Quilting Owl

As the year draws to a close I have been thinking about what I want to do in 2013 and I have decided that " Fun " is going to be the most important thing so that will be my word for the year.  I also believe that it will be a lucky year and I am going to go out of my way to make it so for me.   This year I have been focussing on finishing projects and while there are still a lot of unfinished ones in the studio I am pleased to say that I finished more than I started.  All of the projects I started in 2012 have been finished although some are tops waiting on quilting, like "Birds, Buttons and Blooms" which I designed around a panel. "Birds, Buttons and Blooms" by Frances Leate This hand pieced Double Wedding Ring, a long time UFO is now a bed runner and is in the quilting queue.   Some of the projects I made this year were mini quilts like "Petite Fours" and I had a lot of pleasure hand piecing this small one. "Petite Four...

All the presents have been bought, made and wrapped and now it is up to Santa to do his bit.   We have had a lovely day and enjoyed our traditional Christmas Eve lunch on the Boardwalk with a favourite view.    and now Peter and I would like to wish all our family and friends a very Merry Christmas.   I would particularly like to wish all my blogging friends a safe and joyous Christmas and thank them for their support and friendship throughout the year.   HAPPY CHRISTMAS from tropical Far North Queensland to all! Frances

As Christmas gets closer we have been gradually decorating the house, studio and courtyard to make everything festive.  With little rain around it has been very hot here in the tropics which has slowed proceedings somewhat but gradually we are getting there.  We have added lots of new decorations this year including this beautiful Nativity Scene by Jim Shore.   In the studio I have been gradually adding to the bird tree which now features lots of new owl decorations many of which I received as gifts and I will show these in detail later.   We also have a special santa shelf in the house with lots of new ones to add to the collection.   Before dinner we often have a drink in the courtyard and really enjoy watching the light show, particularly the gradual awakening of all the solar ones as they light up one by one.   I couldn't resist adding a photo of this beautiful Hibiscus which flowered in the co...

The Sunday Stitchers celebrated Christmas early with the final meeting for the year and worked on a special mystery quilt project.  Peter and the team at Cairns Craft Centre worked very hard to make this a memborable days's stitching.  As usual Peter did an excellent job with the catering for morning tea and lunch and Leanne was the inspiration behind all the decorations and goodies and all the girls were very appeciative. "Festive Fours" by Frances Leate Some serious work did happen among all the chat and laughter and here the group are working away on their quilt project.  Not all the Sunday Stitchers were able to join us as Kathy is spending Christmas in the US and Heather is on a cruise - they were missed and if they are reading this blog I hope they have a very happy Christmas! The goodies table There is always one high achiever in every group and yesterday it was Jenny who was the first to finish her mini version of the mystery quilt.   Til...

Its that time of year when lots of hand stitching happens as we keep an eye on the Aussie cricketers.  If you miss any of the vital action well there is always the replay to watch and today they are giving the South Africans a run for their money.   I am hand piecing at the moment and with some blocks that have lots of different shaped pieces I usually lay them out on a block holder (a piece of card covered with cotting batting) as this way there is less chance of sewing the wrong sides together and having to do some reverse stitching.   My current favourite tools are - Mettler Heirloom 60-weight 100% cotton thread, John James quilting or applique needles (the smallest size I can thread), Clover very fine glass head pins and small scissors for cutting threads.   As I finish each block I lightly finger press it to arrange the direction of the seams and then place the block in a zip bag for storage.  By flattening the bag and zipping it clos...

I was up bright and early this morning to watch a very exciting event, a total solar eclipse.  Cairns was ideally situated for this event although the weather has not been the best for the last few days and we were worried that there would be nothing to see particularly as the town is full of visitors from far and wide.  Luckily the clouds cleared just in time and armed with special glasses we watched from our front garden.  These are just some photos we took with a simple point and shoot auto camera and I am sure the medial will be showing the specactular ones.           Till next time Frances      

Life has been busy of late while I try to finish off lots of projects including a mystery quilt for the last gathering of the Sunday Stitchers.  I did, however, find some time to make a cute little dolly quilt and have some fun with some French General fabrics. Till next time Frances

  Its that time of year again when Amy over at Amy's Creative Side  is organising an online quilt festival so I thought I would add my quilt "Concerto for Mixed Peel" to the all the fun.     "Concerto for Mixed Peel" by Frances Leate This quilt is approximately 78" square and has been created using the Orange Peel block in three different sizes.  The blocks were hand appliqued using the fusible method with blanket stitch.  I chose this method of applique as I needed a very portable project at the time and this proved to be just the thing.  I  quilted "Concerto for Mixed Peel" on my Bernina 440 machine in a simple style and then added the scalloped edging.  It was commissioned by Australian Homespun magazine and the brief was for a quilt using the orange peel block, thirties style fabrics and to be bright and fresh in colour.  The project was published in Homespun No. 105 Vol 13 No 2.     Till next t...

For a long time I have regarded my quilting style as traditional with a leaning towards blocks and borders while using fabric designs from the reproduction through to more modern styles.  I have an ongoing love affair with medallion or framed quilts and one of these designs has been published as a project in Quilters Companion's latest issue of "Precut Fabrics No. 2".   "Mary Mary Quite Contrary" by Frances Leate - Quilts from Precut Fabrics No 2 This design predominantly features the block "Contrary Wife" and as Mary is a name that predominantly features in the family the quilt is called "Mary Mary Quite Contrary".  My brief was for a precut friendly design so I selected twenty fat quarters all with a bright floral theme and started work on EQ.  Usually when I design a quilt I jot down a starting point and then let the quilt evolve but this time I could see exactly where I was heading and was able to draw up the whole 82" squar...

I have been teaching Mini Quilt workshops at Cairns Craft Centre every month lately and in July the project was "Star Turn" in keeping with a 'Christmas in July' theme.   "Star Turn" by Frances Leate Nothing gives greater pleasure than seeing how other quilters interpret my designs and often in the different colourways they choose.  Here a a few of the finished quilts. Linda's "Star Turn"   Joan's "Star Turn"   Jenny's "Star Turn"   Lesleigh's "Star Turn" cushion cover   It is a real buzz to actually see these projects finished and not imagine them as lonely UFOs!  Hint!!   Till next time Frances      

Before I show you some of the Show and Tell from the Sunday Stitchers here is a close up photo of the block for "Flowers in the Sun" which some of you requested. Block detail from "Flowers in the Sun" by Frances Leate Helen, a new member to the Sunday Stitchers group, has just finished this lovely Topsy Turvey doll which she has made as a gift for a delightful little girl.  The two faces are very different and the doll has been beautifully knitted and sits up nice and straight.   Jenny's latest creation, which she has just got back from her quilter, is a delight.   Joan has also been busy with another small quilt using a gorgeous colour pallet.   Kay who never disappoints was carrying her latest bag creation which cleverly used up lots of scraps.   Till next time Frances      

A wall quilt that I designed and had much pleasure in hand piecing and machine quilting has been published as a project in the current issue of Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 21 No 11. "Flowers in the Sun" by Frances Leate By precutting all the pieces and placing them in little zip bags I was able to take this project with me and stitch at odd times on the go and I was surprised by how quickly all the blocks came together.  Hand piecing and blanket stitch applique are my favourites for portable stitching. "Flowers in the Sun" AP&Q Vol 21 No 11 Till next time Frances      

Recently the Sunday Stitchers were visited by Jenny's relative from New Zealand and she brought along this lovely quilt to share with us which won a ribbon in her stitching Guild's challenge. Gillian's Challenge Quilt This is the fabric selected for the challenge which needed to be included in the quilt and I think you will agree that Gillian was very creative in how she incorporated this lovely print.   Gillian came bearing gifts and gave each member of the Sunday Stitchers a lovely ring pin cushion and for me a special pin cushion with a New Zealand theme.  A great addition to my pin cushion collection which will be treasured.     Thank you for all the lovely comments and good wishes for my recovery and I hope to be back at the sewing machine very soon.   Till next time Frances