Quilting Owl

It is Christmas Day here in Australia so I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visits and comments on my blog and to wish them a very happy Christmas.  I would also like to thank the Sunday Stitchers and all my students for all their support this year and to wish my family and friends a truly wonderful Christmas - be safe and happy and don't get too stressed. Here are just a few of the many Christmas quilts currently hanging on our walls in the house and studio - "Santa hangs out here" by Frances Leate "Star Bright" by Frances Leate - AP&Q Vol 19 No 9 "No Room at the Inn" by Frances Leate - Patchwork & Stitching Vol 11 No 6 "Star Turn" by Frances Leate Happy Christmas Frances

The Christmas spirit was very slow to surface in this household this year but gradually we are getting there and now the house is starting to look very festive.  Once I get started I always enjoy decorating the tree with its eclectic mix of decorations most of which are hand made.  Every year I make some new additions and lovingly fondle those made by friends in years past. Our Jim Shore Santa collection, big and small, has grown and we are gradually collecting Santas representing many countries. In the studio there is the bird tree which naturally is made up of many owls.  Some of these have been gifts and some I have made myself. The walls are gradually being covered with Christmas themed quilts and more about these in the next instalment. Happy Christmas Frances

I just popped in to let you know that Express Publications is wishing everyone a very merry Christmas by offering a copy of one of their brand new digital magazines - simply click on  this link Back soon Frances

The Sunday Stitchers' Group has grown in number throughout the year and last Sunday there was a lovely lot of work for us all to enjoy. Joan has been busy and has finished her version of my braid quilt and also a lovely cushion using the Gretchen block. Jeannie has finished the top for her vibrant version of my "Come Fly a Kite" quilt. While Helen has once again been very busy finishing some of the projects she began in class Helen's version of "All Points" Helen's version of "Jacob and Friends" Jenny always has something for us to enjoy and here is her lovely quilt for Zoe and this cut gift she presented to me which naturally uses Owl themed fabric - my first Christmas present. Till next time Frances

I was delighted when Helen showed me a couple of quilts she has now finished that she commenced in some of my classes in recent months.  "Just Kimonos" which was published in Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 22 No 12 is a present for her mother and will soon be on its way to England.  Helen's braid quilt has used some stunning new pre cut fabrics from Cairns Craft Centre. Meanwhile back in the studio I have been very busy flitting from one project to another.  There is the purple quilt which I am currently machine quilting in preparation for a class in January at Cairns Craft Centre. Then we have all the different projects in various stages of assembly which I store in plastic boxes. There is "the chair" with all the quilt tops and layered quilts waiting for their turn to be machine quilted and the partly quilted ones just waiting until there is nothing else more urgent before I finish quilting them. I always get around to fini...

"In Harmony", a quilt I thoroughly enjoyed hand piecing, has finally made it into print in the current issue of Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 23 No 2.  It was a great therapy project that I almost hated to finish and I am now looking forward to getting the quilt home to put it up on the wall. "In Harmony" by Frances Leate AP&Q Vol 23 No 2 "In Harmony" by Frances Leate AP&Q Vol 23 No 2 At a recent meeting of the Sunday Stitchers Jenny brought along a friend, Ann, visiting from the US who she has shared emails with for some time.  Jenny made a special quilt for Ann using symbols and fabric from her native county New Zealand. I thought I would just share the latest coffee themed kit quilt I have designed and which is available exclusively from Cairns Craft Centre. "Mocha Magic" by Frances Leate Till next time Frances

There was a particularly good turn out at the last meeting of the Sunday Stitchers at Cairns Craft Centre with the usual chat, laughter and cake. Jenny brought along a quilt she has just got back from her longarm quilter, Sue Cann, which is the Civil War one made for a block of the week which Barbara Brackman did on her blog some time back. Donna had her very happy quilt made in my Begginers' Patchwork Class and I really enjoy seeing these projects finished. Back in the studio I have been playing with a layer cake and most unusually for me I have been doing some hand quilting on my Amish Star quilt.  I long ago gave up hand quilting using the needle rocking method because of my right hand but lately I have started  stab stitching and while slow doesn't cause me so many problems. Till next time Frances