I have spent the day working on the lessons and projects that are currently part of my online classes that are running.
Block 11 of free online class I have been running in BOM format using the free Paisley Parade set from BFC Creations and the Moda Ruby Jelly Roll has been sent out this morning to those on the mailing list.
Heirloom Nightgown Front Yoke
Lesson 1 of the heirloom nightgown has also been sent out and I am currently writing the instructions for the front yoke. This nightgown is sleeveless and does not have any neckline buttons etc. The yoke is treated as a separate overlay.
If you wish to be a part of either of these classes you need to email me HERE and I will add you to my email database and send the remainder of the lessons to you as they are completed.
I have spent the last few days quilting the BFC Paisley Parade/Moda Ruby quilt. I have been running a free online class in BOM format using the free Paisley Parade set from BFC Creations and the Moda Ruby Jelly Roll.
Blocks 1-10 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.
I will aslo be commencing the heirloom nightgown class in the next week so if you wish to be a part of this online class please send me an email.
Looking North from North Motton with Bass Strait in the background
On Christmas afternoon we drove to my sister in law's brand new house in North Motton with its majestic views. North Motton is only 20 minutes from our home in Devonport. Where we live on the north west of Tasmania has rich and fertile volcanic soil making it ideal for cropping and grazing and you will see that clearly from the photographs that I took to share with you. Wouldn't it be idealic to have this view from your sewing room?
Missouri Star Quilt Co has produced a video for yet another great table runner. It is just the project for a last minute gift this close to Christmas. This runner would also look great in autumn colours for other times of the year. Why keep to traditional tree colours, black /red /white my favourite colour combination would produce an eye catching runner.
The tutorial for this quick to construct tablerunner has been produced by the Missouri Star Quilt Co. It is just the project for a quick project this close to Christmas
My husband officially retired from teaching on Thursday so a major milestone for him. He has a few immediate plans including the painting the house inside and doing the trims outside and rebuilding a deck. He is also going to volunteer at the fairy penguin viewing platform .
BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Class Block 10
I have just finished constructing Block 10 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 1-10 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.
The requirements list for my next online class has been sent out to those who have signed up to my email database. We will not be starting this class until after the Christmas holiday period so this will give you plenty of time to source fabrics and lace etc. If you wish to be a part of this class please email me
I have just finished constructing It's In The Frame Bag 2 . It also is styled on the many bag patterns that are available using the original Japanese origami style design. I have stitched the designs in Valdani 50 wt variegated thread on a heavy black cotton fabric. The bag has a square base.The designs intended as quilt block designs were given away free by BFC Creations as part of their 8th anniversary sale.
I have just finished constructing Block 9 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 1-9 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.
Our summer vacation from school starts in 3 weeks. I always do a lot of sewing over my summer holidays as we call them here. One of my intended projects is an heirloom nightgown. This will be a beginner project and it is my intention to design a nightgown that will look just as good with a limited amount of lace for those who cannot resource it easily. I am currently working on the pattern putting all my pattern drafting skills to use. This first nightgown will be sleeveless and a pullover the head design without a front opening . If you would like join my mailing database for this class can you please emailme and I will add your name to the list.
It is hard to believe but I have been blogging for 6 months and during that time have uploaded many tutorials and online classes. I think I have accomplished a lot in a short period of time.
I have uploaded a screen shot of a free embroidery design that is being given away by The Quiltery, he is called Ozzie and would be ideal stitched on the front of an apron as a Christmas gift for a man here in Australia. The design does have 45 colour changes .
The latest edition of the free Online Quilt magazine is also available so make sure you sign up to receive this.
I have just finished constructing the new bag . As I said in my previous post it is styled on the many bag patterns that are available using the original Japanese origami style design. 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.
You can find the tutorial here
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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!
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.
I have just finished constructing Block 3 of our Paisley Parade quilt and the instructions have been sent to those on my mailing list.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.
Block 1,2 and 3 are currently available . If you wish to be a part of this class you need to email me HERE and I will add you to my email database and send the lessons for the blocks out as they are completed.
