WOW: Look at the Birdy!

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

This lovely pigeon was in need of rescuing from my neighbor's roof - she was lost, sore and scared. There's something wrong with her wing and she spent two nights out in the howling wind and rain before I managed to coax her into my laundry where she showed herself to be super calm, gentle and sweet natured. I was sure someone was missing her so I called around all the local vets. They told me that if I brought her in, they would kill her because she was an introduced species. Well, I couldn't have her killed just when I'd rescued her, so I went onto a Lost Bird site in my local area.

Lucky for her, an animal rescuer with a pigeon aviary let her join his gang. Phew! That was a close call. Between vets wanting to kill her and people wanting to collect her so they could eat her, she's ended up in a kind of Pigeon Heaven.

And I have my laundry back, so it's time to get washing. I'm afraid that with all my creating lately, the laundry usually lapses and then I have to wash back to back for 2 days to bring it back under control, so I'm going in, wish me luck :)

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Secret Garden Part 7 is Launched

Part 7 is all about these applique motif triangles. From this block I'm working on, I'll cut 4 x triangles and set them aside until it's time to assemble the top. It's a Mystery and some quilters are asking me where on earth do these fit in? What can I say? Surely this is half the pleasure of a Mystery?! You really have no idea what's next and in the case of Secret Garden, believe me - no one knows what's next. There's more to come, each even more intriguing than the last..until the final reveal. So just wait and see, it will be worth all the suspense..

Once again it's all about the prep. First I made my stems. I used a 6mm bias maker for this which saved me lots of time. I don't know why I didn't do this sooner. I have a 6mm and 12mm maker but haven't been able to find one that makes 8mm or 10mm and now that I know how useful they are, I want every possible size. I don't think they exsit but live in hope that someone somewhere has bothered to make them. I've been looking online without luck, so if you have these inbetween sizes or know where I can get them, please let me know as I could really make use of them.

Anyway, I cut strips, feed them through the maker and then pin the edge to my ironing board (which is covered with this super busy print, sorry)

and then I simply drag the maker with my iron following along

It's quick and easy

 Now that I have all the stems I need

it's time to applique my stems into position

for now I'm using basting glue to keep them in place before stitching them down

and when all my applique is completed, I'll cut this square into 4 x triangles and set them aside 

These are the fabrics I've opted for, as my background is light green, I decided to mix in some pink with these blocks. They will appear evenly around the quilt, so I want them to pick up the shades I've used in my main applique blocks. I've opted for harmonious, but contrast would work too - especially if contrast elements will show up elsewhere in your fabric selections.

I have 16 x triangles to make, from 4 x squares so I'm busy getting it done. Can't wait to see how you are making yours. If you're not already a member of my Free BOM Group over on Facebook, be sure to join - it's a busy hub of quilters sharing their work each day and I love dropping in and getting inspired.

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Welcome to this wonderful Mystery BOM 

You can join right now!

Digital pattern downloads are instant!

The BOM runs for 12 months and you can catch up on all missed blocks right away.

The remaining pattern installments will be emailed to you directly each month

The finished quilt size is 80 x 80 inches

Swooning Over Eleanor's Coverlet Progress

Eleanor Montgomery Smith is a talented quilter who's on her own journey towards creating Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet, in her own special way. Eleanor is also a Moderator in my Facebook BOM Group (lucky us!) and when I saw some progress shots of her LE quilt, I immediately asked her if I could showcase her progress here on the blog for all to see. She has generously agreed and I don't know about you, but I'm swooning!

As you can see, Eleanor has a beautiful way with flourishes. When I released the Love Entwined pattern, I really hoped someone would take it and make a heavily embellished version - just so I could see what it would look like. Although I am a lover of classic applique, I could already see during the design process that this was a quilt that could take as much embellished flourishes as anyone could care to incorporate into it. And look at this - someone has!

I'm on cloud nine just taking it all in with my eyes! Ribbon embroidery is something I have always admired and it really finds itself in this design - these enhancing touches are so special and give the eye so much to take in - it makes an already special quilt extra special, wow. 

The borderie perse Eleanor opted for looks custom designed - and I suppose that in a way, it is. How beautiful!

I'm also loving Eleanor's blue background and vase choices, her colour balance between the fabrics is just perfect.

Each time I see another Love Entwined, that one becomes my current favorite because honestly, each and every single one of them speak with their own accent of beauty. They each have something different and special about them. And this somehow makes the journey extra special all over again.

'Special' is a word that keeps coming up over and and over again in connection with Love Entwined - the mystery, the intrigue, the tantalizing Georgian facts around the textile that make us pause for thought..and then carry on with our legacy. Anyone who's making their own Love Entwined understands - there's just something about this quilt.

I found this border tricky, getting both zig zags, border and zig zags just so within the spacing, 

but you've done it beautifully Eleanor! 

this pot of broderie perse pansies has stolen my heart!

Love how you incorporate your ribbon flourishes in this block, gorgeous! 

Thank you for sharing your progress with us Eleanor, I know this inspirational boost will be push some quilters out there need to pick up and carry on with their own LE WIP!

As for myself, I was working on my own LE during the time when mother died and because of this, I haven't been able to get back into the right kind of mood to complete it. At least, until now I haven't felt it was the right time. I'm beginning to feel a little differently just lately. It's been over a year now and I'm thinking that it's time to finally complete and show off my own coverlet. Of course, when I do, you'll know all about it - every step of the way. I'm so lucky that until then and up until now, I've been able to feast my eyes on all the beautiful LE's being made by so many other quilters. Thank you everyone, for being so generous with your talent and motivations; it makes our creative hub on the internet a extra special place to belong - and having you all there makes all the difference.

And an extra special and repeated thank you to Eleanor because as I mentioned at the top of the post, she's a Moderator in our Group and we all know, Moderator's make the BOM Group keep turning!

In addition to my Facebook BOM Group, there's also an extra Love Entwined Group (because it's so epic it needed it's own space with it's own pace) for makers to connect and create.

What about you? Are you making Love Entwined? Have you joined the Love Entwined BOM Group? Go ahead and join us as we share friendship, quilting tips and creativity.

Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet is a historic, heritage applique quilt made in remembrance and legacy of an original coverlet of no name, referred to only as a 'fine marriage coverlet' by Averil Colby in her publication printed in 1958. I created Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet in homage to the original because I knew that this quilt needed to be remembered, acknowledged and recognized by all quilters everywhere as a work of magnificent ingenuity without peer or equal in its era. This quilt was originally released as a Free BOM over 18 months. The BOM is now finished. The pattern can be purchased via my online pattern shop. 

WOW: Plugging Back In !

WOW = WIPS On Wednesdays

I've been offline for a week.. but it felt like time travelling back before the advent of the telephone. How did I even exist before the internet? Would someone please tell me? Of course, now that I'm back up and running I have a whole days worth of emails to deal with and there's always a few needles in those haystacks, so I'm brewing my coffee and will get stuck for a morning's catch up. If you're waiting to hear from me, I'll get back to you either today or tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

In more interesting developments, I asked members over in my Facebook BOM Group via a poll if they would like another quickie BOM taking them from August 15th to November 15th this year ... or a rest to start again in 2018 refreshed? Well, the results are in and there's another Free BOM starting August 15th. Stay tuned, I can't wait to show it off soon.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

WOW: Diamond Hill is Finished!

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Well, that 7 months went by real quick, didn't it?! In case you missed it, my Free BOM Diamond Hill finished this month. That's right, it's all over. And I have been bowled over by all the Diamond Hill beauties coming along wonderfully over in my Facebook BOM Group. WOW, there are some stunners over there, I just love feasting my eyes on all the colour combinations and styles each quilter has brought into the quilt design.

This stunner is made by Jenny Henry. Check out her blog by clicking here, she has plenty more Diamond Hill images over on her blog, including detail shots. She has let me show it off here on my blog because I didn't make Diamond Hill myself (I've been making Secret Garden). Isn't it gorgeous? Jenny always impresses us with her dedication and talent (and speed!) and her Diamond Hill is no exception. Thanks for sharing it with us all Jenny, it's a shining example of how good Diamond Hill can be.

I'm going to miss releasing Diamond Hill each month, I've really enjoyed letting it loose each month and waiting to see what all our talented quilters do with it! I asked over in the Group if they had had enough for the year and wanted to rest before starting up a new BOM in the new year next year but they weren't having any of that! They voted for yet another Free BOM to take us all from August - December this year. So, their wish is my command. I'm drafting up the next 'mini BOM' right now. Stay tuned, it will be released on August 15th.

Phew! It makes me wonder where they all find the time?!

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Love Entwined by Judy Hogg

Last month I shared the happy news that Judy Hogg's Love Entwined won awards at the Sydney Quilt Show. Well, today I'm delighted to announce that Judy Hogg's Love Entwined quilt is now in the Love Entwined Gallery. I love all the excitement and expectation of waiting for all the LE's out there to come 'home' to the gallery when they're ready and Judy's is no exception. What a beauty!

She combined machine embroidery with her favorite fabric colours to create her masterpiece. It took her three years to complete and like many of us, she too wondered about the original quilt maker’s motivation, identity and techniques.  It’s a real beauty and I’m delighted that Judy had finished and shared it with us. Here’s what she has to say about it:

Why did you decide to undertake this project? I needed a challenge
What's been your favourite part? all of it, but I did enjoy digitising for my machine embroidery
What's been the most challenging? the zig zag borders
What inspired your fabric and colour choices? Used my favourite colours
What range did you opt for? my stash
Have you ever thought about the original maker? often wonder what she used and how long it took her
How long did it take you to make? 3 years in total

Judy thinks the zig-zag borders were the most challenging, but I think the 'dewbies' were much more fiddly!

I'm in awe of Judy LE and so happy to have another finished LE to enjoy. What a visual feast!

What about you? Are you making Love Entwined? Have you joined the Love Entwined BOM Group? Go ahead and join us as we share friendship, quilting tips and creativity.

Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet is a historic, heritage applique quilt made in remembrance and legacy of an original coverlet of no name, referred to only as a 'fine marriage coverlet' by Averil Colby in her publication printed in 1958. I created Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet in homage to the original because I knew that this quilt needed to be remembered, acknowledged and recognized by all quilters everywhere as a work of magnificent ingenuity without peer or equal in its era. This quilt was originally released as a Free BOM over 18 months. The BOM is now finished. The pattern can be purchased via my online pattern shop. 

Diamond Hill Part 7 of 7 is Launched

And we've reached the end. WOW! that just flew by! If you're downloading the Parts via this blog, click the above image to download the last installment, Part 7.

If you've missed any Parts, be sure to download those now so that you will have them on file. These file links will be de-activated next month, so be sure to save any files you need.