Back after so so long!

I haven't posted for a couple of years. I was so busy nursing my Mum. I managed to nurse her at home until the afternoon before she passed away.  I am so grateful for that, she loathed hospitals!
She passed away 25th June 2017, much loved and with me by her side.

I have actually been posting on Instagram for quite some time, periodically since September 2017 but more frequently recently.

My Instagram is : @maittlen61

Now , what I've been up to creatively... I have several quilts nearing completion which is satisfying as some have been long term projects!

Firstly, my Whig's Rose blocks are all done! I now have to decide whether I will do an applique border or a pieced one.

The next quilt I am very close to finishing is a Kim Diehl design "Sprigs and Twigs" from her book Simple Appeal.  I am just finishing the applique on the corners of the border ready to machine stitch the borders onto the quilt. I have really enjoyed making this quilt.

Another quilt I am ready to put together is for my 3rd son. This quilt halted due to lack of fabric! I waited and searched for suitable fabrics to finish the blocks when through great good fortune Minnick and Simpson came out with another fabric line in extremely similar colours and prints to the range I had been using to make the blocks so far! I quickly put in an order then after it arrived got busy finishing the last blocks! I've now bought the sashing/border fabric and am all set to begin putting it together. The photo below is the layout my son and I agreed on.

Finally I am working on the last couple of Benjamin Biggs blocks! I have machine appliqued 98% of the blocks for this quilt but the last 2 blocks I've stitched by hand which I've thoroughly enjoyed! I have also begun prepping the applique for the borders of this quilt.

The last picture is just some of the Benjamin Biggs blocks I've completed.  The total number of blocks won't fit on my design boards .

Well, I hope to return soon with a post showing either further progress or some finishes!

Happy stitching,

Rowena

                                                                                                                                                               

Courthouse Steps and Pineapple Logs

Oh dear! I have been an extremely infrequent blogger, ahem... Life just gets in the way. My Mother's health suddenly deteriorated early last year and I became a full time carer with Mum on oxygen and needing constant care. However, though my Mum needs constant care , I am now in a routine and managing to get a bit of sewing done.

I'm still working on the hand appliqued Whig Rose blocks which I find very relaxing but I've been having so much fun with 1 1/2 inch strips! It all started with a pattern in a Kim Diehl book I bought some time ago. I pulled some fabrics and made the blocks for the quilt centre with a couple to spare. There is the applique border to do next.

I've always loved log cabin quilts. I then began looking at pineapple log cabin quilts and tutorials on the internet and found a really easy method. The blocks are around 12 inches finished and do take a while to make but its such a joy choosing the fabric strips, stitching them on then cutting off the ends with the rotary cutter.  T\he only measuring is the original cutting of the 1 1/2 inch strips!

The strips that extend past the edges are just cut off! I use the lines marked on my ruler to keep the block even and straight. So easy. It's very handy having the spinning cutting mat for this.

Do you get in a mess like this? Or are you organized with little trays for each colour strip ? I usually am a little less chaotic but this really has been a pleasure.

Happy stitching,
Rowena

Belated Happy New Year , a New Project and an Old One

Now all the Holiday excess is over and school has returned yesterday, I have at last a quiet afternoon to post a few pictures and a few words, lol. A dear friend has recently moved within visiting distance and I have introduced her to applique and now we are making the Moda Sampler Shuffle blocks together. I found the downloadable patterns of the 6 inch blocks, contributed by many Moda Designers, at www.bearcreekquiltingcompany.com. They have been a great way to teach piecing (machine piecing)as there are lots of different designs with different challenges, even an applique block! I am making mine mainly with some Fig Tree charm packs and a Fig Tree layer cake with some of my stash fabrics thrown in for contrast. While I do love how fresh and pretty the Fig Tree fabrics are I have found, whilst making these blocks, that there is a lack of good contrasting darks...plenty of medium and light values but very few darks. So I have supplemented these from my stash. So here are the photos of blocks 1-11.

I will have to re-make this block. The green and cream fabric is a complete disaster! Live and learn! Bit of a laugh that I'm teaching my friend, lol, but it was a very good example of how certain fabrics and values Do Not work well together!!

The following is Block 19 of Benjamin Biggs which I am still plugging along with. Not many blocks to go now! Then it's on to the applique border!!

Last but not least a picture of my Christmas Pavlova which has been a family tradition started by my Great Aunt who past the recipe on to meto continue on with it after she was gone. My children would mutiny if there wasn't a Pavlova and a good old fashioned Sherry Trifle on Christmas Day! No photos of the Trifle, it didn't last long enough! I'm not sure what has happened with Blogger but I can no longer see the actual photos in the post as I'm writing it (only computer language!)so I cannot see where the text is ending up until I preview the post! Bit annoying , I have fiddled around but I give up!! The end result is the best I could achieve, sorry. Happy New Year to all! Rowena

My Son's Quilt Finished!

This was a Jelly Roll pattern by Pam and Nicky Lintott. I used a Jelly Roll by Minick and Simpson, I can't think of the name at the moment but it's lovely. This pattern went together quickly and very easily, I'd definitely do another quilt using this pattern. I put a wider border on it so Jorden could use it on his bed if he wanted to but the pattern size would make a great quilt for snuggling under on the sofa. The pattern is one of a series of individual patterns called "Just One Jelly Roll" and this pattern is Flower Baskets. The original is 62" x 62" without a border but mine has a border of around 6 inches or so. It did take just one Jelly Roll for the blocks and corner stones plus 2 1/4 yards (2 metres) for the sashing and setting triangles. I quilted an all over meandering feather on my longarm machine. I asked my son if he had any preferences for the quilting and he said he wanted "that really flowing flowery one"! I had to get him to show me an example, it was the meandering feathers! Great choice as it works beautifully with the prints, it gives a lovely texture. I used a 60% wool 40% poly batting which I have often used. It machine washes and is cuddly and warm, it's a dream to machine quilt. Not the greatest photos but here it is:

Enjoy your weekend. Happy stitching, Rowena

More Benjamin Biggs Blocks

I am gradually catching up the Benjamin Biggs blocks but I still have a few more to do before I am up to date.  I won't even mention the border applique! I'll get around to tackling that once all the blocks are done! So here are the blocks I have completed recently.

Block 17

Block 15

I am madly prepping a couple of blocks to get them ready to stitch over the weekend ( I hope ! )

I have also completed a quilt for my son, it's quilted and bound, just waiting on the label to be finished and stitched down! I will try to photograph it this weekend while my son is home and can act as chief quilt holder-upper!

My Mother has improved considerably over the last couple of months which is wonderful but she will never be as independent as she was before all the ill health she has had this year.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Benjamin Biggs and some instant gratification!

I have to say I can't think which number this block is off the top of my head but at least it's nearly done!!

I have still been having to grab stitching time where and when I can as Mum has still been needing quite a lot of hands on living assistence.  She has improved quite a bit but 5  months of inactivity has really taken its toll on her strength and energy so I am still very much her carer. I hope to get her to the Physiotherapist next week to devise some type of exercise regime that is designed for an elderly, much weakened woman in an effort to halt the loss of muscle and energy and hopefully start to regain some of both!!

However, back to sewing!! I have another 3 BB blocks in various stages of prep, 2 are almost ready to glue onto the background ready to machine applique.

I have still been doing a little bit here and there of my Whig's Rose blocks. A much slower project as it's all hand applique. While I do love the quick results of machine applique I still really enjoy the soothing and relaxing process of handwork.

Now, the instant gratification of the heading is a small idea that sprung forth after spying some Fig Tree Charm packs I've had in my fabric stash for a few years. I had a sudden uncontrollable urge to cut up and stitch together these pretty fabrics!! Here is the result of a couple of hours playing on Sunday night after dinner.

The colour hasn't come out as saturated as it is the the flesh unfortunately but it's so pretty I think I may make it bigger than I had intended.  I was going to make a table topper but I am now considering adding some applique on a border of natural quilters muslin and continue the borders to a lap or bed size quilt.

I have no idea why blogger has suddenly centred all my writing but I can't get it to align left now! If that's my biggest problem today I'm a lucky girl!!

Enjoy life and happy stitching,

Rowena

Quite a catch up! I can't believe it's July and the last time I posted was January! My Mother had a fall which took months to get over and I was having to do everything for her which put my quilting very much on the back burner. When she finally started to really recover she tore a muscle in her back which put her out of action for another couple of months. We are all back to normal now with Mum being a lot more careful about where she walks and how she does things, I'm very pleased to say!!

So here is what I've been up to, a little bit of Whig's Rose and BB blocks 13 and 16. The blocks in between are in various states of prep.

Whigs Rose (all hand appliqued)

Ben Biggs Block 13  (All BB blocks are machine appliqued with cotton thread that matches as closely to the applique pieces as possible)

Ben Biggs Block 16

Some of the BB blocks laid out to get a feel for what it will be like when finished ( use your imagination!!)

....and a few more...

So I will say goodbye and go back to prepping and catching up on my BB blocks.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Benjamin Biggs Block 12

Another BB block finished and the next one is being prepped. This block was an easy one but the next one has a lot more pieces!

School goes back next week, I can't say I'm looking forward to ironing shirts every day and being back on the school run, most of all I'll miss having my gorgeous 14 year old son at home!  I always love the summer holidays. I loved them when I was at school and I think that is part of the reason I enjoy them so much still, I remember exactly what it felt like to have all those weeks stretched out ahead to do whatever we feel like.  Sad to think it's over for another year.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Benjamin Biggs and Jacob's Ladder

Not a lot of sewing going on over Christmas and New Year but I have finished block 11 of Benjamin Biggs as well as another block finished of my Whigs Rose.

Today I laid out the strips of my Jacob's Ladder in order to sew them together.  I've had these

blocks for quite some time!

Lastly a picture of my Christmas entrance hall.

I am hoping to get a couple of quilts made over the next few months for 2 of my sons and I'd like to get back to Love Entwined sometime . Finally after 8 years of having all my quilting and sewing machine stuff in my bedroom I have a sewing room, I'm so delighted. The set up is pretty basic at present but I'm loving it!

Happy New Year for 2015 and happy sewing!

Rowena

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Benjamin Biggs Block 10

I've been very side tracked as far as stitching goes, I've been busy looking after my Mum who hasn't been at all well but is now on the mend.

I managed to get this block finished and I have almost prepped all the pieces for the next block.

I have also nearly completed the 5th block of my Whigs Rose.  I think it will be lovely, I have been fantasizing about the quilting I will do!

Happy stitching ,

Rowena

Benjamin Biggs Blocks 8 and 9

Here are my BB blocks 8 and 9.  I must say block 8 was a bit of a fiddle to prep and I had to stitch on the machine very carefully but I am pleased with the end result.

I have tried to take a close up picture to show how invisible the machine stitches are.  I use a Gutterman cotton thread that matches the applique piece as closely as possible and then using a very , very small blind hemming stitch on my machine to stitch right up against the edge of the applique.  I am so impressed with the speed and the results I will definitely use machine applique on future projects!

Block 9 was a pleasure to make, prepping went smoothly and quickly and stitching needed to be careful on the flowers but again a great result!

I am looking forward to doing the next block, I am really loving this project.  Many thanks to the Just Takes Two ladies for their generosity in preparing and sharing these patterns.

On the Carpal Tunnel problems, I am so thrilled at the improvement in my hands!  Taking a diuretic and wearing the splints at night has given me such a huge amount of relief from the painful and irritating symptoms I am amazed and so grateful!  I truly recommend giving these things a try before rushing into surgery, perhaps you too may get relief as I have. I haven't been doing much hand sewing at all over the past few weeks to really give my hands a chance at improvement along with the treatment and it's worked!

Happy stitching everyone,

Rowena

French General Mini Quilt and Benjamin Biggs

I haven't been doing too much handwork for the past few weeks as I have Carpal Tunnel pain in both hands and it has been really driving me crazy , waking me up at night and constant pins and needles , numbness and shooting pain at times.....sooooo fed up with it!  I went to the doctor and she put me on anti inflammatory tablets and diuretics as well as wearing a splint at night on the worst hand.  I wouldn't usually blog about my ailments but I know carpal tunnel problems are common amongst hand sewers and knitters.  I have stopped the anti inflammatory tablets because they made me violently ill but have been rubbing anti inflammatory ointment on the base of my palm/wrist, taking the diuretics and wearing the splint and I have noticed a marked improvement!!  I haven't been wearing a splint on my right hand because it wasn't as bad as the left but now I have had such an improvement, the pins and needles/numbness is 50% less than it was, I am going to buy a splint for my right hand as well.  If this can be of any help to someone suffering from this beastly problem it will be a paragraph worth writing.

So now to the bit of sewing I have done!  A couple of months ago I bought a little packet of 2 1/2 inch squares of a French General range, Le Bouquet Francais .  Such a pretty selection of fabrics! I have used some of the pieces for applique on Love Entwined.  The remainder have been sitting on my sewing table begging to be used.  So I had some scraps of shirtings left over from the Benjamin Biggs blocks which I used for sashing.  I made this little sweetie.

I used a strip of Josephine, another French General fabric range, for the border.  I am really pleased with the result.  It really lets the French General fabrics shine in the simple setting.  It makes me want to make a full size quilt using the same setting.

The Benjamin Biggs block I am working on for this month has very fiddly pieces! It will be an experience stitching these by machine, I'll have to go very slowly. I have been working on prepping it in fits and starts but must get it finished, ready for the next block which will be released any day now.

I'm afraid my Love Entwined has been languishing on my sewing table but I have been working on my Whig Rose, gradually getting the blocks finished and enjoying the hand sewing.

Enjoy your weekend.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Benjamin Biggs Blocks 5,6,7

I have prepped and machine stitched these blocks. I love the last one, I would love a quilt made entirely of that block.

Block 5

Block 6

Block 7

I think Block 7 used in a quilt on it's own would make a great secondary pattern and leave lovely spaces for quilting....mmm.

I have completed another of my Whig Rose blocks, I am loving this and enjoying the hand applique.

Love Entwined has been neglected but I did get it out and had a look , I will get back to her in the near future.  I also have a centre block pinned up hoping to give me a push to work on it.

Not a great photo but you get the idea, it's a Blackbird Designs block from one of their books. I have some great fabrics to use with this , just need to make time.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Benjamin Biggs Block 4 and partial Block 5

I have been sidetracked from quilt making a bit lately.  I have been kept very busy by our German Shepherd puppy!  She has so much energy and needs to be walked and played with at least twice a day!  I have lost several kilos without even trying! I have also been taking her to puppy classes...she graduated last week, lol.

I have managed to finish Block 4 of BB and am on my way to completing Block 5 of BB, all machine applique.  I am really getting the hang of the machine applique and love the quick results....such a 21st century girl!

I took a close up trying to show the machine applique, you may be able to enlarge it, I am not sure.

Block 5 still needs the corner buds and leaves.

I have also been hand stitching my Whig Rose blocks that I have been picking up now and again since I started.

I am making 9 blocks altogether and am onto my 4th. It should be a lovely quilt.

Love Entwined has been languishing on my sewing table.....I will get back to it.  The work being shown on Esther Aliu's Yahoo Group of this quilt is truly stunning.

Happy stitching,

Rowena