Saturday 27 October 2012

Winterthur Museum fabric giveaway!

This week I have been working on some broderie perse blocks for my Morrell quilt. I had done a few but there are over 30 required for this quilt (!). It was difficult to cut into these beautiful Winterthur Museum John Hewson panels from Andover. I purchased these a while ago and can't remember where I got them :(

Winterther Museum John Hewson Andover fabric; Sarah Morrell quilt; broderie perse
Winterther Museum John Hewson Andover fabric; Sarah Morrell quilt; broderie perse

Anyway so far I've managed to produce these blocks...

 Winterther Museum John Hewson Andover fabric; Sarah Morrell quilt; broderie perse
 Winterther Museum John Hewson Andover fabric; Sarah Morrell quilt; broderie perse
Winterther Museum John Hewson Andover fabric; Sarah Morrell quilt; broderie perse
Winterther Museum John Hewson Andover fabric; Sarah Morrell quilt; broderie perse

I was all motivated so then pulled out some others that I'd prepped ages ago and was doing a few at at a time, using the same colours on different blocks.

Sarah Morrell quilt; broderie perse

 Going great until....

Sarah Morrell quilt; broderie perse

@#*$%+! How did that happen? I was so engrossed in the sewing that I picked up 2 at a time, I hadn't realised as there was no backing on these and thought the thickness was the backing. Of course this would happen when I was using cream and decided to use a smaller stitch - aaargh! Now having to do the worst unpicking. Anyway let's turn this around and have a give away :) Just leave a comment (or send an email) on a sewing muck up that you have had, for a chance to win one of these small Winterther bird panels (approx 10 1/2 x 10 1/2 ").

Winterther John Museum Hewson Andover fabric; Sarah Morrell quilt; broderie perse

I have 2 to give away & I will draw randomly next Saturday evening (3rd Nov). I will post overseas - good luck!!


Saturday 20 October 2012

Sisters Sewing by the Seaside

Just back from a relaxing week at Airey's Inlet (Victoria). The new header picture is of an orchid or wildflower(?) found at the base of the lighthouse.



My sister and I stayed at...


It was very close...


and the inlet....


There were beautiful flowers in the cottage garden...




and in the bush...




We did lots of sewing. My sister was hand quilting a beautiful quilt of her own design for a friend (lucky!). It is all in liberty fabrics, hand pieced and needle turn applique - just gorgeous!





Her other project was restoring a quilt that her mother-in-law had made by creating some new hexie flowers to patch over the worn areas.



The top panel was unpicked and pulling out the hexagons on the side gave a prairie point look and showed how much the red had faded.


The cottage had a large living area where we could lay out our quilts. I was working on my 12 Days of Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas quilt

It seemed to take ages to finish the 'Eight Maids are Milking' block. The raw edge machine applique took a day (all those beaks & buckets!) and then there was the hand embroidery.


12 Days of Christmas quilt

I also laid out my Morrell quilt for the first time. It was great to see that the colours in the different fabrics do seem to be working.

Sarah Morrell quilt

Sarah Morrell quilt
'
I also did some un-picking on some broderie perse blocks that I wasn't happy with, changing the thread to cream in some areas. Much better now...

Sarah Morrell quilt

Sarah Morrell quilt

I also managed to do some hand piecing for a Morrell block.

Sarah Morrell quilt

All in all a very relaxing and productive break away.
Off to do some more broderie perse blocks - I'm all inspired.
Cheers
Carole

Friday 12 October 2012

Final week of the 1 hour challenge

I have completed my last week of the Simply Needle & Thread 1 hour challenge. I've slipped a bit this week as I have clocked up 6.5 hours, just under the 1 hour per day average.
Simply Needle & Thread 1 hour challenge
But I have managed a total of 28.5 hours for the month which is 7.125 hours per week, which is just over 1 hour per day on average - yay! I've met the challenge. Hmmm...need to treat myself.

This week I've gone back to my Morrell quilt to work on another hand pieced block. Lots of pieces in this one. I went to a 'Morell Sit and Sew Group' at Kaye's Needles and Pins in Warrandyte. It was great to get some handy hints from Kaye and to see different fabric and design choices - especially for the broderie perse blocks. If you need inspiration to finish your Morrell quilt you should come and join us.

Sarah Morrell quilt

Well, actually already treated myself with more fabric for the Morell quilt from The Stitchery in New Zealand which has sadly now closed.

Sarah Morrell quilt

The other hand sewing I did this week was to take up the hem on no. 1 son's new suit pants for a job interview (he got the job - Yay!!!)

Cheers, Carole

Monday 8 October 2012

Red & White some kind of wonderful

These are my impressions of the wonderful Quilts in the Barn 'Infinite Variety' exhibition on the weekend. ALL the quilts were red and white. There are many blogposts out there on this exhibition but I hope you enjoy my pics.


red white quilt; celtic knot

red white quilt

red white quilt

red white quilt

Loved this fabric in the center squares (anyone know what it is?)

red white quilt

red white quilt

red white quilt

red white quilt; basket quilt

red white quilt; pickle dish quilt

red white quilt

This was one of my absolute favourites a red and white version of a 'Tribute to Mrs Williams' (even though it wasn't finished). This one's on the wish list...

red white quilt; Tribute to Mrs Williams quilt

red white quilt
  
red white quilt

red white quilt

It was incredibly difficult trying to choose a quilt for 'viewer's choice'. My friend Terri and I mulled over it whilst eating red & white scones and decided we needed to look at them all again to be able to make a choice. After much agonising I chose 'Papercut Pleasure' by Lynn Mills. The needle turn applique and hand quilting was just exquisite and the different red fabric selections were gorgeous.

red white quilt; paper cut quilt


red white quilt; papercut quilt

This was Terri's viewer's choice selection for the stunning hand sewn applique by Fiona Lindsay.


red white quilt

red white quilt redwork

red white quilt

red white quilt

Can't wait 'til Linda's mini patterns are released (sorry about some of these photos they were hard to take)...

red white quilt

red white quilt

red white quilt

red white quilt

red white quilt

red white quilt

red white quilt

red white quilt

Loved the Jacobean embroidery and fabric on this quilt, my second vote for viewer's choice (if there was such a thing)...

red white quilt Jacobean embroidery

red white quilt; Jacobean embroidery

red white quilt

red white quilt

So many tiny precise squares...

red white quilt

These last two were under plastic on tables outside (sorry about the rain on the last one). Love how the red is the dominant background on these.

red white quilt

red white quilt

I bought some red & white fabric from Mary Koval.


But ironically even more blues for my Chester County Criswell quilt from the Quilted Crow ladies.

Thanks to Linda and all of helpers for a wonderful exhibition and to all the creators of these fabulous quilts.
Cheers, Carole.