Clown Embroidery Design

Another design for sale.

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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...

Crazy Quilt blocks for Charity Quilt - Part 2

I have been struggling with these 4 Crazy Quilt Blocks for our group's Charity Quilt project which I wrote about here, for more than a week.  Deciding how to decorate them was clearly not my strong point.  Being back at work doesn't help either as the creative juices just don't flow as good.  But looking at the photo I think they turned out ok.

Birthday Presents - Continue

Handed these presents out over the weekend.

I made this Quilting Organizer for a dear friend, Hettie Pringle.  She is my quilting teacher and mentor and you can read all about her here. 

It is the same pattern that I used for my sister, Christa's, Closet Organizer - I only used the designs for the larger embroidery frame resulting in 3 larger pockets than the 4 pockets you see below.  I also substituted the designs with a quilt related theme.

Design available from A Stitch A Half

My quilting friend, Sonja, received these 4 covered coat hangers.

Designs available from Artistic Designs

And so my two week holiday has sadly come to an end and it's back to work tomorrow.  I really enjoyed the time at home, but all good things must come to an end - eventually.

Birthday Presents

Spend the first week of my holiday mainly making birthday presents for various friends.  I get such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment with every project finished as I get to start a new project!

On Tuesday night at the Rotary Cutter's monthly meeting, I handed out these scissor cases together with a chocolate and an inspirational verse.

The design is available from a Stitch a Half