Catching up!

Hi all,

I have had a pretty productive week or so, not much real work and kids started back at school this week. So I have a few things to share. Actually I think this quilt was finished a week ago I just hadn't taken photos!

It is a Convergence Quilt from the book by Ricky Tims.

I am calling mine "Up the garden path" because I used a garden path panel for one of the corners. I had so much trouble quilting this top, I started quilting it about a year ago and had heaps of thread trouble so I gave up. This time I used good quality thread and still had a lot of breakage, I tried 3 different threads and gave her a good clean, oil and needle change but I still had some breakage so she has gone for some pampering. But I did push on and finish the quilting before she went away.

I figured by the time I got the inside quilted that I had wrecked the quilt so I thought I would try something new for the border. I actually did feathers....Yay! I did a wavy line around the middle of the border with feathers on the inside and straight lines on the outside. I wish the border fabric wasn't so busy so you could see it better. I am so happy with how it turned out! The quilt actually looks okay! Just don't look to closely at the back ;)

On Sunday I decided to make a dress for one of my friends little girls. I picked the fabric, checked what size she wears and got stuck into it! The pattern is Pinny #2 by Make it Perfect.

On Monday all I had left to do was sew on some buttons and button holes. The strap is supposed to the thread through the button holes and tie in a knot to secure it but I decided to use a button for extra security. I also did some extra top stitching just because I love the look and I french seamed the whole dress - I am totally in love with french seams! It means I don't have to use the over locker and they look so neat!

Somewhere in there I also go the checker board border sewn onto the Midnight at the Oasis quilt.

And this morning I put together the first block of the last border. It is 1/8" too small so I will adjust the seam allowance on the rest...only 43 blocks!

I think that is it for now!

Bye, Jess :)

 

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Getting back on the horse

Hi all,

Well, getting back on the blogging horse anyway!

It has been ages since I have really been in the blogging groove. I haven't been keeping the blog up to date with what I am working on. I have been posting a lot on Instagram and I think then I don't bother putting it on the blog too. I know everyone can't access Instagram and there are probably some that don't want to so I will try to get back into the groove. I should be finding it a lot easier to blog now that I can do it on the Ipad.

I haven't been keeping my Facebook page up to date either...I have been sharing most things on my personal page.

So what have I been doing lately?

I have been working on a commission quilt for my cousins little girl. I have called the quilt "V is for Violet", I still need to quilt it. I hope to get the wadding next week when I am at the local PWS and will wait until the holidays are over to get to the quilting.

I am slowing getting appliqué blocks done for the Afternoon Delight quilt. These are the last few blocks and I have another one nearly finished, I work on these when we watch a bit of TV after the boys are in bed.

The other major project is the Midnight at the Oasis quilt. I have started working on the 2nd last border which is lots and lots of little squares!

I think I will try to blog every Friday night and see how it works out. Thank you for reading all the way to the end if you made it!

Bye for now, Jess :)

 

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Midnight at the Oasis

Hi everyone,

The Midnight at the Oasis QAL is coming to an end so I thought I would do a progress update.

Last night I finished the appliqué border, yay! Now I need to find another appliqué WIP that I can work on at night while we watch our episode of Star Trek.

I have started piecing the churn dash blocks for the next border. I have 10 made, 10 half made and the rest are prep'd ready to go.

I plan to keep working away on this one, I love how each border changes to look of the quilt!

Bye for now, Jess :)

 

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Where did January go?

Hello to my dear readers...are you still there?

I do know where January went, it was swallowed up with school holidays and everything that they come with....the beach (such a great afternoon), bowling with friends and the movies (Frozen). This week school started again and my youngest started prep, he is enjoying it but comes home tired and it is kind of meltdown central for a bit. I'm sure things will calm down as the new routine is gotten used to. My oldest is now in Grade 3 and seems to be settling in ok, he loves checking in on his little bro at lunch time.

Midnight at the Oasis - Churn Dash block

So what have I been doing creatively? I have been steadily working away at the Midnight at the Oasis quilt and hopefully will be able to share a pic of the finished appliqué border very soon. I did a tiny bit on the double wedding ring quilt, not much to take a picture of yet though.

On the weekend I went to my local patchwork shop and did a class that included a kit with the fabric, so although I am doing the fabric diet I am not counting this because I paid the deposit back in early December.

We started with the batik fabric that is dyed in Bali. Then the cutting began!

It is actually a really simple quilt to make. Basically it is a cheater bargello pattern.

I finished the top the next day with sashing and the final border. It is a really good single bed size quilt, maybe verging into double bed territory even. So, now I just need to get some backing fabric. I am thinking about selling this one when it is finished so if you know someone who likes this look send them my way!

Speaking of "Fabriholics Anonymous" - other than the above fabric I only made one other fabric purchase this month and that was to add to my little collection for the commission quilt I plan to start soon.

Now that I have this Blogsy app you might hear from me a bit more often as it is a lot quicker than turning on my laptop and sorting out photos from different devices.

I think that's about it for now!

Jess :)

 

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Sewjo in overdrive!

Hi all,

I don’t know where to start! After a couple of weeks of working everyday I have really enjoyed being at home more and sewing every spare second.

I started with this -

It is from Heather Bailey’s Fresh Picked pattern of fruit pincushions. I was thinking it would be a cool teacher appreciation present but the boys loved it so much that it didn’t make it to school.

I have been side tracked too! And this quilt is really  addictive, I just want to work on it non stop!

This is the centre of the Midnight at the Oasis quilt. A pattern by Jen Kingwell. I am using the Quiltmania pattern but you can also buy the pattern on its own.

So, I thought I had better do a to do list so I don’t get too side tracked.

The first thing on the list is made and ready to be posted. I will do a full reveal when they have been swapped!

I am working on the mini quilt now. I am doing lots of needle turn appliqué for this so I hope my partner loves it…she actually hasn’t been commenting on my sneak peeks so I am a little worried.  There are pictures on Instagram and flickr.

Blakes quilt – AKA the star burst quilt is coming along. I am ready to baste it and start quilting, just don’t have the energy today for all that kneeling and pinning. I was going to share this quilt for my post in the Boys Blog Hop but I can’t do that now so I am quickly coming up with something else and I hope to do a tutorial too. I will be using that shark fabric in the background of the above picture.

Here is a list of the participants in the blog hop - 

November 6^th
Vrooman's Quilts
Sew Many Yarns
Young Texan Mama
Baa’s Amazing Adventures!
Little Mushroomcap
Threading My Way
Sarah Scholz and Chasing Unicorns
Quilt Doodle Designs

November 7^th
Amy's Crafty Shenanigans
Ridge Top Quilts
Creatin' in the Sticks
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Meadowbrook
Malinis Quilts
Just Let Me Quilt
Kris Loves Fabric

November 8^th
Debby Kratovil Quilts
Made By Me in Red
Freemotion by the River
Val's Quilting Studio
Tomorrow's Treasures Today
The Stitchin’ Post
The Nosy Pepper
The Reluctant Quilter
Quilting, Losing & Tea

November 11^th
Jane's Quilting
Pieces By Polly
how Art you
Selina Quilts
Upcycled Fabric
BQuiltin Studio
In The Boon Docks
Gemini Stitches
Secretly Stitching

November 12^th
Pig Tales and Quilts
CeLynn's Sunflower Patch
rainbows.bunnies.cupcakes
Devoted Quilter
Desertsky Quilting
Sew Fresh Quilts
Red Letter Quilts
Craft Nurse Quilt
Miss Priss Quilts

November 13^th
Dachsies with Moxie
Patchouli Moon Studio
It Seams to Be Sew....
Scrappy n Happy – Here I am!
Loves to Quilt
Michelle's Romantic Tangle
Factotum of Arts
Jackie's Art Quilts
Living with purpose

November 14^th
I like to QuiltBlog
Marjorie's Busy Corner
My Fabric Relish
Feathered Nest Studios
Moose Stash Quilting
QuiltnQueen
Grandmama's Stories
Our Busy Little Bunch
Words and Stitches

November 15^th
Everyone Deserves a Quilt
From This to That
Monkey Makes Three
Just Quilt It
Life, Quilts and a Cat too
Thimblemouse and Spouse
More Stars in Comanche
Sew Incredibly Crazy
Sew We Quilt

That is quite a list and I already follow a few on there so it will be great to see what everyone comes up with!

I am off to have a CT scan on my chest this afternoon, my cough is still hanging around so the Dr is trying to figure out why I and the antibiotics can’t kick this infections butt!

Bye for now and happy sewing!
Jess :)