Another Baby Quilt , A Block finished & A Christmas gift completed.

Another Baby quilt finished for my niece this time. I was fortunate enough to take a class at the Auckland Symposium, with Angela Walters, which was such fun, and gave me the confidence to try different quilting, other than my stock standard large stippling. I really enjoyed trying out different stitches, and also using my rulers. I still need loads of practice, but when the binding is on, it looks pretty OK. Baby quilts are a good way to practice...not too large! The pattern was from an idea I saw on Missouri Star Quilt Company,

I have also managed to finish a block from another class I took. This time back-basting applique with Wendy Whellum from Adelaide, Australia. This is such a great way to needle turn hand applique.

And, to finish off two cushions made as Christmas gifts for a daughter-in-law. She doesn't look at my blog, so I can show them on here.  The hexagon one was made with advise/instruction from my friend Linda at Flourishing Palms in Florida.

 Kelly's favourite colour is teal. I made both of these 16"cushions with a flapped zipper, which was so easy.

I got the idea for this from Scissortail Studio: How to make a Perfect Zippered Pillow on you tube.

Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for stopping by

A beautiful Spring Day!

The time flies when you are having fun, so they say!  I sew almost every day which is so wonderful. I am very lucky having such a large space in which to do this, although I don't seem to have alot to show at the moment. 

One thing I have finished is two cot/baby quilts for our new neighbours, who 8 weeks ago had a little girl.  They also have a 2 year old boy, so I thought I can't make for one and not the other! 

I managed to buy a panel of a unicorn, and added some sawtooth stars made from my 30's stash.  I also pieced the back using the same stash cut into 5" squares.

I must say it was a perfect rectangle, but my hanger leaves a bit to be desired! LOL!  I had to chop out his fingers and slippers! Not literally of course...haha!

 Unfortunately I didn't get a close up of the machine quilting, before I gifted them.

You can see it on the animal quilt. I did wavy lines about 1 1/2" apart, and then went the other way, which made it more like criss cross.

The sashings were from my stash again. YEAH!

 The backing was one that went with the panel fabric, so it was nice to get it matching. I had to join of course to be large enough.  Both quilts measured approx. 45" x 50"

The mum of these two littlies sent me a photo of them both with their quilts, and the 2 year old loved his!

I always remember my mother, who was a dressmaker, saying it was much harder to alter a garment than to make a new one from scratch.  Well, in my opinion the same could be said for adding onto a quilt.  I made a quilt for my grandson who was 15 at the time, see here.
 About 6 months ago he moved into a large bed ( he is now 6' 2" ) and I found his quilt in the cupboard, cause it was too small for the bed. I brought it home, and added a strip after removing the border on the side and top and bottom. 

It looked and sounded easy, but I wouldn't want to do it again!  Anyway he now has a quilt he can use. I've always liked this quilt, so felt it was worth doing, and of course I still had plenty of fabric in the STASH! 

Photo taken on my spare bed.

showing the border.

Thanks for dropping by

http://www.susannasquilts.blogspot.com

Off to a wedding

The sun is shining, and the day promises to be lovely for my sister's grand-daughters wedding. We drove down from Auckland on Tuesday morning. As a rule when we leave home, we padlock the farm gate. About 10 k's from home, I said to DH ...why is the padlock on the coffee cup holder?  

So...turn around we did and headed back to lock the gate!
We had a good trip down to Taupo, although at Drury both of us, thought the other had paid for the fuel, when we stopped for a coffee.  Half way down the motorway, I said...I hope you paid for the fuel?  No was the reply, you always do it!!  Thank goodness for cell phones. After ringing them, they told us to pay at their sister fuel station in Taupo, and they would ring ahead and tell them. 

We stayed the night in Taupo, then after breakfast, we headed off to Napier. Lovely weather again, and lunch and a wander around the fishing port, ended the day nicely. 

We headed off for Masterton, and all in all the trip was fine, although by the time we arrived in Masterton, we had picked up a bolt off the road, and we had a flat tyre.  Another drama, but thanks to a lovely young man, my nephew Richard, all was sorted. 

Before we came down I decided it was time to use some of my scraps to make a string quilt as per the challenge set out by Lori of Humble Quilts. Unfortunately I couldn't carry along with the monthly stages, as once started I wanted to keep going to finish it to bring down and gift to my niece. 

Progress at retreat.

Back home on the design wall and deciding on the setting triangles.

 A large stipple on the main body of the quilt. Differential feed as per my Bernina in the triangles.

The two smaller photos of the binding, are more colour correct than the larger photo of the entire quilt.

A part photo of the back of the quilt. I found the purple and gold cats fabric in my stash, and decided it was perfect. Joanna loves cats and has four!

We are staying with my sister and I had to take a photo of the wall hanging I made her in 1999 in the days before smart phone photos. 

 and the wallhanging made for her in 2006

This was made from a pattern designed by the Cloth Shop. 

Tomorrow we are heading back to Taupo, so must away to bed.
Thanks for dropping by

 http://www.susannasquilts.blogspot.com

Humble Quilts Doll Quilt Swap

 Many thanks to Lori from Humble Quilts, who every year organises a Doll Quilt Swap for those who want to participate!


Its always fun anticipating the arrival of the quilt swap. This year my swap came from Melissa Devlin from Bothell, WA.

It was lovely and I have shown the back as well which was very well pieced. Also thanks to Melissa who sent me a fat quarter of shirting fabric. It was very welcome, and I have used quite a bit of it already. Just what I needed at the time.

Thanks for dropping by

 

http://www.susannasquilts.blogspot.com

Scraps at Retreat

One of my annual retreats was coming up fast, but I only had really large quilts in the final stages of completion, so had to frantically look for something I could mindlessly piece along with chattering, laughing and of course eating and drinking. I had a couple of string piecing jobs on the go, so got into it!

 One of my friends laughing said why are you bringing the phone book to retreat? I explained to stitch my scraps onto.

Another friend said, I don't want to be rude, but why are you stitching onto paper, and not just sewing strips together. Anyhow after all this VERY helpful input ...haha...I decided to piece some blocks just by sewing them together and using my 6 1/2" ruler squared them up.  Just as easy as they are only short pieces! 

Back home and a few more added.

 I'm not sure what colour to use in the setting triangles. I have some yardage, but not the right colour, so will have to mull it over. 

I'm hoping to have this finished in time to take to one of my lovely nieces. 

By the way, the bins looked the same when I bought them back home!

Thanks for dropping by

 

https://www.susannasquilts.blogspot.com

AQC- Melbourne Australia 2019

As I write this I am still in Melbourne, having attended the AQC show. I have had a great time and a lot of walking, although our hotel was fairly close to the event.

An absolutely beautiful old building called the Royal Exhibition Building set in Carlton Gardens. 

Edit: I am home now, as it was too hard including my photos from the hotel. 


Click on the photos to see the intricate work, especially the thread work quilts.

Beautiful old building

Here are some photos of the quilts that caught my eye.

 You need to read the words on the card below. This was amazing. I did what she suggested and took another photo using my flash...and this was the result!

 If you want to see more of the Best of Australia Quilts go to

http://aqc.com.au/best-of-australia-quilts-3/


More photos next time.

Thanks for dropping by

https://susannasquilts.blogspot.com