Day Three Indigo Vases

We are now in Taupo at the second Retreat with Sue Spargo, but my 

posts are a little behind - sorry.

This is my piece after day two of the class.

I had a collection of handmade 'treasures, from Japan that I had collected 

over many visits and this is the perfect project to use these on.

These tiny flowers were the first to be added.

Then it was these ones. I chose ribbon from Sue's selection for the stems and 

did pistil stitch up the edges.

Next we made tiny hexagon flowers - from 1/4" templates!

This is added to the background area.

These three days have been an inspirational experience.

We were been staying at Vaughan Park in Long Bay, Auckland and this is the view

from the sewing room window.

These are the little houses that we stay in - each one has six bedrooms.

Back soon with progress from Taupo.

Day Two of Indigo Vases

Sorry I didn't get this post uploaded - I had trouble with my laptop.

But here is the result of a day one.

Firstly these are two other versions of the design.

Cindy's

Gaylene's

So you an see how varied this class is - everybody has had fun

composing their backgrounds and vases.

Then it was on to starting the embellishing part which is going to 

take months and months, but it is so much fun. 

The first day's focus was on creating stems.

Mine

I will be back as soon as I can with day two.

I am off to Taupo with Sue in the morning so I am really 

lucky to get three more days with this inspiring tutor.

Sue Spargo Visit

Sue has landed and it is now just hours until her first Retreat with us begins.

We are so lucky to have her here with us again.

And she has designed a project especially for our two NZ Retreats.

It is called Indigo Vases.

She sent us a ktiset with the grey and indigo wools and a simple layout that 

we could adapt. modify, tweek, change completely if we wished.

And lot sof us have so it is going to be exciting to see what everyone 

has come with tonight. 

My layout

Now we spend the next three days embellishing it with Sue's 

inspirational stitches, layering techniques and guidance.

I will aim to post at the end of each day so you see progress

and I will add other stitcher's versions too.

School Quilt Programme Finale

Last week saw the finale of our School Quilt Making Programme.

Thirty-six Year 7 and 8 students have created their own quilts, 

but it is time for them to take them home.

But not before they staged an amazing quilt Exhibition of their quilts.

They invited their sponsors to a morning viewing and their 

families to an afternoon event.

The girls made our Easy Retro Quilt pattern using  a range of fabrics chosen by their personal sponsor or by Patchwork Passion staff.

While the boys made  a Trip Around the World Quilt using a fabric range 

featuring Anti-Bullying slogans combined with our Kona solids.

They also made Little Quilts with their fabric leftovers. 

This is their way of giving back as these Little Quilts will go up to Auckland 

Hospital - our other shop community programme.

The exhibition is almost down so it is time for the finale group photo.

It has been such an honour to work at Redoubt North School with 

these young people.

Back tomorrow from the Sue Spargo Retreat in Auckland.

Sophie's Garden Last Blocks

Back again - these are the last five blocks of our Sophie's Garden 

Block of the Month.

Block 16

Block 17

Block 18

Block 19

Block 20

The thing that I loved most about the making of this quilt was the mixture 

of hand applique and machine pieced work.

But of course I loved working with the Japanese woven and printed taupe 

fabric ranges too. Especially the soft tones that this quilt called for.

Back tomorrow with photos from the finale of our school quilt project.

Sophie's Garden

Oh dear I have been so hopeless lately and haven't posted for 5 weeks!!! 

Sorry about that. But I am back in the loop now.

My Sophie's Garden Quilt top is now finished and on the market as a 

Block of the Month.

So here are some more blocks.

Block 12

Block 13

Block 14 - I am not happy with this one so that strong green may be taken out, 

moved to the bottom and made in a softer colour.

Yes the strong green has gone. This block was supposed to have the half square

triangle units all around it, but I think that is too much as they are also in the 

next door block. But the green has gone to be replaced by blue and it has 

moved to the bottom. I am much happier now.

Block 15

I have so much more to share from over the last five that I will be back tomorrow if everything goes according to plan!