Cheryl's Quilt

Well over a year ago, I offered to make my good friend Cheryl a quilt if she paid for all the materials.  She was really keen and from there came the hard part to choose a pattern.  I think I showed her nearly every magazine and book I owned but eventually she found something that I agreed to make.  All the effort paid off and at the weekend I finally presented Cheryl with her quilt.

It was quilted by Wild Cotton.  And it looks very good on our bed.

The backing was done in flannel.

Tapa Cloth

On Saturday I went to part 2 of Hazel Foot's Tapa Cloth workshop.  There were only 8 of us there this time and we were all at different stages.  Hazel was great and started by showing us some quilting techniques so the two that were up to that stage could continue.  Some of us wanted to do more foundation piecing and continue making blocks.  I really enjoyed this workshop and although I won't have my Tapa Cloth quilt ready for Show n tell at the end of the month, I will get there.

One of my applique blocks

Foundation piecing block

Jake made a bed of the wool batting I cut off the quilt I have nearly finished.

Craft and Quilt Fair

I went to the Craft and Quilt Fair on Friday with a friend.  We spent a long time looking at the quilts and the Creative Fibre Experience.  There was lots to see with the Quilts Aotearoa, AP&Q Challenge, Twelve Project and Made in NZ II.

The layout and light was very good.

The detail was amazing!!

Pukeko cushion cover

Two years ago, my mother asked me if I would make something with a Pukeko on it for a friend of hers.

At the time I sourced the pattern for a pukeko through the "New Zealand Quilter" magazine.  I wasn't able to buy the issue with it in as it was from several years ago but Anne Scott kindly emailed me the pattern.

I started it with great enthusiasm and decided to do needle turn appliqué.  It took me a year to complete the pukeko in needle turn appliqué and then put the project aside as I couldn't bear the thought of doing the reeds the same way.

Nearly 2 years later I decided to tackle the project and I  did the reeds using fusible web and sewed them with buttonhole stitch on my sewing machine.  I lightly coloured the bottom with a blue colouring pencil and drew in the stalks with a brown felt pen.  As Mum's friend lives in Australia, I haven't put the cushion inner in it to save on postage.  I free motioned quilted the top and again wanted to keep it for myself.

Bag

I made this bag for a work friend as her partner has been diagnosed with dementia and I felt she needed something nice for herself.

I took the size and dimensions from a bag I was given when I purchased some threads.  It is the perfect size to carry a novel in so it doesn't get tatty.

Once I finished it, I didn't want to give it away but it was worth it when my friend was so thrilled with the gift.

Through the Trees

Here is "Through the Trees" finished.  I had a little bit of quilting to finish and then stitch the hanging sleeve on, which I kept putting off.  Finally finished it today.

I had a whole day to myself to sew and couldn't get in to anything.  Since I finished Lindsey's quilt, completed the backing for Cheryl's quilt and took it to be quilted, I felt lost.  Crazy really when I have so many UFO's that need attention.  I have started my next Halberg Group challenge which is using blue and white.  It won't be on the blog until after completion date of 30 Sept.

Lindsey's quilt "Peace in Waitakere"

I can put Lindsey's quilt on my blog now as it has arrived safely and she loves it.  "Peace in Waitakere"

I made this from a jellyroll using a Moda  jellyroll called Cherish Nature.  I wanted to make a lap quilt for Lindsey as she is undergoing Chemo at the moment.  Dennis and Lindsey live in Gravesend and I wasn't sure of her favourite colours.  Talking to Dennis on Skype one night, he directed me to a website with these colours on it so I then did a search of fabrics and came up with this range.  I then couldn't locate it here in NZ so ordered through the internet.

Once I had completed the top, I took it in to my local quilt shop to be told "you didn't buy that here"  as the range had come in to the shop that week.  Here was me thinking it was a range that had been out for ages and I had missed it.   I used a butterfly stencil on the blocks and free motion quilted the border.

I had a block left over so I made a cushion to match. As I didn't want to pay more postage than necessary, I sent the empty cushion cover (not quite empty as it contained peanut slabs for my brother) and apparently Lindsey was worried she would need to sew it.  It has a velcro opening on the back so no sewing required.

I wish I could pop over and see it in it's new home.  Get well soon Lindsey and enjoy the quilt.