Belated Class Post

What a great class last week, I think I was mentally exhausted for a few days!  For those of you who couldn't make it here are a few snapshots from the day.  

I have been admiring all the Mark Herld stuff for the past 12 months and I might have been in at Cottage Quiltworks on Saturday and if you checkout there blog you will see another amazing version f this fabo quilt!  Completely different look.

Kate's lovely background for a special project, sorry I didn't take more photos of her other backgrounds as they are equally beautiful.  I can't wait to see the next stage of appliqué not these backgrounds.

Elizabeth's Gee Bend quilt top - looks amazing.  There was great debate about the colour options for the border, sorry no photos.

For those of you who weren't in class this month, Sue is offering us a challenge of mixing old and new together.  If you would like to participate, please dig deep into your stash for about 1.7 metres of "old material" - old being the style.  In Sue's version above her star is old upholstery fabric she had laying around the house (literally).  If you don't have any old upholstery fabric then just something old fashioned would do.  Sue is also doing another version with the "old fabric" being used in the corner squares and also half-square triangles.

And a little project that I am working on.  I had a stash of Mercia Derse fabrics which I got in the States about 3 years ago.  I have to say I am not a big fan, well actually I hate batiks etc, and these fabrics have a batik feel to them but they are AMAZING - my new love love project.  It's inspired by Bumble Beans wedding ring quilt challenge.  Naturally it won't be a "little" project.  Stay tuned.

Also big thanks to Stephanie, Kate and I forgot someone, for another delicious lunch.  There was talk about a group cook book from our year of lunches - please feel free to email me them and I will co-ordinate.

 

Happy sewing everyone.  Ciao Kimbo

What a great day

Even though it was sunny outside and I don't think we even glanced out the window, I had a crackingly good day.  I had lost a bit of the quilting mojo and yesterday turned me around.  Lovely chat, great cake and some good progress.  I rang my older sister yesterday (actually her cat accidentally called me by lying on the hands-free, but anything works....) and I was talking about yesterday's quilt which is for her 25 yo son.   And she said to me,  "I do like talking to you, when you are in love with what you are doing."  And she is right,  it makes a massive difference.

So while projects are still to be completed, I headed up into the attic for a rummage through the "stash that it rarely touched" which is distinct and different from the regularly trawled stash.  I found the Tahitian ladies.  And here they are.

And then I spotted an old piece of hand-printed homespun style cotton, with a border print.  Ici .....

So what do you think?  The homespun would be easier ... and seriously I bought it (or rather Mum did) when we lived in Perth in 1984, but it is almost too contemporary, except for the colours which are a bit dated.

Those ladies might be hard to work with, especially directionally, but then it is a challenge?  I do love a challenge.  I plan to trawl Mum's stash, or even the sister's next time I am in the Mountains, but food for thought in the meantime.

Thanks for a lovely and inspiring day.

Squares ... and more squares

Not great photos but there are a few stars centres from the stripey 5 pointed star we've been working on with Sue.  I love these.  So much to do, so little time.  Can't wait to play with these on the design wall in a couple of weeks.

A problem child finish

I am estimating that this problem child has been in progress for around 6 or 7 years.  I LOVED the Kaffe background, and I had a pile of bright prints that I LOVED too .... oh and I LOVED the Lecien houndstooth that was the alternate block.

However, I LOATHED the Demoyne star .... too much bias!  And I came to also LOATHE the pattern, which was riddled with mistakes.  So much so, that this was just a part of the unpicking ....


 And below is a photo of the quilt with all the stars in place.  Not a very good shot for some reason, the colours look washed out.  I a bringing along to class to decide about the border.  Or whether I need a border at all.  It is 84 inches square so a reasonable size .... I'll be seeking advice!