Free motion challenge and UFOs for April

I am almost out of time for linking up my Free Motion Challenge for April, on Sew Cal Gal..  This month the tutor is Don Linn, and he gave a very informative tutorial on creating a stencil for quilting designs.  These can be used either by machine for free motion work, or for hand quilting.  I tried it out and found it worked very well for transferring a design to the quilt.  He uses tulle for creating the stencil, and it can then be transferred to the quilt by whatever drawing means you feel comfortable with.  I used a frixon pen, but you can also use a water erasable pen.

After practising, I tried making a design stencil to use on my Bliss quilt when I get to that stage.  First I photocopied a block to get the flower shape and size.  I  traced the design on paper, then put the tulle into a hoop and traced the design onto the tulle using a fine permanent marker.  After that it was a simple matter to draw over the lines to transfer onto my fabric using the frixon pen.

I read of this method some time ago, but had never tried it until this month. I was pleased with the result, and will use this method again when I need a quilting design.  Mine is a simple design but it works equally well with a more complex design. 

I have also completed my UFOs for this month for Sew Its Finished.  I finished the other 2 cushions, so have the 3 stained glass cushions now complete and waiting to go to their new home with my daughter.

I made these blocks some years ago when I wanted to make a wall hanging for a friend.  I was trying the different methods of applique – using vliesofix to attach the flowers  and leaves (pink rose), not using vliesofix,  (gold one) and I cant think what I was trying out in the top one – maybe the colours as the wallhanging was in those colours, but with 3 flowers.

Stained glass blocks are always very effective, I guess because of the bias outline. 

The week that is … Day 5

Morning Tea with my daughter.   Beautiful flowers from Hubby.

Gifts from special friends.(yes I have opened them,).

And of course birthday cake with these special young people.

(With that many candles to blow out it is good to have help.)

Thank you for all the special birthday messages I have received.  You have all added so much to my celebration week.

The week that is …. day 4

 

Well, today I spent a little time in front of cameras.  Firstly a new pic for my Drivers Licence,

and then one for this:

Followed by checking out these:

While tomorrow:

Maybe some of this is in order because

Yes I know I am a bit strange but this week I have been celebrating my last few days of my 50’s decade.

The Week that is….Day 3

(I delayed this post from yesterday as I didnt want to take away from the Anzac Day messages.)

Day 3 focussed on Family. As it was a public holiday we met at the beach with -

Our younger son and his family, and our younger daughter and her family, for a celebratory picnic. A good chance too to have a photo of the three of us taken.

Young cousins had plenty of room to run around and enjoy each other’s company.

The 4 year old cousins, Peta and Charlie always enjoy time spent together.

Zac and Kai had plenty of time to check out Zac’s nerf guns. These 2 cousins are only 10 months apart in age.

The day finished with us going along with some friends to see a performance of :

which was presented by the Pine Rivers Musical Association. Very enjoyable.

Wonderful ways to celebrate the week that is…..

We can never forget…

 

 

 

 

My daughter in law, (second from left) in Gallipoli, Anzac Day 2006. 

And this week in her present overseas posting.

My son also in the Navy, at home being Dad and Mum to Sammy while she is overseas.

Thank you Brett, Cass and all who have served or continue to serve our country to fight for our freedom. 

Let us NEVER FORGET……..

The week that is ….. day 2

Today’s celebration included more retail therapy.

Firstly my friend and I decided we would like to do this BOM – Rachel’s Flower Garden. (Photo courtesy of Country Quilt Co. )

We saw this quilt when at Country Quilt Co on Saturday.  I have always admired it, and when my friend saw it, she also fell in love with it.  That was all the encouragement I needed.  We should receive our first block within a few days.   We are going to have a colourwash day on a regular basis so as to be sure it doesnt become another kit in the cupboard waiting for “another” day.

We also went to Sew This and That to do our part for the Quilt Trail from that store – more purchases and the next Around the World pattern – their country for the trail is Australia

Check out the USB’s they sell – complete with their logo on them.  These are  2G, in size, which they stock particularly for Embroidery Machines as they need the smaller size. 

To top off my celebration week I have done some sewing. 

Firstly I have pulled out more UFOs from quite a few years ago.  I had made 3 stained glass orphan blocks, and have decided to make them up into cushions.  The first is complete, but the other 2 were waiting till I had purchased zips – part of todays purchases.

Also I have done some more secret stitching – only a little sneaky peek till another time.

The week that is ……

It is that fun time of the year again – the annual Quilt Trail in our area – where we head off on buses and visit 9 stores over 2 days.  On Saturday we went to the first 4, and next Saturday we will do another 4, with our local store, Sew This and That making up the 9th.  

 

Of course some parcels just had to jump into my hands at each store. Well what was a person to do but take them home and care for them.

The theme this year is “Around the world in 30 days” and these are the patterns and fabrics we were given when we gave into temptation and made a purchase of $10 or more at a store.  Now what else could we do but oblige with the required purchase.  We really couldn’t have all those goodie bags left unclaimed in the stores could we. 

Many more goodies just begged to come home with me, but fortunately our “escort” rounded us up to move on to the next source of goodies.   I think she was intent on having us spread our spending around, not being tempted to spend all at the first stop.  That was probably a very wise practice.

I do love this charm pack.  I’m thinking there’s a gorgeous lap quilt begging to be made. 

My week of celebrating:  Day 1

lunch with friends – Thai beef salad, followed by citrus tart with cream AND icecream  (yep, I finished it off before thinking of taking a pic of it.)

 

in beautiful surroundings

curious inhabitants wandering around the tables

special surprises.

Got to believe it

They say if you keep something long enough it will be used.  A few years ago my daughter gave me a 1/2 metre of fabric she had bought from Ebay.  She said she didnt know what I could use it for but she liked it so bought it for me.

Cute isnt it.

 

Now I have used it !  This month at Sew This and That’s Sewing club we made a jacket/garment cover.  It was the perfect fabric to use.

I also had a piece of shoe fabric which I used for the lower section.

 

With the leftover piece I made a coathanger to use inside the cover.  The cover looks crooked because I needed to take it on an angle tonight.  The sides are actually the same length.  (hopefully a better pic in daylight).

It also has a hidden pocket inside, and I used another shoe fabric for it.  That means 3 pieces of fabric have left my stash, and have been used.

I hear people talking about having 2 machines going at the same time.  At the weekend I did just that.  On one machine I was making this

lace to be used in a project I am finishing at a class on Thursday. 

while at the same time I was appliquing flowers on the blocks of my second Bliss quilt. 

Here are the blocks with the first flower appliqued on. There will be 6 flowers.

Tassie projects, and Easter sewing

Finally, here are my finishes so far of the projects from our stitching day in Tassie. 

First one – Helen’s needlecase, where we learned her techniques for needleturn applique..

 

Vicki’s framed hexagon thread catcher. This will be well used.

I enjoyed finishing Dawn’s project using the Go Baby to cut the tulips (arent they pretty).

It goes so well on my pink cane chair.

The last one that I have completed is Jo’s Memories Scrapbook.  I had such fun making this.

 

I am still working on the project from Fee. 

My Easter sewing is proceeding well.  I am working on a UFO – a quilt using my Bliss precuts.  I started this quilt in a class called Fun with Precuts at Sew This and That .  I did have fun, even though I have waited more than a year to work on it again. 

The bonus here is that I had enough fabrics left to be able to make another quilt. I just had to buy one coordinating fabric.

,

Have I told you before that I LOVE Bliss.  Well I do !!!!

And a sneaky peek at another project I hope to finish over the Easter break.  Hmm.

So back to the sewing machine. But before I do, here’s the latest crafting project of Kai and Charlie, my gorgeous grandies.  They love making things, and Kai in particular is very much interested in puppets. Kai’s creation is on the left, and on the right is Charlie with his two.   I am waiting for the puppet show the next time I see them.