Favourites

My favourite parts of the week would have to start with a couple of quilts stitched out with an Irene Steel, of "Timeless Quilting Designs" pantograph pattern that I have not stitched out before.I love Irenes patterns and have quite a few......this one is called "mirror image".

I managed to finish a small custom  quilt which took a while to do...a combination of statler flowers and a freehand border.

The week finished with some time spent with my favourite group of quilters....the "Junior Quilters"

we had another lesson at "All About Sewing" Charmhaven.

The girls were finishing their small quilts begun in January and learning how to bind...and choosing their projects for next month's lesson...the 24th March.

Lara' finished quilt. She did a beautiful job on her quilting. Here's a close up.

Beth binding her quilt later at home.
It was another great juniors day that was very busy, as the shop also hosts the CENTRAL COAST MODERN QUILT GUILD there monthly...so it was all happening!!!!!

A busy week full of "favourites" ...you can't ask for more than that!!!

Jan

Endlessness of Endlessness!!!!

This quilt took FOREVER to do as there is SO much applique to outline and lots of background fills.
It felt like an ENDLESS task and I must say I was really glad to finish it this week and get it off the frame.

Some close-ups.

Don't forget our next Junior Quilters day at "All About Sewing" is  this coming Saturday the 25th Feb. 9am to 12pm. Looking forward to finishing those quilts started in January and choosing some new projects for next month.

Have a great week

Jan

Sneak Peek

A sneek peek at what kept me busy this week.
A semi-custom for Jody. This lovely block was repeated across the pieced blocks, with a "frame" design stitched around the embroidered blocks and the inner border freehand stippled.

Love the fabric....must do something with the jelly roll that I have of it.
Family life back to crazy "normal" this week with work, School, gymnastics, flute, soccer........you get the drift....only one free afternoon in the week. I like to be busy though.
Jan

Everlasting

I spent yesterday in Newcastle with a 17 other Novocastrian Quilters. We had all signed up for a class with Pam Furniss to do her beautiful quilt "Everlasting".

Pam is a wonderful teacher. She is patient with those new to hand applique (me), and has a wealth of knowledge of all things "quilty" which she willingly passes on.
The quilt is hand applique, (she uses the freezer paper method ...I found this quite do-able), and  quilt-as-you-go. Next time we get together she will be going thru' some  free-motion quilting techniques with everyone.
A good day I feel I achieved a lot...BUT have lots of homework....I'm worried I won't keep up as I am back quilting in the shed fulltime again now that school has gone back.

Some days I wish I could swap places with these two best friends....what a life!!!
Jan

Lesson Two - Junior Quilters

Lesson two for the Junior Quilters was held at "All About Sewing" Charmhaven yesterday.
We had 6 young ladies trying to finish their small quilts.
It was so hectic that I didn't get to take any photo's during the day. I took this one of my daughters quilt once the dust had settled and we were back home.

Three of the girls got up to this stage...finished quilting but no binding on. They did really well....I think they all turned out great. The other girls have begun to quilt...will have to finsh it at home...and we will organise a quick binding lesson soon. I have really enjoyed teaching the juniors. The girls gave me a list of suggestions for possible future classes of which I hope we have many!
Jan

Junior Quilters

Had an absolute blast today at "All About Sewing" Charmhaven,  with six young ladies learning to patchwork.
We were learning about 1/4" seams..how to sew straight...how to line up the intersection of two seams when joining rows together...how to sew borders on correctly....how to NOT throw a hissy-fit when the bobbin runs out...that it's hard to sew straight if you're talking.....many things really.
Next week we will be learning to pin baste our small quilt and also how to quilt it using a walking foot. If time permits we will hopefully cover "binding"

Beth and Madeline

Charlotte

Rebecca, Paige and Charlotte

Paige

Rebecca

Emily ( birthday girl!)

Beth

Charlotte

Madeline

Hopefully the first of many "Junior Quilter" events.

Jan

So Far So Good!

I am really enjoying working on this quilt...but feel I will need to get some more fabric... I don't have enough variety of red and blues. Happy with the progress so far. I am back quilting at night while it's still school holidays...so I am not getting a lot of time on my own personal sewing.

Cheers

Jan

Jack in the Box

Holiday sewing.....the block is called "Jack in the Box". I designed the quilt using EQ7. I wanted it to be a scrap quilt.I will post more pics as the quilt progresses.
Jan

Look What I Got!!

This is what I started with for the "Thousand Pyramid Friendship Fabric Swap"

And this is what I ended up with!!!!!

How GOOD is that!

Jan

Only the Binding to Go!

The sample for the "Junior Quilters" class has been quilted with some simple,easy walking foot quilting. It now only needs the binding to be hand sewn down to be entirely finished.
I am looking forward to teaching the junior class....contact Jody at "All About Sewing" for times and dates.
"All About Sewing"...ph 43932200  http://www.allaboutsewing.com.au/

Cheers
Jan

Thousand Pyramid Friendship Quilt

When my group decided to do a fabric swap for a "Thousand Pyramid Friendship Quilt" I jumped at the chance as I have always wanted to make one. Lots of cutting of 5" squares ready to swap tomorrow night. I can't wait to see what sorts of fabrics I get....cant' wait to start the quilt.
Jan

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone. Lets hope 2012 is a great year.

Jan

When Country and City Meets The Coast

My Brother came up from Sydney and Mum and Dad visited from the country (Central West NSW) for Christmas Day.

It was great to catch up with everyone...we had a great day with WAY too much food.
I am enjoying a small break now and actually doing some sewing for ME!!!!
Cheers
Jan

HO....HO.....HO.....

HO....HO....HO....

I hope you all have a great Christmas with friends and family.

All the best everyone.

Jan

Kerrie's Quilt

Kerrie's Quilt

This week I had the pleasure of working on Kerrie's quilt.

Kerrie designed this quilt herself. I love the colours and the way you get secondary patterns happening within the pieced blocks.
Kerrie is a patchwork and quilting tutor and it was a joy to work on a quilt that was well pieced and square!!
It was quilted with an Edge-to-Edge pattern called "Joust" by Willow Leaf Studio....and Kerrie nearly didn't get her quilt back!! ha!

Happy Quilting
Jan

Small Custom

Small Custom

This small custom was completed this week. I really love how the circular quilting design sits within the square block.

Some all over feathers looked good on this quilt also.

Happy Quilting

Jan

Quilting Workshop-Walk All Over You

Quilting Workshop-Walk All Over You  On the third Saturday of each month I attend the Novocastrian Quilters meeting in NewLambton.

A free workshop is available to members at each meeting. Last month Jann Sturdy ran a workshop on free-motion quilting, and yesterday I followed that up with a workshop that explored quilting with your walking foot...looking at a variety of designs that are suitable to use and a few different methods to transfer your designs onto your quilt.

I enjoyed organising and teaching the class. It was a good day.
Cheers
Jan

Valuation

This week the Quilters Guild of NSW held a Quilt Valuation day here on the Central Coast, which I took advantage of, getting two of my own personal quilts valued.
This blue and cream quilt is a combination of freehand background fills and stitch in the ditch with some Statler feathers and motifs.

I also put in my first whole cloth for valuation which was done entirely freehand. I learn't a lot with this quilt and will hopefully do another one soon as I found it a huge challenge which I LOVE.

It won third place in "Traditional/Professional" at Darling Harbour Quilt Show this year....!!!
I have no real idea of the value of my quilts....so it was a real eye opener to have them appraised by the Guild. I realised that I have been undervalueing my work by a LONG way.
What I thought their value would be was about one third of what the Guild valued them at.
My 'better half" often accuses me of not taking myself seriously enough and of not realising the true value of the work that I do.
I think many of us "artisans' would be in the same boat. Many of us feel uncomfortable putting an appropriate monetary value on things....we are not sure we are worth it. Do any of you feel the same way???
Cheers
Jan