviously there are some more elements to this border which are undecided as of going to print lol but Marg will help sort that out I am sure.

Some detail of the baskets in the top and bottom border, hope you don't mind being a contortionist. :-)

This past week has seen Sydney host its annual Quilt Show at Darling Harbour, sorry no quilts pics to post.  There were many great stalls, Hatched and Patched from Bathurst. Annie always has a wonderful stand and didn't disappoint this year either. Marg Low from The Albury/ Wodonga area. Kathy and her gang from MO  Carolyn's Quilting Room from Wodonga.This lady is an outstanding quilt maker , reproducing antique quilts that would easily satisfy the quilt purists out there. Most of the quilts featured are available as BOM's either patterns or pattern and fabrics. Take a look I think you will agree that these quilts are begging to be made.

This lady just oozes passion about her quilt making and didn't mind in least us taking photos.

This sundial is amazing and the colours are so similar to the original, I know there are many versions out there, it is always nice to put a little of yourself into quilts but I must say I do love this and am tempted !

This quilt Carolyn calls the marriage quilt, smaller than the original but divine, I love the replication of colours,browns, blues and pinks.

George the 3rd ( I think), folk art and another that the name escapes me.

The quilt show is a great place to catch up with old friends and acquaintances and meeting new ones. Meeting Cardy and Chooky in person after sharing blogging friendships and sharing a glass of bubbles at days end with friends Janet , Kate and Bernadette ( we missed you Maree and Laurel)

I'm enjoying the last of the iceberg roses ahead of their dormant period and heavy pruning before they flourish for spring. I just love the pink tinge.

It is the first month of winter for us southern hemisphere inhabitants , for the first time in years it really feels true to form, I think it is going to be a great sewing season.

I hope where ever you are you have plenty of sewing time.

j

'Bout Time For A Catchup

Its been quite some time since I last posted, I have just been through my photos to post and I have quite a few so maybe crab a cuppa or even better a glass of medicine !!!

I am still working on the 'sheet' , it is taking quite some time to fill up the centre but I have really enjoyed adding shapes and playing with favourite (of the moment) fabrics and even little cross stitches.

I have left the centre for the moment, I have added the next border which is triangles and some appliqued circles. I will need to come back to the centre obviously as I need some sort of flower or fruit arrangement in that basket. Maybe even a bird or two.

Think I may need to add some eyes to that Mary Jane Hannaford angel under the hexagon star.

Just a little close up of the inner border , out from that is a wider border using some of the old sheet and appliquing some whirligig type circles , trees and baskets.

As you can see there is still a way to go but I am starting to feel quite comfortable using the needleturn applique method.

This forms the basis for the top and bottom border , the side borders are different.

There is still another border after this so it is important that I remain focused. After all I did have a little break and made the 'B' quilt. That top is now completed and ready for hand quilting. I will show that in the next post.

Do you want to keep going? I have some photos from the girls in our class and what they are up to

First up is Lesley, Lesley is making her version of the Sundial quilt, keeping it reasonably traditional just adding a slight nautical theme as sailing is what Lesley and her husband enjoy doing.

She is also adding a little Australiana to it.

Aren't the fabrics Lesley has used lovely.

Blogger does not want to behave, I am trying to line up 3 pics in a row and it does not want to play ball :-(

The hexagon madness continues, a couple of the girls are doing Marg's 'Come Fly with Me' bird quilt so they are making their hexagon stars

Vanessa has been very quick to finish her first complete star

 

Sharon has quite a selection ready, now she needs to select a fabric for the outer hexagons, not sure what she will choose

Next up is an oldie that Barb has bought out of the cupboard, Marg encourages us all to bring our relics to class , better to be brought out and given a modern update

Just realised this has uploaded on its side, however Barb is going to applique this hexagon centre onto this lovely bright spot, she is also going to add a small check border with lovely bright diamonds and squares. One of the lovely things we do in class is share our scraps allowing us a little piece of our shared friendships in our quilts.

Kate has had a little sojourn on her gorgeous Jane Pizar quilt, she wasn't convinced her choice of fabric for the outer border was right. Marg convinced her she had made the right choice and so between them they auditioned some fabrics and shapes to fill in the border and this is what they came up with, I think it is a winner

I can't quite work this blogger out, it just flips my photos at whim, hopefully you will get the idea. I think this will be a stunner. Watch this space.

Now onto something not quilt related.

I thought I would do a few book reviews.

Just recently I was lucky enough to attend a book launch for a very special Australian cook.

Her name is Maggie Beer, Maggie is a real hero of mine. I have many of her books . Maggie featured in a TV show here in Australia Called 'The Cook and the Chef ' Maggie's new book is using her beloved Verjuice. Many of her recipes have called for this ingredient, I have often wondered about this but after using it I am now a convert.

I urge all lovers of Maggie Beer that this is a book worth purchasing, there is not one recipe in this book not worth trying.

I was so lucky to join Maggie at her table for lunch, the meal we enjoyed were recipes from this book.  I felt so honoured to be in her company and she is as lovely in real life as she comes across in her TV shows.

The venue for the book launch was 'The Four Seasons' hotel in Sydney , the flower arrangements around the hotel were spectacular , and that lady you can see on the lectern is my sister, she introduced Maggie, hence my special invitation.

Next book is another recipe book

This book is amazing especially if you like making desserts

Step by step instructions

Great quotes

Delectable recipes

This is a must have in my humble opinion

Next up is

I have posted a picture of this book around Christmas, it is now available in Dymocks as are all of the previously mentioned books.

This book is a mixture of recipes, interior decorating and lifestyle

A really worthy coffee table book

If you have made it through this post you have done well, it has taken me ages, I am not liking blogger very much this evening, maybe I should look at Typepad or better still maybe shorter posts more often :-)

It has been great to catch up again, I hope you have enjoyed catching up as much as I have.

 Until next time enjoy your sewing

j