Dinosaur Quilt (Blanket)

A few months ago, Marita and I went on a bus trip to visit (and shop, of course!) the patchwork shops in the Central Coast NSW area. We both bought some fabrics with dinosaur prints. But, as usual, I didn't buy quite long enough fabrics. So, it took a little while (for me) to work out how I was going to go about making a quilt. Last week, the local patchwork shop had 25% off minky fabrics. I was curious and bought some of the fabrics as the backing for the 'still to be made'  dinosaur quilt for my Sunshine.! It did help to speed things up and the quilt was made, in quick time. I called it blanket because I decided not to put the batting in between the quilt top and the backing as I wanted the blanket to be soft and nice to cuddle up in. My Sunshine insisted that it's his 'Dinosaur Quilt', and so it is now. :-)

I chose the pattern called 'tangles e2e' by Karen Farnsworth for the machine quilting. Having minky fabric as the backing was fine during the quilting. There wasn't any issue with thread tension, etc. However, it did stretch a little along one side and looked 'unattractive' after I finished the binding. Luckily, the fabric recoiled after a wash, the blanket is now looking just fine, even after being dragged around the house several times over.!

'Clam Shell' Purse

I have seen a few clam shell purses while on the trip to China, a few years ago. They looked lovely and interesting. Seeing that now I could buy a kit to make one, I thought I would try. Here is my version of the clam shell purse. I use it to keep my favourite thimble and a few other small tools for when I'm sewing the binding to the back of the quilt. It's light weight and I really like it.

'Square in Square' Quilt for Kim

I have always wanted to make a quilt with 'Square in Square' pattern and a couple of basic colours. It's also a good chance to make something nice for Kim. I have got the fabrics for the quilt top from different patchwork shops, but they were from the same designer for Moda French General. It didn't take long, in term of sewing time, to finish the quilt top. The intervals between each sitting that I could actually do some sewing were a lot longer.! I quilted the quilt with the pattern named 'Popcorn' by Willow Leaf Studio. I took the finished quilt to Sydney SQQuilters 'Show and Tell' last Saturday before giving it away. It was well-received, the effort was all worth it, and I was pleased. :-)

 

A few finished projects between trips

In between trips overseas, while packing, unpacking, washing and re-packing AND resting, of course!, I had little pockets of time here and there that I spent on finishing up a few small projects....

I moved my sewing room into my quilting room before I started travelling for this year - it's the goal and timeline I set to do something for myself. Now, I don't have to run up and down the stairs every so often between the two rooms.... I bought the fabric panel at Craft Depot sale in May because I like this particular block on the panel. :-) I used my wonderful Gammill Statler to quilt the block and make it into a wall hanging, just to make a little statement for the room.! By chance, I found the black sewing machine broach at this year Sydney Quilt Show. It's a perfect addition to the wall hanging.

I have made these colourful 'flowers' to brighten up my quilting room.

They were fun to make. :-)

I'm one of Amanda Jean's many followers. She recently published about making pin cushion on her blog. I needed a couple more for my quilting room, and so, made them. I have got the idea for the pin cushions from the pictures on Amanda Jean's blog for the one with nine-patch, and the other one with hexagons was from the pin cushion I saw on display at The Quilting Loft in Ballard, Seattle, WA while I was there, about a week ago. I also bought the fabrics (for the pin cushions and other projects!) from the shop.

  

2013 Sydney Quilt Show

I was a volunteer 'white glove lady' during the first morning of the Sydney Quilt Show, this morning. It was also a good chance for me to see my Show quilt hung there. I'm just happy to see my quilt at the Show, among other wonderful quilts. I have also seen my signature half-square triangle block (sunflower), in the Guild's coverlet. I made the block to join the Guild's 30 years celebration.... I didn't know that today was a very wet day until I was coming home in the afternoon. I guess the weather was preparing me for Seattle, WA. I'm going to be there for work on Friday, so am off packing my bag now.!!

 

Summer Table Runner

It is now autumn, with lovely cool morning and bright blue sky, and I like it very much. With no association to the weather, however, I have made this 'Summer Table Runner' when I saw a picture of it. I love the colours of watermelon although I hardly know what it tastes like (watermelon makes me sick, sadly). I had a few fat quarters in different shades of red, and off I went....There is also a free downloadable pattern but I chose not to follow it.! And so, it took me a little while to work out how I would like to finish it. I quilted it using 'grass b2b' pattern, by Anne Bright, on my wonderful Gammill Statler, and used the Gammill Statler to mark an arc for cutting out as well. I have also made these two cute coasters from the left over quilted pieces that I trimmed off.... Morag, one of my lovely clients, said to me that instead of saying 'I just made it up', I should be saying 'it's my own design'.!!! :-)

50th Birthday Present

Marita's older sister is turning 50 in a couple of weeks. She made her version of the 'Colour Play' quilt top. I quilted it last night on my wonderful Gammill Statler. Marita chose the pattern, '2475 totally mod circles e2e', by Tammy Finkler, for her quilt. I picked the variegated Signature 100% cotton thread, Tie Dye, for the quilting. It quilted nicely and showed off the quilting pattern on the backing beautifully. Marita was around to help out where she could. I was telling her what to do, for a change. But, of course, I don't think she would agree with this.!!! We had fun, nevertheless. :-) I hope the quilt would be well received by Marita's sister.