Quilting Owl

It is always exciting to cross another project off the WIP list.  This quilt "Wind and Waves" is a kit quilt sample which I made for Cairns Craft Centre and I am afraid I dragged the chain a little when it came to quilting it but now the last stitch has been sewn into the binding and the quilt is off to hang in the shop.  The studio is still piled high with lots more unfinished projects but so far this year more quilts have been completed than have been started - I think this is progress! Till next time Frances 

Cairns has enjoyed perfect weather for the Queen's Birthday holiday long weekend and we really enjoyed getting outside to lap it up.  It makes the wet and high humidity of the summer all worthwhile when winter comes with such wonderfully warm and sunny days. I did manage to drag myself into the studio to have some fun with the Farmers Wife project and finished six more blocks to take the count to 50.  The blocks are getting very scrappy and so far I haven't repeated the fabrics in more than one block.  I have really enjoyed digging deep into the stash and so many of the fabrics bring back happy memories of earlier quilt projects.  The centre floral fabric in the bottom right-hand corner block features in the quilt I will be sleeping under tonight - yes it does get cold enough in the tropics for quilts.  Sorry about my poor photography skills and I should have waited till tomorrow to take the photos in a stronger light. Earlier in the wee...

It was that time of the month for the Cairns Craft Centre Sunday Stitchers to gather, have lots of fun and share some of their latest projects.  Kay was stitching the binding on her kaleidoscope quilt which looks stunning with the red background. Jenny has finished the top for the mini quilt "Come Fly a Kite" which she began in a class two weeks ago and has also completed another 10 blocks for herFarmers Wife project. Heather was crocheting the border on this lovely soft blue baby blanket for her new grandson. Till next time Frances

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