Quilting Owl

I am delighted to see two of my quilt designs now up on Cosy Project where a pattern can be purchased and downloaded.  First up is the quilt I named "Concerto for Mixed Peel" because the peel block is in three sections with the blocks differing in size.   Find out more here:  https://www.cosyproject.com/mixed-peel-quilt "Concerto for Mixed Peel" by Frances Leate Another project on this site is my quilt design "Mary Mary Quite Contrary" which uses a background fabric, a contrast one (I used a fuchsia colour) and approximately 20 fat quarters of various florals.  The name for this quilt was chosen because of the predominant use of the "Contrary Wife" block and also the fact that the given name for both my husband and my own mother was Mary although contrarily neither was known by this name.   See more here:   https://www.cosyproject.com/mary-mary-quite-contrary "Mary Mary Quite Contrary" by Frances Leate The Cosy P...

To honour the centenary of ANZAC Day some members of the Sunday Stitchers have accepted the challenge to make a mug mat with this theme.  All the quilts tell a story and some about ancestors who fought as ANZACs.  These quilts are currently hanging in Cairns Craft Centre. Till next time 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...

In the latest Christmas issue of Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 24 No 3 my project "Poinsettia" has been published.  This was a fun dimensional applique wall quilt. "Poinsettia" by Frances Leate A couple of my other projects have been re-released in a special issue "Keepsake Quilts".  On the cover is "A Summer Place" which started life as a cuddle size quick and easy jelly roll quilt and just grew to become a full bed size quilt. "A Summer Place" by Frances Leate Also in this issue is "Star Bright" another of my small hand pieced Christmas quilts. "Star Bright" by Frances Leate Till next time Frances

Just thought I would share some finished projects from the Sunday Stitchers.  First up is Sonjia with her stunning version of my quilt "Just Kimonos". Joan has just finished this fabulous quilt as a gift for her brother Jan has finished machine quilting her version of my class quilt "Shades of Purple" which looks stunning in black, white and a touch of hot pink and also the top for this lovely red work quilt which is no longer a UFO. Till next time Frances

While it is still the calm before the storm, or I should say Cyclone Ita, I thought I would share some of the latest quilt happenings. My third sister, Anne, has been having a very rough time healthwise of late so I made a quilt to celebrate her 70th birthday.  It is often difficult choosing colours for other people so I opted for somthing bright and cheerful and was pleased to hear from her and her daughter how delighted she was with her present. "To Anne with Love" by Frances Leate Meanwhile I am still keeping on track with Barbara's Brackman's BOM "Threads of Memory" and here is Block 3.  The next temptation is to start on her Jane Austen Album quilt. "New Garden Star" Block 3, Threads of Memory Pauline has now layered her version of my "Night Owl" quilt and I am looking forward to seeing the finished quilt. Currently it is still calm outside the studio with just the odd shower of rain and I am now just waiting ...

It is Christmas Day here in Australia so I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visits and comments on my blog and to wish them a very happy Christmas.  I would also like to thank the Sunday Stitchers and all my students for all their support this year and to wish my family and friends a truly wonderful Christmas - be safe and happy and don't get too stressed. Here are just a few of the many Christmas quilts currently hanging on our walls in the house and studio - "Santa hangs out here" by Frances Leate "Star Bright" by Frances Leate - AP&Q Vol 19 No 9 "No Room at the Inn" by Frances Leate - Patchwork & Stitching Vol 11 No 6 "Star Turn" by Frances Leate Happy Christmas Frances

The Sunday Stitchers' Group has grown in number throughout the year and last Sunday there was a lovely lot of work for us all to enjoy. Joan has been busy and has finished her version of my braid quilt and also a lovely cushion using the Gretchen block. Jeannie has finished the top for her vibrant version of my "Come Fly a Kite" quilt. While Helen has once again been very busy finishing some of the projects she began in class Helen's version of "All Points" Helen's version of "Jacob and Friends" Jenny always has something for us to enjoy and here is her lovely quilt for Zoe and this cut gift she presented to me which naturally uses Owl themed fabric - my first Christmas present. Till next time Frances

I was delighted when Helen showed me a couple of quilts she has now finished that she commenced in some of my classes in recent months.  "Just Kimonos" which was published in Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 22 No 12 is a present for her mother and will soon be on its way to England.  Helen's braid quilt has used some stunning new pre cut fabrics from Cairns Craft Centre. Meanwhile back in the studio I have been very busy flitting from one project to another.  There is the purple quilt which I am currently machine quilting in preparation for a class in January at Cairns Craft Centre. Then we have all the different projects in various stages of assembly which I store in plastic boxes. There is "the chair" with all the quilt tops and layered quilts waiting for their turn to be machine quilted and the partly quilted ones just waiting until there is nothing else more urgent before I finish quilting them. I always get around to fini...

It has been quite a while since I posted on this blog and my only excuse if that I have been busy with lots and lots of projects that I wasn't able to show but I couldn't let Peter big birthday pass without some comment! His celebration has been continuing all week and today his youngest daughter in Sydney sent a lovely surprise of this hamper filled with lots of yummy goodies which was delivered a short time ago.  However Peter cut the ribbon too quickly and the balloons took off and are now stuck to the very high ceiling in the studio and we smile every time we look up. Peter wanted a low key celebration and thought he would like a holiday in Hawaii instead so this we will be enjoying in the New Year.  To keep with the theme of the birthday I have been making a Hawaiian quilt for him but had difficulty getting an opportunity to finish the quilting when he wasn't around so had to give it to him as a UFO. The long timers in the Sunday Stitching Group at...

Here are just a few of the quilts which were among 421 in the NSWGuild Members' Exhibition and I would like to thank these wonderful quilters for giving me permission to show their quilts on my blog. "Avignon" by  Michelle Marvig "Hatchet" by  Chris Jurd "Flower Songs II" by  Eileen Campbell "Ethel's Diary" by Eileen Campbell "Japanese Traditions" by Lynn Hewitt "Learning Curve No 1" by Sue Murtagh "Jewels in the Window" by Meg Orr "Harlequin Logs" by Meg Orr "Dolly's Garden" by Jenny Rofe It was a truly amazing exhibition and all the winners can be view  here Till next time Frances