Happy New Year 2017

Wow it's 2017 and this is my first post for the year.  It may seem to some that I have not been doing much, but when I am at my quietest is when lots of things get done.

 I finally finished quilting my Dear Jane quilt just before the end of 2016.  Very happy with myself now that I have become one of the group to have actually finished this quilt.

I have decided to slowly work through all the hand quilting I have, and let me tell you l can hardly see over the pile...haha.  First item is simple my Fussy cut Hexies, which is tending to be quilted circles, unless the material tells me something different, I am nearly finished.

I have also been crocheting a fair bit since the end of last year, seems to be a thing I have to get out of my system.  So I made this afghan in blocks and crochet together as I went, love how nicely it went together.  The second afghan I had in a bag at the back of the cupboard for I don't know how long.  Most of it I pulled out and started again. Very happy how this one turned out as well.

This afghan is all hexagons, which I am partial to, it is all made from Tapestry Wool.  The pattern is called African flower.

I have also made a few bags, very quick and easy.

I was very excited to finish my Christmas Wreath in time to hang on the front door.  Inspiration taken from Attic 24, love her work.

ELENOR JEAN

Finished the flower row all around.  Now up to the next round, the triangles that create the star.  Had some trouble finding the right stripe in this one, but I think I am happy.  Also on the look out for some pale blue for the filler sections, not as easy as it sounds.  May need a shopping trip...oh no...:-)

THIS GOES WITH THAT - William Morris

Yay finally added the last 2 rows and squared off this quilt.  May put a blue border on to finish off.  Then it's ready to add to the quilting pile. Excuse the picture this quilt needs ironing and still some papers left in around the edges.

LA PASSACAGLIA

It has been a while since my last post, but I have been very busy.  I finished quilting La Pass and am very happy with the result.  I quilted following the material where I could.  The border was pieced and I quilted it with a big stitch and Perle 8 cotton.  First time big stitch quilting and I don't think it will be the last.  Finished quilting just in time to have the quilt hung at our annual exhibition, very exciting.

Elenor Jean

An update on Elenor Jean, just added the striped border and the beginning of the next flower border.  Have been interviewing the next point, but having some trouble with some pale blue stripe.  Might have to step back and consider the possibilities.  It is getting quite large now, may not be able to drag the main part around with me much longer.  I am still really enjoying this project.

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I have just finished piecing my Garden of Forgetfulness.  I still need to applique it onto a border, which looks vey busy, but the material is the same as the stars in the centres of each block. This was a  super simple pattern to put together and I enjoyed it very much.

STILL CROCHETING AND PATCHING

The bug still has a hold on me with crocheting, I have finished my granny square throw.  I caught the virus, the crochet virus and made a scarf and also started an African Flower something, using Tapestry Wool, just for something different.

MILLEFIORI QUILTING

Just started quilting this big boy, wanting to let the material guide the quilting where I can. Lots to be done, looking forward to it...:-)

MILLEFIORI

I got La Passacaglia back from being basted on Friday, so the hand quilting begins.  I am hoping to let the material in each rosette guide me, wish me luck.  I do have a deadline, my friend Shirley wants me to put it into an exhibition in September....so once again wish me luck....:-)

YAY PATCHWORK

Now I know I said I was distracted, but I still squeeze in a bit of patchwork.
The Garden of forgetfulness is growing, I am planning another row and then I will border it.  Someone asked the other day what the border was, its the same material as the stars in the centre of each block, which is also all the same material, amazing the variation it has given me.  I have really enjoyed piecing this pattern...:-)

CROCHET

I have also made three of these bags, which are ideal for holding crochet projects.  In saying that, two of them I have given to my sister, who is just learning to crochet.

CROCHET

I have also started putting a dark border around my granny square blanket.  Then I am thinking about colour blocking a few rows and then a fancy edge....maybe...:-)

THE OBSESSION

Ok, ok, to say I have been distracted is a bit of an understatement.  CROCHET has a lot to answer for.  I have made at least 6 pairs of Crocodile slippers (just to perfect the pattern)

CROCHET

I decided if I was going to crochet, I needed a bag to hold all the bits and found this on YouTube, very easy and quick.  Love it and don't think it will be the last one I do.

ELENOR JEAN

An update and check to see if I am heading in the right direction with colours.  The preparation is taking longer, because of the area to be covered.  I think that Linda White basted her EPP with thread and can only imagine how long that must have taken.  I am using glue and it seems to take forever, I am still really enjoying the journey

GRANNY SQUARES

My new obsession, just has to be done.  I have been looking on Pinterest and the idea of crochet join as you go blocks really interested me, so this is the result.  Quite enjoy the different movement as compared to patchwork, mixing the two is complimentary, I think, or is that just me?!?

ELENOR JEAN

Yay added the fillers, so now I have a big hexagon to work with. I have also been interviewing borders and the next row, very exciting.

AN UPDATE SINCE MY BIRTHDAY

I have been busy sewing, quilting and crocheting.
Here are some update photos, first is Garden of Forgetfulness, I have added 3 rows since I last posted, I have another 3 rows to make.  Very happy with my progress so far.

I have begun quilting my fussy cut scrappy quilt, which I think is coming along nicely.

I have now made 4 diamonds for my Elenor Jean quilt, I am finding the preparation takes almost as long as it takes to sew together.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.....

My birthday cake was very appropriate this year, Plus it's caramel mud cake inside...yum.

My husband and I had a weeks holiday in NZ

The first place we stayed was just outside of Queenstowand.

LA PASSACAGLIA

Some ladies have been asking for a close up of the border piecing.  Please excuse the photos as I am not at home and have not pressed the border yet.  The first photo is the front and the second is the back with some papers left in so you can see the placement better.