Quilting Owl

After a self enforced time of rest and relaxation not to mention lack of motivation, I thought it was time to get moving and start sorting out some of the accumulated piles of fabric, projects and magazines in the studio.  The really fun part was working with the piles of fabric although this did lead to lots of distraction. The magazines which were to be found everywhere throughout the studio and house were then put into order. Then it was time to tidy my hand stitching corner and while I was watching some cricket work on some more blocks for a long term project, the 1718 coverlet I have divided this project into sections and this is Section 1 and 2. Now the new addition will be blocks 44 and 48.   A little progress. In the sort out I also came across another long term wip, the Farmers Wife project - 72 blocks finished and only 39 to go.  This is a true scrap quilt and my personal challenge is not to use the same fabric in more than...

I have been thoroughly enjoying watching the olympics this week and this gave me the opportunity to work on projects old and new.  My very long time Double Wedding Ring project was brought out for an airing and I enjoyed doing some hand piecing to progress this quilt.  I am still not completely sure how large this project will end up but I am determined to finish it some time. As I have also been recovering from a particularly nasty bout of flu/cold I needed some comfort stitching and the machine pieced Farmers Wife blocks filled the bill beautifully.  I am still using an eclectic scrappy mix of fabrics and so far have not repeated a fabric in more than one block.  The block count is now 59 and I have passed the halfway mark. I like to vary my stitching so I have also been doing some nice and easy fusible applique with blanket stitch by hand.  These have been the perfect blocks to stitch while watching the games when I have enjoyed sports I don'...

Cairns has enjoyed perfect weather for the Queen's Birthday holiday long weekend and we really enjoyed getting outside to lap it up.  It makes the wet and high humidity of the summer all worthwhile when winter comes with such wonderfully warm and sunny days. I did manage to drag myself into the studio to have some fun with the Farmers Wife project and finished six more blocks to take the count to 50.  The blocks are getting very scrappy and so far I haven't repeated the fabrics in more than one block.  I have really enjoyed digging deep into the stash and so many of the fabrics bring back happy memories of earlier quilt projects.  The centre floral fabric in the bottom right-hand corner block features in the quilt I will be sleeping under tonight - yes it does get cold enough in the tropics for quilts.  Sorry about my poor photography skills and I should have waited till tomorrow to take the photos in a stronger light. Earlier in the wee...

It is wonderful to see beautifully finished projects from classes and I was very pleased to receive an email with this photo of Lesleigh's "All Points" cushion which she began at a Mini Quilt Workshop at Cairns Craft Centre. I found some time this week to make a couple more Farmers Wife blocks which now brings my block count to 44. I also managed a couple of tarts for the "Pies and Tarts" quilt and in between I have been machine quilting a shop quilt that I promised Peter way too long ago. On Saturday night we helped to celebrate Heather's 60th birthday and you might have guessed that the colour theme for the party was purple.  Heather was one of the first customers to come through the door when Peter and I opened Cairns Craft Centre over 15 years ago and we were delighted to be able to join her for this momentous occasion. While we were at the party I spotted a lovely signature quilt given as a present to celebrate the arrival of...

It has been a busy week while I finished off another project commission so I am only now catching up with a few photos from the camera.  This is the happy group of Sunday Stitchers who gathered this month at Cairns Craft Centre for another fun morning of chatter and stitching. Jenny brought along her latest appliqued wall quilt with a New Zealand theme and also a quilt which she made for a charity auction which has just come back from her long arm quilter and just needs some binding. Easter has been a lovely time here in Cairns and to celebrate this long weekend a few Farmers Wife addicts gathered in my studio for a great day of stitching with Peter whipping up his usual creations in the kitchen to keep us well nourished.  I actually managed to finish two more blocks to add to the block pile #17 Cats & Mice and #19 Checkerboard and here is the happy group busily working away at sewing machines and the cutting table. Till next time Frances

Daily life for Peter and I has just started to get back to normal and I realised that I haven't posted for a while so here are some photos I found in the camera from last week. The Thursday night class have progressed wonderfully with their first sampler quilt and here is Margaret's lovely creation all layered, pinned and ready for her to begin the next stage to machine quilt it. Mandy is also at the same stage and I just love the striped border and owl print. Rachael is nearly there and just needs to add the borders to this stunner. I also found this photo I took of the main design wall area in my studio when I was having lots of fun playing with my Farmers Wife blocks which I hope to get back to real soon now! Till next time Frances

I have been having lots more fun with the Farmers Wife blocks which now count at 40.  I initially aimed at a scrappy country look but thought I would throw in a few softer florals to add a touch a femininity. Jenny provided most of the show and tell for the Sunday Stitchers this month and here she is holding a finished table runner and the finished quilt top from the Mini Quilt Workshop two weeks ago. Heather was working on her Benni Harper quilt and was hand piecing the outer curves for the Mariners Compass block. A lovely gift arrived in the mail from Jen at Aussie Quilters Cotton Club  - gorgeous owl fabric and a very cute owl button all tied up with yellow ribbon which just happens to be my favourite colour.  Thanks Jen. Till next time Frances 

When Peter was at a local garden centre yesterday he just could not resist bringing home this statue to sit outside our studio. Meanwhile inside the studio today I couldn't resist playing with my Farmers Wife blocks and cutting out a few more ready for machine piecing.  I still haven't repeated any of the fabrics and I have loads more small pieces in the stash to add to the eclectic mix.  You can also see just a hint of a black, white and red project that I am working on for a forthcoming class. Speaking of classes, a lovely group of ladies took their first steps towards becoming new quilters at one of our sampler classes at Cairns Craft Centre on Thursday evening.  While I was busy showing the girls some basic techniques Peter took a few photos of some of the fabric pallettes that they will be working with. It is going to be interesting seeing how each interpretation of the class quilt "Jacob and Friends" evolves. "Jacob and Friends" by Frances L...

In the current issue of Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 21 No 2, which we only received today, is my project "Floral Marathon".  Sometimes I agonise for a long time over what to make with a certain piece of fabric but another time an idea instantly springs to mind and in this case it was a quick and easy bed or table runner.  This was fabric with a large floral design and I hated the idea of cutting it up into small pieces so it became a runner which fits a king size bed. "Floral Marathon" by Frances Leate - AP&Q Vol 21 No 2 The Farmers Wife blocks have also captured my attention over the last few days and here are nine more blocks which takes my block count to 31. On Sunday my first class for the year was held at Cairns Craft Centre and a very keen and industrious group tackled a mini quilt with curved piecing.  I hope we get to see some of the results later in the Sunday Stitching Show and Tell. There is still time to leave a comment for the Gi...

The Farmers Wife block count is now 22 and this project is turning out to be a rather scrappy affair as I delve into my fabric stash at random.  So far no fabric has been repeated and I hope to keep following this theme. These are the six nice and easy blocks I finished this week.  I have been machine piecing all the blocks except for the handle on the basket which was appliqued by hand. Four little house blocks were stitched this week which brings the house count now to 11 . Other stitching during the week saw two more little class quilts machine quilted and bound - a small step forward.  I enjoyed hand stitching the binding while watching the cricket test with the Aussies in good form. Till next time Frances