17ufosin2017 March update

Well I've managed to tip over into the next month again, this could be recurring pattern but at least I'm blogging once a month 😊

For March I completed the Chester County Criswell Quilt top and I was very happy with the saw tooth border. Not a great pic taken quickly the night before it was whisked off to the quilter.

I had some trouble choosing and finding enough of a fabric for the backing, these were some options...

The paisley at the top won by a clear majority popular vote. I can't wait to get this quilt back and sew on the binding.

I've also been plugging away at the Value Proposition Quilt, by stamping out the 338 hexies required for the centre pathway. 

I am managing to achieve the desired look of a subtle change between the path around the rosettes and the centre path.

A squishy package arrived from the Temulca Quilt Company...

... a hand quilting kit !

I have been inspired by other bloggers like Susan, Hilda and Marian with their beautiful hand quilting and so I think I might have a go at quilting the Value Proposition Quilt by hand (eek!). I thought this kit would be a good starting point - wish me luck!

We had a G'nT Sisters retreat last weekend so I've been working on "that" quilt (no, not Dear Jane). It's the one where we are all making a version that combines Jeanna Kimball appliques with pieced blocks. 

I decided to use newsprint for the applique blocks but it's been such a challenge finding fabrics that will show on this that I'm going to call my quilt 'Reading the Fine Print'.

This house block is my current favourite (I even managed to sneak in some broderie perse)

For the 17ufosin2017 Challenge I've been trying to just work on 2-3 projects. I did a bit of applique on the December block for my Vases of Flowers wall quilt. I'm a bit over the tiny pieces involved and I can't find the perle cotton I've been using for the embroidery...anyway it's something to pick up now and then.

Happy sewing and I'll see you at the end of the month, let's see if I can make it by the 30th of April 30th?!?

Cheers

Carole

17ufosin2017 February update

I don't think I did as much as in January but I'm still going well with the 17ufosin2017 challenge. The GnT Sisters came for a weekend of fun and sewing so it was great to get their help with a couple of layouts.

I finally decided on a layout for the CCCQ and have sewn all 33 blocks together. I want to sew on a sawtooth border to finish it off so still a way to go.

I also used the opportunity to get advice on the layout for my Value Proposition Quilt and achieved consensus.

Don't you love the border fabric I'm using? There was bit of discussion as to which way it should go - tassles hanging out (above) or hanging in towards the quilt (as below) what do you think?

Winterthur Museum John Hewson #5492

I finished the pathways on the last few blocks so now ready to tackle the centre pathways.

I also managed a couple of blocks for the GnT Sisters' still un-named quilt. Now, when I machine piece blocks I don't do any pressing until the block is finished, I find I get better results this way when nesting seams together.

Gussie's Goose Block

Weathervane Block

And I've drawn up the next block, 4 baskets and looking at some fabric possibilities. I'm really enjoying drafting up my own blocks from Sharon's blocks, so that I get the 9" size I want.

Good luck to anyone else in the challenge and thanks for your ongoing encouragement!

Catch up celebration

It's been a while since my last post so here's a bit of a catch up and a few reasons to celebrate. I was thrilled to have my Antique Wedding Sampler on display at this year's Victorian Quilter's showcase at the Melbourne Quilt and Craft Fair.

If you haven't already you can read about this on our G'nT Sisters blog here.

I'm not going to post photos of other quilts [ :( ]as I forgot to check on whether this was ok. I was pretty restrained retail wise but did buy some lovely threads - some variegated Valdani perle cotton for Vases of Flowers...

... and some beautiful variegated wool to embroider stems on Words to Live By.

I've managed to finish a few more of these blocks.

 Winter is coming to a close and I don't know how much further I'll get with this wool quilt as I am working on a couple of other things but more about those another day.

I've recently attained my 100th blog follower - thanks Josie from Dilly Dimple If you haven't read her blog take a visit, her sense of humour will give you a giggle. 

Before I head off to bed as I have to get up early (yes, I have a new job!) I am offering a give-away to celebrate this month's happenings. Leave a comment (or send me an email) on any reason you have had cause to celebrate recently. Let me know which Jen Kingwell pattern (new & unused) you would like to win, either Gypsy Wife...

...OR the Circle Game.

This give-way will be drawn next Sunday, 31st August and I will post overseas.  

Good luck!
This give away is now closed - thanks.

ALOYF July Goals

I don't usually follow the brief for A Lovely Year of Finishes as you are meant to have one goal but you know me, I just can't stick to one project.
Anyway one of my goals for this month is to finish putting the top together for Gossip in the Garden.

It is a bit tricky to put together but Anni Downs has written very clear step-by-step instructions - this is most appreciated!! I think I need to swap the bottom Dresden block with the grey background for the one near the centre on the white spot background - oh well it's not all sewn in, some of it is just pinned.
I also made an error with the long stemmed flower, somehow my stem didn't come out long enough so I drew a red heart and appliqued it under the cup-pot.

Now, I still just have to find the border (I haven't had a real look yet).

I haven't quite finished with Antique Wedding Sampler yet. I did make the binding at our last G'nT Sisters retreat but I still haven't made a start on sewing it on. This is my other goal for July - to finish putting on the binding.

At our retreat I decided to make a block for each of the Sister's AWS's, to keep me 'in the loop'. We picked out the fabrics together for Lynne's block #9. I just need to add the small leaves.

Very different colours to mine but I love it! That fabric in the large leaves is an old Robyn Pandolph one. To see more blocks made by the Sisters visit here we had a very productive weekend.

To finish this post you'll never guess who we saw out today Sunday driving, would you believe Batman in his Batmobile?

If you look closely you can just see his pointy ears (on the rhs - he even knows how to drive in Australia!)

You just never know who you might see on a country road in Victoria :D

June update

I have finished the couple of small goals I set myself for this month's A Lovely Year of Finishes. I have finished the last two blocks for Gossip in the Garden - yay! This included the applique border for the jug of flowers block...

...and finishing the last Dresden block.

I have started to sew all of the blocks together. This is no easy feat because it's like a giant jigsaw puzzle.



Now, I wonder where I have put the last instalment of this BOM which is the tumbler block border and the fabrics...they have to be in my sewing room somewhere!

I also finished block #7 of my Value Proposition Quilt. Karen has recently posted about her finished quilt top here - so inspiring. 

I was also very excited to get my Antique Wedding Sampler back from Katrina who has a done an absolutely superb job on the quilting. As I took it into Kaye's to choose some binding, guess what was hanging there...

Di Ford's original quilt, how fortuitous! 

Here are pics of some of my quilted blocks.

Lots of curls and swirls, I'm just thrilled with how Katrina has quilted it. I still need to put on a sleeve and bind it but I was able to take it along to this month's Warrandtye chapter TAG meeting for show and tell.

Heather's lovely lilac applique sampler

Olga's cute and colourful child's quilt

Veronique's latest design 'Vases de Fleurs' (pattern available)

 It was just a small group this month (perhaps people are hibernating for the Winter?) but enough to share a chocolate cake for our first birthday. 

Happy Birthday to us!
(btw the quilts in the background are by Michelle Yeo)

And what happens when one or two quilts come to a finish? Well one or two quilts get started of course.

Yoko Saito's 'Vases of Flowers' April block

Preparing the May block

Japanese taupes - yum! I'll keep you guessing on what I have pulled these fabrics for...

Another busy month there's even been a G'nT Sisters weekend (more on that soon).

And finally here is a photo of our finished kitchen that I have been promising but kept forgetting to share. 

As you can see it's great for letting in fresh air and sunshine, well worth the wait.

Cheers

Carole