Good bye 2015! Hello 2016!

Good bye 2015! Hello 2016!

I would like to say I have had an amazing year with lots of finishes and with only a few not quite finished tops.  Most are not far from being finished.

But my most exciting this is my Bom quilt along!  I plan on taking you on a little journey to make a quilt with me.  I am using the fabrics above and may add the occasional solid as I go.  I plan on showing you one block with lots of variations and we will have a chance of embellishing with applique or embroidery or just leave them as they are.  

 

Thes are the fabrics I have chosen to work with for the first month!  I also plan to show you how to piece this either by hand or by machine whichever your preferred method is or if you would like to try another way.

I plan to release the blog post to give you all the details of the first block on a very special day in my life! It will be the 8th of January.  During this post I will let you all know why it is a special day to me and why I want to share this day with you all.  So you have a week to gather four fabrics as you do not need all of them yet and you can even use up your scrap heap, I love scrap heap challenges!

If you missed the first announcement of my Bom here It is

During the last week or so hubby has been on holidays and has been keeping my energy up by serving me coffees and special Brunsli biscuits.

So I would also like to invite you to come to join my group on Facebook Wehago designs quilting community  to share in lots of fun or follow me on  Instagram or even share on a Pinterest board I will create for the BOM 2016 once we start!  I look forward to seeing everyone's creations and having lots of fun with you all.

So until we all start, please have a safe and fun end to 2015 and all the very best for a wonderful 2016

Until then keep quilting and creating

Wendy.

Santa must have posted early this year!

'

Wow, have I got some news for you!  These lovely fabrics arrived this past week. The ones on the left are a Primrose Sands bundle from  A patchwork quilt  and the ones on the right are a Tula pink bundle from  Handmade by Emily,  I wanted so much to write this blog and share my good news but I have been finishing and creating lots of tops for upcoming reveals in the not so distant future, time has just got away.

I'll explains what I will be doing with these bundles in a few moments but first let me show some of the things I have been doing. 

This week has seen a heatwave come through our lovely country.  With that also a gasp from me - Argh!  I really need some comfortable clothes for these times.  I also need to lose a bit more of the winter flab that is still sitting around my middle. To the hidden dressmaking fabric stash and I found the lovely silk and viscose I purchased a year ago to make some clothes and I spent the second hot day making a lovely maxi dress.  I used the silk on the top and the viscose of the bottom,  it was so nice to wear and now I have designed another for me to try and make during the week but this one won't be a maxi, just a normal length.  

This lovely bundle of Kona arrived from my Aussie Kona Club also from Handmade by Emily, just click on link above for details.  I just love getting these parcels, I chose to receive the metre bundle pack, so I get 5 a month.  There are a few more in my bundle as I was waiting on a couple to be fulfilled because of a back order of the fabric. These are so delicious looking makes me feel like raiding the lovely fruits we have available during our Festive season here in Australia!

I just had to go shopping a couple of weeks ago to get some backing and a couple of other fabrics for one of my future reveals,  so here is a sneak peak of the fabrics and Aurifil.  

Lastly on my show and tell this quilt was a special gift from a very special friend.  What started out as a liking and commenting on each others' quilts' online in a Facebook group has become a wonderful friendship.  Last year Kathi sent me this antique quilt and I was to have it quilted by my big 50 this year, unfortunately life got in the way so I am planning a big finish for it in the next year.  I sent Kathi a special package and if you would like to see it please go and check out her blog post as her parcel has arrived.

Now back to my exciting news and what those fat quarters are going to be used for. 

I am planning to host a block of the month quilt here on my blog over the next year and I would like to invite you to follow me, so you don't miss out.  This will be easy and we will build on everyone's skills from reading a pattern to stretching your colour ways etc.  I am not asking you to buy fabric you can raid your stash now that's lots of fun and a great way to stretch yourself.  I decided to purchase these fabrics for fun and I might add from other parts of my stash as we go along.

So if you would like to join me please leave a comment and we will be starting midway in January.  I am going to have a couple of places that you can share your progress with everyone for fun.

So until my next post in a few days take care and enjoy the build up to the festive season

Hexagon Royale! Come learn with me

Hexagon Royale, a sampler using Creative Grids Trim Tool

I am so excited to be teaching this technique to make a quilt from the Hexagon Trim Tool by Creative Grids.  Not only will I show you how to use this fun tool for basic blocks, but I will enthuse you with all the little nuances that I have developed to bring you fantastic new hexagon blocks to make this wonderful eye catching quilt.  You could choose to make lots of the same block to create a cool one block quilt or do what I have done and make the sampler.  I would love you to join me in the summer program at the Sewing Connection so please give the girls a call and Book your place today for my two day workshop.

Bastille Day Celebrations has returned to me after travelling around with the One Red Thread competition! With Berry Patchwork in NSW.  It is lovely to see this piece again

This quilt has also returned home from travelling Australia and New Zealand with the 100 quilts for 100 years anniversary of WW1.   I will now present this quilt to the Kooweerup Secondary College Concert Band. I dedicated this quilt to the school band and the 39th Batallion.  The school band march every year with the 39th Battaliaon in Melbourne Anzac Day Parade through the streets to the Shrine on Anzac Day.  Both of my daughters attended the school and we're both members of the school band and we're honoured to be school band captains.  I have seen  the wonderful dedication of both the diggers and the students as these two groups work together.  So this week I hope to be able to present this quilt to the Music Director.

So until next time I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Keep quilting or creating,

Wendy

Wow lets do a whoop whoop!

Well a huge HELLO!

Apologies.  this has taken so long to do a blog but I have literally been working on becoming organised and having many completions as possible by end of the year.

firstly I have started making some buntings for christmas trees.  

bunting in the process

I have been making quite a few buntings for sale for christmas trees they look so cool, I will have to make some for myself!

a couple of mug rugs for a surprise gift

These little mug rugs are well on their way to their destination!

This is a Block of the month quilt I started in 2013

This lovely Quilt is now ready for basting and quilting.  It has been a ufo since end of 2013.  I started this with Quilting Facebook group.  I am so pleased that it is now ready for quilting.  Earlier this year I did a free motion quilting course and am looking forward to quilting something fun on this!  I'm literally doing a happy dance! Whoop Whoop!

Nanny's Special quilt - Be sure to read her blog post in the link!  Its well worth it!

Now this special quilt has special meaning to me and another online friend Ineke!  Nearly two years ago it was a hot night here in Australia and we were chatting late.  We decided to send another online selfless friend a birthday surprise as she was always doing stuff for others and not for herself.  Then we hatched an idea to get a few more of ours and her friends to send her some love to... I will let you read all about it here for a warm buzz!

One of my Ufos coming close to a finish

almost there but had to have an affair with Jack the Ripper

Then lastly this is my latest quilt top coming together!  I did this with a local group as a mystery in August.  I am very happy to be up to the borders.  Be sure to check in soon and see the finished result!  Today I am linking with Confessions of a Quilt Addict aka Sarah to do a Whoop Whoop

So be sure to go and have a look at all the eye candy over there!

Until the next couple days take care and have fun quilting or creating!

yours in Quilting

Wendy

Trunk show

Welcome to the Wehago Designs Trunk Show! 

Thank you to Whims and Fancies for hosting this link up to the Trunk Show for 2015.  I encourage you all to go and check everyones quilts out here!

Storm at Sea

Storm at sea was made for my youngest daughter for her move from Secondary School to University Study.  I did not finish it until her second year of University.  It measures 93" x 96".  I paper pieced this using the Freezer paper method and I hand quilted this with Aurifil 28wt.  She loves it!

Allison's quilt

This quilt was made for my eldest daughter on her move from Secondary School to University.  she loved pink and green and butterflies.  So this is the quilt I came up with for her.  It is not as big as the other daughters quilt.  And I am in the process of making her a new quilt, it is green and orange with greys.  I am looking forward to finishing it for her next year.

Lana's Quilt

This was a quilt I made for my niece for her 21st Birthday. This was a very interesting pinwheel design.  I was really please with this. It was a lap size quilt.

Another 21st Quilt

This is a bargello quilt I made for a daughters 21st, I actually made two of these in about 6 weeks as I had two 21st gifts.  I hand quilted these also, just simply to emphasise the flow of the quilt.  Both girls loved their quilts.

Josh's Swans Quilt

This is another 21st quilt.  This was made this year for my daughters boyfriend who is a Sydney Swans Fan.  I designed the new york beauty block to emulate the Sydney Opera House which is in their emblem.  I made this into a quillow and I hand quilted this with 12 wt thread from Aurifil.  This quilt was quilted in under two weeks and a week to put together.  It was a few days late for gifting.

Moulin Rouge

This little art quilt is part of a competition called One Red Thread.  This is my interpretation of Bastille Day in Paris with the girls from Moulin Rouge out dancing in the streets.

2015 Pantone colour of the year quilt

This is my Pantone entry for 2015.  I hand quilted this quilt and I call it Time Warp.  I have used reproduction fabrics but pieced it modern and heavily quilted it with 28wt Aurifil thread to emulate a 3D pattern in the hexagon with background like pebbles

Hexagon Royale

Hey Grub! lets fly a kite!

These last two where also using the hexagon trim tool by creative grids like Time Warp.  I love this tool and am always thinking of more ways I can experiment with it.  Both of these quilts were machine quilted by myself

Charm Dance

This quilt was made for someone special to help cheer her up and give her comfort as she has some health issues.  I made this within a week.  2 days to piece it and 5 days to quilt it.  I hand quilted this with 12 wt Aurifil.  I used a large daisy and just quilted a swirly vine between the flowers

Snuggle/floor play quilt

in the snuggle ready for baby

This quilt was made and machine quilted by me also.  This was made for a new born and it has room for her as she grows and needs to play on the floor.  Her mum adores it as uses it all the time.

Thanks again

Many thanks for stopping by and checking out my trunk show.  If you would like to keep up with me and find out about my special quilts which I will be doing in the near future,  just hit the subscribe buttons on the blog side.  Once again have fun and I will catch you next time.

Wendy.

Singing the joys of quilting

I have had the most fabulous couple of weeks with my quilting projects I thought it is worth singing about.  So without any further ado let me show you.

       

I have started a sampler of my hand quilting, it is really quilting fast, this is only 14.5".  I am so happy with it and am hoping to have it complete in about 24 hrs time.  I am using 28wt Aurifil thread and Kona Solids with Hobbs Tuscany Wadding.  It really makes the design pop. 🎉

Once I finish my wholecloth sampler I plan on finishing this Hawaiian Style cushion.  It is also a joy to work on.  With this I am using 12 wt aurifil thread and Kona Solids again with Hobbs Tuscany Wadding.  I really love the echoing quilting, what about you?

I had an order for some more vintage bunting so I got to creating these again,  they are so much fun

Then all of my tea towels had sold out so back to the drawing board for some more cupcakes

Then these delightful will eventually form a new quilt I am creating.  What do you think of this one?

This should have been published a few days ago but I got carried away quilting so here is the finish of the sampler and where I am with my Hawaiian 

Thanks for reading and leaving me a hello, I love hellos! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend as it is the start of our here down under

Have fun quilting, and keep smiling!

Wendy

Charm Dance!

Welcome back to the Autumn Quilt Bloggers Festival.  Thank you to Amy from Amy's Creative side and to all of the sponsors for your support and making this possible

I would love you to vote for me when voting opens here, for my charm dance quilt
I have also entered my Sydney Swans Quilt here in original designs. 
I would also love you to nominate me now for viewers choice with my Sydney Swans quilt by filling out the form on this link, thank you

Let Charm Dance begin, first we will play the music!  So grab your partner and lets rock!

A new friend from Texas asked if I could help her make a quilt online for her daughter.  She showed me what she wanted and asked if it was possible.  I said of course!  I had some charms that were given to me and I wanted to do something with them.  So out came my Kona solids and I decided on the grey and pool as my solids.

beginning stages

My husband and I found out a friend was feeling not well and needed some treatment.  I was suppose to make her a big quilt but decided I would make this quilt alongside my friend from Texas (via msgs etc) and I would gift mine once finished to our sick friend.  As sometime I take way to long on a big quilt.

starting to come together

I started working on this and realised I needed some more charms.  I was at my sewing group and a friend had a pack so I was able to buy the pack from her...a little bit further I decided I would need another pack so later that day a search with another friend located some not far from me.  So the very next morning I rang and purchased that pack.  I had to wait a day for them to arrive and then back into the sewing of the top and the border to complete my flimsy.

one quilt top ready to go on the frame

This quilt top without the delays of waiting for a charm pack really only took two days at maximum to complete.  The finished size of the flimsy is 53"

commencement of quilting

Next delay was waiting on the Wadding to arrive.  I decided as we are coming into summer it might be nice to use a cotton batting, so I ordered Quilters Dream Request and it was magic. I also needed a batting so around to the local lady who has some backings I needed this quilt to be done fast.  I had also decided that using 12 wt Aurifil would be the go.  After using it on my Sydney Swans quilt I knew I could quilt fast.  

Next to decide was on the design.  I decided a nice large overall pattern would work well.  So i drew a large daisy and laid it on top of the quilt on my frame.  and it looked great so off to work I went.

quilting away

Between the daisy I decided big loops to link were the way to go and to even out the quilting.  I managed to do a row a day so 4 days of quilting and I just loved how it all came to life.

finishing stages

As soon as I had it off the frame the sun had just come out in the morning so out onto the front verandah to see the sun sparkle on that quilt.  Then back into to start the binding and the label.

my little label to complete the quilt

Once the label was on and it was into the machine for washing and then drying.

washed and drying

We then had to take a little journey for a lovely photo shoot.  Here she is waiting on the station for the train that doesn't come to town anymore!  So instead I had to deliver this little beauty to the recipient myself.

waiting on the platform before delivery

Once again I would love to thank Amy for hosting and I encourage you all to check out her blog and site and all of the eye candy in this years festival.

Thanks again for reading my little charm dance story, I hope your feet were tapping to the beat.

Until next time have a wonderful read of all the blogs and keep on smiling,

Wendy

Sydney Swans quilt

Welcome to my post for the Autumn Quilt Bloggers Festival 2015

Thank you all for taking the time to read, vote and nominate my quilts for the following.  I would like to thank Amy for hosting and for all of the supporters for their generosity into making this a wonderful time of the year to celebrate our quilts.

I would appreciate if you could please click here and nominate me for viewers choice by filling out the form, this is open now.

My Sydney Swans quilt is entered into original design category here, please click on and vote by clicking the heart button once voting opens

I have also entered my Charm Dance in the Modern Quilt section here, once again click on the little heart once voting opens.  thank you

Now let the story begin

So here is my quilt complete

So let me begin at the very beginning.  My youngest daughters partner is an avid Sydney Swans Football Fan.  It was his upcoming 21st birthday and my daughter and I decided he needed a quilt for this celebration in the form of a red and white quilt.

Starting of the arcs

I had a little bit of a design forming in my head.  I figured that the Sydney Opera House which is in their emblem wasn't so far removed from the traditional block called New York Beauty.  So with a bit of drawing and tweaking the above arc was the start of my blocks for the main part of the quilt.

lots of arcs complete

I had decided the centre of the quilt would be like the Jumper the footy players wear.  So I went about making this.  It required a bit of appliqué work and was lots of fun.  Except I thought I had it all looking fabulous and my husband pointed out that part of it wasn't quite right.  So back to drawing and re working the opera house in the emblem and all was good.

here is the Centre of the quilt ready for construction

Starting to take shape with additional blocks

Start of the border quilting

start of the arc quilting

moving along ready to start another block with some of the background grid showing

another photo of the quilting advancing

This was the centre of the quilting 

Centre of the quilt coming to life with the quilting

During the quilting I decided this would be good as a quillow, incase you do not know this term it is when a quilt becomes a pillow or cushion.  As my daughters partner used to play for the juniors I decided it would be cool to make the cushion the back of a jumper as if he was still playing.

Binding being completed

I had been quite busy with life matters leading up to this quilt being made.  I had two weeks to complete this quilt.  I did not have the quilt quite done for the party, It was all quilted and ready to bind and assemble as a quillow on the night.  So it was presented in a box and I then brought it home and finished it and he received it a couple of days later.  I hand quilted this in 10 days.

all folded up as a quillow

This Quilt measured 80' x 60".  It was made using Kona Solids and quilted with Aurifil 12 weight thread using Hobbs Tuscany Wadding.

Thank you for taking the time to celebrate this quilt and the reason it was made.  I do thank you very much for voting for me and I do thank Amy from Amy's Creative Side for making this all so possible.

Until next time thank you and remember to check everyones quilts out and enjoy the eye candy of all.

Quilting makes me smile,

Wendy.