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

Using all the techniques...

to complete my Chuck Nohara blocks for June!

But not all in the one block....

hand applique, machine applique, blanket stitch, 

 embroidery, piecing- with an inset seam, 

felt and fusing!

So to celebrate - it's time for a group shot...

And plans for July...

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Foxy Gal!

I spent a very pleasant Sunday stitching up this cute 

fox corduroy....

into a sweet skirt....

for my sister.

The foxy gal!

It is a simple six gore A-line pattern,

(Simplicity #5914, 

which now seems to go by the #1560)

that comes together very quickly!

I'd love to make another one for myself!

Do you make your own clothes?

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Tula and Noosa!

I've just returned from a short sojourn north to 

Noosa,

The Noosa River on Wednesday morning!

where I was lucky enough to be present at 

Tula Pink's talk and trunk show in Brisbane!

Note the owl pendant which echoes her designs

What a delight it was to hear her talk about her 

career, 

her design process (paint chips included) and even 

the story behind the Elizabeth range;

for example the pelican is a symbol of motherly love.

All her quilts are quilted, by Angela Walters, 

with double polyester batting....

"Why a double layer of batting?"

 I hear you ask.....

Photography takes away a certain percentage of the 

texture created by quilting!

This is from her 'soon-to-be released' range- Slow & Steady

The double batting puts it back!

Part way through Tula's presentation, 

I remembered I owned this sweet piece of Hushabye 

fabric...

which is now rare and out of print.

I think I may frame it!

I may have made a few purchases, to 'enhance' my 

stash!

While visiting my friend Marg, we may have indulged 

in some sunshine, a margarita...

and a delightful lunch at Maison de Provence in the 

Noosa Hinterland!

And in other exciting news, I won a class from 

"Amitie" with Michelle Mckillop,

 using this fabric for my colour palette.

I'm looking forward to starting something new....

and look forward to sharing it with you!

Happy days, 

SUZ

❤︎ Not feeling the love....

I started making Glitter blocks back in January...

These were my two 'trial' blocks...

The one on the right is it's original size, the one on 

the left up-scaled somewhat.

And this is what I have ended up with...

I had mentioned to my friend Deb that I wasn't 

feeling the love...

So she suggested just making what I had into a 

baby quilt and call it done!

She also said to try white borders, but I decided I 

wanted to use fabric I already had....

The pretty aqua solid does not like having its photo 

taken...

It's a bit happier when it is resting on the batting 

though!

I like the staggered placement of the blocks.

I think it gives them a chance to breath.

Maybe I will love it when I get round to quilting it?

Happy days!

SUZ