Quilts in the Barn

Another fantastic Quilts in the Barn show was put on a couple of weeks ago. The show celebrated the works of students who had been fortunate enough to learn in classes run by Margaret Sampson George. Now I had no idea who Marg was until I met her in the barn on the last day of the show. I was totally blown away by the skill and detail these quilts displayed. Most of the works involved teeny, tiny stitches and a whole lot of applique. I was allowed to take photos but Marg asked me to only show parts of quilts on line so here are some snap shots of parts of quilts. Hope you enjoy.

There was so much to see. I just kept going round and round the rooms. Lots of work was sewn onto linen. Everything seemed to be patched using paper piecing. The quilts were large, vibrant and detailed. Some must have taken years to complete.

I am sure if you search on line for Quilts in the Barn you will find better and possibly full photos of the quilts.

So while my machine languishes in the fix it shop, I am even doing a bit of hand stitching myself.

I Have Succumbed to the Instant Gratification of Instagram

I have had 5 whole weeks of school holidays. 

5 weeks to knit and sew.

5 weeks to write.

5 weeks to enjoy the after xmas shopping bargains, galleries, shows and lots of lovely long walks.

5 weeks to do pretty much what I liked, alone, with family and friends.

So that's what I did, save for the write bit!

The discipline of actually writing about what I'm making is gone. I loved reading blogs and writing about all my little finishes but they take time. I loved having a record for myself of ideas and creations. I could look back on my detailed stories and it was really useful. I have a terrible memory so blogging was a great way to keep track of things.

So what has gone wrong for me?

Firstly, I have been studying this year so I am writing essays rather than sharing my news. Secondly the typing gives me RSI. If I type, I can't sew. I chose to sew. I could do about 20 minutes of either a day and the sewing won. When my essays were due, I made nothing. Add school reports into the mix and it got even worse.

So I've switched to Instagram. It's a quick fix. I can keep track of some of my friends' doings, share my moments and get a little inspiration.

The trouble is, I can't keep a record of what I make with the same detail. Blogging is such a fabulous diary. So I will occasionally visit and share with you but I am not sure I can completely come back to it. 

Instagram is just so aaaaah........instant!

I can see, make or experience something and instantly share it. With this world of instant gratification that Instagram gives me, I am torn.

You see, I have been sewing a little!

Even Distance Didn't make the Heart Grow Fonder

I was full of love for my fabric when I embarked on this project. 

I still love the fabric but I am not so fond of the outcome.

It all began in August

It grew

And grew

 But I wasn't happy.

The definition was lost.

It was chaos.

So I decided to add a few borders

And even at a distance, I can't say that I have grown any fonder of it.

In between all that, I made a cute little baby wrap which has a lovely flannel backing.

I love this!

I have some blue flannel that I will use to make another one.

You never know when someone is going to have a baby.

And this is the beginnings of a pillow.

It's going to be an end of year gift for one of my colleagues

What are you all making for end of year presents?

It is so hard to keep thinking of new things when you have been working in the same place for a long time.

A Little Bit of Colour and Quilts in the Barn

Blogging has fallen by the wayside as work and study commitments have taken over my precious free time. Today was a bonus. School was closed and the sun was shining. Washing, cooking and with most of my final essay complete, I pulled out the sewing machine. Projects and ideas that had been lying around were picked up, pinned and stitched together so here they are. They aren't much and there is more to do, but at least they are seeing the light of day.

 This will need some sort of border.

It's made with lots of scraps left over from other quilts.

It hasn't worked out quite as I had hoped.

I bought some beautiful flannel that I will back this with.

No wadding. 

It will make a very cuddly baby wrap.

I went to Quilts in the Barn and as usual it was fantastic.

Each and every piece was a work of art.

I've been quite taken with all these chintzy fabrics.

I think my next piece may follow suit.

Diamonds Are Still Not my Best Friend

I really don't do well with diamonds but I am terribly enamoured by them. I love Lone Stars and I love the tessellations that diamonds can create. With the naive idea that there could possibly be a short cut to creating a Lone Star, I followed the instructions on line to sew strips of fabric together and then cut those sewn strips into diamonds that are already, therefore, joined up. The theory is good but the practice is not. Those diamonds still create havoc, twisting and turning and not behaving. Apart from the shortcut not really being a solution to my difficulties, I cut the diamonds so big, that I ended up with a monster quilt! 

I have muddled my way through putting it all together

Added the corners using over 3 meters of fabric and then had to buy more, because it wasn't enough!

And finally, today, inserted the triangle sides.

The quilt is so large, a humble quilter's ruler is not really able to meet the challenge of cutting straight blocks.

Here it is before trimming.

The background fabric is Anna Marie Horner's but is more a charcoal grey than the navy colour in the photo.

I was originally unhappy with the lollypop colours of the diamonds and the charcoal helped negate its childishness but in the photo the background looks a lot happier than in reality. The charcoal helps to highlight the star but dampen its cuteness.
It really was a very haphazard process from beginning to end. I used fabric from the shelf, in an attempt to use up what I had at home and I think I will have to lay the quilt top out in the school hall to get straightish sides drawn on it.
I always wanted to make a Lone Star and I am kind of happy with the result, but it is not as I anticipated.
 I will have to make one of these again one day in the age old method of templates and hand stitching. 

The Stitches and Craft Show

Last week I visited the Stitches and Craft Show. I didn't take too many photos. There were lots of beautiful quilts to see, mostly done in the traditional style.

There was a beautiful quilt that followed the Mystery Quilt Blocks from 2012 Quilt Mania magazines designed by Yoko Saito.

This has all been done by needle turn, however, I saw a similar one created by one of the stall holders. Hers was done using vliesofix and just having a raw edge, more my style!
After seeing all the gorgeous fabrics used in the quilts, I couldn't resist buying some fabric from the same stall. They were half price. How could I resist?

They also had a really old quilt on show from Janet O'Dell's Antique Quilt Collection. In the same area they had a whole lot of quilts that were inspired by the antique one. I loved the way they all looked in their rows. Their geometric patterns really popped out when you looked through the lens of a camera at them.

The Crazy Tea Cosy Lady - Loani Prior was at the show again.
I do have a soft spot for her craziness.

It was a fun day out.