Quilting Owl

As the year draws to a close I have been thinking about what I want to do in 2013 and I have decided that " Fun " is going to be the most important thing so that will be my word for the year.  I also believe that it will be a lucky year and I am going to go out of my way to make it so for me.   This year I have been focussing on finishing projects and while there are still a lot of unfinished ones in the studio I am pleased to say that I finished more than I started.  All of the projects I started in 2012 have been finished although some are tops waiting on quilting, like "Birds, Buttons and Blooms" which I designed around a panel. "Birds, Buttons and Blooms" by Frances Leate This hand pieced Double Wedding Ring, a long time UFO is now a bed runner and is in the quilting queue.   Some of the projects I made this year were mini quilts like "Petite Fours" and I had a lot of pleasure hand piecing this small one. "Petite Four...

All the presents have been bought, made and wrapped and now it is up to Santa to do his bit.   We have had a lovely day and enjoyed our traditional Christmas Eve lunch on the Boardwalk with a favourite view.    and now Peter and I would like to wish all our family and friends a very Merry Christmas.   I would particularly like to wish all my blogging friends a safe and joyous Christmas and thank them for their support and friendship throughout the year.   HAPPY CHRISTMAS from tropical Far North Queensland to all! Frances

As Christmas gets closer we have been gradually decorating the house, studio and courtyard to make everything festive.  With little rain around it has been very hot here in the tropics which has slowed proceedings somewhat but gradually we are getting there.  We have added lots of new decorations this year including this beautiful Nativity Scene by Jim Shore.   In the studio I have been gradually adding to the bird tree which now features lots of new owl decorations many of which I received as gifts and I will show these in detail later.   We also have a special santa shelf in the house with lots of new ones to add to the collection.   Before dinner we often have a drink in the courtyard and really enjoy watching the light show, particularly the gradual awakening of all the solar ones as they light up one by one.   I couldn't resist adding a photo of this beautiful Hibiscus which flowered in the co...

The Sunday Stitchers celebrated Christmas early with the final meeting for the year and worked on a special mystery quilt project.  Peter and the team at Cairns Craft Centre worked very hard to make this a memborable days's stitching.  As usual Peter did an excellent job with the catering for morning tea and lunch and Leanne was the inspiration behind all the decorations and goodies and all the girls were very appeciative. "Festive Fours" by Frances Leate Some serious work did happen among all the chat and laughter and here the group are working away on their quilt project.  Not all the Sunday Stitchers were able to join us as Kathy is spending Christmas in the US and Heather is on a cruise - they were missed and if they are reading this blog I hope they have a very happy Christmas! The goodies table There is always one high achiever in every group and yesterday it was Jenny who was the first to finish her mini version of the mystery quilt.   Til...

Its that time of year when lots of hand stitching happens as we keep an eye on the Aussie cricketers.  If you miss any of the vital action well there is always the replay to watch and today they are giving the South Africans a run for their money.   I am hand piecing at the moment and with some blocks that have lots of different shaped pieces I usually lay them out on a block holder (a piece of card covered with cotting batting) as this way there is less chance of sewing the wrong sides together and having to do some reverse stitching.   My current favourite tools are - Mettler Heirloom 60-weight 100% cotton thread, John James quilting or applique needles (the smallest size I can thread), Clover very fine glass head pins and small scissors for cutting threads.   As I finish each block I lightly finger press it to arrange the direction of the seams and then place the block in a zip bag for storage.  By flattening the bag and zipping it clos...

I was up bright and early this morning to watch a very exciting event, a total solar eclipse.  Cairns was ideally situated for this event although the weather has not been the best for the last few days and we were worried that there would be nothing to see particularly as the town is full of visitors from far and wide.  Luckily the clouds cleared just in time and armed with special glasses we watched from our front garden.  These are just some photos we took with a simple point and shoot auto camera and I am sure the medial will be showing the specactular ones.           Till next time Frances      

Life has been busy of late while I try to finish off lots of projects including a mystery quilt for the last gathering of the Sunday Stitchers.  I did, however, find some time to make a cute little dolly quilt and have some fun with some French General fabrics. Till next time Frances