Quilting Owl

One of the highlights for me over the last couple of weeks has been introducing new quilters to the absolute delight of patchwork and quilting.  Here is Noelle's completed quilt top which she should be proud of as I think it looks absolutely stunning. Another stunner is Barb's quilt which just needs the outer border to be stitched on.  Well done girls and I hope this is the beginning of a wonderful journey. I also enjoyed a girls day out to visit a local quilt show at Gordonvale with Jenny and Joan.  I didn't manage photos as the strong sunlight streaming through the windows made it very difficult for me with my limited photographic skills. I have spent a lot of time at home during the last few weeks after my flu bug turned into a very nasty cold and while stitching in the courtyard I was lucky enough to catch this Kookaburra sitting on top of the flag pole in our garden. Till next time Frances

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 ...

The girls gathered today and while most of them continued to work on ongoing projects I did manage to grab a couple of photos.   Shirley W brought along this stunning black, white and red quilt which has just been finished - Shirley made the quilt top and Linda Miller up on the Tablelands worked her magic with the longarm quilter. Jenny has caught the red and white bug and has just prepared these teapot blocks ready for applique - Kathy wasn't able to join us this morning but I found this photo in my camera of her interpretation of the Pies  and Tarts quilt.  Unfortunately the quilt was folded in the display at the Show but maybe Kathy will bring it along to a future Sunday Stitching meeting so we can all enjoy a proper look. Till next time Frances

I started sorting things out in the studio with a vengeance this week and the first job I tackled was making about 10 of the CWQ Quilt blocks that I had fallen behind with - and ta da!! I am now up to date with this project.  It was wonderful to spend a couple of days just selecting the fabrics and making up the blocks in this very enjoyable project.  Civil War Quilt Blocks 1-30 While I was sorting through a big heap on one of the tables I came across a couple of quilts that I had made using blocks I had candlewicked.  I really like Candlewick Embroidery and I used to do a lot of this and I particularly like the tone on tone look.  This quilt is called "Bouquets and Butterflies" and was made using tone on tone sage green.  The designs for the candlewicked blocks came from Book 6 of Jean Jensen's Candlewick Designs and then I designed the setting for the quilt and needleturned the orange peel blocks.  The design for the blocks in this ...

Once a year the Cairns Show comes to town so I took some time out today to go and have a look at some of the local arts and crafts.  I was delighted to see that Kathy, a Sunday Stitcher, took out 1st Prize in her section for her lovely Baltimore style wall quilt.  Kathy started this quilt in a machine applique class at Cairns Craft Centre and then let her own creativity take over to produce this fabulous quilt. There was a lovely display of quilts to enjoy and a small red and white quilt which really caught my attention. I spent some time chatting to Louise and Jenny who were busy in the demonstration area making charity quilts.  They have received fabric and half square triangles from all over the world and have now made 19 quilts which have been donated to specially chosen victims of cyclone Yasi and to other good causes.  Well done girls - a fantastic effort! When I moved around into the cake decorating area I found some more prize winners - Sue,...

I was sorting through some photos tonight and came across a few that feature my favourite colour.  As a child I received a Christmas pressent which was a lovely doll that my mother had dressed in a beautiful yellow outfit and I think this is what started my love of all things "yellow".  This is another Christmas present I received some years ago from a dear old friend and customer who loved to crochet and I just adore this beautiful doily - and I would be lost without my little "buzzy bee" to get out and about in - My favourite rotary cutter and rulers and squares also happen to be yellow - and I always enjoy this tree with yellow flowers beside the local shopping centre carpark.  I might add that it is not all that long ago since this very spot was a canefield and often flooded in the wet season. Queensland would not be the "sunshine state" without its pineapples and bananas and I noticed the other day we have another pineapple maturing in the garden...

"Rural Rambler" a table runner/skinny quilt project has just been published in the latest edition of Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 20 No 7 - Country Special. "Rural Rambler" by Frances Leate - AP&Q Vol 20 No 7 Till next time Frances