Quilting Owl

It is Christmas Day here in Australia so I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visits and comments on my blog and to wish them a very happy Christmas.  I would also like to thank the Sunday Stitchers and all my students for all their support this year and to wish my family and friends a truly wonderful Christmas - be safe and happy and don't get too stressed. Here are just a few of the many Christmas quilts currently hanging on our walls in the house and studio - "Santa hangs out here" by Frances Leate "Star Bright" by Frances Leate - AP&Q Vol 19 No 9 "No Room at the Inn" by Frances Leate - Patchwork & Stitching Vol 11 No 6 "Star Turn" by Frances Leate Happy Christmas Frances

The Christmas spirit was very slow to surface in this household this year but gradually we are getting there and now the house is starting to look very festive.  Once I get started I always enjoy decorating the tree with its eclectic mix of decorations most of which are hand made.  Every year I make some new additions and lovingly fondle those made by friends in years past. Our Jim Shore Santa collection, big and small, has grown and we are gradually collecting Santas representing many countries. In the studio there is the bird tree which naturally is made up of many owls.  Some of these have been gifts and some I have made myself. The walls are gradually being covered with Christmas themed quilts and more about these in the next instalment. Happy Christmas Frances

I just popped in to let you know that Express Publications is wishing everyone a very merry Christmas by offering a copy of one of their brand new digital magazines - simply click on  this link Back soon Frances

The Sunday Stitchers' Group has grown in number throughout the year and last Sunday there was a lovely lot of work for us all to enjoy. Joan has been busy and has finished her version of my braid quilt and also a lovely cushion using the Gretchen block. Jeannie has finished the top for her vibrant version of my "Come Fly a Kite" quilt. While Helen has once again been very busy finishing some of the projects she began in class Helen's version of "All Points" Helen's version of "Jacob and Friends" Jenny always has something for us to enjoy and here is her lovely quilt for Zoe and this cut gift she presented to me which naturally uses Owl themed fabric - my first Christmas present. Till next time Frances

I was delighted when Helen showed me a couple of quilts she has now finished that she commenced in some of my classes in recent months.  "Just Kimonos" which was published in Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 22 No 12 is a present for her mother and will soon be on its way to England.  Helen's braid quilt has used some stunning new pre cut fabrics from Cairns Craft Centre. Meanwhile back in the studio I have been very busy flitting from one project to another.  There is the purple quilt which I am currently machine quilting in preparation for a class in January at Cairns Craft Centre. Then we have all the different projects in various stages of assembly which I store in plastic boxes. There is "the chair" with all the quilt tops and layered quilts waiting for their turn to be machine quilted and the partly quilted ones just waiting until there is nothing else more urgent before I finish quilting them. I always get around to fini...

"In Harmony", a quilt I thoroughly enjoyed hand piecing, has finally made it into print in the current issue of Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 23 No 2.  It was a great therapy project that I almost hated to finish and I am now looking forward to getting the quilt home to put it up on the wall. "In Harmony" by Frances Leate AP&Q Vol 23 No 2 "In Harmony" by Frances Leate AP&Q Vol 23 No 2 At a recent meeting of the Sunday Stitchers Jenny brought along a friend, Ann, visiting from the US who she has shared emails with for some time.  Jenny made a special quilt for Ann using symbols and fabric from her native county New Zealand. I thought I would just share the latest coffee themed kit quilt I have designed and which is available exclusively from Cairns Craft Centre. "Mocha Magic" by Frances Leate Till next time Frances

There was a particularly good turn out at the last meeting of the Sunday Stitchers at Cairns Craft Centre with the usual chat, laughter and cake. Jenny brought along a quilt she has just got back from her longarm quilter, Sue Cann, which is the Civil War one made for a block of the week which Barbara Brackman did on her blog some time back. Donna had her very happy quilt made in my Begginers' Patchwork Class and I really enjoy seeing these projects finished. Back in the studio I have been playing with a layer cake and most unusually for me I have been doing some hand quilting on my Amish Star quilt.  I long ago gave up hand quilting using the needle rocking method because of my right hand but lately I have started  stab stitching and while slow doesn't cause me so many problems. Till next time Frances

It has been quite a while since I posted on this blog and my only excuse if that I have been busy with lots and lots of projects that I wasn't able to show but I couldn't let Peter big birthday pass without some comment! His celebration has been continuing all week and today his youngest daughter in Sydney sent a lovely surprise of this hamper filled with lots of yummy goodies which was delivered a short time ago.  However Peter cut the ribbon too quickly and the balloons took off and are now stuck to the very high ceiling in the studio and we smile every time we look up. Peter wanted a low key celebration and thought he would like a holiday in Hawaii instead so this we will be enjoying in the New Year.  To keep with the theme of the birthday I have been making a Hawaiian quilt for him but had difficulty getting an opportunity to finish the quilting when he wasn't around so had to give it to him as a UFO. The long timers in the Sunday Stitching Group at...

The current edition of Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 22 No 11 includes my project "Redlynch Village" so check it out. "Redlynch Village" by Frances Leate In the studio lately I have  been becoming friendly with the new addition and have been quilting the lovely Owl quilt made by Jenny, a Sunday Stitcher, which she presented to me as a gift a little while back. Till next time Frances

I have fallen behind with posting the photos for Show and Tell at the Sunday Stitchers so lets starts with this beautiful quilt by Kathy which features hexagons.  We have enjoyed watching the progress of this quilt and it is wonderful to now see it in all its glory. Dayna and her mother set a personal challenge for themselves after a fabric shopping spree and this is the great design Dayna came up with for the chosen fabric. Jenny has completed her version of one of my quilt designs "Strawberry Fields" which she began in a class at Cairns Craft Centre. Jenny has also completed a few more quilt tops to be given to some lucky recipients. Lesleigh dug deep into her quilt archives to share this beauty with us which is one of her very early efforts. Till next time Frances

It was "Christmas in July" time at the July get together for the Sunday Stitchers and here are just a few photos taken by us with all the wonderful decorations organised by the staff at Cairns Craft Centre. Tree with presents Decorations with a pretend log fire Sunday Stitchers very busy making their surprise project Peter playing Santa Till next time Frances

Here are just a few of the quilts which were among 421 in the NSWGuild Members' Exhibition and I would like to thank these wonderful quilters for giving me permission to show their quilts on my blog. "Avignon" by  Michelle Marvig "Hatchet" by  Chris Jurd "Flower Songs II" by  Eileen Campbell "Ethel's Diary" by Eileen Campbell "Japanese Traditions" by Lynn Hewitt "Learning Curve No 1" by Sue Murtagh "Jewels in the Window" by Meg Orr "Harlequin Logs" by Meg Orr "Dolly's Garden" by Jenny Rofe It was a truly amazing exhibition and all the winners can be view  here Till next time Frances