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

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

The last of Christmas and some handwork

The last of my Christmas sewing is ready to share!! It has now safely arrived at its destination so I can write a blogpost about it!
This runner went to Texas, somehow I just thought Wagon Wheels suited Doniene and her home a lot.
The pattern is from Quiltmania #78 and is for a full sized quilt (4 blocks by 4 blocks) but I decided a row of three would make a great little (ahem) runner instead.
It's foundation pieced, using a mix of fabrics I'd gathered over the years. The photo below shows how much of the light fabric I had left! I had to join about 8 of these small pieces together in order to finish those blocks! 
To finish it, I quilted straight lines out from the centre to emphasis the spokes of the wheels, then edged each wheel in pebbles and then finished it off with straight line quilting. 
One thing about runners, it's ok to over quilt them so they will sit nice and flat - plus they're a good size to play with :-)
I've been making some slow progress on my project for the No FUSS SAL. We're making Ruth's Quilt from 'Living the Dream' by Leanne Beasley. We're encouraged to go at our own pace and I really am doing that!
My block 6 - getting there.....
Blocks 3-5
A couple of friends have asked to see my fabrics...here they are.
A FQ bundle I bought years ago with a few more thrown in. 
It's nice to pull the bundle out and actually use it...I loved drooling over it but it feels so much better to be thinking about cutting it up!

After the drama of the fire last week I thought you might like to see some non-burnt countryside! When we were up the hill taking in the fire damage I turned and took a photo looking down on our farm. I'm standing in the firebreak that stopped the fire from moving over towards out part of the bush and the back of the farm.
It gives you some idea of the contour of the land in our area.
Looking a bit summery too, most of the brown areas are very messy looking with long seedheads giving it the dry colour.
'til next time,
Happy stitches,

33 comments:

  1. The wagon wheels do seem appropriate for a ranch gal like Doniene! I really like the way you put the pebbles around the outside of the wheels.
    Sometimes it is hard to guess size from a photo, but it seems those sweet stitched blocks are quite small. Is that right, or is my perspective off?
    Love the view of your land!

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  2. Great view over your farm Raewyn. The table runner is stunning, love the quilting you have done on it. Doniene would have been most impressed I am sure.

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  3. I love the Wagon Wheels runner - what a great gift. The stitcheries look great against your fabric selection. Lovely to see the view of your farm. xx

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  4. What a gorgeous runner! The quilting is amazing, well done on such great work. Finishes it off beautifully.
    Glad you were safe from those fires.x

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  5. The runner is fantastic! Your farm looks so beautiful Raewyn. Nice to think of you there xx

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  6. love the wagon wheel table runner - very nice pattern. Your farm is so pretty

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  7. I love your wagon wheel table runner. I agree that Texas is just the right place for it. I am sure your friend loves it. The colors are terrific and I love the quilting you did. I am sorry you had the scare of a fire. I can't imagine what you were feeling. So pleased the fire break worked.

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  8. The wagon wheels is a gorgeous piece. The colors and the quilting are perfect.

    Will yo now need to worry about mudslides in the burn areas like we do here in California?

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  9. I adore that table runner! What a wonderful gift. I am so happy to hear that your farm was spared. What a horrid experience. Stay safe.

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  10. Pretty wagon wheel table runner--and those look like Texas colors even!!!
    love the little stitcheries you are doing--
    and nice view of the farm--
    enjoy, di

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  11. I love the runner and I can´t wait to see your quilt grow :-)
    I´ve started stitching back in 2010 and finished it 2013, and it´s still one og my favorites !

    happy quilting
    Angelika

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  12. Love the table runner Raewyn (lucky recipient)!!! I am sure it will be treasured.
    Lucky we have had rain and it should help the burnt areas to rejuvenate
    Happy Stitching. xxxx

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  13. LOVE the table runner Raewyn. Perfect gift for Texas....lucky girl. :-)

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  14. Love the quilting on the table runner. You live in a beautiful area.

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  15. Your farm looks lovely... I love that line of big trees.... What a gorgeous table runner and of course I wanted to see close up of your quilting.. which is gorgeous.... I would like more imagination to work with shapes - like what you have done in the neutral space around the wheels... it is so effective...
    Hugz

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  16. That's a terrific runner Raewyn! Wow, your quilting is drool-worthy - I studied it, make that ogled it for quite some time! Love the shot of your farm; really helps me visualize you now properly. It's way more hilly than I'd imagined.

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  17. Your wagon wheel runner looks great. Would be very faffy to make a whole quilt though.What a great view over your farm, so lucky the fire didn't spread. More hot weather for us all, I shouldn't complain, but cooler nights would be blissful.

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  18. Funny how those fabric bundles end up sitting in our stashes for much too long! Especially since we usually "had" to buy it at the time. Looks like a very economical project using up those scrap leftover bits!

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  19. Stunning table runner. Great choice of design, fabrics and quilting. What a gorgeous gift.
    Good to see a bit o stitching happening.
    And lovely to see the green and unburnt part of your area.

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  20. Love that runner! The fire was getting a tad too close to your home and farm. Good thing it stopped when it did.

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  21. What a gorgeous Wagon Wheel table runner.. Beautiful quilting on it Raewyn.

    Thankfully the bush fire was able to be contained and didn't damage any farms even though its always sad to see the aftermath of the burnt bush..

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  22. A beautiful table runner Raewyn, I love the pattern and the colours - lucky friend!! It's interesting to see your photo of the farm, it's in a beautiful part of New Zealand.

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  23. love you colours in the table runner and you view is amazing and fresh...

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  24. Love the wagon wheel runner. That's a pattern on my bucket list. The little pebble quilting adds such a sweet touch. Grateful the fire missed you!!!

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  25. Hi, via Kamo lady.
    Lovely work!
    Sad seeing the devastation of fire..they did the firebreaks well.

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  26. A Texas wagon wheel. Now those look hard.

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  27. wow you are very up and down...........we are super flat............would love a view over the farm but not happening...........how big is your farm.......

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  28. Wonderful 'wagon wheel' blocks! I'm tempted to give these a go... foundation pieced?

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  29. Such lovely stitcheries... and I love the wagon wheel table runner, sounds like it suits a lady from Texas! xx

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  30. Oh. I. Love. Those. Wagon Wheels! Wow!

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  31. Such a beautiful rural panorama! Yes....it's such a relief not to view so much of the scorched acreage that must be devastating for many.
    The quilting is so perfect for that piecing! I really appeals to my "sense of geometry" (lol!) and the embroidery is sweetness for sure!!!! Life certainly is busy these days, hmmmmm???? Hugs.....

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  32. Oh, I love the Wagon Wheel runner!

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  33. The wagon wheel runner is great. Lovely stitcheries. What gorgeous country. I live in the flat lands.

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