Wow where have I been

Around the world blog hop!

Well awhile ago I was nominated byA Few of My. Favourite Things and had previously been asked to blog for the hop from my friend Kathi at Design Originals by KC

What am I working on?

The start of the Trifle Dish Quilt

Some inspiration from my garden, Papa Gontier Rose

Love calms the sea progress

I have also put fabrics aside to do Bonnie Hunters Grand Illusion mystery quilt, plus I have a few others in the think tank which will be done next year.

Why do I create?

I create to stay sane, I love making things and have been around creative people all my life.  My parents, grandparents and Aunts and Uncles also made things not only out of necessity but for a way of life.  I feel privileged to have been raised in such a way to learn many things.  My father taught me how to make wire chain, he made all of his own dog chains and boy was that necessary when we had so many.   My mum made our clothes etc, I learnt to knit and crochet before I went to school.  I used to sew on the treadle machine at home and one of the best things as a child was making paper stamps from magazines, it was a great way to practice to sew straight lines without wasting thread.

Nowadays I mainly quilt and I love to create my own patterns and I am trying to push my boundaries and create all different styles from modern and old techniques.  I really love to hand quilt but am exploring the new but old technique of big stitch or utility quilting.

How do I differ from others?

My style of quilting is always changing, one way I differ from my friends is that i just love my hand quilting and that I love exploring different colour combinations.  I also like mathematical problems so this helps me cover that aspect and expand my mind.

Where and how do you create?

I find inspiration everywhere, I love my garden which is full of birds and other wild life.  I will often find colours emerging from new leaves and the sunsets or sunrises very inspirational.  Other times it will be a floor when we are shopping or a wrought iron gate.  Fellow quilters and hand crafters also help me find new ideas and ways of creating things that I never thought would be possible and to those people for giving me encouragement and the energy to continue I thank you.

Once again I would like to thank Carla for passing the Baton to me to do this blog, it has been a little bit since I blogged as my life had become very hectic.  but I am back!  My Storm at Sea Quilt is now off the frame and the final quilting stitches are currently happening.  I look forward to showing you the full quilt fully quilted.

I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and I look forward to you following my blog in the new year.  I will leave you with a tiny bit of my newest quilt for you as a sneak peek! 

Start of my latest quilt as a sneak peek!

Until next post have a wonderful time!

Wendy

Weekend Round Up

Extra Challenge Block for Lang Lang Quilt Show Raffle Quilt

As per usual there is always a lot happening here.  Recently I found out that a couple of extra blocks were needed for the quilt so I decided to have another go at one with a new idea.  We only had 3" square of orange fabric and could only add green and white.  Here is my block to be added to the quilt.

Bastille Day Celebrations

Bastille Day Celebrations is on its way to Adelaide as an exhibit travelling with other entries and of course the wonderful winners of this competition held by Berry Patchwork Shop  It will be on display at the AMQ during the 1-6 of October.  More details can be obtained here if you areinterested in attending

And finally here are a couple of shots of the progress of my storm at sea quilt. 

I have also made a tote bag and a table runner and will blog about them after my swap partners have received them.  My creative space organised and I am sorting my fabrics for upcoming projects.  I have managed to do all but one project I had planned for this week, so I am feeling quite good about everything I have achieved.

Leave a comment and let me know what you have been up to, I would love to hear.  So until next time take care and enjoy each day we have on our wonderful planet.

Wendy

Photos from the dewy morning garden!

This morning as I lifted the blinds I notice a wonderful sight,  the Kangaroo Paw had a new flower emerging.  But the most exciting part was seeing these webs all spun the night before.  Spiders truly are amazing and as the sun was rising on the dewy plant these just glistened in the sun.

Webs amongst the Kangaroo Paw

Another Angle

Such clever creatures create amazing things

New Kangaroo Paw Flower Emerging

Whilst I have been busy creating in the quilting department I am unable to share this with you at this stage as it is a big surprise for a couple of people.  So in the meantime I decided I would share some photos of our garden which inspire me constantly daily.

So Until next time enjoy life.  Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement for a little competition and fun.

I will continue on my projects what are you doing today?  Leave me a comment and let me know what inspires you or what you are doing.  

keep on keeping on,

Wendy

Leaping into Spring!

Well I can't believe that winter is over for us!  I have been so busy creating that I haven't blogged again for 3 weeks.  So let me explain some of what I have been doing:-

Firstly I have sent this little art quilt to Berry Patchwork Shop for their quilt show and retreat.
It was entered in the One Red Thread Competition with a Theme for this year of Moulin Rouge

You can see other entries for this competition and others plus the winners here

My first ever Bonnie Hunter Mystery from Quiltville

The next finish this weekend was for my Mystery which i started at Christmas time.  This was from Bonnie Hunter and it was Celtic Solstice, as I changed colours and part of the design I am now calling this Blooming Celtic Solstice.  I am really please how this has come together.  My hubby loves it and it will be his couch quilt after I finish it

A finished top from My Quilt Along from Mishkas Playground

The last finish is my Delightful Stars Quilt.  This has been a Quilt Along which I have been doing with mishkas playground.  I have added a few stars and even designed one myself as I wanted a Square quilt, this measures 96" reason it is touching the ground.

Ok so I am feeling on top of the moon as these have been completed and crossed off my list.  I also have another couple which won't take long to finish also.  So with that I am planning on having the following completed

my storm at sea quilt  

QAG quilt for a special person

Tote for a swap

Table Runner for a swap

my Star swap block

Lattice Quilt top

Also going to do some Christmas Decorations and items for sale

I am linking this post to Kathi at design originals by KC for her Laundry list, come over and check out her blog

So until later in the week when I chat with you all again,  

have a wonderful time

Wendy

A Charming Kate Spain Lattice Quilt

Oh, what a wonderful swap this was to be involved in.  Thank You to Miss Midge for organising this and for giving us the chance to win more lovelies like this by linking with you.

I was so excited to receive my charms in the post and I then decided after watching a Missouri Quilt Tutorial on the Lattice Quilt what I would do.  I did change the size of my lattice to what was given in this tutorial

These are some of the fabrics 

 I then decided that I needed a few more charms to make this quilt as big as I needed so I went into my stash and added a few more of the Kate Spain Fabric and I also added a few more charms which went in well with the fabrics.  This is mainly all Kate's fabrics.  I decided to use white Emma Louise for the Lattice and most of the border.

Changed to Black and White for Value Test

part of the centre

Mock up of the borders

I am waiting of another pack of Daydreams charms and Daydream Memory ink for Binding.  I just love how this is coming to life.

I am planning on using this lovely Aurifil to create a beautiful cable in the lattice and cross stitch with a neutral in the squares.  This will all be hand quilted in No 12wt

Aurifil 12 wt

Thanks for the opportunity to do this swap and for following the development of this quilt.

Until Next time enjoy your quilting adventures

Wendy

Delightful stars quilt along catchup

Just thought I would give you an update, I have been behind on my delightful stars quilt along blocks.  So this last week I have spent more time on them.  I am really pleased how this quilt is coming together as you can see from my mock up.  

I am using an app Sketch Memo lite to do the mock up.  I take photos of my completed blocks and then layer them onto a template in the position they should be.  I then get to look at it easily and it is quite fun doing this.

Here are the blocks I have managed to complete this week, I have managed a few more as well.

Now that all of my blocks are done and I am waiting on the next block instructions I am going to start on the borders.  We have the details of them and tonight I have started cutting.  I am hoping that by the time next weeks lesson is here I will have all of my borders complete so that I will almost be able to start piecing all of the top together.  

I am very excited to be this close to having this top complete.  I will also have two or three other tops complete by the end of next week which I have been working on.

On a great positive today my Facebook page reached over 200 likes.  If you haven't been and liked it please come over and check it out here

I will be running a little competition between here and the Facebook page next week for this little celebration and who knows it may have grown even more by then.

Until next time, enjoy life and hug your family and friends!

Wendy

Having lots of fun with Kate Spain Fabric!

Well I just cannot believe that I haven't written anything for three weeks!

I have been a little busy with a few projects and a bit down on myself so I think this new quilt is going to change all of this around

Kate Spain Charms

In May I was invited to join in a swap of Kate Spain Fabric.  This would give me 112 charm squares!  Wow this fabric is just delightful and I thought why not.  Now after I received these fabrics I new who the recipient of this quilt would be but wasn't sure of the design. Until I watched Missouri Quilts Lattice Quilt .  I then purchased some lovely white by Emma Louise white to become my sashing.

Emma Louise Fabric Added

I decided that I needed this quilt bigger so I have cut some more charms to add and I am making my sashing a little bit wider than in the tutorial.

with sashing before trimming

Look how this is coming along

So you can see I had lots of fun today, and I just love how this is coming together! So tonight I will return to hand quilting at the frame on Love Calms the 

Seas.

Stay tuned for the next update which I promise will be sooner than 3 weeks! Remember to take time and enjoy the smell of the roses!

Until next time,

Wendy

Gardening and slow stitching Sunday

Slow Stitching on Love Calms the Seas

I thought I would start out by showing you all the beautiful sunrise we had the other morning!

I just love sunrises and sunsets

It was just glorious!

Today I spent some time quilting on love calms the seas before starting on making my loaves of bread for the week.  Just after lunch I went into the garden with Hubby and we harvested our Kiwi Fruit, they will take a little time to ripen.  The ones which were a bit defective and may have been eaten by birds we fed to the cows.

We won't get through all of these in a hurry

Then the afternoon has been spent cleaning out all of my emails and updating the computer files.  This evening will see me watching World Superbikes and Formula One Racing whilst Slow Stitching at the Frame and I am joining Kathy here for her Slow Stitching Sunday

I am really loving this

So until tomorrow enjoy your slow stitching

Wendy

Whooping because another UFO has become my next PhD!

Finally can say I am happy with another project coming out of the cupboard and getting close to a finish

What was sitting unfinished

I started this project last year, it was my Facebook quilting groups BOM for 2013.  I was doing really well and keeping up to date until 

August came along.  I didn't want to piece this block the same so the whole project became shelved.

start of August Block

Ready for appliqué to be stitched

love this

This year I decided to try Steam a seam 2 and this is the first project I have managed to use it for and WOW! This is worth a big WHOOP!

another block in the making

love this grateful heart block

who doesn't need tolerance to gain peace

and just have fun

Ready for the sashing

So as you can see I have these blocks ready to finish the appliqué and then I plan on giving this quilt a star sashing, which will be fun and I am hoping to be doing a Whooping dance!

For my other Whoop - I have almost finished my Celtic Solstice mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter, I have changed a few of the colours and the border.  I am so excited and really would love to show you the quilt now but I think it deserves its own blog.  The biggest whoop is the extra fabic I have chosen for the border and the surprise that will be for you all,  is on it's why to me now.  If I am really lucky I will be able to have this off my list this month.  

I have also made my coasters for a special friend but unfortunately I cannot show a photo until she recieves them.  I am linking this blog for a big whoop with Confessions of a fabric Addict

Now that I have caught up with a lot of my things, I will have time to give you an update of all of the happenings here at Wehago Designs.  I encourage you all to click and follow me either on bloglovin or by email, I have some very exciting things coming which I would like you to join me with.  Having a giveaway to all of my readers in the middle of July,  So tell me what are you whooping about today and don't forget to join up so you don't miss a post?

Have a wonderful Whoop,

Wendy

Hand quilting a perfect end to the day!

Love calms the seas

I just love to finish my day sitting and hand quilting at my frame.  It really helps me wind down from the hectic daily chores

a bit of a larger view

I did manage to find some time to organise another little area tonight after we came home from a shopping trip with a visit to the Waverley Patchworkers and quilters show in Mt Waverley today.

These are just a few of the beauties I found at the show

This is a handquilted Beauty by Judy Leckie

This is another quilt from Judy Leckie

This is the centre of her quilt

This was a quirky cute quilt

So you can see I had a good time and there were lots of other nice quilts to see also.  Sunday will be spent slow stitching and spending time with family.

Until next time, enjoy your day

Wendy

Motivation Mayhem Monthly Muster! Come join the party May 2014

Okay folks! Time is here to lay it on the table. 

 Lets be honest with ourselves, we all need to find a few spare hours in the day if you are like me.

So this is how I am trying to find those extra minutes in my day!

• I am going to make a list even if it is long of all the things I would like to complete in the coming month.   Then take a second look at it your list -  is this really possible to complete?  
• If this list is huge, like mine,  then we need to ask ourselves what is really achievable? 
• Ok so there are a few things you know you will not be able to complete in this time. So we break down that chore or project and ask what is achievable for this project.  If you can complete to a certain point make that your focus! Do this for all items on your list. 
• After doing this rewrite your list and prioritise the things on your list, sometimes I actually think of this and put in weekly allotments. 
• We all know days do not go always go to plan and other things crop up. But if a plan is in place it does help to make this come together very quickly. 
• Then as the month comes progresses consult your list in the mornings and have a look and see where you can fit these projects into your day. Make a plan and try and stick to it. I have so many quilts I want to make I figure the only way I can do it is to be organised and create as much as possible time where I can. This monthly list will help, I may actually have a rough yearly list with rough times when I would like to start some of my new quilts...etc

Ok so who is with me?  

Who of you are going to write a blog post and link with us for this monthly party adventure?  If you don't write a blog please make a comment that you are joining in your own way, I will have an offer for you in a couple of weeks to make it worth your while!  So come on in write the post with your list and how you are going to write a list, check it off and then party with your completed projects.

So here is My List for June!

1. Complete Quilting my Love Calms the Sea Quilt
2. Moulin Rouge challenge art quilt entry
3. Complete piecing Celtic Solstice Quilt
4. Become up to date with Delightful Stars Quilt Along
5. Start finishing Quilting Facebook group BOM 2013 quilt top
6. Organise my three boxes of Scraps into a neat tidy box
7. Have all of my housework up to date and everything in its rightful place
8. My Star Bee Buzz Block
9. Find time to make items for sale
10. Coasters for someone special

Love calms the Seas

My boxes of Scraps

Three of the quilts for tops

So I have this out there and it is quite a lot but I figure I can get a lot of it done.  If i can complete most and have some started that is a bonus!  Every item ticked off will be a good thing.  I plan on adding this list onto the side of my blog and ticking off items as they become complete.

So let the excitement and party begin, so pick up a link and join Kathi and Myself on this new little venture! And for all who join with us I have a little giveaway of a pre cut wall hanging top plus two hand quilting cottons for you! So what is stopping you now?

Remember to,  make a list, tick it off, and party with us!

Wendy.