The little black number....

I have been quiet for a little while....the reason being I wanted to finish my fourth Finish-along project (to see my list please follow here!) and still had quite a lot of work to do.

But then the sun came out....the flowers came out....and I started working in the garden in the sunshine....not digging, stitching!

There wasn't too much hand quilting left to do or rather I couldn't do too much handquilting because of this....argh!

But there was still the border to quilt and no time to get new thread I thought so I finished the border with some machine stitching and do you know what I like the extra definition of the machine stitching.  I don't usually mix the two!

I thought this quilt had an Art Deco look because of the colours, well I think the machine stitching adds to that...and here's the big picture

And here's the back - it's actually a polycotton but don't tell those quilt police and I might get away with it.  The handquilting looks a bit like flowers which is nice.   The stitching isn't perfect - but it is done!

I tried a variation on the usual rounded or square corner - yes this was deliberate!  Not sure if it works but I was trying to add to that Art Deco feel!

So now I can feel like I have met the challenge!  Four Finish-along projects completed in this quarter - but oh so many more UFOs to do....!

Both Saffy and I are exhausted!

Better get ready for the next quarter then!


PS Linking up with Rhonda!

Starry, starry night! Quilted!

This quilt I started in 2009 and promised to my eldest for Christmas!  I didn't say which Christmas but she is rather despairing of ever getting her quilt so it is about time I finished it don't you think!?  I last blogged about it in April this year!

This is my favourite photo of it from April - looking like a stained glass window!


I pieced it entirely by hand except for attaching the borders which is why it has taken so long to finish the top - my daughter doesn't appreciate that it is time consuming, but to be honest the top has been complete since April 2011!  


It has lain waiting to be quilted!   As I have progressed with my machine quilting I decided to quilt it by machine just to make sure that it will all stay together and to give it more texture.  Well and also because I thought maybe I could and quite frankly it was the only way it would be finished on time!


So far I have quilted round the stars and have cross hatched the squares in the border. 

Ok there are a few wiggles and the stitches are not all even but I don't think she will mind!  I quilted it using King Tut variegated thread which I had bought at the time for that purpose as my top thread and cream on the bottom to match the back fabric.   I wish now I had been confident enough to use the variegated thread on the bobbin too but I still like it!

I will do something else in the irregular octagons but would rather give her the quilt at Christmas bound and ready for use and add a bit of quilting to those octagons once we've had a chance to discuss what she wants there - there was talk of Japanese words but I am not sure that it will fit with the look of the quilt.  But if she does want it still I will have a go!  Either by machine or perhaps hand stitched in cotton perle!?  

I have called it Starry, starry night for obvious reasons but also because the Don Mclean song is/was a favourite of hers.  

The song was written in admiration of the work of Vincent Van Gogh - she likes his paintings too.  Bit of a sad song telling how Vincent was at odds with the rest of the world - for so many years, misunderstood and alone!  She is an individual too who likes to go her own way!

She is also a Doctor Who fan and who remembers which Doctor is the one to meet Vincent in one of the episodes??


Hope she will love it, and as she gets ready to go to uni next year, I hope it will remind her of home and family and all the love we feel for her.  




She is interested in Cosmology and is a bit of a star herself in my eyes!




I'm linking this post to Quilt Story, see my sidebar for the button - see you there!

What did the postman bring?

The postman brought me a smallish package yesterday and inside there was colour!  Have a look for yourself....

There was colour and the potential of beautiful utility stitches on my Bear's Paw Quilt. 

I started out quilting by machine but two layers of flannel and woollen batting meant I wasn't aware of what lurked at the back - and that is what was there! Great big lurking tucks and folds, which need unpicking before I can go back to my comfort zone of hand quilting in these lovely threads.

I do like the back - the result of another mistake - not ordering quite enough fabric from The Homespun Loft!  Although I have to say that I had considered making a large bear's paw design on the back from the start but then decided I would just stick to one fabric to be quicker!  Hahaha!  More fool me!  I then had to unpick seams, cut up fabric, stitch it up together.  A real 'make do' effort just like a real pioneer.....

So much to learn.....

If you were visiting yesterday you will have seen some baby mystery fruits - greengages and mulberries!  Yum! Yum!  If I remember, I will show you when they are ripe and yummier!


Nicky

Little Heart Runner!

I found the pattern for this little heart runner on the Be Mine Blog Tour at Sherri's blog A Quilting Life.  She has made a great tutorial.  Thank you Sherri!

I used this little runner to again practice my machine quilting - don't think I was ready for the curves lesson so that's why I started out with straight lines on the monochrome project!

But you have to start somewhere, I never said I was good at it but I do hope to improve.  At least I am up for the challenge....it may be a waste of time, only time will tell..

It was meant to be ready for Valentine's Day - and it is for 2012!  But love is good all year round anyway - don't you think?  Especially after the Wedding, I guess!

I still think it is cute in a wonky sort of way - maybe the rough edges of my heart reflect my more prickly moments??  Hehe!  I like the fabrics anyway and if you are a perfectionist - just close your eyes! 

At the very least I must make you feel great as you are bound to be better than this - but watch out I'm practising...Lol!  I will keep it to mark my progress (if I make any???)  What I couldn't work out was whether it was better to have the feed dogs up or down.  I think I tried both on this piece but my best effort was when they were up.  I probably need to do a bit more research and lots more practice!! Oh yes plenty of practice....


What are you practising?


Nicky

Another mini monochrome!

I'm getting to like this project - my hubby has actually said something complimentary about it and wants them to be used as placemats, which they could be....

I did straight vertical lines last time, so this is straight double diagonal lines - bit wonky in places but I think that's because my presser foot was sticking to my too sticky masking tape,  also didn't have my glasses on!  Silly me!

However I did manage to achieve quite a pleasing textural effect on the back with some nice pleating....... 

 Okay I messed up, but these are only practice pieces and I have to admit I need more practice!  That is the point!  Onwards and upwards (hopefully) - this is a warts and all post....!


Nicky

What do you do when you cannot sleep?

I was feeling too hot to sleep - how mad is that in April in England?

Anyway I started playing with fabric scraps on my sewing room floor at 2am and came up with this.  In the morning I went to the sewing machine and not sleeping suddenly got better...not sure what it is but it was fun doing it! 

And in close up

Monochrome mini madness!

I used it to practice some machine quilting as I have not done much of that and if I am ever to fininsh off my UFOs I will need to improve...!  First practice  - straight lines.  Methinks a few of these little monochromes are about to be made... and I could practise different quilting designs in each - what another project?

What do you do when restless at 2am? -  clean answers only please - I am British!!

Nicky