Quilting Owl

Well the cast on my arm has been removed but mobility is still very poor with my left hand so it will be a lot more one handed stab stitch quilting for me.  To make this task easier I am now the proud owner of new multi function hands free frame. I am looking forward to getting back to some of my other numerous works in progress and hope this will be soon. Until next time Frances

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...

When the lovely Shirley over at Stitcherydo  had a giveaway recently I was the incredibly lucky winner and look at the wonderful thimble holder I received in the mail today.  Inside this beautiful and skilfully beaded thimble holder is a lovely soft pink thimble which moulds to your finger and is very comfortable to wear - sorry I forgot to photograph it in my excitement this afternoon. BUT.... there was more in the package which included another thimble, a lovely souvenir one of Taunton, and a recipe book of  "Favourite Somerset Recipes" which was a present for Peter so he can make treats for the Sunday Stitcher's morning tea and when we have an all day "stitch in". Thank you Shirley and these wonderful gifts have come to a good home where they will be treasured and loved. Till next time Frances

It was wonderful to have time to chat and have some fun with all the girls last Sunday and this time there was a surprise project for them to do - a scissor fob.  I didn't get the opportunity to photograph the the girls' finished work but here are a few of my samples. Cynthia brought her beautiful Japanese themed quilt to show us - while Sonjia has been very busy making this quilt top for her father from fabric she selected when we last got together. Till next time Frances

I keep telling myself that I haven't got time to sit in front of a DVD and hand stitch when there should be steam coming out of my sewing machine with the backlog of projects waiting to be finished.  Oh well I will just do a Scarlet O'Hara because after all "...tomorrow is another day". The finished pie count is now 6 and I am still thinking yellows for the background squares although I am biased when it comes to this favourite colour. I am enjoying stitching with a 60 weight polyester thread called "Bottom Line" by Superior Threads as recommended by Sue Daley in her pattern.  She uses this quality polyester thread because unlike a cotton thread it doesn't deteriorate when drawn across the sharp edge of the papers. With the fine thread I am using a No. 11 Milliners needle and the only negative aspect so far is that the needle can easily unthread itself so I am pleased that I have such a fantastic needle threader at hand.  The other gadget I have found ...

Last September when we visited the Patchwork Meeting at St. Marie aux Mines in Alsace, France, we enjoyed walking around the village and loved the way they had decorated the shop windows.  I was attracted by these decorated sewing boxes with counted thread work designs and sewing accessories. At the Royal School of Needlework, Hampton Court outside London, we were taken into the archives and viewed these antique treasures - The DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) in Washington DC also exhibited some wonderful antique sewing accessories- Till next time Frances

At what point do you become a serious collector and not just a keen shopper?  I often think about this question as I look around our house and studio.  There is my thimble collection which began when I had trouble finding a comfortable thimble I could hand quilt with in the tropics and so I kept adding any new one I came across to the sewing kit.  It was not long before I started adding souvenir and novelty thimbles to this collection most of which are still in boxes waiting for a special display rack to be finished. In the last year or so I became very interested in pin cushions and seriously believe you can never have too many of these. Another thing I have noticed lately is the number of small embroidery scissors I have managed to collect. Now I am sure the tins that keep appearing must just be an excuse to buy chocolates or the other goodies and sewing paraphernalia they often contain. As for these owls, well they must have just followed...

A very keen group braved Cairn's very wet conditions on Sunday to come along to the monthly get together and proudly displayed some of the projects they are currently working on. Lesleigh, a prolific quilter, produced her interpretation of the quilt "Adrian's Puzzle" and I discussed some border options with her.  The pattern for this quilt designed by Adrian Wolf was published in Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol. 17 No. 7 - Jenny's blanket stitch applique project using beautiful Bali prints is progressing well and I think she is very happy with these wonderful blocks - Joan had some blocks to show which she has made from the fabric she selected last month - I brought along some very treasured possessions which have been gifts from wonderful friends.  The first is a Commemorative Panel for the 2010 V&A Quilt Exhibition and I am currently putting the finishing touches to the wall hanging I have made with this panel - and in response to numerous requ...

One of the fun things about being a stitcher is all the different sewing paraphernalia that we accumulate, or should I say "collect".  Recently I became interested in pin cushions and firmly believe that no stitcher can have too many.  I now look for interesting pin cushion kits on my travels. Living in a tropical environment with very high humidity some pins and needles tend to develop rust spots particularly after being handled so it is very important to think about what filling is best for a pin cushion.  Any ideas? Till next time Frances