Version 2 Block of New Project

This is the next block of my new Taupe Project.

I will be making two of each design so I am trying to make them 

as different as possible.

This is the new one with last week's one below.

I fussy cut the blue for this flower giving it dark tips.

It also works well with a dark centre.

A light pink flower enhanced with stitching.

Fussy cut gold berries.

Fussy cut green leaves - the fabric had the spots in so I fussy cut 

them to go up the centre of the leaf. Only every second spot (the ones

that looks larger) is on the fabric. 

I then added a French Knot to them and an extra one in between fabric spot.

I am loving doing this applique on taupe again, so back with a new block soon. 

New Year New Project!!!

I am so excited to be back working in my favourite fabric range 

- the Japanese woven Taupes. And starting a new applique project.

I have loved my English Paper Piecing phase and it does still continue 

alongside the new project, as my Mrs Holder Stretched Hexie quilt is 

not yet finished but I am up to squaring off the corners - so definitely on 

the home-straight with that one.

Here is the first new block made - applique with a small touch of stitchery.

I do find it hard these days not to embellish applique with just a little stitching!

French Knots around the flower centre.

Veins on leaves with backstitch, fly stitch or chain stitch.

             

Just in case you were wondering what had happened to the two projects in 

last week's post. Have they been relegated to the back burners?

Well no.

The pieced one is finished and ready for Helen to machine quilt.

And the other one is ready to be machine pieced together.

I do like to have several projects on the go at the same time - in case 

you hadn't noticed!!!

I like a machine project for my mornings before heading off into work and

hand work for the evenings. I find that I cannot English Paper Piece

all evening - it is seriously not good for my hands.

So having an applique project or even a hand quilting project on the go

at the same time works well.

After all my hands and eyes have to come with until I am 100 year old!!!

So they are seriously worth looking after.

Back soon with block two and maybe Instastitch number eleven all 

embellished - it is pieced already.

Holiday Project

This is a project that I started piecing before the end of 2016 and during 

the holidays  I was planning to get it all put together.

Well that didn't happen.Not to worry.

So here is what is done so far.

Thirty-two blocks made before the end of last year.

These little units made this year

and these - but I do need lots more of these.

Then it can all go together as planned.

This will be a new Block of the Month for you to make too.

The fabric range is called " Gratitude" designed by Jo Morton for Moda. 

It was this border fabric that got me inspired to make this particular project.

We will be offering it in two colourways to go with the two borders.

And it will be a limited number as this fabric was scarce!

Back soon with the other new project that has taken over my sewing time, 

but this is the last block for me to stitch.

End of Year Update

Oh dear I just looked at my last Blog post and it was in September!!!!

Not sure what happened there - lost the Blog-Plot, life got in the way, whatever.

So here is an update and a promise to do better in 2017.

My "Mosaic" quilt top designed by Irene Blanck is now finished and we are 
selling it as a Block of the Month at the shop (Patchwork Passion NZ).



My Mrs Holder Stretched Hexie quilt has made steady progress.
When I last posted about it I was up to Row 19. 
I am now on the last full row around which is number 25.
Next it is up to squaring off the corners and I am really looking 
forward to this stage. 

Oh my golly - there are 144 hexies in this round.
That makes 1,820 hexies so far.

Talk about being addicted to English Paper Piecing!
In the meantime we (at work) have made this modern throw.



I hand quilted it with Sue Spargo's #8 Perle thread from her Eleganza range.
It was so nice to hand quilt with and the chunky stitches gave the throw a Modern look.
It uses mostly Cotton and Steel Cotton / Linens and is now selling as a kitset at the shop.

My Instastitch is progressing as each block is released by Sue Spargo. 
We are now waiting for block 11 which should be out any minute.
I have so enjoyed using some of my old indigo collection from Japan.

             



As you can probably see they still need the stitching completed. 
I have done a lot of sashiko stitching instead of some of the stitches Sue suggests.

And then there is my Pemberley from Katrina Hadjimichael's August Retreat which hasn't made much progress - Mrs Holder has to be finished before I go back to this quilt.



Back soon with my machine piecing holiday project
 and a new Block of the Month that Cindy and I have started.