New Free BOM: Peaceful Pathways

Welcome to the launch of my new free BOM!

This is a quilt I’ve been meaning to make for years. St. Paul’s letters concerning love have long lingered in my journals. I personally love bringing this quilt inspired from those pages onto my bed.

For new BOM members, my BOM designs are quite varied as I am working my way through a Quilting To Do List which covers many different styles. This quilt is satisfying another design that demanded making!

Classic red and white, which never dates but is always charming.. and ages so beautifully. Plenty of patches to make a wide, old fashioned patchwork style border.

For all hand workers: there are 12 framed blocks ready for you to showcase your red work, embroidery, satin stitching or applique of the design text. Or stitch the text on your domestic machine.

If you are lucky enough to have an embroidery machine, put it to use and embellish each frame with an additional internal border of flowers, vines or lines, etc…

The central pathways are waiting to be quilted to add some texture and depth to the overall design.

You’ll notice the 4 corner squares (which create a heart) have been left blank. This is intentional so that you can create some beautiful quilting in there. The quilting for this space will be provided in a pattern for you. This pic below is the pattern for the corner.... just to help you visualise where this quilt is going....

This is a bed quilt: I’ve designed it so that the center square sits flat on top of the bed and the patchwork borders fall around the bed. I know this quilt is going to be beautiful and practical.

Now in the quilt design image above, the writing looks black. It is actually red. I do apologise for not having a quilt top to photograph - this is unfortunate but could not be helped as my sample sewer ran out of time. This is a shame as I do feel that images of designs look so flat - because they are. I hope you can see what I see...which is delightful red patchwork quilt that will be full of detail and texture.

I will be making this quilt month by month with you, it's going to be wonderful!

If you haven’t made one of my BOMs before, please read about my BOMs and how to download them here.

Quilts In The Barn Exhibition!

I'm looking forward to this! For those of you in Melbourne, why not stop by Wonga Park to see some beautiful quilts and raise funds for a worthwhile cause.

Have you been to Linda's blog yet? For beautiful, inspiring applique - it's the place to visit.

Visit Linda's blog here: http://quiltsinthebarnaus.blogspot.com/

WOW: Red Teaser

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Today started early, with me enjoying the Daphne on this unusually bright morning.

THEN, just a few hours later, my plans for the day went out the window. My DD kindly snapped a picture of me at the table, writing design notes. As you can see from the chaos around me, I am in my element! (No, I have no idea what that pressure cooker is doing seated on a chair behind me! Oh dear.)

So I have decided to update my weekly WIP from my rainy garden to my crowded table.

As I was pondering what to do with my suddenly free day...it occurred to me that the next BOM is launched in 5 days!! Yes, less than a week! Those of you in my Yahoo Bom Group voted to see the design in full from the start - so no mystery (even though I do love a mystery). This also means I won't be able to tease you each month with snippets of what is to come.

Here I am filing my pattern away ( I have to start doing this or I will drown in a pattern tidal wave), with my polka dot coffee....and matching fabric in the background. Sighs..... three guesses allowed, what colour do you think the next BOM is?

I will just have to make do with showing you this: and let you work the rest out yourself.

Your guesses will be confirmed in 5 days!

The fun thing about raiding my red stash was finding a much loved WIP quilt top. As it's a little project,  I might even consider basting it today. It's red stenciling on white whole cloth (bottom left in picture).

Yes, that rather large table in my kitchen is actually a boardroom table. A dining table will not do, it's simply not large enough for meals and quilting projects. Not in this quilter's house! Which reminds me, I might have to find some time to get some housework done today....at some point....

Enjoying Winter Daphne

 Has a week gone by already?

In July I was amazed that it was half way through 2011 - because it didn't feel like half way through the year, half way through my To Do List, half way through my plans...oh well I thought, time always makes its own room when it has too. Doesn't it?

Well, what July passed over, August has made up for. I am beside myself with never ending tasks. It is crazily busy in my house. The pace is getting me up early in the mornings and late to bed. The fact is,  it's already the10th and I haven't even registered that it is properly August!

Sometimes, you just need to make time to go into your garden, pick some blossoms and appreciate the winter daphne. Because it really is quite spectacular in an understated sort of way.

The house smells wonderful. I carry on, hopefully things will even their pace soon.

WOW: Crochet Hex Scarf

I’ve been taking it easy this week…. Domestic Machine Quilting can really take it out of you!

I was really encouraged to read so many positive comments and emails about Hearts Desire: thank you to each of you who stopped to leave a comment. It's so nice to know that someone is watching / listening to my little blog. I was going to post more pictures from the show, but when I was there on Saturday I spent all my time just enjoying the show and all the quilts....and it completely slipped my mind. Apologies!


So, wednesday rolls around again...and I have been working on a relaxing wind down WIP: this is a Crochet Hex Scarf I am making up. I think it will be ready after a few more evening stitch sessions, so I will share it when finished along with the crochet pattern. It’s a lot of fun to make and really easy too. It’s a pattern that is appearing in a lot of my crochet work lately…it’s addictive.

What have you been up to?

Vic Quilters Showcase 2011

For the last 2 days I have been at  theVic Quilter's Showcase, enjoying the show. I am in a bit of a post production slump...quilting non stop for a week has left me feeling exhausted! Luckily there were so many great quilts to see at the show that I soon felt revived.

Hearts Desire is hanging in a dark spot (this is almost unavoidable at quilt shows) due to the building and lighting set up. So photo's arent really working. I will try again tomorrow.

I might be a bit biased, but Hearts Desire is sitting very nicely and is flat. And of course, I think it's beautiful.

Thank you to everyone for all your warm and kind comments on my last quilting post - it's so nice to get feedback. Sometimes in blogland it can feel like you are talking to yourself!

Thank you also to all the ladies who have approached me at the show, its always so nice to meet new faces and catch up with old friends too.

I quilt for the love of it. But there's no denying that an award every now and then is very nice too.

Hearts Desire

Mainly Applique - Professional

Runner Up

And of course I must mention Desley, who also reads this blog - as her quilt won Best of Show. Congratulations Desley! You got a Bernina (speaking of my Hearts Desire...who wouldnt love to win a new Bernina???!) Visit her blog to see it yourself. I do have a photo, but I took it sideways and blogger wont allow me to post it the right way up and ...urgh computers.... I refuse to post a picure of a Best of Show Quilt sideways!!

PS
I will post some pictures from the show as soon as I get permission from the quilt owners

WOW: Chain Yarn Scarf

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

This is chain yarn. A friend of mine kindly thought of me when trying some out herself. This is the first time I have come across it and I have to say – I am hooked! You chain on 6 rows and simply knit into every chain every inch. When it is wound it looks like thick yarn and when you start knitting you pull the yarn out and knit into the chain. It’s intriguing and I love the cascading (and effortless effect).

The yarn is from www.katia.eu, (manufacturer’s site) and I haven’t found an online store which stocks it yet. I would love to buy this yarn online, so if anyone knows where I can find it, please let me know as I would love to get it in a cotton or wool blend.

Yes, I know….I’ve started another WIP!