RSVP Card

One of our great-nieces is getting married next year (actually 2 are within 3 weeks of each other!!!!) and this is the RSVP I created.  Certainly quicker to go out & buy one but not as much fun.  Appliqued on to a colour catcher - haven't decided whether to put it onto card stock or to finish it with a running stitch border & pop it into an envelope.  The dots on her dress do sparkle.

Finished & memories

 Finished "Owl's Playground" in time for a friend's new baby boy.

 I may have shown this before but as we head to my parent's 70th wedding anniversary in September, it's bringing back memories.  I made this for their 50th - not even thinking, at the time, that they may be around for another 20 years.  I was new to quilting when I started this & designed the borders (would do them differently now!)  When I look at my stitching, it was pretty good & I don't think I could do as well now. It's hand appliqued and hand quilted.

 Each of the nine traditional applique blocks have dates embroidered on them which hold meaning for Mum & Dad, the strawberry wreath has the birth dates of my niece & nephew whose Mum (my sister) died some 17 years ago.  The leaves on the borders hold names of all family members and places they've lived and so it becomes a story of their lives.  They're in a old aged home now (rooms side by side), Dad has dementia & Mum is still with it & manages to help all the old people when she can!!!  

Their wedding photo from 1948 is part of the label.

A couple of quilts

 Audrey's Forest Friends was made from a pattern in a Quiltmania book of children's quilts.  Absolutely delightful designs.  This one's on its way to a friend's granddaughter, Audrey.

This quilt is 21 years old - made for my eldest son in 1996.  It was a Leesa Seigle (sorry probably have spelt that wrong) pattern in a AP & Q magazine.  I machine quilted it and also put a Red Hot Chilli Peppers' emblem in the middle.  My son helped me with it.  The binding is wearing out and it's much loved and taken camping every now and then. 

50th Anniversary Quilt

 This quilt was made for Mum & Dad for their 50th Wedding Anniversary.  It's needle-turn applique, hand quilted.  Can't believe I managed to do it.  It was started in a Dianne Johnston workshop.

There are dates embroidered in each of the blocks that are relevant to their lives and names of family and places they've lived embroidered in the leaves on the borders.  Think it took around 2 years to complete.

Sherwood Stitchers - Part 2

Just a sample of the talent of the members.

Oooops - forgot to turn the image - still looks fantastic, doesn't it?

Loved this one - 3D flowers.

Coffee & roses - just beautiful.

2Q 'Doing your Block'

I was so inspired by the fabric I'd won that my fingers were itching to do the block. Think I've covered by themes for the month - Home - the reef (Tick) Native - the fish are native to the reef  (Tick)& I hand appliqued with blanket stitch (Tick ) - all rolled up & put away.  Unfortunately I won't be able to attend next month's meeting for all the other reveals - I'll just have to wait till the August meeting. Hope I'll be able to weave my theme around the monthly instructions...............will be interesting.

Busy Hands........

Still working on my FloodArt - this piece is the back of a damaged photograph - I am always amazed at the designs, colours, shapes & this one inspired a garden. Some machine stitching finished off the piece.

Another finished block for my Antique Aussie Quilt.  Think I will have to lay them out to see how many more I'll do or if the number I have will make an interesting quilt.

WIP

This will be a "Five little ducks" Quilt - for a neighbour's baby.  I intend appliquing ducklings on the last blue border.

Sylvia Pippen's Workshop

Spent an absolutely delightful weekend with several other ladies learning shashiko and an applique technique using Mylar.  The above design is one of Sylvia Pippen's Australian flower designs. 

Sylvia is on the chair surrounded by very happy women - the 3 quilts on the left are Sylvia's and the 3 on the right are pieces done by the ladies holding them.

Update - WIP

Think this is Block No: 9 on my Aussie Antique Quilt - only 11 more to go! Have had a thought this morning - blogging can become addictive!  It's almost a must to start my day but maye it's also that I now have work to share with you - am certainly enjoying the return to my craft and atually accomplishing something.

SuZanne, thanks for your hugs. 

WIPs

A friend of mine (who shall remain nameless but she knows who she is!) has managed to get me to help some of the ladies in our Cottage groups to make a Sampler Quilt.  I am not a teacher but have come up with a plan for 12 x 12" blocks and these are the first three.  Simple 9-patch, simple 4-patch (Rail Fence) & what I am calling a complex 9-patch (a block called True Blue) - the others will have a choice of about 8 different blocks all based on a 9 patch.  Of course, I started without any colour/theme in mind, so it will be interesting to see how this quilt turns out.  Keep tuned.

Another block completed on my Aussie Antique quilt.             This is No: 8 - nearly halfway there - more circles. This quilt is also developing as I go.  There will be 10 with a floral-type background and 10 with a narrow striped background (didn't have enough of the floral for all 20 blocks)- again, don't know how this will be put together - I'll find out when all 20 blocks are complete. Each block will have some embroidery to complete it.



WIP - Aussie Antique Quilt

Another block finished in this epic adventure - by the time I've finished all these applique blocks - I think I will have mastered circles.  There are an awful lot throughout this quilt.