Quilting Owl

One of my projects "In Chains" has just been published in the latest edition of Australian Patchwork & Quilting.  It is always great to see my projects beautifully photographed and presented in this wonderful magazine. "In Chains" by Frances Leate AP&Q Vol 24 No 12 At the last meeting of the Sunday Stitchers there was a mug rug swap and here are some of the lovely ones made by the members.  Missing was one made by me as I left it to the last minute to make one and of course I got injured before doing so. Deb showed us a WIP she is making for a lucky little girl named Sophie from a gorgeous panel. Hopefully in another nine days the plaster cast will be removed from my left arm and it wont be long before I am back stitching again. Till next time Frances

Quilts from the Sunday Stitchers made by Jan and Jenny feature this week and first up is Jan with "Vintage Roses" that she began in one of my classes which she has now finished machine quilting.. Jan with "Vintage Roses" by Frances Leate Another very happy panel quilt made by Jan which she has again finished with her own very effective machine quilting. This quilt was made by Jenny as a gift to Joan who recently lost her little black dog, a long time friend.  Jenny has also machine quilted this with a bone motif on the background. To finish off I thought I would show you my one handed attempt at some hand quilting.  The quilt top was made for me by Jenny some time back and while I had done all of the machine quilting on the background and border I had put the quilt aside when I ran into some tension difficulties on the owl appliques.  For the last few days I have been racking my brain about what I could do while watching TV and came up with the idea...

This has not been a good month for me!  I was sitting at my desk in the studio last Sunday designing a new project for my Sunday Stitchers and things were not working too well when I suddenly got a new idea.  Well I reached down to pick up a new piece of paper from my recycling heap when the chair took off and I crashed into the desk.  The next thing I remember was waking up lying on the floor in extreme pain.  Peter eventually found me and rushed me into the Emergency Department at Cairns Hospital where I was well looked after.  After a day and a half he got me home where I will hopefully make a full recovery once I get over the shock and pain of it all. As I said this has not been a good month and I lost another friend to cancer - rest in peace Wendy. Till next time Frances

I have spent a lot of time over the last few days looking through some very old photos and picking out the ones with my sister Anne in them and thought I would put up some of them as a tribute to her.  The first was taken in the hallway of our old family home just before she married John with me as one of her bridesmaids. Here she is sitting on the front fence at home with our niece, Maree, who was the first grandchild for my parents and then 21 or so years later with Maree's daughter, Melinda. Here is a photo of the six of us (the "Deakin girls") at Margaret's (No 1) 50th birthday celebrations Anne with her husband John taken the same night Another family outing and this time to celebrate Tricia's (No 2) 50th birthday I just love this photo because it was so typical of so many family gatherings at home when a group of us would always end up around the dinner table having a laugh. We miss her already but she will be in a heart...

Just thought I would share some finished projects from the Sunday Stitchers.  First up is Sonjia with her stunning version of my quilt "Just Kimonos". Joan has just finished this fabulous quilt as a gift for her brother Jan has finished machine quilting her version of my class quilt "Shades of Purple" which looks stunning in black, white and a touch of hot pink and also the top for this lovely red work quilt which is no longer a UFO. Till next time Frances

I love making blocks and have succumbed to Barbara Brackman's "Austen Album Quilt" block of the week and here are my first four blocks "Austen Album Quilt" Blocks 1 to 4 I have also finished the latest block for the "Threads of Memory" BOM and here are the four blocks I have made so far "Threads of Memory" Blocks 1 to 4 Anyone would think it was my birthday or Christmas as some lovely gifts have come my way recently including this exquisitely crocheted beaded doily. and of course to add to the owl collection there is this lovely felt applique which is now hanging in the studio with other owls to keep it company. My thimble collection had been rather neglected of late so I was absolutely thrilled to receive these lovely additions and don't you just love the owl on the thimble in the centre. Till next time Frances

While it is still the calm before the storm, or I should say Cyclone Ita, I thought I would share some of the latest quilt happenings. My third sister, Anne, has been having a very rough time healthwise of late so I made a quilt to celebrate her 70th birthday.  It is often difficult choosing colours for other people so I opted for somthing bright and cheerful and was pleased to hear from her and her daughter how delighted she was with her present. "To Anne with Love" by Frances Leate Meanwhile I am still keeping on track with Barbara's Brackman's BOM "Threads of Memory" and here is Block 3.  The next temptation is to start on her Jane Austen Album quilt. "New Garden Star" Block 3, Threads of Memory Pauline has now layered her version of my "Night Owl" quilt and I am looking forward to seeing the finished quilt. Currently it is still calm outside the studio with just the odd shower of rain and I am now just waiting ...