Do you keep a record......

Of the quilts that you have made?

I sort of do, I try to give every quilt a number and keep a log of what it was, who it was for and all information relating to it. 

There are times when I find this information valuable as often large parcels of time pass between the planning and beginning stages, some of the construction and the completion stages of the top. 

There is often a large chunk of time that passes from the completion of the quilt top or 'flimsy' to the quilt top being sandwiched/batted and quilted. Once I get to this stage though, the binding normally goes on pretty quick and gets sewn down. 

So if you put all these parcels of time together, that quilt top has been hanging around for a long time and with my memory not as good as it used to be, this can be a problem when trying to write the label. This is where and when all of that information written in one place can be very handy indeed.

Do you document your quilts anywhere?

If so how do you do it?  What information do you include?

Please share how you achieve this or not, I am looking forward to hearing how everyone records their accomplishments.

Where are you working today?

Sometimes we get the opportunity to work somewhere different. Where are you working today?

I had the opportunity to accompany hubby on a day trip and so while he is doing business I am sitting looking out over Lake Taupo having coffee and working on a project. Not what I had planned for today or what I was going to work on but a bonus day and trip out is worth it. It also means that this project gets some much needed attention.

I again have too many projects on the go and I want to get all of the tracing on this one done so that I can do the hand appliqué when I get the opportunity. I can't move along on this project until the hand stitching is done. This project you have seen before on my blog, probably many times. It is a Gailpan Design Homecoming Lane, I still really love it and want it done and on the wall.

Unfortunately I left my glasses in the bathroom in my rush to get out the door and so I must look a little strange sitting here with my prescription sunglasses on - alas it is the only way that I can see to do anything, lol.

Happy stitching everyone

Donna-Maree

Feeling the fear and doing it anyway...

I have many quilt tops that have been sitting quite a while waiting patiently to be quilted, occasionally I can hear them calling to me as they want to be quilted and promoted to being out of the cupboard.

I have been procrastinating over quilting these quilts, but I am beginning to feel totally blocked by them as there are lots of ideas for new quilts in my head and I know that I can't begin them until I have dealt with this pile. I am also aware that I have an opportunity of time at the moment to deal with these now and that opportunity is fast running out. 

One of the reasons also for my procrastination is that four of these quilt tops are for gifts for very special people in my life that mean a lot to me and I want to do the best job that I can do on their quilts. A lot of time and money has been invested in these tops already and I am scared I will stuff it up as I haven't machine quilted for a while now.

So I pondered on this and decided that I needed to do some practice, but I really don't see the point in practicing on a practice sandwich. 

I am not sure when I created this little wall hanging, but it was my version of machine stitching or thread play and at the time that I created it I was quite happy with it. However lately I keep looking at it and can't help but think that it needs some updating. I used this as my practice piece and this is the result.

This is the result of my practicing and I learnt a lot through doing this. I started by doing the lines in the petals with variegated thread but this drew up the fabric around the flowers, so I had to work out what I was going to do in the background to even it out a little. The background also needed to be a design that was completely different to the flowers otherwise they wouldn't stand out. Circles seemed to be just the right thing. Then the borders desperately needed some taming so I flicked through my book to get some inspiration and decided on the continual curves around the edges.

I purchased Angela Walters book a few years ago now to help me through the inspiration slumps that happen when you are machine quilting and for when I don't know what to do next. I find that it definitely helps me work out what my options are.

I am happy with the end result, it isn't perfect but it is done and I am much further ahead than I would have been if I had done nothing and let the procrastination continue. I felt the fear and I did it anyway and I feel better equipped to tackle the pile of quilt top that are waiting for their turn at the machine.

I love getting your feed back so please feel welcome to leave a comment.

Until next time

happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Home and back to reality....

Symposium 2015 has finished and I have returned home, said goodbye to my friend Leeann until we see each other next and into catch up mode in the garden especially the kitchen garden. The tomatoes and zucchini have gone berserk and we are enjoying dishes containing ingredients grown by ourselves including garlic, onions, celery, cucumber, herbs, sweet corn and potatoes along with the tomatoes, zucchini and the odd capsicum - they aren't in full production mode yet.

Now that the garden is producing nicely I need to be getting more productive with the quilting too. I thoroughly enjoyed my class at Symposium with Sheila Christensen and I think I have finally got the rocking motion. There were several hand quilters in the class and they seriously out produced us new comers to hand quilting but I think eventually we might give them a run for their money.

I am happy with what I did and the progress that I made and my stitches did become more even and smaller in size, although I am not wanting my stitches too small or to me that defeats the purpose of big stitch quilting - I want it to be an accent or feature where I use it. That is the plan at this stage anyway.

http://livingcolourtextiles.com/2015/01/living-colour-at-quilt-symposium-manawatu/. 

This is my sample from the class, although I have continued with the curved lines and have managed to get my stitches a little smaller but I think I will stop there.

Loved this technique, you do your stitching and then colour in with inks. Just like colouring in when we were kids.

And the clock is ticking ...

Over the last couple of days I have completed planning and cutting the background fabrics for a quilt that I just want to move along and couldn't until I had completed this step. Now the fabrics for each block are in snap lock bags and they are all packed into a zip bag ready to come with me in case the sudden urge to do some hand appliqué hits me while I am away.

And where am I going?  I am heading south to Palmerston North for Quilt Symposium 2015 of course and I can't wait. I wasn't totally sure whether or not I would go this year, but the pull was just too great. I am booked in for lectures and a class with Sheila Christensen on Big Stitch Quilting. I haven't done much hand quilting and haven't 'got it' but I like the effect that big stitch quilting has particularly on modern quilts so thought that this would be the class for me this year. 

In the past I have taken many classes through the Symposium week and had little opportunity to see the exhibitions and the Merchants Mall. While at that stage I appreciate it was the classes and knowledge from the tutors that I needed, I find that I am getting more and more from observing the exhibitions and often go back again and again to have another look at how a particular quilt was done. Now I find that I love seeing what everyone else is doing and what is inspiring others in their work and maybe my skill level has improved and I don't need as many classes. I am looking forward to Leeann and I taking our time, walking through the exhibitions, discussing particular quilts, particular styles and skills - all of it in our own good time. I think I have developed more appreciation - of things in my life and very special friends to share them with. 

My friend Leeann and I really like attending the lectures and find it a really good way of hearing from a wide selection of tutors, particularly those that we haven't heard of before or know little about. Sometimes it helps us decide what tutors we would like to take in the future given the opportunity. We find it widens our knowledge base of techniques, quilters and their work and style and I find that I always take something away from the experience. For the price of the lectures, it is good value for money.

So yes the opportunity to spend time with like minded people that enjoy doing the same things as me, being in the same place for a week, seeing and hearing such inspirational things and add in that it is an awesome opportunity to catch up with friends from all over the country - how could I not attend Quilt Symposium 2015.

See you there - maybe.

Until next time, happy stitching.

Sewing weekend ....

I have been lucky enough to have special sewing time with a friend this weekend. Leeann and I live in different cities now but that hasn't affected our friendship.

These are the last two Easy Street blocks laid out and ready for sewing together. 

Yippee. The end is in sight.

Leeann and I have been busy sewing away together, chatting and encouraging each other, making suggestions about each other's blocks, and discussing possible future projects. It has been a while since I have sewn with a friend like this, and I certainly make the most of the opportunity when it presents itself. It has been like a mini retreat and as we said goodbye, we have caught up on things that have been going on in our lives, eaten some good food and definitely made progress on what we have been working on. Both of our projects have the finish line in sight and the weekend was definitely a big success.

Progress on Easy Street

Progress is happening on Easy Street, bit by bit, one step at a time. Last night I completed the last of the block units that I need if my counting is correct. 

I then started putting the blocks together and boy do they start coming together quite quickly. I have been working on two at a time, webbing them like Bonnie Hunter does. I am definitely converted to this method, it keeps me straight and true and once you get used to it, I am pretty sure it is quicker as I am not spending time laying my block out again and again checking I have everything where it is supposed to be and that everything is going in the right direction. I will keep chipping away at these and I am sure I will have a flimsy before we know it.

Will keep you posted of my progress.

Happy stitching

Donna-Maree

Four Patches

I have been making units to top up the ones that my friend gifted me for Easy Street and I made these four patches yesterday. This morning I have pressed and snipped them while counting out as I go. Alas some of my nesting wasn't as good as it should be and the above photo is my pile of rejects. 

When making four patches I don't pin preferring to nest them, however clearly I didn't nest some very well. I suspect these were some of the early ones I did and I could feel they weren't nested properly and I changed the way that I thread them through the machine and that helped heaps.

How fussy are you when it comes to your four patches? Let me know in the comments section below.

Donna-Maree

Oops ....

I am converting to webbing my blocks together like Bonne Hunter does and this is why...

The turquoise block pieces on the right are correct the ones on the left aren't. Somehow I always seem to turn my blocks if I just pick up the block units and sew them. 

Using Bonnies system, I find I have much less unpicking. Last night I was thinking about something else when I was sewing and wasn't paying enough attention and so today I have some reverse sewing to do before I can move on. I will definitely be using the webbing system to complete the rest of the blocks.

I'm off to do some unpicking and resew these units. Although I am currently working on another quilt (the one I took to retreat last weekend) I was gifted these units for Easy Street from a friend and I thought that I would just make one of each block to see what I think of them.

Happy stitching everyone, until next time 

Donna-Maree

Progress so far...

I thought that I would lay out the blocks for Orange Crush, a mystery from Bonnie Hunter that has been sitting as a UFO which I worked on last weekend while on retreat.

Looking good so far, what do you think? Let me know in comments below.

Cheers Donna-Maree

Results from Retreat

I am very pleased with what I got done at retreat this last weekend. 

This is everything that got completed. I know some of you might be disappointed that this is all to show for my time away, however I am thrilled. This UFO is Orange Crush a Bonnie Hunter Mystery that I started in 2011 and it has been sitting until now awaiting its turn to come out of the cupboard.

There are 20 blocks here on the left, I made the little corner units for these and put them all together this weekend. On the right are 30 of the border blocks that are required, not many to go and the units in front are for the rest. Feeling great about getting this flimsy much closer to the completion mark.

Now for anyone that hasn't been convinced about Bonnie's Leaders and Enders, check this out

These piles are what was sewn together as Leaders and Enders by my friend and myself over the weekend. They were twin units waiting to be sewn into four patches, which they are now. They aren't for anything specific at this stage, I just grabbed them as they were sitting ready it go. My girlfriend didn't have anything and was sewing onto a scrap and of course I had something better, so we shared them.

I will save my other photos for a later post, so until then - happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Packed and all ready to go!

Here is my sewing stuff all packed and assembled, ready to be loaded into the car.

Those two containers at the front are my projects, the main one in the bottom container and the top one, just in case as you do.

I hope I have remembered everything I need. Taking a cushion in case the chairs are too hard, it makes a difference when you are sitting for a while. 

How much stuff do you take when you are retreating and how many projects do you take just in case?

Let me know in the comments.

Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Yeehah! Today I am off to a retreat...

Yes off to retreat!  A very special time to catch up with some special friends and get some serious sewing done. Can't wait to hit the road.

Here is my main project for the weekend all cut and ready to roll. I wonder how much I can get done.

Watch this space to find out - will update when I can.

Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Orphan block update.

Progress is going slowly but steadily on the orphan blocks. They have been sewn together with sashings and corner stones. However after three episodes of reverse stitching due to my quilting attempts I am on a road that I like in terms of the quilting on these.

I haven't quilted much in the last six years - heaps of piecing as time allowed but definitely not much quilting. I have to admit I was very hesitant about quilting this table runner for many reasons. The first was indecision as to what I wanted to do, secondly I had lost my confidence about quilting it and I kept over thinking it and talking myself out of doing anything. I even attempted hand quilting - and I seriously can not hand quilt.

Coincidentialy at our quilting club one of the ladies has recently given a class on free motion machine quilting and has been talking us through the processes as to how she works and what works for her. I already knew most of what she said, as you do, but it was a very powerful reminder and motivating experience for me. I decided one day without too much thinking to just pick up the table runner and start quilting in the ditch. When this was all done I knew what I wanted to do next and that has continued as I have worked through quilting each element.

This table runner is a good piece to practice on as it isn't precious to me in the same way that something which is intended as a gift would be. This table runner is to be a utilitarian piece to give some protection to the main part of the dining table on a daily basis when we don't have a full table cloth on there.

I am still working on this but you can see some of the quilting that has been done already.

Here is the back which probably shows the quilting a little better.

Well this quilting activity is very addictive. I am worried that I will get carried away and over quilt it, however because it will be table runner I am not too concerned about that and the resulting stiffness as that might be an advantage on the table. Still have some to do .... So hang around and check out the final product. Let me know what you think of what I have done so far, would love to hear your thoughts.

See you then, happy stitching everyone

Donna-Maree

Some precious stitching time

I had a need to do some mindless stitching and have sewn some string blocks using my scraps. 

Our son moved back in with us for a month and was staying in my sewing room, so when he moved out I set up my machine and grabbed the first things I saw, some squares of paper and some string scraps and I sewed for several hours - such a tonic.

 I love the way your mind can wander when sewing strings as the only things you have to worry about is whether the scrap is going to cover the paper where you want and the contrast between what is on the paper already and what you are adding. I often watch Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Quiltcam while I am sewing or something from TV on demand. If you haven't caught up with Bonnie yet you should give it a try, it is great sewing along with somebody else - technology is just wonderful isn't it?

At this stage I don't know what I will use the squares for, I have a couple of ideas forming but will wait until I have made a few more before I decide.

I have also made some cushions for our window seat and I am quite pleased with them.

That corner is such a lovely place to sit with the sun streaming through the windows, my son nearly fell asleep the other day when he was visiting. It is a favourite place to sit and read awhile or just to think.

What has been under your needle? Leave a comment as I love getting feedback.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Yahoo ...... Classes booklet for Symposium 2015 has arrived!!!

Look what arrived in the post this afternoon .... the classes booklet for Quilt Symposium Manawatu 

16-21 January 2015. Haven't looked inside yet - but have had a sneak preview on the website.

Catch you soon,

Donna-Maree

Stitching on the stitchery - done!

Wow - what an amazing feeling having put the last stitch into the stitchery last night. I have to say that I felt a little sad to be coming to the end, I have really enjoyed working on this stitchery. There are others that I like just as much and if I do decide to do more, I thought that eventually they could all hang together. The stitchery is 'Christmas Angels' from The Birdhouse.

With the stitching done, now I have to decide how I am going to border it. Whether I am going to do a simple plain border or a pieced one?

What do you think? Let me know - I love getting feedback.

Happy stitching everyone,

Donna-Maree

Keeping busy

I am waiting at the hospital today and have my trusty 'to go' bag. My motherinlaw is having surgery and while she is in theatre I thought it was a good opportunity to get some more stitches in. Not many more stitches are needed before this is done, such a good feeling. 

Bandana bib style

When my daughter Kelsey and granddaughter Scarlett were down visiting I had a go at making some bandana bibs. Kelsey chose some fabrics from my stash that she liked and away we went. They turned out quite well and seem to be doing the trick.

Hearts a plenty...

Boy time flies by when you aren't looking.

We have been lucky enough to have our daughter and granddaughter visit several times in the last few months. I do believe that grandchildren are indeed gifts from God and I relish the times that we have together and try to spend as much quality time with them both as possible while we are together. These special times really make my heart sing.

I have been doing some stitching although I don't have much to show in this post. I have tonight however, downloaded an app on the ipad which will enable me to update the blog much easier than having to go into the office and use the laptop which also involves downloading photos etc, most of the photos these days are on the ipad anyway so it makes more sense this way. Time will tell whether I post more regularly than I have been more recently.

Anyway, unfortunately my Aunt passed away at the beginning of June. Aunty Kaye was my fathers only sister and she has always had a special place in my heart. I wanted to do something special for her and so I decided to make a heart to put on her coffin instead of a flower. I loved having the opportunity when I was working on the heart to sift through my memories of her and our times together as I worked. It was lovely catching up with my cousins and extended family at the funeral and being able to celebrate her life with them all.