Quilting Owl

It is wonderful to see beautifully finished projects from classes and I was very pleased to receive an email with this photo of Lesleigh's "All Points" cushion which she began at a Mini Quilt Workshop at Cairns Craft Centre. I found some time this week to make a couple more Farmers Wife blocks which now brings my block count to 44. I also managed a couple of tarts for the "Pies and Tarts" quilt and in between I have been machine quilting a shop quilt that I promised Peter way too long ago. On Saturday night we helped to celebrate Heather's 60th birthday and you might have guessed that the colour theme for the party was purple.  Heather was one of the first customers to come through the door when Peter and I opened Cairns Craft Centre over 15 years ago and we were delighted to be able to join her for this momentous occasion. While we were at the party I spotted a lovely signature quilt given as a present to celebrate the arrival of...

I haven't posted much lately as I have had to focus and finish a couple of projects plus patterns with deadlines for classes and a commission and I am now looking forward to a bit of a lull when I can get back to catching up on all my favourite blogs. First up I would like to share a wonderful quilt pieced and machine quilted by Margaret, a Thursday Nighter.  This large quilt has been made with love for her daughter and I am particularly taken with the vibrant colours.  By coincidence I have also been working with some of these same fabrics for a recent commission. Sunday say me back at Cairns Craft Centre for a Mini Quilt Workshop.  These classes are very popular and happen on the third Sunday bi monthly.  There wasn't much socialising as the girls were all hard at work and I am sure they will bring along to Sunday Stitching some finished quilts. However, most of my time lately has been spent at Quilting Owl Studio and both my Bernina machine...

There were all sorts of wonderful projects for us to ooh and aah over this morning when the Sunday Stitchers gathered at Cairns Craft Centre.  Heather, a very proud grandmother, had just finished this quilt top using the Dr Seuss fabric range and also this wonderful doona cover for her grandson. Heather has also caught the Farmers Wife bug and in her spare time has whipped up these lovely blocks. Jenny, who has also joined the FW club, has been stitching up a storm with her blocks all with fabric from her stash.   Kay always does amazing things and lately she has been very much into making bags of all descriptions.  First up was this stunning clutch style plus a lovely sewing holdall with an embroidered lid and in the background you can see a lovely handbag. Kay has also been stitching these amazing kaleidoscope blocks  which have all been very cleverly cut from this fabric. Till next time Frances

Its been a fun week working in the studio and I have lots of projects to keep me amused.  I have now finished the 49 8" Pie blocks and am enjoying moving them around to find a pleasing layout.  They are up on the small design wall (an old office divider covered with pellon) and it is not in the best place for photographing but you get the idea. In the meantime I am making some tarts to go on the intersections with five down and 31 to go. Most of my time has been spent working on a large project commission which features fuchsia and white along with lots of other vibrant colours. While watching television of a night I have been doing some hand piecing on another of my many projects.  I find hand pieceing to be very relaxing and therapeutic and I do this now when once I would have knitted. Till next time Frances

The last few weeks have been quite busy though there is not a lot that I can show you.  Autumn has finally come to tropical Cairns and there is now actually sunshine between the odd shower of rain.  The grass is still leaping out of the ground needing to be cut at least once a week and the temperature usually hovers around 30 degreesC with the humidity often around about 60 percent.  Peter has started a massive clean up in the garden to get it all nice for the winter months which is the best time of year here and sees us all come out of hibernation. In the studio the design wall has been stripped bare and is gradually being filled with the latest design commission.  I just love a blank canvas to create with.  Lots of different fabrics have been taken off shelves and out of storage boxes, played with and often put back while I decide on a colour pallette to work with.  This is the best part of my job and I just love it. While all this has b...

It has been a busy week while I finished off another project commission so I am only now catching up with a few photos from the camera.  This is the happy group of Sunday Stitchers who gathered this month at Cairns Craft Centre for another fun morning of chatter and stitching. Jenny brought along her latest appliqued wall quilt with a New Zealand theme and also a quilt which she made for a charity auction which has just come back from her long arm quilter and just needs some binding. Easter has been a lovely time here in Cairns and to celebrate this long weekend a few Farmers Wife addicts gathered in my studio for a great day of stitching with Peter whipping up his usual creations in the kitchen to keep us well nourished.  I actually managed to finish two more blocks to add to the block pile #17 Cats & Mice and #19 Checkerboard and here is the happy group busily working away at sewing machines and the cutting table. Till next time Frances

There were some lovely quilts for us all to enjoy on show at the Thursday night class.  First up is Anne's finished sampler quilt which she has now machine quilted and bound.  Then Margaret proudly showed us her completed version of "Jacob and Friends" and also the striking quilt she is making for her daughter's bed which just needs a few more borders. Catherine, a new member of the group, brought along a couple of quilts she made which have been professionally quilted - a stunning red and white quilt with lots of wonderful textured reds  and this lovely applique quilt which I think is from the first Material Obsession Book. Cairns has had a lot of rain lately and as a result all sorts of interesting fungi have popped up in our garden. Till next time Frances