New Bag in Progress



BFC Creations Frame It Quilt Block Designs

 I have just finished stitching out the squares for a new bag I have planned. It is styled on the many bag patterns that are available using the original Japanese origami style design.I will have the tutorial available in a day or so. I have stitched the designs in variegated thread on a heavy black cotton fabric. The designs intended as quilt block designs are currently being given away free by BFC Creations as part of their 8th anniversary sale.

Free Digital Online Quilt Magazines-Down Under Quilts-Down Under Textiles

I know I have posted before about these magazines but they are a great resource available to you. All you need to do is go to this page to sign up for a subscription. Creative Expressions is also available. Just be aware that any free liftouts of patterns etc are not provided with the free digital editions. Down Under Textiles also has a blog page

Folded Star Mat-Tutorial Uploaded

Folded Star Mat (10 inches square finished)

Folded Star Mat 2

I remember making folded star ornaments and round folded star pot holders when I first started quilting about 25 years ago. I thought I would try and do a square mat to use on the table at Christmas time. These come together quickly once you organise the colours you are going to use etc. This 10 inch square mat can be used as a placemat, trivet, pot holder or as the centre for a pillow. Combine three of them and you would have a tablerunner. The possibilities are endless. I have modified the technique used so that there is no hand sewing of the points as you construct  this folded star  .The tutorial can be found here

Gift Ideas to Make - Into Craft

Into Craft is a newsletter provided by the team at Expertise events who travel around Australia and New Zealand staging craft shows and quilt conventions. This newsletter has a lovely Christmas necklace to make as well as boxer shorts for men and a lovely little pincushion. If you click on Previous Posts and choose October 2011 there is also a free pattern for a gorgeous platypus toy/stuffie. Previous posts also have instructions for a gorgeous bead end scarf which are so popular.

BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Online Class-Block 7

  

BFC Paisley Parade Moda Ruby Row 2

 

BFC Paisley Parade/Moda Ruby Row 1 and 2



BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Class Block 7

 I have just finished constructing Block 7 of our Paisley Parade quilt and the instructions have been sent out.This free online class has been set up for the construction of the machine embroidered quilt using the free Paisley Parade set from BFC Creations and the Moda Ruby Jelly Roll.

I have also joined Rows 1 and 2. The green colours in the joined rows have gone a bit  haywire  in the pic so I apologise for that.

Blocks 1-7 are currently available . If you wish to be a part of this class you need to email me HERE and I will add your to my email database and send the lessons for the remainder of the blocks out as they are completed.

PJ'S Tree-mendous ITH Christmas Tree

PJ'S Tree-mendous ITH Christmas Tree

I have spent the day making this delightful ITH Christmas Tree wallhanging as part of the Christmas present for my secret buddy. I have admired this PJ's design for a while and it is now on special until the end of December for $19.99 so took the opportunity to purchase it. It was a bit of a gamble as I was not sure if the designs would fit the 8x8 hoop on my Janome 11000 but with a bit of rotating of a couple of the designs to fit the hoop it was perfect. I embellished the tree with pearls,beads and metallic bows that I made. I used metallic thread to embroider the centre of each section. The tree is constructed ITH as you go with previous sections being joined to the current section in the hoop. You could easily make a couple of these in a day and then spend some time in front of the tv doing the embellishng.

BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Online Class-Block 6

Block 6

I have just finished constructing Block 6 of our Paisley Parade quilt and the instructions have been sent out.This free online class has been set up for the construction of the machine embroidered quilt using the free Paisley Parade set from BFC Creations and the Moda Ruby Jelly Roll. We are now at the halfway point of our block construction.

Blocks 1-6 are currently available . If you wish to be a part of this class you need to email me HERE and I will add your to my email database and send the lessons for the blocks out as they are completed.

Free BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Online Class-Block 5



BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Class Row 1



BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Class Block 5



I have just finished constructing Block 5 of our Paisley Parade quilt and the instructions have been sent out.This free online class has been set up for the construction of the machine embroidered quilt using the free Paisley Parade set from BFC Creations and the Moda Ruby Jelly Roll.

I have also uploaded a picture of the first row of the quilt.

Blocks 1-5 are currently available . If you wish to be a part of this class you need to email me HERE and I will add your to my email database and send the lessons for the blocks out as they are completed.

Tea Towel Aprons

Tea Towel Apron 1

Tea Towel Apron 2

I spent the day this afternoon making these two tea towel aprons. I bought the two tea towels from a discount store called Best and Less in Australia and they are on special this week for $2.50. The tea towel designs are just perfect for these quick tea towels aprons.

I got the inspiration from the video tutorials provided by Missouri Star Quilt Co.

I changed the pocket a tad to make it even more easy and quick to make.  These aprons are just the thing for a quick and inexpensive gift. They would be wonderful if you took the time to embroider a monogram on the pocket. The tea towel with the snowmen was already embroidered.

I challenged myself to see how long it was going to take to make the apron. And it took 35 minutes from start to finish. Obviously the most time consuming part is pressing the straps so if you used tape for straps instead of fabric it would be much quicker.

To make the apron in super quick time here are my steps

1. Cut 3 straps x 3 inches wide x width of the fabric and with right sides together end to end .

2. Cut the pocket section 16 inches wide x 16 inches high. With right sides together stitch across the ends . Turn through and take everything to the iron. (Apron,pocket,straps)

a) Measure the apron where the turnings are going to go as per the video by Jenny Doan and press in place.

b) Press the pocket

c) Press the straps as per the video

3. Trim your apron with your rotary cutter and turn under the ¼ inch seam allowances to form the casings as you do so.

4. Stitch the side casing sections of the apron

5. Stitch lace across the top of the apron if you wish. The ends will be caught under the side as you stitch it down.

6. Place the pocket on the apron so that the folded section is downwards .It is virtually upside down and we will flip it upwards later

7. Stitch across the long side of the pocket and then flip up towards the top.

8. Pin in place

9. Stitch down one side of the pocket ,across the bottom making sure that you have enclosed that raw wedge inside the pocket and finish by going up the other side

10. Stitch the centre divider for the pocket. It is best to stitch this from the bottom to the top in case your fabric s moves and you get a bubble.

11. Stitch your straps as per the video

12. Thread the straps through the apron and you have finished. 

Jacob's Ladder - New Video by Missouri Star

You all know that I love quilts that are easy to put together and this is a fabulous take on an old favourite by the Missouri Star Quilt Co.

I remember making one of these years ago and it took me forever.

Remembrance Day 11-11-11

Today the 11th of November has been Remembrance Day here in Australia. At 11.00 am on November 11 1918 the armistice was signed to end World War 1. Australia was only a young nation in 1918 and 60 000 of its young men had lost their lives during WW1. A horrendous number considering our total population at the time was only 5,080,912 (source Australia Bureau of Statistics). Each year at  the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month we pause to remember all those who have served for our country. It is traditional for people to buy and wear poppies that are sold by the Returned and Services League.

My great great uncle was killed in France in 1917 and my great great grandmother sent this message to the army asking about the welfare of her son. When we consider that we have instant communication this day and age we can only imagine how she was feeling as she was anxiously awaiting  a reply. Arthur went missing on May 3 and she penned this letter on September 22.

I have spent the last two days at our school athletics carnival and today at 11.00 we had a short and solemn ceremony of remembrance. One of my students played the Last Post on the cornet and it was a very moving and emotional ceremony.

I tried to snap a photo from where I was at 11.11 am but was a minute late in doing so, but close to 11 minutes past 11 on the 11-11.

Clematis

Thought I would share with you some photos of my glorious clematis. The flowers are approximately 6 inches diameter and it seems the little bugs have been having a glorious time feasting on them as well.

Free BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Online Class-Block 4

Paisley Parade Block 4

I have just finished constructing Block 4 of our Paisley Parade quilt and the instructions have been sent out.This free online class has been set up for the construction of the machine embroidered quilt using the free Paisley Parade set from BFC Creations and the Moda Ruby Jelly Roll.

Blocks 1-4 are currently available . If you wish to be a part of this class you need to email me HERE and I will add your to my email database and send the lessons for the blocks out as they are completed.

Please email me if you have not heard from me.

Heirloom Quilt Sampler Block 5-Expressions of Interest for Next Class

Heirloom Quilt Sampler Block 5

I have just sent out by email the remaining block in our online Heirloom Quilt sampler Class. It features a pintucked insert in a puffed circle. The instructions for constructing the quilt will be emailed possibly later today.
Our next free online heirloom class is going to be a simple multi sized nightgown. It will just be a sleeveless nightgown on a yoke with no button openings to cater for beginners. If you would like me to include you in this class please send me an email and I will add you to my mailing list. I may send out the supplies list before Christmas.

The Not Quite 10 Minute Table Runner with Embroidered Insert-Tutorial

The Not Quite 10 Minute Table runner with Embroidered Insert 1

The Not Quite 10 Minute Table runner with Embroidered Insert 2

I have just completed the tutorial for my latest 10 minute runner variation. Of course it takes more than 10 minutes with the embroidered sections but the actual sewing together once you have your blocks trimmed etc is fairly quick and can be definitely done in under an hour. The most time consuming thing will be in choosing your fabric and any trim you may want to use. I have used the latest design sets from BFC Creations called Sheer Quilt Blocks. Of course this project is ideal to use elements from any embroidery design set  The tutorial can be found here.

This table runner is based on the 10 minute table runner originally designed by LaRae Bunnell Clark from Utah State University. Her original tutorial is shared by a number of quilt shops on the internet. I have taken LaRae's original concept and combined it machine embroidery techniques to make the insert .I cannot locate LaRae’s original tutorial but some of her colleagues have a variation where the top section is folded in reverse.

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/FL_ST_Construction_2009_105.pdf

Black and White and Red All Over Quilt



Black, White and Red All Over Quilt-Betty 1



Black, White and Red All Over Quilt-Betty 2

I would like to share with you a quilt made by Betty,one of my blog readers using the instructions found in this tutorial. It is great to see where people have taken my project instructions and created their own projects. I think you will agree that Betty has done a great job in quilting her quilt, much more patient than I am .Congratulations Betty!

Quilt in a Day- Eleanor Burns-Free Videos to Watch

I love providing links to resources that we can all access . One of those great resources is provided by Eleanor Burns on her Quilt in a Day website. If you go to the link in the bottom right hand corner you will be access a large archive of her online videos.