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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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...

  

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.

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

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

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

So many tiny precise squares...

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.

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.