The Art of Quilting Sampler Quilt - Blocks 3 and 4

Blocks 3 and 4 done, although still needing refinement.  Will square the blocks when all are done.

Each issue contains history pages with interesting facts of historical quilts.  I also enjoy the project pages where you can get even more inspired.  Instructions for a Suffolk puff and a Rouleau are featured in Issue 3 and 4.  Although the 4 blocks thus far was all cut from templates and then constructed, it does teach one how to line up all those little corners.

Panda Bear Cushion

I finally finished the cushion I wrote about in this post.

Embroidery Library

Clown Embroidery Design

Another design for sale.

Welkom (Welcome) Banner

I have been working on this little quilt for the past 3 weeks for our Guild's Quarterly Challenge.  Five ladies participated and every quilt turned out quite different and beautiful.  Watch out for photo's of them on the  Oranje Quilter's Guild blog in the next day of two over here. 

I bought this beautiful cherry fabric in 2010 and was so excited to use it for this project.  While working on it, the ideas just kept coming like adding Swarovsky Crystals for the chicken's eyes and cherry buttons for the feet.  I'm quite pleased with the end result and really proud of it.  For once I did not use the embroidery machine at all on this project.

The Art of Quilting Sampler Quilt - Blocks 1 and 2

Last week, a very dear friend of mine (31 years and counting), Rika van der Merwe, asked me to teach her to quilt.  I've heard about this new series, The Art of Quilting, and suggested taking this course. 

We bought the first 2 issues and sew the first 2 blocks on Saturday.  They look like this:

Casper admiring the blocks...

We may or may not finish the whole double bed quilt - it all depends on how expensive it gets and the techniques taught.

You can read more about this project here.

Another new project...

Goodbye, Natash!

Sadly, my quilting buddy, Natasha van Zijl moved back to Pretoria after her husband, Ryno was transferred.  They moved to Bloemfontein in 2003 after both her parents were killed in an accident, to raise her 2 sisters who was still in school - Monique was 18 and Bianca 8.  Bianca matriculated last year, so obviously their job is done in Bloemfontein. 

We met in August 2010 when we both started a beginners quilting course at Hettie Pringle's (Stitchingmatters) home and became instant friends. 

I gave her an early birthday present before she left - appliqued cup cakes which Natash now have to convert into a quilt. 

Designs from A Stitch A Half

Although I miss her dearly, I wish her all the best of luck after the horrible 8 months of verbal abuse she was subjected to at her last job.  Your prayers have been answered, Girl!

Now we're waiting for a photo of the completed quilt...