2010, not quite finished

I've been pushing to get 64 blocks sewn.  In the end, only 36 made it.  I'm still not sure about the setting, but here is the block with sashing

There are nine large pieced blocks that are just over 17" square. 

This time of year can be full of deadlines, so I have decided to let go of this one.  There are 365 days in 2011 so I can finish my blocks then.

From today on I will be having a computer free holiday and the sewing machine is going for a service.
Of course, that won't stop me from some quiet applique and quilting.

May I wish my friends who celebrate Christmas a happy occasion.  Those that include Boxing Day in their diary, enjoy the leftovers and to my friends who follow the Gregorian calendar, I would like to wish a Happy New Year.  To everyone around the world I am sure you agree with the sentiment that we should always strive for harmony and consideration for each other.

Finally, thank you for coming over to "quilterie" to see what I am doing.  I have so enjoyed this little pastime and hope to continue on in 2011,

all the best,

Liz

Hearts and Hands

A quilt from the Collection of the York County Heritage Trust in Pennsylvania has had a pattern drawn from it.  It is called the "Hearts and Hands"quilt and it was assembled in 1937/8 using circle motifs stitched in 1880 by women from the Loucks family.  Strangely enough, the delay was due to the women becoming more interested in needlepoint than quilting.  Recently, I dug this project up and this week I have done a few more motifs

 These little circles are 13cm in diameter (or just over 5").  There are 18 points.  49 more of these blocks are required.

The sunburst blocks are alternated with these pretty little applique blocks, also 13cm in diameter.  Only 41 more of these to go.  I was distracted by these 4" blocks in the meantime.

Cute, but they'll probably end up in the orphan box.

Wearing my Detective Cap

I've been following Wonkyworld quite closely in recent days.  He has an album quilt that is remarkable, particularly for its dense quilting.  Back in 1996, I made a Piecemakers Calendar quilt that I echo quilted

around a few of the blocks.

For complicated reasons I can't  show you the whole quilt

but here are 3 of the 12 blocks.  If you haven't seen Bill's quilt at Wonkyworld, you won't be disappointed by visiting his blog.

On another note, I have picked up the project that Faye has been working on.  I hadn't sewn anything on it for quite some time and when I decided to do a few more blocks, I wasn't sure which background homespun I had previously used.  Fortunately, I had a piece of background with its  selvedge  and a applique  block.  Luckily for me it was just a matter of comparing the little hole pattern made on the selvedge from the manufacturing process.  Now I have written on the pattern AND  on the fabric in case it takes a few more years to get back to this project.

I hope that if you click on the photo you will see that the fabric on the roll matches the fabric with the applique.


Finally, I thought I'd share with you a quilt that took a long time between start and finish.  It is a blue "Seven Sisters" pattern and I made it hard because every single blue patch is from a different fabric.
 There are 18 full blocks and 6 half blocks on this quilt and it is hand pieced.

As you can imagine I have a big stash of blues now.  I had this quilt machine quilted because I didn't want to attempt to hand quilt the white-on-white fabric.  I don't know for sure but I bet it would have increased resistance because of the paint.  This quilt now lives with my niece and her husband.

While it looks like I haven't been particularly busy, there is a new block #4 over at the cherry tree group and I have machined pieced a further 10 blocks and only have 34 more to go!

Projects in Common

While inspecting the posts of my fellow bloggers I saw what Faye has been working on.  It struck a chord.  Ages ago I bought the same pattern

Applique is so much fun and these little blocks seemed so portable.  I began to work out that if I did one a day, it would only take me ... you know how it is.  I don't know how long this project has been in the cupboard.  Faye's is much more imaginative.  I basically just copied the pattern colours.  Perhaps one day I'll get it out and actually work on it.  There are only 117 blocks and I have already done 15 so it would only take me 102 days to finish them all.  Just kidding!

As I said, I love applique, and also hand quilting.  I can't remember the last time I hand pieced a straight line.  The sewing machine is so seductive.  It's fast.  Projects move along at a rapid rate.  This weekend, I made 20 blocks and now there are only 44 more to whizz up.  Not showing it properly until the quilt is complete.

I've also been working on my Beyond the Cherry Tree quilt.  My latest block is over here.

36 Hours in Melbourne

This week I was in Melbourne for 36 hours.  For non Aussies, Melbourne is pronounced "Mel bun".  Weird, eh? but if you say it like that, it will demonstrate your worldliness, particularly to Australians. Here are my photos

and a close up

The quilt is a decorator prop in a store and that is why there are items of clothing scattered around.  My next photo was of a wonderfully decorated cupcake but it must have been too much.  After only 2 snaps, my camera battery gave up.  You will have to imagine how beautiful it was.

I love blogland.
I love how you see so many wonderful quilts and get terrific technical tips.
I love how we virtually meet up with quilters from around the world to exchange ideas and points of view.
But I love it best when I actually get to meet someone from blogland.

24 hours into my "Mel bun" trip I met Linda from the well known Quilts in the Barn.  If you haven't visited, I suggest you rush right over to see her blog (but come back to me afterwards, won't you?).
Sadly, the camera was out of action, so you will just have to take my word that she is a classy lady with plenty of style.  Linda, it was a pleasure to meet you.

We went on a personalized shop hop.  When I say personalized, well a shop with patchwork fabric was the only requirement.  And somehow, without me quite realizing it,  I came home with this

Lots of gorgeous fabric, some of it with no project in mind.  Best of all was the fat quarter in the foreground.  When I unwrapped it, I discovered a beautiful gift from my new quilting pal

Two handmade coasters, meticulously made.  Thank you again, Linda for a lovely day spent together.  I look forward to returning the favour when you come to visit in Sydney.