On the home stretch!

Where do the weeks go?

Not sewing, that's for sure!

I did manage to get another block completed, this week, for my Modern 

Sampler.....

This one is foundation pieced.

I always draw my own patterns, mainly because I don't have ready access to a printer...

I have, in the past, used interfacing, but it is horrendous to tear away at the end!

So I used some paper from here...

a try!

And I was really happy with the result.

It tore away from the fabric very easily!

And this is what I made...

I wanted to be more daring with my fabric choice for the background, 

purposefully steering away from white!

You know what this means don't you....

I'm on the home stretch......

with only have one block to make!

Yippee!

Happy days!

SUZ

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Thanks to the encouragement from my friends, especially sweet Rachael (who was 

featured over at Amy's blog earlier in the week) , I have 

decided to participate in the Quilt Blogger's Festival.

I don't believe I have shared this quilt here before.

I made this quilt back in 2009, I think, and it really was my first foray into the 

'modern' quilt movement!

It is a Kaffe Fassett design called Chelsea.

(I'm not sure which book it was from; I borrowed it from my local library!)

They are obviously not Kaffe fabrics but I had great fun choosing the fabrics!

(And as my friends know, I'm not a fabric snob.......


 I don't even know the fabrics' names or the ranges they're from!)

The background is machine pieced and the flowers are blanket stitched.

I then hand quilted it in a variety of ways....

There is some echo quilting in the purple flowers on the border fabric...

And I repeated that design in a number of the larger plain areas!

It measures approximately 46 in X 52 in.

It now hangs proudly in the home of a friend....

I hope you've enjoyed seeing this one 'from the vault'!

Head over to Amy's Creative Side and see all the other wonderful quilts!

ENJOY!

SUZ

A First- for me!

Can you believe...

 I've never bought a number of fabrics from an entire range!

I usually buy individual fabrics, building up what I like until I have enough for a 

particular project!

(This is probably because when I started patchworking, fabric didn't really come 

out in ranges!)

But not this time....

Yes...... the swings, scooters, scarves and spots of the Sherbet Pips range have 

found a place in my home!

I had seen it all over the internet and in my local fabric shop and had decided 

which ones I wanted.

And this is what arrived after I ordered over the internet from Fabricworm...

 (For us Aussies,  it's SO much cheaper this way!)

As I haven't decided who this will be gifted to yet (a little boy or a little girl),

I tried to keep a broad colour palette!

A bit of blue, a bit of grey, a bit of pink and a bit of red!

And a balance between the picture prints and the spots...

But now, for me, the hard part begins.....

Deciding on a pattern!

 Is that the hardest part of the quilting process for you too?

I'd love to know!

Happy sewing,

SUZ

My tree has blossomed!

I expect you can seeing me grinning from here!

I LOVE this!

I even enjoyed doing the applique!


Yes, that was the one major design decision I HAD to make....


Blanket stitch or raw edge applique were not doing it for me!


Don't get me wrong, I have done them before but I didn't think they suited this project!

These strips, left over bits from the blossom wedges, have been added to the 

border....

after I added a dark purple, one inch border too!

But I didn't quite have enough scraps so there is some of the 'grass' in the 

bottom outside border too...

(You know what they say about the necessity being the mother of all invention!)

And a close before I added the blossom and the birdie!

And a close up after!

I have so enjoyed making this little quilt!

(Finished size- roughly 25 inches square)

Now to quilt it!


Happy sewing!


SUZ

77 % THERE!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment on my Modern 

Sampler Quilt options!

You are all SO right!

I need more blocks!

So it will be at least nine blocks...

And I made another decision...

My Modern Sampler will include a variety of blocks made from Half Square 

Triangles!

So today's block is a 4 X 4, with the final size being 12"

I love pinwheels and stars so this seemed to be a great way to combine the two!

I think I'd like to do a 5 X 5 block next time??


7 down, 2 to go!


(77% There!)

Happy Sewing!

SUZ

Slowly, slowly!

I have been so chuffed at the response and comments to my mini tree quilt....

I am beavering away on it but my regular day job is seriously encroaching on 

my craft time!

This is where I am at with my tree.....

Yes, I am appliqueing!

That would be the main reason why it is taking SO long!

(Did I tell you?...I don't DO applique!)

I also have my modern aqua and green blocks on my design floor...

Option 1....

Option 2!

Yes, I know there isn't much difference between them but 6 blocks do not give 

that many possibilities!

I really do feel there should be nine blocks???

Then the arrangement of blocks would 'gel' more!

And finally I have been using these books...

for my Embroider-Bee Swap on Flick'r!

I will get some photos of those soon...

(Winter has arrived in Melbourne and the nights are drawing in so light for photography is a bit tricky!  Do you have the same difficulties?)

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Tuesday Treasure...Melbourne in Autumn

I love Melbourne in Autumn...

In fact I love Melbourne's weather no matter what the season...

Even if we are renowned for having four in the one day!

Our summer was a little disappointing, with hardly a day over 30 degrees 

celsius.

But we have had some amazing Autumn days....

Cool, crisp mornings and glorious sunny afternoons!

And deciduous trees turning fabulous colours...

And this is my personal quilted homage to Autumn...

I made this quilt back in 2005 by combining a number of patterns from 


Australian quilting magazines.


(I even have some fabric scraps lurking in my stash!)

It is hand quilted and approximately 70 inches square!

Linking to Melodies Tuesday Treasures today..

Happy sewing!

SUZ

I've planted a tree..part 2!

I don't analyse things too much, especially when I'm sewing...

I usually just dive in!

So it wasn't until I cut my wedges...

And started sewing them together that I recognised the simialrities between this.....

and this!

Probably more coincidence than intentional?

Anyway I am loving how this is turning out!


I needed to purchase more fabric for the background, so off I went to one of  


my favourite shops to buy this...

And a very pleasant hour was spent making this-


I now have a couple of construction options and decisions to make,


So it looks like this...

Will need to be continued!


Linking to WIP over at Freshly Pieced!

Happy Sewing!


SUZ

I've planted a tree...

Have you noticed the number of 'tree quilts' there are about in cyberspace?

It possibly started with the work of talented quilt artist Kellie W of 

 Don't Look Now ....

And there are some wonderful ones on Flick'r which I have put into a gallery...

And I had forgotten about this quilt in Material Obsession 2

So when I stumbled across it recently, I finally decided to go for it!

I'm just doing one tree to start....

I raided my stash to find my tree fabric

And this recent purchase is going to be the ground...

I used its colours to build up these strips...

including a scrap I had in this fabulous shade of pink....

The next step is to cut out the wedges....


Please pop back soon for the next stage!


I am indeed enjoying making this little quilt!


Happy sewing!


SUZ

Stars Over Paris II

I have completed another block for my modern sampler....

And this, I must admit, may be the the last one!

I think I am quite 'over' this colour palette, for the moment, at least!

Now, I would love these blocks to sit on my design wall while I thought about 

how I will put them together!

But as I don't have one, they will languish in a pile and probably keep me awake 

at night thinking about it instead!

Suggestions gratefully accepted!

Happy days!

SUZ

Modern Sampler Update

You may remember me cutting up scraps for more blocks!

Well, I am pleased to say, progress has been made!

I am pleased to show my latest block completed...

containing lots of one inch (finished size) squares!

And most of the corners meet where they are supposed to!

My Mod Mosaic block is now at least a rectangle....

All the blocks, in fact, are different sizes, but I don't think that's such a bad 

thing....

I want to put this quilt top together in a random formation...

It is, after all, meant to be a modern sampler!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Winging their Way....

I have made a mug rug...

and a tissue cosy....

for a friend....

They should be there by now....

I hope she likes them!

Happy Sewing!

SUZ