Thursday, October 29, 2015

Bloggers quilt festival


Hello there

The Bloggers Quilt Festival hosted by the talented Amy's creative side is on again and I am entering for the first time with my most favourite quilt "White House Hexagons".



I am entering into the Large Quilt category. As you can see this is a large quilt, measuring 2.75m x 2.15m or 108" x 85"

Made entirely of 1" hexagons hand pieced using English paper piecing method. I worked on this quilt for over two years, basting hexagons in the car while traveling with kids sports and visiting family and friends. As the collection of basted hexagons grew I would piece them together into long diamonds, then I would piece 3 diamonds together with neutral hexagon sashings to create a very large hexagon. All the fabrics are civil war reproductions with many neutrals used in the sashing. I machined quilted with straight lines running through the middle of each hexagon side
 


 

I really love this quilt and loved making it.  It is called White House hexagons, and is based on a quilt made by the daughter of  US president  James Monroe. Maria Hester Monroe Gouverneur, is the first daughter to be married in the White House in 1820. Maria's quilt was made with 3/4" hexagons and was never finished. 

Please go and look at all the quilts entered in the Bloggers Quilt Festival and vote for your favourite. Amy does a wonderful job every year hosting this wonderful display of quilts. 
 
Bye for now
 
Fiona

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Urban abacus



 





Hello Again

I have pictures to share today from the Urban Abacus class I taught last week. I love teaching, I get so excited seeing the girls "get" the techniques, stop being worried about what to come, and start having fun when they see it not that hard. Anyone can tell when the fun starts by the way the girls start talking about fabric choices for the next quilt they make.

Urban Abacus is from Sew Kind of Wonderful and uses the Quick Curve Ruler.  So far I feel this is about the easiest quilt to cut and piece using the Ruler.

We had the class at The Patchwork Angel, and again the shop helps us all relax and create in a very pretty and wonderful class room. During the class we get used to the cutting and then sewing curves and then the final trim of the blocks.  This all takes time to make sure everyone is confident so when the girls get home they can pick up right where we left off in class.


This pink and vintage quilt is mine as a class sample.  Everyone knows this is mine, cause it so pink.

 
Kaye is using bright purples,pinks and greens with a black background for a sons girlfriend.  He must think she is a keeper to deserve a quilt.
 



Robyn is sewing with some fantastic Aboriginal prints.  Robyn I am looking forward to seeing this one finished.



Daphne's quilt is going to be so cool and modern with black and white prints mixed with the aqua background



Bev is making her quilt in a classic blue and white combination




And lastly, Sue is using a beautiful collection of soft florals in pinks and greens with a cream background.



Wonderful work by all the ladies and I would love to see all of these quilts when they are finished. They will all be beautiful.



My next teaching gig is on Saturday 30th of May.  I will be teaching the Metro Hoops quilt by Sew Kind of Wonderful and the Quick Curve Ruler.  The class will be held at The Patchwork Angel again and I believe there are still a couple of spots left, give the girls a call and come along and join the fun.



This stunning version is from one of my students from the last time I taught Metro Hoops, very different to my white and pretty one above.

See you all soon

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Tumbling Blocks Class










Hi everyone

Wow it been a long time since I last posted, so sorry to make you wait, if you are still with me.

Also several weeks ago I taught a class, at The Patchwork Angel, on the Tumbling Blocks quilt, pieced with strip sets and no Y seams, easy as...

But I now can not remember who's piecing is who's.  All the girls were great students and had wonderful fabrics to play with.  Thank you Christine L, Wendy, Sue, Christine M, Michelle, Nicky Shirley and Tracey for coming and sharing your passion with me.




Pretty pinks and blues
 

This is Michelle's bright citrus fabrics, fantastic



Modern aquas and greys



Striking pinks and purples



Subtle tan and blue



 Sue is  using many reds and blues for a traditional feel to the quilt.



And in solids for a very striking effect.

The whole quilt comes down to choosing the right values in fabrics and straight sewing, easy as....

And one of the girls showed her Metro Hoops quilt top, from a previous class with me.  This is fantastic with the dark background and vivid batiks, well done.



I am teaching both the Tumbling Blocks and Metro Hoops again at The Patchwork Angel, contact the shop for all the details.  These quilts are great in that they look complicated but are NOT....