Auntie Green begins

I apologise in advance for the poor photos for my beginnings of Auntie Green's Garden. I wanted mostly greens for the centre wreath and I like soft greens but this was a bit 'wishy washy' ......

... so I had to visit my sister and raid her stash of greens.

This is close to what I finally came up with. 

First leaf done, only 39 more to go :)

37 more to go but who's counting (me!)

Have a lovely stitchy Sunday.

Carole

What's in the bag? What's next?

With the Morrell top finished (it's away being quilted) and being all caught up with the CCCQ I've been casting about for a new project. 

What's in the bag?

After the complexity of the Morrell I thought I would do something *simple, like the Swoon quilt...

...but then I thought my Comfort quilt is relatively *simple. This quilt has now moved from my design floor to my design wardrobe (must do something about having a design wall!).

The Comfort Quilt blocks 1 - 10

This beauty that is currently all over the blogosphere, creating a lot of well-deserved excitement, almost had me entwined entrapped. 

I signed up to the group and even downloaded the first pattern. However with Love Entwined I was more taken by the fact that it was a shared project on the internet and that it would be a quilt to learn from and develop skills (the pieces are so tiny!) rather than falling for the actual design but you never know I may return to it one day.

So whilst I was dithering about with possible fabrics and colours for Love Entwined I came across a pattern that I had been contemplating for some time and actually had it on

my list for 2013 that I devised back in January. 

Can you guess?

So what's in the bag? 

One of these Clover tools to make 1000 inches of binding - yikes!

And some yummy chocolate fat quarters and cream background from Kaye's for the binding...

... and an Irene Blanck pattern which is her interpretation of an antique quilt that was made in England and ended up here in Australia. 

Have you guessed yet?

It's 'Auntie Green's Garden'. 

The interesting story of the original 'Auntie Green's Coverlet' is on the Australian National Quilt Register. According to this source the coverlet was made in England by Auntie Green somewhere between 1860 and 1880.

'Auntie Green's Coverlet' images from the National Quilt Register

Auntie Green made the quilt 1860-1870 and gave it to Auntie Annie (Mrs Kirby) who took it to New Zealand when she went there to get married. She (and the quilt)travelled in a windjammer round the Horn somewhere between 1870-1880.  When her husband died Mrs Kirby returned to England bringing the quilt with her. There were further travels and the quilt finally ended up here in Melbourne in the 1920's. I'm finding the history behind quilts so interesting, I wonder if this original coverlet can still be seen somewhere?

I will also be able to do a class for this quilt with Irene at the end of the month (yay!) so off to do some homework. It'll also be good to have some hand sewing ready so that I don't have to face the bus commute 'alone' next week.

* I don't believe any quilt is simple.

CCCQ Block #12

I was thrilled to be asked by Sharon to be guest a blogger for the CCCQ. 

I  was given a few options and I chose to do the wreath block. 

To see how I made it you can check out Sharon's blog here.

CCCQ Block #12

It's quite amazing that we have completed the first year. It was the Chester County Criswell quilt and Sharon's blog that motivated me to start my own blog. 

These are all of the 11 blocks that I have completed to date. 

I'm thinking of making two fleur de lis blocks so just 'photo-shopped' in a second one. 

CCCQ blocks 1-11

Looking forward to seeing your wreath blocks - this is what I love about sharing the making of this quilt with fellow bloggers. 

Cheers

Carole

CCCQ Block #6 Rueben Stubbs

I have just finished Block #6 Rueben Stubbs for my CCCQ - yay!

CCCQ Block #6

On the original block the place name was Peach Bottom so I really wanted to use a fabric that had some peach colour to it. I had this Pine Tree Lodge fabric from Judie Rothermel in the blue...

...and had also ordered it online in the red (with peachy coloured leaves) but was sent the wrong fabric so then I had to re-order (the price you pay for cheaper on-line shopping). I had tried to source it locally with no luck so just had to wait for all the to-ing and fro-ing but I think it was worth it as I love the fabrics.

I'm virtually all caught up with the CCCQ BOM. I'm not going to make Block #11 as the lyre pattern doesn't do it for me (no offence Sharon!). I was thinking of making two of the fleur de lis instead, I'll see.

See you all again very soon.

Carole

It's gone! & a Winner!

My Morrell has left the building! It's been packed off to be custom-quilted by Katrina. This is the first quilt of mine to be custom quilted and it was great to be able to discuss in detail the styling and what my likes and dislikes are. Katrina's studio was a beautiful space with some of her stunning quilts hanging on the wall so I know I've left it in good hands. My sewing room seemed bereft without it lying all over the sewing table. 

However, this neat state of affairs didn't last long....

I can now return to some WIPs including The Comfort Quilt. One of the reasons that I started this was that I wanted a quilt for our bed but I never thought I would finish the Morrell, I guess one can never have too many quilts...??

It's been fun to get the Japanese fabrics out again.

I think need a design wall, I only have the floor and it's not big enough!

Anyway, another block finished.

The Comfort Quilt Block #10

My hand sewing for the CCCQ continues, 

this is block #6 happily  'emerging' 

(as Nancy would say).

Anyway, to the giveaway - a random number generator has selected Susan from the 'Planet Susan' blog as the winner of the Leanne Beasley doily pattern and pincushion - Congratulations and please let me know your postal address.

Cheers

Carole

Signs of Winter - giveaway!

Well winter is truly here in Melbourne. 

A sign of this seasonal change that I don't like is leaving home in the dark for work in the morning and arriving back home at the end of the day in the dark.

 However, every season has its charms and these are some winter ones that I do enjoy:

eating porridge for breakfast...

wearing boots (well worn but very comfy)..

wearing gloves

seeing the sun shine through spiderwebs on bare tree branches...

...and being cosy indoors just sewing. 

CCCQ block #6

I have finished all the borders on my Morrell (yay!). I managed to improve getting the points together on the keystone blocks with some great advice from Patti (thanks again!)

So now to look at backing fabric and binding.

I have chosen a fabric from Judie Rothermel's 'Pine Tree Lodge' range. I only have a small amount of the red stripe so I hope I can find more to purchase for the binding.

This morning I also went over the quilt top removing any stray threads, I tried to do most of this when I was piecing the blocks together so there weren't too many. The curved manicure scissors are great for avoiding snipping into the fabric.

And so to the giveaway...
I am making Leanne Beasley's 'The Comfort Quilt' and when following the instructions in her #3 Vignette magazine there were some errors for the cutting measurements. When I wrote to Leanne she explained that an amendment had been printed as a separate sheet, which for whatever reason I didn't have.  As part of her apology she kindly sent me a mini pincushion kit and her 'Pretty Stitches Doily Collection' pattern.

I'm more than happy with my old apples that I've had for years...

and my dead bird who loves to travel on the bus...

...so I'm giving Leanne's kit and the patterns away. 
If you would like to win these just leave me a comment (or send me an email) about what you like about the current change of season in your part of the world. I will post overseas and the winner will be randomly drawn next weekend.
Good luck!
Carole

Ramblings

This past week (or so) I have finished Block #10 of my CCCQ quilt. 

I really like the Fleur de Lis pattern, it is one of my favourite blocks in my Morrell quilt.

Our 'Spot the Caravan' quilt was thoroughly road tested by baby Z and came through with flying colours.

We also went for a ramble down to Venus Bay to visit friends last weekend. 

There are a lot of cows in Gippsland...

... and green rolling hills ...

... and lovely towns...

We were very lucky with the weather, considering that winter has begun, as we had blue skies and sunshine. The surf beach at Venus Bay was pristine and practically deserted.

I've almost finished putting the borders onto my Morrell quilt, only one more side to go! 

And finally I had a great first week with my new job and yes, I still get sewing time on the buses (many thanks to those who've asked me how it went).

Cheers

Carole