Chester Criswell Quilt Block 12

Well, 12 months have passed already since Sharon started sharing her patterns for her family album quilt.  Have you joined in? I have enjoyed stitching every block and Sharon writes great stories to accompany each block.

Block 12 finished....

Some close ups...

Carole did a great guest blog post for this block over on Sharon's blog.

Another Finish

I have finished the top for Lori and Randy's Medallion Sew-Along.

Thank you Lori and Randy for a great project!

This quilt gave me the opportunity to try machine applique with buttonhole stitch for the first time.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.
I also made the Southern Belle block (2nd pieced round) block for the first time.

Thank you for all the well wishes on my previous post. I'm feeling much better now.

A cure for the flu????

Well, maybe not a cure, but a lot of hours of hand quilting have certainly helped me pass the days of not feeling well.

 

Finished: A Piecework Sampler from instructions by Cheri of quiltsbycheri blog.


The back..

For the quilting I used DMC 80 thread. This thread is often used for tatting, but I found it lovely to work with for hand quilting. For the binding I brought the backing fabric around to the front and hand stitched it down.  All the fabrics in the quilt are from French General.

This enforced rest has allowed me to finish a couple of other projects too. More posts coming soon.

I'm hoping to go here tomorrow.

Chester Criswell Quilt Block 11 and a swap block

I am a little bit behind because block 12 is out already, but here is my completed block 11.

Sharon and I swapped Fleur de Lis blocks. Here is the one Sharon made for me.

I love the diagonal pattern in the fabric too.


I hope everyone is finding lots of stitching time.

Stitching overload! :)

I have made great progress with Jane Pizar and the medallion sew-along quilts are growing.

At our Friday Girls group we had a 12 hour stitching day yesterday. Lots of time for hand stitching. :)
I finished sewing the half circles to the 2nd round. Here are both circles together. (they still need to be stitched together)

Playing with half circle placement.

Stitched down.

The red fabric in the 2 photos above is another French General fabric (from La Belle Fleur range) and it will be used for the next round.

On the machine stitching front here is where I am up to with the Lori and Randi's medallion sew-along.

I have decided to use a different background fabric for the outermost borders for this quilt. I feel the broderie perse is slightly lost/overwhelmed by the red print design  I used in the centre.

I will be following Lori's design for the appliqued border for the red version.

Have a great weekend! :)

A day in the city..

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend the whole day in the city. Surprisingly, I found some unexpected stitching moments.

My first stop was the National Gallery of Victoria  to see one of their current exhibitions; Monet's Garden from The Musee Marmottan Monet, Paris.

This wall image was at the end of the exhibition and signed for taking photos to share.

Before entering the exhibition I took a couple more photos.

This shallow pond is near the entrance to the building. Porcelain bowls move with currents in the water and as they move against each other the "clinking" sounds they create vary with the sizes of the bowls. Although it is quite random, the sounds are mesmerising and relaxing. A little about the artist and her installation can be found here.

There were lots of pots of phalaenopsis orchids near the entrance to the exhibition. That column in the background is actually covered with wallpaper!

At Australia on Collins I found yarn bombing!!

The Block Arcade is further along Collins st.

More phalaenopsis orchids and some of the intricate mosiac floor tiles.

On a quilty note the designs in the Block Arcade inspired a beautiful quilt by Michele Hill. (image here in Michele's profile...the 2nd quilt, "My Walk in Melbourne")

Not only are the floors beautifully decorated, but these images are of the ceiling in one of the shops.

This beautiful mural was commisioned in 1907 by the Singer Sewing Company! There is some more great information (and much better photos) about this ceiling here. (since that post was written Chelsea has moved and the shop is now occupied by Crabtree and Evelyn)

Lastly, a little visit to L'uccello to recitfy my lack of spots and stripes in my stash!

My next post will have lots of stitching! :)  Back soon!!

Blogger Girl's Block of the Month.

The Blogger Girl's BOM is drawing to a close.

Here is my last block.

And here are all 6 of my blocks.

Monique designed a great setting for the blocks. I spent some time today finishing cutting out all the setting fabrics and I sewed up one set of setting blocks.

I've had lots of fun with fussy cutting with the fabrics. I used all Olde World Style fabrics (designed by Monique Dillard)

To see Monique's quilt and several more see her "Quilt Parade" post here. There is also a Flickr page with lots of blocks and quilts.

I'll be back soon with progress photos of  my two Medallion sew-along quilts and Jane Pizar progress too. :)