My 3D Heart Block

My 3D Heart Block

As Promised I designed a new block for me today.  I found these lovely fabrics in my stash and decided to do a block which could be used on its own or in a sampler block quilt.  A little while ago I was asked by a former teacher Cheryl Billings Smith to come up with a block for a sampler quilt.  So this is it.  

These are the fabrics out to the box

You can check out Cheryl's page on sampler quilts here at Chebbies Sampler Quilts Australia

My new sewing caddy

Today saw the first trip to sewing with my new toolbox! It was the centre of attention and Masters may have to order more in as a few of the ladies were ready to go and buy one.  I fitted my machine and my iron in plus other things and I still had room to fit more.

I have been in an apron swap and I got a lovely lady from USA.  Her request was blues, and she would like a bib and a longer apron, she liked roses and frills.  I had this gorgeous fabric with roses and cup cakes and teapots and sugar bowls on it, so it seemed the best option.  I then teamed it with some blues and one of them was a rose print.  I was then package and sent off overseas.   

A little over a week later a surprise arrived in her mailbox and she now has my apron to wear whilst she is cooking.  Oh by the way she says she loves it!  I am now just waiting for my apron to arrive in the mailbox for me.

this is my finished apron before it left

This is Gelato

Don't forget to visit the Spring Bloggers Quilt Festival and vote for your favourite quilts.  I have entered Gelato in the Hand quilting sections of Amy's creative side blog.  Just click on the heart which is located on the thumbnails in each section.  You can vote for two quilts in each section each day of the festival.  I would like to thank everyone who has been visiting my blog,  also many thanks to all who have left comments and thanks to all who have voted. If you have a few moment click on here and vote now

Have a fantastic day everyone and I will share some of my morrow with you tomorrow!

Wendy

Saturday moves into a slow stitching Sunday

My frame in its new position

I spent time on Saturday tidying up my craft area and managed to change the orientation of my quilt frame around.  I normally sat between the window and the frame to quilt.  I now can look out of the window as I quilt.

this is the centre looking toward my desk area

This became a wonderful achievement as I have been planning this move for awhile but never quite had the time or the helping hands since I have the largest size of poles in the frame at the moment.

On Sunday I was able to do some slow stitching to my Love Calms the Seas quilt and as you can see I have started to make some progress.  I am hoping to be able to move the quilt on the rods to a new section by the end of the week.

Just a few shots of Love Calms the Seas progress.  This week I am linking to Kathy's Quilts for a Slow Stitching Sunday and to My go go life for Sewjo Saturday

Motivation Mayhem Monthly Muster!

My exciting news is that I will be teaming up with my friend Kathi from Designs Originals by KC to host a link party.  We are calling it Motivation Mayhem Monthly Muster!  Our aim is to set goals and be accountable for them and we plan on  blogging  about them.  They will be for the month approaching and accounting for our goals from the past month.  We are hoping that you will join in with us and write a blog about your goals.  These are not necessarily quilting goals.  

We plan for this to occur on the last Friday of every month,  the link will be open for the weekend.  Both Kathi and I are ecstatic about this link and we would love you all to joint us.  Let us see how many goals we can achieve for the year!  So grab our button from the side bar and get your blog ready for Friday!

Just a little reminder that Gelato is featuring in the Hand quilt section of the Spring Bloggers Quilt Festival, I would appreciate your vote if you can spare a couple of minutes by clicking on the heart of the thumbnail of the quilt and voting, Thank You

Why not sign up and follow me, tomorrow I will be posting a new block I have designed and made so stay tuned for my reveal.

Have a great day,

Wendy

Lang Lang Quilt show 2014

The first weekend of May was the annual Lang Lang Quilt show,  I thought I would

share some of the beauty which was displayed there over the weekend.

Along with the quilts were quite a few shops and stalls sewing their goodies.

One of the highlights is the Scones, Jam and Cream for afternoon tea

Each year there is a challenge and this year we were given a 3" orange square and had to use only white or green and no more orange.  The block was to be a 10" finished block.  Unfortunately i got distracted and forgot to take a photo of all of the blocks.  The one above was my entry.  This show is a judged by the viewers and tallied at the end of the last day.  For all of the challenge blocks and more details visit the Lang Lang Quilt Show Facebook page

Whilst we are speaking of Quilt shows be sure to visit the Spring Bloggers Quilt Festival over at Amy's Blog, I have entered my Gelato in the Hand Quilted Section and would love your vote, so come over and have a look at vote for your favourite

this is Gelato

So until next time, have a wonderful weekend and recharge for the coming week.

Keep Smiling,

Wendy

Slow stitching feathers on Sunday

Oh how I love to hand quilt! I actually can't think of  many other pastimes I would rather be doing on a Slow Stitching Sunday and that is why I am linking with Kathy here.  I started on the second feather and am happy to say that I actually reached my goal and completed it.  

I threaded all of my needles and left them on the thread and only cut when I needed the next needle, this was such a time saver as I didn't have to keep threading needles, it also gives my needles a good rotation.  I am also happy to announce that my blog is being listed with Quilt Qua now.  It is a great site with lots of quilty information for everyone.  Please take a look.  As for me I will be continuing stitching the rest of my Gelato now.

until next time continue to enjoy life

Wendy

Fun with my stencils

Last week I watch a wonderful YouTube tutorial by Lillian Hedley on how to draw feathers http://youtu.be/pgaRvjiMHQQ After watching this turtorial I drew this feather for my miniature Gelato.

I thought I would share how I make my templates and transfer to my quilt as there have been a few questions about templates and making them on our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/handquilting/.

I have been using freezer paper of recent times, previously I used template plastic.  First I draw my design on the freezer paper and then cut out the shape

After this point I then cut out certain sections leaving the template still holding together but with enough holes so I can transfer my shape to my quilt

Once I have it looking like this I then pin to my quilt and then proceed to transfer the design by tracing around the outside and the holes in the template,  I use a slither of soap for this but you may use a pencil if you prefer.  I use the soap as it removes easily and it makes your quilt smell nice as you work on it

I then fill in the different lines from the markings I have on my quilt to get this so then I can start quilting

I hope you have enjoyed how I do my stencils, please leave me a comment on how you do yours or if you will have a go and do a stencil for yourself now.

Until next time

Wendy

Slowly making progress with Gelato

I was hoping to have more of the little gem quilted by now,  I have lost a bit of quilting time due to my hubby finishing my desks hutch.  It is now in and is in place, I just need to reorganise everything.  It was a mammoth effort to get it into the house as it is quite large and will be perfect for our storage of books and other supplies.  We had to remove the light fitting in the area to enable us to put it in place as it goes all the way to the ceiling.  I am so thankful to have a wonderful man to build my things for me.

You can see all to the area we have now it is wonderful.

So I was only able to quilt on Gelato for the evening and not most of the day as I had planned, I have left the rest of the sorting of papers to tomorrow as I needed to quilt.

I did proceed with Gelato and managed to almost quilt another little border.

Here are some more photos of my little miniature

I am linking this to http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/slow-stitching-sunday-cross-stitching.html and also http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/sew-darn-crafty-linky-party_20.html

So come over and check out everyone's posts for the day, you never know where you may find inspiration.

Until next time enjoy your projects what ever they may be,

Wendy

Hand quilting Gelato

I had to go away this week so I decided to take my hoop and "Gelato" with me.

With all of my Aurifil Mako 28wt threads and my John James needles packed and my hoop I was all set, I managed to do quite a bit whilst away.  I have been enjoying the quilting on "Gelato" so much that I am continuing and will finish it before I return to quilting my "Love Calms the Seas" quilt which is on the frame.  

 As you can see I am making progress on this lovely little quilt

I am hoping to be able to complete her over the Easter break.

Hoping to be able to share the finished quilt in the next few days, until then I will continue to enjoy my handquilting,

Wendy

Gelato is in the hoop!

Oh I am so excited to be able to have this quilt in the frame and be quilting!

About a week ago this wonderful flower featured on my newsfeed of my Facebook.  I was so in love with the design I just new this was the centre to be featured in my quilt.

After completing the front of Gelato I commenced making an Amish Bar type of of backing with the fabrics from the quilt top.

As I had no quilt on my floor frame I decided to take advantage of it last night and use the floor frame to make it easy to baste my miniature.  I attached the layers to the aprons and tensioned it nicely so everything was even and away I went with the basting.

I am using  Emma Louise Fabrics, Aurilfil 28wt Thread and Hobbs Tuscany Wadding 

I then preceded to draw on my design from the flower inspiration which I had drawn on freezer paper and cut out the motif.

I am very happy to report I was able to thread my needle with no hassles and I am using no 12 between a by Bohn and it is just quilting like a dream.  I am extremely happy with how this is coming together.

So this afternoon and evening I am planning on doing more quilting to this little delight, I hope you follow the progress with me as I discover more wonderful patterns to use for Gelato, to make it shine with glory.

All the very best

Wendy