Civil War Blocks 29,30,31,32, Doll Quilt in progress and Quilt Labels

I've been a bit lazy with my blog but I finally have some things to post about.

First, these are the Civil War blocks I've completed recently.
29 Railroad Crossing

30 Peterson's Stars and Stripes.  

I'm sure getting these applique stars down...do we need any more?

31 Empty Spools.  

I had a bit of a fiddle with the set-in seams but pre-stitched with a large stitch first to make sure everything was where it should be (easier to unpick if they aren't).

32 Carolina Lily.  

I really am pleased with this one but I wasn't sure if it would look OK with the other fabrics I've used in the previous blocks but when I laid them all out it looks fine.

After I had finished making the Carolina Lily block I still felt like playing with fabric so I cut some small rectangles from a  pile of mixed 5" repro squares I bought a while ago.  Then sewed them into these strips.

Then I had a play around with some background fabrics.

I wasn't satisfied with that so I went to my LQS, The Home Patch and had a bit more of a play.

Maybe green?  I'm still fiddling but I think I like the green.  I bought these 2 green fabrics.

I have finally stitched the binding on this quilt for one of my sons.

I transferred a label (from a book I have), coloured it with Derwent Ink Pencils then painted Textile Medium over the pencil which will be permanent now I've heat set it with a hot, dry iron. All this accomplished I have now sewn it onto the quilt back.  Finished at last!

Here's the label and washing instructions.

This is another pretty label I recently did (from the same book).

This has been sewn onto a quilt I made from a FigTree pattern, Jelly Roses. 

I have a quilt on the longarm that has had me procrastinating for a few weeks, I think I finally have an idea nailed down so I've made a tentative start..... I've had all the ditch work done for a while and am feeling quite pressured to get it done.  Better get at it!!

Happy stitching,

Rowena  

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Civil War Blocks 26,27,28, Nine Patch Quilt Top and New Quilting Machine

This is my nine patch, I stitched the blocks together and am now debating whether to put a border on or not.      It's not the greatest photo but I'll try to get a better one once I have quilted it.

I've completed 2 more of Barbara Brackman's Civil War quilt blocks.  I so love choosing the fabrics, playing with different ideas then settling on my choice and putting together another new block.
Here are the blocks .

Block 27 Irish Chain

Block 26 Barbara Frietchie Star

Block 28 Next Door Neighbor

The other really exciting news is my new quilting machine arrived and is now up and running.  It's a Handi Quilter Avante with an 18" throat, fabulous stitch regulator and the best track system I've tried.  As yet I've just had a practice piece on it but I have a customer quilt waiting to start.  Here are a couple of photos of my new beauty!

I  have a 3 week turn around on quilting and would love to quilt for you on my new machine.  My quilting is all hand guided and I have 19 years experience in quiltmaking.  I am happy to take orders via post.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Civil War Blocks 23-25 and Customer Quilt

I went down to the Sydney Quilt Show which I thoroughly enjoyed.  So many talented quilt-makers in New South Wales.  I was very restrained and only bought a couple of Layer cakes, for the CW quilt-along.  I bought Collection for a Cause Hope, to supplement the fabrics from that range that I've been using for the CW blocks and I had to buy Barbara Brackman's Civil War Reunion for the same project.

                                                                                   

Before I went to the Quilt Show I arranged to meet up with Liz from Quilterie .  It was such a pleasure to meet in person after exchanging comments and emails, in blogland.  Pay her a visit if you haven't before now.

A few more CW blocks have been completed.  As usual I've had fun choosing the fabrics and making new (to me) blocks.  

Block 23 Illinois Roads

Block 24 Ladies Aid Album

Block 25 Calico Puzzle

This is just some of my blocks so far, I don't have room for all of them on my make shift design wall (door).

I'm really delighted with how they look together.  I was reading how one lady is planning on setting her blocks on point, it will be an enormous quilt set that way!  I think I'll use sashing and cornerstones to finish mine

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This week I finished quilting this pretty quilt (a Quilter's Companion project some time ago) for a new customer.  I'm always so pleased when I hand over a quilt to a really happy customer.  Sylvia is sending this over to England as a gift.  The fabrics are really pretty native Australian florals.  The applique was done with a machine blanket stitch.

Here are a couple of close ups of the quilting.

Such a pretty native floral print.

I've been researching and looking at Longarm Quilting machines for months and I have finally made a decision and placed an order for a new machine.  I'm so excited.  I will of course now be selling my current setup which is a John Watts frame with a Tin Lizzie 18 inch throat with a stitch regulator.  This machine would be a great starting point for someone wanting to get into machine quilting on a frame.  If at all interested please email or phone me for more details.

It's my youngest son's 11th birthday today, time really flies doesn't it.  I no longer have a little boy, he's growing up, next thing he'll be a teenager!!  Happy birthday Jorden!

Hope you are are all well and happily stitching,

Rowena

I Made a New Bag/Purse

I've had this bag/purse pattern by Australian designer, Monica Poole, for quite a few years. I apologize for the out-of -focus photo, my camera is not working suddenly (and sadly) so my daughter took the photos with her phone.

 I've put off making it because I thought it looked quite difficult.  I used to be quite a confident dressmaker and would tackle tailored jackets without a worry but this bag was something out of my experience.
I really loved the style of bag it is and have bought fabric to make it twice.  Well this morning I just grabbed the pattern and the gorgeous French General fabric I had bought for it a couple of months ago and went for it.  You know what, it was really quite straight forward!  I am so delighted with the end result, love my new bag!

It has a pocket inside for a mobile phone and a larger pocket for keys/lipstick and such with a slot on the end for a pen!  How 'bout that!  I even managed a magnetic clasp!

To hold the shape of the opening of the bag,  the pattern called for the use of a product called Rigiline.  This was simple to use as it's made so you can stitch through it so attaching it to the top of the bag was easy.  I then did a line of stitching just below the Rigiline all the way around the top of the bag, this has made such a difference to the shape, without it the top of the bag would have been squished flat by the front flap.  

Hope you all had a weekend filled with happy stitching,

Rowena

What's Sewing? CW Blocks and Quilting...Huge Post!

My poor old laptop is sick.  It really doesn't owe me anything.  In computer terms it's pretty old, five years +.  I've been having terrible trouble getting it started and the battery doesn't charge half of the time.  So first thing tomorrow its off to the Doctor.  I thought I'd get in a post before it goes to be diagnosed with who knows what!  Perhaps the end of the line! :(

On the sewing front, much more fun, I've caught up my CW blocks.  I really love this block 20 New England, it's so pretty.  I bought some fabrics last week at my LQS and I used one of them in this block.  The softer pink serpentine in the centre of the block.  The colours really please me.

This next block is number 21, Underground  Railroad.  It reminds me of the Jacob's Ladder block.  Both of the prints in this block are from the Collection for a Cause Hope range, gorgeous range of fabrics.

Lastly, I made block 22, Blockade.  When I saw this I thought it was going to be a real fiddle but it went together without drama.  I pinned  carefully and stitched first with a large machine stitch to check everything was where it should be, points matching etc.  Once I was satisfied, I put my machine back to the normal stitch size and sewed it together.  I was a little nervous about introducing pink into this quilt with the previous block, but once I tried it I thought it looked fine so I went for it and added some more!

See what I mean,lol.

Way back at block 13, Little Blue Basket, I didn't put a handle on.  I finally stitched a handle on my little basket block last week.  Ta, da!

Here's a photo of all my CW blocks so far, I'm really pleased with them.  I love going to the Flickr group for the CW quilt-along and seeing all the different fabric choices people make.  There are going to be some beautiful quilts once they are all finished. 

I often wonder what quilters and quilt collectors in the future will make of our quilts.  With all the fabric ranges and quilt patterns available now, it will be interesting for them to discover quilts that have used whole ranges (jelly roll or layer cake quilts for example) and quilters who have made several quilts by the same designer ( I have made a couple of Fig Tree patterns and have another in the works!)  Here's hoping ,of course, that my quilts survive!

I am finishing up the quilting on this quilt for my son, Nicolas, it's been a while coming.....I think he may be wondering if he'll ever get to sleep under it!  With the fabrics and pattern on this quilt I have just meandered all over the centre with a  variegated thread, it has greyish blues of varying depths.  I just have the border to do now but I've been procrastinating over what to do in it, I'm hopeless!!  I fully intend to bite the bullet and get it done this afternoon.

I'll shackle myself to this until it's finished!

I've nearly finished stitching the binding down on my Fig Tree, Jelly Rose quilt.  I'm quite pleased with the quilting and can't wait to have it on my bed.  Such a pretty pattern.  It was so easy to put together.  I have a Jelly Stars pattern ( Fig Tree) that I have made the four large stars for, it would only take an hour or so to finish.  I must pull it out of the cupboard!

Well I'd better get on with  it!

Hope you have all had a great weekend.

Happy stitching,

Rowena

Machine Quilting,CW Blocks and a Pile of Nine Patches

I feel as though I've really accomplished some things this week.  Firstly I finished a customer's quilt.  Jinkers, this quilt was a LONG story.  I was so stumped as to how to quilt this.  I came up with a plan which required a new ruler, I ordered it online and waited for the post.  When it arrived I did a sample/test piece and decided it wasn't right for the quilt after all.  Back to square one!  I played around with some ideas and was satisfied with my quilting plan and then I pulled a muscle in my shoulder, held up again!  I eventually finished this quilt and I'm so glad, it's for the loveliest lady who never picks up her quilts without giving me fresh eggs from her chickens or her homemade jam, always a pleasure to quilt for her.  So here a a couple of pics, I definitely need to improve my skills with photographing quilts!!

I've also finished the quilting on one of my own quilts.  It's a Fig Tree pattern called Jelly Roses.  I used fabrics from 2 jelly rolls, one was a Fig Tree range called Fig and Plum and the other was Garden Party by Blackbird Designs.  The blocks went together really well, I tried some machine applique on a couple of the leaves and stems but decided to stick with hand applique.  I am always delighted to have a quilt ready to put the binding on and so close to being ready to use!  Feathers, meandering and some swirls on the flowers.  I used Warm and Natural cotton batting and Superior's King Tut cotton thread in an unbleached natural colour, I think it's called Papyrus.

Here are the two CW quilt-along blocks I've recently completed and a picture of my blocks so far( they're laid out on my bumpy duvet on my bed so excuse the wonky appearance).

Lastly, I've made about 30 nine patch blocks and have quite a few more cut ready to piece.  I bought a fat eighth bundle of a range called Reflections from an Era Past some months ago with a nine patch quilt in mind.  The setting square fabric is from the Garden Party range by Blackbird Designs and the shirtings are from Jo Morton's Attic Shirtings range.  The blocks are laid out on the Garden Party fabric on my bed, I'm liking the warmth of the colours and the blocks on point.

It's been great sewing weather, cold for our Autumn.  I've been very happy to be indoors in front of my machines either quilting or piecing.  I plan to be doing some more nine patches tomorrow and I'm also putting a quilt on my frame to quilt for one of my sons.  It's a really simple design using a jelly roll of Japanese Indigoes, I posted a picture of it on 25th March 2011. 

Take care and happy stitching,

Rowena

Civil War blocks and some Quilting

Suddenly it's gotten sooo cold this week, I even saw a car coming into town this morning with snow on its roof!
Great weather for staying indoors and sewing, yay.  So I have managed to do a couple more CW blocks from Barbara Brackmans quilt-along.  Here's blocks 17 and 16.   They look a bit wonky because the piece of batting they're stuck on has a bump in it, they really are square!  My "state of  art" design wall is a piece of poly batting hung over a door, not ideal but it sort of works.

Another project I've been working on for quite a while now is a really pretty quilt called French Bouquet, I've just about finished the centre applique block, I've finished the blocks and I'm now working on the sashing and star cornerstones.  This is the applique so far.

This is a customer's quilt I finished last week.  It was this lady's first quilt and beautifully put together, nice and square and flat with beautifully pressed seams.  She was so pleased with the quilting which I did freehand. 

They are not the best photos because it was late afternoon and the quilt was being picked up so it was a case of now or never.

Happy stitching ,

Rowena