Spreading the word..........................................

Deb is very generous and has been known to surprise people who are in need of a big hug by gifting them one of her beautifully made quilts.
Giving quilt hugs, that are loving and warm and provide a sense that these people are not alone in dark times. This is what Deb of 'works in progress' does makes quilt hugs! From her own money buys fabric, pieces the quilt tops, then sends the tops to her local professional quilter to be quilted.
Debs dream is to buy a Juki machine to do the quilting herself.
Cat & some other bloggy friends have put a call out for donations so Deb can buy her 'dream machine'. Can you help?
The gals have set up a Facebook page too, see here.
Maybe you can help in a way similar to me? I am donating my quilting services up to the value of $300.00 to be auctioned, you can read Cat's post about the auction call out here.
Maybe you can donate some money or a service, or bid on some goodies in the Auction?
Quilters are a generous bunch, how many of you have made a quilt or two or more! Only to be given to someone in need? Such a special treasured, heartfelt gift. A quilt is more than just pieces of fabric sewn together to make 'a blanket'. They symbolise love, warm wishes, 'I am thinking of you' vibes & so much more.
Lets help Deb.......to HELP others!

Arty, practical & freebies!

Hi all, I hope your days are happy & rewarding. I am pleased you made the time to stop in to say hi! Well, some of you don't say hi, you just pop in for a look about & leave. Either way it nice to have you here.

Customer quilt...................................(sorry for the bad photo's, we have had wild weather here, so it had to be photo's inside, because it just doesn't work on the washing line outside!)

Friend's of Gaye wanted her to make them a quilt, they chose a quilt designed by Suzanne Wray.
This quilt is large, measuring 95"x 95", when I phoned Gaye to tell her I had finished quilting, she asked if it did my head in?!! No I said, why? She told me she attempted the quilting herself but it did her head in!
Using three different variegated threads by Gunold I created a flowing water effect & rambling flowers, feathers & swirls etc.

I managed to get this & the following photo's on an angle on my sofa, so they are reasonable.

Next is something I was surprised at how quickly these whipped up. My next  installment fro the 'Sewing Essentials Project' from The Country Yard. Some handy pouches.

The smallest pouch measures only 5 1/2" x 3", the larger one : 7 1/2" x 4".

Karen over at 'Laugh your self into Stitches' is having a giveaway, please pop on over to see!
I was lucky to be gifted the wonderful patterns Karen design's, they are really lovely!!

P.S.......Karen is a real sweet person too ;-)



1 Xmas item & stars

Geezzzzzzzzzzz it's the 25th, what the hang is happening to time?? Did it go where the lost socks are? Maybe where the missing money from my wallet is?
Even though time has zipped by, I did manage to fulfill my obligations.

Back in 2011 Lynette Anderson commissioned me to quilt this fun quilt for her. You can read more about it here.Anyway, as well being paid for my quilting Lynette gifted me with a bundle of her fabrics! Called Scandinavian Christmas. I had made a couple of little blocks, but never sure what step to take next.
Then I bought a Birdhouse pattern from The Country Yard & some Cottage Garden Thread called 'Warratah' & got stitching! I used some of the fabrics for borders & binding.

The pattern comes pre printed.....how cool is that! That's like sliced bread to stitchers! I stained my background fabric with Parisian essence to give me that aged look, top it off with a rusty hanger & I am happy.
Thanks AGAIN to Narelle for hosting this mover & shaker!

Next I have been going to a class at my fav shop. The class is called 'Star Mastery' taught by Raewyn.http://stitchingfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
So you might be thinking, why go to a class, anyone can make stars? Well yes & no. I think it is a good idea to brush up on my cutting & piecing skills, it is easy to get complacent when you have been a patchworker for a few years, anyway it is a good excuse to meet up with like minded people & support your local patchwork shop.
Raewyn taught us a cool no waste method of making the flying geese.

I am using my fav fabric.....Kansas Troubles & a few others into the mix. I had a helper when taking these photo's. Brian was keeping my block holder warm while I took the photo's. Just happy to have a ole fella back!

 
Yabba dabba do, that's all folks!
Back soon with a customer quilt.

Thursday

We are coming to that time of the year again.................Christmas? Well yes, that seems to be looming. But I am referring to The Country Yard Annual exhibition. Always much anticipated by all. A day of fabric, quilts, goodies, live music & scrummy food! What more could you ask for?
The 26th of October is the magic day, so if you are in our neck of the woods, please stop by!
So with that in mind, exhibition or not, we are always coming up with new samples etc.

Not the greatest photography, but you can see the wonderful fabrics, the richness!
A Geoff's Mom pattern called..........wait for it..............tulip table runner! We used Kim Diehl , Buggy Barn & reproduction fabrics.
Available as a kit or pattern.

The points are missing along the edge, that's just the binding waiting to be hand stitched in place.

Another book finish for me. Karen Harper is a great author.
  “This Home Valley Amish trilogy finale brings shades of the movie Witness to the page, in a pulse-pounding, man-and-woman-on-the-run adventure.  You won’t be disappointed in the ride!”

Thank you for all your kind words about Brian.

Fantastic news!!!!!!!

look who greeted us at the door this morning!! We are so happy, Brian is well, he has lost a bit of weight, but he's OK.

 Now to know the story of where he's been?

Another Log Cabin & a Gail Pan stitchery

Di has finished her log cabin quilt, started at a class at The Country Yard & finished a several 'Stitch & Chat' days at the shop. Di gave me free range to do as I please. I love how Di's fabric choice has given this traditional quilt a modern twist.
Busy & black fabrics are always difficult to photograph, but hopefully if you click on the photo's you will see what quilting I did.
I used Madeira poly neon threads over black cotton batting.

Because Di had given me free range, apparently there was some betting going on between Di & some of the girls that there would most certainly be feathers!
A bit of a modern funked up feather on the border though!

And one of the back..............................................................

Do you remember Barbara's one? How about Jocielin's? Or Kerryn's?

Thanks Di!!!!

Next a little runner quilted up for a shop sample. This is a Gail Pan design, using one of Lynette Anderson's new fabric's & a yummy Cottage Garden thread. It is heavenly at work surrounded by the complete full range of the fabulous threads!!

Kits & patterns are available from The Country Yard!!

I hope everyone is having a productive week, mine has been full on, with everything happening at once! Our beloved cat Brian hasn't come home for several days, which is very out of character for him.........we miss him!

 Here he is sitting behind Simon.

Scrappiness

Loving scrap quilts...........................................

Fleur has been a quilter for many years & with that comes bucket loads of SCRAPS! So Fleur wanted to get a hold on those scraps........so what's a quilter to do? Make a scrap quilt of course. They are true trips down memory lane for the maker & for those who look on. As the quilter I saw many fabrics that were familiar to me.
This quilt measures 96" x 96", cotton/wool batting & I used Aurifil's new variegated poly thread.
Fleur is a hand quilter & I can tell you her quilting is stunning! So what an honour to be commissioned to quilt for her.
Very simple quilting of straight lines & a four petal flower, I hope the following photo's will show the quilting.

I wonder if Fleur has any more scraps??????????????????

My bloggy friend Karen from America is a wonderful long arm quilter & pattern designer. Karen emailed me the other day telling me of her new pattern 'Pumpkin Spice' for sale on Craftsy

Please pop over to see Karen here to see her pattern & quilting.

I have some fun quilts coming up in the next few weeks, so keep posted.