Applique - what happened next.

Finally giving up on the idea of FMQuilting the Istanbul Wall-hanging Experiment I opted for a simple all over cross hatch.  

It took time but gave a finish that I was happy with.

I had always considered that the Quilting would be my Nemesis - But never have I had so much trouble and issues with a BINDING! 

It just would not work.  

I pulled it off, put it back on and I even remade it. 

The problems seemed to keep multiplying.
And when I got it all right...

- I cut the tails off on the stitching line instead of the cutting line! 

It is times like this that DH comes in and gently removes me from the project for a nice l-o-n-g walk!

Several days later I was able to once again sit at it and calmly remind myself that it was an experiment and also not going to be subjected to the wear and tear that a quilt is.

A minute seam, a bit of glue, some reinforcing, a tug or two and quite a few short Prayers later the Binding was on and stitched down.

It was then into the Wash. 

Shoving it into a lingerie bag to make sure it got as creased and crowded as the Quilt would be in the machine.

The result: 

It did take up a bit as all quilts do, but each fabric didn't shrink nor did the colours run.

The applique was not quilted (as in the original) and Puffed up which may settle with a good steam but I will leave that until the DS & DDIL see the result.  

The intention after all, was to show them what will happen IF they have to wash their Quilt.

Footnote: I only did this because it was a Custom quilted, hand appliqued quilt -  The everyday pieced quilt I made them can be washed to their heart's content!

Revisiting Raw Edge Applique

I started off not caring what it looked like - It was only a Quick Sample.

The Idea was to see how "My Istanbul" (that I made back in 2016) would fair being washed. 
Better to ruin a Sample than an Award Winning Quilt!

But, before long my Father's words rang in my ears "If a job is worth doing - It is worth doing well" -So it has taken a little longer than I initially planned.

I found left over pieces of the Applique in my Scrap Stash and decided to make something 'Useful' in the process.

A design emerged and I was on my way - revisiting the past. 

It was amazing how I went from 'Not Caring' to "Where did that stray stitch come from?' so easily.

Eventually the Last Stitch was done and with the help of photographs, Border fabrics were found.

Now, I am in the process of (fighting with my machine while) trying to learn FMQing - a skill that eludes me! 

The Original Quilt was professionally quilted.

Once that is done, I can then throw this project in the washing machine and see what happens!

Well Done Melbourne.

Over the course of Melbourne Lockdown we have been tuning in to (Premier) Daniel Andrews Daily News Conference. Sunday's conference was one that everyone was eagerly awaiting. He sounded tired and very emotional as he told everyone that we could start the road back to our "New Normal".

There will still be rules and restrictions but Shops can open and yes, You can go for a Beer - or in our case Coffee.  

How Sweet was it to sit down and have a Latte in a Glass!

It's not the Coffee that I have missed but the "People Watching" - the company of strangers.  The banter at the tables.  

These people are the Friends we haven't met and we have missed them.

Sunday's announcement also removed our 5 km travel restriction - expanding it to 25 km.  We can now have that 'Spatially Distant" Coffee elsewhere.  

This is what we found at the very end of our allowed 25 km. 

Oh to see the Water and Feel the Sea breeze on my (masked) face! 

It did more for my COVID muddled brain than any therapy.

Then there WAS an added extra - 25 km happens to intersect with where our DS#1 works.

We have not seen him since they put the "Barrier of Steel" between Regional Victoria and Melbourne.

It was SO good to see him again.

We eagerly await each announcement. 

As Infection numbers fall so do the restrictions.

We have brought down our Second Wave. 0 New Infections/ 0 Deaths

 Well done Melbourne! Keep it Up.

And we Celebrate? - with Donuts!  (Of course we do.)

Easing back into Quilting - - -

This year I hope to be able to complete the "One Toe Out of the Box" challenge -  intended to better acquaint (members of the Janome 6500 Challenge Group) with our Janome machines.
We have been set a Theme for each month and for January the theme is "SNOW".

After scratching my head for a bit I decided I would try my hand at some raw edge applique.
I found a wonderful Christmas print called 'Funny Santas' by Wilmington Fabrics which suited my idea of doing a Snow Globe. (Poor Santa is bailing out his sleigh after being marooned on a desert Island)

And just to 'keep on track' with the theme I also added a Snow Globe with beautiful golden snowflakes.

Butterflies....

... for me Butterflies have come to signify New Beginnings, and so - as I  progressed along the journey that I have been travelling over the past 2 years -It seemed appropriate that I add some to my version of Heart's Desire.

I started last November by placing a ring of Fussy Cut Butterflies around my Centre Block.

And drawing from a lesson I learnt in Cake Decorating that also applies to Quilting...

If you  make a mistake...
.... Embellish it!
(Ok that's Craft-speak
for "Cover it up")

in this case I had a stem that had lost it's leaf.. and rather than remove it and unbalance the block - I balanced a Butterfly on it instead.

That reminded me that I was going to allow a few more of these beauties to alight where they pleased.

And just to let you in on my little secret....

I have been using this beautiful print called Kiyomi Butterflies from Red Rooster Fabrics.

I haven't finished with them yet,

and I'm not telling where I plan to place them next..

After all - this is a mystery quilt!

"The Roo Arrived"

Well, that is good to hear!
Last week I posted that I was working on a Fabric Postcard Challenge.  The theme "We are the World" was a difficult one to work with...
How DO you make a topic like that out of fabric that is restricted to 6" x 4" ?

Some chose to make a Globe and surround it with figures, This is Julie's card she sent to Grace.

Others decided to add an extra line to the challenge title
 ..... "And this is my part of it!"
I chose to go with this option..


I decided on symbols that are universally recognised as Australian.  Those in the 'know' would instantly recognise the Australian Aboriginal Flag.

The symbolic meaning of the flags colours are:
Black:   Represents the Aboriginal People of Australia.
Red:     The Red Earth, the Red Ochre and a Spiritual relationship with the Land.
Yellow:  Represents the Sun. Giver of Life and Protector.

I also used the Stars of our National Flag - The Southern Cross.  To me this represents Home.

A Kangaroo?  Who in the World does not know that Kangaroo's and Gum leaves are Australian???

The mini quilt was satin stitched onto a card with Gold thread and Green in the bobbin, then sent "Naked" through the post.  I posted them on Tuesday afternoon and the first one arrived in Canada 3 days later!

Also during the week I have been doing some fine tuning on my Blog - I have changed the wallpaper for Summer added a Greeting to the sidebar and a New page.
I understand that not everyone wants to comment on a specific posting so I created a place to leave a greeting or just an autograph.
So don't be shy - sign the 'Visitors Book'

My Heart's Desire - Progress report

Detail - Block 1

My Heart's Desire is a free Mystery Block of the Month by the very talented and generous Esther Aliu.

Quilters from across the globe are enjoying the challenge of this Appliqué quilt.  For many of us, myself included, it is our first attempt at Appliqué, so the finer points of 'how to' are eagerly discussed on Esther's Yahoo forum.

We are learning together, sharing tips and tricks and forming friendships at the same time.

According to Esther:- "The theme of this quilt, is "Old Town Folk" style, a place where life is simple, time is plentiful and days are full of sewing and quilting.  This quilt is almost a still life of admiration; the design is purposefully full of understated opulence and richness in detail."

 We HAVE NO IDEA as to what this quilt is going to look like when it is finished.  We have been given the quantity for the backing fabric. And the information that Esther is using the Windham range of fabrics in rusty reds.

The first Challenge - Choose my fabric.
Having just completed a "Red Only" fabric challenge, I was not keen to work on reds again quite so soon, and still reeling from a family sadness, my thoughts were that My heart was 'blue'.  So Blue it is!
I am pleased to say that as I work on this project my blues are becoming more vibrant and fun.