A crocheted gecko ....

A total change in technique and size .......

a crocheted gecko head!!  For my friend Jeanette who owns and runs Wild Creature Features with her wonderful daughter Tegan.

Finish it up Friday

 

 

 

Today I have a quilt to show you.  I know it may not look finished because it has no binding attached but it's finished for me.  This was one of several quilts tops I recently picked up from a local Project Linus co-ordinator.  I offered to quilt them for her because 1) it's a great cause and I like doing things for Project Linus and 2) it gave me good practice on my new longarm machine.  I had done a couple of practice pieces but hated the thought of the fabric and wadding not actually being used for anything (I know some people say to make bags out of it - but really I wouldn't like those bags!) so this is a win-win situation.

 

The first few I just did an all-over design, here, here and here!  But for this one I wanted to try some other patterns.  I have a quilt that I am piecing at the moment that I envisage quilted with separate designs in each colour column so I could do with the practice.

 

So, it's got ribbon candy:

pebbles:

stippling:

 

 

swirls:

 

a saw tooth kind of design (totally new to me and the points certainly don't match up!):

and a kind of feather!

I am so happy to have something finished to show on Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday, and for remembering to link up!  Looking forward to sitting down after dinner and popping over to some of the other people's blogs. x



 

The start of a new quilt

It's always so exciting starting a new project.  I have wanted to make a rainbow quilt for quite a while now so took the plunge and started cutting.  I bought a Sissix die cutter last year and I love it.  It certainly made cutting out the rectangles far quicker than rotary cutting and because I folded the fabric I was able to cut 6 or 7 at a time so I have a nice pile of ready cut fabric for when I want to make another project.

I had already cut some red rectangles at the start of the year so up first was the yellow fabric:

Such pretty scraps - I can't bear to throw them away so they have been put aside for a rainy day!

For the first time ever I bought some fat 1/4s at the Festival of Quilts - it was wonderful to be cutting them straight away instead of stashing them on my shelves.

The oranges were next.

I finally got round to making up a design board.  This one is very temporary but what a difference it made.  Immediately upon putting the fabric on the board I could see that some fabrics just were not going to work whilst on the cutting mat they seemed to all tone together nicely.  As you can I am short of one yellow fabric, which I think I have now rectified, and I am not entirely happy with the green column either .....

The general detritus that accumulates on a cutting table ....

A rainbow of scraps!

I started sewing the pieces together and really like the way it's coming together.  There is going to be a very small white line between the two columns of the same colour with a wider sashing between the separate colours and I've then a couple of other ideas to play with.

Linking up today with Let's Bee Social #85 at Sew Fresh Quilts.

All about quilts ...

The last week has been all about quilts, quilts and more quilts. 

 

I joined my local quilting club, Hathaway Quilters, who meet twice a month in a local hall.  I haven't been a member of a quilting club since I left Feilding, New Zealand, and that was a long time ago.  I was a member of the Feilding Kowhai Patchwork Quilters.  It was such a wonderful group to be part off that I have been somewhat hesitant to join another - ridiculous I know!  It was lovely to be welcomed into the group and I even the raffle - two fat quarters of fabric.

 

And then there was The Festival of Quilts.  I had been before when I was back from New Zealand on holiday but this year was different.  I booked for two days, a workshop and a lecture, oh and I could actually buy things here because they didn't have to go in a suitcase back to NZ!

 

What a show.  So many wonderful and amazing quilts of all sizes, styles and techniques.  I was especially interested in the actual quilting of the quilts this year having just got a long arm quilting machine.  What a lot I have to aspire to!

These details were taken from The Awakening by Annelize Littlefair

 

 

There were 1800 or so quilts on display, both as entries and as exhibitions.  I thought I had been around them all but since returning and seeing peoples photos on FB I realise I missed quite a lot ......  Maybe I was too busy at all the stalls or going at a more relaxed pace because I knew I had two days.  By the end of Friday my feet ached, my legs ached and even my hips ached but I was very happy.  It was truly inspirational to see such talent, ideas, lovely people and, of course, fabric all in one place.

 

 

Indigo blues ...

Some progress shots for the ATC I am making for the ATC Swap hosted by Ali over at Very Berry Handmade.  I wrote about my previous swaps over here as a guest post.  They are really fun to make and it's wonderful to get a little surprise package through the post! x

I am linking up to Let's Bee Social over at Sew Fresh Quilts today.

This is a first for me ....

Today I am somewhere different  - over at Ali's lovely blog Very Berry Handmade.  It's all about ATC swaps - head on over for a read maybe .....

An ATC is an Artist Trading Card and a great bunch of people are making and swapping them - all organised by Ali.  Pop over here to see some made in previous swaps.

This was the one I made for the last swap ......

Off in the post this week ....

.... a couple of blocks for two different causes. 

 

The first one is for current challenge for Quilts for Comfort NE.  I have only recently become aware of this great cause and thought a block for a storytelling quilt for using on paediatric oncology wards was definitely doable.  My daughters loved the idea of The Gingerbread Man and so this block came to life!

 

The second is for this year's Project Linus challenge.  They are requesting house blocks which can be handed in at the Festival of Quilts next week.  The blocks will then be made into packs to be sent to volunteers who will piece them together and make a quilt. 

 

So wonderful to be able to donate these blocks for such worthwhile causes. x