My quilting thoughts and inspirations sprinkled with a glimpse of life down on the farm

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

A Big Weekend and a Small Quilt!

I baked for the girls - but they didn't eat a crumb......

I went on retreat - but I stayed at home.....

My little online quilting group have just had a Skype version of a quilting retreat! We chose a quilt from a book we all have, warned our families, and got sewing!
It was so much fun! Time zones only got in the way a little and we seemed to sew our way through them :-)
This is the little quilt we chose to do —
 
It is Square Dance, by Lori Smith, out of her book Fat Quarter Quilting. It finishes at 16" x 20".
It was fun to do as it had the mix of piecing and applique... its size meant we mostly got to the quilting and binding stage by the end of the weekend.

A couple of posts ago, I asked if anyone had any great tips on invisible machine applique.... this quilt was a good practise for me; I worked hard at getting it as invisible as I could and have finally realised you cant have it totally invisible - I think the look I was striving for doesn't exist!! However I am happy with it and will write a little more about it in another post another day :-)
This was the first time I have used a wool:poly batting mix and I am quite pleased with it. (60/40 from Matilda's Own). It has a lovely puff and it also has a beautiful weight and feel. Dense quilting wasn't needed (which was good as the weekend was over!). I'm hooked! (And it kept my lap warm while sewing on the binding too!).
Thank you girls for your company!! Joanne shows her quilt here, and Wendy's is here.  We chatted with Joan too but she wasn't sewing the same little quilt.

I put the last few stitches in this block last night, my third from the Quiltmania mystery from last year. (Halfway there!)


Do you rememer the VW van I pattern tested a few blogposts back? Juliet now has it on her Craftsy site so if you loved it, you can now make your own!! It was fun to make.
Apologies to those of you whom I haven't answered after my last post, I hope to catch up soon. (Been busy sewing!)
Have a lovely day, happy stitching,

30 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness--Reiko's quilt blocks are just so gorgeous! You are doing a fabulous job! I love your color choices on this hugs, Julierose

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  2. Sounds like a great weekend! You got something finished which is always a nice feeling.

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  3. what a gorgeous mini, the machine applique looks pretty good to me!
    love your latest quiltmania block, those little kiddies are amazing!

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  4. Those are two awesome projects you have been working on. Sounds like you had a pretty good weekend.

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  5. how fun and what a dear little quilt...
    Hugz

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  6. Sounds like a fun week end Raewyn with a cute little quilt to show at the end! Did you use your new machine to quilt it? I noticed they had one on show in our local fabric store......Just waiting for a demo!

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  7. Oh Raewyn, what a great idea - I love your quilt & think that a weekend retreat just for myself would be a fantastic idea. Just eating & creating ... no housework or entertaining others :-) Sounds just what I need right now. I adore your little sunbonnets by the way.

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  8. what a fun idea .....I might have to try one sometime
    in stitches

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  9. I really like the Lori Smith quilt. I think your applique looks fantastic!! Sunbonnet Sues are a favorite, and yours really cute! Glad you had a quilting weekend. Sounds fun!

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  10. What a great way yo spend a weekend Raewyn. I love your finished quilt.

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  11. I love your retreat idea! And what a cute, cute quilt you made while retreating! : )
    Oh, that little beach scene is fun!

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  12. What a wonderful idea! Lots of wonderful sewing

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  13. what a good idea if you cannot all get together to do it with skype. The quilt is very nice, love that it has the applique round the blocks. Sun bonnet Sue is lovely too

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  14. Wow ... such a cool idea and a gorgeous finish!

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  15. What fun! I love that dear little quilt you chose it is beautiful. Your other little blocks are coming along too. I would have been sad not to have tasted that yummy baking x

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  16. Sounds like a great way to spend the weekend! I guess the family get to enjoy the baking??
    Love you t little quilt!

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  17. Your square in a square quilt is adorable and I love your Reiko blocks. It is a lovely quilt and it will be a real treasure when it is done!

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  18. I was confused by your opening sentences, but then it made sense. A cyber retreat! Cool!
    Your Lori Smith project is sweet as can be. I've met her a couple times (she doesn't remember me), and I love her work.
    I agree--invisible machine applique can't be totally invisible, but yours comes close.
    Looks like you had a great weekend.

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  19. Dear Raewyn,
    your little Quilt looks so precious, lovely. I think you all had a wonderful time.
    And the Quiltmania Blog is just awesome!!!
    Have a good time...I´m a lazy "girl" doing just nothing...:-))
    Hugs
    sigisart

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  20. A virtual retreat! What a great idea! The quilt is so cute! Where are you going to hang/display it? I just finished the applique on that block. Yours really pops so much more than mine does. I think my color choices weren't very good this time. I enjoyed the next block in the series. All the bias strips were challenging but it was fun.

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  21. What an awesome idea.....and your quilt is totally awesome....

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  22. Sounds like a great idea to have a 'virtual' sewing weekend, your quilt is gorgeous. The baking looks yummy too!

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  23. Sounds like a great idea to have a 'virtual' sewing weekend, your quilt is gorgeous. The baking looks yummy too!

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  24. That's a great little quilt and a wonderful way to work together with friends.

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  25. Beautiful plate under the scrupmtious dessert! you must be of Scottish decent. Love the quilts

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  26. The little mini quilt is gorgeous , great job ! I did see Joanne's quilt , must go see the other quilt . Happy Easter to you and your family . Hugs Sheila

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  27. Great retreat Raewyn... Love your quilt! I think I was the odd one out..and worked on my DWR.. Didn't dare start anything else. Love the three small quilts you all did..well done to all of you....

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  28. What a fun online retreat! Your quilt turned out so sweet and beautiful!

    Your applique' work is wonderful, your stitching is so lovely!

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  29. The online retreat is a fantastic idea, and it's such a sweet little quilt you all worked on, your fabric choices are so pretty.
    Your little people progress is beautiful too! Hope you're enjoying a relaxing Easter weekend...

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  30. I love the idea of an online retreat. You can stay home, sew and enjoy the company of quilters through Skype! Your quilt is adorable. It's a nice remembrance of your virtual retreat. Hope you had a great Easter!

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