HANDIQUILTER SIMPLY SIXTEEN

As I sit here isolated in my home, thanks to the spread of the Corona Virus-19, I have found time to again continue with my blog so I have a record of all the beautiful things that one can make given time and patience.

I retired from full-time work last July and haven't looked back.  With all the material I have been stashing for years, I find plenty to keep me busy (as well as my beautiful grandchildren).

A retirement gift to myself (which we all should do) was a Handiquilter Simply Sixteen longarm machine with the Little Buddy system.  I have had such fun learning free motion quilting on this machine and have even taken an online course by Natalia Bonner Lets Stitch Scalloped Borders.  Highly recommend this course via YouTube - I learnt so much which I am putting into practice.

Facebook is another resource for learning tips and tricks from the various groups that you can join.

So here is my latest Sewing Room with the Longarm machine all set up and ready to go.

Here is my practice quilt showing the beautiful Borders that Natalia's course taught me how to do. Of course they are not perfect, but at least I have the knowledge on how to do them now.

One of my girlfriends, put my in contact with the  Eastern Pallative Care organisation,  and along with my sewing buddies, we have been making quilt tops to donate to their clients.  More on my next post where I will show some of the donations so far...…..stay tuned and stay safe xxx

FOXLEY FINISHED

It’s so nice to get my finished quilt, Foxley Village, back from the talented Mandy who does my quilting.

What a stunner this project has turned out to be. A monthly project that was featured in Homespun Magazine last year made with Tilda fabric and comprised of both appliqué and machine pieced blocks.

I am still sewing on the binding but you can see how lovely this quilt is.  

Take a closer look at Mandy’s wonderful quilting, there is so much variety in patterns, I could look all day and still find a different one.

Just look at the difference the quilting makes.......

Quilted Block

Original Block

I’ve already made space on the wall for this one as I think it’s nice to display my quilts rather than hide them away, after all they end up costing a lot both in money and time.

If you ever think you can’t do a quilt like this, I suggest a BOM with a friend as each month you help each other with problems and ensure you finish on time and before you know it you’ve made a whole quilt over a 12 month period.  

GARDEN PARTY FINISHED AND QUILTED

Pattern:  Garden Party by Teddlywinks
Material:  Country Orchard by Blackbird Designs 

See what happens when I don't blog much......I get projects finished.

I had a deadline for this romantic quilt and am very happy to say that I have made it with a few weeks to spare.

Just to recap, Garden Party is for mums 80th birthday and a combination of applique and embroidery. I purchased a layer cake plus some extra lengths of the plain colours for the borders.

Now that I have done my part, off she went to the quilters.  Mandy from Seams Sew Together has done a wonderful job on my previous quilt and this time is no exception.

I'm also linking up to the Stitchery Link party over at Super Mom - No Cape so pop over and take a look at the other beautiful embroidery on show.

READY FOR BINDING

ALL LOADED UP ON QUILTING FRAME

CENTRE PANEL

 Mandy has done a great job of stippling around the embroidery in the panels, which still highlights the work and almost trapuntos the applique.

CHECK OUT THOSE BORDERS

 Each coloured border has a different pattern -

1.  blue:  continuous hearts on a string
2.  apricot: feathers 
3.  crimson: feather variation.

The square blocks around each panel have a quilted flower in each one

TEAPOT BLOCK

SEE THOSE FLOWERS IN EACH SQUARE...LOVELY

This pattern wasn't quite big enough for a bed so its going up on the wall as a feature

Of course all I have left to do is to pop on the binding, attached a hanging sleeve and Bobs your uncle.

BRIAR ROSE QUILT

Pattern:  Briar Rose by England Street Quilts www.englandstreet.blogspot.com.au
Material:  Batik Jelly Roll

Linking to:  WIP Wednesday by Freshly Pieced and Let's Bee Social by Sew Fresh Quilts

I haven't blogged for quite a while as all I seem to be doing is chasing my tail and starting projects but not finishing them (naughty girl)  When I started to quilt, I said to myself, only have two projects on the go at once, but somehow there are so many wonderful things to make I got lost along the way.

Of course going on an overseas holiday to Canada and USA for 6 weeks didnt help my sewing projects at all.  I dragged poor hubby to as many quilt shops as I could find and even came home with another project quilt to make of Alaskan animals, as my souvenir.

Sometimes I am just like a Bower Bird and attracted to bright colours and before we left, I did manage to finish a quilt top from a batik jelly roll that had caught my attention.  I loved the mix of colours and teeming it with a white homespun, worked out quite well.

I asked my girlfriend Mandy from www.seamssewtogether.blogspot.com if she wouldn't mind quilting some feathers in the white crosses while we were away and then I forgot about it and went about enjoying the holiday.  Mandy messaged me to say it was finished and then all I wanted to do was see it.  She wouldn't send me a photo, said it wouldn't do it justice and she was right......

Never in a million years did I think my humble quilt top would turn into a beautiful work of art but IT DID.

What a transformation !!  Mandy did a wonderful job with her long arm machine and I think the bright colours really make it POP and grab your attention.  You can check out Mandys blog to get her explanation on the technical side of the quilting but I just love it.

All I need to do is stop looking at it and put the binding around the edge, then I can begin to use it.

Thanks Mandy, it was a good team effort  xxxxx