Cultural Fusions book winner

 

Thank you to everyone that entered the draw to win Sujatas' wonderful book. Thank you also for the lovely comments on the quilt top I made from the book.

Congratulations to Susan from Patchwork and Play who happened to be lucky number 8.

 

Cross stitch

I have been known to dabble in a little embroidery now and again. I love anything with bees on so this is one that I'll be keeping.

the project is Her Majesty from the booklet By Blackbird designs called Honeybee Hill. I filled it with ground walnuts that has some lavender petals in it so it smells lovely and feels great with the weight in it.

 And for the back, I had some lovely bee fabric of course.

The Q is for Queen bee but it could easily be for Quiltsalott. Loving the small ric-rac finish.

Until next time, Janet



Cultural Fusion Quilts blog tour

Welcome to the second to last stop on the blog tour for Sujata Shah's first ever book, Cultural Fusion Quilts A Melting Pot of Piecing Traditions.

I'm really excited about this book and what a pleasure and an honour to be part of this blog tour after following Sujata's blog, The Root Connection for many years. I've always admired the quilts she has made with her unique sense of style and colouring. This book gives a view into her world, her inspiration and her root connection.

There are fifteen quilt patterns in the book and when I got it, I wanted to rush to the fabric stash and sewing machine and make them all. It's been a long time since I've been inspired to sew a quilt by machine but this book had me pulling fabrics right away and warming up the machine.
The instructions are very clear and there are step by step diagrams to help out as well as suggestions for fabric selection and different setting variations for each of the quilts.

This method of stacking fabrics, cutting then switching them and sewing is a whole lot of fun. In fact it was a joy to be doing just that. There was no need for rulers, templates or pins to piece the blocks which makes the process of making them very speedy.

It was hard to pick a favourite out of the book but in the end I decided to work with the shapes similar to the ones in this quilt. The same shape with slight variations are also used in some of the other quilts so I knew I would have lots of options for setting them.

I made a few practice blocks to decide how I wanted to proceed. Hence the block on the left has a skinnier shape than the one on the right. No matter, they can all be used.  I really love the slight curves which were so very easy to sew.

As Sujata states:

Be curious

Be bold

Be spontaneous

Be creative

Be intuitive.

I made the blocks using mainly Kaffe Fassett and Phillip Jacob fabrics in the red family because I have a lot of those and then I chose some very old greys along with black and whites out of my cupboard for contrast. It felt good to make use of my fabric stash.
When cutting the fabric stacks, you get negative and positive blocks. I decided to put aside the ones that have the black and greys in the center shape for another quilt that will look totally different.

I played around with settings and added the lime strips because I kept thinking how much like leaves the shapes were and I do love hot pinks and lime together.

This is the finished quilt top which looks like funky trees, it's lap sized and approximately 60" square. I did buy the border fabric as it had the look and colour I was after. I love it a lot and I thank Sujata for gently guiding me to experiment and for inspiring me to make this quilt. I plan to use some perle cotton thread to hand quilt it when the weather cools down here in Australia.

If you would like to go into the draw for a chance to win a copy of the book, leave me a comment and I'll draw a  winner in five days time.

If the winner is a US resident, they will get a hard copy but if the winner is international, they will receive the E-book version.

 

Here is a complete list of the blogs participating in the tour, some of them are still open for comments and the chance to win.

 

Tuesday December 2 Sujata Shah @ C&T Publishing

Friday December 5 Rachaeldaisy @ Blue Mountain Daisy 

Saturday December 6 Lori Dejarnett @ Humble Quilts
 
Sunday December 7 Casey York @ The Studiolo  

Monday December 8 Malka Dubrawsky @ A Stitch in Dye   

Tuesday December 9 Sherri Lynn Wood @ daintytime

Wednesday December10 Bonnie Hunter @ Quiltville's Quips and Snips

Thursday December 11 Jake Finch @ Generation Q

Friday December 12 Jan Burgwinkle @ Be*mused

Saturday December 13 Janet Treen @ Quiltsalott

Sunday December 14 Lindsay Conner @ Lindsay Sews

A little Christmas project

I couldn't resist adding this picture of Tully photo bombing. We are looking after her for a year for a family that moved interstate. That year is almost up and I don't think we'll give her back. We haven't heard for certain yet if we can keep her but it's on the cards.

Each year I make or buy a Christmas decoration for my grandchildren and they really look forward to the surprise. By the time they move out on their own, they should have enough decorations for a tree of their own.

This year I made them three birds each, they're so cute and look like doves to me.

 

The pattern is from Jody"s Crafty Creations (blog). The pattern was for bigger birds but I reduced it down to 70% which was just right for what I wanted. Luckily I have some turning tools (straw and bamboo skewer) or it would have been tricky with the smaller size. If you want your own pattern, it's 50% off in her Etsy store with the code she gives on her blog. That would be a whole $1 such a bargain.
How about you, are you doing any Christmas sewing?

Back soon, Janet

 

Trees in nature and patchwork

Thank you so much for the lovely messages after my last post, I really did appreciate all your kind words and messages of sympathy. My trip to New Zealand gave me a much needed rest.

I had a lovely time catching up with family and especially spending time with my grand children. My DD has a lovely old farmhouse to live in with fabulous country views surrounding the property as you can see.

I really enjoyed seeing all the wonderful spring blossoms which we don't see as much of in the area where I live.

Even the trees that hadn't burst into life yet were a sight to behold.

Before I left for New Zealand, I had started making tree blocks for a new quilt. I love this process of slicing and dicing and not using precise piecing.

I had a stash of Kaffe Fassett shot cottons that were languishing in the cupboard and a container of Batiks that I thought I'd never use. They couldn't have been more perfect.

The method involves inserting strips of different sizes between the cuts and is pretty easy to do. The pattern is Twelve Trees by Helen Howes. There are many variations and settings you could use with these blocks.
There is a free tutorial showing how to make these blocks on Helen's site here and also Kelly over at Pinkadot Quilts has also shown a step by step process here.
I started by cutting my background rectangles 16 x 10 1/2"

I decided I liked the setting that Helen used for one of her quilts and followed suit, I have a few more blocks to do to make it to the 25 I had planned on. I'm such a copy cat but why change it when I love it so much.

Here's a peek at what appeared at the edge of my design wall. As if by magic really, I didn't intend to play with another new quilt but I wanted to cut a few pieces of fabric in these colours to see if I liked them. I do.

I have a few things on my list to do yet before I get to play some more.

Two squares cut 2.5" and one rectangle 6.5" x 2.5" if you're curious.

 

Until next time, Janet

Sewing accessories

 I made a thread catcher and it's perfect for those times I sew away from home.
Here it is folded flat for easy storage from the top.

And ta dah, a quick twist and it opens up.

And voila you have a round mini bucket. Some people are so clever to think up this stuff. I made mine a lot shorter in length and I think I'll make another one even smaller. You can find the free tutorial over at Red Hen Fabrics.

I made it quite a bit shorter than in the pattern because I really only need it for catching threads

I got envious of the social totes I was seeing on the internet so bought the pattern and took four afternoons to make this one.

I knew from what I'd read that it was tricky to put together and it was. To be honest, I have no desire to make another one. I like it but I don't love it.

I couldn't have understood the pattern if it wasn't for the step by step tutorial from here.

And last but not least is this pouch, the famous Sew Together Bag by Sew Demented. It's my new favourite accessory because it has three zippered pouches plus the parts between are great storage pockets as well. I love it so much that I''l be making more than this one when I get the chance. Once again an online tutorial helped enormously with the construction. I chose not to add the pincushion as I don't need it but it has a little felt piece on one side for parking needles.

I've only been able to manage some limited sewing these last months as I had an issue with my right hand that prevented proper movement of two fingers but I'm back to full use now thanks to some cortisone injections and a brace I've been wearing at night.

 

I'm unable to reply to comments for the time being. I'm flying to New Zealand as my Dad passed away and after the funeral I'll be spending time with my family there. Thanks for visiting especially after my long absence. I hope to be back on board in a few weeks.

The influence of other quilters

How often do you look at quilts made by others on the Internet at quilt shows or elsewhere and get influenced by their styles or skills?

It happens to me quite a lot and I think that's one of the reasons why I play around with so many projects.

At the recent Sydney quilt show I was drawn to this piece called Errant Geese by Jessica Wheelahan. I love this close up photo. It reminds me of the work of Gwen Marston and the Gees Bend Quilters.

I could see how much fun it would be to cut up pieces of fabric and play with colour and form, not worrying about rules or what anyone would think.

 

 Here's the whole quilt and the ribbon Jessica won was for best quilt inspired by an antique quilt awarded by Quiltsmith where I do my Aunty Green classes.

Jessica was sitting in front of me with her children at the awards ceremony and I caught up with her for a quick chat. What an inspirational, lovely lady she is. I was just sorry I missed her speaking at the quilt study weekend recently. I hear it was a wonderful talk.

Jessica doesn't have a blog but is on Instagram as birdie_beetle and has a page on Pinterest featuring a board of her other works at beats and pieces modern quilting.

Heres a totally different style of quilt made by Pamela Brockwell, another extremely talented and lovely person. Her quilt Fiore Della Vita won the best quilt in Victoria last year and is currently travelling along with my Rings And Roses quilt.

When I saw this in Melbourne, I couldn't stop looking at it. It mesmerised me for its machine quilting and all the special details such as the applique and cording. Pamela sure is friends with her machine!

Pamela had special permission from Sharon Schamber to make and enter this quilt as it was based on one of her designs.

This quilt top was pieced by hand by my friend Loz who managed to get all her blocks together at our quilting retreat in May. Of course you may recognise that it's Jen Kingwell's pattern, The Circle Game

It was making my fingers itch to play with fabric and go back to my own version that I started oh so long ago.

If you've been reading my blog for a long time, you'd know that I'm not very biased for just one style of quilt. I love that there's something for everybodys' tastes. I also love that styles and techniques are evolving, it'll be good for all of us by keeping the industry alive and well.

I'm very happy to report that one of my favourite blogs is back after a break. Kathie from Inspired By Antique Quilts is back online, go and check it out. Kathie's blog was deleted for a time so if you want to follow her, you'll have to add your name back again on her followers list.

Until next time, Janet

Overwhelmed

What excitement at the quilt show in Sydney yesterday. Thanks to the grapevine, a lot of you already know that I took out some amazing prizes with my quilt, Coxcomb And Currants.
I won first traditional professional, a special award called retaining the tradition, best hand quilting in the open category and best of show.

Here I am pictured with Greg Alexander, Managing Director at Bernina Australia Pty who presented me with the best in show ribbon. I still look stunned in this photo, it was hard to take it in.

I started this one roughly two and a half years ago and wanted to participate in this years show so I dragged out the UFO and made it a goal to get it finished never dreaming it would do so well.

I only had my phone on me to take photos but you might be able to see the details well enough if you click on the photos.

The quilt was inspired by one shown on Julie Silber's blog, the quilt complex here.

It got sold a few years back and ended up on another antique dealers website and that's when we tried to buy it to no avail.at that stage I had already started my own version.

Here are some stats in case curious minds want to know.

All applique was done in the needleturn method and the block on the upper left corner has one extra berry in a nod to the quilters from the past..

I used 2,000 yards of YLI thread in the quilting.

The background quilting is straight lines approximately 1/4" apart.

The grid inside the trapunto wreaths is 3/8"

The grid on the outermost border is 1/2"

The trapunto was done before the quilt was basted.

There are a gazillion circles, sigh.

 

Ask me anything else if you'd like to know more. Now you know why my blog was so quiet.

 

Special thanks to my husband and son who did a lot of cooking and cleaning so I could quilt.

My gratitude and thanks to the NSW Quilters Guild for putting on such successful shows, its a lot of hard work.

Bernina Australia for being the main sponsors and for the support they give to the quilting community. Thanks also to all the other sponsors who provide prizes and Expertise Events who makes it all possible.

Gosh that all sounds a bit Oscar speech like but I truly am grateful and also to my friends in blog land who always encourage and support anything I do.

Thank you Tulley for guarding my quilt.

 

A list of other prize winners are listed on the guild website. be sure to check out the categories by clicking on the aqua tabs at the top. 

Back after an unintentional break

This poor neglected blog has been sleeping a lot lately. I missed visiting my favourite blogs too and I'm sorry if you've been waiting to hear from me however, that doesn't mean I haven't been busy.

 

At the moment I'm spending some relaxing evenings hand piecing a Trip Around The World quilt from Brigitte Giblin's facebook challenge. It's a lot of fun and my quilt is taking on it's own personality with each round. I thought I'd be doing something in softer colours but it has a mind of it's own. The constant which everyone is using will be the red and white spot fabric.

Hand piecing is not my forte and I don't mind admitting that all these squares aren't 1 1/2". I seem to have my own personal seam allowance.

I have a few projects up my sleeve I've been wanting to get to including these softies I want to make for the grandchildren. I have a lot of catching up to do on other quilts as well.

I had a bit of tidying up around the place with my fabric since my son bounced back home to live. My sewing stuff had migrated into several rooms much to my horror. I now have two new flat pack cupboards which have been squeezed into the sewing room.

It's also now got improved new lighting in there so is much nicer to work in.

I've been so quiet on the blog since I set myself the goal of finishing up a quilt for the Sydney quilt show which opens tomorrow. I was putting in forty hours of quilting a week towards the end but I made it. I'll be back in a couple of days and then I can show you some photos of the quilt.

 

Until next time, Janet

 

Australian Quilt Convention

Regular readers may remember that my quilt Rings and Roses was selected as the New South Wales Best Of Show quilt last year. All the State winners then get judged at the AQC in Melbourne for the Best of Australia award. Bernina who is the main sponsor sends these quilts and their makers to Melbourne and that's where I was last week.

 

This is the World Heritage building where the show is held and I was very excited to see it at last. It was my first visit to Melbourne and the city turned on some lovely sunny weather for us.

My face book friends already know that my quilt was announced as Australia's best quilt. My feet haven't touched the ground yet and its one of the most incredible moments I've experienced, such a joy for me to say the least.

The award was presented by Mr HP Ueltschi, the owner of Bernina international.
What an amazing honour and privilege to have my quilt selected as the other state quilts were very special and you can see them here.
I'm looking as gobsmacked as I felt in the photo below. It was scary making a speech but I got through it without blubbering or sounding like a complete idiot. I'm most proud of the fact that my quilt was the only hand quilted one judged.

My quilt got a lovely beauty queen sash, pretty exciting to see.

I recieved this gorgeous glass trophy which I take care of for a year. It's large and really heavy. It still needs engraving and Bernina apparently gift me with a smaller one. In addition I recieved a generous cash prize.

At the Gala dinner, there was a gift from Bernina at each place setting. I stole my husbands one since he doesnt need a pincushion.

Take the time to read the label, its such a wonderful story and a treasured gift.

There were other awards presented throughout the night as well as some great entertainment. Michelle Hill has a wonderful blog post here where you can read more.

 

Lastly, thank you to my readers who talked me into putting my quilt in the Sydney show, I may not have done so without your input and wouldn't have had such an incredible experience to treasure.

 

Yours in quilting, Janet