WOW: Spending the Day in Bed!

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I'm spending my much loved weekly and always anticipated Work In Progress Wednesday in bed. 

I'm all spent. I've had back to back birthdays in my household and it's my own birthday next week. I'm battling a head cold and want to be up on my feet and actually able to enjoy my special day, so I'm taking it easy. Today will be all about endless cups of herbal tea, chicken soup and a huge stack of magazines and books to keep me occupied between recuperative naps. 

See you on the other side of this sniffling chill - not only will I be a year older, I'll also have a special reveal to share. But for now, some tea..

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

'Shelly' by Karen Richardson

Karen Richardson

sent through this pic of Shelly hanging on display.

Isn't it a beauty? Now, from what I remember from comments over in my Group, Karen made this quilt in memory of her brother and it includes his Hawaiian shirts in the fabric selection. This really touched me. As a quilter, I know that every quilt has a story and when you learn and hear about the stories behind the wonderful quilts being made, it make you feel good. It makes you feel connected to other people who are living their lives just as you are: full of hopes, happiness, ideas and sometimes sadness. 

Quilts really do become a part of the 'fabric' of our lives and working with fabric to make something tangible out of an idea or memory always touches my heart. I love every inch of this quilt.

A memorial is a beautiful reason for a quilt and I'm honored you picked Shelly when you decided to make yours Karen. Thank you so much for sharing it with us all. 

'Shelly' 

Read more about this quilt by clicking here now

 

--------------------------- Open Quilt Gallery--------------------------- 

Thanks to Karen Richardson for sharing her finished quilt with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Clear here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

'Queen's Garden' by Diane Bertrand

Diane Bertrand in Canada has sent through pics of her utterly gorgeous Queen's Garden quilt. Isn't it just a stunner?! The top was finished this month and I can't wait to see it done and quilted, I can already tell it will be incredible!

 Fabulous fabric choices Diane, they shine!

Thanks so much for sending through your progress pics, they just made my day! It's lots of fun seeing how each and every quilter adds their own touch to my patterns and setting my eyes on them and being able to share them here on the blog is motivation indeed!

I know there are hundreds of Queen's Garden quilts out there..

How is your Queen's Garden coming along? 

'Queen's Garden' 

Read more about this quilt by clicking here now

 

--------------------------- Open Quilt Gallery--------------------------- 

Thanks to Diane Bertrand for sharing her finished quilt with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Click here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

'Love Always' by Dottie Cincis

Love Always by Dottie Cincis of Southern California

Dottie Cincis of Southern California has created a jaw dropping Love Always in this beautiful colour pallette. Dottie tells us it's 'machine appliqued on an old 1970 Singer sewing machine using a zig zag stitch. Home machine quilted by Irene Chang. This is my favorite quilt I’ve ever made. It will be given to my daughter after I’ve had it in my home for a while (it’s going to be very hard to part with!)'

Well Dottie, I quilted my best quilts on a 1950s Elna so I can attest that old machines are the best machines and certainly no barrier to making incredible quilts. Wow, yours is a true beauty and I know your daughter will cherish it. Although, you may be tempted to make another. I'm personally making 3 x!

'Love Always' 

Read more about this quilt by clicking here now

 

--------------------------- Open Quilt Gallery--------------------------- 

Thanks to Dottie Cincis for sharing her finished quilt with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Click here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

'Queen's Garden' by Glenda Jean Hepburn

Be still my beating heart! Oh Glenda, you've done it again! 

Isn't this just drop stitch gorgeous? Glenda's Queen's Garden is a riot of colour and sunshine. The dark background just makes all these vibrant blocks zing into a happy, blooming scene. I love how all these blocks have come together and I love it when a quilt is so happy, it's infectious.

Every inch is fabulous, it just brightens my day.

'Queen's Garden' 

Read more about this quilt by clicking here now

--------------------------- Open Quilt Gallery--------------------------- 

Thanks to Glenda Jean Hepburn for sharing her finished quilt with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Click here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

WOW: Mess Making

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I can't show you what I'm working on today as it's sample piecing for the new BOM. But I can tell you this, it's not to wait until the big reveal!

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

WOW: Getting Ready for BOM 2019

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I try to set each Wednesday aside in order to complete some WIPs. It makes me feel good to know that I have a day devoted to actually completing the things I start. And I start many things. And it would take many lifetimes to complete the catalogue of ideas in my mind. But today my mind and attention is turning to 2019. It's nearly time to announce the BOM for next year and I'm thinking about how I want to spend it in terms of fabric, techniques and direction. 

I've started buying a bunch of flowers to celebrate each new pattern I complete and this is the latest bunch. These flowers in their cheerful yellow, orange and blue remind me of my blog. A good sign I think. I can't wait to share my ideas for the year ahead, it's the most exciting WIP in my mental stash.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

My Stash Busting Stars Top

Remember my Stash Busting Stars quilt? I love that pattern. And as soon as I started cutting up the fabrics I had set aside from my stash, I saw I had too much of it. And I really wanted to use it all up (without bothering to make another quilt) so I added bits in. I added a sashing between the blocks and corners on the blocks and an extra border. Just because. 

For me, patterns are a 'guide', even when I intend to make the design 'as is', I rarely do. I don't think this pattern actually needs any adjustment, but I did decide to modify it as I went along in order to make it bigger and use up the extra fabric.I love this range and I knew I wouldn't be using the fabric for anything else so I couldn't stand to waste it. It's a stash buster for sure.

Some people just don't like stash busters, but I love them. They're the perfect way to test new skills, try new blocks and later, practice your quilting on. I think a quick stash busting quilt at least once a year is just the thing to use up a few fabrics from the mountain and try out some new threads too.

This beauty been on my wall all week and you know what? My DH is confused by it - he sees a mash up of colours and fabrics that don't make sense to his sensibilities... but I must admit that I LOVE IT! My DDs love it too although several guests to my house have agreed with my husband.

Some people just don't understand or see the beauty of quilts in the same way that I do. I mention this to remind any unappreciated quilter's out there that we're a special bunch and not everyone is going to 'get it' and that's fine. For me, everyone ooohs and aahhhs over my applique pieces and walks straight past my patchwork quilts without so much as a second glance.

And talking about all this reminds me of the time when I had a quilt on the machine for domestic machine quilting. A non quilting friend came around and was curious to see my quilting stitches. After admiring the top for a few seconds, she remarked 'oh that's great, I got one just like it from Ezi Buy'. For those of you who don't know, Ezi Buy is a kind of home living catalog and they sell commercially quilted bed coverlets - you know the room decor ones? I just thought that was the funniest thing. Imagine toiling away for hundreds of hours over a mere quilt when I could have simply shopped one for $89.95! Hahaha!

Anyhow, this beauty is complete now and I'll be taking it down and rolling it up ready for basting and quilting some other time as I'll be too busy to get it completed this year and will have to reconsider my quilting options in the new year as I'm developing quite a queue.

Phew! Another WIP just about done. I'm delighted. See you tomorrow for WOW.

WOW: Yarn Time

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I have hundreds of quilt WIPs but every year I like to complete at least one yarny WIP. My next yarn project will be made up with this merino blend from Peru. How gorgeous are these colours? As soon as I set eyes on it, I knew it would be perfect for a winter scarf. Although I prefer to crochet these days, this yarn demands to be knitted owing to the threads wrapping around the fibres. I'm thinking something super basic - I don't think any stitch variation would work with a yarn this busy so I'm hoping to get it stitched up as quickly and easily as possible. 

What's Your Latest Yarn Project 

& 
How Long Did It Take You To Finish? 

An InLinkz Link-up

Book Of The Week: Making Needle Felted Animals

It's time for me to learn something completely new and just play. 

Do you ever get that feeling? Sure, quilting is my first love but I like being an absolute beginner sometimes and just about now, I would like to learn how to make felted animals. 

True to my love for textiles, I'll still be working with a fabric of a kind and with my hands, but this is a challenge I really hope I can rise to. The idea of being able to craft a whole farmyard of gorgeous little creatures is just too tempting. 

Have you ever needle felted an animal?

Morning Glory: My Quilt Top

Well I'm so happy and excited with my Morning Glory that I just have to show it to you even though the early morning lighting isn't too great. But lighting aside, you can see that the top is sewn together. Isn't it fabulous? I'm in LOVE! I can't wait to show you more..

BOM 2018, My Biggest Year Ever! 

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

To see some of the breathtaking examples that are taking shape, simply visit my Free BOM Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!