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.

Knitting and Stitching

I have been very lucky to be part of a knitting group that meets every month. They have inspired me to take up my knitting after years of neglect. I have loved the company of these diverse and creative women and also the feeling of having wool, once again, wound around my fingers.

This week I finished making a jumper out of Amy Butler cotton, blended with wool.

 I love the lacy waistband. 

After lying around for months, I finally pinned and quilted this triangle quilt.
It is the first, but I think not the last, attempt I will make with triangles.
It was surprisingly easy to make.

I added a few more strips to the backing for my husband's recycled shirt quilt.

And I gave away this little Apples quilt to my colleague's baby, Ruby Rose.

It used to be so hard to part with any of my quilts but now I find I can let go so much more easily.

I guess, after making at least 50 plus quilts, you learn to let go.

The smile on the recipient is worth it.

Craft and Quilt Fair

I went to the fair today with a few ideas of what I wanted to do. I had seen a You Tube Video on paper piecing that mentioned an "add a quarter ruler" that is supposed to be very useful for foundation piecing so I bought one of those as well as some other bits and pieces that I haven't taken photos of; linen to knit, a fat 1/8th and some handbag handle clips. We will see whether they ever turn into something.

I always look forward to seeing the quilts but I didn't feel the love this year. There were the usual hand pieced masterpieces that I admire but will never attempt.

Made between 1820- 1830 in the UK

Irish Circle by Helen Collins of Wodonga

Chrysoberyl by Bronwyn van't Hoff

Cheltenham by Sonia Higgs

Birdsong in the Black Forest by Lisa Anderson

Sanity Saver By Sonia Higgs

And this was pretty cool - a quilt called Broken Dishes that was made by Michelle Bardwell and linked back to Nifty Quilt's blog for the tutorial.

There were also some crazy knitted tea cosies by Loani Prior

 Princess Beatrice

 Princess Eugenie

If you are into tea cosies, Laoni has written a couple of gorgeous books called 'Really Wild Tea Cosies'

And after all of that I went home to test out my new quilter's ruler.

I used a template designed by Ayumi from Pink Penguin.

It worked but it is a messy business!

I also watched the You Tube video again on paper piecing. How good it it?

You want to learn something new and sure enough it is on the web.

I have been stitching and knitting lots but the blogging has practically stopped.

I'm just a lazy girl these days - sorry.

Here are some pictures:

Some Minor Finishes

Two quilts that have been hanging around are now finished.

Parson Gray Fabric Quilt

 Finished in May 2013

Started in July 2012

Scrappy Blues. Started in May 2011 

and finished in May 2013.

This is a quilt that is almost finished.

It as made from 48 squares of fabric texta drawings by students at my school.

One of the boys is going overseas and leaving us

so we decided we would make him a present to

take away.

Not quite finished but you can get the idea. 

It is at school waiting for one last drawing to be added in the top right hand corner.

The binding is on now.

Besides these quilts I have been doing a bit of knitting.

 The back of a jumper

Half way through a shawl.

I hope these two will not take me as long as the quilts to finish.

I can't knit for too long at one time.

My hands get really sore but I am determined to keep them going.

I meet up with the knitting girls on Monday so I am encouraged to have something to show by then.

I do eventually finish everything but I just can't seem to stick at any one thing for a period of time.

Making all Sorts of Things

Not much time for words so here are some pictures to make up for the last 2 weeks.

I washed and shrunk some gorgeous french linen and sewed on the hand crocheted lace (made by my husband's grandmother over 40 years ago.)

Added a border to the Shirt Quilt

Made another shirt quilt top from my Dad's old shirts.

I had been planning to do this for ages for my Mum but have been a bit lazy.

Now I have 2 backs to make.

Made this little quilt top from scraps and some white squares I found already cut.

It looked so colourful before it was sewn together.

It is a lot more white now.

And finished this little cardigan from Rowan Felted Tweed.

I saw brilliant mosaics gracing an underpass in Bentleigh.

Met my friends from Knitters Inc.

We downloaded this pattern from Ravelry and 2 of the members

were well on the way to finishing this little baby blanket.

And Sue decided she was going to upsize hers.

This sign was in the window of a wool and patchwork shop in Kyneton.

My husband took it because I was actually in there for ages and he patiently went to wait in the car.

He understands!