Kaleidoscope

One of my quilting buddies and fellow group member, Sonja Snyman, showed us how to cut fabric for a kaleidoscope quilt during our March 2012 group meeting.  As I had so many unfinished quilts at the time (as my husband also kept on reminding me), I decided not to start this one as well and after cutting the triangles, I just put it on the back burner for the time being. 

With the 2013 17th National Quilt Festival coming up in my hometown (read all bout it here), it was decided that our first challenge for 2013 is a Kaleidoscope quilt as it is also the theme for the festival.   What better time to finish mine then.  Now I only have to finish it in about a month's time....

The 24 blocks assembled thus far:

Table runners

I've found a few pieces of organza fabric between my mother-in-law's belongings when she died in 2007 and decided to use them to make runners.  Although not the easiest of fabrics to work with, the first two turned out rather beautiful. 

The yellow one was put to use in my room.  Designs used was the Frangipani set of Artistic designs.

The four corners.

The basket design used in between.



and the centre design.

 

I put the bronze one in my bathroom.  It is a perfect match to the new colour scheme - see this post.  Designs used from A stitch a half.

 

 

 

With the maid on holiday, I'm spending the majority of my time cleaning, washing and cooking and  less time doing any needlework.  I however managed to do quite a lot thus far.  Just hope I keep it up once I start work again.  Must make it a New Year's resolution.

Kneeling and ring cushions for weddings

A client of mine phoned me on Wednesday 19 December asking me if would be possible to make 2 sets of kneeling cushions with the accompanying ring bearers cushions for weddings today, Saturday the 22nd. 

With such short notice, I immediately started working.  Thursday she phoned again asking if I could deliver one set the same afternoon!  As I was still far from finished (I had to drive around the shops buying the necessary supplies also), we decided that I would deliver one set on Friday morning and the other set Saturday morning. 

With my overlocker out of order, I had to do everything the old fashioned way which was a lot more work and very time consuming.  The frills needed for all 6 cushions was approximately 20m in length...

This set was finished Friday morning at 03h00 and delivered on time.  I asked my husband to photograph the set with some close ups, but he was in such a hurry that most of the photo's are blurred.  He also did not notice that he set the Ipad on video, so these photo's is about all there is.

Kneeling cushion x2

 

The embroidery was done in white with silver lace and ribbon.



Ring bearers cushion

After getting a few hours sleep, I started with the next set finishing them 24h00 Friday night. 

 

 

This set was done in white and gold.

 

 

 

 





Assimina from Crown Catering was absolutely thrilled!  I can only hope that the people hiring these sets, will appreciate it and take good care of them.  I am extremely pleased with the end result and think they are gorgeous.  I was however extremely tired.  At this rate I will need a holiday once this one is finished...

Cupcake pincushion designs

I designed these cute little ones a little while back for a friend of mine.

The large one is embroidered only while the small one is embellished with Swarovski crystals.

It's amazing how time flies by when you're having fun...

Embroidery designs for sale

Chunky stitch critters - ideal for babies and small children. 

Embellish with crochet, buttons, Suffolk puffs etc.

 

 

 

Cheating Block Quilt finished

The quilt I wrote about in this and this post is finished!  Looking at the completed quilt today from a distance, I was quite impressed.  At first I was afraid that all the colours was a bit too bold and that it outshine the embroidery designs, but I think the finished product turned out really beautiful.  My friend of 31 years and fellow quilter, Rika van der Merwe, says that it reminds her of Joseph's Amazing Dreamcoat.

The first grandchild's quilt is done although there is no baby yet.  But with my daughter, Megan, getting married in January, who knows....

Labeling quilts

I've been trying the whole week to write this post.  Our internet connection is super slow.  Will have to contact my service provider as the problem is now really getting annoying.  I also lost 2 days this week due to severe headaches.

I spend the first few days of my holiday embroidering labels for the 7 quilts I finished this year.  I also replaced my Beginners and Latte Quilt's labels.  It was quite fun making all the different labels.  Look on the Quilting page for photo's of all the quilts.

I don't know why the photo is rotated in the blog only.  Oh boy, this blog just don't want to be written...

I also decided since I made scissor cases for all my quilting group members birthdays, I had to make myself some for my birthday on the 12th day of the 12th month of 2012.  So, here they are!

The Art of Quilting Sampler Quilt - Blocks 6 to 16

After struggling for 3 months to get the next batch and nearly cancelling my subscription, I finally received the outstanding blocks.  During the same time, I ordered fabric from America which arrived within 3 weeks.  Much faster importing stuff from 8 000 km's away than just 400 km's....  Africa time - why do anything today if you can do it tomorrow, or next week or next month or even next year???



Blocks 6-8



Blocks 9-10 (with sasching added) and Blocks 12-13

Blocks 14-16

Master Bedroom Makeover

My husband and I made a new headboard for our bed.  It took us a week and was done from leftover pieces of fabric from the Latte Quilt I made (read this post) and leather.  It turned out absolutely gorgeous.  It feels like sleeping in a hotel room.

Cheating Block Quilt - Post 2

The other 6 Baby animals: available at Ellen Maurer Stroh





Fox baby



Good luck baby

Hug girl

Hug boy



Polar Bear




Raccoon Baby





Cheating block quilt - Post 1

This project was started February 2011 by our 3 quilting friends, me, Annelie and Natasha after we completed the Beginners Quilting course under Hettie Pringle's (from Stitchingmatters) leadership.

I decided to embroider my pictures using these beautiful cross stitch designs by Ellen Maurer Stroh.  I could not believe my luck when I stumbled on her website a few years ago and the fact that it was available for free!  With huge copyright infringements, it is however not free anymore.

It took about 3 hours each to embroider with an average of 30 thread changes each.  It was however worthwhile.  Below are photos of 6 of the 12 Baby Animals I embroidered for the quilt.
 

Christmas Kitten Baby



Mouse Baby



Bluetit Baby



Turtle baby

Butterfly baby

Lamb baby





Weddings - 2

Ringbearers cushion I made a few years back when I still thought it worthwile to sell embroidered items at flea markets.  The white satin with silver metallic thread turned out beautiful.  I made cream sets embroidered with gold as well.

Weddings -1

I embroidered these serviettes for Sascha, a colleague's wedding in May.  Until I saw the photo's today, I didn't knew it looked so stunning!

    The happy couple, Sascha and Stephen Gourley.

I wrote in this post about the present I made for them.

3D Cube Quilt finished

I've been busy with various small embroidery projects whilst finishing a project started last year February.  As I am in the process of buying fabric for 2 new quilts I want to make in 2013, I'm concentrating on finishing all the unfinished quilts.  Luckily I'm only quilting for 2 years now, so the stack is still manageable.

I did the 3d Cube Quilt course in February 2011 at Hettie Pringle from Stitchingmatters.  It was also my first attempt at free motion. 

Charity Quilt - Part 3

Nearly all the blocks for the Charity Quilt I wrote about in this and this post is finished.  The completed quilt is going to be awesome.  Herewith some more photo's:

Elsa de Wet

Frances van Schalkwyk

     

Marietjie van Rensburg

Dalene van der Colf