Sometimes

Sometimes when things get a bit "hairy" around here......which can be a lot....I find it REALLY useful to go home for a while, sleep in my childhood bedroom, listen to the sound of rain on Mum and Dad's tin roof, hang out with Mum and Dad....and remember what it was that I wanted to be when I grew up and what it was that I valued and held dear!
This Easter I was lucky enough to add to that mix "the Aunties" and Uncle Jim and some not often seen cousins from Newcastle.

Lots of laughing, catching up, gossip and love....I'm all back down to earth now. Family....aren't they just SO important?
Jan

The Best Day

Yesterday was the best day I've had in a LONG time.
The "junior quilters" had another lesson at "All About Sewing" Charmhaven  43932200.  The girls are doing really well. Charlotte is now quilting beautifully...

Lara is really developing as a quilter and is keen to try EVERYTHING!!!! She ended up using some of Kim Bradley's templates to mark out her border quilt design........her borders now have scallops on them....looks gorgeous.

Beth made a bag.....and learnt how to read a pattern, cut out and follow instructions....

We only had three girls ...so it was really lovely....everyone got some quality time.

AS WELL AS ALL THAT.......

The Central Coast Modern Quilt Guild holds its monthly meetings at "All About Sewing" Charmhaven, on the same day as the juniors...or is it the other way around? Anyway..a great way for the juniors to  be involved with older sewers as well.

The guilds President Leanne

 organised for a tutor to come to the shop and hold a workshop and yesterday Kim Bradley http://www.kimbradleycreations.com/ ran a workshop using a huge range of quilting templates that she has created to expand your quilting possibilities with your walking foot (morning) and freemotion techniques in the afternoon. It was an amazing workshop...Kim is a wonderfully creative person, and a great teacher as well.

The "Juniors" thought she was incredible and took every opportunity to duck aroung the corner to see what she was doing with the class...to the point that Lara ended up using one of Kim's templates on the quilt she was working on.

Kim actually spent some time with the "Juniors" and really encouraged them...even giving them some notes at the end..the girls were thrilled to say the least.

Beth and Lara watching Kim teach.

Kim teaching.

The "Juniors" decided that they wanted their next lesson to be a "quilting" lesson using some of Kim Bradley's templates...so that is what we will do.

The best day!

Have a great week

Jan



Junior Quilters

The Junior Quilters will meet again at "All About Sewing" Charmhaven this coming Sat. 24th March from 9am to 12pm.
Some of the girls will be finishing their quilts and the others will be working on a cute shoulder bag. They will be learning how to read basic pattern instructions and how to cut a pattern out. We should get the bag completed on the day. Paige will be working on a skirt.
I was excited to realise after talking tp the NSW Quilters Guild President Maree that our group of juniors can join the Guild for only $44.00 and that would allow anyone in the group to enter a quilt in the junior section of the Darling Harbour Quilt Show........will have to wait till next year though as we have missed the deadline this year!!!
A long awaited custom finished this week...

Have a great week

Jan

A Day OFF

I managed to finish two med. sized customs this week, plus a couple of edge-to-edges....so I am looking forward to having today off.
A brief glimpse of the first one as it is going into a magazine. The embroidery designs and quilt were created by Julie Hall of Julie Hall Designs. http://www.juliehalldesigns.com/

I love the gorgeous deep red she has used.
The second quilt belongs to Mary who requested that it be quilted simply.

So it was!!
I am looking forward to working at the Rosehill  Craft and Sewing Show at the end of the week. I will be helping out on the "Margarets Fabric" stand . Call in and say hello if you venture down for the day....stand "A01"
Have a great week
 Jan

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