First Finished Flower for WQS

Well 1 of 18  done. At the gathering today, we where asked to put a border of hexagons around half of our flowers. The fabric was given out and I made ready to do most of this sewing while I am away for the next 10 days. That and the continuing of the quilting of the 2 lap rugs, will keep me with plenty to do.

Splendid Sampler Challenge - Block 10 - Iowa

Iowa or Snowball

Loving this colour combination. Simple one to do. 

Splendid Sampler Challenge - Block 9 - Quilt Shop

For this square there where instructions for paper piecing, so I attempted this. Worked mostly, though it was a bit short in places.

This square was to highlight our favorite or local quilt shop. While I would have loved to highlight my local, The Patchwork Tea House in Warburton, I could not resist honoring my all time favorite shop, that is owned and managed by my mum, Grams Treasures. Love you Mum.

New Challenge for local Quilting group

The Warby Quilters and Stitches Group in Yarra Junction make a quilt every year that they then raffle off the next year with the proceeds going to a charity. Current groups, to my understanding, are the Cancer Council, Flying Doctors, and a few others.

I decided to help out and challenge myself to help out. This year they are doing a Grandmothers Garden (hex flowers) . Everyone is challenged to do 2 flowers per month for 9 months, a total of 18.

The only requirements are 1) one inch hexes 2) centre to be beige, either plain or slight beige pattern 3) petals can be of any fabric.

SO... I'm in. Here is my start.

Do I look like I'm enjoying myself? I am.

I am still working on quilting a couple of lap rugs. Squee.....

Splendid Sampler Challenge - Block 8 - Friends Around the Square

Friends Around the Square

Sewed this one while attending a long afternoon with the delightful ladies at the Warby Quilters and Stitchers in Yarra Junction. So I did it with New Friends around a nice Square (well, rectangle) table.

I love the colours in this one and I loved working on it (could have been the great company).

They also got me interested in helping with their special project, but more on that later as I get it started

Splendid Sampler Bonus Project 1

Folding Block Station

Fun little project. Might have been easier with a machine as hand sewing it was a real hand number. It is filled with a reflective padding that allows it to be used to do those small pressings of seams. The front has a pocket for a ruler, but I do not have one that size, so we will see what it is useful for.

First seven Splendid Samples

What started me quilting again

I blame my mother. She has been quilting for many years. I have a number of her quilts and one of my grandmothers, so I guess it was only a matter of time before I got into patch working.

You may notice I say "Got Back To". I made a couple of quilts as a teen, one for my cousins wedding and helped with several for various friends as they achieved the head office in group for girls. All where fun and in quilting terms simple to put together.

But, back to what got me started again. My husband and I were looking at retiring and moving to rural Victoria. The area we found we really liked had a lovely tea room that had a quilt shop integrated into it, lovely and relaxing.

Then I went to visit my mum in California with my youngest daughter. While talking, she mentioned she had never gotten a quilt from her Grams. So, off to the fabric section of her house, fabric, chosen, pieces cut, and within the week we had with her the first 6 squares where sewn together. All where left with Grams to finish but the urge to quilt was cemented.


I am not a lover of a sewing machine so everything to date and for the foreseeable future are hand sewn. I am not a perfectionist but I like to get it right, so while I will take seams out if they dont fit right, they can be a bit wobblie  .

Fun thing about quilters

Just a fun thing that happened to me today. I was going to a friends baby shower and as I entered her mother's house, I noticed the quilts, one on each chair and sofa. I was amazed, it was awesome. 

As we started chatting, she took me off to her craft room to show me the quilt she was working on, (one of Liz's Teddy Bears) again stunning.  As I looked around the room, I noticed her block 3, of the Splendid Sampler Challenge, WOW ! !   I now have a new friend in quilting.

Working on Audition your fabrics folding block station. It allows you to layout the square's design and has thermal padding in it so that you can use it to press pieces as you go along. 

Splendid Sampler Challenge - Block 7 - Snug As a Bug

Snug As a Bug

Had lots of different ideas for this one, but I decided to go simple as the pattern was. Though I may go and try it as a quilted rug.

Splendid Sampler Challenge - Block 6 - Focal Point

Focal Point

Love the arrows in this one, highlighting a focal point. I missed a couple of the points but overall, it is better then the last triangles

Splendid Sampler Challenge - Block 5 - Simple Simon

Simple Simon

And then we had power again, so back inside to complete the next one. Enjoyed doing this one,

This one is done by making a 9 square and cutting down the middle horizontal and vertical to put in the centre piece. However I didn't measure the cut and it is slightly wonky. Also for some reason it is only 6 inches instead of 6 1/2. I might redo it, but will see how it goes.

Splendid Sampler Challenge - Block 4 - Happy Happy

Happy Happy

After a week in Queensland, I arrived home with the joy of two blocks waiting for me to attempt. I had a morning with no power, which isn't a real problem as I am hand stitching them, but not having any light might have stopped me. I gathered up m bits and pieces and headed out to my garden to sew. Peaceful and bright. I got them done in no time at all.

   

I used a new tools I have for making the larger flowers and appliqued the little ones. I will put some stems on these flowers but I don't have the thread I want for it at the moment.

And then after completing 7, I added the stems with Cottage Garden Thread - .203 River Gum