Quilting Owl

I have now finished 17 pies appliqued onto a variety of yellow fabrics so thought it was time to trim the squares to size and play with them on the design wall.  I am still not sure what my target number of squares will be - I am sure time will decide this issue for me. The trimming was quickly and easily done with an 8-1/2" square and a rotating cutting mat - and then it was time to play with the blocks on the design wall.  I will see if I am still happy with this colour arrangement tomorrow before sewing the squares together.  Then it will be time to start preparing some tarts (small pies) which will cover the intersections of the squares. I have also made some progress on machine quilting the block of the month sample quilt - mainly "in the ditch" and some feature geometric quilting with a walking foot.  I have been listening to an audio book but haven't been able to find a good "who dun it" to keep me glued to the machine.  I hope the ...

The Festival of Cairns is an annual event which lasts about 3 weeks with lots of fun things happening around town.  One of these fun things is the temporary art installations along the Esplanade and there was lots for me to look at when I took my 6 km walk there yesterday afternoon. There was "Steve the Iconic Crocodile" by Adrian Wolf, a Cairns artist who works primarily in textiles.  His pop art inspired screenprinted fabrics are a trademark of his quirky and individual style. I just loved these little houses by Hayley Gillespie another favourite local artist. There were lots of other fun art works - and lanterns in the trees - and rehearsing performers - It was a beautiful afternoon and took me a lot longer than usual to do my regular walk as I just couldn't resist stopping for all these photos. Till next time Frances

There is nothing better than winter in Cairns when the sun is shining like it was today.  The beautiful weather made it difficult to settle down to machine quilting my current project and any excuse brought me out into the courtyard or gazing out of the big windows. In the garden just outside the big sliding glass doors there are lots of pineapples growing.  When Peter cuts off the top of a pineapple he then plants it in the garden and currently we have about six at different stages of development. I was also lucky enough today to photograph a little sunbird in the courtyard.  They are the most darling little birds and we love seeing them around the house.  I have been trying to photograph one for some months but they zip around at great speed. Looking out the back window of the studio there are lots of tomatoes starting to ripen - and I spotted a beautiful Hibiscus in the front garden - but eventually I got back to the job in hand and continued on with my mach...

The Sunday Stitchers gathered this morning (or should I say yesterday) at Cairns Craft Centre and had some wonderful projects to share with us all. Linda is finishing the quilting on a table runner that was designed for her by Peter using EQ6 in a class at the shop some time back - the blues are stunning and are so beautifully set off  by the beige sashing. Jenny has dived into her UFOs and now just has to finish stitching the binding on this lovely quilt using her much loved New Zealand fabrics that she collects every year on her visits over there. Shirley has been busy doing lots of classes around town and has these Cathedral Windows cushion and table runner that she made in workshops with Meg Orr from Sydney. Karen has constructed a quilt and cushions as a special commission made up of  fabric serviettes from a wedding.  I am sure the bride and groom will be delighted to have this wonderful memento of their wedding. Thora has also caught the...

There have been a lot of distractions to keep me away from the Studio lately but I have managed to make some progress on the Benartex "Tried and True" quilt which I am making as a shop sample for Cairns Craft Centre for their new block of the month. I have now assembled the centre of the quilt and added the border strips at the top and bottom - and now I am working on the outer pieced border and then the quilt top will be complete.  While I chain piece these sections I am entertaining myself with an audio book - a good murder mystery - and the time is passing much too quickly. At other odd moments I have managed a few more pies and appliqued the finished ones to background squares.  I decided to go with a selection of yellows and these squares will be trimmed back slightly and tarts (small pies) added to the intersections.  I always keep the pieces for a few blocks prepared so the project is always ready to pick up when an opportunity presents itself....

At this time of year tropical Cairns is a popular destination as people escape the cold winter weather of the southern States and during the last couple of weeks we have entertained quite a few visitors.  Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending the day with Meg Orr a quilting teacher from Sydney and we took a trip along the coast road up to Port Douglas - a very scenic trip although it was not a brilliant day for photography. I was attracted by some of the interesting gnarled tree trunks we saw along the way - and the texture of this big stitch quilting on the back of a lounge throw caught my eye - I also have a new baby - an updated laptop with lots of upgraded software - so now we just have to finish transferring all my files and I have to learn how to drive the new programs.  I have already discovered that a 5 minute job can now take about 5 hours but I am sure it will all be worth it in the end. Till next time Frances

"With fingers weary and worn with eyelids heavy and red a woman sat in unwomanly rags plying her needle and thread stitch! stitch! stitch!"   Thomas Hood For the last few days I have been busy with needle and thread catching up.  The girls doing my Baltimore style quilt are in danger of catching up to me if I don't get a spurt on so I have been busy doing lots of needleturn applique.  Just another few blocks to design and sew and then it will be time to think about the setting and borders. I must admit though that I keep being distracted by those Pies and Tarts.  Nine pie circles finished with lots and lots to go. Till next time Frances