February block of the month!

February Block of the Month is Here!

Today is a very special person in my life birthday so a big Happy Birthday to Margie Burke!

I hope you all are enjoying making this with me!   Today I chosen three fabrics from my bundle, and once again I will make one by machine and one by hand.  I will update this blog post with the one  hand pieced block later in the week.   I have been struggling to finish my quilt and have an ongoing minor health issue I am dealing with this week.

Ok, lets do this!  From our three fabrics I have chosen a dark, medium, and light fabric.  I have also fussy cut the centre a little bit of the hand pieced one you may like to do this if you have a print which would look better centred.  

cutting instructions:- 

Centre 1 x 6.5" square ,  Cornerstones 4 x 3.5" squares, and rails 4 x (3.5" x 6.5")

colours for each block

Cut and laid out ready for stitching

Cut and ready for marking before stitching

We stitch this the same way as our previous nine patch in the rows and then join the rows, taking care of nesting our seams.  Make sure you press your seams to the darker fabric.

top row being stitched

Centre being sewn

Top and Centre rows together

Complete Uneven 9 patch!

I look forward to seeing your blocks posted either in the Facebook page or on instagram!  If you missed last months Block of the month click here

So until next time have lots of fun,

Wendy

Marking your quilt with a Hera marker!

Well firstly I would love to thank Sew and Sow Farm for hosting this monthly link up with tips and tutorials.  I always say I should do them and find myself becoming busy, well this is making me try and do one a month for you.

Today I would like to talk to you about one method I have for marking my quilts.  One of the main ones is with a Hera Marker and because I am using it at the moment I thought it appropriate I show you how I do this.

Hera Marker with my template with my Aurifil 12 wt thread in background

A box hubby gave me and this makes this task possible whilst the quilt is on the frame

So how does this work, firstly I place my template where I want to draw the line

template in position

next I hold the wooden box on my knees under where I want to mark the line.  This gives a strong and hard surface for me to press the marker onto the quilt

drawing with the Hera Marker

a better angle for you to see

The Hera marker leaves creases in your fabric, no worries about getting marks out later.

creases in the top after marking

Sometimes you may need to adjust your light to get the shadowing effect to see the line but this is not a problem

Here is a few stitches on the needle

And here is a cool photo of a few blocks already quilted.  I love this marker and I am sure you will also.  I am really grateful that the fat quarter shop are on board with link which is being hosted by Sew and Sow Farm.  If you are interested in the Hera marker you can check out one here at the here at the fat quarter shop, and also a big thank you to Aurifil my favourite thread for sewing and quilting

few blocks quilted

This is a book I purchased a few years ago, it is invaluable to me.  This version is not available now but there is a newer version out which is just as good.  If you want ideas on quilting this is ideal, it is good for both hand and machine quilting.

a great book

I hope this has answered some of your questions regarding marking your quilts.

Be on the lookout for my Block of the Month post this week and I look forward to seeing all of your February blocks.  I will do a little post of your blocks also this week, it will be great to see them all together.

So until then, happy creating,

Wendy.

Bushman's city visits

Hello Everyone!

I seem to have been missing in action!  Unfortunately the last quilt I have just finished you will have to wait about three weeks before I can possibly show you.  All I can say is I am excited.

This week looks like it will be a binding week for my three finishes for this year!  Whoop whoop! and a Whoomp!

But lets see what the main concentration is on at the moment!  I am loving this range and it is Melba from Emma Jean Jansen!  If you do not know who she is, take a look at her website, Im sure you will agree she is a wonderful Australian designer and her fabric ranges are superb, just take a look!

Bushman City Visits Quilt

I have designed this pattern last year and it was using a flower range and I wanted to try it with some of our wonderful Australian flowers.  The block I designed I have named Rhonda's love, dedicated to a loving quilting friend who left this earth last year.
The Pattern for this quilt will be available as a PDF download or as a booklet later this month on my new and upcoming website!  I am so excited with the little things I will be offering to everyone

close up of the quilting design 

I decided that this quilt needed some curves added in so with a bit of a twist I opted for a spiral, in each block and it is giving the whole quilt a wonderful look.  I am using Aurifil 12 wt thread and a small Shashiko needle for the hand quilting.

here is the quilt after a few rows were completed.

another close up of the work with my trusty clover adjustable thimble

At this stage it looks like this quilt will be taken off the frame on Monday some stage.  The latest will be Tuesday.  I am then planning on binding these two and finishing some background quilting on another before binding.   My quilting area also needs a new tidy and reorganisation for the coming year.  I have found these really cool containers that fit perfectly in my shelves around my sewing table that hubby made.  So next week I will take before and after photos for you.   I will also reveal a few fabrics that will be cut up during the year and made into more quilt tops to come to life.

New fabric brings excitement

I am showing you my latest fabric to the stash.  It is this years Kona colour of the year called Highlight.  Its just an awesome yellow and I can't wait to start to put together the top with these lovely charm packs by Moda:- LOL by Me and My Sister Designs

                                                  Dot Dot Dash by Me and My Sister Designs

                                                  Sanibel by Gina Martin

                                                  Moxi by Studio M

This was a challenge from Molli Sparkles on his Sunday Stash Blog so I couldn't resist showing you all.

Please go and check out the following blogs and the other blogs linked to them for lots of eye candy.  I am linking with Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash
                            Sarah from Confessions from a Fabric Addict
                            Zenia Rene from A Quilted Passion

I would love to give a huge thank you to these bloggers for their time and their linky parties.  It is such fun to see what everyone else is doing.

Oh just a reminder that my Block of the Month no 2 will be out next week, and incase you missed no 1 have a look at it here.

Now until my next blog continue to have a wonderful quilty or creative time,

Wendy