Finish #3!

 I have another finish to share with you today...

my third for 2018!

"Luna Park"....

is roughly 55" square.

Seventeen of these blocks came from my Gridster 

bee buddies....

and these are the siggy blocks on the back.

  

Thank you, ladies!

I'm so glad I went with this layout,

Before quilting

after stitching it together with all that horrid black 

sashing!

I think I have ended up with a much more lively and 

interesting quilt!

I machine quilted around each block first,

to anchor all layers together.

Then quilted with black and navy blue perle thread.

I used a stripey black and white binding, which a 

friend commented that it reminded her of a barber's 

pole.

I found this outside one of those hipster barbers 

shops, that are so popular in Melbourne now!

This is quilt #91 I've made!

(You can see most of the other 90 on a separate page of this blog)

...not sure how many more I have in me?

Do you ever think about not making quilts anymore?

I guess I can't imagine life without quilting!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Plotting and planning....

With one quilt finish under my belt for 2018, 

"Sanctuary" in its new home

and "Luna Park" being hand quilted in the 

evenings....

it is time to turn my attention to another WIP.

But first....

I had been wanting to make one of these 

strawberry blocks for a long time!

Isn't she pretty?

I gathered up all my Gridster blocks, and some 

orphan blocks too, that I thought would play nicely 

with one another!

I spent some time measuring them and transferring 

these measurements on graph paper!

(Yes, I know there are probably computer 

programmes that do it for you,

 but I'm old-fashioned 

when it comes to designing!)

So I am playing with possible layouts, 

There will definitely be some random sashing to 

be added.

And possibly some checkerboard 'filler' blocks too!

It is much easier moving these mini paper blocks 

around than crawling around the floor!

If anyone has any other ideas for me,

you know where I am,

plotting and planning!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Playing Catch Up!

 I was a little behind with my September

Gridster Bee blocks, 

but they are now safely winging their way to the US.

I chose the fabric with a kangaroo on one, 

and Melbourne trams on the other especially!

This was a design made by Simone....

should make an interesting quilt!

Then Leisa sent batik fabrics for October's blocks....

which made for very effective blocks called, 

appropriately, "African Queen"!

And while I had some time I tackled Lisa's blocks for 

November...

bright trees on a black/white background.

And here are the blocks I made for my own 

sampler...

I really wanted to get those houses standing as 

straight as possible!

 My first attempt at an African Queen was a little washed out,

So I swapped out the dress and sleeve fabric....

I think that's better?

Maybe she needs an embroidered smile!

And my forest of trees!

I also made another star block to go with the two I 

already had.

And the obligatory 'group shot'!

Only one more round of this bee, and its all over!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Presenting "Luna Park"

Here is my latest quilt top finish!

I had been collecting ideas on Pinterest,

and this one, with angled blocks, seemed doable. 

More pictures of this beauty can be found here.

So while I was convalescing I drew up a basic 

pattern,

 using freezer paper to make a template.

It did take me some time to work out where all the 

bits needed to go,

working from my design floor,

but I got there in the end!

I'm thinking I will add a thin blue border to contain 

all those points and to frame it further...

And why did I call it Luna Park?

An IG commenter said this top reminded her of Luna 

Park here in Melbourne...

and guess what?

 It does!

Now to decide on how to quilt it?

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Starting it over...

I got about as far as this...

with my New York Beauty bee quilt, 

when I decided I didn't like it!

I had previously played around with this layout,

Sorry, poor lighting!

but again, wasn't totally happy, I think because it 

was long and narrow.

So today I made another block....

to bring the total number to twenty-five!

And there is a little clue hiding here 

to where this is headed.

To check for balance I made a black and white 

photo too.

Oh, and it seems I have rotated it too!

I have moved a few blocks around and hope to make 

further progress on this soon.

Happy sewing!

SUZ