Stitching

This is a nice time of year to do some quiet stitching

 

 

The more time I spend with this quilt

the more I like it.....

 

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Christmas: the guilty season.

I have been thinking tonight about all the phone calls  I wish made in the last few days.

 As the cards arrived in the letter box I have been wishing I started on the cards earlier.

Christmas again and I wish I had got in touch with my friends more often this year.

We have all had our ups and downs this year.

I hope there have been more ups than downs.

I also think you can only do so much.

I try not to spread myself too thin but rather be thorough in what I can do,

Taking care of what  I must.

So...
even if you haven't heard from me,
 I am thinking of you,
Wishing you all the best,
and hoping you stay safe.

Angelic

I was thrilled to bits to see I have been given a mention over at les soeurs anglaises

I have travelled over there a couple of times to do workshops. 

This year was with Janet Bolton.

My series of little angels is inspired by Janet's methods. 

  Remember I started them back here and here?

Christmas is coming ready or not!

miniatures

I love making little things

 and small quilts. 

Have you noticed?

This is my Christmas Star.

I couldn't show you before this

because that would have spoiled the surprise.

 I  made up kits for my loyal students who come to classes every week.

I had fun hand drawing the pattern and the instructions 

and printing them on nice paper.

A bit old fashioned looking.

This one is a bit easier for the newer girls.

I have done quite a few....

 I always think small quilts look good as part of a collective.

And I gave the kits to 4 of my sisters, who are quilters as well.

Ooo I hope they don't see this post before Christmas.

what do you think?

I want to start quilting this quilt,

by hand 

as usual, for me.

 

This is my favourite thread at the moment.

It's "spagetti thread" by Aurifil.

Ideally I would like to use dark blue so as not to interfere with the fabric,

So I get texture rather than the stitch taking over.

I used it back here.

Lovely thread...

But I can't seem to get my first choice....

 

Any suggestions?

now where was I?

Oh yes...

I have finished the quilt top!

56 x 10 inch blocks

 A nice big quilt

 

I think I will call it "constellations"

and now I have to get down to all that Christmassy stuff.

coming along

My latest quilt is coming along nicely....

These are 10" blocks but I am planning lots more.

Here's something I found while playing on the internet the other day:

It doesn't have to be louder, brighter or more didactic...

but it can be pushed.

It can be taken further.

It can be better, stronger,

even more deceptively simple.

But it needs to go to the next level.

        Andrew Salgado

all in together

I have been planning to do a quilt like this for some time.

I have started with these four 10" Court House blocks

then nine...

 and lots of scraps.

What do you think?

Too scrappy?

Sunday night already

This week I have:

finished a quilt top

and started a new one

and drove more than 1500 kilometres, 

on my own,

to go to a funeral.

You know what I like about hand sewing?

It is portable,

and small.

always difficult

It's always difficult to give a quilt away.

It's like sending one of your children away.

But then, isn't it nice when you can give something you love to someone you love?

And I put a lot of love into my quilts...

Happy Birthday M...

a lot of squares stitched together

A local "critic" has described my pieces in this exhibiton as 

just a whole lot of squares stitched together.

I take issue with the word just.

Just is a funny word, don't you think? 

Just arrived?

Just beautuiful?

Just a thousand?

Just a million?

Anyway they are a whole lot of squares and rectangles from

repurposed kimonos

 stitched together.

 Just  look for yourself.

I think you are going to get sick of my latest obsession....

This is the view from my kitchen which I have tried to work into this little piece,

and I have finished these.

They are about half the size of a postcard.

celestials

Sssh....It's just over 8 weeks until Christmas

and I have already started.

In keeping with my recent infatuation

I have been making small things.

Do you have any of this fabric? Celestials.....

I am searching for some of the selvedge.

I have taken inspiration from this book 

although I cut out the pieces free-hand as I wanted them much smaller than the ones in the book.

These old Red Wagon books are some of my favourite quilting books.

tiny

I have decided to turn my attention to something I have been wanting to get back to.

Tiny little pictures.

Remember back here and here I showed you the wondeful workshop I went to?

 These are done freehand, without drawings, needle turn.

They measure about 11cm square. 

I am looking for ideas.

Any suggestions?