Tuesday 30 May 2017

QUILTY STUFF.

Not feeling 100% today, so sitting here doing an overdue post I'd partly prepared after speaking with two of my quilting friends.

1.  This was a conversation about the colour "orange", which I'd said I don't use as I'm not  a big fan.  Looking at my poor cupboard full of quilts, I noticed something, ooh, was that apricot or orange?  Then I remembered another one, so here are two quilts which pertain to that colour.  They were both made many years ago, probably late 90's to early 2000.

 This one is just a sampler made of blocks I was trying out.  I'd bought the border fabric for DD, who said she rather fancied apricot/blue decor, but was shocked by my choice.  There it sat till I decided to just play with bits from my stash.
Now this one was made from an American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine, August 1998 & called Mississippi Flyaway.
Not sure how orange they look is these photos.

2.  Onto another friend who was talking about the Square in a Square ruler & saying she must use it.
I have used it to make both these quilts below.

 DD, having decided she wanted a mainly blue quilt done in the Storm at Sea pattern as their wedding quilt, I made a start with a small test pattern with said ruler from the book I bought when I purchased it.  What happens when you don't read the instructions properly?  You end up with a miniature, then have to figure out the sizes for something that will fit a double bed.  I did think that I would have to make an awful lot of these wee little blocks, then read the size of the pattern.

After numerous mathematical calculations, sewing & laying it on the floor, I thought, it looks flat.
Next came the Mariner's Compass to go in the cenrtre, then I was happy.  It has resided on the wall in DD's entry now for many a year.

Same No. 2 person was also talking about the 'stack'n'wack' method of working & I said I'd show her one I did back in 2005, but as we live a long way apart, here it is on my blog instead.
Done in a workshop one day at a quilt group I once belonged to.  I'd chosen fabric, went off with all my supplies & went to cut the fabric & it wasn't going to work, so flew home, grabbed another lot & this is what I ended up with.  The fabric actually had lots of shells & some of my sashing used the background fabric, which made mine slightly different to most of the others.

Bubble & Squeak.
I showed the making of this a while back, and now it is finished & ready to be handed over to a charity.

                                                                 Remember these?
Well, this is what is happening on the design wall, although it is a bit further along now.  A photo will come on a better day, as it is cold, windy & wet, so not conducive for photo taking.

GARDEN.........
Last week I noticed these two.
 One of my hellebores is showing buds & a walk around yesterday, tells me there a couple more coming along too.
Not sure how the hydrangea looks today after the heavy rain, but it was still hanging in there last week.

Not really much to report today, but I must schedule a post about the National Trust "Portable Iron Houses" in Melbourne which we visited a few weekends ago.  Just need to sort the photos.
We've a lot coming up for June with my brother's interview for NDIS,  being scheduled for later that month, and it will take a chunk of our time.  We need to be there, which means a trip to Sydney.
OK, have a good week all & take care.

11 comments:

  1. Your quilts are fabulous. So many different techniques and designs, you're so clever.

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    1. Thanks Jo. Part of the fun is colour, new techniques & the huge range of patterns you can come up with.

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  2. I am always amazed and if not a little impressed at the logistical planning and mathematical neatness of your quilts. Something I have neither of! But it doesn't stop me appreciating them😊 or helleboresomething have finished flowering and my hydrangea hasn't started yet. Hope you are feeling better, enjoy Sydney, see if they have any decent yarn shops xxx

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    1. Thanks Kate & that coming from a very talented artist! Don't you love how the hellebores just start poking their heads through as it gets cold? Hope you post some photos of your hydrangeas & if I have time I may get to a wool shop.

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  3. I hope that you're starting to feel a bit better today. Jx

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  4. Hi Susan enjoyed seeing your Quilts Imhave hellebores growing in my garden love this plant

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    1. Thanks Lynn. I too love Hellebores & bought some last year at Post Office Farm Nursery up near Daylesford. They specialise in them & I got 5 for $35 in a variety of colours. Hope they flower this season. The one above was already here when we moved in.

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  5. Your first 2 quilts look like they could have been made this year. I love them. Your DD's quilt is beautiful; I love the Storm at Sea block. Hope you're feeling better. Take care.

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    1. Thanks Joanna. DD still loves her quilt & she has now been married for 20 years (although it was late being made due to her procrastinating on colour & design) & yes I'm feeling much better.

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  6. Hellebores are one of my favourites too, though ours are over now with only seeds to scatter about. Love all your quilts - so neat.

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