Free motion machine quilting May

This is the May project- as lead by Leah Day, I have been following her blog for some time and have tried a few of her filler designs, she has some good ideas, some old with a revamp and some new ones to inspire. Her quilting is lovely, her energy inspiring!
I wish I could stay home a few more days a week- even one, to get some real work done.  Maybe next year.
This is a black background fabric with a soft pink embroidery thread- what was on the machine at the time, I have varied the lentgh of the meandering lines to fill the spaces- which gives it some more interest . This would be a good alternative to boring stipple, and a good art quilt filler.

Off to the gym then to work...

Almost got my mojo back

Have been a  bit on the busy side with work and kids etc and not with what I really want to be doing - sewing. Well, I did do a bit of sewing while my husband was away but that turned into a very tiring week- ( my hats off to single parents who manage to get on top of the laundry) culminating with the school fair- I never want to see another sausage again- and I only served them not cooked them!

I am doing a few projects, none of which can be shown in their entirety, but they will be revealed soon. I have been busy painting fabric, here are some scraps- not giving too much away.
I have now got some enthusiasm to do some quilting that is fun and exciting, some funky green stuff with fun flowers, not ready to be shown yet as it is for an exhibition.
Will get on and do the Sew Cal Gal May piece tonight as it is almost the end of the month. Almost time for 2 weeks holiday form work- then its head down, bum up and into the sewing room for some serious work - stuff the laundry!

painting scraps

painting gear- and hand cream just for fun!

gorgeous little red bag

hmmm

I did bag a bargain at the school fair- this bag and then this book- never seen before and never to be seen again at such a bargain price, let me know if you want a read!

Best seat in the house

Yes its the seat at my beloved Bernina, this is the best seat in my house!
Its where I am at home, it is comfy, and I can automatically do what I want there without really thinking about it.
I did discover this week that if I moved the knee lift over a bit closer to my leg it was much easier to use! You never know till you try.

I have also just found the perfect self threading needles, the ones on the right, I have tried several brands and these seem not to shred the thread as it is threaded.
Worth persisting if you are having trouble.The others are OK but not as good.

This is my parcel that has been hanging amongst the beans for several weeks, the coloured paper is oozing colour through the rest of the parcel, should be interesting when it is opened.

Goals and inspiration

OK, now to some serious work! My goals is to get something finished, actually several somethings finished for this show, its nearly October in my head, and I am queen of the last minute usually, so I am determined to get work done early- or not.

Goals

 My raw ingredients (looking a bit bland without the zinger fabric thrown in) are on the wall- begging to be cut and stitched back together, I have dreamt about this quilt for several weeks now, and occasionally have a brilliant idea, it is all coming together nicely, I did treat myself to some new fabric yesterday after a particularly busy week at work. Ready to get the borders done -after picking up a few things about the house in preparation for the cleaning lady today.

Raw ingredients

 I am inspired by these ladies and their work- bright and colourful.
Its all about shape and colour for me.

Inspiration

Free Motion Quilting - a new way of marking

There appears to be some changes with blogger! I have a  new page to work my way around....Oh well, I will try my best.

This months Sew Cal Gal work is set by a male quilter -Don Linn, he has a really easy and quick way of marking an intricate pattern or for marking an already basted quilt top, I usually use cheap kitchen paper and sew through the paper. This new way is to mark some netting and then use that as the base template to mark with either chalk - I fail to see the point of any of the wash out/ fade or iron out markers. I use chalk - almost always and it rubs off if I change my mind- which I do often!

This is a piece of brown silk and I used Don's pattern. The thread is Wonderfil- a pale pink variegated cotton.

yellow chalk line ready to quilt

Hmmm, a little boring with only one line round the whole design, maybe it needs jazzing up a little with a second line.
Of course a great improvement - see below.

I noticed that one of the other participants had done some lovely fill patterns around hers in a grid style pattern, maybe soon..
This is a good way to work, no paper pattern to remove and it can be as big or as little and the design can be repeated many times and will be still the same. Placement is easy as the net is see through and can be marked with seam or reference points for easy placement.
I have been madly working - at work, pleased to have a day off to sew today, doing curved seams has almost done my head in but I"m almost done, might just applique the next border on for my own sanity!!! The problem with drawing the pattern from scratch is that it has to be perfect and the only person to blame if its not is myself- not a pattern company.

Priorities and the year 12 formal

Should I start a new quilt with the ideas bouncing around in my head? or finish the pieces already started?
A whole 2 days almost to quilt, so must get moving.
Shame I am a bit tired from work, oh well, the only bonus of getting no time for a drink on a busy shift is that you don't need to go to the toilet- there is no time for that!
Lots of time saving going on...now off to sew

Such decisions, there is a theme again for this years QQ exhibition- 9 Patch, I have some ideas and have started sort of, but not quite sure so here is a sneak preview of a discarded block - above.
The lovely Jane Sassaman fabric left is calling, just sitting waiting for a wonderful qult to be made with it.



The hanging parcel is quite happy, the colours are running a bit which is lovely to see, we have had some rain- bad for laundry but good for art work out in the elements!

hanging with the beans

formal shoes at the ready

The year 12 formal is this weekend, what a prerformance! shoes, dress, hair, makeup, pre formal do and post formal function, shame the formal itself takes up so much valuable time! When I was a girl, my mother made the dress and a neighbour drove me with his son to save petrol, no limousine there. no pre or post  functions either. maybe its a sign of age. mine

Dad, Mums gone mad!

OK yes , I have a little. what a lovely daughter I have.

bundles made and ready to hang

I have made some (3) bundles of stuff, paper, fabric etc 1.to hang in a tree, 2. to put into the ground and 3. give to a friend to hang at the Botanic Gardens as part of her Artist in Residence. Not quite sure if I have done it right and they are a bit thin as my muse has left the building...just trying to get by and create in a non creative phase of my life.

Perhaps my sewing machine will be more friendly if I can get past the loads of wet laundry to it.

ready to bury in the ground

hanging amongst the beans- sideways..

with a little bundle at the bottom, ready for the gardens

in the ocean at Wooyung beach

We went camping, the beach was fantastic- I did swim in the ocean - so free and warm. Shame we didn't have our boogie board. The rip was a bit strong though.
We got a bit swamped by lots of rain and came home a day early....the farmers market at Mullumbimby was great, bought some yummy food, good coffee and cheese. Just using the lime satay marinade for dinner tonight (chicken). My daughter knows not to take any free cookies at these markets!
Went to a lovely and inspiring weaving exhibition at Brunswick heads, the large pieces were fantastic- way to big to fit in the car, a whole large leaf woven into itself- as tall as I am.