Loose End

When I finish a major new project like "Oriental Whispers" for the last two weeks  I have wandered around and tidied up a bit of my sewing stuff, I have gone through and tossed out some paperwork,

I have sewn a bit of applique on the border of a work in progress

and done some sashing on another UFO

and finished the embroidery on the Springtime Daisies blocks from an earlier post.







In other words I have achieved very little and usually managed to get in everyone's way and  annoy them until "what if I put that bit of applique with those blocks and then I could" and suddenly I am focused on a new design and all is right in my world again. 

I love it when the creative juices start to flow again.

Till next time

Happy Stitching from Therese.

Worth waiting for

Remember that saying "some things are worth waiting for." 

 I made a quilt at the end of last year called Oriental Whispers and since then I have been looking for a quilter that I felt comfortable handing my quilt over to.  It came back yesterday and I just want to thank Sue for making my vision come true. 

 I usually just say to a machine quilter "do what you think it needs" but this time I wanted the feel of the Japanese taupe quilts and that is exactly what I got.  I am over the moon.

We will be selling packs of fabric and the pattern at Patchwork Pumpkin from 1st July.

Happy stitching til next time from Therese

Class Sample

After several requests about hand quilting I am running some classes in Term 3 to teach the basics on preparing your quilt for hand quilting, deciding on a quilting pattern, marking the design and how to go about stitching it.  I thought I should actually do a sample of what I plan to teach.  I am not a high tech person and I like to use household things to mark my quilting lines like the glass in the photo.  I do have several books of quilting patterns and there are some that I use over and over.  I often use quarter inch tape for straight lines instead of pencil.







 This is a really simple little design that will probably be made into a cushion when finished.  I am really enjoying the process.

I just love the rhythm of hand quilting and can really "zone out" when I get going.

I have also quilted with Perle cotton and love the effect it gives. I am thinking I should include that in the class too.

Happy stitching til next time

Therese

P.S.We had a great day on Sunday at the market, chatting to people and selling some of our goodies.  It is very easy to get attached to things that you have made and it can be a bit sad handing them over but it is comforting to know that they are going to a good home with a fellow craft lover.

I am so Virtuous

When I had bronchitis in February I was very, very slack and didn't really even do a class list for Term 2.  But TA DA, Term 3 Class List is done and will be on the website by the weekend.

We are even having some new classes including one for a quilt called Illusions and another called Australian Beauty. 

I am also teaching some hand quilting classes.  I just love to hand quilt.  It is the closest I have ever come to meditation as I can just zone out into my own little universe when I am  quilting by hand. When I am sewing quilts for the shop I just don't have time to hand quilt but when I am making them for myself it is a different story because I am not on a time limit.  I like the way they drape and feel so soft.

Happy stitching from Therese

Yo-yo Retro

Somewhere in my travels I aquired a bag of yo-yos. They are made out of dressmaking fabrics and whatever was to hand.  They look like they are 1950's to 1960's vintage.  I had planned to make a yo-yo quilt one day and had sewn some together to see how they looked but then the bag was put away in a cupboard.

I have been having a major clean out in my sewing room and when I unearthed the bag I decided to sort it out and actually use some of the bits.  So I now have four new cushions to use as shop displays and then to sell at our upcoming Craft Market on 5th June. 

 I am so happy with how they look, I have also written the pattern, so my customers can make their own Yo-yo Retro cushions.

Happy stitching from Therese

Oops

What do you do when you decide to make a quilt a little bit bigger and then -OOPS- the backing isn't quite wide enough.

This is what I did -----sewed the leftover bits into a strip and added them to one side of the  backing

It gets rid of fabric that would otherwise go in the scrap drawer and adds a bit of interest to the back.

Happy stitching

Therese

Where do the days disappear to?

It is over a month since we have done a post.  We are naughty bloggers.

But we have been sewing up a storm.  We have committed to have a stand at a new local craft market.  It is at Karingal Place and should be a lot of fun.  We have been making cushions, table runners, small quilts, pincushions, aprons, potholders, needlebooks, journal covers and cat softies.  We will also be doing a demo of hand piecing, applique and quilting so it will be a great way to promote our business and classes. As it will be our first time there, we have no idea what to expect so it is exhilerating and scary all at the same time.

Masterchef has a lot to answer for!!!!  We don't actually watch it but a couple of weeks ago in their promotion they talked about scones.  Now my husband adores homemade scones so he has been nagging me since to make some.  I don't have time to make scones and said so in one of my classes.  One of the girls said,  "I will bring some next week and they are the easiest scones you will ever mke."  She bought them today with the jam and cream to go on top and they were delicious and then she told us the secret.  "Buy a box of CWA scone mix and add water."  She always has one in the pantry for unexpected guests. Well guess what is on my shopping list.  Do you have a favourite stand by for "just passing, thought we'd drop ins".  My mother's was Sao biscuits with tomato and cheese. 

Tasha here: At my house you have to bring your own milk if you want a coffee - we are a soy milk family! 

Till next time,

Therese