Weekend activities.

Linda's third quilt.She really has come a long way.....................her skills improving with every quilt she completes.  I'm lucky that she lets me do as I please......... so that means feathers!

The front of the quilt. I added a small curved crosshatching in the smaller squares.  The larger squares I set out a swirling square feather to spread out into the corners. 

Pity the back isn't on display.  I like the way the quilting design shows up on the back of the quilts.

For me, it's a gamble to be doing custom quilting when the backing fabric is a solid.  It tends to show up all of the backtracking on feathers and any other little bumps in my quilting.

Using the thinner threads, ........... So Fine on the top, and bottom line thread on the bottom helps prevent the thread build up. I think it looks okay, I've still lots of improving to do.

January happenings

Well I had planned to do some much needed "catching up" on quilting during January, but the best laid plans can go astray.   Whilst I've been waiting for a machine part to arrive, I've pulled out some of my UFO's.  2012 is going to be the Year of completing my UFO's and I've promised myself to not start on anything new.  
I'm a fan of Scrappy quilts..........  so I thought a half square triangle quilt would put a dent into my stash.  Here's a peek of it laid out.  Cassy, can you spot the mistake??? 

A little closer, and shuffling of pieces makes the world of difference. 

My dresden. This has been finished for some time, but I've been tracking down that "just right" fabric for the border.

I found it!!!

A beautiful fabric range, by Free Spirit.  Did you know that the colour for 2012 is tangerine?? 

And after much nagging (from Cassy.......LOL,)  The string quilt.  I had originally wanted this for the lounge, and thought the 3 blocks (3 x 5) would be fine.  I pieced the borders, originally the aqua colour, but I just wasn't.........happy with the way it looked and sat.   So much unpicking, and now more blocks to make.  

A closer look for Cassy............. she's making the same quilt, and I'm not around to show her the how/why/where's, ............ this electronic age is wonderful to keep in contact with family, and proving to be helpful for us to spur each other along with our quilting.   I've decided to go with a different colour for the border.......... but that's a way to go!!

I still love my curved cross hatching.  I never tire of seeing it in quilting. 

Take care
Judy

String Quilt

Cassy, just letting you know that even though I'm waiting for the part for the Longarm, I'm not wasting time sitting on my backside.

I'm going to call this one Citrus Delight.    I've "seperated" the 12 1/2" blocks so you can see individual blocks.

I'm thinking I will go with this layout, but you know me, it can change as I make up more blocks.

Remember when I said about the interfacing? Cut out your 13" square, those drawn pencil  lines are 4" wide, ............... now you just add your scrappy piece of fabric to the interfacing, starting in the middle, and work your way out to the ends.  Don't get caught up in measuring sizes, or straightening the fabric.

I'm squaring this one up.  The finished size is 12 1/2". 

See what I mean about the differing scrap fabric dimensions?  Some of mine have been as little as a 1/4" wide, and some up to 2".  I like the look of the narrower strips though, but I work with the scraps I've collected over time.

The lines don't even have to be straight!!  I really enjoyed doing this one Cassy, as the instructor reinforced to the participants time and time again to just "whack the fabrics on, don't stress about the accuracy of the lines.  It all comes together nicely when it's squared up". 

I think she was right.  When your time poor,  grabbing those 10 minutes here and there and being able to recall what stage your up to, then this is an ideal scrap buster quilt for you to do.
Do you think you can manage this one Cassy??? 

PS:  Sewing machine doctor can't make it until the end of the month.  I think I've killed a China man, maybe a bus load.   Oh well, it's all character building stuff, and I'm learning..........constantly.   Keep the end of March/early April open.  We can make it to the Australian Quilt Convention on the 14th.
Cheers me dear, love ya.
Judy

Last minute gifts

 Oh boy, no time for custom quilting in the month of December I've discovered!! I've had some e-2-e quilts to complete for some lucky people, and I'm pleased with the way they have turned out. Denise's beautiful Labyrinth quilt, really came up nicely.  

This is one of those quilts that you could spend a lot of time doing extensive custom quilting on it, and not really being able to see the beautiful workmanship (in good lighting it shows up nicely).   However, using a nicely spaced e-2-e design can be just as effective.

See???..........  the swirls match in with the cream background fabric.

Denise cut back down on the very wide borders of this pre cut pattern kit, and I have to say I like the balance she has given the entire quilt.  

The original borders were very wide, and minimised the centre block.  I think Denise chose wisely, and it turned out very nice.

Christina's quilt............ wow, this young lady designed the pattern herself, making it an "original" in my books. 

I like the fabric selection............... the yellow looks amazing.

A great use of the left over fabrics, pieced and placed in the middle of the backing fabric.

How good does this look???

Two quilts in one!!!    I love the back just as much as the front.

Kerry-Anne has made three of these Marine themed quilts.  All for the young men in her family.

The fleur de lys in the fabric, and the same fleur de lys as the quilting.

How cute is the pillow sham???

Nice work Kerry-Anne, I think they turned out great.

Ho, Ho, Ho................... please Santa, get it right!!!

This past week saw some High Humidity in our neck of the woods. What that means to me.......... is to quickly spring clean, making sure there is nothing on the floor in the studio. The high humidity causes me to focus on protecting the fabric and wadding.

See those floor tiles?   Well last Christmas they looked like a sheen of water ........ causing me to slip and slide around the longarm.     I've invested in a large dehumidifier so as the problem can be better managed this year.  Fingers crossed I don't have to spend days washing wadding and fabrics, hanging out rugs, and bleaching the walls. 

Now for some quilting.  More pics to post soon.

Inspiration

Earlier this year I attended at  Sharon Schamber's two day workshop.  Day one was " Designing a quilt", which I found very enlightening.  Participants design a quilt,.....sounds simple right?  Not so simple for this little black plump duck!!!!, as Sharon had us design it all out on graph paper so as we would understand sizing, appropriate placement etc. etc.  One thing I was able to take away from the workshop was the inspiration various designers use during this process. Lots of books with architecture details, graphic arts, and historical ornaments can be the motivation for many a talented designer.

Great covers, you could make up a quilt easily, just by utilising the images from the covers of these books. I've been collecting my "Dover" publications for some time now, so it was great to see how to transfer these various images into a personal quilt design.    I've been haunting the local library, and delighted to see they have various Dover Publications available to members.  So lots of photo copies have been made, and I have made a promise to myself to design a quilt from scratch - next year. (cough, cough).  Oh well, I can make a plan............  

I can see a nice border with this one.   (There's nothing wrong with having plans!!!........... I just have to lock myself away for a year to be able to find the time to do the things I would love to quilt!!)

I also wanted to show you how wadding can make a difference to the appearance of a quilt.    

This quilt (above pic), the client used a Cotton wadding.   The e-2-e design is ALFRESCO, from Lorien Quilting. (how talented is that lady ........ and she's an AUSSIE!)

Okay, the same e-2-e design.

However, the client preferred a puffy, old fashioned look, and opted for the high loft cotton/poly blend (Matilda's).  Can you see the thickness of the wadding in this picture??

Both quilts are very nice, it just gets down to what you prefer, and what the quilt is going to be used for.  I've found the high loft to be fantastic in custom work.  It gives the appearance of Trapunto, and really puffs out the feathers when it's all finished.  I've found the high loft to be a great "Winter" quilt, as it holds the heat well.  Some people just prefer the flat look that a 100% cotton, or for that matter 100% wool can give to the quilt.  There's no right or wrong, it just gets down to "different folks" "different strokes". 
What's your preference???
Judy

Jenna's inspiration

I forgot to post a pic of Shirley's quilt some time ago, and I was reminded to show it here for her daughter. 

Shirley completed this Lynette Anderson designed quilt for her daughter's birthday, and needed it ASAP. 

Given that it was required quickly, we decided on a nice E-2-E which wouldn't take away from the applique blocks.

Feathered garden from Timeless Designs was the pattern I used, and I think it was the appropriate choice.  Very subtle, without overpowering the individual blocks.

Jenna, I thought of you the other night.  I was watching TV, (late), and the programmes kept switching, almost like you were on the couch, bored, and channel surfing.  It would stop, then start again, and I thought maybe we were going to have an electrical storm, and I had better go and turn off the quilting machine and computers.
I looked over to the couch and saw this.............................

Yes, Megs was having nightmares again, being chased by some Bush Turkey no doubt.  Every time there was a twitch........... the channel changed.   It's like your home again.............. sleeping on the couch.
enjoy your week.
Judy

Being quite.......................

.........................doesn't mean I'm not busy!!.   Me and the computer have had a strained relationship this past fortnight.  I received bad news and just couldn't bring myself to turn on the computer.  A friend, and old work colleague died suddenly and leaves behind a young family.  I'm still dragging my heels in terms of trying to come to terms with his death, it just was so unexpected.

I threw myself into some quilting.................. I've always found quilting takes me to another place, it really is a stress buster for me, and I enjoy "relaxing" at the machine.

Rose and hearts e-2-e, it just seemed the right quilting design for this pretty quilt.  Aren't the fabrics nice?  I like the summery feel they give to this quilt made by Bev.  She always has an eye for the nice fabrics, letting the fabric do the work, ....... the result is a nice quilt.

 Nice quilt Trish, not bad for a beginner............ and pastel batiks.  I love the way patchwork is addictive.  Trish is already planning her 2nd, 3rd and so on ............

 Trish doesn't like dense quilting, so we settled on a nice e-2-e design called Blowing in the Wind, by Timeless Designs.

 It really worked well with her piecing.

 Cassy, this is the best I could do to take a pic of the whole quilt.  I'm spring cleaning, and the studio is a mess (as per usual you may say............. but it's messier than you've seen!!  I'm gearing up for the high humidity, so that means lots of storing)
Amanda's quilt (below), is a beauty............. I never tire of doing these drunkard's path's (or robbing peter to pay Paul), never mind, it's four quarters, forming a circle!!!.   

 I' think I prefer these quilts with the circles quilted in the "circle shapes".

 The pics don't do this quilt justice, it really is a stunner, and is going to make a wonderful present for Amanda's hubby.

Sandy's quilt, is a Jinny Beyer design.  How lush are these colours?

 I used King Tut Variegated thread.  It peeps in and out behind the central design.

 Great to work with.

..........Cassy, I still can't show you pics of the Crazy Patchwork Quilt, as it is still to be collected........... but I can show you some more of the blocks.

I hope she likes it.  This is always the worse part of machine quilting, waiting to see if the client is happy with your work.

Enjoy your week.
Judy.