Lollipop Drops

Lollipop Drops - Fall Festival 2016

Lollipop Drops

a bit of outside play

Welcome to my blog and to the Fall Quilt Bloggers Festival for 2016!

Many thanks to Amy for organising and hosting this festival, it has been in existence for 8 years!  It must be said that running something like this doesn't just happen overnight.  There are many hours of organising and talking to people for prizes etc.  Now we have mentioned prizes, I ask that you all visit people blogs and leave comments and don't forget to leave a comment on Amy's Creative Side for your chance to win also.

I would dearly love to be nominated for viewers choice which can be done here and now.

Then from the 25th September you can vote for your favourites.  I will be entering Lollipop drops in Original Design Section here

And I also have my Anniversary Blooms quilt in the Hand Quilt Quilts.

Nitty Gritty of Lollipop Drops!

Lollipop Drops started from a session of play with the Creative Grids Hexagon Trim Tool,  you can find it here if you are not quite sure what it is.  I was having lots of fun and working one day a week in a patchwork shop, Moda Pedal Pushes range was new and looked so inviting that it came home with me.  

I wanted to make a modern looking quilt and do a bit more than the trim tool showed in the instructions. So with a bit of manipulation of the tool I decided to create this top.  

The piecing of the top

I wanted to create the red like it was coming from the centre of the quilt, and it was reminding me of those large lollipops we would have as kids,  hence the name especially when I placed the small and partial hexagons in the lower and side border.

Once the top was completed I decided to quilt this with Aurifil 12 wt thread and a Shashiko needle were my choice along with the Hobbs Tuscany Wool Wadding for loft.

beginning of quilting.

some of the detail in the quilting

Each element was to be quilted with a different quilting pattern to give movement to the quilt.

quilting complete and binding happening

lovely up close and personal collage

more of the hand quilting elements

getting ready to go inside from the setting sun

loving how the lines flow here

I entered this quilt in the Victorian Quilters Showcase this year in our Innovative Quilts Section.  I am happy to say this quilt was awarded a first.  This was my first every prize in a show like this.  

here she is with her ribbon

So don't forget to visit all of the other blog posts and leave a comment as its all very inspirational and lots of eye candy over here at Amy's Creative Side.

I hope you have enjoyed my original quilt using the hexagon trim tool by creative grids and my imagination.  If this is your first time visiting my blog, I hope you have enjoyed the post.  Please be sure to sign up and follow my blog for lots of inspiration and tips along the way.

So until we meet again,  have fun and enjoy the creative nuances we have, and smile often,


Wendy

Small steps to little finishes!

Happy Sunday to everyone!

What a great day it's been today, lots of little achievements!  I am linking Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday! I am finishing my day slow stitching on my decades of stars quilt!  I am also a fond liver of trees and their healing benefits to us.  To hear the birds in full song and watching them build nests etc in the trees oh what fun.  Check out kathy's blog post as its awesome.

Now to give you a little update of what I have been doing.  My time for quilting has been reduced a bit as I have returned to work, although it is only three and four days a week and for 6 hrs a day I can still do lots of my quilting.   Luckily for me hubby is not working as he's between jobs so is doing his share of housework and cooking leaving me with time to create.   

Now my job is in a wonderful fabric store and we sell fabrics and trims and accessories specialising in dance, dress and costumes.  It's lots of fun to work in this type of environment.  

Plus once a month I am teaching a beginners patchwork group and we are growing in numbers and having lots of fun.  

This is my glacier star.  I have completed to lesson four and will start working on lesson five soon! I'm just living this quilt and the process of paper piecing.

Whilst this isn't the best shot all of my blocks for my winding ways quilt are now complete ready to make into a top.

At work I wear an apron and needed another one so I have made a new one and will glam it up with my name on it during the week!

On Monday last week I recieved a package from an online friend from Canada!  Oh I opened this and tears of joy welled up.  I have always wanted to make one of these Hawaiian or Tahitian quilts.  And also include where some awesome Canadian fabrics which I will make another top with.   I now will go shopping for some of our awesome Aussie fabrics for Jo!  She deserves them. 

I really need a whole large room just to me so I can lay my quilts and tops out so I can see them properly.

Now this fabric I've had for a little while and planned on making a dress and a skirt.  So I decided these trims will be perfect so shopping at work was a bonus.   

My next realisation was that the Autumn quilters blog festival is about to start and I will be entering a couple of my quilts and would love your support with a vote. So until my next post I hope you are well and having a wonderful weekend!  

Remember to enjoy the process and stitch slowly and be proud of your stitches!

Wendy

September Block of the month!

Happy spring to everyone from my side of the world!  

Well after a few busy weeks, I am finally getting back on track and a bit more organised.  I decided to get this block to you on time.  I have also cut up all of the hand pieced blocks I am behind on and I have them all bagged up so I can just do some hand piecing when waiting or just wanting some quiet time.

So I have decided to introduce you to the Chinese Coin Quilt Block.  

Fabrics I have chosen for both blocks

Go to your stash and find four fabrics, you maybe able to use up some of the scraps that have been made from the previous blocks.

You will need to cut the following

Background cut 2 squares at 5 5/8" then cut diagonally to give you four half square triangles

                           5 squares at 2 7/8"

Fabric A             4 squares at 2 7/8"

Fabric B             4 squares at 2 7/8"

Fabric C             cut 4 squarest at 3 1/4" and then cut diagonally to give you 8 half square triangles

pieces ready to be laid out

pieces all laid out ready to sew

We will start by sewing the centre squares which form a cross in the middle of the block.  Sew a background to the fabric A and press seam towards fabric A.  Then join the centre background square between a 2 pairs which you have just sewn, this will form the middle strip unit of the block.  

starting of the sewing

Next we will sew the small triangles of fabric C to a square of fabric B and press the fabric towards the triangle.  Then proceed to sew the other small triangle of fabric C to the other side to form the half square triangle as follows.

sew the small triangles onto squares

sewing the small triangles to make the half square triangle

sewn units ready for sewing

Next we will sew the Background half square triangles to the pieced half square triangle units as per the following photos.

sew hst to the pieced half square triangles

all units ready to sew

All pieces are now sewn into units.  we will now join the corner squares to the rectangle units to form three rows of units to make the block.

in rows

Continue sewing and sew the rows together to form a Chinese Coin Block!

completed and pressed block

And here are all of my sewn blocks so far!  I am loving this one.  As I owe you your bonus block I am hoping I can get that out to you all soon.

all 9 blocks so far

I will endeavour to give you another blog post over the weekend.  I have a few little projects and squeals to share with you.  So until then I hope you love this block like I do.  Don't forget to leave a comment and say hello.  I would love to know what your favourite block is so far, so how about that as this months answer as a comment on the blog....which block is your favourite?  For me I think I really love the Greek cross and this Chinese coin along with Puss in Corner.  

So don't be shy,  leave a comment.

Happy Sewing and Happy Weekend!

Wendy.

August BOM! Finally sorry about delay folks!

Hello everyone!  I am so sorry for the lack of posts lately but lots has been happening and is coming in the future.  

I will write a post with lost of lovelies in the next few days to show you a few things that have been keeping me so far away from you all.  So now let's get down to business since we are a little later than normal.

You will need two colours this time for our Block of the Month.  I decided since you have all been so patient and so many of you have been sending your loving thoughts my way we should do a friendship star block this month.

For the background please cut. 4 X 4.5" squares plus cut two squares at 4 7/8" and then cut diagonally to create 4 half square triangles

For the star cut 1 X 4.5" square and 2 X 4 7/8" squares and cut them diagonally to product 4 half square triangles

All ready to be laid out and sewn

This is how we will have the block sewn together.  So firstly sew the half square triangles together to produce four units measuring 4.5".  Press the seam to the dark side.

Next we are going to sew this block together.  I love to lay my blocks out and web them together as I sew them.  If you are new to this technique.....keep reading and I know you will just love this method.

Take the middle unit of the block and place on top of the left side of the block.  Now starting at the top sew each unit by chain piecing.  Note do not be tempted to cut the threads between these units after sewing.  Just cut it after the three units have been sewn.  See the photos below 

The first three all joined

Opened out and ready to lay the right side units on top of the middle unit of the blocks.

I pin the second and third units so that I can take it to the machine without any problems

Sewing the last of the units on in a webbing format

Before opening 

All opened, now press the outer row seams towards the background squares and the inner row towards the centre square.  This will help with the matching and locking of seams.

All pressed ready to join the rows to a block.  As this is all held with the connecting threads this is known as webbing and helps to join quilts very quickly without having to remember which way you need to lay the units for the blocks.  This is also a very good way to join blocks into rows for a quilt top also.

You can just see the connecting threads

Lay the top row onto the middle and sew together and do the same with the bottom remembering to lock in those seams to gain lovely points.  Your finished block should measure 12.5"

I really love stars so I am amazed it has taken me this long to bring this star to you!  I hop you love the friendship star like I do.

Now here are all of my machined blocks which I have pieced.  I am really enjoying this quilt coming together, I hope you are also.  Don't forget to let me know which are you favourite blocks, I'm very curious to know.

So until the next few days when I can get to let you know what has really been happening with lots of eye candy for you.  Have fun finally with your August Block of the Month!

Until next time have fun,

Wendy xxx

Slow and steady Sunday!

Happy Sunday to you all!

Well I have been away from blog land for a little while but thought I should share a few things I have been up to today and recently.   

Although today was cold it was fine enough for me to snap a photo of Gelati Stars for you all.  I am deciding how to quilt this, jet me know if I should hand or machine quilt it in the comments please. I'm really glad I decided to do this quilt as a mystery for you all to join with me.  It's certainly been lots of fun.  So many thanks for joining or following along. 

Recently I went shopping for a few new text fabrics for my glacier star, these will be used in my outer flying geese and sky units.  Below are the units that have been completed so far.  I'm really excited about this quilt top.  I have decided to do the extension borders. 

Today I finished bagging all of my fabrics into each of the lessons.  During the next few weeks I will prepare my papers and final pieces.  

I was lucky to spend some time with hubby over the weekend and had this gorgeous hazelnut, chocolate gateau to share over coffee.  Was delicious!

Now my final project today was a little bit of free motion quilting on my blossoming news quilt.   Tomorrow I plan to finish the las birder and to do the binding.  So if all goes well I will be able to reveal this quilt complete for you this week.

For all who are going to Melbourne Craft Fair I will be there on Thursday through to 

Saturday so if you see me or spot my quilts say hello or tag me in your photos will be great to meet some of you in person.  

But until then I have lots if things to complete and organise.  So I will keep focused and keep my eye on the prize and not be dismayed!

Keep creating and enjoy the colours you are given in life,

Wendy!