What am I working on today?

So often, planned or not, I find myself working on a few different things at the same time (and this, sadly, doesn't included unfinished projects out of sight!).

So, today?  Just finished my Fancy Free, a class I am currently teaching at the shop.  A Quilt as You Go quilt by Moonshine Designs. 

I am making more blocks for my 'scrappy trip around the world'.  I have decided on a 6 x 6 block layout.  I have about 15 completed blocks, about another 13 in stages, so maybe I'm about halfway?

I am working on a commissioned quilt for a girlfriend's mother in law.  She loved the miniature civil war quilt I made, so I am making a large version of this.

And lastly, a quick little baby quilt for a dear friend.  She was a great friend when we lived in Canberra, but sadly we lost contact.  She recently found my phone number scribbled on a bit of paper going through things at home (no doubt 'nesting') and contacted me hoping I had the same number.  I obviously did, and am so thrilled.  After 20 years of marriage and at 45 she has just had her first baby, so if that doesn't deserve a quilt, nothing does!

And what is Elsie up to?  Well, as usual there is always SOMETHING going on. When I went outside on this glorious Autumn Sunday morning, I found a little house set up for the fairies.  She has chopped up food for them and placed them in containers (note the crumbled chocolate!).  They even have plates set on the table ready to go, she never forgets a detail!

I forgot to take a photo of the bundle of fabric, but will post a photo shortly.  Just a little charm square quilt.

Enjoy the rest of Sunday,

Michelle xx

Fancy Free!

I'm not sure if I'm quite 'footloose' as well, but it's certainly all Fancy Free around here!  Fancy Free is a QAYG (quilt as you go) pattern by Moonshine Designs, which we are currently teaching at The Quilters Corner.  It is great fun and can be made any size you like.  I'm doing a queen size for my bed and am using a gorgeous moda range called 'Simply Colour'.

Its been on the go for a couple of weeks, but on the weekend I finally got around to putting the sashing cover strips on.  Unfortunately I'm two strips short (grumble grumble), so that will be this afternoons project (grumble grumble... I really don't like 'going back' to do something, can you tell?).

Nearly there,

Squeezes,
Michelle xx

Victoria Findlay Wolfe Workshop

Wow!  What an amazing day!  It lived up to all my expectations and more, leaving me inspired and excited.
By 8.00am I had been in a car, plane, train and bus and wandered aimlessly through back streets with my little trolley bag trying to find the venue. Once I found my way the lovely ladies from Material Obsession were literally standing out the front waving me in (I would have given them a thankyou hug but I was too sweaty!!) Thankyou so much Kathy for your warm welcome, it had been a long morning and it was very much appreciated.  The venue was beautifully set up, with individually made name tags, pencils, goodies and we had even had individual design boards. 

In the middle of the room, on a massive table was a huge mound of fabric scraps.  We were told to grab a pile, but!, it had to be colours we would never normally use and things we didn't particularly like...mmmmm.....

Victoria then led us on a wonderful journey, the story behind her book "15 Minutes of Play".  She first shared many of her quilts talking about the inspiration and story behind them.  From there Victoria explained how to begin 'playing' with scraps, joining them to become a larger piece of fabric which we can then use in any way our little creative heart desires.  She is an incredibly warm and generous person and I could have listened all day.

What my scraps started as ...

step 2 of my creation

 

Probably the main 'thing' I got from this workshop was a sense of freedom.  So often I try to keep my designs and choices fairly commercial, sometimes even stopping myself from going off on a tangent.  Well, this technique not only gave me permission to do this, but very practically showed us how.  So my little mind was just buzzing with thoughts and ideas the whole (long) way home. 

Before heading home however, I did get to drop into Material Obsession, somewhere I've always wanted to visit.  It was just gorgeous, inspiration everywhere you look, amazing colour choices and lots of projects big and small to delight.  Well worth a visit for anyone visiting Sydney. 

So thankyou so much Victoria, for broadening my vision and totally inspiring me.  It was without a doubt a day I will never forget.  Many thanks also to Kathy and the whole team at Material Obsession, for putting the day together and making it possible.  We learned something from you all as you walked around and shared your experience and talents also. 

myself and Victoria

 

group photo

 

Here are a couple more links if you are interested in having a look at some more photos,

 

http://materialobsession.typepad.com/material_obsession/2013/03/divine-intervention.html

 

http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/aussie-fun.html

 

enjoy,

Michelle xx

Victoria Findlay Wolfe

Well, I am just a 'tad' excited!  Tomorrow morning at sparrows, I will be on my way to Sydney.  I'm heading there to take part in a workshop being held by Victoria Findlay Wolfe of Bumble Beans fame.  She is a New York based quilt artist specialising in improvisational techniques, which is what (strangely enough!!) that she is teaching tomorrow.  This is the book which she released at the end of last year.



It will be a mad crazy day, testing my ability to use untested (by me) public transport in a new place, and be back home by dinner (assuming it is a late pizza!).  I had a class last night, one tonight, then a class Saturday morning.  From there take #3 to a birthday party, then pick up #1 from her GAMSAT exam.  I can't even look forward to a nice cold wine on Saturday night as Sunday sees me compete in a 10km event. 

I'm exhausted already, but cannot wait...!!!!!

So check back to see how I got on and have a look at some piccies!  (not sure about post race though, I'm pretty sure you would find it hard to see any facial features through the red puffiness anyway).

Squeezes,
Michelle xx

Zac's quilt .... finished!!

Ta daaaa!! Done! And... I have to say... I'm not too proud say I'm pretty happy with it!  I really was concerned to see how all those colours would work out, but I was thrilled.  I normally work in 'pretty' colours, so it was great for me to work outside of my comfort zone. 

I really do love this patterns, it really does work in any combination colours, and is great for putting together a masculine quilt as I have done.  For those who missed the earlier post, this quilt is a for a wonderful young man (sound so 'old' when I say that!) who we (as a family) think the world of.  It was his farewell gift for joining the RAAF, and beginning at ADFA (Defence Force Academy).  The colour choice is a combination of his favourite soccer teams, Socceroos, The Roar and Manchester United.  I gave it to Tammy, Jason and Sara to take down to Canberra for his ceremony yesterday.  They were absolutely rapt which always makes it so worthwhile.  I just hope that Zac likes it too. 

Congratulations Zac, we are very proud of you and love you lots!

Have a great weekend,
Michelle x

p.s.    grrrrrr, I have been sitting here FOREVER!!! trying to turn this photo to portrait and it will NOT do it, even though it is in my edited version!!! So please just turn your head on the side, although you get what I mean...

A different kind of quilting....

I have spent many hours at my machine this week (evident by the very sore muscles in the left side of my neck!), doing a 'different' sort of project.  I was asked to make a banner (= quilt to me) for our church for a theme they are following for the year.  I was given a rough design.  I was more than a little nervous only because I can't draw to save myself, and as it was pictorial, I was concerned about getting the proportions correct.  Well, all was going well, then I met with my pastor to show him my 'mock up', but discovered I had my dates wrong (surprise surprise!!), and instead of a 10 day time frame I had 2.  Oops!! So, home again home again jiggety jiggety jig I went (but a little faster this time) and hit the machine. 

I actually thought I would be able to whip it up pretty quick, BUT, the buttonholing around the lettering was so time consuming!  By 12.30 am I had it together but had only outlined the hand, plate and 4 letters.  I had to work the next day til lunchtime, then wizzed home (no old man driving for me!) and kept going.  I managed to watch an entire series of (12 episodes) of a show just while outlining and quilting.  The machine could only go so fast and I estimated I spent about 8 -10 sitting there. 

I then had to work again Saturday morning, so darling daughter #1 started to stitch down the binding for me and I finished when I got home from work.  So it was finally finished and hanging ready for Sunday service.  I was quite pleased about the finished product.

Elsie, who attends the primary school attached to the church was proud when she got home from school yesterday.  They had chapel in the morning and she was sitting just near the banner and told me how she told all her friends that her Mum had made it... isnt' that cute?

Have a great week,
Michelle xx

p.s. my tip for the week... stretch!  Even though I felt fine while I was sewing (I think there was too much adrenaline to feel anything), I must have knotted everything up and am still paying today.  So stretch ladies, stretch!

Civil War Miniature

I've been working on this little delight for a little while.  I have a huge amount of civil war fabrics left over, from my hexies, so a miniature quilt was a great way to use them up! 

As usual, I go flat out, then once that itch has been satisfied, move on to the next 'to be' unfinished project.  Well, I quilted this over the wet spell (ok torrential rain and flooding) we had in Brisbane recently, and have just finished binding (while watching 'The Help'.. again... love that movie!!) 

I did debate how much quilting to put in.  Quick and easy ditch (which I dont' find exactly satisfying) or free motion feathers.  I'm glad I went with the feathers, I thoroughly enjoy this while it doubles for well needed therapy. I did need to ditch around the little pieced blocks, and for the first time, I free motioned this to avoiding all the frustrating and neck breaking turning and pulling it requires.  It is a lot more time consuming, but again, worth the effort.

This pattern was from 'Civil War Legacies' by Carol Hopkin, and has a finished size of 31" x 36"

Enjoy your week,
Michelle