2016 Northern Shop Hop

Yes we are having the Shop Hop again next year.

Save the dates as it is a shorter time frame next year.

20 - 28 May 2016.

These are my first one and a half blocks. 

As you can see we are still addicted to fussy cutting, hexagons and 

1800 Reproduction fabric. So we thought you might like to join our addiction.

Quilting Sophie's Garden

I have been busy quilting my Sophie's Garden Quilt so there 

hasn't been a lot to show you for a while. But now that I have made some 

progress I can show it.

I have machine quilted in the ditch of all the blocks and the borders which has 

stabilized it nicely for hand quilting. I really do not like hand quilting in the 

ditch - you can't see where you have been or where you are going, so 

I might as well machine it - it is so much easier and quicker when you can't 

even see it - so long as you can keep in the ditch!

Then I spent some time outlining as much as the applique as I could. I wanted to 

take it to Festival of Quilts last weekend so I figured if I got some of the hand quilting 

down on most of the blocks I could take out the safety pins. Didn't quite make 

that target so it went to the Show with pins in place! 

I do stitch around the applique pieces, the large pieced stars and down 
some internal seam lines. I like to see my hand quilting so I stitch about 1/8" out.

I figure there is no point hand quilting if you can't see the stitches hence the 

distance from the applique or seam edges.

Block one large star background is quilted with lines radiating out from the 

star points and the V points to the edge of the background.

The small star blocks are outlined with a square on point in the centre.

All the small squares have a line down the middle of the two borders and a 

diagonal cross in the centre.

Block two is outline quilted and on the left and bottom borders I quilted down some of the lines on the fabric. I plan to use the fabric as inspiration all across the quilt. I went across the middle of the top border, left teh blue border on the right as it had flowers already quilted on it and did a lien down the middle of the taupe on the right.

I embroidered some stamen on the flowers but I am not sure I like it. 

I think the simple quilting around the centre circle below is probably enough.

Block three was treated the same as Block 1.

Block 4 bascially followed the same idea as the previous blocks.

Embroidery on the star to drop back the boldness of the cream fabric.

All my embroidery is done with two strands of Cosmo Embroidery thread.

Same for the centre of the flowers - a French knot in the middle with 

long stitches radiating out to the edge.

Quilting on the blue following lines printed on the fabric.

I hope this is helpful. I am quilting with two colours of Wonderfil Konfetti -

brown KT803 and light taupe KT903.

I like the fineness of this thread for hand quilting.

I am aiming to quilt four blocks each week so watch this space!!!!!

Indigo Vases Progress

I have now put my Sue Spargo piece onto the batting so that some 

of the background embellishing can act as quilting as well.

Now I have started filing in with lots of hand quilting.

There will no doubt be more stitching like this going onto the background too.

Happy stitching, Robyn

Cindy's Vases

These are the vases that Cindy designed in our Sue Spargo Class.

It was such a good class because we were given a starting point 

and then we created our own versions.

Cindy's vases are looking so good. 

I love the fly stitch around this flower.

And the subtle layering on these circles - the reverse colours was 

such a good idea.

And don't you love this embellishing on the central flower.

Thanks for sharing Cindy.

Rae's Sue Spargo Vases

Rae has been busy on her Sue Spargo piece too.

These are her updated photos.

Oh wow look at all her embroidery. 

I love her sparky greens with the indigo blue vases.

You can follow her on: www.recondfab.blogspot.co.nz

Tiny Hexies Go On

This week has seen me making tiny hexie flowers - just 1/4" hexagons!

I must admit I never thought I would be making hexies that small.

But they look so cute - thanks Sue Spargo for introducing us to them.

This is my piece . . . .

. . . . now the hexies need to go on.

. . .oh they do look cool.

Now they need stitching down.

Hopefully the hexie cards will come out easily enough.

Then these stems need leaves - back soon when the leaves go on.

Sue Spargo Progress

My piece form Sue's class is making good progress.

I have managed do a little almost every night since class.

This vase now has Heishi Beads added with French knots to hold them in place.

The circular flowers have fly stitches making a spiky finish around them.

These new flowers have been added - they were part of our paper cutting exercise.

Poor Sue had to change the rules for Taupo after we in Auckland folded our paper

and couldn't manage cutting a flower out all in one piece. We were the first to do this 

ever in her class. Sorry Sue.

The vase has two rows of blue velvet ribbon at the top with cross stitch rows

in between.

The flowers have fly stitch holding hem on, with beads highlighting the centres.

It is so much fun choosing what to do next.

So back to it.