Quilting Owl

I have been housebound with a flu/cold for nearly a week now and as I ammissing my sewing machines I hope I will get enough energy to get out into the studio soon to complete some of my current projects.  I have managed to stitch down the binding on my little houses quilt, "Midsomer Madness" so this is another to cross off the UFO list. "Midsomer Madness" by Frances Leate I have a few other photos to share with you and one of them is the very pretty quilt by my friend and fellow Sunday Stitcher Joan Taylor which has been published in the current edition of Australian Patchwork and Quilting Vol 21 No. 8.  This lovely pink and green quilt looks wonderful featured on the cover. Then there is this stunning wall quilt by Lesleigh McLennan another Sunday Stitcher.  Lesleigh made this quilt for a member of her family and only recently got a photo to send to me. I found this photo in the camera which I took at one of my Mini Quilt Workshop at Cairns Craft C...

There have been a few classes at Cairns Craft Centre this week and I just thought I would share some of the wonderful work that has been achieved. This is Rachael's first quilt and she is now machine quilting her version of "Jacob and Friends" and isn't it a real stunner. Since we last got together Margaret has made this lovely quilt which she is donating to a special program that helps mothers who are having problems bonding with their new babies. Today was Mini Quilt Workshop day and Linda and Shirley brought along quilts which have now been finished from previous classes. Linda's "In Chains" Linda's "Come Fly A Kite" Shirley's "Come Fly A Kite" Till next time Frances

I have been missing in action from blogging for the last few weeks with lots to distract me but I just had to share some of the lovely quilts from Sunday Stitching at Cairns Craft Centre the other day. We were lucky that Thora was able to make the trip down the mountain so we could see this lovely quilt top she has just finished using fabrics by Kaffe Fassett and friends. Lesleigh has turned another project from the mini quilt workshops into a cushion for one her kids. While Jenny has raided her stash for lots of her favourite dog prints to make this cute little quilt. I couldn't resist adding this photo I took outside the studio the other day of a beautiful little sunbird getting into the Zygo cactus. Till next time Frances

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...