International Quilt Challenge

Wow, March is here already and while temperatures are still warm there is a hint of Autumn in the air. The mornings are slightly cooler and the day temperatures aren't getting quite as high as they were a week or so ago.

The other weekend I had the opportunity to see a very special exhibition at Cottage Flair in Rotorua, the International Quilt Challenge was on display and it was amazing. 30 quilters from 3 countries, New Zealand, Japan and France participated in creating their interpretation of 30 wonders of the world, 90 quilts on display. It was fascinating to see how each person had interpreted the photo and their result. It was a fantastic opportunity to see differences in construction, colour and techniques between the quilters of different countries.

The photo of the wonder was at the top of the board with New Zealand's artist piece at the top, Japan next with France on the bottom. Standing back and observing across the display, the colours and graphics were amazing. 

This was truly an amazing display of quilts and well worth the trip down to Rotorua to see them. 

I have more pics of these which I might share in the future.

Happy stitching everyone,

Cheers Donna-Maree

March Stitching

This week there is definitely an autumnal feel to the late afternoon, the rains of last week seem to have taken summers heat with it as it moved on. The lower temperatures are definitely helping with getting a better nights sleep which is always a bonus.

I have been working away on some goodwill quilts for the past few weeks, both on my own and with a friend.

Work progressing on the first quilt.

Second quilt coming together.

Today we put this one together. We still have enough fabric for one more quilt. We are loving how these are coming together and we have enjoyed the Tuesday mornings that we have spent working together. 

I have been working on a couple of quilts on my own, both of them are Bonnie K Hunter patterns from her website. Check them out here

Scrappy majestic mountains, I love this pattern and this is a very good way of using scraps. I need a few more blocks for this one before I can think of putting a border on it.

Waste Not, Want Not blocks laid out on the bed. This pattern always works regardless of what scraps of fabrics that you use. I definitely have more blocks to make for this top.

We are having a stitching weekend at our local quiltimg club, watch this space to see what we get up to.

Happy stitching everyone

Donna-Maree

Hand stitching on block four - done!

Yes the hand stitching on block four is done and dusted. Yippee!!!

Guess what I am doing today? Yes, stitching the block together. Catch you later when it is done.

Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

And block three is done!

Yes, I have been chipping away a little at a time and block three is indeed done. What a fantastic feeling.

The best thing is that block four is just about completed too. There is a little hand stitching to do and then putting the block together. Once that is done I can lay them out and check placement of the blocks for the colours to be evenly distributed throughout the quilt. I am going to quilt as you go each of the four blocks and then put them together.

This is one of my top 5 projects and we have our first quarter draw next week at club, however I don't think this one will be completed in time but I will try.

Happy stitching everyone, I am off to get some more stitches into block four.

Donna-Maree

Autumn is here

The temperatures are settling down and the sun is slowly getting lower in the sky as we move into autumn more. I have been enjoying more time in the garden and we have been giving it a general  tidy up and reassessment. A huge trailer load of vegetation was taken to the recycle depot last weekend and seriously you can't see where it came from. Hedges have been trimmed and are looking good but I do have to plant the vegetable seedlings that are waiting ever so patiently to be put into the ground.

Last night they got the weather forecast right for a change and we had the most amazing lightening and thunder that we have experienced for a very long time. Boy was that thunder right overhead and it was extremely loud and you felt it. I have to confess that I got such a fright and I was glad it moved on and got quieter although that was when the heavy rain started although it didn't last too long.

I have been thinking of changing my sewing room over with the guest room for a little while now and I couldn't put it off any more and have been working on that this week.  I have found several things that have been hiding from me while doing this, and I can't believe how much stuff I have - I think it is multiplying when I am not looking! The bonus is that things are getting more organised and therefore it should be easier to remember where things are so they can be found. The daylight is better in the new room and it also looks down the drive to the street and onto the roses which line the drive and I am enjoying the different perspective this room offers.

View of driveway and street from my sewing room.

This room is smaller than the previous one which is going to make it interesting as I haven't finished moving everything yet and there isn't much space left. The wardrobe is much smaller too but access to it is better and you can see in it at night which is good.

The tidy corner of the sewing room so far.

I found it interesting that one of the first things that I did in the new room was put things up on the walls and sort the little stereo that I have in my sewing room. What are your must haves in your sewing room? Share in comments below if you like.

Until next time, keep up the good work and happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

March is humming along

Progress is being made with the hand stitching for Home Coming Lane and I am still loving it.

What has been done so far for block three.

Just the house section of the block to be sewn now.

Today is our first child Kelsey's 25th birthday and the celebration of not only her life but our journey as parents. I always find our children's birthdays emotional and always get swept back to when they were born and what was happening back then. 

A quarter of a century is definitely an achievement regardless of how you look at it really. Not only that but Kelsey is an amazing mother to her own two year old daughter Scarlett and I am incredibly proud of the beautiful and strong person that she is.

The sun is shining and the temperatures are still high and there is stitching to be done, so until next time - happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Home Coming Lane, block two is complete

I am so thrilled at the progress that I am making with this

And I am loving how it is looking. Work has begun on block three and the hand stitching is progressing nicely.

Now to get back to stitching...

Donna-Maree