Quilting Owl

In the latest Christmas issue of Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 24 No 3 my project "Poinsettia" has been published.  This was a fun dimensional applique wall quilt. "Poinsettia" by Frances Leate A couple of my other projects have been re-released in a special issue "Keepsake Quilts".  On the cover is "A Summer Place" which started life as a cuddle size quick and easy jelly roll quilt and just grew to become a full bed size quilt. "A Summer Place" by Frances Leate Also in this issue is "Star Bright" another of my small hand pieced Christmas quilts. "Star Bright" by Frances Leate Till next time Frances

I am still having a lot of problems with my left wrist and hand and at times over the last couple of weeks have been trussed up in compression bandages to reduce the swelling. This has given me a lot of time to spend hand quilting on a commissioned quilt for future publication in AP&Q. For distraction I have been indulging myself by playing and sorting out my growing thimble collection.  This has been time well spend and brought back memories of past travels and the many gifts received from dear friends.  I have also spent much time on the net researching the history behind some of the collection. The thimbles now have a new home and it is wonderful to finally have most of them in one location. I would also like to share this lovely dual purpose birthday quilt made by Shirley from West Australia who is a seasonal member of the Sunday Stitchers (Shirley and her husband, Tony, spend the winter months in Cairns). Jenni has been busy strip piecing with...

We  all congratulate Jenny on her first published quilt which has just  appeared in the latest edition of Australian Patchwork and Quilting Vol 24 No 1 which has New Zealand on show. "I Still Call NZ Home" by Jenny Edlin Here is Jenny with another of her lovely quilts. This striking quilt was made by Jan which she started in a recent workshop in Cairns. Cynthia's lovely mug mat. In the back of AP&Q Vol 24 No 1 in the section "All Your Own Work" I was pleased to spot Sherrel Meyer's own version in a different colourway of my last Mystery Quilt project "Red Sky at Night". Till next time Frances

Well the cast on my arm has been removed but mobility is still very poor with my left hand so it will be a lot more one handed stab stitch quilting for me.  To make this task easier I am now the proud owner of new multi function hands free frame. I am looking forward to getting back to some of my other numerous works in progress and hope this will be soon. Until next time Frances

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