A finish!

I have finished the quilt intended for use on the couch in our new fifth wheel trailer.  This was the first full sized quilt that I have machine quilted using my domestic machine, a Janome 6600.  The old adage, practice makes perfect still applies - the more I did, the better the stitches became, but I am still quite happy with it.




I have also made four mug mats in 'guy' fabrics and have set them aside for further gifts.  On the monster white quilt? Yes, I am getting my one 'hoop' done a day. Whew!

machine quilting

The reason I saved ... and saved... and purchased a Janome 6600 was so I could machine quilt my quilts, and not send them out to be quilted, and as long as they were not too big, of course.  I have been struggling and practicing and finally I started reading blogs to obtain some hints and tips.

Yes, should have done that first.  Well, I am half way through quilting the one in the blog header picture and I LOVE it.  Wait till you see it! 

a quick autumn table mat

I hand quilted up a quickie for the table in the kitchen:

It was a preprinted panel, but I just loved the colours and design and with hand quilting I think it looks pretty special!

Getting it together.

I am bad.  Yes, bad.  No excuses.  Faithfully every day I read the most lovely blogs by quilters, examining and drooling over their lovely projects.  Do I post? No.   I think I had better change my habits and 'get it together'.

Our house is for sale at present, and 'getting it together' to be ready for viewing did take some time and effort and all the quilting and sewing items were boxed up.  Then, we realized that we were not in a hurry to sell and if it didn't happen until the spring that was alright, except I would be looking at a long winter with no stitching.  Yikes.  So, I took one of the bedrooms, and rearranged it for a quilting studio.  One that I have to be very careful to be kept clean and tidy in case of viewings.  No throwing the scraps over my shoulder onto the floor like Eleanor Burns! HA!

So, what am I working on?  Well, one of my goals this winter is to ' get it together' and  finish HAND quilting this King Sized Whole Cloth quilt.  I have decided that I should work on one " hoop" of quilting a day, and so far over the past two weeks I have met the goal.  After this quilt is done, I will never hand quilt feathers again - oh my gosh I will have had enough! 

The middle here has been completed and I am working my way around the outside feathers and scrolling designs.  Due to the size of the quilt, I tried but could not get it all in one picture.

top finished!

  A couple of posts ago, I showed the start of an embroidered block for a quilt top.  I spied a nifty pattern in the summer issue of Quilt Sampler.  The patter by Sharon Reilly was quite interesting, except that as usual, I needed to change it ( just a little bit ). 

 I haven't decided whether I will quilt it myself, or send out to be quilted.  The fabrics were lovely to work with - mostly all Moda fabrics.   Now, this is one quilt destined to be kept by us - the colours were all chosen to suit the interior of our new 5th wheel RV.  It will enjoy a place of honour as the snuggle quilt on the couch.

First try at a bag

This summer, we had a visit from our son and daughter in law and travelled with them to Salmon Arm to replace a window in the truck.  While we were there, a quilt shop was spotted ( of course ! ).  Keira was very patient with me as I toured the shop oohing and aweing at the patterns and fabrics on display.  It was a wonderful shop.  She spied a bag hanging and asked if it was for sale ( no ) but the pattern was - an Amy Butler pattern.  Well, lets get that pattern and I will make you the bag for your September birthday. 

Here is the result.... I also put some funky buttons on the "catch".  I hope that the Micheal Miller fabric is what she is looking for!
 

And a couple of big pockets inside - I will fill the bag with a few treats before I send it!

Baby quilt done!

I loved making this quilt, especially hand quilting the little birds around the outside and button stitching around the corner flowers.  I forgot how relaxing hand work can be. 

I have started a new quilt that will be destined to be a snuggle quilt in our new fifth wheel.  I just love the hand embroidery on quilt patterns of Aussie quilters and since I had such fun with the hand work on the last quilt, I decided it would be nice to sit outside and make these blocks.  Here is the first start:

The pattern is from the magazine, Quilt Sampler ( spring/Summer 2010 ) called "Times Remembered" designed by Sharon Reilly.  The pattern is in redwork with some of the blocks in pink muslin.  I decided to embroider with colours and on white 2oo count muslin and have picked different fabrics to match. 

the first block.... summer day.... sitting in a comfy lawn chair under a canopy of tree leaves, cool breeze... stitching away with a cool drink beside you and gentle music playing in the background.....hmmmmmm