Quilting Owl

 I have definitely been missing from my blog of late and one of the distractions is that I spend too much time on Facebook.  So for those of you that I don't see there I thought I would let you know that I am still alive although not so productive on the quilting side at the moment as I seem to start things but have not finished too much. Another distraction is the fun I have with my collections particularly reorganising my thimbles which come under many categories and besides decorative and novelty everyday useful ones. I also just love pin cushions and can never have too many. The squares on this narrow runner at the end of a bookcase filled with quilting books are gradually filling up with badges from various location. Of course there is the ever increasing owl collection.  Owls lurk in every corner and available space in my studio and seem to breed when the lights are out! Next time I will get back to quilting. Frances

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 ...

Recently the Sunday Stitchers were visited by Jenny's relative from New Zealand and she brought along this lovely quilt to share with us which won a ribbon in her stitching Guild's challenge. Gillian's Challenge Quilt This is the fabric selected for the challenge which needed to be included in the quilt and I think you will agree that Gillian was very creative in how she incorporated this lovely print.   Gillian came bearing gifts and gave each member of the Sunday Stitchers a lovely ring pin cushion and for me a special pin cushion with a New Zealand theme.  A great addition to my pin cushion collection which will be treasured.     Thank you for all the lovely comments and good wishes for my recovery and I hope to be back at the sewing machine very soon.   Till next time Frances

I think I am becoming obsessed with these little houses and now can't look at any little piece of fabric without thinking if it will make a good window, door, walls or roof.  The basket of fabric pieces is now overflowing and I still keep my eye on the lookout for more - very distracting.  However it has been fun stitching the little blocks while watching the Aussie cricketers in winning form. A couple of recent finishes are these pin cushions to add the the collection.  The Mushroom House was a free pattern from here  and the other pincushion with flowers was a kit I purchased some time back and only just got around to finishing. There was also a birthday lunch at Pescis down on the Marina Boardwalk to enjoy this week. Take care 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