A Joint Project - Hand and Machine Sewing

My friend, Michelle, has decided that machine sewing isn't her thing but she loves hand sewing. I, on the other hand, will take any opportunity to avoid hand sewing.! Michelle has made all these lovely hexagon flowers from scraps. I was glad to help when she asked if I could put all the blocks together. During the process, we discussed and consulted each other about the fussy cutting, colour  scheme, and layout of the quilt. I, then, made up the backing from the left over fabrics Michelle already had, quilted the quilt top for her, on my wonderful Gammill Statler, of course, and with the new CS6 software, it's fantastic. I chose the pattern named 'Daisies Galore' by Irene Steele for the quilt. After the quilting was done, I attached the binding. It's now ready to be sewn down, by Michelle's hands, not mine. :-) She has plenty of time to finish off the binding as the quilt is going to be a birthday present for her second daughter, Caitlin, towards the end of the year.

Nearly done....

Considering that I have been kept very busy with quilting for other lovely quilters, I'm pleased with the progress up to this point, knowing for sure that I will be able to enter my quilt to this year Sydney Quilt Show by the closing date in a week or so from now. :-)

I was actually trying to get the quilt top, my 'Winter Star Quilt', for the Show done yesterday, but spending time outside with good company and beautiful afternoon weather was hard to resist.... The quilt top is kind of done this evening and ready to be quilted - a quilting pattern has already been chosen.

  

I had to buy the backing fabric from Hawthorne Threads in the US after trying unsuccessfully to find fabric that I had in mind for the backing locally.

I know too well that it would take a lot longer to get the binding done after the quilting if I didn't have the binding ready to be attached to the quilted quilt. I like to handstitch the binding down on the back of the quilt and this step actually takes the longest time for me to complete a quilt.!

Happy Christmas and New Year 2015

Early December 2014, we travelled from our cosy home to places that I'm very much fond of after my first visit/stay almost two decades ago. A very happy white Christmas and New Year, and a lot of fun we did have in the snow land....

The trip has inspired me to start working on a red and white quilt, intended for this year (2015) Sydney Quilt Show's 'Red and White Quilt' Theme Category. I have chosen a variation of the classic 'Friendship Star' block, one of my favourites, as a pattern for the quilt. I put together the fabrics that I have collected from different places. It is a work in progress. When the quilt is done, its name will be 'Winter Star Quilt'....

Key Pouch for Jill's 40th

I have come across Heidi's Fabric Mutt by chance. I really admire her generosity in sharing ideas and tutorials for all things beautiful that she has made. I need something little as a 40th birthday present and Heidi's tutorial on the key pouch comes in very handy. :-) I leisurely made this pouch in about an hour.... Jill is a lovely person to be around (when she is around!). I have added a Paris key ring that I brought back from the trip earlier this year to make the key pouch a little extra special touch for her 40th birthday, which today.

 

Some Phrases - My Favourites

 

I enjoy hand embroidery when I get around to sit down for quiet moments. These phrases are my favourites. They aren't originals. I have seen them in various places. I embroided them and made little wallhangings for my quilting room. The projects were slow going and it has taken quite a few years for me to finish them all off.! Each one has special meaning (to me, of course :-) ). They also remind me of those who I shared some lovely time and wonderful moments with....

I was at 2014 AMQF

AMQF is held every two years since 2010, and I have been to the festival from the first time it was held. Earlier this month, it was my third trip to the AMQF in Adelaide, South Australia. I attended almost all classes on the Gammill Statler by Kelly Gallagher-Abbott, and a few classes on freehand quilting by Linda V Taylor. Kelly was wonderful with her knowledge on the Statler. I have learnt so much on tips and techniques the Creative Studio software has to offer. Linda is well-known and well-respected in the longarm quilting world. She is the face of Gammill (almost like its trademark to me!). Her skill was fantastic and I admire her a great deal.

And, to cap that off, before hopping on the plane to fly back to Sydney, I joined the Missouri Star Quilt Co. trunk show by Jenny Doan and Ron, Jenny's other fun-half. Jenny was in her element and the show was so much fun. She demonstrated several patchwork blocks using pre-cut fabrics - all are very tempting. :-)

 

.... I did find some time here and there in between classes to have a look around Adelaide. It's a beautiful city and the weather was nice during my stay. I left before the AMQF was concluded as it was during the NSW school holiday. I wanted to spend some time with my Sunshine going to a play, etc., and we had a lovely family time before school went back.

'Muted' Quilt

Sightseeing as a tourist while travelling through Scandinavia, I admired and marveled at the interior designs and different colour schemes. In Oslo, on our way to the playground at Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park, my Sunshine and I visited a patchwork shop, Kathrines Quilte Stue. While there, I have learnt to be more appreciative of 'muted' colours.

 

I probably bough these fabrics in 'French General' range by Moda soon after my return from the trip. I was attracted to their quiet and pleasant colours. With a simple patchwork pattern, this 'muted' quilt was made. I chose the quilting pattern named 'am-gingerflower' by Apricot Moon Design for the quilt and I'm very happy with the result. It took me longer than expected to complete the quilt as my (still) wonderful Gammill Statler took a break half way through the quilting. Early morning chat to Gammill in the US identified that the quilting machine needed a new Galil board, and was subsequently serviced before I was able to continue the quilting and eventually finish off the quilt. Creative Studio software has made it possible for me to pick up the quilting where it was left off, and I have no complaint - I'm very happy about it, actually.