Unrestrained

funky bright improvisatinal machine quilting

 I exhibited a quilt I made in 2005 at the recent Redland Quilt Extravaganza. A friend commented that my quilting had "improved" , this quilt had a boring symmetrical and predictable quilting design. My latest machine quilting adventures have been strongly influenced by many contemporary quilters world wide.

Not so much improved, but expanded, more free and unrestrained. Machine quilting is fun and should be a fun process.

Now I use funky bright thread colours with asymetrical designs, mostly freehand with only some very vague drawn guide lines  - most of which rub off before I can see them !  I am doing some improvisatonal work which pleases me, it may not please the judges or people who expect there to be symmetry. Most of my pieced work is not planned or overly symmetrical or lends itself to organised structured quilting designs.
When I first started to machine quilt I made paper patterns which I stitched over - then removed the paper, now I have the confidence to "just do it!'
I have an almost finished quilt top that does need symmetrical and ordered quilting qulting designs, this will mean paper patterns and some serious planning- which is one of my weak points - preplanning! However as it is a traditional quilt it will organisation.
Madly trying to get this current quilt finished for the upcoming Queensland Quilters Exhibition.

Red Thread

Several topics today, a little tired from work, but now I have 5 days off, and my cleaning lady starts next week! even better...

How did I manage to buy 2 red reels? oh well just lucky I guess!
They arrived today with the added bonus of some needles for stitching, what quick service, and lovely colours. Some Brytes, and  and fun colours with funky names too Bling Bling, Blimey and Ole! with Mood thrown in for fun!

A little sustenance to get me through after a busy day at work, sometimes I wonder how others manage after a busy day - chips and wine here to help soothe the tension.

 Its amazing what some bobbin work can do to a lifeless area on a quilt,  DMC
Cotton Perle 8 has done the trick - in red of course!- up to the facing now, so on the downhill run. So happy to be finishing this piece after nearly a year. A small snapshot to whet the appetite.