Prizes won

It's been a long time since I had written a new post as I haven't been doing any embroidering or quilting.  Me and my son both had Covid two weeks apart and my husband had an operation on his back, the 3rd one.

This year I entered 7 items at the Bloemshow of which 4 have won prizes.

Spiral Burst

Stack and Wack

These two quilts both won 3rd prizes.

Mandala

2nd prize

Heart Quilt

1st prize

Spiral Burst - complete

I finally finished this quilt a few weeks ago.  It is such a huge quilt that I just did straight stitching in grey for the quilting.  Then I added diagonal lines as well and ended up with a diamond pattern.  For the binding I used up the last of the bargello strips by just unpicking the previous stitching and sewing them together in one long strip.

A close up of the stitching from the front and the back (below).

My two companions whilst I'm stitching away laying on the hexagon quilt I finished earlier this year.

Spiral Burst 7

I finished this top a few weeks ago and it is huge.  I couldn't find a place big enough for a photo anywhere and although here pinned to a quilt frame, still laying on the ground.

As I am currently busy finishing up various smaller projects, I plan to quilt this baby during the December holidays.

Spiral Burst 6

With only 13 more strips to go, this one is almost done.

But while ironing, I discovered this mistake - a first for me...

But luckily it was an easy fix.  So now, to finish the last few rows.

Spiral Burst 5

It's been such a long time since I posted anything as life happened in the meantime and thus my hobbies had to take 2nd place (apart from a few small embroidery projects here and there).

From being formally retrenched at my work (which was reversed some 6 weeks later after a hefty battle) to visiting our kids in England as well as having a severe bout with the flue and my brother-in-law dying, I didn't have much energy left.

But the juices started flowing again and I have some progress to report.

With 1/3 done this quilt now looks like this:

I also have a new companion in my studio, my son's kitten called Lily.  She was the runt of the litter and remains quite small.  She got lost on the 27th of April and we were quite lucky to find her via Facebook on the 8th of May.  She was however bitten by her rescuer's dogs (who actually broke her right front leg in the elbow) but not taken to the vet.  So, when we got her back, the leg was already set in a crooked position and the vet recommended we amputated the leg purely for pain management.

I just never could bring myself to make such a drastic decision which would impact her for life and decided to rather see how it goes whilst giving her pain medication.  Although limping, she used the leg for various activities and finally started walking on it.  So, a four legged kitty she will be.

Spiral Burst 4

Another 4 rows added.  Growing slowly but surely.

Spiral Burst 3

Only 5 rows stitched together and already the pattern is forming.  First Bargello for me and loving it.

Spiral Burst 2

All 6 panels x 24 fabrics are stitched together and ready for the fun to start.

Love the colours!

New Projects 2019

It's a new year and time for a new project, or 2 or 3...  Whilst at home during December, I decided to start with 2 quilts that I have been putting of for a few years now to work on all my unfinished projects.  But I am done waiting now and started to cut these beauties.

First up these 24 x 0.5m fabrics were cut up into 6 x 2.5" strips each for a queen size quilt.

I then cut the fabric for the frame as well as the border for my mystery quilt.

And lastly I started cutting this gorgeous bundle of 30 Jinny Beyer fabrics for another Queen size quilt.

I am so excited to start these 2 quilts at last!  Just a pity I still have to work full time...