Mark Hearld revisited

On those really hot days, I don't mind sewing, but I am not keen on getting out the iron to press seams and so on.  But I felt the urge to be creative and had been pondering another play with the Mark Hearld inspired fabric pictures we had explored last year.  I had in the voluminous stash a piece of feather shape patterns, set in a strict pattern with space around each, and though I could use them in some way.  A search through Mark's book didnot help much with "birds" that would fit this fabric.  The best possibility I could see was a turkey.

 So off I went ... but my feathers were just not very turkey, and that odd shaped beak looked like a raindrop (or worse) when it was in a solid fabric.  Hot and cranky, I was ready to give up, then decided that I didn't actually NEED to copy one of Mark's images, I COULD do something original. And really, my feathers were more like a peacock's.  Mark doesn't "do" peacocks as best I can tell.  So here is my peacock picture.  It's a bit more stylistic that Mark's animals I think, but all my own work and it does make my feather fabric work.  And I got to use the offcuts from the other "old to new" quilt as part of the garden.

And then, because I was on a roll I actually completed the other two"Mark" pictures which had been floating around my work space and cupboards for a few months.

I think I am going to give these to Sister #2.  She has been admiring the others I gave to Sister #3 and I don't want her to feel left out.  But I am not sure how she might want to use them, so in the interim I just put a simple calico border around the edge of each.  Tah dah! Let me know if you want to see them in person before I give them away.

A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That

If I had to choose one word to summarise my life since we last caught up it would be BUSY!  Very very little sewing has happened, in fact I have only dragged Big Betty out 2 days ago to revive my quilting.

Since Dec 21 I've had 7 visitors stay at Hotel Holt, 3 weddings (yes three it's not a typo!), days on the boat, broken air con, shovelling soil, moving stone, moving stone, moving stone, 5 dinner parties, fallen in love with wearing a saree, and even some real work!

Here are some photos of what I've been up to….

So courtyard…. Before and after (we are not quite finished but all going to plan this Friday!)

Looking forward to a fabulous 2015 and lots of sewing!

Ciao

Kim

Being inspired.

Well last week after reading the blog and seeing all the great things getting done and the windows being started and then delayed, I decided I needed to get a few things finished. How how long have I been saying that , a year and a half...... Well I decided I needed to get over the fear of quilting so I started giving it a go. Started small 2 crib size.

Well first straight lines

I just need to use a bigger stitch and make sure it has a smoother flow across my table. But slowly lost my fear. I do need to follow straight lines though.

Then I started stippling on another. The Sue Spargo flowers. The stippling actually went well so then I thought I'd move to stones.

Not so good, the back's tension was out at times I think I was jerking too much, but it will do, as this quilt is for me. The front looks fine though...Thank goodness as I couldn't contemplate taking it out.

So I have gone from needing 11 quilted to having 5 done (disclosure here 2 were done by a local lady on a quilting machine. I just couldn't face doing queen ones on my machine, but 3 to me not bad for my first time. So now I have just the bindings to do for some........

Can anyone tell me how I can get a smoother surface on the table? Or is it just practice?

Summer sewing

I have done something rather stupid.  Our house has sash cord windows, which have had the top window painted in over the years. This makes it hard to clean the windows and keep them looking nice.  In a moment of complete madnes,s I decided to renovate the entire set of them through the house.  This involves stripping them back to the raw wood, sanding and repainting,  My oldest sister's response was to tell me that I clearly really needed a proper job.  (Fair call).  My carpenter friend said I should do it one window at a time, which has proved to be very sensible.

Now the reason I am telling you this is because it has completely ruined my summer sewing plans.  I have less time and less energy for quilting.  However, I have finished the "weird but good" quilt and its backing without the purchase of additional fabric.  It is hard to take a photo of such a big quilt in my house or garden, so here are a few shots out by the pool.  It is going off to the quilter next week, so I am not sure whether it will be back for our February class but I will try.

Finally an op shop find of an old frame which is really lovely.  I am thinking a Mark Hearld inspired fabric picture might work in this one.  It is about 15 inches wide and lovely and solid.  

Believe it or not...the background blocks are finally finished

As you all know, it has taken MONTHS but I have done it....I have finished piecing the background blocks....even the dreaded clamshell block!  So now comes the fun part with the design and placement of the flowers.  One is appliqued down...eight to go. 

Holiday sewing : McCalls M6696 in quilting fabric

I have finally finished this dress, and I can't believe it took me almost a week. There was a fair bit of juggling as it is the first time I have used this pattern. The gathering on the back of the yoke turned the dress into the Hunchback of Notre Dame, according to DH and I almost ditched it at this point. Then, after I read two books, I came back to the dress and dealt with the gathering issue by removing it altogether. This involved quite a bit of unpicking and lots of hand sewing in order to rectify, but luckily my handsewing skills are much improved since I started quilting! I used the same fabric covered buttons in keeping with the 50s feel.  

I made view C. The fabric is "Centenary collection by Yoko Saito & Lecien" which I snaffled from the discount pile at Quiltsmith in November. Win! Will be fossicking through there again when I get back!  

Happy 2015 quilting, lovely ladies. Looking forward to February and seeing what gorgeous things you have all made.  Dxxx