The Country Yard held its New Year's Launch on Saturday - I've been sharing lately about trying to get my Show and Tell quilt finished in time for it.
As time went on, with lots of life getting in the way, I realised that the best I could hope for was to get it to a 'presentable state' rather than completely finished.
That was a realistic goal which really took the pressure off me. (And being stubborn, I like to quilt my own quilts even though I don't always have the time or the skills for it!!)
If I could master Edge to Edge designs on my Sweet 16, it would make life easier. One day maybe.
Prior to quilting - yes it's a big quilt! (The pattern has other size options but of course I went for the largest!) —
At the shop, we hung it above the door as it has great impact there. The incomplete quilting wasn't very noticeable, and quite a few of the ladies I spoke to on our open day didn't even realise that it wasn't quite finished.
They don't need anything else doing to them, but I would like to quilt some features in the animals and of course come up with a suitable background fill.
It's a Sewbe pattern and once I'd made the blocks, it came together really nicely.
The pattern asks for sewn fabric ties but I preferred to use the cord - luckily I had the perfect colour at home.
I keep coming across things I haven't shared......last year a few online friends and I decided to make a Temperature Tree.
I would have liked to have done it with the low temperatures as well as the highs but I'll have to save that for another project....and besides I haven't quilted my 2020 temperature quilt yet!
(The twins' family has claimed this quilt when the quilting is done and shop has finished with it.)
I quilted the mini quilts with a variety of techniques - some were meander style quilting, others had a little bit of ruler work and some were cross hatched.
I couldn't resist taking a photo of these four ladies discussing it from across the mezzanine floor —
[As encouraged by Andree, I have now linked up to her regular I Quilted This linky party, which celebrates free motion quilting (FMQ), ruler work and walking foot done on a domestic machine or custom quilting on a long-arm. I use a sit-down Sweet 16 for my quilting. You can visit Andree's linky party *here*.]
The launch was a good day; it was great to show off our new projects and ideas.
Another thing I completed for the launch was this bag using the blocks I shared in my last post—
The above blocks also appear in another Sewbe quilt which we are making as a sewalong - more on my version in another post.
It used the high temperature from each day, each branch is a month and each leaf is a day. It was fun to do it and I actually kept up quite well and finished it not long after this year had started!
It was interesting to make this with the Australian ladies whose daily highs were right off MY chart!
I know I've bombarded you lately with Lily and George's sewing adventures (with school holidays and their mother attending a 2 week training course I've seen rather a lot of them recently) but I have one last make of theirs to show you.
I have yet to decide how to finish this - I'm thinking it will probably end up in a frame?
Lily made this little pouch prior to making the cushion of my last post. At the time George was piecing a 'blanket' which I don't have a photo of.
Four squares of fabric and a strip for the flap. Totally designed by her. I suggested sewing Right Sides Together to neaten it, and of course I cut the fabric for her.
She chose the pretty button which I sewed on but it took a while to work out the loop for the button. I was going to use some cord or something but then came across the wee hair tie which worked perfectly!
I think I'll sign off here before I find more things to talk about!
'til next time,
happy stitches,
Raewyn
The animal quilt is very striking up on the wall like that! I'm sure it was greatly admired. The shop looks like it had many wonderful projects to entice the shoppers. The temperature tree is beautiful! Little Lily's bag is so cute, she did a good job and you are a patient grandmother. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteHi Raewyn, what a lovely animal quilt. It really looks stunning hung over the door. Please consider linking up to I Quilted This! We'd love to have you join us. The tree temperature quilt is such a great idea and looks more likely to get finished than the regular temp quilts.
ReplyDeleteThe animals holding their quilts is so cute. At the distance it still had loads of impact. It sounds like your open day was a success. The Sew Be bag is a cutie. I do like her patterns and look forward to visiting her stall at the Melbourne Quilt Show next month.
ReplyDeleteI do love that teddy quilt. Your bag and x stitch tree are great finishes. Well done to Lily on her nice pouch finish.
ReplyDeleteyour quilt looks wonderful. The animals all holding a quilt is such a fun idea.
ReplyDeleteLove each of the designs and the colours in the quilts, too.
You have done a beautiful job with this one.
It looks stunning hanging over the door.
I am not surprised that it has already been claimed.
The little bag is a great design, too. You could use all sorts of blocks for that one.
But I do like the colours you have used.
That is a very impressive finish to your temperature tree. Yes, frame it.
Love seeing what the grandies have been up to. I think it is great that they want to make sewing things.
What great fun your quilt is and a lovely 'almost' finish! The little bag is sweet too and it has been interesting seeing the different temperature trees. Another great make By Lily. xx
ReplyDeleteYour Show and Tell quilt looks great as does the wee block bag'
ReplyDeleteLily picked some pretty fabrics for her little pouch.
The Temperature Tree will look good in a frame or hoop.
what pretty quilts and bags they all look so fun.
ReplyDeleteLove the animals holding their quilts, well done to get it to the stage you did and wonderful to hear it has been claimed! Well done on the Temp tree and Lily's bag is super cute. Hope the New Years launch was hugely successful.
ReplyDeleteThe young animals holding their quilts is so stinkin' cute!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on that, Raewyn. I forget sometimes that we quilt on the same machine, but mine is having problems with the upper thread tension knob. They told me to bring the knob and everything that comes with it in to the shop and they could probably fix it, or order a replacement, if it is too far gone. That would save me having to bring in the whole machine. But I can't even a tool the right size and shape to release the knob.
The bag turned out so nice looking, and I think you made the right call using the cord.
Your temperature tree is lovely. So elegant looking, I think.
Lily's pouch is so sweet. The hair tie was a brilliant idea!
Your Animal Quilt takes pride of place and looks amazing...lots of detail quilting each mini quilt.
ReplyDeleteThe bag is beautiful.
It was fun stitching along in a little temperature tree group.
The Show and Tell quilt turned out so cute. It will be well loved, I am sure. I really like the Temperature tree too. So clever. I’ll bet your little sewer is impressed with her work. The hair ties come in so handy. Beautiful bag too.
ReplyDeleteOh your animal quilts is so gorgeous! Love it! Well done on your Temperature cross stitch. I guess we would have had a few higher temps here lol! Lovely bag and projects too xx
ReplyDeleteShow and tell is a beautiful almost finish. Such a fun way to use sampler blocks. LOL I hope you get it completed soon. Your bag is lovely too.
ReplyDeleteI just love the quilt with the mini quilts .... Great work. The blocks bag is lively too.
ReplyDeleteHugz
Gosh you have been so busy.
ReplyDelete