Merry Christmas

  

I stitched some monograms for prezzies this year. These are from Crabapple Hill Studios, the Hopechest pattern.

For dad, I stitched the constellations of the southern sky. I got the idea from here and then found a map of the southern sky on the internet and traced it off the laptop screen. It fitted the embroidery hoop perfectly - which I left on as a mount. 

I used white DMC thread and Japanese indigo fabric.

Forgot to take a photo of the final finish :(

Off to prep the #4 CCCQ block to take away on our NZ holiday.

Merry Christmas and I'll 'see' you next year!

Cheers

Carole

CCCQ Block 5 - James Carlile

This week I have finished the 5th block of the Chester County Criswell quilt. I like the way Sharon used two fabrics for the 'crazy nasturtiums' so I did the same, except I'm using blue instead of green fabrics.

I have also done some more hand piecing for my Morrell quilt as I had another 'Morrell Sit and Sew Group' session on Wednesday which was joined by another friendly group of happy quilters celebrating the end of the year.

I also pulled out my 12 Days of Christmas quilt for some machine embroidery and applique on this block. It won't be finished for this Christmas but I might get all the centre blocks done.

21 Today!

21 today - I've finished my 21st broderie perse block for my Morrell quilt so only six more of this style of block to go  - yay!

I like the roses from this fabric as they look old. I used needle turn for the vase and machine blanket-stitched the flowers and leaves.

I've also been working on Block #5 of the Chester County Criswell quilt - the crazy nasturtiums. I liked the way Sharon used two fabrics and decided to look at some pics of nasturtiums on the internet. I liked this one because of the blue hue in the leaves as I am using blue fabrics (instead of green).

For the stem I traced around freezer paper with a silver gel pen.

Then when I came to the leaves I was going to use the freezer paper and starch method but I couldn't get smooth curves.

So changed tack and decided to trace the shapes directly onto the fabric using the light table (box). I should do this more often as it completely by-passes the use of freezer paper.

Two leaves done and five more to go - one for each day on the bus next week. Then I'm on holiday for a month - woo-hoo!

I'd better start thinking about Christmas, might even put up the tree today.

Cheers

Carole

Fiddle - Faddle

The two blocks that I have finished this week were quite fiddly. I used the 'starch and freezer paper method' for Block #3 of the Chester County Criswell quilt, the Priscilla & Joseph Turner block. I hadn't tried this method before and found Erin's applique lessons on her 'One Piece at a Time' blog very helpful. It was quite a fussy technique but I guess anything can be the first time you try it. I was happy with the result and it's good for placing separate pieces accurately.

Liquid starch is painted on the seam allowance and then folded over and pressed with an iron.

Then the freezer paper is removed.

 

Then the pieces can be placed on the background fabric with the pattern underneath it. 

I didn't make the leaves and stems in one piece as per the original, I decided to make the stems with a 'Clover' bias maker.

I initially stuck the pieces to the background fabric with applique glue but wasn't happy with the placement so I ended up pulling it all off, getting new background and then pinning. 

I found the starch and freezer paper method good for sharp points and once it was all prepped it was quick to sew as all the seams are already turned under.  Erin also has a tutorial on how to deal with pointy points that also helped me.

The other block I finished this week was this hand pieced block for my Morrell quilt, this was also very fiddly because of all the different small pieces. Like Janet's (from Quiltsalott) recent post on pressing hand pieced blocks I also find pressing challenging and have been inspired to photograph the back so you can see swirls where pieces meet...

The pressing seemed to take ages. Next time I'm going to try pressing as I go along, as I think it will make this task easier.

So, after all of the fiddle - faddle with these blocks I'll be happy to tackle the next CCCQ block  which is 'paper cut' applique - my preferred method.

Cheers

Carole

Busy with Broderie

I have completed four more broderie perse blocks for my Morrell quilt. They are all very different because of the fabrics used.

 

Remember these two that I accidentally sewed together here? 

All repaired now and worth the unpicking.

My other projects, particularly the 12 Days of Christmas and the Chester County Criswell quilt, continue to be neglected but I'm on a Morrell roll. I've even booked it in to be quilted so I have to finish it!
Cheers
Carole

More Morrell

I've been working on my Morrell quilt and have finished 5 more broderie perse blocks...

I use a small button hole stitch on my machine. I change the top colours but keep a light grey in the bobbin. I worked on all five of these blocks simultaneously, ie all the green leaves, then yellow flowers etc. My other projects have been languishing but it feels good just to power through on one thing for a change.

Cheers

Carole

Winterthur Winners!

Hubby has drawn the 2 winners out of the hat for the Winterthur fabric bird panels: 

Max & Louise (not sure if it was Lisa or Lou who left the comment?) and 

Missie Carpenter of Hallbrook Designs. 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

These birds will be winging their way towards you. 

I'd love to see pics of how your panels get used in your sewing.

Cheers

Carole

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 :(

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

 

 

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.

 Going great until....

@#*$%+! 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 ").

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

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.

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.

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.

'

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...

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

All in all a very relaxing and productive break away.

Off to do some more broderie perse blocks - I'm all inspired.

Cheers

Carole