In Stitches of Williamstown

22/04/2014

Mary Berry's Easter nest meringue

With a combination of meringue, cream & lemon curd - you just can't go wrong.

This was made by my daughter with help from Martin!

It tasted just as good as it looked.

peacock pincushion

Fun from stat to finish.  Raw edge applique using variagated thread was a real joy.  you never quite know how variagated thread will turn out and I couldn't be more pleased with the result!

The back of the pincushion is the gorgeous Kaffe Fassett stripe you can see in the background of the photo, which finishes it off perfectly.

A great project to try out your machine quilting and raw edge applique.

It's the block baby

One block quilt wasn't enough!  And it was easy to put this one together and quilt it on my trusty Bernina.

Sometimes I like complexity - but most of the time simplicity is the way to go...

This is perfect as a baby quilt and makes a really quick and simple gift for a friend.

 

AQC 2014 - New stand location - 70

This year at the AQC
we are at a new location 

STAND 70

Royal Exhibition Buildings, Carlton, Melbourne

April 10-13 2014

 

Simply irresistible...

There is something so irresistible about the words of Dr Seuss.  Just give me half a sentence, and the rest comes tumbling out of my brain.  Deeply entrenched from my own childhood, things I didn't know I remembered!  Discovered again with such joy with my own children.

So when the Seuss fabrics came along, well it was a match made in heaven.  I don't know quite how it took so long to get around to making this quilt.  I can only blame it on the Cat in the Hat.  A frequent distraction at our house!

Kits available at the AQC next week - 10 kits only.

more memories

There will be more memories kits, almost identical to the one pictured below, available at the AQC at the Royal Exhibition buildings in April 10-13.

This is a great introduction to free motion quilting and raw edge applique.  Kellie's pattern is fantastic and this is just one of three trees in the pattern all suitable for wall hangings or cushions.

Kellie's instructions are clear and easy to follow and her designs are irresistible - you won't stop at making one of these!

love heart

Pattern finished and kits ready for sale at the upcoming AQC.  Be in quick as there are only a limited number of kits in the original colours available!

Let's play

When I play this game, it's almost as addictive as patchwork!  I always think I can do that bit better at the game, and I always want one more fix of fabric when I'm on a creative roll.

This would work with any size squares.  Take your pick.

With 3 1/2" squares you can quickly make this game lover's cushion.  Have fun experimenting with the shapes to make them fit.  Make sure you use the right colour for each shape - these game players are very particular!  eg the T shape has to be a purple etc.

I loved overstitching this in red thread, using my walking foot, with a ditch stitch 1/4" on either side of the seam.  Makes the quilting play a real part in the overall design.  Also simple to achieve on a project this size.

How cool would this look as a cot quilt for a little boy?  Maybe use a grey rather than a black to soften the overall feel.  Would be a real fun one to make.... 

Ideally use a darker blue for the L shape.  I did use 2 different blues but the photo doesn't really emphasise this.

Have fun making this - it's great to have one for the boy's and it certainly made my boy smile.  On a gloomy homework filled afternoon the day after a friends party sleepover!

Little house - mini quilt

How I loved the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder when I was growing up!  Books I could get lost in for hours.  I tried reading one to my daugther a few years ago.  Think I started at the start with Little House in the Big Woods.  After we got past the complete nose to tail use of an animal, I reflected it wasn't quite as I remembered.  My memories didn't dwell on the gory bits.  But the books were well worth remembering.  Full of the struggle of setting up life in a new frontier and the simplicity of the childs view and play.

And then the TV series.  I loved it.  suspect you can get it now on DVD.  The theme tune is swirling through my head as I type!  Oh to live in the prairies.

When I did get to the prairies in Canada when I was about 17, I just remember thinking how much sky there was.  So much sky - more than 180 degrees of sky.  Dead straight roads, and a long way from here to anywhere.  Not the romantic vision in my head.  But still fun.

Here's my much more modern take - of a little house in the woods.  Fun and simple.  I think this took less than an afternoon from start to finish, and is so cute!  A great dolls quilt from scraps.  Or a bedside table topper for my daughter. 

 

 

 

Here comes another one...

Something I've been watching too much of at the moment.  In need of some simplicity and fabric play.

Dove love!

A sweet heart of sentimental flowers and doves.

Space in the middle for embroidered initials of newly weds or a baby name?

All "lovey-dovey"? Probably! But if you love it, celebrate it!

This is a raw edge machine appliqué project. But would work in all types of appliqué techniques.

Fish tea anyone

My gorgeous girl is turning out to be quite the artist. I am so happy she has this.

You hope you give them the opportunities to be brave and express themselves through art, in whatever form they choose.
That you give them the tools to create.
A few ideas at first.
But it's really up to them and their "I can" attitude. So they don't feel the "I can't".

You know the deep satisfaction that comes from the flow. When you are totally mesmerised by what you are doing. Hours pass like minutes. All your energy is channelled in a single pursuit. Such a wonderful feeling. Quite the stress buster!

So this piece is fish tea. Lino print and collage. I would love to claim to be the idea source for this. But this was a school project. One of her series of fish tea works. Go school. Go Lino printing where you do most of the hard work once and then experiment with how to use it. I love this piece. It's gone off to be exhibited somewhere but it shall be my favourite piece of art for our home when it returns! We had a few giggles over the artists statement that had to accompany it.

My brain always goes... This would work with raw edge appliqué. I have this thought a few times a day....

Here's another piece.I've dubbed this "dancing queen ". When I look hard I found a girl had danced into this random swirl. Now I probably would say I have provided the seed for this one... Recognise those swirls?

LOVEheart

A finished project!
This was completed using raw edge machine appliqué.
Once you get the hang of this technique it is the fastest of all the appliqué techniques I know.

There are a few things that helps machine appliqué go without a hitch. I use a free motion quilting approach (not blanket stitch)

-a new needle
-feed dogs down. You move the fabric
-darning foot. I like to use one with a "c" shape metal foot. It's better than the "o" shape which obscures some of your vision
-(polyester) thread make sure the same thread is in the bobbin
-thread to match your appliqué fabric colour, slightly darker is better than slightly lighter
-quilting gloves I use gardening type gloves -Ansell hyflex- rubber on the palms but cotton on the back of the hand
- not too fast, not too slow find the pace that is right for you
-breathe and relax -remember you are doing this for fun!

There are very many video clips on you tube. Have a go. This is definitely a technique where a little practicing will yield big results.

LOVE quilting!

Melbourne

Love.. A work in progress

Finally some progress! A peek at my latest project LOVEheart. Which has been fun from start to finish... A fabulous project to feature vibrant Kaffe Fassett fabrics
I will be at the AQC this April, so you will be able to see it there in its fully saturated colour glory!

Vignette 10 has been released

I am expecting to receive vignette 10 this week and will post to those who have ordered as soon as they arrive!

AQC 2013

A post in pictures! I was super happy with my stand this year, bright and happy.

Paper piecing Monaluna

Addictive paper piecing. This gorgeous paper pieced cushion made by Kara from MonaLuna's Taali range, together with a few well chosen complimentary fabrics! I just love the fussy cutting drawing attention to the little features in the fabric. Lots of fun.

On tv!

To quilt or not to quilt?

I have long been a fan of Kellie Wulfsohn's pattern "Memories".  Kellie's from Don't Look Now and here's her Joslind tree...

This is one of 3 similar sized designs in the pattern which can be interchangably stitched as cushions or wall hangings so the pattern is great value and the projects are achievable - always essential!  Here's Kellie's Family Tree....

So I finally bit the bullet and made the third of these projects (see below) for the upcoming quilt show made from one of my kits.  This one is called "Memories".

This one is destined for a picture frame - but to quilt the background or not is the question.  I have to cut it to size to fit it in the frame - so I can't quilt it once it's gone in the frame....  What a dilemma!

I think it's pretty stunning either way - but the dense quilting in the background is kind of addictive!!

What do you think?  To quilt or not to quilt?