With Purpose

I was given a couple of needlepoint projects that needed to be re-purposed. I don't know how long they languished in my Tante Gundi's closet. She had many lovely pieces framed and hung in her home, and used as cushions. Short version of the story follows with a couple of pictures. I then gifted this bag to my cuz, Moe. Ha she said the straps were too functional...she's going to come up with something funkier..me thinks...good girl. Anything to give

this piece 15 minutes of fame. I hope I didn't nail those straps down too hard.  There is lots of quilting thru batting, needlepoint canvas and backing...quilting was like slogging thru mud in flipflops. :))

I quilted at home and built the the bag while visiting my Mom.  I wasn't able to do this on my sewing machine.  As I thought about that I realized that I haven't done any sewing/piecing this year except when visiting my Mom.  It's because my sewing machine sucks. It won't hold the tension, no longer repairable (well it is but it is constantly requiring repairs....like old cars when do you stop feeding it money and get a
different one) Stay tuned....
Happy Wednesday,
gudrun

Wishing everyone a Blessed and Happy Holy Day Season, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

gudrun

Christmas Cactus

I have a friend who moved at the end of September, lots of things came my way. It didn't look like this when it was rescued but I saw potential.

Among the various things was a Christmas cactus or an Easter cactus depending (I think) on when it decides to bloom. Well I have a Christmas cactus....should be in full riotous bloom by the appointed time.  It sure gives off a lot of happy  :))
Happy Sunday.
gudrun

It wasn't what I expected

I had a vacation, visiting with my Mom, who lives in the Pacific Northwest.  This is a picture of how the days looked.  This  is a coloured picture....

There was one sunny moment, that I went for a short walk, it is in the 'country' making for hazardous walking...especially for this gal who has an iffy ankle.

Oh well...as Mom says what can you do?!
On my return I had the pleasure of quilting a really sweet little quilt.  Pictures were taken outside, so that plus the busy pattern does not show the quilting from the front.  However.....

I did a version of the floral and a squiggle through the chain. 

It is a William Morris print done in Kaffe Fassett colours....yummy.
gudrun

Pictures

I have a few pictures of work finished since my last post.  Pictures don't do this one justice, lovely colours and piecing. The client wanted  'simple and old fashion', so SID with a
floral treatment in the border was what was decided.

I should probably check if the auto focus is on (grin)....but  you get the picture (no pun here).
gudrun

Starry Starry Night

I believe this is a shadow box quilt, it is to be a gift for a young grandson.  It was just a charm to quilt.
Yes, I do believe I have taken the photo sideways, but I didn't want it dragging on the deck, and then I forgot to rotate the picture.  Hopefully you'll get the picture.(grin)

 What 10 year old won't love this one?

A simple meander with a star.

Applique - Marie Antoinette

Oh boy, these are my least favourite quilts to quilt....but I do think applique is a wonderful thing.  I do find all that open space intimidating. How to do the applique justice, as well as fill those big spaces...  this quilt has a lot of empty space/canvas.

Well it had a lot of canvas, it is finished.

Happy Tuesday,

gudrun

I call it yummy......William Morris Prints

I had the pleasure of quilting an original design using William Morris prints. This was very enjoyable to quilt.... though doing a pantograph,  keeps me at the back of the machine.  Long armers know this means one doesn't have as intimate a relationship with the fabrics :(   When I work from the front I can really look at the fabric (So know you know my secret !)    Who likes  Wm. Morris prints.....me!

I am also looking forward to quilting a little Kaffee Fassett does W. Morris number hanging on my to do wall. It too is a yummy piece.
Happy Monday and Happy Quilting,
gudrun

Done is done....finished

The Cowichan sweater is finished. I added an inside pocket to it,  then I stuffed it into a  box and mailed it...today.  Whew! It should make it to Calgary before the 20th....unless it ends up going by stage coach across the prairies, eh!










While your here,  take a look at the front door decor.......

 CLOSER....

GRIN....

Golden Light

We took a little road trip up the shore to Wiarton. (Where there happens to be lovely little quilt shop.)

 It is that time of year when we get hints of winter, so on a warm and sunny day,  one just has to get outside.

This is looking across the bay at the last of the golden light of fall.

We took a picnic, Parks Canada has already put away the tables.  A lack of tables did not stop us  from doing some excellent munching.  There was something for everyone.  


Those wondering how big the puppy is......He's a year old now.

I hope you all take every opportunity to enjoy the out before the on coming season of cold keeps you in....
gudrun

Snuggle Quilts

This quilt is a Christmas gift. Can you just imagine yourself wrapped up in this watching a 'game' and munching some pizza! Delightful, delicious and it was fun to stitch.

Happy Tuesday,
gudrun

Work in Progress

I get to work on this lovely number next.  I was going to say lovely little number but that it isn't.  It will take a few hours....other than outlining the applique I have no other instructions from the piecer.   Check back soon to see the finished product. 

Have a great  weekend friends.

Split Stack

So it must be getting colder eh!  Here I am on the computer again!  instead of being outside.  Not only is it cold, it has been raining hammerheads and pitchforks.  A few weeks from now it will be coming down as snow. Snow is more work....but I sure do like snow more,  unless I have to go some where, you know drive.....ick.
And of course like everyone else that dislikes winter driving I'll blame my dislike on all the other drivers who don't know what they are doing  :))
Okay so here's a sweet little quilt to show you on this icky day.

This is a split stack block done in batiks, wool batt and a simple flower and leaf panto.  This pattern was taught at a workshop last winter, for the Community Quilts program.  Several workshop participants went on to make their own versions.  Batiks work very well for this pattern.

I hope she likes it  :)

I can't make the underline go away...don't know why I underlined it, I sure didn't do it on purpose.

Happy Thursday,

gudrun

Comfort Quilts

  I sometimes quilt for the Georgian Quilters 'Guild  Outreach program  I enjoy doing this as I get  to practice patterns that I like, & that I  need to practice.....

and someone gets a quilt. This pineapple piece was made using the Exploding pineapple pattern,  by Karen Hellaby.

These two quilts, have a lovely non quilting cotton in the centre, that one of our Guild members rescued.  She did a lovely job, I snatched them up and got them quilted with freehand flowers and leaves.  I thought I had pictures of the quilting, apparently not  ....

Happy  wery wet Wednesday
gudrun

Michael's sweater

Michael's Grandmother knit him a beautiful Cowichan style buffalo wool sweater, and gave it to me to sew
together.  I have been unable to get assistance with putting in the zipper, so I have left it in the bag...left it 'around' so to speak,  hoping the sweater elves would show up.  However, a reminder from Michael's grandmother has me pulling it out of the bag and leaving it about.  Lulu gives it full approval and doesn't care that it isn't sewn up.
Guess what I am doing this evening :))
gudrun

October Colours

Today's  wind and rain storm will take care of these.

Batiks and Alpacas

I completed this a few days ago.  It was not a favourite of the piecer, once quilted, she liked it again.  This is what usually happens, it's a good thing that happens.  I enjoy the smiles that come when the quilting pulls the 'flimsy ' into a usable lovable quilt.

I had an opportunity to 

work with an Alpaca & sheep wool blend batting  on this quilt...a strippy quilt with great colour contrast.

I used large leaf panto, and I checked tension often.

 It quilted up nicely, though the varied thickness of the batt contributed to some small tension issues in a couple of places, also contributing to tension issues was the use of selvage in the piecing. I use to leave them on as well, until someone explained how tough and different the selvage edge is to the rest of the fabric, and
how this causes problems, for machines and hands.
Well that's today's lesson.

I wonder how it will wash, when the time comes.  I am of the  'don't wash them until really needed' school.

Spot cleaning and airing come first.  This is a heavy quilt, it will no doubt be lovely and warm.  It will be even heavier when wet,  washing maybe a cumbersome job.   If anyone has had experience with this type of batting do let me know.

This is what the batting looks like.

  

gudrun  in wet & windy Ontario

Memory Quilt

 This  is called "Plackets & Pockets".  I  found I was doing a lot of  'membering' while quilting this Memory quilt.  I did a right angle meander, and was
able to avoid  the odd bumpy bit created by a pocket or a placket.  It was well constructed and sewed up nicely.

And another trip down memory lane, I entered our local Fall Fair 

Here it is finished, spring of 2010.

This one is for Irene's Birthday, It was finished in time for the Fall Fair, and she hasn't had her next birthday so all is good.

Both of these quilts received prizes.












I also entered a wall hanging and table runner...more winners!  I ROCK  :))
Happy Day.
gudrun