✂︎✂︎✂︎ On A Whim...

This one has been finished for quite some time!

But has only these last few days made its first public 

appearance....

at the Craft and Quilt Fair

Before the binding...

As the name suggests, I started this on a whim....

and entered it in the show.... 

on a whim!

I had long admired this quilt, on the cover of a 

Quiltmania magazine.

I wish I changed a few things about this quilt,

but that's okay! 

Poor lighting...

Sometimes its about the journey,

not the destination!

  

Happy sewing!

SUZ

A beautiful distraction!

If I can't be sewing, at least it's for a grand reason!

I finished the label for Eli's quilt (see last post here)

A grand son, in fact!

Proudly presenting Eli...

But I won't bore you with my happy snaps,

because I have another 'finish' to share!

I'm calling this one "All that Glitters"!

 I can honestly say I enjoyed quilting this 

more than I did making the top...

and that doesn't happen very often!

I used my trusty Hera marker to mark diamonds in 

the solid aqua sections, 

that echoed the shapes somewhat,

even some wonky ones!

And included this diamond shape in the centre of the 

patterned sections.

I was having lots of fun so I did some more echo 

quilting, and more diamonds.

I also decided to try my hand at machine stitching

down the binding.

and I was happy with that too.

For the backing I used lots of leftover pieces of 

fabric...

It's had a wash and dry, and it's now lovely and 

crinkly!

Also it's ready for gifting!

I wonder if Eli would like it?

DETAILS:    Finished size- 41" by 57"

Quilted with Gutermann thread #7827

(My first finish for the F-A-L Q3., original list here)

Happy days!

SUZ

Another Foxy finish!

A very special baby quilt had been on my 'to-do' list

for quite some time now.

So I finally settled on this pattern...

from Anna Graham's book "Handmade Style."

A modern, simple design for a modern mum!

Soft green and peach were the designated colour 

palette....

which has left it open to be a quilt for a girl or boy,

don't you think?

At this stage it was a square...

but I am happier with a rectangular quilt,

so I added a peach border all the way round, 

and a piano key border to either end ....

with the leftover 

grey and white pieces.

I kept the quilting simple- to straight lines down the 

length,

Binding in waiting...

Love this print- very appropriate for a baby!

to maintain a certain softness.

"Nature Walk" by Tamara Kate on the back too

And more of this paint style print for the back!

Now I need to wait for baby to be born,

before I add the label!

Looks like everyone will be left guessing...

From today's baby shower....

Happy days!

SUZ

Joining in the "Finish-Along"

 I have enough things on

 my UFO list to warrant joining in the Q3 

Finish Along this quarter.

Here goes....

1. My "Milky Way" jumper...

just one sleeve to finish and then it needs to be sewn

together.

2. My "Glitter" quilt....

needs to be machine quilted.

I have the backing pieced and the batting ready!

3. My double gauze Nani Iro whole quilt....

some more hand quilting and binding required.

4. My "Window on the World" mini....

I want to hand quilt this one, 

but its only 17 inches square, so that's do-able.

5. My "Spelling Bee" quilt...

I am still waiting on a couple of blocks to arrive 

but Australia Post has let me down on this one!

Now, if I can just resist starting anything new.....

SUZ

Hint, hint...

I have never had a formal applique lesson so

 anything I do is never going to win a blue ribbon!

Chuck Nohara #cn1044 - no applique on this one!

But I have picked up a couple hints that have really 

helped me and thought I'd share them here...

I love "Best Press" but it is pricey here in Australia.

So rather than spraying randomly over small pieces 

of fabric, where most settles on the ironing board...

 spray some into a small dish and 'paint' it on!

Ironing a crease around the freezer paper template 

is much easier this way.

#cn564

I was still having all sorts of trouble turning the 

edges of my shapes,

particularly the inner corners.

So my friend Elizabeth, 

who blogs over at Occasional Piece ,

suggested I check out 

Becky Goldsmith's You Tube videos! 

Wow! What a revelation that was!

See that toothpick up there in the top lefthand 

corner....

that helps turn the edges under like magic!

Where's Wally?  #cn345

There's always something to learn, isn't there?

And that also completes July's Chuck Nohara blocks!

Happy sewing...

SUZ

W.W.W.W.

I have updated this post with information about Wendy's patterns.

Workshop With Wendy Williams, that is!

I spent a fun day at "Cutting Cloth" admiring all 

Wendy's lovely quilts....

   
This heart quilt is now available as a pattern here!

and learning a few stitches and tricks!

Pistil stitch, Whip stitch....

These were all made by Wendy!

Reverse applique of pretty floral fabrics, 

and colonial knots!

One of these, above,

and two of these are mine!

Look at those cute sheep!

                   There was plenty of inspiration...

as if I need another project!

Even the bathroom was inspiring!

How cool is this for a curtain?

I do have an idea for my own design, 

but time will tell....

My 'flowers' so far!

Have you tried wool felt work and embroidery?

Happy sewing!

SUZ