Mystery Quilt

At our last meeting we received the pattern and started stitching the blocks together to form 12.5" blocks in batches of either 2, 4 or 8 identical one's thus reducing the 144 blocks to 36 in 8 variations.

 The next step will be to stitch them together in rows of 6 in order to quilt-as-you-go.

Towels

I can't believe it actually took me the better part of three weeks to finish these towels.  I suppose pushing the sea horses out of the frame after tacking down the applique fabric had something to do with it.  But they are finally done and I am quite happy with them.

The three bathing towels hanging side by side with dolphins, seahorses and whales appliqued above a chevron striped border with a polka dot satin ribbon.

On the guest towel I embroidered cute turtles.

The designs are from A stitch and a half and I just combined the 4x4 and 5x7 sizes into one hooping using Embird embroidery software - the best, most affordable and user friendliest program out there.

Mystery Quilt - Final Clue

This final clue felt like a mammoth task stitching 72 blocks out of about 500 pieces of fabric.  Not really, but as I was accustomed to finishing the previous clues in 1 or 2 sittings, this one took a whole week to finish.  And remember, we are ironing all the seams open as to reduce the bulk.

After adding the blocks of clue 2 and 3, this is what we ended up with:

Placing them together create another interesting block.

We will be stitching the blocks together at our next meeting.  So looking forward to that.

Koisan Rock Art

I digitized these embroidery designs a few years back and started stitching them on a whole cloth but never finished it.  That was fortunate as I learned to quilt a few years later and was able to turn it into a small quilt which will do for a birthday present later this year.

Instead of using sasching, I stitched a border between the figures and filled the inside with free motion stitching as shown below on the close-up of the backside.

Heritage Quilt - Block 12

Another block is done and with only 2 remaining, this quilt is steadily creeping towards the end.  My husband can't wait for this one to be finished.  It is his favorite by far.

 



































This one incorporates English Paper Piecing as well as some decorative stitching in addition to the Free Standing Lace designs and a beautiful center medallion.

Tea Cloth Charlotte

My BFF of the last 37 years celebrated her birthday last week and as she just loves handmade items, I decided to embroider the Charlotte Tea Cloth of Embroidered Necessity to co-ordinate with her Mystery Quilt which she is doing in shades of turquoise, grey and white.

It took the best part of a month to embroider two of them as it is very time consuming designs, but well worth all the effort, although I think the cutwork ladders is a bit skimpy. 

I used taffeta stabilised with iron on Vilene and just love the richness the fabric added.  If you want to purchase the design, head on over here.  And whilst you are there, have a look at all their gorgeous designs.

Birthday Presents

This year I started early with our quilting group's birthday presents and have all of them done already.  I used the Bumblebee Mini Mitt design of A Stitch and a Half and just replace the Bumblebee with different motifs from the Time for Tea collection from the same designer.

Now they will each have a handy mitt to use in the kitchen for those hot pot handles.