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...

In between recovering from a bout of flu and teaching the odd class I have just figured out that I have actually done some work on 7 different projects over the last 10 days or so.  I have been working on a log cabin block project, designed and started cutting for a new wall quilt and have been doing lots of hand stitching however the only finish I have had is this delightful little Sweet Treat Bag from the Moda boxed kit.  This little bag is a shop sample and has been on my "To Do" list for far too long and if I had realised how quick and easy it was then it would have been made a lot sooner. I have been working on the Pies & Tarts quilt and have been busy preparing and stitching a few of these. In a mad moment I decided to do some work on a very long time UFO and resurrected my Double Wedding Ring project and made a little progress on it. In between these I had made a little progress on two other large projects that I am enjoying hand piecing, one of which is ...

Here are some more lovely projects from the girls at Sunday Stitching last Sunday.  Kathy has been having a short break from quilts and has been experimenting by making some cute little dolls. Sue, a visitor from the South, is making this lovely cushion from a pattern by Sally Giblin.  I hope we get to see the finished project. Karen is teaching herself Hardanger and this is her first attempt.  Hopefully she will let us see her progress with this beautiful form of embroidery. Jenny had her latest Civil War Quilt blocks and, as ever, is up todate. Two new members joined the group last Sunday and Nora brought along the lovely bright beach bag she has just made and Mary had her new black and white shopping bag.  Both bags incorporated a fine plastic mesh which was very effective. Till next time Frances

It was a fun afternoon in the studio playing with some kids bright fabrics and the result is a cute library bag for a little one.  The back is the same as the front with velcro on the top tab and the handle will tie so it is adjustable.  A finish! Till next time Frances

The winners of the free giveaway are Seaside Quilter and Janne D who suggested the bag be named "Coolamon" an aboriginal word meaning "carrying vessel"  - email me your postal address and I will get a pattern kit off to you both next week. I thought I would show you some other projects I have made featuring Australiana fabric - "Borders Abound" (this project was published in Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 17 No 3) "Log Cabin Downunder" -  the first quilt I ever finished. A library bag for one of Peter's grandsons I can never resist collecting new bags so here are various other bags I have made - Till next time Frances

The Aboriginal design fabrics are very popular sellers at Cairns Craft Centre so I thought I would do a project featuring these wonderful fabrics.  We will be making up pattern kits for the shop which include the instructions and the Aboriginal design fabrics to make this bag.  I haven't decided on a name yet for the project - any suggestions? To launch this new pattern design we are giving away two pattern kits so leave a comment and I will draw the winners next Thursday. Till next time Frances