September quilting challenge

When I was demonstrating at the quilt show I had several pieces ready to work on...

One of them was my September challenge for QuiltShopGal's freemotion quilting challenge that I am working on each month....

This month featured Kaleidoscope Kreations software but an alternative design to trace was provided for use in Option 1, which is what I chose to use.

As in other challenges I have used a 'recycled' piece... this is a plain white napkin this time.. with a small detail at one corner....

I had already traced out the feathers and first up was placing the traced napkin on top of wadding and stitching carefully around the edge using a water soluble thread...

After that I trimmed the wadding back to behind the napkin hem and then that was then placed on a background fabric which had more wadding and backing on it - this was to give a bit of extra puff to the piece... 

I first sewed it carefull around the hem to stabilise the napkin onto the background fabric

... then the real fun started on the quilting of the feathers...... which I did using a pale blue embroidery thread 

I don't feel I am very good at keeping on the lines but when you iron/wash out what you have traced with it looks fine.... mistakes get hidden

... added more feathers on the outside of the feathered star....

.. and then stippled quite tightly on the background to make the feathered parts stand out more...

I have included a safety pin so you can get an idea of size.. they were pretty small feathers

I then did larger feathers in a circle around the square napkin...

... I always like the effect on the back... sometimes more than the front!

the challenge is for a finished cushion, which I am just not going to get done this month due to moving house, however I thought it was worth linking up anyway to show I have made use of this great tutorial and idea (saving up for the software as there are so many fun ideas!!)

Thanks Darlene for another great challenge, and thanks to Terri Lucas who was this months guest tutor.... I will be looking out for October's challenge.

Anybody else wanting to learn and practice your FMQ .. this is a great way of doing it ... you can join in anytime and of course read back to the challenges earlier in the year.... they are great reference material...

Righto, Gotto Go.... I am packing away my lovely sewing room things today... so only hand sewing from now on to keep me sane....

FMQ challenge for August

Lucky for me Darlene has given us extra time to get this challenge finished..... (I have to admit I did finish it a while ago and completely forgot about blogging it!!!)

Augusts feature tutor on QuiltShopGal was Angela Waters... I already had one of her books and found this the perfect excuse to purchase another - I do find good books a helpful means of inspiration and handy tips.  I have followed Angela's blog for some time too

I went for Option 2 of challenge  using Angela's book Shape by Shape ....

I divided my cushion top fabric  into 4 squares and then did that shape on the cover of the book....which is a bit modern and zentaglish... and which is like the snails trail block and does my head in seeing how things work....

I drew the lines first and then quilted over them using one of my handy rulers to keep the lines straight....

For this I used a thicker top stitching thread and needle as I wanted the lines very predominant....

.. for the back I changed to general size thread and did a long piece using Angela's signature design .... no marking necessary...

I struggled with the wavy look so I included a figure 8 design in some ....

 ... then I sliced it to get the two pieces for my favourite envelope finish...

... here is the completed top... I do like the secondary patterns that are created with this design.  it needed lots of turning of the fabric (I don't have a foot that can take a ruler in any direction) so I don't see this as being practical for me on a quilt....

.. and the back... which makes me think of corsets!!  your choice which way the waist fits best!!

.. the fabric looks very white in the pictures but it is more buttery-sandy with a light background design (which you can see in the first picture) ...

I like this look... more modern and masculine than what I am used to ... and I think this might be perfect for Hubz new office space (yes... he is getting an office in the new house - I had to trade off something for a sewing room!)

Thank you Darlene for hosting this challenge... anyone can join... it is not competitive but great for learning and practicing and wonderful inspiration looking at what others have made....

Thanks Angela for sharing your talents with us...thank goodness for quilters who do ...

This and That.....

These Nature's Journey blocks just squeezed into this months deadline....

This is a Stitch-A-Long being hosted by Chooky.... and there are heaps of lovely blocks to see....

I've also been working on In My Garden stitcheries

This is a Stitch-A-Long hosted by De on Facebook....

... and I have been practicing my quilting... this is for Free Motion hosted by QuiltShopGal

.. and this is my flowering cactus... hosted by me....

... and getting ready for a cyber party hosted by Chooky's  - sign ups HERE ... are you joining in? ...

I'll pop in and out between child minding, house hunting, open house etc ....

Righto, Gotto Go.... planning to do

February's Quilting Challenge.....

Typo's can make me laugh... my first heading was "February's Quitting Challenge".... no I am not going to quit my quilting practice!!!

I am doing the quilting challenges (when ever I can) with QuiltShopGal and her wonderful team of tutors..... February's tutor is Leah Day and you can read all about it HERE

The first option was the one I chose to do which was working Leah's double- stippling design (tutorial found HERE) also known as Leah's Railroad Track design to make a cushion.

Well... I like the idea of a railroad and I needed a 'little boy cushion' so I went with a train idea....

firstly I found a colouring book picture on the internet of a train and appliqued this on my grey blue small patterned background....

.. then I shaded areas of the train I wanted to outline and chose a grey Aurifil thread to do the raw edge applique and free motion quilting....

I like the subtle outlines on the applique which I went over a couple of times....

...toot... toot.. goes the train..... this one had a wild journey!!!

I rather like the look on the back too !!!!  train through the flowery field!!!

Now I have made up a simple cushion cover 18" x 18" ....

I used some jeans poppers to secure the back ....

I purchased Leah's From Daisy to Paisley a couple of years ago and go back to it often looking at ideas....it was lovely to do one of her quilting designs for this challenge... I really need to use it more!

This double stippling is a great filler and I will be using it often I think.... the extra stipple helps to fill in spaces and create interest...

Thanks to Darlene at QuiltShopGal... to Leah and to the sponsors for the inspiration to use my imagination and get some great quilting practice too....

These are not big challenges or overwhelming and if you are wanting to do a bit more of Free Motion Quilting it would be great to join in too...

Righto, Gotto Go... I have some sexy hexies wanting attention!!!