2nd week of January

I did finish another quilt last year but as it was being gifted I didn't want to show it on my blog (just in case recipient had a look)

"The Bull' was finished off to give to my eldest brother for his 70th birthday.  Ken continues to live in Zimbabwe and my young brother (I have 3) who lives in Darwin was going for a visit and was able to hand deliver the quilt.

As you can see the background was quite heavily quilted to give it lots of movement

I just wanted the elephant pieces to show texture but not take away from the piecing

It was such fun to do - Foundation Paper Piecing.  I find this technique intriguing.  I cannot visualise sewing in reverse so I have to trust the design.... suddenly a picture gets made.

The pattern is Elephant Abstractions by Violet Craft.... step by step, follow the numbers.  I would use her patterns any day.

I am not consistent with adding labels, unless it is particularly special....

He is delighted as I knew he would be.  I haven't seen him since he dropped me off at the airport in 2002 so I was very pleased to send him something special.

Once the cat had removed himself from this quilt I got it on the frame and quilted this week....

It is made from jelly roll pieces (plus plain metreage).  I went for an all over meander.

Good lap quilt size, binding is made and ready to add....

This small table topper was finished.  I inherited the 15 blocks in a scrap bag and put them together. 

Feathers in each triangle....

A piece of scrap backing was enough for the back....

Otherwise I have been making a mess in my room choosing fabrics, cutting and preparing for a couple of new quilts to make this year.

My 'blackwork' project has started with the weekly fills.  They are really sweet.

I still have a lot of the leaves to do - there are 52 fills and I have completed 10 of the outlines.

At my sewing day with friends I framed my 17 half hexagons and am now beginning to add them to the edges.....

Righto, Gotto Go..... Field Journal is too big to carry to group now so I am going to start working on Caswell so I need to go and prep a block (I swear it takes me longer to choose fabrics than actually sew the block!)

Rain Rain Rain - I'm not complaining at all but there is concern about flooding in other areas.....  

Have a lovely week.....xx

the Matriarch....

I have finished piecing the top for The Matriarch - my version of Elephant Abstractions by Violet Craft

I was totally obsessed doing this.... her pattern is so well written and it was like piecing according to instructions but not really knowing how it all fits together.  I struggle with seeing a picture backwards as working with foundation paper piecing feels to me....

She is going to stand guard on my design wall for a few weeks as we get to visit our real Matriarch - 92 year old Mother in law (we missed her 90th birthday due to Covid restrictions)

There are also children and grandchildren to visit.... most I haven't seen for over 5 1/2 years which is just too long and hard.

A few more Field Journal stitcheries have been done....

I will be taking a break from them for a while..... as well as a break from blogging and other social media.... I am a bit selfish with my family time

I'm sure I will get some catch up times but they will be limited so I apologise in advance for not keeping in touch....

See ya later Alligator, In a While Crocodile.... In a Swish Jelly fish...

Sorting... sorting....

Pies and Tarts are coming with me when I go out for sewing days on Tuesdays..... over the last couple of weeks I have managed 3 pies and 2 tarts.   I will need to forage for backgrounds to applique them on.

I have finished off this little mini quilt... which has been ongoing for several years.  

It is 13" square and has foundation paper piecing, embroidery and free motion quilting....

and this week I am in to my foundation piecing ..... Abstract Elephant is proving to be completely addictive....

I did finish up the quilting on this little panel.... I wrote 'love' and drew little hearts, stars etc in between all the loves...

It is backed with some lovely soft flannel..... 

This week is going to be a hand sewing down the binding week....  I have 3 quilts that need to be finished off.

Righto, Gotto Go .... the next section of my elephant is calling out to me!  But first coffee!

Have a lovely rest of the week ...

Spoke too soon!

Having finished the big half hexagon Urban City quilt top, made it's binding and found a backing - it's now put away for another day....

and vowing never to do another EPP project someone posted their pies and tarts quilt and I remembered a box ......

I won a starter pack some time ago  ... lots of pieces already cut out and basted, plenty of templates and even quite a few bases to applique the pies onto...

I have a lovely range of reproduction pieces to add to this - at least it is not all EPP - there is also applique and machine piecing... so this will be my main pick up and go project for a while...

My crazy dots quilt is all put together now....

and I got some green to use as binding.... it's all ready with it.... haven't sorted a backing yet...

I did a bit of mini quilting this week....

And have done 17 sections of 97 sections for Elephant Abstraction by Violet Craft... one I've been wanting to do for ages...

It is all Foundation Paper Piecing - lots of preparatory work, lots of pieces all over the place, lots of mess, lots of pressing, lots of removing papers....

But I was having so much fun ......  this is the elephant trunk .... you can see it is beginning to turn at the end so you don't see the snout yet.  This part is 1.4m long .

I would like to get the next section at least prepared this week... it will be a slow project since I can't keep to one thing at a time and this one needs me to concentrate.  I already had to throw 2 made sections away as I had cut them on the wrong line!

Righto, Gotto Go.... time for a cuppa..... hope you are having a relaxing weekend.... xx