Quilting Owl

I have had lots of distractions over the last few months and have been very remiss keeping up with this blog.  In between these distractions I have been working on lots of different projects mainly UFOs but not too many finishes as yet. There have been some additions to my pincushion collection, some gifts from dear friends and some I have made myself or purchased at craft fairs. I have finally finished quilting a quilt top hand stitched as a gift for me by Jenny and this quilt now hangs in the studio. I have turned a panel into a quilt for the latest addition to the family, a great grandniece called Ivy. Then it was time to start on some of the UFO projects housed in plastic boxes and I finished this quilt top which is now layered and currently being machine quilted. I have assembled these hand pieced diamond blocks into larger sections which are now ready for an appliqued centre medallion.  At least I have made some progress on this long time UF...

I thought it was time for those Civil War blocks I made from Barbara Brackman's BOM some time back to see the light of day again.  I had finished 52 and only needed to make the last one and then have some fun arranging the blocks on the design wall.  For the border I made blocks using up some of the stash fabrics and now I am working on the sashing. Now for some show and tell from the Sunday Stitchers and here is Dayna's absolutely stunning sewing machine cover which began life as some seminole pieced strips made in an earlier class. Jeannie just loves the project from my class "Come Fly with Me" and has made another version in a different colourway. I caught the Christmas bug late and just had time to make a dozen of these little purses to give to family and friends as gifts.  Talking of gifts, I received this little owl pincushion yesterday handmade by Kathy - how cut is this! My niece, Annette, also surprised me at Christmas with ...

At the last meeting of the Sunday Stitchers I was presented with this wonderful gift by Jenny which will hang in pride of place in my studio after I have finished the machine quilting.  Jenny has been hand stitching this beautiful quilt for a few meetings now and these owls definitely have an individual personality. Meanwhile in the studio I have finally finished machine quilting "To the Manor Born" which will hang at Cairns Craft Centre as soon as I have completed the pattern. The back of "To the Manor Born" by Frances Leate Now I will look forward to when I can settle down and spend some quality time hand stitching the binding to the back which is a process I always enjoy. Till next time Frances

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...

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 

I have spent a bit of time in front of the television over the last few days watching the final cricket test against India so there has been a revival in the construction industry here with six more little house blocks completed.  My block count now stands at 17.  Today we celebrated our National day and Peter and I spent a lovely warm tropical day lunching with friends.  When we got home we drew the winner of the giveaway - drumroll please!!!  The winner is Eylte of Tea, Fabric and other things.  Drop me an email Elyte with your address and I will send the Patchwork Directory and a few other goodies off to you. I have also been on the receiving end for some lovely gifts from a few wonderful stitching friends - a lovely little hand embroidered project bag with matching needle case, a pattern kit for a little wallet and some very cute owls. Till next time Frances

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

Stitching the "Seven Sisters" block for the Civil War quilt using the needleturn applique method slowed me down a little this week.  Also, the reproduction fabric I selected for the stars could have been of a slightly finer weave to get sharper points but I got there and its not even Sunday yet. Block 3 - "Seven Sisters"  Before Christmas I had a lot of fun making these cute little pincushions using bottle caps for the base covered with felt and filled with stuffing.  I embellished a few with embroidery and some day will finish the embroidery on the others and hopefully make some more for gifts. Till next time Frances

Happy Christmas to all my wonderful friends out there in blogland.  It has been an amazing experience venturing into this world in cyberspace and I really appreciate and value the friendship and wonderful comments from my loyal followers.  I hope you all have a really wonderful day today and enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Well the house is now cleaner than it was and somewhat tidy although I am sure that will not last long.  Santa has been and the tree is looking very tempting with lots of goodies for Peter and me under it - we are really just two big kids at Christmas!!! I thought I would share this special hand stitched gift I received from Lesleigh which now lives on the chair in our Studio.  Lesleigh stitches everything by hand and never uses a machine or iron and does wonderful work.  Thank you again Lesleigh for this beautiful present. Peter received a hand made card and lovely letter from one of his grandsons who is 7 years old which is n...