Marathon weekend Day 2

Sunday was the second day of my marathon sewing weekend, it was the Warrandyte chapter meeting for the Appliqué Guild. So nice to have this meeting in Kaye's shop.

Yummy spotty fabric

I usually come away with something for the stash.

Once again the show and tell was just stunning...

Olga's amazing Antique Wedding Sampler (the earlier version, not re-visited)

Olga's version of Brigitte Giblin's Trip Around the World

Sue's beautiful hexagon quilt

More hexagons, this one by Jane - sorry I cut the top off

Sue's own divine design

Heather's Beyond the Garden Gate

Veronique's mini masterpiece

Veronique's major masterpiece

Jane worked on her Patchwork of the Crosses

I did some machine appliqué for Gossip in the Garden 

Sorry about the quality of some of these photos - a bit 'hit and miss' with the iPad mini. 

Marathon weekend Day 1

I had a great weekend of sewing, sewing, sewing. Saturday was at my sister's with two friends, we are all working on Di Ford's Antique Wedding Sampler.

Judy's place was transformed into a professional looking classroom

I had decided to get my rogue block #23 from out of a small box in a dark corner. It had been banished due to some in-correct measurements. Di Ford had confirmed what the hst's should be, so we re-checked and decided that what was needed was the 1.5" Thangles.

So I cut all the strips and pinned them all up. Despite Lyn querying how many I needed I went ahead and prepared 48 - double the amount I needed! Grrrr.... I was thinking this block was cursed. Anyway got on with it and spent the rest of the day and into the night machine piecing the hst's and the centre star. The pink corner stars had been made months ago.

The centre pieces were quite small and I didn't know if I would be able to piece them on the machine but I managed it.

This block has now gone from being loathed to loved :)

I also laid out all the blocks I've made so far.It was great having help with choosing fabrics!

Lyn spent the day (and into the night) squaring up the blocks and sewing them altogether for her son's stunning large quilt. 

'Centred Kissez'  pattern by Stargazey Quilts

I just love the fabrics, many of them my favourite Japanese taupes. 

Doesn't the yellow just pop beautifully?

Sophie had bought along a quilt that she had made but no longer liked. Originally it was bright batiks on white backgrounds, she was so unhappy with it that she didn't even want me to take a photo so unfortunately I can't do the before and after story. Here is the after photo, after it was dyed to tone down the brights and give it a more antique look.

Isn't it just beautiful!!

Day 2 coming up next.

Gossip Time

Last weekend I had a big run on piecing for Gossip in the Garden.

Marking up all the periwinkle star pieces with dots for joining.

Pinning and piecing.

Laying them out on my bed (must get a design wall!)

Part 4 all finished.

These periwinkle stars were a pest to make but it was worth it in the end.

And a couple tucked away for a later section.

Then it was onto Part 5. I just love all the block names.

A bit of starch always helps.

Shoofly block

Another shoofly block - same layout but  what a difference!

Nice colour combination.

Fork pins - another favourite tool.

Patch star variation block

 

Good ole Nine-patch

Pieced squares

 And I finished one of the stitchery phrases.

Well I'm up for another weekend of sewing, off to my sister's today and then an Appliqué Guild meeting at Kaye's on Sunday. Hope you have a great weekend too!

Lucky me!

I've got into a Brenda Papadakis workshop at Quilts in the Barn - Yay me! 

I started collecting blue Liberty fabrics last year with the idea of one day making a Dear Jane quilt. 

I was inspired by this quilt made by Julianne who has kindly let me post the following pics from her blog -

Dear Jane is making me Nearly Insane.

I haven't seen this quilt in real life but I don't think this photo does it justice. It was pictures of the individual blocks like these below that really caught my attention.

 

 

 

 

I'm sure you can see why I was inspired!

I never would have dreamed of having the opportunity to take a class with the famous Brenda. Thanks to Linda the 'one day' Dear Jane quilt will now be happening :)

Finishing this secret sewing block was a great opportunity to practise sewing with Liberty fabrics. They are truly something else! Beautiful to needle turn and they don't fray so you can afford to have a small seam allowance to turn under. I was glad that I already use fine no. 11 straw needles and fine Superior thread.

Do you have an exciting sewing experience to look forward to?