Piecing, plenty of applique (with some tips) and AQC

The last couple of weeks have been quite busy here, so not very much sewing has been happening. Above is my latest finished Jane Pizar block. These blocks are fun to make; especially choosing all the fabrics. JP blocks finish at 9 inches and are all hand pieced or appliqued.

I have made a good start on this month's Noah and Matilda blocks. The first is finished.

The next block I am working on has 30 something berries that will be less than 1/2 inch in diameter. To stuff or not to stuff.....that is the question!! Lol

My first completed block every month is always the Chester Criswell block.

This month it is block 20, Margaretta Harris's block.

This is how I prepared this block.  I started by tracing 1/4 of the block onto freezer paper, then folding the FP in 4 and stapling the 4 layers together to keep them from slipping as I cut the shapes out.

I only partially cut along each channel.

Next I ironed the fp onto the fabric

and traced along all the stitching lines.

Next I joined all the lines and basted around each ring of fabric that would be staying.

Before stitching I cut out the centre, leaving a seam allowance to turn under. Each channel was then carefully cut in turn, starting at the innermost channel, before it was stitched.

For the outermost channel I pinned the tip of each curve to keep it in place while I stitched.

And finished!!!

Last week Melbourne hosted the 10th annual Australasian Quilt Convention.

The quilt which won the National Best of Australia award was made by Janet Treen (Quiltsalott blog). Photos of the quilt on Janet's blog here.

I bought one pattern..

The pattern is based on a small section of the Rajah Quilt which is held in the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.

I purchased a few smaller pieces of fabric, mainly for Jane Pizar.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Blessed Easter.

Noah and Matilda block and one more Jane Pizar block

Well, I have been trying to keep up with my Noah and Matilda blocks, but there have been some other (quilting) distractions this month! Lol
So, on the final day of March I have 3 blocks completed....

I've saved the best block for last! :)  Today I chose the  fabrics and started preparing the pieces. I will be doing some broderie perse on this block.

Jane Pizar continues be be a joy to work on. Here is my next block.

These blocks will be 9 inches finished. I love the chance to fussy cut and incorporate many fabrics.



Joyful stitching everyone!

A Busy week...

Last weekend I was lucky enough to attend a 2 day workshop with Margaret Sampson George at Linda's
Last June Linda a held a similar weekend with Marg and I started Jane Pizar. This year Marg brought with her lots more ideas for new quilts, but wanted to continue on with Jane Pizar. Marg has drafted some patterns for the surrounding blocks and I made a start.

Instead of piecing all the elements in the centre of the circle, I just pieced the star and appliqued it to the background. I also appliqued the narrow brown print circle.
Jane Pizar has a huge variety of fabrics and this block contains fabrics as different as one from Bonnie and Camille's latest collection April Showers and a small piece from the Clarissa White Alford Collection for the Shelburne Museum by RJR.

Last night I made a start piecing my 2nd block.

I bought these 2 packs of hexies as inspiration for me to make one of Mrag's other quilts, one day.

More photos from the weekend here and  here.

 

This week I also made a little pin cushion for my sister. I used Liberty fabrics.

I found the free pattern here.




Today I went back to Linda's with about 25 other ladies to look at antique quilts and blocks....and some quilts and blocks inspired by antique quilts. Sharon and I both brought our CCCQ blocks and we spread them all out together.

My blocks on the right and Sharon's on the left.



And from the other end of the table...Sharon's blocks on the right and mine on the left..

 Now for a little bit of nature.

Alpacas at Linda's.

Notice the little baby black alpaca bottom centre! :)

Birdlife on a walk near home..

A lovely walk along Balnarring beach on Monday. You might be able to just see Phillip Island on the horizon.

 Lastly, something from my garden.

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

A little note to say thank you to everyone who left a comment on my last post. Much appreciated!! :)
I tried to reply to everyone. Thank you Sally and Tina; I couldn't reply directly to you because you are "no reply-commenters".

Jane Pizar progress and some wedding photos.

 Jane is she is now! :)

The corners..

I really enjoyed making the pieced and appliqued circles. There will probably be a few more tiny pieces of applique around the circle.

I will be taking  a little break from Jane while I catch up with my Chester Criswell quilt blocks.

And a bit of showing off...just because I can! Lol

Two of my DD's friends got married recently. My DD made the bride's wedding gown.

Lots of silk chiffon draped over the bodice. There are covered buttons and a concealed zip down the back. Beaded French lace was appliqued around the hem.

I had a small part in helping to hand applique the lace ...

 ....and appliquing the lace around the edge of the veil. I used transparent thread to stitch the lace down.

My DD made her outfit too. She fell in love with a pair of shoes, then designed a dress to wear with them. She loves loops and covered buttons.

At the moment there is a beautiful perfume of citrus blossom in our back yard.

A little Sojourn

I'm back home after a few days in Sydney visiting family.

I also got my first (hopefully not my last!) visit to Material Obsession. What a treasure trove of fabric! Because I was restricted by luggage allowance and time, I headed straight for the sale section for my fabric purchases. My non quilting companions wandered the shop and even they were impressed by what they saw!
I found 2 lovely French General fabrics and a couple of others.

After a quick scan of the rest of the shop (wish I could have stayed longer!!!), we did some more sight seeing.

On the quilting front the Swoon quilt has been basted....

.....and machine quilting has begun.

Last night I finished the last of the 9 centre blocks of Roseville Album. Photos next post.

A little more stitching has been happening for Jane Pizar too.

Back soon with stitching photos.

Have a great weekend!!

Jane Pizar progress and the return of Roseville Album.

I finally have the centre stitched in!! So far, the choice of fabrics for this section has been the most difficult for me. I tried four different fabric combinations, none of which worked. Finally I reread the notes I took while Marg Sampson George was speaking about fabric choices for the quilt. Her suggestion of having a pale centre sent me back to my fabrics and my final choice.

This combination works much better!  Later I may applique 5-petal daisies onto the pentagon shapes.

Yesterday I basted the circle onto its background, so now I am ready applique it down and prepare the applique for each of the corners.

It has been a very long time since I worked on Roseville Album. I have 7 of the 9 centre blocks completed. Below is my progress on the 8th block.

The basket was my first attempt at a woven basket. There was lots of spray starch, glue and plenty of pins involved in getting it down! Lots more stitching to do yet. 
I am in the process of choosing fabrics for the last centre block, so that one won't be far away. :)

At the moment I am working on 4 projects. The other 2 are machine stitching projects and I will share them in my next post.

We are less than a week away from Spring and already there are lots of signs in the garden.

The Bendigo Wax is blooming and, below the plum tree is covered in blossom.

In other news I have taken the Sarah Morrell quilt to a long arm quilter. I believe this quilt deserves a standard of quilting that is far beyond my skills, so I have left it in the very capable hands of Katrina. I am really looking forward to seeing Sarah Morrell quilted!

Stitching by hand and machine..

I am having a wonderful time hand stitching Jane Pizar!

Around the red border are various pieced and appliqued shapes.

 

Click on pictures to enlarge.

 

The next step (after I have decided what to do with the very centre!) will be to applique this big circle to a square of background fabric and fill the corners of the background with more applique.

Last week I visited Amitie and found some fabric to make a quilt for my MIL. 

 Some lovely Liberty with plainer fabrics.

I bought the Swoon pattern a loooong time ago and now I wish I had started much sooner!

These blocks come together quite quickly by machine.

I love these blocks!

 My plan is to make 4 Swoon blocks, 2 of each colourway, then I want to make a border using the Southern Belle block pattern that was used in the 2nd border of Lori and Randy's Medallion sewalong.

I am still making sashing blocks for Monique Dillard's Blogger Girl's BOM quilt.

It is a wet, windy, wintery day here in Melbourne today, but last month was the warmest July we have had since records began. The garden has been loving the warm days.

Have a great weekend!