Thursday 30 October 2014

Woohoo Mary Rose Quilt is finished

Way back in 2005/6 (?) I made this quilt from a lovely new range of Quiltgate fabrics called "Mary Rose." It was a simple design I worked out myself and it was a class sample for a number of years.  It has always been one of my favourite quilts and pink is not even on my list of likeable colours!!!

Over our 4 day holiday weekend I decided it was a great chance to quilt one of my own quilts and Mary Rose was it.  I also wanted to try out this new (for me) free motion all over spiral pattern that my lovely friend Linda does so effortlessly. You can see her work here . 
This is what it looked like before I began to quilt...


I used a lovely soft green in a So fine, but afterwards, although it went really well with the quilt, I should have played safe and matched with the background while learning a new pattern that requires lots of backtracking!





This quilting style gives great texture to a quilt.  I'm so glad Linda showed me how to do it.

 Although I have done lots of free motion and many pantographs, I have not done much in the way of freehand edge to edge patterns, so have enjoyed learning this skill over the last few quilts.

This is a lovely old Singer that was passed on to us by a friend who wanted it to go to someone who would love it.  Kerry is going to give it a good service and then I will be able to stitch on it.  It has a motor but can also be used as a treadle.


Of course the problem with taking 8 years to finish your quilt, is that it is a little bit of a problem getting the same fabrics for a binding.  After an exhaustive search through my stash there was nothing for it but to go buy some.  I was such a good girl though...didn't buy any other fabric.  Having had to go through my stash there was no way I was going to add to it!!!

I feel very pleased with myself to have reduced the tops pile by one.  Some terrible person had the cheek to ask me how many more there were!!!  I ask you!  hmphhh....vbg....that is almost as bad as asking a lady her age.
As we had to go to Hastings to get the binding fabric, we diverted to Havelock North to have brunch in a wonderful organic food cafe that hubby knew about.  Sorry, the name escapes me, but the food was delish and their range of organic food items was wonderful.

Mr Moore drinking his coffee.  My photography skills do need work.  It was a very hot day with the sun blazing down, so by mid-afternoon we were forced to call in at Rush Munro's for a cooling ice cream.  Sat outside in the lovely garden area.



There it is.  All caught up.  tomorrow we are off to Wellington again.  DIL Kea's baby shower is tomorrow and I have managed to make a lovely wee baby quilt.  Photos next time.  Then on Sunday we are going to look at another house with Richard and Kea.

I hope you all have lovely weekends and will talk to you again next week.  Take care and drive safely.

Blessings
Clare

I'm linking to Finish It Up Friday here

Thursday 23 October 2014

Fabulous Nappy Bag and an Animal Quilt...

I am so chuffed with myself....I did it!!!!  Had said I would make this gorgeous looking bag for Kea to use as a Nappy/Baby bag which had a built in changing mat and lots and lots of pockets.  It also had lots and lots of zips....scary!

I read the pattern about seven times first, then I enlisted the help of my lovely friend Eve to help me get it cut out.  While Eve was helping me I got started on making it and  it didnt seem quite so difficult then.  While having to reread the pattern and think "what on earth do they mean?" sometimes it was just the different way us Kiwis think to our American friends.  Woohoo, got all three zippers in and my changing mat even worked out the way it was supposed too.

Here are lots of photos because I am so rapt that I actually did it.  Also, am so impressed with my Janome Horizon 8900 sewing machine.  That baby sewed through up to 12-14 layers and never missed a stitch.  It was impressive.
Umm...now what did that pattern say to do next?


The finished article.  It took some detective work to come up with the swivel hooks and thank goodness I have such a clever hubby.


 I always wondered how to make a zippered bag top like this...now I know!


The changing mat has a zipper on each side and opens up with a pocket that can hold a nappy and other neccessities for babies.

 Looks impressive doesn't it...lol.  Pushing my own barrow here.
 This photos shows the pockets that line both sides of the inner bag, so no lack of storage space.  Kea's choice of fabric was awesome too.

 And a girl needs a space for her cell phone and those important pieces of technology.

On Monday I had fun quilting Rosie's gorgeous panel quilt.  I did a freehand swirl pattern all over it and it really did come up nice.

 I used a So Fine in a soft tan colour which really looked good over all the colours.

 This back is actually an olive green colour.  Interesting what a camera changes.

Tyson wondering why this bag will only fit his head and shoulders, lol.  While he wasnt looking, Travis jumped on him  lol.
So there you have another wee catch up.

Have a great weekend.  We have a four day holiday weekend starting today as it is our region's Anniversary Day as well as Labour Weekend.  Yippeee.

Blessings to you all
Clare

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Jacobean Applique Quilt takes out Viewers Choice

Hello there everyone.  I realise it has been ages since my last blog, but on top of finally feeling great now, my computer is getting decidely dodgy.  Clever son is telling me it might be my hard drive and get your stuff backed up Mum. Oh well, it will happen.
Then we had to zip down to Wellington for the weekend to help said son and DIL look at a house. On the way we called in to the Dannevirke Quilt Show.  This is a small, but lovely show that has been held for many years.  I was thrilled to have three quilts in the show that I had quilted.
This lovely Jacobean Applique quilt was stitched by Anne Ingram, quilted by Yours Truly and won Viewers Choice.






Felicity's quilt looked so soft and pretty.



 Then I got stuck into my lovely friend Eve's Pretties Scrap Quilt as she is going to put it into the Open Weekend at Otane at the beginning of November.  It is a weekend where there are displays but also working exhibits of all the art and craft groups to show the public what happens and encourage new membership.  Here it is all ready to go.

It is quite a large quilt, so had difficulty taking a photo of the whole quilt.  I used So Fine 449, a lovely soft green that covered the colours well but didnt stand out too much on the cream.  Bottomline Sage green in the bobbin.


The pattern is called "Hollyhock." I dont use it a lot as it is quite intense for me to do.  It does look gorgeous though.




I shall leave it there for tonight and try to come back tomorrow with some more catch up happenings.

Take care and thank you for stopping by.

God bless,
Clare

Wednesday 8 October 2014

Tessallating Windmills

Still around and day by day improving.  Managed to get this edge to edge done today for Allie.  Used a lovely Magnifico thread in the cerise/purple and it looks great.



 The pattern was Plush and the curves offset all the angles quite nicely.


My lovely sister Joyce came up for the weekend and we managed a little bit of patchworking together.  It really helped me to begin to feel like doing something.  I have had not been interested in the last few weeks as I have been too exhausted.  Anyway, here is my sister stitching away.  A Breast Cancer survivor, Joyce's hair has grown back super soft and lovely and curly just like our Mum's.  Gorgeous isn't she?


I managed to make up two blocks from the Farmers Wife that our group have started.  Yay, 5 done, only 106 to go!!!!  Gulp.


Off to bed now as it's been a big day.  See you all again soon.

Take care and blessings to all,

Clare